Author's Note: Hello everyone! Well, unless I finish the next chapter by Thursday and my beta reader returns it on Friday, this is my last update before I go to spend the week in Montreal. My family hasn't taken a real vacation in years so it's nice to get out of the house. I get to try my hand at actually speaking French outside of class, so this is really going to be interesting. Thank you everyone for reviewing. I appreciate it. Also, gracias to Romy for being my Spanish translator and to Nitya for once again being my wonderful beta.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
THE VAMPIRE HUNTER
Ron, after a lot of encouragement from Harry, went off the next morning to find Luna and ask her about that picnic she wanted. Harry, in the meantime, spent his entire morning with his mother's diary. He finished her fifth year and was already a month into her sixth year when Ron returned, looking extremely pale.
"Well?" Harry asked.
"It's this afternoon," Ron said, his voice squeaky.
Harry checked his watch. "Exactly what time this afternoon?"
"Twelve-thirty."
Harry glanced up at his friend. "It's eleven o'clock. Perhaps you ought to go down to the kitchens and enlist the help of Dobby now."
Ron gulped. "Okay."
"And Ron?"
"Hmm?"
"You may want to take a blanket to sit on," Harry reminded him.
Ron nodded. "Right," he murmured and shuffled up the steps to the boys' dormitory. Harry only chuckled. When Ron returned, he had a flannel blanket in his hands. He looked like he was in another world.
"Weasley!" Harry yelled, trying to get him to snap out of it.
"Wha-"
"Go to the kitchens, Weasley, or your little picnic will never work!" Harry ordered, trying not to laugh.
"What? Oh, yeah," Ron murmured as he shuffled towards the portrait hole.
"And Ron?" He turned back. "Good luck and have fun."
Ron gulped and headed out. Harry couldn't help it; he snickered. Of course, he remembered how nervous he was on his first date with Cho. Not that Ron would really consider lunch with Luna as a date.
Harry opened up his mother's diary again and continued reading. Around noon, Ginny walked in, looking rather sullen. Harry didn't pay her any attention for several minutes, finishing up a week's worth of entries, but when she sighed, he closed the book and turned to her.
"Hey Ginny. Something wrong?" he asked.
"What? Oh, no. Nothing," she said, but her eyes betrayed her.
Harry frowned. He really didn't feel like pushing the issue. "Okay. Have you had lunch yet?"
"Er-no," she replied. "Why?"
"I haven't either. Ron's off…well, let's just say that he won't be eating lunch in the Great Hall today," he said with a grin. "Would you like to join me instead?"
"Oh!" She blushed slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Would I have asked if I weren't?" Harry asked with a grin. "You look like you could use a friend."
"I didn't know that you thought of me as a friend," Ginny said.
"I think of you more like a sister," he said, getting up. "Come on. Let's grab a bite to eat."
"Er-okay," she said, rising.
"One second, though. I have to return something to my dorm," he said, grabbing up his mother's diary and running up the stairs. When he returned, Ginny was standing near the portrait hole, waiting. When he approached her, he asked, "Ready?" She nodded. Harry opened the portrait. "After you, then."
When they reached the Great Hall, they sat down opposite each other at the Gryffindor table. Harry noticed that when they walked in, Justin Finch-Fletchley glanced over at them and frowned.
Ginny pulled a plate of sandwiches toward them. "So why won't Ron be eating in the Great Hall today?"
"He's eating with somebody else."
Ginny's eyes grew wide, and they twinkled with mischief. She was definitely the sister of Fred and George Weasley. "Oh really? Who might this 'somebody else' be?"
"Someone he felt he owed because of an incredibly valuable gift they gave him," Harry replied.
"It's not a girl, is it?"
Harry picked the lettuce out of his sandwich. "Might be."
She almost choked on her glass of pumpkin juice. "He's on a date?"
"I wouldn't call it that," Harry said. "It's more of a 'thank you,' that's all."
"Who's the girl?"
Harry grinned. "He'd kill me if I told."
Ginny leaned forward eagerly. "Come on, Harry, I'm his sister. I should know."
He took a bite out of his sandwich. "Why don't you ask him when he comes back in?"
"Because he'll turn red and start stuttering. Unless, of course, the girl is hot," Ginny added.
"If she were hot, he would have been bragging about it," Harry said.
"Touché," Ginny replied.
Harry decided to change subjects. "Speaking of dates, I'm surprised you're not spending the day with Justin."
Ginny's grin faded away. "Oh, we spent the morning together outside. It's a lovely day. But then…" she trailed off.
"What?"
She frowned and shifted uncomfortably. "We got bored."
"Bored?"
"Yes. I don't want to talk about it."
Harry nodded. "Okay."
They finished their meal in silence. Afterwards, Ginny said good-bye to Harry and left the Great Hall with some other fifth year girl to hang out with down by the lake. Harry headed back up to the common room and started doing his homework. About an hour later, Ron returned with an empty basket and a blanket.
"Hey," Harry greeted, dropping his quill. "How did your picnic go?"
"Alright," Ron replied, sitting down at the table Harry was at. "We talked. She told me about her holiday this summer to Sweden."
"Oh yes, I remember her saying something last year about going," Harry said. "Did they find any Crumple-Horned Snorkacks?"
Ron snorted. "There's a reason why they call her 'Loony.' Would you believe she actually sounded disappointed when she said that she and her dad didn't find any?"
"That doesn't surprise me," Harry murmured.
"So what are you working on?" Ron asked, glancing at Harry's paper.
"Potions essay."
"Ha! I'm so happy I don't have that class!" Ron said in glee. "Is it hard?"
"I'm sure if Hermione hadn't taught me a trick for doing research, it would be a lot harder," Harry replied.
"A trick? What is it?" Ron asked.
Harry flipped to the back of his book. "The index."
Ron stared at it. "Now why didn't we think of that before?"
Harry laughed. "We're pretty dense, aren't we?"
Ron nodded. "I suppose I had better start my homework too."
"We can distract ourselves by discussing Quidditch while we work on it," Harry said, grinning.
Ron's eyes lit up. "Sounds good!"
*****
Hermione returned on the last day of the Easter holiday. When she stepped out of her carriage, Harry and Ron rushed forward to greet her.
"Hey Hermione! You wouldn't believe how much homework Harry and I completed," Ron said proudly.
"You're right, I probably wouldn't," Hermione said, but she was grinning.
"Hello, Hermione," Harry greeted, giving her a hug. "Welcome back."
"Thank you," she said, hugging him back. "It's good to be back at Hogwarts."
Harry grabbed the handle of her trunk. "I'll take this for you. How are your grandparents?"
"Delightful as always," she muttered as they headed up the steps to the castle. "They still don't have any idea that I'm a witch."
"It's their loss then that they don't know exactly how wonderful and unique you are," Harry murmured as they entered through the oak front doors.
She blushed. "Thanks. So what did you two do while I was gone?"
Ron grinned. "Well, besides the boring homework stuff, Harry and I tried out his new broom."
She blinked in surprise. "New broom?"
"Yeah-the Phoenix. Harry built it."
She swung around and faced Harry, stopping him short. "You what?"
He scratched the back of his neck idly. "I used those blueprints we found in Sirius's vault and made the broom."
"And it's fantastic!" Ron said enthusiastically. "It's faster than Harry's Firebolt!"
Hermione looked somewhere between being shocked and horrified. "Well, that's lovely."
Harry shook his head and started walking again. "That's not all we did. Well, Ron had a more interesting week than I did. Tell her about your picnic with Luna."
Ron turned red as Hermione's head whipped towards him. "You had a date with Luna Lovegood?"
"It wasn't a date," Ron groaned. "I was merely saying thank you for the Agrippa card she gave me for my birthday."
Hermione looked at him reproachfully. "Your birthday was over a month ago, Ron."
"I had forgotten about it."
She gave an exasperated sigh. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
"Other than that," Harry said as they began to climb the stairs, "we've had a lot of fun."
"Sounds like you two had some quality male bonding time-not like you needed it," Hermione added.
"Male bonding time," Ron repeated. "Can't we just call it an over-extended boys' day out?"
"If you want," Hermione said with a small grin. "So, how much homework do you two have left?"
Ron simply groaned.
"I'll take that to mean a lot-still."
*****
Hermione sat by as Harry and Ron worked on their Transfiguration essays. She had completed her homework three days ago, she told them.
"Well that's because you're the overzealous homework queen!" Ron said moodily, crossing out a line.
"You two shouldn't have saved your homework for the last minute," Hermione chided.
"We didn't!" Ron cried. "We started working on Monday!"
Hermione looked mildly surprised. "Then why aren't you finished yet?"
"Because we don't have your superior intellect and ability to fly right through homework," Ron grumbled.
She sighed. "Fine." She got out a piece of parchment, a bottle of ink, and a quill.
"What are you up to?" Ron demanded.
"I'm preparing a study schedule for exams," she replied, dipping her quill in the ink.
"But they're not until June!"
"Ron, you've known me for six years now. When have you ever known me not to be prepared for anything school related?"
Harry smirked. "She's got a point."
Ron scowled. "Just for once I'd like to see you slack off, Hermione. Procrastination is actually a good thing."
"Hardly," she retorted. "Procrastination only adds to your stress and anxiety."
"Procrastination shows which people can handle stress and anxiety. It's apparent you can't," Ron shot back.
"Don't be silly! I can handle stress better than you can," Hermione said.
"Oh really? Which one of us freaked out more when it came to O.W.L.s last year? Which one of us snapped at people when they were too loud while we were studying?" Ron challenged.
"Which one of us tried to get a remedy to increase one's brain productivity?" she reminded him.
"You stopped us!"
"For good reason! It wouldn't have worked!"
"Says you!"
Harry dropped his quill. "Will you two shut up? I'm trying to do my homework here!"
Hermione flinched as if she had been stung. "Sorry, Harry."
Ron frowned. "Bloody hell, Harry, you're right. We do sound like two squabbling siblings."
Hermione's eyes filled with amusement. "Squabbling siblings? I suppose you're right."
"We better get back to this essay," Ron murmured and filled his quill with ink again.
Harry closed his book and blew on his essay to dry the ink. "I'm going to the library."
Ron blinked. "Whoa…sudden role reversal." He glanced accusingly at Hermione.
She rolled her eyes. "Alright, Harry. I don't blame you."
"See you later," he said, grabbing his stuff and leaving. As he walked down the corridor to the library, he imagined that Ron and Hermione were already arguing again.
Sitting at the far end of the library about an hour later, he had just finished his essay when Ron and Hermione joined him. He glanced up at them while proofreading his essay. "Something wrong?"
"Oh, no," Hermione said. "Ron had an idea and we wanted to let you know so that you could join us."
His attempt at proofreading failed as curiosity took over. "What?"
"Well, I was just thinking that we haven't gone to see Hagrid in a long while," Ron explained. "We really should."
Harry nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Let's go," he said as he began to pack everything into his bag. He reached for his essay but found that Hermione had grabbed it instead.
"I'll read it over for you," she said with a small smile as they got up and headed towards the door.
By the time they reached Hagrid's hut, Hermione only made one suggestion before handing his paper back to him. She looked thoroughly pleased at his work. "Nice job, Harry."
"Thanks," he said, and knocked on Hagrid's door.
They heard Fang the boarhound's booming bark before Hagrid opened the door. "Oh, hullo! I've bin wonderin' when I would see you lot again."
"We see you every Wednesday and Thursday for class," Ron said as Hagrid ushered them inside.
"Yeah, but that's not the same," Hagrid muttered. "Tea?"
"Sure. I'll help you," Hermione said, going to his cupboards.
Harry sat down and scratched Fang idly behind the ears. "How's Grawp?"
"He's good. I introduced him ter Fluffy a few weeks ago," Hagrid replied as he put a pot on to boil. "I'm sure they're havin' fun."
"How's his English coming?" Hermione asked, searching around for cups and saucers.
"Very good. Yeh can understand him a lot better now. He still calls yeh 'Hermy' though," he added sheepishly.
"That's alright," she said, but she really didn't look all too thrilled about it.
"Hey Hermione, can I start calling you Hermy now?" Ron teased.
She glared at him. "You most certainly may not!" Ron fell back in Hagrid's huge chair, laughing gleefully. "Ron, if you dare to call me that I swear I'll-"
"Do what? Hex me?" Ron asked, sniggering.
"If you're not careful-yes."
"I'd be careful if I were yeh, Ron," Hagrid said, his beard twitching upward. "Hermione's not called the cleverest witch of yer year fer nuthin. By the way, Harry, Hermione, yeh ought ter be happy ter know that yer kneazle is pregnant."
"She is?" Hermione exclaimed excitedly. "When did you find out?"
"Just the other day," Hagrid replied, grinning. "Congratulations."
Hermione smiled, but Harry was quite unenthused about the situation. "We're not going to have to watch her give birth, are we?"
"If yeh're lucky, yeh will. Life is such a beautiful thing," Hagrid said wistfully.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances. They looked like they were both thinking the same thing: eww.
*****
Classes started again the next day. The night before, Harry and Ron had rushed to get their remaining assignments done, while Hermione refrained from chiding them by sticking her nose in a book. They successfully got through Transfiguration and also had a successful Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Lupin had started them on countercurses, something Harry found interesting.
The next morning found them in Charms class, where Professor Flitwick was busy teaching them the Disillusionment Charm, something Harry remembered all too well. Mad-Eye Moody had used it on him the year before so that he could travel from the Dursleys' to Sirius's house safely.
"Now, rap your neighbor on the head with your wand and say the incantation 'abeo.' Off you go," Flitwick said in his squeaky voice.
"I've had this done to me before," Harry said to Ron. "You're going to feel like I just poured ice water on your head. Ready?"
"Oh great," Ron muttered.
"Abeo!" Harry murmured, smacking the top of Ron's head with his wand.
"Ow!"
"Sorry."
Ron shivered suddenly. "You weren't kidding about the ice water feeling, were you?"
"No," Harry said as he watched Ron slowly blend in with the wall behind him. He crossed his arms over his chest. "You look like a chameleon."
Ron looked down at his hands. "Bloody hell, that's wicked!"
"Now, Disillusioned people," Flitwick said to the class, "Disillusion the person who Disillusioned you."
Ron held up his wand. "Time for me to hit you over the head."
Harry laughed. "Just do it."
He heard a THUMP and felt a sharp pain at the same time as Ron hit him and said, "Abeo." Then, he too felt like ice water was slowly tricking down from the spot where Ron's wand had hit him. Soon he had blended in with his surroundings.
"Wonderful!" Flitwick squeaked, going around the classroom. "Well done, all of you. Now you all may perform the counter to it, 'appareo.' Hit yourselves on the head and try it."
"Yes, let's smack ourselves with our own wands," Ron muttered sarcastically.
Harry grinned before he brought his wand before him and smacked himself smartly on the head, murmuring, "Appareo." Suddenly it felt like warm water began to trickle down from his head to his toes. He glanced at Ron and saw that his friend was slowly starting to reappear.
"Who needs an Invisibility Cloak when you have this?" Ron said in approval when he was completely visible again.
"Disillusioned people can be detected," Hermione said, joining him and Harry after partnering with Neville. "Just because you can blend in with your surroundings doesn't mean that someone might not notice that something in the room is moving."
"It still seems like a nice tool for stealth," Harry murmured.
"If you're careful," Hermione replied.
"Class dismissed!" Flitwick announced. "Two pages on Disillusionment to be turned in Thursday."
They walked out of class. As they passed a window in the corridor, Harry took note that it was raining. He groaned inwardly. He just had to have scheduled Quidditch practice for that day, hadn't he?
"Something wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Huh? Oh, nothing," Harry replied.
"You two didn't have your usual Monday library date last night," Ron said suddenly. "Are you two going to do that after me and Harry get done with practice?"
Harry's cheeks reddened slightly at the use of the word "date." He glanced at Hermione and noticed that her cheeks were slightly red as well. "I dunno. What were you planning on doing this evening, Hermione?"
"Homework of course," was Hermione's reply. "I suppose we could go to the library. Care to join us, Ron?"
He laughed. "You know I always do my homework at the last minute."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but said nothing as they headed up the stairs to the seventh floor. When they approached the Fat Lady, Hermione uttered the password and they stepped inside.
Sitting down at the table they usually did their homework at was Ginny. Harry noticed that the sullen look he had noticed a week ago had returned. He dropped his bag on the floor next to the table, along with Ron and Hermione.
"Hello Ginny," Hermione said, sitting down cautiously. "What's wrong?"
She sighed. "Oh, it's nothing important," she murmured as Harry and Ron sat down. She frowned. "Justin and I broke up."
Ron nearly fell out of his chair. "Really?" He sounded more excited than sympathetic.
"Oh, Ginny, I'm sorry," Hermione said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What happened?"
"Nothing really. It was a mutual decision," said Ginny. "We were…getting bored with each other."
"Bored?" Ron repeated. "How on earth did you get bored with each other?"
"None of your business, Ron," Ginny snapped. "Relationships fall apart, not that you would know, considering you've never had a girlfriend!"
Ron scowled at her. "That was low."
"No it wasn't," Ginny muttered. She got up and glowered at him. "Justin and I are over and it doesn't really matter why we broke up. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to class." With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out.
"What a temper," said Ron.
*****
Later on, Harry flew around the Quidditch pitch on his Firebolt as rain poured on him and the rest of the Quidditch team. He adjusted his goggles that Ginny had bought him for Christmas as he watched Chaser formations. He observed as Hunter passed the Quaffle to Ginny. When she headed towards the goal, she nearly plowed the ball right into her brother's head. Ron, however, caught it before it even reached his skull.
"Nice try, Gin!"
Harry brushed away the bangs that had plastered themselves to his forehead before taking the Golden Snitch out of his pocket and releasing it. He counted to ten as he turned back and watched the Beaters this time before turning back around and taking off after the Snitch. When he caught it, he headed back towards the rest of the team and blew his whistle.
"Good job team!" he yelled when they joined him. "We'll pick back up tomorrow, provided that it's not raining. I've had enough of this stuff."
They all headed towards the muddy ground. When they landed, Harry found Hunter Farrell at his side. "Can I do something for you, Hunter?" he asked as he walked back towards the crate so that he could return the Snitch.
"I have a question and I figured that you were the best person to answer it," Hunter said, picking up his Nimbus 2000 higher so that he wouldn't drag it through the mud.
"What's your question?" Harry asked, leaning over and placing the Snitch back in its proper place before closing it up and letting McGuire and Kirke take it back to Madam Hooch's office.
Hunter stood silent for a moment, as if he were organizing his thoughts or trying to choose his words carefully. The rain poured on them. "Has the pain gone away for you yet?" he asked finally.
"The pain?" Harry asked, spitting out rain water as it entered his mouth.
"The pain of losing your godfather," Hunter amended.
Harry really didn't want to answer that question, but the part of his mind that often spoke in Hermione's voice reminded him that he was the boy's mentor and that he was supposed to talk to him. He lowered his goggles and let them hang around his neck. "Come on," he said, frowning slightly before placing a hand on his shoulder, "let's go find someplace warm and dry to discuss this."
And they walked in the rain back towards the castle, two boys with similar pains.
*****
Harry and Hunter had spent nearly an hour talking, swapping stories about the ones they had lost. They smiled at the fond memories and laughed at the funny ones. Harry told him quietly that it still hurt to know that Sirius was gone and that he was never coming back. Hunter told him that he missed his father terribly and wished that the pain would just go away.
"I don't think the pain ever truly goes away," Harry had said to him. "It just subsides some. I've come to accept that my godfather is gone, but I'd like to think that he's in a better place, so that makes me feel a bit better."
He left Hunter with his friends before grabbing his bag and rushing to the library. He was late. He was sure Hermione would understand though.
His stomach knotted. This would be his first time alone with Hermione since her return to Hogwarts. It would be his first time alone with her since he discovered that he felt something for her.
He walked into the library and headed towards the back of it-that was where Hermione preferred to study. Sure enough, he found her there, flipping through the pages of a large book, obviously searching for something.
"Sorry I'm late," Harry said and sat down across from her, just as she placed her finger on something in the book and began to scribble like mad on her parchment.
"It's alright," she said distractedly.
"Are you sure?" he asked, taking out his Charms book.
She glanced up at him with a smile. "Positive. I'm sure you have a good reason."
He sat back in his chair. "Hunter wanted to talk to me-"
"-And you had to be a good mentor and listen," Hermione finished. "Don't worry, I understand. Ally seeks my advice often."
He sighed in relief and smiled. "Good. So what are you working on?"
"Ancient Runes," she replied, as she continued writing. "I have a huge essay due by Friday."
"Oh. Perhaps we shouldn't do this tonight," Harry suggested.
"No-I promised you that I would help you and so I will, Ancient Runes essay or not," Hermione said.
Harry smiled. "Very well. By the way, did I tell you that McGonagall actually told me that my marks have improved greatly?"
Hermione looked thoroughly excited when she looked up at him. "Did she really? Oh Harry, that's great!"
"I still might not become Head Boy though," he added quietly.
"Why not?"
He told her everything Professor McGonagall had said. When he finished, she rested her cheek on her fist and said thoughtfully, "They would be blind if they looked past all of your accomplishments and your good qualities. If they did, they would only see about two percent of who you really are."
"And who am I?" he whispered.
"You're Harry Potter and you're a lot more than just the Boy Who Lived. You're a good person, not some spoiled little brat like Malfoy. You have a heart and a conscience and you use them every day. You're brave and intelligent-a natural born leader. You deal with horrible things that no other person alive can. You're powerful, but you're humble. You don't try as hard as you could in your schoolwork because you want to show everyone that you're just a normal wizard. You don't want to be special. You can be a bit dense, a bit moody when you're stressed, but otherwise you're a rather sensitive guy who's one of the best Seekers Hogwarts has ever seen. That's who you are, Harry," she said, gazing into his eyes. "That's who you are."
Harry had thought that when she started her description of him that he would have felt highly uncomfortable by then end, however, that wasn't the case. Instead, he just smiled. "I'm not sure all of that is true, Hermione, but thanks."
"It is," she said, "and you're welcome."
*****
When they returned to the common room around curfew, they found Ron and Neville engaged in a game of wizard's chess. Ron had probably somehow cajoled Neville into playing with him, and from the looks of it, Neville was losing badly.
"Castle to A-four," Harry whispered in his ear as he and Hermione sat down with them.
"Hey, no cheating," said Ron.
"You're going to beat him anyway, Ron. Let him at least fight back before you checkmate him," Harry said with a wry grin.
Hermione was looking across the room at another table where Ginny was sitting, tracing some shape on the table with her fingernail. "Poor Ginny," she murmured.
"She'll get over it," Ron said as Neville's castle knocked one of his pawns off the board.
"Of course she will, but this is a horrible time, right after a break-up," Hermione said.
Neville's head shot up. "Ginny broke up with Justin?"
"It was more of a mutual break-up," Hermione explained and suddenly stared at Neville, as if she were sizing him up.
"Wow," he murmured, glancing over at Ginny, "and I thought that they were happy. I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out."
"You should tell her that," Hermione said.
His head whipped around until he was looking at her in awe and horror. A blush crept its way onto his cheeks. "Oh, no, I could never-"
"Why not?" Hermione demanded. "Neville, I know how you feel about her."
He looked extremely scared. His gaze flickered over to Ron briefly. "I don't-I don't-I don't know what you're talking about."
She gave an exasperated sigh. "Neville, you've fancied her since the Yule Ball during our fourth year-don't deny it. It's not like we would laugh or anything."
"Ron might kill me," Neville said warily.
Ron, who had been looking at Neville with a mixture of shock and scrutiny, said, "There isn't a boyfriend of Ginny's that I have approved of yet, but none of them are dead."
"That isn't very reassuring," Neville said weakly.
"But I trust you more than the other guys Ginny's dated," Ron finished, the shock and scrutiny in his eyes gone. "I may be overprotective of my little sister, but I know you enough to know that you would never deliberately hurt her."
Neville let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks, Ron."
"So why don't you go talk to her," Hermione suggested.
He glanced over at Ginny and Harry noticed that his lower lip was trembling. "I can't."
"Neville," Harry said, "I've seen you take on Death Eaters. Talking to Ginny will be nothing."
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts," said Hermione forcefully. "Go talk to her."
He sighed and got up. "Oh, alright, but what do I say to her?"
"Tell her how sorry you were to hear that she and Justin broke up," Hermione said. "And offer to listen to her if she ever needs it."
He nodded. "Okay," he said. He turned towards Ginny and, gulping, walked over to where she was sitting.
"D'you actually think they'll get together?" Ron asked.
"Neville has a lot of good qualities. He's a good guy. They both deserve to have some happiness in their lives," Hermione said.
They watched as Neville sat down next to Ginny. "Hermione the matchmaker," Ron murmured, causing all of them to grin.
*****
Harry didn't keep track of Neville's progress over the next week. Instead he thought about everything from Quidditch to classes to Hermione. He had thought that with his recognition that he felt something for her would have brought an awkwardness between them; however, whenever they spoke or did anything, it didn't feel any different. It still felt as though they were friends and nothing more. Privately, he wondered how Hermione felt about him.
When the mail arrived that morning, Hermione opened up her copy of the Daily Prophet and gasped before immediately turning it around for Harry and Ron to see.
Muggles Slaughtered in Vicious Vampire Attack
Yesterday evening the Perthshire Muggle village of Blair Atholl was attacked by an army of vampires. These vampires are believed to be the same ones who assassinated Cornelius Fudge last month. They attacked around 7:00 in the evening and when Aurors arrived around 7:25, they fled, leaving a massacre behind them. The death toll there is catastrophic. There are more victims than there are survivors.
During the night, it was confirmed that a Muggle reporter escaped the carnage and wrote in to a newspaper in Dundee. A Ministry member, posing as a Muggle, has been sent in an attempt to dissuade the newspaper from publishing the letter.
New Minister of Magic Amelia Bones had this to say about the attack: "The Ministry of Magic will send as many people as possible to help the remaining citizens of Blair Atholl with the aftermath of this tragedy. Should the Ministry succeed in stopping the Dundee newspaper from publishing that letter, the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad will send Oblivators so that those poor Muggles won't have to live with the memory of what they saw [last] evening."
"This is horrible," Hermione said. "My God, Blair Atholl's not that far from here either!"
"You don't think they'll come here, or attack Hogsmeade, do you?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Hermione said sadly. "The dementors attacked Hogsmeade, after all. I'm not very concerned about Hogwarts though. There are wards and enchantments guarding the castle and the grounds. I think we're pretty safe here."
"Except that we've got a killer on the loose in here," Harry said darkly.
"Who will be caught soon enough," said an icy voice.
All three of them jumped before looking up to see Mara Frost standing behind Hermione, looking down at them with her eyes narrowed. When she glanced at Hermione, Harry noticed that her upper lip twitched in disgust. Then she glanced at Harry with a horrible look of loathing.
"We have faith that you, Mr. Shacklebolt, and Mr. Crow will find whoever is doing this," Hermione said politely. "However, we're still worried that something else will happen before you catch the killer."
Frost looked angrier than Harry had ever seen her. "For having 'faith' in us, Miss Granger, you sound pretty skeptical at our abilities."
"Not at all. But I know that you currently lack evidence."
"And how do you know that?" Frost bit out.
"Because if you had enough evidence, you would have found the killer by now," Hermione said easily.
Frost looked like she wanted to snarl, but she restrained herself. Instead she leaned down and said, very evenly through gritted teeth, "Nobody likes a smartass, Granger, and you should mind what you say-trying to make us sound incompetent, because I, for one, am far from it. Do not act like some overly-intelligent witch, because what you really are is just a self-conscious Muggle-born trying to fit in with this world. Good luck succeeding." She stood up straight and, turning on her heel, left.
Harry and Ron were bristling in anger. "Where does she get off saying that?" Ron demanded. "She should have stayed around to let me give her a piece of my mind."
"What the hell is her problem anyway?" Harry spat. "Just because she hates me doesn't mean she has to take it out on my friends."
"Actually, she's never said one word to me," Ron said. "But how I wish she would…"
"That's because you aren't a Muggle-born," Hermione said quietly. She looked somewhere between angry and hurt.
"She's a Muggle-born hater, that's for sure," Harry said. "She hated my mum, she seems to hate you…" He sighed. "We've got to find out more about this woman."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but then thought better of it and closed her mouth. Harry checked his watch. "Come on, we've got class."
*****
That afternoon, after lunch, Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed outside towards the greenhouses for Herbology when they noticed Professor Dumbledore, Percy, and the three Aurors accompanying someone neither of them had seen in two years, someone who made Harry immediately glance at Hermione to see her reaction.
She looked alarmed. "Viktor," she whispered.
Viktor Krum looked a bit different from the last time Harry had seen him; he even looked different from his picture in the issue of Teen Witch that Harry had seen in February. His hair had gotten longer-it was nearly to his shoulders-and he looked like he hadn't shaved in at least three weeks. Harry also noticed that he bore a thin scar on his right cheek that was at least four centimeters long.
Harry was glad that they had to veer off to get to the greenhouses just then, because he suddenly did not want to run into them and have to stop to say hello. At that moment, all he wanted to do was to avoid Krum.
He looked back at Hermione again. She was staring at the entourage, her eyes unreadable. Harry frowned. What was she thinking?
In Herbology class, Professor Sprout had them working on another one of her hybrid plants. In Harry's opinion, it was boring work, but it allowed his mind to wonder why Krum had returned to Hogwarts. What could he possibly want?
When the bell rang, they walked over to Hagrid's hut for class. They spent their time watching their kneazles, and when class was over, Hagrid assigned an essay on the gestation period of kneazles and the behavior exhibited by pregnant females. Harry had a feeling that he and Ron were going to have a hard time trying not to cringe while writing that particular essay.
When they returned to the castle, Harry was relieved to see that there was no Krum in sight. He followed Ron and Hermione up the stairs, looking around in an attempt to spot the former Bulgarian Seeker. When he didn't, a sigh escaped past his lips.
Krum, however, was in the Great Hall at dinnertime. He was sitting up at the head table next to Kingsley Shacklebolt. When they entered, Harry saw Krum make eye contact with them and smile. Actually, he seemed to be only looking at Hermione. Harry's eyes narrowed slightly.
Before dinner was served, Dumbledore stood up to address the student body. "Good evening everyone! I'm sure that by now many of you have noticed that we have a visitor. May I introduce to you Viktor Krum, who I believe many of you have heard of. He will be staying with us for a few days. Please extend him every courtesy and allow him his privacy. Thank you."
When Dumbledore sat down, Harry muttered, "Did you notice that Dumbledore didn't say why Krum is here?"
"It's not really anybody's business, is it?" Hermione asked.
"He's in our school," Ron said. "We should know why he's here."
"I'm sure Dumbledore has a reason for not telling us," she said, glancing up at the head table again.
They were nearly finished eating their food when Krum got up from the head table and walked right up to them. "Hello," he said with a smile. "Hello Harry-Ron-" His smile widened. "-Hermy-own-ninny."
"Hello Viktor," Hermione said breathlessly. Harry felt a stab of jealousy at the way her voice sounded. "I'm very surprised to see you here."
"I am surprised myself, but recent events haff brought me here," Krum said.
Hermione looked concerned. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Which recent events are those?"
He glanced over at Harry and Ron. "I cannot say right now," he said grimly.
Harry glowered at him. He wouldn't say anything in front of Harry or Ron, but if Hermione were alone…
He felt that black hole inside his heart return as Krum leaned down closer to Hermione. "It is very good to see you again, Hermy-own-ninny. I haff missed you."
She blushed, and Harry suddenly noticed that he was trembling in a jealous rage. "It's very good to see you too, Viktor."
"Perhaps you and I can spend some time together to catch up on each other's lives?" he suggested. "I vood really like that."
"So would I," Hermione said. "Unfortunately my schedule is pretty full tomorrow. Perhaps after my classes are done for the day?"
"That vood be lovely," Krum said. "I vill see you then. Until that time, good-bye, Hermy-own-ninny."
"Bye," she said as he turned and left the Great Hall.
Ron sat, annoyed. "Notice that Vicky didn't say good-bye to us," he said, gesturing to himself and Harry.
Hermione looked at Harry-"Harry, are you alright? Your face is all red."
"I'm fine," Harry said through clenched teeth. "I'm just a little hot."
"It is a bit stuffy in here," Ron agreed. "I think I'll head back to the dorm and open a window."
"I have to go back to the common room too," Hermione said as she and Ron got up. "Harry, aren't you coming with us?"
"I'm still hungry," he said. "You two go on without me."
"You sure, mate?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "Positive."
"Okay," he replied, and left with Hermione.
Harry sat still for a moment before grabbing a roll and tearing it to bits. He grabbed a second roll and did the same.
"Señor Krum has had a very interesting effect on you, Harry," said a gentle voice behind him.
He turned around and saw Joaquin Crow standing there. "Competing against a person does that to you," Harry said.
Crow nodded. "Competing against him in the Triwizard Tournament like you did two years ago or competing with him over someone's heart?"
Harry was completely taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"
He smiled. "You know Harry, my mother once told me this when I was younger: 'Puede que no sea la más hermosa del jardín, pero la flor que está justo debajo de tu nariz es la que tiene el aroma más dulce,' which basically means, 'It may not be the most beautiful one in the garden, but the flower that is just under your nose is the one that has the sweetest fragrance.'"
Harry could only stare at him.
Crow laughed. "Just think about it," he said and walked away.
Harry got up. He hated metaphors, but as he walked back to Gryffindor Tower, it was all he could think about.
*****
Harry was in a rather foul mood the next evening when Hermione left dinner with Krum and headed to God only knows where. As he and Ron were walking up the stairs and through the corridors, he imagined them doing other things besides talking. If Krum lays one hand on her or decides to have a snogfest with her, I'll kill him, he thought as they reached the Fat Lady.
"April showers," Ron muttered and walked inside, followed by Harry.
"What d'you think Hermione and Krum are talking about?" Harry asked.
"I dunno. Why she never went to Bulgaria to visit him," Ron said, sitting down in a chair near the fireplace.
"I don't like her being alone with him," Harry growled.
Ron looked up at him. "And I thought I was overprotective."
"You can't possibly tell me that you aren't upset about Hermione spending some quality time with Viktor Krum," Harry said.
"Harry, by helping me a couple of weeks ago, you taught me that I don't have to worry so much about Hermione. I don't have to get all riled up over her talking to Vicky because what I feel is not jealousy, but a desire to protect her. I'm sure they're fine."
"I can't believe you're so calm about this. Ron-Krum was smitten with her last the time he was here. It wouldn't surprise me if he was putting the moves on her the moment they left and that they're snogging right now!"
Ron grimaced. "As bad as that is, as long as they're not shagging, I'm okay."
"You're kidding!"
Ron shrugged. "I have to keep reminding myself that she isn't my sister."
"Sod that!" Harry snapped and sat down on the couch next to him. "She's like a second sister to you."
"Honestly, I don't think I want two sisters," Ron said, cringing. "Think of the PMS. You know, I heard that when girls are around each other often enough that they-" He looked utterly horrified. "-synchronize."
Harry's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Ron, I didn't want to know that."
"Sorry. Let's take our minds off of Hermione and Vicky, shall we? I think a great game of wizard's chess will do it."
"Yeah, sure, okay," Harry said.
Two wizard's chess matches later, Hermione returned with a smile on her face. She joined Harry and Ron over at the table underneath one of the windows.
"Getting beat again, Harry?" she said playfully as she sat down. "Honestly, I don't know why you two play that game. Ron always wins."
"Because it's distracting," Harry replied and glanced up at her. "How was your evening with Krum?"
"It was nice. I found out why he's here," she said.
"Oh?" Ron asked. "Why?"
"Because of the vampire attack in Blair Atholl," Hermione said. "He told me everything-why he had to stop sending me letters and what his important job is-"
"What is his 'important' job?" Harry asked.
"He's a vampire hunter," Hermione said excitedly. "He's been tracking a rogue group of Bulgarian vampires for months now and he says that they've joined Voldemort and were part of the vampire army that attacked that village the other night."
There was a pause. "He's a vampire hunter?" Ron said. "A vampire hunter. Does he have stakes and garlic and holy water so that he can fend off vampires?" He snorted in laughter.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, honestly Ron, could you be any more immature? Being a vampire hunter is a very noble and dangerous job."
"Like being an Auror is," Harry muttered.
"Exactly!"
"I'm sure Vicky is a great vampire hunter," Ron said, "but come on, he's one of the world's best Seekers. Why isn't he on some Quidditch team making thousands upon thousands of Galleons?"
"Because Viktor wants to do something in this war and he feels being a vampire hunter is a very good way of doing it," Hermione said.
"If Vicky wants to do something worthwhile for the war, he should join the Order," Ron said. "I'm sure Dumbledore would let him."
Hermione frowned slightly. "You know, that's not a bad idea. Too bad I can't suggest it to him."
"Yes, the Order has to remain a secret," Harry said. "If Dumbledore wanted him in, he would ask."
"Yes, of course he would."
"So how much longer is Krum staying here?" Harry asked.
"He said that he would be leaving tomorrow morning," Hermione said. "He told me that he just wanted to talk to Dumbledore before he went off to Blair Atholl and inspected everything there."
For the first time that day, Harry's mood perked up. "Pity."