Quaffles, Anyone?

Chapter Four

Fiyuna

            Harry woke up and found Hermione sleeping safe and sound. He probably overslept. He checked his wristwatch: It was only three twenty AM. He looked outside the window and saw nothing but darkness.

            He yawned and walked towards the couch where Hermione slept. He moved her feet from the other end so she was in a curled position. He sat on the other end of the couch and tried to lull himself to sleep.

            He woke up fifteen minutes later to find Hermione's sock-clad foot on his shoulder. He held it and put it somewhere far from his face went back to sleep.

            Harry opened his eyes since he heard movement. He shut them quickly when he saw Hermione standing to a sitting position scratching her head. Harry squinted and saw her pulling down her blue sweat shirt since her midriff was bare and started crawling to him to rest on his shoulder. Harry finally opened his eyes widely when she fell asleep. She clutched him tightly around Harry's waist and rubbed her head slightly under his neck.

 Harry felt his heart beat very fast. He held Hermione by the shoulders and moved her till her head rested on his lap. From there, he felt a lot more comfortable.

"Hey Harry! Better get ready or we'll be late" called the voice of Ron

Harry opened his eyes. He looked down but Hermione wasn't there.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked looking at his wristwatch: five forty AM

"She went up to the girl's dormitory the moment I came down" Ron explained

Harry stretched and walked up to the boy's dormitory to get ready for school.

- - -

As usual, hundreds of owls would descend to the Great Hall to deliver their mail.

"Looks like mum has nothing to send" said Ron looking for Errol, the family owl and Pig

"Nothing about Voldemort" said Hermione reading her Daily Prophet

"Hey Hermione" said a voice which belonged to Lavender Brown "where were you last night? You weren't in your dormitory"

"You know what… Harry wasn't in our dormitory either" Ron said taking a bite out of his bacon "I found him in the couch"

This made Harry uncomfortable.

"Harry" said Ron turning to him "what were you doing last night?"

"I was doing my homework till I overslept" said Harry quickly

"I see… How about you Hermione?" Ron turned to Hermione

"I took a nap on the couch and overslept" she said

Ever since the incident last night, Harry tried to avoid Hermione since his tactics of 'pretending nothing happened' didn't work. But he stopped doing the avoiding thing since Hermione looked hurt when he ignored her when she said that she finds Quidditch quite interesting already.

To make matters worst; he usually finds him in awkward situations like one time in Herbology, she bent down toward him to grab the mini spatula which made her hair too near making him smell her fragrant hair.

"Harry? Did you smell my hair?" Hermione said smiling at him

Harry shook his head very quickly making Hermione shrug

"Whew" Harry whispered when Hermione attended her baby venomous Tentacula

Probably the worst situation was during their last subject, Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Good Malfoy! Five points to Slytherin!" said Rapticon Sr. when they had a lecture on Prince Nicodemus, the infamous wizard who killed all of his family members.

"Before I beat Malfoy with a stick, Tell me, on what year did Prince Nicodemus got mummified?"

Hermione raised her hand

"Yes, Ms. Granger" he said giving her a death glare that made Ron snigger

"He was mummified on 732 B.C." she said

"Great job… Five points to Gryffindor"

Harry who was sitting beside Hermione just listened to what Rapticon Sr. blabbed about and taught them the Extrication Charm. A very advanced spell that if conjured, the mummy's bandages will disentangle from it, causing it to dissolve into mist.

Hermione volunteered to do it on a boggart that Rapticon Sr. borrowed from Lupin last summer. When he opened the cabinet where the boggart was concealed Rapticon Sr. did a very powerful charm that forced the boggart to change into a mummy making Parvati squeak. The mummy limped forward to Hermione. It reached for her with its bandaged and disgusting arms.

"Now Hermione!" shouted Rapticon Sr.

"Extricatora!" Hermione shouted pointing her wand at the mummy

The mummy's bandages started to dissolve and before they know it, it disappeared into mist.

"Great job Hermione!" Rapticon Sr. cheered as she walked to her seat

Harry was going for the high five to Hermione but -

"Ten points to Gryffindor!" said Rapticon Sr. making Hermione turn to Rapticon Sr. to say thank you so instead of clapping her hand he smacked her backside which made the class silenced.

"What happened?" Ron said stunned at what Harry did

"Potter just slapped Granger's ass" Malfoy said in a mock sort of way

"Thanks for the memo Draco… Hermione, you can sit now" Rapticon Sr. said to a blushing Hermione who sat and didn't look at Harry till the end of the period.

"Why'd you do that?" Ron demanded when Harry and he left the classroom

"I was trying to give her a high five for her performance but fate made me do it" Harry clarified

"I thought you were trying to do something" said Ron as they went up the Grand Staircase to their common room

"Ew! Why would I do that to Hermione? She's my best friend for crying out loud" said Harry in disgust.

"Harry? May I speak with you?" said a serious voice behind them

Harry looked behind them and saw Rapticon Sr.

"Sure professor" said Harry now looking panicky

"Mr. Weasley, may I?" Rapticon Sr. asked

"Yeah" said Ron "See you later Harry" he climbed up the staircase and disappeared when a moving staircase obstructed Harry's view

"What is it professor?"

"The incident a while ago… Why'd you do that?" said Rapticon Sr. as they both went up the staircase

"I was trying to give Hermione a high five but when you called her she turned so I had to - you know"

"You had?" he asked suspiciously

"I mean I accidentally… well - you know" said Harry looking at a portrait of three wizards playing cards

"So that explains it. Because Hermione came to me after class and apologized to me for the action. But I declined her apology since it wasn't her fault. She says she doesn't hold any grudge against you since she is convinced that it was an accident" he smiled at Harry

"Don't worry Harry, I don't punish students for doing inappropriate actions like that but I must warn you… Don't do that again even though I don't punish the ones who do that. I will however punish the ones who take advantage of that. Got it?" he finished as they came to the portrait of the Fat Lady who was trying to do the tango with an invisible man.

"Yes professor"

"Good" he said holding Harry's shoulder "now go on and get ready for dinner. Have a nice day" he went down and was greeted by a group of Slytherins who greeted him joyfully when he passed.

Without hesitating, Harry entered the common room.

- - -

  The story of the incident in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class must've scattered in lightning speed since lots of people kept on staring at Harry when he entered the Great Hall during dinner.

  “Whoever stares at Harry Potter will be shot on the spot" called the voice of Rapticon Sr. from the High Table "I mean it"

  Harry's respect toward Rapticon Sr. grew even larger when he said that. He sat down with the other Gryffindors. When he reached for a chicken leg something caught his eye: a girl with bushy brown hair - save for the blonde streaks. He looked up and felt his Adam's apple swell. Across from where he's sitting, he saw the one person he wanted to meet the least; Hermione.

There was a dead pause… then

"Would you kindly please pass the lamb chops Hermione?" said Ron quickly

But Hermione didn't move for she was staring at Harry with - in Harry's surprise - concern. Harry spoke

"Hermione… I just wanna say -"

"Don't say it Harry. I just want to talk to you" she lowered her voice "Meet me later at the Astronomy Tower" she said and with that, she left without touching her food.

"You're in big trouble" said Ron seeing Harry's face as he was taking a bite out of his T-bone.

Harry didn't know what he was dreading: his talk with Hermione later or Snape's essay which he is nearly done with.

"Aren't you going to meet her?" Ron asked in the common room after dinner

"It's been twenty minutes now" he continued trying to finish his essay "if you keep her waiting, she will sure be in a towering temper"

"Okay, okay" said Harry "I'm going, if I don't come back in thirty minutes take care of Hedwig for me"

"You do that" said Ron distractedly as Harry shrugged and left

Harry climbed the Grand Staircase dreading on what Hermione might say. Will she get angry? Is she going to break up their friendship? That can't be, Harry thought. Professor Raptor already told me she won't hold a grudge.

As he climbed the top most part of the Grand Staircase - avoiding a moving staircase in the process - he entered the Astronomy Tower's corridor feeling his dread grow in an alarming rate.

"Well, here goes nothing" he said pausing at the foot of the spiral staircase that leads up to the tower.

  He climbed up the staircase which ended with a battered oak door. After a deep breath, he turned on the doorknob and pushed the door open very slowly to find a cloudless night dotted with stars and the breeze passing through his jet black hair.

"You're late" said the voice of Hermione who was leaning on the battlements

"How'd you know I came in?" Harry asked

She gestured to a piece of parchment beside her which Harry recognized as his Marauder's Map

"Where'd you get that?"

"I borrowed it" she explained still looking at the horizon emphasizing on the 'borrow' word.

"I see" said Harry putting his hands on the pockets of his robes "aren't you gonna say something?"

"Yes, but before we start…"

She walked to Harry and slapped him in the face

"That's for what you did ages ago" she said looking guilty as she saw Harry rubbing his face with his eyes watering

"I deserved it" said Harry wiping his face with his sleeve

"I hope I could take that back" she added as she bit her lower lip looking more guilty.

"Anyway, what were you trying to say?" asked Harry trying to ignore his cheek which was beating

"Okay here it goes" she said taking a deep breath and exhaling it as if she practiced it "is there er… something going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know… is there something happening between us?" she said warily as if she's expecting Harry to shout even though he isn't.

Harry felt a wave of relief that Hermione was just asking… such a question

"N-No" he said finally "I don't know why you would say that"

"Okay" she said making a brief whistle "next question. If nothing's happening between us then why'd you… er… why did you" she paused then finally said "- you know" she asked awkwardly

"I was trying to give you a high five but you turned to Professor Raptor making me accidentally hit you" Harry explained blushing in the process. He didn't like having awkward conversations with Hermione since she can get emotional at times

"Oh… I see" she said "So?"

"So what?"

"Are we er… ok?" she said reasonably "What I mean is… is our friendship still intact?"

"Sure" said Harry "it still is. Let's make a pact. We should never make anything come between us that will ruin our friendship"

"Agreed" she said "That includes going out with each other" Hermione added

Harry nodded “And I will never make out with you ever” after that he leaned on the battlements overlooking the stars

"I must say… I would enjoy that if the circumstances were different" Hermione said teasingly as she leaned on the battlements beside Harry.

"Did you see the look on Professor Raptor's face?" said Harry

"Yeah, he was quite shocked though"

There was a long pause after this. Harry enjoyed atmosphere: the stars, the breeze, the silence and the horizon.

"I've been doing this since our third year you know" Hermione finally said

"Which one?"

"Going here to the Astronomy Tower" Hermione said as a flock of owls passed by "I always come here when I get pressured by the Time-Turner… It's beautiful" she said looking at the moonlight's reflection at the lake below

"I feel like all my problems disappear when I come here except on some times like when a big decision rests on me like when Viktor asked me out during our fourth year" she said "I come here when I'm sad or in misery" she frowned "But when I think of the most important thing in my life I feel happy" she said smiling "When you and Ron weren't talking to me…" she took a deep breath "My first three years were the worst"

"Why?"

"Because… during my first year, you and Ron despised me -"

"We didn't despised you. You were being bossy" Harry said

"But still you two were laughing and making fun of me saying that I don't have any friends"

"I'm sorry about that. It was Ron who said all those things"

"But you didn't stop him" Hermione said still looking at the lake

"I'm sorry"

"It's okay. We turned out okay, didn't we?"

"Yeah" Harry said looking at Hermione, a tear trickled down her face "How 'bout your second year?"

"I was petrified and of course Malfoy called me a 'Mudblood'. I thought I was goner for good but of course, Harry Potter will always be there to save the day" she added smiling still not looking at Harry "But my third year was the worst of all if you asked me"

"Because of the Time-Turner?" Harry asked

"No" she said "Not that. It's because - never mind, you might find it not interesting" she said walking to the door

"C'mon" Harry said holding Hermione's arm "you can tell me anything"

"Oh alright" she looked at Harry in the eye "the reason why I hated my third year is because… when the two of the most important people in my life didn't want to talk to me. I told Professor McGonagall about the broomstick because I was worried if it was jinxed and the thought of you falling to your death is just horrible and when you and Ron gave me the cold shoulder I was really hurt. What if that broom was really jinxed? Then if it is true, I just saved you from death. But of course you two valued a broomstick more than a friend" she looked up at the stars "but we turned out okay at the end. But the fact that you and Ron cherished the Firebolt than my love for both of you is still scarred in my mind. You didn't even said a 'thank you'" she said with her voice now shaking by the urge to sob

"I'm sorry Hermione"

She just waved her hand closing her eyes making more tears fall

"It's okay"

Harry felt guilty when she said this looking into Hermione's watering eyes

"You really meant that? Me and Ron are the most important people in your life?"

She nodded wiping her eyes and making a small sniff

Harry didn't know what to do. He opened his arms and pulled Hermione into a friendly hug.

"You're the best Hermione" he said

"Thanks" she said resting on his shoulder and giving out a sniffle

It took about a minute till Harry said

"Thank you… for everything"

"You're welcome"

- - -

The week ended in haste when Friday came. Hermione's bad mood came back when Harry found her limping around the common room telling off first years from giggling when she wanted to do some schoolwork.

"Just like you said Ronald" she spat when she sat with them during lunch "They are just midgets"

Before Ron could argue back, he thought twice if he's going to have an argument with an angry Hermione.

Saturday came by and Harry felt like he wanted to use his broomstick after lunch. After he ate lunch, he went back to the common room - avoiding glares from Hermione who didn't eat lunch - to get his broomstick and went back to the entrance hall to go to the Quidditch field.

When Harry went out of the entrance hall, he heard laughing. He turned and saw Professor Raptor walking with the Slytherins.

"And then I said 'Don't be too cocky Steven!'" he said "Well, he started being cocky to the Despot He shouted in front of the Despot's throne room: 'Release me or I'll kill you! Get me out! Don't you know who I am?!'"

"What happened then?" Malfoy asked as he held his gut

"After his stupidity; the Despot grabs him by the neck and tosses him around. He then tossed him pell-mell down the steps. The screaming brought tears of laughter in my eyes

"Then the next you know, the alarms in the building went off"

"You're kidding?" said Malfoy in an impressed way

"Nope. Anyway, when the alarms went off I grabbed Stevens and dashed out of the building just when the guards came"

"Then what happened?"

"He changed the course of history you asked me. That Despot didn't want to mess with a country with that determination. So he left us alone. Isn't that a destiny?"

"Cool" said Malfoy and saw Harry

"Oy Potter!" said Malfoy walking to him "I see you have your broomstick. I know, lets have a race… whowever wins can slap Granger's rear"

"Er - Professor?" Harry asked

"I gave him a potion that can make him 'loose and care-free'" he said "including his friends"

"I see" Harry said as Malfoy started swinging his legs one by on from left to right as he wrapped his arms around Crabbe and Goyle who imitated what he did when they entered the entrance hall making some students laugh.

"You can go now Harry" said Rapticon Sr. said with a nod

Harry left and headed straight for the Quidditch pitch.

- - -

Harry spent half the afternoon flying around with his broomstick. He left the pitch and made his way to the common room. But he stopped when he saw Fiyuna looking out of the balcony.

"Oh, it's you Harry" she said "Care to join me?"

"Er… sure. Why not?" he said putting his broomstick aside and stood beside her

"Hogwarts is beautiful" she said as she fiddled with a rose "I like it here"

There was a long pause…

"Where did you come from?" Harry asked

"I came from far away" she replied

"Where is it?" Harry said looking at her hooded face

"I can't say." she said "Rapticon Sr. told me that you were asking my age"

"That was out of curiosity" said Harry quickly

She giggled briefly "That's okay. I always wanted someone to talk to. Save for Ginny, she's nice. She keeps on mentioning she had a major crush on you"

"Well, she isn't anymore though" Harry said

"I see" she said as a butterfly flew towards her. She grabbed it the moment it reached her.

Harry watched as she cupped both her hands holding the butterfly. She muttered some words then when she released the butterfly the butterfly turned into a dove that flew gracefully into the clouds.

"How'd you do that? You had no wand" said Harry bafflingly

"You don't need a wand if you believe that the magic's in here" she said pointing to Harry's chest which was his heart

"Can you teach me then?"

"It's in you Harry, you just have to find where your heart is" she said holding his shoulder

"Why did you come with Professor Raptor?" Harry asked

"He promised me something… something that means so much to me"

"What is it?"

She paused and said

"I lost something"

"What is it? A book? A coin? Some priceless possession?"

Fiyuna smiled and said "Oh, it's even more priceless than that"

"I don't understand" said Harry

She started chuckling

"You're so like him"

"Sorry?" Harry said

"You ask too much questions that it reminded me of someone I knew" she said

"What do you mean?" said Harry as he looked her cloaked covered faced

"You remind me of someone… someone I really cared for…" she said with a smile "I hope he was here with me…"

            "I'm sorry… is he dead?" asked Harry before he could stop himself. She started chuckling. "I don't know… maybe I suppose… I hope" she turned her head to Harry and ruffled his hair affectionately "You are really a very nice person Harry… I'm very glad I met you"

“Who was the person I reminded you of?"

She smiled and said

            "A friend who changed the course of my life forever"

-->