Chapter 10: A Message From The Enemy
Recap: "But, Harry there is another thing on my mind…I listened to what Ron said…and he said something about you loving me…is that true?"
*
Harry stared up into the girl's deep brown eyes, this was it, and he was going to say those three fatal words. "Hermione…I love you," he said gently. He felt tense, like he was about to face Voldemort in the last ever battle.
"Oh, Harry, this might be a little soon for me," she answered, with a half smile on her face. "But, you should know that when I'm ready I will say it back. I don't know how long it will take, but when I know for sure, I will let you know."
"That's fine Hermione," he said, although he was a little disappointed, "I understand that it's quite a big thing to say."
There was a strained silence between them, when Hermione spoke. "Harry, what are we going to do about Ron?" she asked.
Harry was relieved that she had changed the subject. "I don't know Hermione, I've tried the reasonable option, I've tried being the sensible one but he just will not accept the fact that me and you are together."
"I have an idea…" Hermione started.
"And that surprises me." Harry answered sarcastically. She raised her eyebrows at him.
"Just hear me out ok? I'm guessing Ron feels lonely right now, so we have to make him not feel lonely, if that makes sense?"
Harry nodded. "So you're saying that we need to find something or…"
"Someone, for Ron," Hermione butted in.
"Ok, but who?" Harry asked. "Ron's kind of picky."
"And you're not?" she answered.
"Obviously," Harry replied, smiling. She gave him a playful punch in the ribs before giving him a long kiss on the lips. They then headed off to the common room to eye up their candidates.
They sat quietly in the corner of the common room for about half an hour before finally making their shortlist.
"Ok," said Hermione. "First are the Gryffindors, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. Then Hufflepuff, Susan Bones, and finally Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw. Are you sure Ron won't mind the last two not being Gryffindors?"
"Well, it's worth checking them out, we'll keep a close eye at dinner tonight." With that, Hermione placed the list in her bag and they headed off to Potions.
*
When they arrived in the dark and dingy Potions room, Snape was already standing at the front of the class clenching a rectangular jar filled with some sort of green goo.
"Today we will be learning how to create Plimo juice. You will need to know how to do this if you want any chance of passing next year's N.E.W.Ts. Plimo is a juice used to create lolth, which is used in a potion which will awaken somebody from a sleeping draught." Snape began bluntly. "Your ingredients are already on your desk, I want the snails removed from their shell, dead-headed, the fingernails crushed and the entire green liquid added. When your Potion is complete it should look something like this." Snape pointed to the green jar, which was now on his desk. "Begin," he ordered.
Harry looked awkwardly at the snails; even he didn't like the idea of cutting heads off them. Although he wasn't the only one, as he noticed Neville's pale face and Hermione's expression said it all. He quickly picked up a knife and chopped off all of the heads at once, he looked to his right and noticed Hermione's horrified expression.
"How can you do that?" she asked.
"Well I have to if I want to pass Potions, here. I'll do yours if you like." He grabbed her board where the snails were laying; he was about to pull them out of the shell when he felt a cold hand land on his shoulder. He turned around to see Professor Snape glaring down at him.
"No helping Potter, you know that," he said coldly.
"Bu-"
"No questions," he snapped back before turning and walking back to his desk.
Hermione pulled back her snails. "It's ok Harry, I can do it." Harry nodded and glanced at the desk across the room where Ron was sitting with Dean Thomas. He was starting to miss Ron now, although he wasn't the one who wanted to argue, it was Ron. He still needed to help Hermione decide on whom they were going to try and fix Ron up with. He was removed from his thoughts when he heard someone mention his name.
"Potter" came the eerie voice. "Recognise my voice? You know who I am. I suppose you know of the murders that I have carried out, it started with the mudbloods, and then it was the centaur. I will remove anyone who opposes me, you just better keep an eye on your Mudblood." Harry then heard Voldemort's evil laugh before he was awoken.
He opened his eyes to see Hermione, Snape and Neville watching over him.
"Harry are you ok?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry stuttered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Hermione, I'm sure" he said re-assuringly.
"What happened Potter?" asked Snape sternly.
"It was nothing, I just went a little faint." Harry lied. Snape eyed him suspiciously, before ushering out the class. "End of lesson," Snape called out.
Harry walked quickly away from the class and made his way outside, he didn't know where to go, he just wanted to get outside, he noticed Hermione rushing behind him.
"Harry, stop a moment!" she called out.
Harry stopped and looked back at her, their eyes locking for a moment.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Not inside…for now," he answered, looking a little nervy.
"Well, I have to go to the library to get some books out on Arithmancy but…"
"No! You can't go alone Hermione." Harry pleaded.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because…because of something Voldemort said."
"Voldemort?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.
"That's what just happened," he started softly. "Voldemort talked to me, he talked about killing your parents and Firenze. Then he said…he said that…well…"
"What did he say Harry?" Hermione asked, her eyes starting to well up.
Harry stared deeply into her eyes, he wanted to hold her now, to protect her from everything, and he knew that he had to face the truth. The war was here. "He basically said that you were his next target Hermione," he choked out.
The two of them didn't say anything; they just held each other in their arms until the pain had slightly eased.
Authors Note:
Sorry this chapter took so long, I have been suffering from slight writers block. I know that there wasn't too much action in this chapter but I hope you still enjoyed it, please review, they are what make me update at all.