Story: War
Chapter: 19
Rating of Chapter: R
My other Fics: Stress, Wake Me From This Nightmare, Psychokinesis, Forlorn
Beta: Cheryl
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The only things I own are the plot, any characters, spells etc that you do not recognize.
Author Notes: N/A
Chapter 19: Forcing Away The Enemy
Harry walked outside of Hogwarts, his fingers locked around Hermione's. Her thick brunette locks were swaying in the peaceful breeze, and her eyes glistened in the moonlight. "You're beautiful Hermione." Harry said softly as they walked towards the lake. Hermione simply smiled at him and it filled his heart with glee to see her so happy.
Harry had been released from the hospital wing a short while earlier, and they had decided to get some fresh air. Harry sat down at the foot of a large tree, his back supported by the trunk. He took Hermione's hand and led her down into his lap.
"It's beautiful here isn't?" Hermione's voice was so soft that Harry almost had to stop breathing to hear her. He could tell that she was relaxed and happy. His arms encircled her waist and held her close to him. Her head found it's way onto his shoulder, as they remained seated under the stars. "I was really worried about you today Harry." Harry pulled her a little closer, as if to shelter her from any distress.
"You don't need to worry about me Hermione," he whispered, before nibbling at her ear with his dove-like kisses. Hermione closed her eyes and felt herself becoming Harry's prisoner. Their love felt so strong that Hermione wondered if anybody passing by could see the aurora around them.
A few intimate minutes past before Harry pulled his mouth away from her ear and moved them to her cheek. He teased the corner of her mouth with lingering kisses before capturing her lips gently. The sweet taste of her lips drove him mad, but his mind told him to stop before it was too late. He reluctantly pulled his lips from Hermione's and she focused her eyes on him. Her eyes…her beautiful brown eyes were intoxicating. Harry didn't want to stop but it was too soon he new in his heart she wasn't ready. He had to stop before he lost control.
"Hermione, I-" she quickly pressed her fingers to his lips silencing him. She too was getting caught up in the feelings. Harry was right, they had to stop now, she nodded in understanding and slowly moved away from his lap. "Wait!" called Harry reaching for her, "We can still sit together." Hermione gave him a small smile and reached for his outstretched hand but was interrupted by a moaning sound coming from a nearby bush.
"What was that?" she asked anxiously. Harry sat up and stood in front of Hermione, cautiously approaching the bushes. Suddenly more concerned for Hermione's safety Harry pulled her behind him holding her back protectively. He placed a hand carefully on the bush and pulled back a handful of branches. "Draco?" gasped Hermione. Staring at the dishevelled form laying on the ground a sharp contrast from his usual impeccable dress.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"I got stunned a while back, my visions a little blurry. Sorry." He grasped at his pounding head after getting to his feet, while noticing Harry and Hermione's confused stares.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. Draco nodded briefly, before Harry spoke.
"Why did you get stunned? Who did it?" he asked sharply. Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Whoa! Calm down big daddy, hold the twenty questions," responded Draco sarcastically. Realising the couple's serious expressions, Draco figured he should answer. "I was in discussions with somebody, when I was hit from behind with the `Impedimenta' curse. I didn't see who did it, but the voice was female." Harry stepped close to him curiously.
"Who were you with?" he questioned quietly. Draco stood toe to toe with Harry, their contact never breaking.
"What's it to you?" answered Draco casually.
"I know you pretty well, and I want to make sure you weren't doing anything suspicious."
"For your information I was simply taking care of business. Now if you don't mind." Draco stepped past Harry and began to leave, before turning back to Hermione. "All alone now eh? Don't do anything I wouldn't." With his trademark smirk he left them.
*
The breakout from Azkaban had been announced, however, by the following week the school was rather quiet. Pupils were still on alert and many had not heeded Dumbledore's requests for calm and remained anxious.
Harry was due to watch the Gryffindor Quidditch match unfortunately with recent event the competition was cancelled.
A welcome distraction to the current tension was Christmas and the festivities surrounding it. As prefects Harry and Hermione were required to help. With nothing better to do Ron and Ginny offered to help with the Christmas tree decorating in the Great Hall.
Dumbledore had told them that if they managed to decorate without magic they would receive ten house points each. Hermione, of course, was forcing them all to at least try to decorate without magic. "Come on Mione, what difference are a couple of house points gonna make to the year?" a nearby tree haphazardly throwing tinsel on its branches showing very little interest in what he was doing.
"This is our last year at Hogwarts, I'd like for us to win the House Cup, wouldn't you Harry?" Hermione looked down at Harry, expecting him to agree with her. Harry glanced at Ron who had both eyebrows raised in expectance.
"Um." Harry paused for a moment thinking about what to say. He didn't want to disappoint his girlfriend, but he didn't want to force out his best friend although he didn't want to be here himself. "It isn't Ginny's last year," he said, changing the subject. Ginny smiled awkwardly and picked up another bauble. "I need to get another ladder." Harry managed to avoid the situation and dragged a very tall ladder next to the tree. He climbed to the top next to where Hermione was perched on another ladder next to him. "Sorry about that," he said quietly.
"It's okay, I understand." Harry nodded at her and looked down at the ground, a woozy feeling overcoming him. "Are you alright?" Hermione asked looking concerned.
"I didn't realise we were so high up."
"You play Quidditch Harry, I think you'll be safe up a ladder." Harry nodded uncertainly, noticing the puddle of sweat developing on his forehead. Without another thought he felt himself drifting backwards off the ladder, he looked ahead to see Hermione gazing down at him.
As he prepared for the feeling of pain, he felt two successive feelings coming over him in a very short space of time. First of all he felt an excruciating sharpness in his head, then he felt his whole stomach jolt, as he appeared to be floating in the air. He gripped his head and closed his eyes when he felt Voldemort starting to get into his thoughts. Concentrate, Concentrate, Go Away! The voice echoed through his brain, and his body reacted. He forced Voldemort back like when trying to walk to the end of a never-ending room that you can never get there. GET OUT NOW! LEAVE ME ALONE!
Harry sat down on the ground, the pain passing over. "What happened?" Ron asked while staring down at him.
"Voldemort tried to get into my mind, but I forced him out." Hermione dropped to her knees and threw her arms around him. "Who stopped me falling?"
"Me." Harry turned around and the happiness left him when he saw Snape, a look of discontent on his face. Harry got to his feet and straightened himself out.
"Thank you," he answered uneasily.
"Well done Potter, you can continue that form tomorrow afternoon when you begin your next practice." After a cold stare, Snape turned around sharply and strutted out of the hall, his robes billowing behind him.
"Well that was pleasant," stated Ron with a roll of the eyes.
Author Notes: I want to thank my beta Cheryl for all her hard work with all of my chapters. Especially the last chapter of Psychokinesis. She really is a magnificent beta. The proposal will probably happen in the next chapter.