A/N: Another chapter has arrived at long last. Thanks for waiting of course!
Have fun, chaps! Cheers!
* * *
Harry snuck a quick glance Hermione's way, purely out of instinct - but upon finding nothing of clear, concise importance, Harry followed Dumbledore's cheerily beckoning hand into his office. Professor McGonagall sent him a truly evil smirk (at least he felt it was), and left them to the headmaster, her long black robe billowing out behind her.
Dumbledore noticed Harry and Hermione's hesitation.
"Come in, come in," he said, beaming at the two of them, "Make yourselves comfortable!"
Harry complied, though his mind was a rapid blur of choices … He looked around the room. How many ways could he kill himself without it looking suspicious? There was a lethal-looking instrument in the corner … Fawkes looked like he was on his Burning Day, he could always trip and catch fire … and the window was always an option …
He could not see Hermione, but from the clipped, amused laugh and the "Now, now, Miss Granger, it's not that bad!" he was certain she was blushing furiously. And before he could stop himself, that same heat spread from his neck to his cheeks. He pulled uncomfortably at his collar, and looked up at his headmaster. Thankfully, he was silent, and his hands were placed on his front desk, his fingertips pressed together thoughtfully. Harry remembered the last time Dumbledore had looked so pensive - it was after fifth year, when he was telling Harry about the Prophecy. Harry heard Hermione swallow forcefully beside him.
"I never thought it would come to this," said Dumbledore softly, closing his astoundingly sapphire eyes. "But, you see, it has taken so long … everyone … alas … no, no one else shall profit … very silly indeed …"
Hermione was positively quivering with impatience. Dumbledore finally looked up at the pair of them.
"I will tell you what you need to know," he said in a voice barely above a whisper, "But the rest you will need to find out for yourself. In time, my dear friends, in time."
Harry blinked.
"It was I," said Dumbledore, evenly. "I could not wait, the time was too precious. The fairies knew they were needed, and they came … but it was I who told them, instructed them."
"You?" gasped Hermione. "But I thought - how is this -?"
"It is no joke, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore in a maddeningly calm tone, smiling serenely. "Please … continue with your progress."
Harry was completely lost.
"Harry." Finally, an explanation. "I have to tell you - I hold much faith in the fairies' -," He smiled innocently, pausing for effect. Harry's face fell, as did his lightening heart. " - handiwork, shall I say. Metagenês especially is an artisan when it comes to potion making. She's always so creative!" He laughed lightly, wiping a stray tear from his eye. "Indeed, there was another time, in my time … however, the results were the same, as it will be soon enough…" He held up four fingers. "Surprise, denial, revelation …" He ticked off three fingers. "And finally, acceptance."
He smiled at Harry's bemused look. "Ah, but of course, Harry. Your parents. Imagine that!"
* * *
"No."
Harry paced in front of the common room fire, later that evening, his hands in his pockets and his bottle green eyes set ablaze. Harry and Hermione, expecting to meet Ron later, were rather surprised to find him gone - but it was no loss, they felt, for the strangeness of the evening was overwhelming in itself. Besides, thought Harry and Hermione alike, Ron didn't seem quite convinced that their love potion wasn't in fact a shenanigan set on dominating his damaged ego. It was silly, stupid, and downright nonsensical - and, in their eyes, completely unworthy of thought.
"What is Dumbledore trying to prove?" raged Harry, kicking at the lint on the rug.
Hermione, from what he understood of her silence, was thoughtful. "Harry, what I don't understand is why you're taking this so badly. We have control of our lives, don't we? Sure, love potions are powerful, but in the end, isn't it the ones who are affected who make the choices?"
Harry stopped moving. Something was not right … something was off. He could feel it.
"What did you say?" he asked Hermione slowly.
"I said that people make their own choices, we can't really be controlled, unless we're under the Imperious Curse of course, but that's a completely different -,"
There was an odd ringing noise in his head. "We create our own destiny," he mouthed silently, stunned.
Hermione chanced a quick glance his way. "What's wrong?"
Harry shook his head wordlessly, still in a searing shock. "I …"
What was wrong? he had to ask himself, but it was all a hopeless charade. He knew, more than anything else, he knew. Part of him wanted to tell her what was on his mind, to confide in her rationality - but the other part, the stubborn part, in his case, wanted to take this newfound revelation to the grave. It was because of this discomforting shock that he knew the potion worked. Despite everything, despite all of his underlying precautions, he had gotten ensnared - he had fallen in love with his best friend.
He knew she was staring at him. He knew his cheeks were burning red.
"Never mind. I just thought …" He took a deep breath. "I just thought I had realized something, that's all."
"Oh." Her voice was crestfallen.
He could not bear to look at her, because he knew he would not have any sense left if he did. His hands were clammy, his forehead was perspiring, his lips were suddenly chapped, and feeling very, very cold …
He cursed Dumbledore viciously under his breath. He knew this would happen. Harry could just see him now, up in his cozy hideaway, laughing down at Harry, the gullible one, the dim one.
"I just don't understand his motive," said Hermione. Her voice had never sounded so sweet.
Harry pondered this, his thoughts unconsciously straying to Hermione's bushy hair. Her wonderful, luxurious hair. "I dunno either."
"I know there has to be something missing!" she cried impatiently, thumping her fist onto the arm of the couch, "I just know it! There's some vital, important key point that I'm skipping completely!"
"Yeah, I know what you mean …" Awkwardly, Harry scratched his nose.
"Merlin, I feel so stupid!"
"Maybe you're just blind," Harry suggested teasingly, then mentally kicked himself.
Just like true love is blind? You daft git!
Just then, as soon as Hermione was about to retaliate, the portrait hole swung open. Parvati and Lavender stepped through, giggling as usual, their hands fluttering around their hair in flourished mirth. Harry, if asked, would have said they looked remarkably like twittering chickadees.
" … I couldn't believe it! So I was sitting there, right, minding my own business, and that Creevey kid comes up to me, asking about a camera! I told him I'd never seen the thing, but I was lying, you know, I've seen it somewhere … Oh, where was it? Yes, yes - that greasy Malfoy had it today … I just didn't want him to snap anymore of those annoying Muggle pictures …"
Parvati stopped her chatter and turned her head in melodramatic grace, focusing her dark eyes on Harry. She whispered into Lavender's listening ear, and they broke off together, dissolving into another giggly fit of laughter.
"Oooh, hi Harry!" said Parvati. Lavender fingered some of her hair.
Harry heard Hermione let out an annoyed sort of huff from beside him.
"What do you want?" she snapped, "Because if you don't mind, we'd like to get back to our business."
Parvati looked like she was restraining herself with extreme difficulty. "We were just coming to check up on our school's new poster couple …" she said, trailing off mercilessly. Harry blushed, and the strange fluttering feeling in his chest returned. Parvati giggled. "Oh, isn't that adorable? They're in denial."
"Go away," said Hermione viciously.
"Whatever you say, Mrs. Potter!"
Parvati and Lavender scurried up the stairs to their dormitory, giggling the whole way. Harry and Hermione stood rooted to their spots, faces flushed red. "Well," started Hermione, her voice shrill, "We did about everything we could about Dumbledore, didn't we?"
"Yeah, I think so -,"
"Good!" she cried with hearty enthusiasm. "We'll just see each other tomorrow, then -,"
"Did I hear something about a Mrs. Potter?" asked a female voice. Harry and Hermione turned. Ginny was standing behind them, a broad grin on her face. "Oh, Hermione, it's just you."
"If you say anything, Ginny, I will personally -,"
Laughing, Ginny responded, "No need to get your knickers in a twist, Hermione, I'm only joking." She turned to Harry and grinned, whispering loudly, "Hold on to this one, Harry …"
"Oh shesh!" she cried when she saw Hermione's look, "Have a sense of fun!"
"Hey Ginny," said Harry, struck with an idea, "D'you know where Ron is?"
"Bah, him," she said dismissively, shrugging, "I honestly don't know. I haven't seen him around that often anymore."
"Strange," muttered Hermione.
"Yeah, well, boys you know." Ginny rolled her eyes, but said to Harry, "Don't worry Harry, you're fine." She laughed. "Listen, I have to go. I have detention with Snape in about ten minutes - it's something about an exploding salamander …"
"Did anyone get hurt?" asked Hermione in alarm.
"Oh, not really. Only Malfoy - he got sent to Madame Pomfrey's earlier, though. From what I hear, he's been in there all day, nursing some nasty burns …" She shrugged. "Whatever. It was worth it."
With a last smirking smile, Ginny whisked away out of the portrait hole. Hermione was silent. Harry was assailed with sudden doubt and misgiving. His stomach felt ill.
"Look," he said slowly, "I'm really sorry about all of this -,"
"It's not that," said Hermione thoughtfully, "It's just … Malfoy. Ginny said that Malfoy was in the hospital wing, but he couldn't have been, because Parvati saw him with Colin's camera … and what's he doing with Colin's camera, anyway?"
"Maybe he's trying to get his father out of Azkaban," Harry suggested darkly.
For the first time in a while, Hermione laughed. She laughed. "I'm sorry Harry, but that's the silliest thing I've heard all day! Honestly, what could he do with a camera?"
Harry was too overjoyed to hear her laugh that he didn't have time to feel affronted. He grinned. "Yeah … and maybe he's taking pictures of us and putting them in the Daily Prophet!" They both burst into hysterical laughter.
"Malfoy the matchmaker," said Hermione breathlessly. "Wouldn't that be priceless?"
"Yeah …" said Harry, his smile fading to a frown. He opened his mouth, but closed it after a moment of thought. He needn't worry her. Malfoy was probably just trying to make all of Harry's followers and obsessive fans as miserable as possible. Yes … that was it.
Hermione yawned. "Well, Harry, I think that I mean it now when I say I need to go to bed."
He smiled, but he knew she couldn't see him. He chuckled lightly, wanting, at that moment, to look into his eyes, despite the (not so horrible) consequences … "Goodnight, Mrs. Potter."
Hermione punched his arm quickly, but laughed all the same. "Goodnight, Mr. Potter."
His heart spun and he turned around on a whim, maybe to catch her eye, maybe to smile at her, but Hermione had already turned away and was climbing the flight of stairs up to her dormitory. He felt a fleeting twang of disappointment, followed by a leaden, disheartened feeling. However, though a small ray of hope shone through. He had gotten past the horrors.
From now on, he thought grimly, but triumphantly, it can't get any worse.
He didn't know how wrong he was.
* * *
A/N: I love making characters squirm. >:)
Anyway, hope you're paying attention and not just focusing on the underlying H/Hr fluff stuff. Lol. I know, I know, I'm guilty of doing it too … I'm just saying … if you're following me, you might figure out what's going to happen/is happening. Yay!
Sorry this is so short. I'm just going to say that if you want your chapters earlier, then I'm going to do short chapters. If you don't believe this, take a look at my story "Downtrodden". It took me 3 months to get up another chapter. Eh. Well, I have a reason, because I was really busy (for one), and I was reading OotP again to get more concise info.
Oh well. Ignore my ramblings. ;)
Have a GREAT day!
-Lauren
btw, Jen - insane! Insane in the membrane! Insane … got no brain! ROFL.