Misconceptions (2/4)
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.
Summary: Even super-heroes are not safe from the horrors of puberty, as Harry must discover. Indecision, break-ups and make-ups, strange trains of thought, and rather delicate problems, all seen through the perspective of Harry's diary.
Author's Notes: Set in Harry's 6th year.
This story will end up H/Hr, just to clarify things! It is after all coded ORANGE. Ginny will get somebody else. I'm not gonna say who, but it should be obvious when reading my hints correctly : ) I am by gods not a H/G shipper, no sir. I'm just having fun with Harry's hormones.
Chapter 2: Quidditch
September 4th, 8:15
Am sitting in the Hospital wing with Neville at the moment. We left after breakfast - would you believe that there were chopped bananas in my porridge today? Malfoy didn't choke on it, though. What a pity. It was actually quite funny seeing it coming out of his nose in small bits.
Back to the Hospital Wing. Naturally, Madam Pomfrey couldn't find anything that was wrong with me, but she didn't find anything with Neville either. I guess it's just psycho-somatic, because of Snape's nasty comments. So now we're sitting in these hospital beds, bored out of our wits. We're excused from classes today, so the nurse could see whether the potion she gave us works. Neville still looks sulky about having to tell Madam Pomfrey about his little problem. I thought it was rather embarrassing too. But I did it for a friend, so I won't complain. Gah, I hope she doesn't tell anybody.
8:30
She didn't tell anybody. Where should I know that Malfoy was in the Hospital wing at the same time? When I first saw him laughing like a maniac, I thought that this was the end of my reputation. But I have blackmail material: Malfoy has a spot! And on his nose, at that. I overheard him whining about it to Madam Pomfrey, until she let him stay too. I could swear that he just did it to be able to spy on me!
8:47
This is so boring. Malfoy is scribbling something on a piece of parchment.
9:02
Neville is sleeping. Still bored. Malfoy is still scribbling. Doesn't look like homework, though.
9:26
Malfoy finished scribbling on his parchment. He's looking too smug, in my opinion. I wonder what he wrote. Still bored.
I've been giving these last few days some thoughts. I wonder if I'm going to get any visits? I hope Hermione will take the time to pay me a visit. I need to know what our homework is after all!
9:34
Okay, so I really don't care about the homework. No sense in lying to my own diary. I'm actually kind of curious as to whether the button is open today. I dreamed about that button tonight. It was really funny. In that dream, I was asleep, but suddenly woke up because a large guinea pig was chewing on my covers. It was quite dark actually, so I couldn't see, but I just knew that the guinea pig was there. I could hear it munching. But suddenly, there was a soft glow, coming from my right. I turned to see what it was, and then saw that mother-of-pearl button hanging in the air, emitting a very comforting light. It then began to move away from me, and I followed it, while the guinea pig feasted on my bed. The light led me through corridors I had never seen in my life, and then came to a halt in front of a door at the end of a particularly long corridor. I opened the door, and took a peek into the room. It was full of muffins! I wanted to take one and eat it, but suddenly Malfoy of all people came my way, screaming like a banshee. Then I woke up. Weird, no?
Is Voldemort trying to access my dreams again? I hope not. But what if he were? What does he want me to do? Eat a bunch of muffins? I think not. Perhaps he's trying to bribe me? But why would Malfoy want to keep me from doing so? Is he jealous that Voldemort wants to recruit me? I should perhaps tell him to leave me alone, since I have no intention of becoming a Death Eater.
9:41
Did it. Told him. Got a weird look. Apparently he hasn't been informed of the whole Legilimency thing. He's probably not far enough in the Death Eater ranks. I guess he'll be spreading rumours of my increasing lunacy soon. I really should keep my hunches to myself, next time.
9:43
He wouldn't have admitted it anyway!
10:04
Neville snores. Malfoy threw a pillow at him. Didn't help. Now Malfoy has to sit on his bed without a pillow. Ha ha! The spot looks really ridiculous, by the way.
10:45
I wish I had brought that illustrated Chudley Cannons book. Their new seeker is rather hot.
11:04
Neville's snoring is getting rather obnoxious. Malfoy still hasn't bothered to get his pillow back.
11:56
Will this day ever end?
12:07
Neville just woke up! Yay, no snoring anymore. We're playing silly games now. Mostly, we're doing it to annoy Malfoy.
12:46
I spy is getting boring. Mostly, because we're running out of things to describe now.
13:57
Yay! Guess what! Nev and I just had some visitors: Hermione and Ginny. Which means that we got tons of homework.
Hermione sure seems to be a bit distracted at the moment: the button is open again, and she doesn't seem to notice that her skirt is getting a little short. She still looks the same size as ever, but I might be wrong there. Perhaps I grew too, and just didn't notice.
I didn't tell her about the skirt, though. I decided to enjoy the show as long as it lasts. The button is driving me crazy, though.
On to their visit: Hermione said she missed me! Isn't that great? It's mostly because Ron is still glued to the shadows and the bathroom, but I still think that's a good sign. I don't know where the sign is pointing, but I don't think that matters at the moment. Hermione left rather early, because she still needed to do some homework. I wonder whether she noticed that I was staring at that button most of the time? I don't think so.
The good thing about Hermione and the button leaving was that I had some time to talk to Ginny though. And what a conversation that was!
See, she did fairly good as a seeker last year, but since I'm on the team again, she can't play seeker anymore. She told me that she'd like to be a chaser now, since we need new chasers now. Imagine - that body in Quidditch gear, regularly!
Anyway, she said she had her doubts about being good enough to make the position, and asked me whether I could practice with her a little, before try-outs. Private lessons, so to speak. And I didn't even stutter when I told her that I'd love to! I might have blushed a little, but that was all!
Malfoy couldn't resist saying something like "Ooooooh, Harry, can I ride your broom?" in a frighteningly female voice, making Neville fall from his bed in shock. Poor Neville.
We have our first training session tomorrow after class.
The only question that remains is: what's going on with me? I really don't know-
14:25
Sorry, Ron just paid me a short visit. He didn't stay long, for he was still trying to escape Luna. I guess he stopped by to ask my how I was, but didn't get as far as that, because Malfoy started singing another verse of Weasley is our King. I guess that's what he was scribbling down so furiously earlier.
I wouldn't have thought that Malfoy could stoop even lower than he already was, but after hearing that line about the toilet, I changed my mind.
17:something
I was finally released from the hospital wing! Nev seems to be better too. He went to the bathroom three minutes ago and is back already. I'm so glad that I could help him.
I just witnessed something rather disgusting, though: Dean and Ginny seem to have worked their problems out, since they're together again, and had a steamy snogging session in the common room. Dean is such a show-off.
I just remembered that I didn't get to finish something very important earlier:
So, what is going on with me? I am more than confused at the moment. I feel like I might have a little crush on Ginny, although I'd rather call it physical attraction. So far so good, but I have the sneaking suspicion that I have a teensy weensy crush on Hermione too. Which I find rather strange, because the former is almost a sister to me, and the latter is my best friend. But still I can't deny the fact that they're both causing strange reactions in me. All this stomach turning and stuff. And those buttons!
Hermione is writing another letter, and she still won't tell me who it's for. Perhaps she's trying to start an international S.P.E.W. campaign?
Okay, I just asked her, and it's not S.P.E.W. She actually smirked at me when answering. Hermione smirked. It looked quite sexy, actually, but weird. I think I'll go and catch up on that homework now. I think I need Goblin Rebellions more than ever now.
21:30
Goblin Rebellions are a blessing. There's nothing like boring yourself to death when confronted with those buttons. I shall never complain about History of Magic again!
I'm starting to worry about Neville. He sneaked away again tonight. I had thought that Madame Pomfrey's potion had worked, but apparently that was not the case. Poor Nev.
Voldemort still hasn't tried anything funny. At least nothing that I can prove. I might still talk to Snape about giving Ron Occlumency lessons. He is not his normal self at the moment. He lost to Ginny again, today, although it was because he was paying no attention whatsoever. Ginny actually got fed up with him and threw the chessboard away in a rage. She's quite feisty, that one. Her cheeks get all red when she's angry. I had to submit myself to another hour of Goblin Rebellions after witnessing that particular scene.
I have Sirius' mirror lying next to the diary at the moment. I still can't see anything besides myself in it, which annoys me to no end. Why did he give me this? The only good thing about it is that I just noticed that my cheekbones are getting more prominent, which looks kind of sexy.
September 5th, the wee hours of the morning
I just had another ominous dream! It was about - damn, I forgot.
8:19
Hermione just told me something very interesting when we were walking down to the Great Hall: while she was doing her rounds last night she saw Neville and Cho walking towards the Astronomy Tower. Together! She told me that she would have interfered, but that Neville deserved to finally have someone who cares for him, so she didn't.
I am such an idiot! I made a fool out of myself, and Neville because of nothing! I can't believe it, I'm sooo thick.
But, Neville and Cho? I didn't even know that she and Michael Corner weren't an item anymore. Strange. And here I could have sworn that I saw them holding hands at breakfast.
9:25
I take anything I said about Goblin Rebellions and History of Magic back. I was not thinking straight when I wrote that. From now on, I will never say that Goblin Rebellions are good for something again. Never ever. They are hell. Whoever wrote all those books on them? I bet it was Voldemort!
13:39
Enemy check: Malfoy apparently got rid of his spot. Sometimes I feel like cursing magic. Still no hair gel. He's up to something, I just know he is!
Ginny and Dean are still together. As are Cho and Michael. I don't understand the world anymore.
How I wish for this afternoon to fly by - I can't wait till I get to give Ginny a hand with Quidditch practice.
Until then, I have to survive Care of Magical Creatures.
16:34
I survived, for the button was open again. Speaking of the button: Hermione apparently got a reply to her letter today. I tried to see who it was from, but couldn't make it out. But my attempt still paid off: while I was trying to look over her shoulder, I got a perfect view of Hermione's neckline!
Geez, I'm gonna be late for the training session if I don't go now!
21:42
Wow! So much to tell! I spent 3 hours practicing Quidditch with Ginny! I guess she needs the practice: she's a good flier, but she needs to work on her catching. She constantly drops the Quaffle.
I had somehow hoped for her to show up in some really tight pants, and a shirt with a low neckline, but she didn't. She was wearing one of Ron's old Chudley Cannon sweaters, and a pair of baggy pants. I had somehow expected that session to be more exciting that it was, but what did I expect? She has a boyfriend at the moment, after all.
When we came back, we ran into Ron, or rather, he into us. I was about to tell him to slow down when he screamed 'no time, later' and ran away.
We passed Luna Lovegood a minute later, who was staring at a portrait, and appeared to be in deep thought.
Back in the common room, I found Hermione sitting in a chair by the fireplace, hunched over another letter.
I waited for her to finish it, while she didn't seem to notice me. She sure knows how to stroke my ego.
Had a talk with her then. A serious one. That she could tell me if she had a problem. She just laughed and brushed it off. I like her laugh. It makes me get this tingly sensation in my stomach. We then spent some time talking about this and that, and I tried to make her laugh again.
Dean was not very pleased with the Quidditch session Ginny and I had. He threw a huge tantrum, and Ginny broke up with him again. Hogwarts is such a soap opera. Dean isn't speaking to me now, and neither is Ginny, which I find rather unfair. I'll just have to wait for them both to cool off, I guess. I bet they'll be together again tomorrow anyway.
The mirror still isn't showing me anything besides my cheekbones. I used to write Sirius when I was down. Who should I write to now? Who would listen to me? Hermione might. Although writing her would be silly. I might though. I think I'll really do that. Write her a letter, I mean.
22:55
I really wrote that letter, and sent it off with Hedwig. If I could I'd tell her to bring it back now. I feel silly for doing this, but somehow it makes me feel a little better too. I just hope she's not gonna laugh at me.
I wonder if I should stay up and confront Neville when he comes back. He sneaked away again. I think it's not right for him to have something with a girl who has a boyfriend. But I'm too tired for that conversation right now. Perhaps tomorrow.
TBC
Please read the Author's Notes at the beginning of this chapter! They clarify the H/G matter!
Many thanks to everybody who reviewed.