Harry Potter and the Second Prophecy by Parvati_Patil Rating: PG13 Ship: Harry & Hermione Canon: Books 1 - 5 Genre: Romance Status: In progress Length: 12,341 words in 6 chapters Published: 17 Jul 2004 Last updated: 8 Sep 2004 What if there was more to the prophecy than Dumbledore told Harry? It carries on from OotP, so it takes place in the 6th year. Might change from R to PG13 a little. First fic; please R/R! From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/2577/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Chapter 1 Hey Everyone! I’m not entirely sure where this story may take me, but I have the basic plot put together. I would appreciate reviews, and I’m going to need some reviews and ideas to continue! This takes place in Harry’s 6th year, after the OofP! I’m trying real hard to study the book to make sure it follows everything that JK Rowling has said (facts, etc). PLEASE let me know if I get anything wrong! Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to Harry Potter. Everything belongs to the magnificent genius J. K. Rowling ~*~ Chapter One: “Come on, you can do better than that!” Sirius yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. It took Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch… Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange’s triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing - Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear on the other side any second… But Sirius did not reappear. “Sirius!” Harry yelled. “Sirius!” “NO! Sirius!” In the early morning, a boy of sixteen jumped up in his bed. Panting, he slowly looked around him gathering his bearings. He was no longer in the Department of Mysteries; watching his godfather, more like a father to him, fall into the veil. Although his back was dripping with sweat, he laid back down again. Looking over at his clock, he read 6:45. Aunt Petunia called him everyday at 7:00 to start breakfast. He felt horrible, physically and emotionally. It was his entire fault: everything that happened the previous month at the department of mysteries, including Sirius’s death. He wondered what Ron and Hermione would say if he told them about the prophecy? “Oh don’t be ridiculous, Harry! Professor McGonagall says that Divination isn’t reliable, and Professor Trelawney is a complete fraud! Besides, I’m sure that I read somewhere that prophecies are complete coincidence…” “Yea,” thought Harry. “Hermione would quote McGonagall and consult a book. And Ron…” “You mean you have to kill You-Know-Who, before You-Know-Who kills you…and You-Know-Who knows this? Maybe dad knows something to help…” Mr. Weasley worked in the Ministry of Magic and was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, a team that worked against Voldemort and his death eaters. Harry was sure that he knew about the prophecy, having almost died last Christmas defending it. He shuddered recalling that memory. CRACK! CRACK! Harry gasped, looking up, startled to see both Weasley twins sitting on his bed in front of him. “Hiya Harry! Man, you look rough,” said George. “The muggles better be treating you good,” added Fred. “Yea, I’m fine. What are you doing here?” “Well we haven’t heard from you since school ended.” “Yea, and mum wanted us to invite you to the Burrow in a couple of days. You can stay there the remaining two weeks of summer.” “That sounds great…I’m sure the muggles won’t mind getting rid of me.” "Harry Potter! Get up right now! You must fix the breakfast, Aunt Marge will be hungry when she gets here!" Aunt Petunia’s shrill voice interrupted the conversation. “Aunt…” “Marge?” finished George. “Yea,” answered Harry. “She’s staying here for a couple of days. I won’t be able to leave until she leaves.” “Wait,” said Fred. “Isn’t that the aunt you blew up?” “Yea, well it was an accident…” said Harry reproachfully. Fred and George snickered as they disapparated with a “See you at the Burrow!” and “Yea, we’ll come pick you up in three days!” Harry reluctantly got up and stretched tiredly. With the room still dark, he nearly ran into the closet door. He reached over to flip the light on and his reflection stared back at him. His hairwas still messy as ever. When he tried to flatten it, a thin lightning bolt-shaped scar was just visible between thick strands of black; he quickly covered it out of sight again. Since he did no other sports, he figured his slightly muscle toned body was from quidditch, despite his ban from last year. He also noticed that he had grown since last summer, at least 2 inches. His Aunt's shrill voice screeching "Harry Potter!"brought him back from his thoughts. He dazedly walked through the upstairs hall and down the stairs, pictures of Dudley, his Uncle Vernon, and his Aunt Petunia neatly hung on the walls. He was very glad that these pictures didn't move, like all pictures in the wizard world,as he knew they would just glare at him in a taunting way, just like their originals. ….. The smell of slightly under cooked bacon greeted him as the walked into the kitchen. "Finish this bacon and start on the eggs!" snapped his aunt. Untying the apron that lay over her neat, pale pink dress, she walked out of the room leaving Harry to the food. “Finish the bacon and start on the eggs…!” muttered Harry in an annoyed fashion. After finishing the breakfast, Harry tried to sprint upstairs without being noticed. “Marge! How splendid to see you!” ‘Damn!’ Harry stopped dead in his tracks, he had almost reached the kitchen door when a colossal woman pushed it open knocking him in the head and to the floor. “Boy! Still here are you? Petunia, when he is done cleaning the floor please tell him to bring in my luggage.” Aunt Petunia’s glare at him told him quite plainly that he better get out of the room quick. Harry crawled out of the kitchen and leaned his aching head against the wall. ‘Bloody Hell that woman doesn’t know her own strength!’ Straightening up, Harry dragged his feet outside. ‘She is only staying two days; she HAD to bring that suitcase?’ Struggling under the enormous weight, he managed to haul the luggage into the foyer. “Boy! Come in here!” Harry, thinking of the Burrow, obeyed and walked as one condemned into the living room. “Petunia, look at Dudley! He is growing more like his father every time I see him, both proper sized men they are! But this one here,” Aunt Marge glared at Harry. “This one looks too gangly, clearly from his father’s side. That is how it is with dogs: the mother makes no difference. It is the father that determines the bulk. Clearly this…Potter…was a bad egg; you mustn’t blame yourself Petunia!” ‘Well I’d hate to see the state of YOUR dad,’ thought Harry bitterly. He narrowed his eyes at Aunt Marge, and a picture on the wall behind her fell. “My goodness!” Aunt Petunia jumped up to put it back, looking angrily at Harry behind Aunt Marge’s back. “ Second one this week! Vernon, we really need to see into those new wall fixtures!” Aunt Marge looked puzzled at Uncle Vernon, who was staring at Harry. “Harry,” Uncle Vernon addressed him. Harry was startled to hear his name. “Go do your homework.” Before Harry asked, Uncle Vernon informed Aunt Marge: “Marge, St. Brutu’s has insisted that he attend summer school next week.. Yes, they have given him lots of work to complete before he begins.” “Were your grades poor?” asked a very smug-looking Aunt Marge. “Oh, erm…yeah! They were horrible!” “Well Petunia, the brain genetics also come from the father-” Harry, very grateful of Uncle Vernon’s lie, took the opportunity to run to his bedroom. ….. Taking the stairs two at a time, he opened the door to find three owls perched on his desk. When the professional important-looking owl saw Harry, it dropped its letter and flew out the window. His own owl, Hedwig, and what looked like a feathery tennis ball, Ron’s owl that was christened “Pig”, dropped their letter in unison and flew to Hedwig’s cage to rest. Harry picked up the three letters: one from Hogwarts, one from Ron, and one from Hermione. Since he knew that the one from Hogwarts had his OWL results, he tore that one open first. Dear Mr. Potter, Attached are you OWL results. Also, if you would please fill out the attached list of your possible choices for the 6th year’s subjects and return it before the 16th of August. A booklist for your chosen NEWT subjects will be sent to you shortly. We will see you at King’s Cross Station on platform 9 ¾ on September 1st. Hope your summer is pleasant. Sincerely, Professor M. McGonagall Harry’s heart raced as he turned the page to see his OWL results. He took a deep breath and quickly read the page expecting the worse. Dear Mr. Potter, Your OWL results are as follows: Charms Theory: O Practical: A Overall: E Transfiguration Theory: E Practical: O Overall: E Herbology Theory: A Practical: A Overall: A DADA Theory: O Practical: O Overall: O Potions Theory: E Practical: A Overall: A Care of Magical Creatures Theory: E Practical: O Overall: E Astronomy: Theory: A Practical: P Overall: A Divination Theory: P Practical: D Overall: P History of Magic Theory: P Practical: - Overall: P 7 out of 9 possible OWLs achieved. Congratulations! Sincerely, Professor Marchbanks Head of Education, Ministry of Magic Harry’s face turned from anxious-depressed to sad and anger. In order to become an auror, what Harry desired to do after school, he had to take NEWT potions. And to take potions he needed to pass with an ‘O’; and all because the potions master, Snape, was the world’s biggest git. “Damn it!” Harry voiced aloud. He put down the Hogwarts letter, he decided to fill out the subject form later. Picking up the other two letters, he ripped open Ron’s first. Hey Mate! I hope that the muggles are treating you well! I’m not sure how fast Pig will get there, but Fred and George are popping in to invite you to the Burrow soon. With or without the muggles permission, we’re coming to get you on the 17th. I got my OWL results. I only passed 5: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures. Not bad I guess, but mum’s not too pleased. Seeing that we have to take a minimum of five classes, I don’t have much of a choice, do I? I hope our results are good! I will see you soon! Ron P.S.- Percy is still being a prat; he acknowledges You-Know-Who’s return, but you still won’t apologize for being a complete git! Harry almost smiled, the prospect of seeing Ron brightened his mood. He tore open Hermione’s letter. Harry! Hedwig always knows when to turn up! I’m in Spain with my family, and I was glad to see that she found me. I got my OWL results! I passed all of them-13 OWLs! Mum and Dad are really pleased. Ron didn’t seem to want to tell me what he got. I hope yours are good. I’m returning a couple of days before the start of term. I believe that I’m meeting you and the Weasley’s in Diagon Alley. I will see you soon! Love from, Hermione Taking two pieces of parchments, and quill, and a bottle of ink out of his trunk (the Dursley’s, out of sheer terror of the Order, allowed him to have it in his room). He pulled the subject from towards him and read: Dear Mr. Potter, If you would please fill out the form and return it no later than the 16th of August. You must take a minimum of 5 NEWT classes. The classes that you qualify for are listed below; please circle at least 5 of them. 1.Defense Against the Dark Arts Harry immediately circled that one; it was one of his favorite subjects (not including the year with Umbridge). 2.Charms 3.Transfiguration 4.Herbology 5.Care of magical Creatures He signed up for Charms and Transfiguration. Maybe the ministry would allow him to train as an auror even without potions. He also circled Care of Magical Creatures: he couldn’t let Hagrid down. 6.Potions Just before he circled it absent mindedly, Harry did a double take. 'Potions??' He quickly reread the first paragraph: 'classes that you qualify for are listed below.' But he didn't qualify for potions? Or did he read it wrong...he was very tired; he looked back at his OWL scores; he had a got an ‘A’. Harry distinctively remembered Professor McGonagall say: “I must tell you that Professor Snape absolutely refuses to take students who get anything other than ‘Outstanding’ in their OWLs.” He concluded that it must be a mistake, Professor McGonagall had to write loads of these letters, and she could have easily put down potions by accident. Even so, Harry circled it; it wasn’t his fault if it was wrong. And he now had all the NEWT classes he needed to become an auror. If McGonagall realized that it was a mistake, then she would let him know when she sent the booklist. Harry quickly wrote replies to Ron and Hermione, telling them both his scores. He also mentioned to Ron that it was probably OK to come get him. “Hedwig! Can you take this one to Hogwarts? And then this one to Hermione?” She ruffled her feathers in a can’t-you-see-I’m-tired sort of way. “Ok, if you don’t think your up to it…OI! PIG!” Hedwig nipped his hand and stuck out her leg. After Harry tied both letter securely, she spread her wings and flew out his open window. Harry snuck up on Pig from behind and grabbed him. “Listen, take this back to Ron, OK?” The tiny owl gave a muffled hoot. When Harry released him, he zipped around Harry’s head. He grabbed the miniature owl out of the air with his seeker reflexes and tied on the letter. Pig dipped slightly from the weight and zoomed out of the window. Harry’s clock read 11:25. He took of his glasses, pulled off his shirt, and climbed into his bed. Harry fell asleep almost instantly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Chapter 2 Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to Harry Potter. Everything belongs to the magnificent genius J. K. Rowling ~*~ Chapter Two: Harry woke up to a loud rapping sound at the door. “Huh? Woosair?” he asked stupidly. “Get up! You have to make the breakfast! It is nearly 7:00!” “Alright…alright!” Harry groaned. He was having a very good dream, which was a pleasant change. He dreamt that it was the first quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Harry and Draco Malfoy were just racing to the earth in a nosedive for the snitch when Aunt Petunia awoke him. He stumbled half asleep towards his dresser, pulled on a shirt and trousers, and ambled down the stairs. “Make the pancakes boy! And be careful not to burn them this time, or anything else in the kitchen for that matter. Harry reluctantly grunted a ‘Yes sir”. What had actually happened the said last time was Dudley turned the stove eye on high when Harry wasn’t watching. Skipping all the gruesome details: they ended up having cereal for breakfast that morning and Aunt Petunia was able to replace her oven mitts. Harry looked up from the stove to see Aunt Marge starring cruelly at him. After the first batch, he looked up again to see her expression hadn’t changed. Paranoid, he looked up after awhile to see her still looking at him, and then suddenly her face went oddly blank. Standing up she said, “Vernon, I think I left something in the trunk. I’ll just go and get it…” Uncle Vernon glanced at Aunt Petunia, who shrugged and then snapped, “Are you almost done? You better be when your aunt gets back in here.” Needless to say, he was. When Aunt Marge came back into the kitchen, she winked at Harry. He almost dropped the plate of pancakes he was so stunned. He gapped at her, and then realized his mouth was wide open and he quickly shut it. “Hurry up boy! And bring me my coffee.” Uncle Vernon bored them all of talk about his company, Gunnings. Aunt Petunia would agree every so often, and Dudley was stuffing his face to full that he could only nod occasionally. Harry was still staring at Aunt Marge, who wasn’t giving him the slightest notice. ….. After the meal, Harry moved to go to his bedroom. He wanted to start packing, even thought he wasn’t leaving until tomorrow. He had reached his door when… “Wotcher, Harry! He whipped around just in time to see Aunt Marge’s fat face shrink to a pale heart-shape. Her neat hair that was up in a bun shrunk until it was short and spiky; it also turned a violent shade of purple. Nymphadora Tonks, a Metamorphmagus, was staring back at him. Harry was even more stunned than when Aunt Marge winked at him…then it hit him. “It was you that winked at me!” “Yea, good job… you alright? Molly sent the boys over here to see if you were all right. They said that you didn’t look so good and you didn’t really want to talk…is there something going on…anything that the order can do…have those muggles done anything to you…how come…” “I’m fine!” Harry cut here off. He was so sick of everyone always thinking he was weak and helpless. “I was tired; I didn’t get much sleep.” “OK, whatever. Anyways, the Weasleys wanted me to tell you that they will pick you up tomorrow afternoon, so just let the muggles know. We don’t want a repeat of your 2nd year.” Harry smiled; his 2nd year, Ron, Fred, and George picked him up in a flying Ford Anglia at his window without the Dursley’s knowledge. “Yea, smile all you want. I wasn’t in the order yet, but Dumbledore had to send a couple of people over here. I’m sure Molly wasn’t too happy that morning when she found out from the Order that her boys flew over to get you and not from them. Well, the real Marge will probably be waking up any second now. See ya around!” Tonks backed up, knocking over a chair, and with a loud ‘POP’, she disappeared. ….. He spent most of the morning searching his room of all his books and supplies. Around midday, he was called downstairs by Uncle Vernon to carry out the real Aunt Marge’s luggage. When Harry got back inside from heaving the unnecessarily heavy bag, he went locate Aunt Petunia. He found her in the kitchen preparing dinner. “Erm…Aunt Petunia?” She straightened; from years of experience, Harry knew that meant ‘Yes? What do you want?” Harry hesitated. “The Weasleys…you remember them?” She gave an almost unnoticeable nod. “Yea, well they have asked me to stay with them for the rest of the summer.” “So…” “So, can I go?” “I suppose you can…how will they be picking you up…these Weasleys. They better be coming in a normal way.” Harry almost kicked himself. How could he forget, after flying cars and Floo Powder (traveling by fire places), to ask how they were coming. Harry couldn’t apparate, and he was pretty sure that the Weasleys wouldn’t try anything that they have in the past, the Dursley’s reactions were not very appreciative. “Erm…yea, I’m sure they will be picking me up in a…erm…normal way.” Harry ran out of the kitchen before she could ask what normal way they would be traveling. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Chapter 3 Hey ya’ll! I appreciate the reviews already! I know that a lot of you have read my story; the author panel tells me that, but not a lot of you reviewed. I would love it if all of you reviewed after reading it; they are very helpful! I’m sorry if you happened to read the 1st chapter in the making, I was having severe difficulties uploading it; but it is all fixed now! And I also made slight changes to the end of the 2nd chapter, I’m sorry if it messed up while you were reading it. ~*~ Chapter 3 At precisely 12:00 the next afternoon, Uncle Vernon grunted: “They’re late.” Harry shrugged.Aunt Petunia was sitting straight-backed and she looked nervous, she was gritting her horse-like teeth.Uncle Vernon was in a suit complete with bow tie and would occasionally pull at his bushy mustache-not a good sign.Dudley was sitting on his hands with his mouth clamped shut, apparently still frightened from his previous encounters with wizards. Harry still had no idea how they were planning on picking him up.He stayed awake the majority of the night thinking about it.He was currently listened hard for the doorbell, hoping that they would travel by a car, just this once. “You ready Harry?Is this your trunk at the door?” Mr. Weasley, Ron, Fred, and George had just stepped into the room.Ron looked like he had grown at least another two inches.And since he was with them, Harry knew they couldn’t travel by apparation. “What is the meaning of this?”Uncle Vernon roared, standing up. “Err…”Mr. Weasley looked quite uncomfortable.“Didn’t Harry tell you we’d pick him up today?” “Well, yes he most certainly did!”said Uncle Vernon. Mr. Weasley now looked thoroughly confused at his words.“Don’t you people know how to ring a doorbell?Or perhaps you came through the fireplace again?” Uncle Vernon said that last sentence as if it was morally wrong and illegal to travel by Floo Powder. Mr. Weasley smiled.“Doorbell?Is that ekeltrical?Does it have…wires?”Ron glanced at his dad.“Well, never mind, I’ll have a look at it later.No, we traveled by a portkey authorized by the Order.” Uncle Vernon looked at Mr. Weasley like he was lecturing Quantum Physics. “A…what?” Mr. Weasley held up the dirty sock that Harry had just noticed as if Uncle Vernon was supposed to know what he meant.“A portkey.Are you ready Harry?Fred and George can bring your trunk.” Harry stood up and looked at the Dursleys. “You better be able to stay at that…school…over Christmas and Easter!”Uncle Vernon said. “I always stay there for the holidays!”Harry walked out of the room with Ron.Mr. Weasley came out a few minutes later looked upset. “Go on ahead boys.Tell your mum that we’ll be along in a minute.” Fred and George apparated with the trunk and Hedwig.Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Harry all took a hold on the sock. Looking at his watch, Mr. Weasley counted down, “Three…two…one…” Harry felt that familiar tug and he was whirled until what he could see what blurry.He and Ron fell on the ground in front of The Burrow, the Weasley’s home that looked, and probably was, held up by magic. - ….. “Hello, Harry dear!” Molly Weasley came bounding outside and pulled Harry into a bear hug, knocking his glasses askew and nearly chocked him.When she let go, he took a deep breath and smiled. “Thanks for inviting me, Mrs. Weasley. I really appreciate it.” “Oh, not at all, not at all.Come in, you look famished.” Harry had no idea why he looked hungry; he had just eaten with the Dursley’s. “Ah, lunch!” said Mr. Weasley as he walked inside. The smell of food wafted to Harry’s nose from the kitchen when he stepped inside the kitchen. Fred and George dropped his trunk and Hedwig’s cage, after letting her out, beside the stairs and sat down at the long table, where a petit redhead was already sitting. “Hello Ginny!” greeted Harry. “Oh hello, Harry! Nice summer?” Said Ginny . “It’s been alright.” “I’m sure it has been in the muggle world!” Fred butted in. “There have been quite a few deaths and attacks here.” “Yea and Mum still won’t let us join the Order. She always finds an excuse for us not to join,” George did an impression of his mother: “It’s WAY to dangerous! You could be killed!” “Well you could!” said Mrs. Weasley, serving pumpkin juice. Harry glanced over at an old newspaper on the table. On the front page of the Daily Profit was a picture of the Dark Mark, Voldemort’s sign, suspended above a small cottage. He picked it up and read: An Apparent Mistake of You-Know-Who Ministry officials approached the house of William and Mary Douglas, an elderly couple in southern London. What had appeared to be another Death Eater attack, turned out to be a mistake. The residents were scared to find the Dark Mark, a recent recurring find, floating above their estate. Local inhabitant, Mal Succubi (a recent accusation of interacting with You-Know-Who landed him in Azkaban, but he was released after three days) says, “Well…then a Death Eater made a blunder. I mean, if there wasn’t an attack, then what else can explain it?” The Dark Mark represents death, as the Aurors were afraid they would find. Quite the contrary, Kingsley Shacklebolt, a recent add to the Auror team finding You-Know-Who’s whereabouts and against certain Death Eaters, reports, “There is no damage done what so ever, from what I can tell. This is highly unusual, but we will figure it out.” When interviewed, Mr. Douglas (Mrs. Douglas was unavailable, due to her current state of shock) says that he didn’t even know it was there, so he couldn’t tell us how long it had been since it descended on his household. He also can’t remember what he was doing prior to the arrival of Aurors, as Shacklebolt was eager to find something to base the Dark Mark’s sudden appearance on. Ministry Aurors continue to search the area for any sign of You-Know-Who until further notice. “You mean stuff like this has happened all over the country?” asked a stunned Harry. “No, but now that I think about it, most of the attacks have been in the south. Since that mystery attack, there have been two just like it; one in the same area!” said Mr. Weasley. “Wow,” breathed Harry as he sat down with the Weasleys for his second lunch of the day. “Yea, and Malfoy’s dad escaped from Azkaban, along with everyone else. They are all in hiding, except for Mr. Malfoy. He paid a lot of money to reinstate his name.” “Yea, but everyone knows that the Malfoys are all scumbags now,” said Ron with satisfaction. “Did Bellatrix Lestrange escape,” Harry said. “Um, yes, I believe so,” answered Mr. Weasley. “But don’t worry, everyone will soon be back in Azkaban.” “But the dementors?” said Harry. “No matter. Harry dear, you must try the bread I made.” said Mrs. Weasley. “Oh, and the turkey; George, can you pass it here please?” ….. After lunch (it took awhile, as Harry let Mrs. Weasley badger him into thirds), he and Ron dragged Harry’s trunk up the winding staircase to the top to Ron’s room. “So-,” hesitated Ron. “So what?” said Harry. “Well, so how are you holding up?” “I’m fine. Didn’t Fred and George and Tonks tell you that?” snapped Harry. “Tonks visited you too?” asked Ron; Harry gave him a look of annoyance. “Oh well, you know. We just thought you’d do something…after the accident and all.” Harry turned no his heels to face Ron. “Oh you thought I’d run away or something.” “Well…” started Ron. “YOU JUST DON’T GET IT! YOU DON’T HAVE NIGHMARES ABOUT IT! YOU WEREN’T EVEN THERE, YOU WERE GIGGLING OVER A STUPID BRIAN!” shouted Harry. Hedwig ruffled her feathers and Pig stopped zipping around. “Well actually that brain gave me nightmares for some time,” joked Ron. “Dam it Ron! That’s what I mean, you can’t be serious!” “I’m just trying to make you feel better, and my so-called ‘giggling’ wasn’t my fault. Your problem is that you’re too serious!” “He’s right, mate,” said George, walking in with Fred. “You need to calm down. What happened in the ministry was an accident.” “Accident? Lestrange murdered Sirius!” shouted Harry. He dropped his head, he knew that yelling about it wouldn’t bring him back, especially yelling at his friends. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little stressed out right now.” “A little?” muttered Fred under his breath. “Well Mum says that as soon as your booklists come in, we can go to Diagon Alley. You can see our new store-all thanks to you mate!” “That sounds good. What did you sign up for anyway, Harry?” said Ron. “Erm…Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures… Charms…and Potions,” replied Harry. “Potions?! You made an O on your OWL? Wow…” “No, actually I didn’t.” Ron looked confused at Harry’s words. “But the list said that I qualified for it.” “Hell, I bet Dumbledore stopped Snape from not letting you in.” “I don’t think so, Ron. McGonagall already told me that Snape refuses to let anyone in without an O,” said Harry. “Well then how else would you explain that?” said Ron. “I don’t know! I think they made a mistake. I’ll find out when the booklists come in. What did you sign up for?” asked Harry. “Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology. Aurors require five NEWTS and I failed my potions OWL,” said Ron, shrugging. “So you think you might want to do that? Be an Auror?” said Harry. “Well, ya. That is what you’re doing, so I thought I might give it a shot.” “You know that you don’t have to do it just because I am,” said Harry. “I know, but it sounds like fun. Plus someone has to keep you in line,” said Ron, smiling. ….. The next two weeks flew by. Two days before the term started, Ron and Harry’s booklists came in (Ginny’s came as usual with her letter). Harry jumped up from the breakfast table and took his from the school owl. Dear Mr. Potter, Please acquire a copy of each of the following books: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6) by Miranda Goshawk Even More Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander Jr. Advanced Potion Making by Arsenuis Jigger Advanced Protection Against the Dark Forces by Quintin Trimble (You will continue from your old Transfiguration book: An Intermediate Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch) You will also need: 1 standard size 3 cauldron (pewter) See you on September 1st, Professor M McGonagall Harry sat back down, so relieved that he almost laughed aloud. He was able to do potions. Then it hit him- that meant another year with Snape. “Damn,” he breathed. “What? Didn’t get Potions?” asked Ron, who was next to him and heard him curse. “Yea I did,” Said Harry “Um…then why-” said Ron. “Another year with Snape,” Harry said. “Oh…I get it,” said Ron. “We can go to Diagon Alley and get all your books tomorrow,” said Mrs. Weasley. “You three go pack your trunk and we’ll stay at the Leaky Cauldron; it’s more convenient to King’s Cross Station.” “Hermione said that she’d meet us there. She’s staying at the Leaky Cauldron too,” said Ron. ….. The next day, after everyone had packed and Ginny found her booklist (it was in Fred and George’s room with a list of odd ingredients on the back of it. “I swear, I thought it was a bit of spare parchment!” insisted George) everyone gathered around the fireplace. Harry hesitated. Last time he’d done this, he’d ended up in Knockturn Alley. “Don’t worry Harry dear,” said Mrs. Weasley, holding Hedwig. “Just don’t cough this time.” Harry smiled and grabbed a handful of power. He threw it into the fire, which turned from red to green. Stepping in, hugging his trunk, he said as clearly as he could, “Diagon Alley!” A few moments later he slid from the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron. A few more moments later he was engulfed by a lot of brown hair and clawed in the back. He shouted and the brown hair moved back. “Oh sorry Harry! Did I hurt you?” said Hermione, Harry and Ron’s other best friend. She had grown a bit taller, but still shorter than Harry by a couple of inches. She was tanned, her hair was a lot less bushy than Harry remembered, and, Harry couldn’t help noticing, she was extremely pretty. “Harry?” He realized that he was starring at her with his mouth wide open. He quickly shut it and stood up. “No, of course not. Crookshanks clawed me in the back. You’ve raised a killer.” “Oh, Harry, I have not!” she said, picking up her oversized orange tabby cat. “How has your summer been?” Before he could answer Ron shot out of the fireplace; his trunk slid on the floor and knocked Harry down. Fred, George, Ginny, Ginny’s trunk, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley with a disgruntled Hedwig quickly followed. “It’s been alright,” Harry told Hermione, brushing soot off of himself, after everyone had detangled and stood up. “Well that’s good to hear!” beamed Hermione. “Hey Hermione, how was Spain?” greeted Ron. “Oh wonderful! The Spanish Wizards were fascinating. They-“ “That’s nice, Hermione,” Ron cut her off before it was too late. “Ok everyone. I’ll go to Gringotts and meet you all at Fred and George’s…erm…store,” said Mrs. Weasley. “And I’ll find us all rooms,” said Mr. Weasley. After everyone had agreed and Mrs. Weasley had left, Harry turned to Ron with a questioning look on his face. “She’s still a bit…erm, apprehensive about their store. But Fred and George give us money every so often, so she’s catching onto the idea.” Harry laughed and they ventured out into the streets of Diagon Alley, Fred and George leading the way with their chests puffed out very proudly. They stopped before a crowd of people, a lot of them including Hogwarts students, in front of a store called “Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes”. They pushed themselves through the crowd, and Fred and George unlocked the door. “Nice turn out today, ‘eh?” said George, looking around at the crowd of people. Fred smiled as he took down a notice from the window saying that the store was closed until today. “You know, we put Gambol and Japes next door out of business,” said George proudly to Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Harry looked around at the store with Ron and Hermione. It had everything they had invented: Skiving Snackboxes (including two new flavors: Spasm Suckers and Twinge Taffies), Extendable Ears, Headless Hats, Canary Creams, and loads more stuff that Harry hadn’t seen yet. Harry was really impressed, as was Ron. Hermione had a look of fighting between amazement and trying to be uninterested. After a while, Mrs. Weasley squeezed in and handed Ron, Harry, and Ginny each a bag of money and hurried them outside (apparently she didn’t want them to buy anything from Fred and George’s store). Mrs. Weasley told everyone to meet at the Leaky Cauldron after they bought everything, and she left to shop with Ginny. “Why don’t we all go get our books first,” said Hermione and she led the way to Flourish and Blotts. They left ten minutes later, and headed to buy parchment and quills, Hermione struggling to hold all of her books. Harry took two of them off her load and asked, “Hermione, what all did you sign up for?” “Well, I’m taking all the subjects I took last year,” said Hermione, setting down her books to look at quills. “Are you crazy? All of them?” said Ron. “Well I’m not sure what I want to do after school, so I just signed up for everything,” explained Hermione. They all purchased new parchment, quills, and ink and dropped their packages outside of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor. After buying three strawberry and peanut-butter ice creams, they sat down outside. Harry noticed everyone was staring at him, much like when he was first introduced to the wizard world. Hermione Harry looking around surprised and said, “Harry, haven’t you been getting the Daily Prophet?” “No, I just found out about all the attacks,” said Harry “Well, everyone believes you now. After everything that has happened, everyone has realized that you were telling the truth all along,” said Hermione. “Yea mate. There hasn’t been one article having a go at you in a long time,” added Ron “That’s good, I guess. How is about Fudge?” “You know him. He has said that he believed you all along; he just didn’t want to ‘worry the public’. But no one believes him; they all know that he is lying. And everyone is mad at him for not believing in you and Dumbledore in the first place, even though they themselves were convinced too,” said Hermione. “But the only way for a new Minister of Magic to be voted in is if the old one has died, is terminally ill, or the public have voted for it. There isn’t a limit to how long he stays Minister.” “How do you know all that?” exasperated Ron. “You would too if you paid attention in History of Magic,” said Hermione, matter-of-factly. “Oh that explains it,” Ron said. Harry laughed; Hermione looked irritated. Harry decided that the wizarding world believing him was an improvement as they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron, even if all the ogles were annoying. He laid awake that night listening to Ron’s snores. He was still grieving over Sirius’ death, but he couldn’t help be happy among the Weasleys. Plus, no one was calling him a liar, no one pointed and whispered behind his back, and no one doubted that Voldemort was back and his Death Eaters were on the prowl once again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Author Note 2, 121 people have read my story so far…only 30 of you have reviewed…you do the math (that is like only 1/100!!!). I’m going to need a lot more reviews to continue the story! Now I understand that some of you “aren’t reviewers”, and I think that if you read a story, you should always take time to say a few words about how you think the story is going, etc. If you think that I did anything horrible that you just passionately hate…tell me! If any of you know anything that happened in the books, I’d like to keep canon (e.g. Like who was a 7th year quidditch player last year, and anyone know what year the 2 beaters are in?)(And does anyone know what year Michael Corner is in, I looked in all the books last night and I couldn’t find it. But I also couldn’t find where Ginny first tells everyone that she is going out with him, I totally can’t remember where that it, so it might be there.), so please tell me these things in reviews! Oh yea, and I just realized that the chapters aren’t named on that scroll thingy! I can’t change the first three chapters, but I’ll make sure that the others are named! Sorry about that! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Chapter 4 A/N I'm aware that my last A/N made most of you... a bit... ardent? Okay, I’m not going to liven it up for my sake- ya'll where pissed! But I did ask for it, as some of you where oh-so kind to point out; I obviously did something you didn’t appreciate. But some of you did see where I was coming from and much recognition to TheGreenFairy, sweetie513, and Daddy'stinydancer (are you a dancer, I am!) for the very positive reviews. As you can see from these people, I wasn’t begging for reviews; if you read the Etiquette thing, it tells you how helpful they are to us writers. But then again, I could have put it in other words and a bit better, I didn't think before I posted it! I'm really sorry!! Oh, and I would NEVER discontinue a story, that is ridiculous (I really shouldn't have put that in there). Also thanks to Asparagus, akjennymay9, Eschiva, The Shadows, akjennymay9 (thanks for the great site!) hrfurhrfur, Harryluvr (tell me if I forgot you!) for the info! I had figured out most of it, like everything on quidditch and what year everyone was in, you guys just fully confirmed it for me! **Sorry, but when I uploaded this chapter, some of turned bold. I tried to redo it, but it isn’t bold on the word document, so I don’t know what happened. Just ignore it if you can see it… And I have no idea why there are links on some of the words. When I uploaded it happened, and it changed some of the words. Sorry, but there is nothing I can do about it. ~*~ Chapter Four: “I DON’T CARE!” Harry yelled. “I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON’T CARE ANYMORE-” “You do care,” said Dumbledore, calmly. “You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.” “I – DON’T!” Harry yelled, sitting up in bed. He was surprised to find himself awake, and not in Professor Dumbledore’s office. He had been there just last June. Sirius had just died, and Professor Dumbledore had just told him that his life would either end in or include murder. Harry was still wondering how Dumbledore had just sat there calmly while he told Harry about the prophecy, the prophecy that said Lord Voldemort and Harry couldn’t live while the other survives. Harry put his head in his hands. His threat clenched and he took a deep breath. He still hadn’t told anyone about the prophecy. He would have told Sirius, but…Ron and Hermione still didn’t know. Harry suddenly remembered his shout and looked across the room expecting to see Ron sitting up and looking at him like he was a nutter, but Ron wasn't. Looking closer, it didn't look like Ron was even there. Thinking he'd come back, Harry tried to go back to sleep without thinking of Dumbledore, or the prophecy, or Sirius... Ron had been gone quite a while now. Harry climbed out of his bed and slowly opened the door; it creaked slightly. Looking down the hall, he saw Hermione’s door ajar. Harry walked down the hall. He stopped at the balcony when he saw Hermione and Ron sitting together. Harry started to say something when he saw Hermione nod and lean forward, embracing Ron. Even though his back was to Harry, Ron didn’t seem surprised by Hermione’s sudden action. Then Hermione kissed Ron. Just like that. Harry couldn’t see where, but Hermione kissed Ron! Harry sank to the floor and held onto the rail. He stared open-mouthed in disbelief; a thousand solutions flooded his already full mind. He tensed up his eyebrows and looked away from the couple to recap: Hermione nodded, Hermione hugged Ron, Hermione kissed Ron…Ron not surprised by any of this. Harry, upon realization of what he just witnessed, jumped up and darted back to the room; his brain didn’t register the creak the floor made. When he reached his room, Harry started pacing. He thought over the situation at hand and the only possible explanation flashed through his intellect- Ron asked Hermione out, Hermione nodded in acceptance and hugs him. Then they kissed… Harry stopped pacing and sat down, head in hands. “What the bloody hell do they think they are doing?” he thought, angrily. “Why Hermione? And for that matter- why Ron!?” Ron’s voice cut off his thoughts, “What should we do about Harry?” The said Harry heard Hermione shush him, and then he couldn’t hear her reply. “So?” thought Harry, bitterly. “So, they decided to get together and now they don’t know what to do about me in the trio! This is just great! This is bloody fantastic! Rush into everything; then think about what you just rushed into!” Harry heard the floor creak mere feet away from the door. He quickly laid flat and pulled the covers over his head. Harry heard the door creak open and saw the hunched outline of Ron creep back to his bed. Harry pretended to be asleep and lay quiet and still. He heard Ron trip over his trunk and curse. “Oh I bet that hurt!” Harry thought to himself sardonically. Harry laid awake as Ron’s snores took over the silence. He was on his back with his hands behind his head, still thinking bitter thoughts when his inner conscience interrupted him- “You’re just jealous!” “I am not!” Harry argued back. “Oh yes you are! Ron realized his emotions first and got to Hermione before you could. And you’re mad at your best mate for your own lack of realizing your obvious feelings!” Harry quickly ended the conversation. Besides…what was the point of bickering with yourself? And how could he think of Hermione like that? It was silly… ludicrous… preposterous… ridiculous… absurd… “Oh you’ve got it bad!” his inner-self slyly added in. Harry changed the subject- this one was getting dangerous. How was this going to affect their friendship? Everything was going to be different now. And they didn’t even want Harry to know… *** Ron grunted awake. Sitting up, he saw Harry grumbling in his sleep. “Gees that boy has too much pain going through his mind,” Ron muttered as he pulled on a shirt and crept out of the room. Ron got halfway down the hall when he heard a creak that normally wouldn’t have been loud, but in the dead of the night it was. “Ron? What are you doing awake?” Hermione asked, her head protruding from around her door. “Oh, I couldn’t sleep,” replied Ron, realizing that Hermione was looking at him in a t-shirt and boxers. But then he thought better; Hermione was Hermione- his best friend, more like a sister. “You’re lying. I couldn’t sleep, but I think something else woke you up.” Ron sighed and grinned. “Harry’s talking in his sleep.” Hermione looked alarmed. “He isn’t having another attack from –” “No,” Ron said quickly before she could say that name that she had suddenly been comfortable to say. “No, I don’t think so. He was just mumbling; nothing like before.” “Oh,” Hermione looked uneasy. “Well, I was going downstairs to make some hot chocolate. Care to join me?” Hermione smiled, “Sure.” She tried to close the door, but it creaked loudly again, so she shrugged and left it open. After Ron almost blew up a mug (Hermione had to do most of the actual ‘making’), they sat down in the living area on a couch. “So what do you think is troubling Harry this time?” Hermione wondered aloud. “Well, it thought it might be Sirius,” said Ron; Hermione nodded in agreement. “But I think he muttered ‘Dumbledore’.” “Oh,” Hermione looked puzzled. “What could possibly be bothering him about Dumbledore? I mean, I was unconscious at the time, but didn’t he save Harry from Volde-” Ron winced. “Oh honestly Ron! You are almost sixteen years old!” “Yea, so…even everyone above my age still don’t say it.” Ron thought to himself: “Does she have to have a go at me every time this comes up?” “And almost everyone above your age hasn’t come close to meeting him face-to-face three times, now have they?” Ron pretended he didn’t hear her. “Um…yes, Dumbledore saved him. At least that is what I was told. I was…I was…” Hermione started giggling. Ron looked at her annoyingly. “What? You don’t know! You weren’t exactly in-tune with things then, were you.” “No, but you must have been told that, because you weren’t either,” Hermione managed to choke out. “Ginny told me about what happened to you.” Ron looked a bit upset. “I was hit by a spell! That is what happens when you try to help out a friend!” Hermione nodded and smiled. “Yes you deserve the best friend of the year award. Here’s your awarded hug!” She reached forward in mock enthusiasm and hugged Ron tightly. “Hermione… (deep breath)… you’re killing me!” Ron managed to choke out. “Oh sorry,” she laughed and let you. “Do I get anything else?” joked Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes and kissed him on the check, Ron beamed. A creak interrupted the silence and Hermione squeaked. Ron looked at her questionably. “I hate mice! They are so creepy!” "Is that why you got that baby tiger?" Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. Ron laughed and said, “We should get back upstairs. School starts tomorrow.” He looked at the huge grandfather clock standing against a wall. “Correction: school starts today.” Hermione looked at the clock, then groaned. “Your right, we should get some sleep.” They had gotten up the stairs and to Hermione’s room when Ron asked, “What should we do about Harry?” “Shhh!” Hermione said, lowering her voice. “Don’t wake anyone up! I don’t know about Harry. He’d tell us if anything was bothering him, wouldn’t he?” “I suppose,” said Ron. “Maybe we shouldn’t mention any of this to Harry; about our conversation. We don’t want another outburst.” Hermione nodded and snuck into her room, closing the creaking door behind her. Ron crept into his and Harry’s room and saw Harry quietly sleeping. As he made his way to his bed, tripping over his trunk (cursing that he had left it in the middle of the room), he was glad that Harry wasn’t dreaming and muttering anymore. Maybe now he’d have a peaceful sleep for once. *** Harry awoke the next morning to Ron rummaging in his trunk. He sat there glaring at Ron’s back until he turned around; Harry raised his eyebrows innocently. “Hey, mate. Have you seen my prefect badge? I can’t find it anywhere and I thought I left it in my trunk yesterday,” asked Ron. “Um, no, I haven’t seen it,” said Harry in an obvious tone. “Ok, well you better start packing. Mum said that we’re taking a bus to Kings Cross in an hour or so. Or at least I think that is what she yelled…Hold on, I’ll go ask her,” Ron said and he walked out of the room. Harry stretched his arms out and swung his legs out from under the covers to place them on the ground. Two seconds too late he realized that he had stood on a very big, very bushy tail. “Crookshanks!” Harry hissed, sitting back down, as the ginger cat disappeared around the corner. Harry closed his eyes, sighing, and stood up again. Turning around and bending over, he opened his eyes and pulled a pair of trousers and a muggle shirt out of his trunk (the one that Hermione gave him for his birthday; something from…Abber…crummy?... Harry was too tired to remember). Harry realized that someone was watching him and he looked up, startled, and clad only in boxers, at Hermione. She blushed and said really quickly, “Can you tell Ron that his badge is in Ginny’s trunk?” and left. Harry wondered how long she had stood there. “Oh well, it doesn’t really matter, now does it?” he asked himself, sulkily. “She is going out with Ron, remember?” Ron came back into the room, confirmed their plans, and started looking through is trunk again. “Oh yea, Hermione came in and said that Ginny has your badge,” muttered Harry, putting emphasis on ‘Hermione’. “Thanks,” said Ron, happy-go-lucky, and he departed again, leaving Harry furious with himself. He couldn’t just go around making fun of Ron, even if he was oblivious to it. This had happened before. Wasn’t it just last summer that he, Harry, had gotten so jealous at Ron that he was angry with him? Maybe this was no different. Maybe he was jealous that Hermione wanted Ron, not him. But even so, Harry shouldn’t be mad, it’s not like they were marrying each other. Just then, Ron walked in wearing a shiny, black tuxedo and carrying Hermione in a long, flowing white dress; her arms wrapped around his neck. She giggled and kissed Ron on the cheek. “Hey mate!” he said. “Hermione and I got married, remember? Don’t worry, you were the best man- you know…not quite the groom, but still significant.” Harry stared at the couple then closed his eyes and squeezed his head between his hands. Looking back up, there was nothing there but an empty threshold. Ron walked in holding his newly found badge, causing Harry to jump. “What’s going on with you?” asked Ron. “You are acting kind of…odd this morning.” “Um…nothing. I’m just tired. Have you seen my new transfiguration book?” said Harry, babbling. No way was he going to say “Oh, nothing. I just imagined that you married Hermione. And I was jealous.” Ron raised an eyebrow, reached into Harry’s trunk and tossed the book to Harry. “You get enough sleep last night?” “Oh, yea. I was asleep the whole night. Err, I didn’t wake up once,” said Harry, nodding. Ron shrugged and turned to his trunk and started to check for all his things. Harry stopped nodding and rolled his eyes. He replaced his Transfiguration book and noted that nothing was missing from his trunk. Harry and Ron ventured into the hall. It looked to Harry that Ron was about to knock on Hermione and Ginny's door, so Harry sped up and walked past. "Harry, where are you going?" asked Ron. "Oh, I'm just hungry. I'll meet you downstairs." Harry said. "Na," said Ron. "I'm pretty hungry myself." Harry couldn't help but laugh slightly. "What's so funny?" Ron demanded. "Ron,” Harry wondered how to put this. "When are you not hungry?" Ron gave him a small kick walking down the stairs, causing Harry to trip into the railing. "Are you trying to kill me? That is what V-”Harry stopped himself in shock. That was close. Harry knew that it was obvious that Voldemort was trying to kill Harry, after his failed four attempts. But Harry didn't really want any raised questions about the subject. Ron looked at Harry questionably, who shook his head and proceeded to walk into the private parlor designated for the Weasley clan, Harry, and Hermione. He and Ron stopped just outside of the door, realizing that someone was talking inside. Harry could here faint murmurs and could sometimes catch a word. He recognized that the voices belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He also heard someone that he had never heard before say something, then a gasp followed by Mrs. Weasley. Harry heard her reply, “Are you positive he didn’t get it?” Becoming interested, he pressed his ear to the door in time to hear Mr. Weasley say, “…we’re not certain… but I don’t want him to go looking for him and find himself in danger again.” Ron looked inside the keyhole. “That’s Elphias Doge,” said Ron, looking at Harry. “He’s in the Order of the Phoenix and I believe he works for the ministry.” After a ‘pop’ reached their ears from the other side of the door, Ron checked and saw that Elphias Doge had disapparated. They walked into the room. "Good morning, Harry dear. We've just ordered breakfast!” said Mrs. Weasley, a bit over-cheerily. Harry could only guess whom they were just talking about. Mr. Weasley added, "Ron, why don't you go and get the others. Harry, a letter arrived for you last night.” Harry and Ron looked at each other then went their separate ways. Harry walked up to the table where a small envelope made of yellowish parchment, addressed in green ink, lay. Harry wondered what Hogwarts possibly wanted with him. He flipped it over, broke the purple wax seal, and read: Dear Mr. Potter, I am sorry that I have not tried to contact to you since last July. I felt that you needed some time alone to think and absorb our last conversation. But, I would like to request your presence in my office after the opening feast on September 1st. I would very much like to discuss certain pressing matters with you that have come to my attention. I hope you have a pleasant day, Professor Dumbledore Harry sat down and folded the letter back up, wondering what Dumbledore needed to speak to him so urgently about. ‘Pressing matters?’ He figured it wasn’t going to be one of those “Hi, how was your summer?” chats; Dumbledore wanted him over what he said last July. That couldn’t be good. Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George walked through the door and Harry quickly hid the letter in his pocket. Ron looked a little red as he sat down on Harry’s left; Fred and George sat on his right. Ginny took her seat next to Hermione. Hermione gave Harry a gentle smile before sitting across from him. Harry just stared blankly at her. He had been thinking a lot about last night. Harry couldn’t decide why he was so mad and resentful. Was it because Ron has a girlfriend and he does not? Or was it because that said girlfriend is Hermione? *** Hermione sat on her bed with one of her new schoolbooks open in front of her before breakfast. Ginny was writing quite an extensive letter. Hermione hadn’t gotten much sleep last night; she was far too worried about Harry. She stopped reading to think about him after every other sentence it seemed. “Snoozes are mainly land creatures, but can live underwater due to the small, built in gills on the side of their heads …What if Voldemort was attacking him … No, that’s silly,” Hermione thought. “-Mainly land creatures … no I read that … Snoozes, like all animals of the genitival species hibernate during the summer …What if Voldemort was trying to find out information about Dumbledore? No, that’s not possible. The snooze has amazing super-strength, including extra large abs muscles … Harry has some pretty ‘large’ abs muscles …” Hermione looked up, surprised at herself. She thought about earlier when she had walked in on him. He must be doing something else because no way could riding a broom give someone muscles like that. Hermione shook herself. Was she really thinking about this? “No!” she convinced herself, but she still closed her book; it was pointless. She sighed and lied down. Hermione didn’t really know what was going on inside her head lately, and that scared her. Ginny put her quill down and sighed a sigh that Hermione recognized. “Who are you writing to?” asked a curious Hermione. “Dean,” said Ginny, coming out of her daydream. She rummaged through her trunk. “Have you seen my red sealing wax?” Hermione felt guilty – Crookshanks had looked a bit ... of color lately. But she could only assume. “Here, you can have my stick. I don’t use it anymore,” said Hermione and she tossed Ginny the hardly used red stick. Ginny looked down at the wax she caught and up at Hermione. “But ... isn’t this the wax we bought for...?” “Yes.” “And I can have it...” “Yes.” “... Because...?” “Because, as I said, I don’t need it anymore,” said Hermione. “Victor broke up with me a long time ago. Something about a French woman he found on a tour... I don’t know.” “Oh, Hermione! I’m sorry,” said Ginny. “No, it’s fine. So, how is everything with Dean?” “Oh, well, you know. I didn’t want to say anything... but now that you asked...” Hermione lifted a brow. Ginny sighed that lovesick sigh again. “Everything is absolutely perfect.” Hermione smiled courteously. Inside she was envious. She knew she shouldn’t be; she should be happy that her friend found someone that made her happy. But she couldn’t help but wonder... A knock at the door startled her. Ron pocked his head inside and said, “Almost ready? We have less than an hour before we have to leave. Breakfast is downstairs.” “Yea, okay,” said Ginny. “Hey, Ron. Can I borrow Pig for the day?” “Uh, yea. Sure.” Ginny smiled broadly, finished sealing her letter, and left to find Pig. Ron watched his sister skip down the hall. “Who is she writing to anyway?” “If she wants to tell you, she’ll tell you,” said Hermione plainly. Ron narrowed his eyes. “It’s a girl thing.” Ron looked contemplative as he left, bumping into Ginny on his way out. “Ginny!” said Ron, a little over-enthusiastically. “Ron?” said Ginny reproachfully. “So, who are you writing to?” “Dean Thomas,” she said vaguely. Ron looked furious. His face went beet red to match the color of his annual Weasley jumper. Hermione could have sworn she saw steam rising above him. But he forced a smile and backed out of the room, his eyes searching Ginny behind is stretched grin. Ginny looked totally unworried. “Breakfast?” Hermione could hear Fred, George, and Ron before actually seeing them. Stepping into the hall, she saw the three bickering boys, Ron actually taller then both his older brothers. “You’re just like Percy!” accused Fred. “Hey! Now just because you stole my badge-” Ron sounded offended. Hermione huffed. “Steal is a harsh word, don’t you think Fred?” “Very. Besides, we just borrowed it.” “Borrowed-” began Ron. “Yea, borrowed. And now you have it back.” “What were you going to do with it anyway?” demanded Ron, brandishing his Prefect badge. “If we told you-” “We’d have to kill you.” Fred finished plainly. Ron stared at them, them turned and disappeared into his room to put up his badge. Fred and George walked down the hall up to Hermione smiling innocently, or as innocent as they could pull off. “Nice try, but I know exactly where my badge is and if -” “What gave you the idea that we’d want your badge?” said Fred simply. “You at least have a sense of humour; it’s much more fun to mess with Ron.” “At any rate, you’d just turn it back with one of your clever spells. Ron wouldn’t know what to do,” laughed George. Fred hit his twin in the shoulder as Ron walked back into the hall. George straightened his face. They all walked downstairs and into the parlor. Hermione saw Harry glance up quickly as if he had been startled to see them. Hermione smiled slightly at him before sitting down. Harry seemed at a loss for words as he just stared back at her. Ginny sat down next to her. Between bites of toast, she quietly talked all about Dean’s letters over the summer. Hermione listened politely, wishing she hadn’t asked her earlier. Different thoughts formed in her mind and Ginny droned on. She really hadn’t given boys much thought. But Ginny’s words had triggered something. Victor had broken up with her before she had started her revision for her OWL’s; so, after the break-up, all she had time to think about were the upcoming exams. They would, after all, shape her future. And after that, she worried over her results (What if she had failed something? What would that have done to her NEWT’s?). Her recently received letter put those fears at rest. Hermione saw Crookshanks dart out from underneath a cabinet she had been absent – mindedly staring at, which interrupted her thoughts. She quickly looked back at Ginny and absorbed herself into the puppy-love-sick girl’s babbling, who hadn’t even noticed her audience’s inattentiveness. *** Harry’s eyes looked up at Hermione. She was engaged in a conversation with Ginny; or rather, she listened as Ginny talked. A strand of hair escaped from behind her ear. She annoyingly tucked it back. Hermione glanced at Harry, who looked down at his plate. He had just unknowingly answered his own question. ~*~ A/N The Shadows- you’re absolutely right...I think at the beginning I had so many new ideas that I rushed to get chapters finished (after I had posted them I regretted it b/c I wanted to change small bits, etc). Thanks for the tips; I will definitely work on my detail and description. In fact, I rewrote most of this chapter (I was ready to post it a couple of nights ago) after reading your review! Thanks again! **If I haven't said already, I am an American who lives (temporarily!) in England. So, I get things like spellings, certain words, etc mixed up and sometimes use the American way and sometimes use the English way consistently! So, with that said, I need a Beta Reader. I would very much appreciate someone to do this, and I think that it would considerably help out my story! If anyone who isn't still angry with me is interested, please email me at heather_644@tiscali.co.uk (or any other way you’d like- aim, msn, review- the most efficient way is an email or review- just give me your email address and I will get back to you REAL soon.) I would love you forever! Thanks! parvati_patil ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Chapter 5 ~*~ Chapter Five: “Hurry up, you lot! You’re going to miss the train!” Mrs. Weasley ran through Kings Cross Train Station, followed by Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, ran up towards the solid-looking brick wall separating platforms 9 and 10. Looking up, Harry saw they had four minutes to board the train. They wouldn’t have been that late, had Crookshanks not spotted a small poodle and torn after it. It took the combined strength of Ron and Hermione to hold Crookshanks as Harry returned the poodle to the frantic owner. “Alright, you three first and then I’ll come along with Ginny.” Harry nodded and ran straight towards the barrier, quickly followed by Ron and Hermione. He shut his eyes tight and ran in what he hoped was a straight direction. When he opened his eyes, he was starring at the huge black and red Hogwarts Express on platform 9 ¾. Ron and Hermione suddenly appeared beside him. The three hurried with their trolleys to a luckily open compartment. Harry jumped aboard and Hermione and Ron hauled the trunks up to him. Ron grabbed Hedwig and Pig and leaped onto the train. Hermione helped Ginny, who had just come through the barrier with Mrs. Weasley, with her trunk. She then slid Crookshanks into the train and gave Ginny a boost up, just as the train whistled. Hermione jumped as the train started to move; Harry reached out and pulled her towards him to keep her from falling. “Goodbye! Have a wonderful term!” shouted Mrs. Weasley. Harry gazed into Hermione’s eyes and she looked back, confused. He then realized that he was still holding her. He let go and cleared his throat with a nervous glance at Ron. “Everyone on? Good.” Harry slid the door shut. Hermione was still staring at Harry, quite confused. “Harry, you look shattered. Did you, um, get enough sleep last night.” “No, actually I didn’t. I stayed up all night thinking about you…and other things…and you,” he thought. But he felt like he should change the subject so he said, “Yea, I got sleep. Do you have to go to the prefect’s meeting?” “Oh yea… you know what, Hermione. I didn’t get very much sleep last night. Go on and I can hear what happened later,” with that said, Ron sat down, propped his feet up, put his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes to go to sleep. He looked rather comfortable and pleased with himself. “Oh don’t be ridiculous, Ron! You have to go to the meeting to find out your timetable! And you need to know all of your duties this year as Prefect! And you must be curious as to who the new...” “Hermione!” Ron interjected. “One: you can find out my timetable for me. Two: you can find out who the new people are. Three: we found out our duties last year. And four:” Ron put on the most pitiful face he could pull, “please, Hermione?” Harry could almost see the gears in Hermione’s head working as her face mischievously softened. Hermione walked out of the compartment saying, “Fine, Ronald! But I’m not going to make sure you get a good shift!” Ginny left to find her friends leaving Harry with a “sleeping” Ron. Ron, upon hearing Ginny shut the door, suddenly sat up “Do you think that she meant that?” Harry thought and said, “Yea, I’m pretty sure she did.” Ron sat back again, “Na! She wouldn’t do that.” “Er, listen Ron,” started Harry. “I know about you and Hermione, and you don’t have to hide it.” Ron looked semi-surprised. “Um, you do?” Harry nodded and continued. “You know you can tell me anything. It won’t mess up our friendship.” “Oh, I didn’t think about our friendship. I just thought you might be a bit mad, you know?” “Mad…er, why would I be mad?” Did Ron know? Surely not… “I mean I think that it’s great and I’m really happy for you.” Ron now thought that Harry was delirious. “Riiight…well if you know then what did you dream about?” “Huh? What are you talking about?” “You know,” Ron said. “That night Hermione and I talked, you were talking in your sleep. What did you dream about?” “That night you and Hermione ... ‘talked’,” said Harry. “Yea, all we did was talk about you. You woke me up with your moaning and Hermione was up and we decided not to tell you that we were talking about you in case you got mad. I thought you said you knew all that.” Ron’s words sunk in and it slowly dawned on Harry his stupid mistake. “Oohhh…oh right, yea.” “Harry, what did you think happened?” asked Ron, suspiciously. “I thought,” but Harry thought better. “I don’t know. I, er, dreamed about that night about the, er, Ministry. You know, and what happened.” Harry felt bad for lying to his best friend, especially when he had just been mad at him for his own mistake, but he didn’t want to tell him about the prophecy; at least not now. “Oh. But I though you said ‘Dumbledore’-” “Yea, I was at the part when Dumbledore came,” lied Harry, cutting Ron off. Harry was utterly confused. Had he just overreacted last night? Was it because Ron had someone and he didn’t, or was it because that said someone was Hermione? * The usual plump woman came around with sweets around midday. Sliding the door back, she said, “Anything of the trolley, lads?” After loading up on Cauldron Cakes, Chocolate Frogs, and other sweets, he and Ron sat debating about the upcoming Quidditch season. Harry was in a much better mood, as it were. “I wonder if my ban has been lifted?” wondered Harry aloud. “Of course it has, who listens to that old fraud now?” replied Ron, mouth full of a Chocolate Frog. “Gryffindor is losing two chasers this year,” said Harry. “And unless anyone is replaced this year, then- ,” said Ron. “Ron! You are not going to be replaced! You did-,” started Harry. “I was talking about those beaters! What makes you think that I was talking about me being replaced? Hmm?” said Ron, spitting chocolate everywhere. “Oh, of course I didn’t say you were going to be replaced! You just said last year that you might quit, that’s all.” The last thing Harry needed right now was a fight. “Well obviously I’m not going to quit- did you see that save I made last year?” said Ron, proudly. “The one that you kicked with your foot while hanging of your broom?” asked Harry. Ron reflectively sighed, “Yea…”. Harry remembered Ron telling him that that particular save was an accident; Ron had fallen off his broom. The compartment door slid open. “Hi Harry! Nice summer?” Harry looked up to see Neville, Hermione, Ginny, and Dean. Hermione sat down across from an oblivious Ron and grinned. “Ron, the Headboy or Girl will give us our assigned timetables at the start-of-term feast,” “Brilliant.” Harry changed his attention to Neville. “Yea, same as always. How was yours?” he said, throwing him a Cauldron Cake. As everyone else sat down, grabbing various sweets, Harry noticed that Ginny and Dean were holding hands. “It was great. I got a new wand,” said Neville brandishing a shiny wand. “Thirteen inches, mahogany, and a unicorn hair. It works excellently! You wanna see?” Neville stood up and held out his wand just as the compartment door slid open. “Expelliarmus!” Neville’s wand flew from his hands and soared into those of Draco Malfoy. “Look, Longbottom got a new wand. Well I suppose he’d have to after what happened to his dad’s. Tell me, Longbottom. Was your Gran mad?” Neville went pale, but he took a step forward. “Give it back Malfoy!” Malfoy laughed. He looked around the compartment and his eyes fell on Harry. “I heard Dumbledore had to save you again, Harry. Sounds like you can’t handle your own battles.” “Yea, I bet you did hear about it,” Harry now stood up. “Wasn’t your dad there?” Malfoy scowled. “Leave my dad out of this.” “Why? Because he’s in Voldemort’s inner circle and now everyone knows about it?” “Shut up Potter! I – I...” Malfoy looked menacing. “You don’t understand what it’s like to have a father like him.” “No, because of him, I don’t understand what it’s like to have a father at all.” Harry and Malfoy were now glaring at each other, their faces merely a foot apart. Malfoy looked around the compartment again; at the pale, determined Neville, at Ron, who looked at a loss for words, but was still stood up in anger, at Hermione who was glaring daggers at him, and his eyes stopped at Ginny. He whipped his head back at Harry. “You have no idea, Potter.” Malfoy looked at Neville’s wand and sneered, tossing it back, and left the compartment. Neville and Ron sat back down, Ron grabbing a Chocolate Frog, but Harry stared into the empty corridor. “Come on Harry,” said Ginny. “He’s not worth your attention.” Harry turned around, “Yea your right.” “Maybe he’s not. But you didn’t notice anything?” said Hermione. “Notice what?” said Ron “Crabbe and Goyle weren’t with him.” “They probably realized what a spoiled bastard he really is,” Ron shrugged, looking out of the train window at the approaching castle. ~*~ AN: Sorry! Originally this chapter was a lot longer, but unfinished. I really felt that I needed to update, so I cut a lot of it off. The next update will probably be soon!