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Stress by Kryptonite
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Stress

Kryptonite

Authors Note: I've noticed that a few of you have said that my chapters have been rushed. Well I hope this chapter will make up for it, because it is a little longer, and I don't think that it is too rushed at all.

Chapter 15 : Friend Or Foe ?

Harry was walking back to the changing rooms when Professor McGonagall stopped him. He turned around to meet her soft gaze.

"Mr Potter, I am sorry that you were disqualified today but you crossed the line with Mr Malfoy. Generally we allow the odd push and shove but you struck your opponent from his broom. Therefore you are suspended from the next match."

"But that's not fair! " Harry argued.

"I am sorry Mr Potter, but I have no alternative." She walked away leaving Harry to think about what he was going to say to his team when he got back to the locker room. He couldn't believe that he had given them that big speech about spirit and giving them the best game they could and now he had cost them the match.

When he got to the entrance he held his head back and let out a long sigh. He slowly opened the door and he saw his team dotted around the room, all staring at their feet. He swallowed before talking. "Well what can I say...you did the best that you could...and...and I failed you...I'm sorry," he trailed off. He didn't know what to say to them after what had happened, not to mention the fact that none of them seemed to want to acknowledge him.

After what seemed like an eternity Ron lifted his head and walked over to Harry. He patted him on the back on his way out. "Don't beat yourself up about it Harry. I'd have done the same thing." Ginny then walked over to Harry too.

"Ron's right, Malfoy deserved what he got Harry...you're still out captain, and we still respect you as our captain, despite what happened today." She started to leave with Ron but Harry stopped them.

"Wait!" he called. "There's something else...I'm banned from the next game," he looked down at his shoes as he took in the strained silence, you could cut the tension with a knife. He was expecting somebody to say something but instead everybody left the locker room, he got the odd pat on the back from the players as they made their exit.

*

Harry went quietly back to the Prefect common room, not being able to face everybody yet. At least he could talk to

Hermione if she was there. He opened the door and saw Hermione sitting quietly on a large scarlet sofa. He slowly sat down opposite her as he slouched back in a comfy armchair.

"What a wonderful start to the day!" he sighed. "I'm glad we've got a couple of study hours, I need a bit of a rest."

"Hmm," mumbled Hermione, who had still not looked up at him.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry asked, moving to sit next to her.

"Are you saying you don't even know what you did wrong?"

"Yes, because I don't know what I've done wrong," he answered.

"Well that just makes it so much worse! If you can sit there and condone what you've done then I don't think I know you as well as I thought I did!" She then started to cry a little as Harry moved his hand slowly to touch her arm but she pushed him away. She got up from her chair and walked quickly out of the room.

Harry was in disbelief about what had just happened. What could he have done to upset her? He was removed from his thoughts when there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" he groaned. He quickly stood up when he saw who it was.

"Cho? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I just saw Hermione, she seems really upset. Do you know what's bothering her ?"

"No, she just says that I've done something that has upset her."

"Typical Hermione." Cho said sarcastically.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.

"Oh, you know, she never gives anybody a chance to speak, she always has to be right, so I wouldn't try arguing with her."

"But if I don't talk to her, I'll lose her," Harry sighed.

"Is that really such a bad thing?" asked Cho softly.

"What are you playing at?" Harry asked sternly. "You didn't give a crap about me last year, so why are you trying to suck up to me now?"

"I'm sorry about last year, I was so upset about Cedric..."

"YOU WERE UPSET! WHAT ABOUT ME! IT WAS HARD FOR ME TOO, I WAS THERE WHEN HE DIED REMEMBER!"

"Calm down Harry, I just want to give us another chance," she pleaded.

"Well you might, but I don't. I'm over you Cho, now get out!" He pointed at the door, anger raging through him.

"You know what? FINE! Go back to your whore!"

"DON'T CALL HERMIONE THAT!" Harry yelled.

"Believe what you want Harry, she'll never forgive you fro what you did to her!"

"How do you know what I did to her?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Cho turned to face him with one hand on the door. "Well, let's just say that she didn't like our little kiss."

"What? I never kissed you, well not since last year anyway!"

"What can I say? A little Polyjuice Potion goes a long way," Cho answered in a very sly way. She then left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Harry turned around, full of anger. He threw an empty water goblet against the wall shattering it into a thousand pieces.

After about half an hour of cooling off, Harry fell into a deep sleep.

He was walking up a long, winding, cobbled path. There was mist on either side of him and he felt a cold chill run through his body. He could see nothing but mist both at the sides of him, and in the distance. He continued walking for what seemed like miles, he eventually saw a long stretch of muddy grass where there were a few stones bulging out of the ground. He walked up to the grass and noticed that the stones were tombstones. He noticed a few names, one of which was Sirius Black. He glanced next to them and noticed two more. Lily Potter and James Potter. "Mum, Dad, Sirius!" he yelled, in almost a scream. He touched one of the stones and a large oak door swept around them blocking him access. He tried to walk around the door but it appeared to be never ending. He noticed a large Phoenix flying high above him, the Phoenix swept down towards him....

Harry woke up with a start. He rubbed his eyes under his glasses when he realised it was a dream. But what did all that mean? It was certainly turning out to be an eventful day!

*

Harry made it to Defence Against The Dark Arts only just in time. He took his seat next to Ron and Hermione. Hermione still wasn't paying any attention to him. Professor Lupin entered the classroom and announced that they would be revising various ways to protect yourself in battle from books. Hermione beamed at the idea, while a large majority of the class groaned. Hermione made her way to the front of the class, no doubt to ask for more books. Ron then turned to

Harry.

"What's going on with you and Hermione?"

"At first I wasn't sure, but after a discussion with a certain Cho Chang I think I know what the problem is." Harry quickly told Ron what had happened.

"When are you going to talk to Hermio-" Ron trailed off when he noticed that Hermione was now standing opposite them.

"Uh...Hi, Hermione."

"So, what was that about me?" she asked, dropping a pile of books on the table. She then stood up straight, hand on hips.

"Ron was just asking me when I was going to talk to you," Harry stated.

"I don't want to hear it!" she said harshly.

"Hermione, I know what's upsetting you. But it's not what it looked like..."

"Oh, so now your not only a cheater, you're a liar!" She turned around and stormed out of the classroom, turning everybody's attentions to Harry.

"Professor, may I be excused?" Harry asked.

"Um...yes, but I want you to make up for what you will miss by reading one of those books for next lesson," Lupin answered. Harry nodded and made his way out of the classroom.

*

Harry couldn't find Hermione inside the school, so he decided to look outside. He stepped out into the cold, it was now raining heavily. He looked around and noticed a green light in the distance. He guessed that Hermione could be using the Lumos spell, so he made his way towards the light. He didn't realise until he got there that the light was coming from the old tree house under the Whomping Willow that his father, Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail used to use. He opened the small door and crept in quietly. He noticed Hermione sitting on a sofa in the corner, wiping her eyes.

"Hermione," he said softly. She looked up quickly at him.

"How did you find me here?" she asked between snuffles.

"I saw the light from your wand. Listen, I talked to Cho today and I know why you're mad." Hermione got up to leave again but Harry grabbed her arm tightly.

"Ouch, Harry you're hurting me," Hermione whimpered.

"I'll elt go when you promise you'll listen to me," Harry said seriously.

"Ok, I'll listen." Hermione cried. Harry released his grip and ushered her to sit down, which she did. "Why did you do it Harry? Why would you do this to me?"

"I wouldn't...and I didn't. I know it sounds odd but I didn't kiss Cho. She let it slip today that she used a Polyjuice Potion, I don't know who took it, but they turned into me. I would never do anything like that, I care about you far too much Hermione."

"Cho also told me that you said some horrible things about me, something about me being to controlling and bossy."

"It's true, I said that you are so controlling and bossy, they are two of the best things about you."

"Oh Harry!" Hermione ran up to him and gripped her arms around him tightly. Harry put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"I love you Hermione." Hermione pulled away and looked directly into his emerald green eyes.

"I love you too Harry." Harry beamed at her and crushed his lips against hers. He touched her bottom lip with his tongue as she opened her mouth, granting him access. Their tongues duelled as the kiss deepened, a slight moan escaping Hermione's lips. She tilted her head back allowing Harry to send a soft trail of kisses down her neck, making her shudder under his touch. He leant her down onto the sofa and climbed on top of her kissing with more passion than ever. He slid off her robe and slowly unbuttoned the bottom button of her shirt, but she pulled away quickly.

"Harry, we should stop." She muttered, gasping for air.

"Yeah, I guess your right," he answered, a little shaky from both excitement and nerves. They were both a little red, but they stayed together for a little while as they waited for the heavy rain to ease.