SLIGHTLY EDITED FROM LAST VERSION
Thanks, Ridxwan for your criticism…Oh…my…gawd! I didn't realize this chapter sounded a little gay, like he called it. That wasn't supposed to happen. So I've slightly modified some entries to this chapter. Thanks to the critique, because it helped free up some redundancies to the story and this slightly different chapter will actually help improve the plot! Really! Thanksss…
Original Authors Note: I'm very sorry for the long delay of this update! What's my excuse now? Plot holes that significantly wrecked the flow of the story's future chapters! I can't tell you what they were, of course, but I fixed them by rewriting the majority of this chapter to fit in very well to the ending. It was a nightmare, but I'm glad I discovered the plot holes before it was too late. As a result, we have a domino effect for the subsequent chapters, quite a few of my original ideas (though minor) were rendered irrelevant and so that means more rewrites ahead for me, and a minor overhaul of the outline for the later chapters.
I hope readers will be patient when I write as carefully as I can before releasing new chapters. If you find any inconsistencies (as I'm my own editor - hehe), please point them out though reviews. I'm sure I missed something out of the confusion. Thanks!!!
Thanks very much to RidXwan for reviewing (he sent more than three reviews for this story, counting the ones in Fanfiction.net). Thanks for making me smile like a madman, man!
Okay, enough of this dreary speech chockfull of excuses. On with the show!
Chapter 10: Death Eaters at Hogwarts…Again
Ramius and Olga didn't stay longer than anyone had expected and took their leave at the middle of the night the same day. They still had so many tasks to do for Dumbledore at the Ministry, which no one knew of except for them.
Despite being restricted to the confines of Grimmauld most of the time (except for the rare and fully secured trip to Diagon Alley for some Christmas shopping) Harry and his friends had a wonderful and relaxing vacation towards Christmas nonetheless. After all, this was the first time Harry had ever experienced Christmas outside of Hogwarts and the Dursleys (if he had felt the holidays at all while he lived with them). Grimmauld looked festive with a frosty Christmas tree, mistletoes, candy canes, and all kinds of holiday decors.
To everyone's nervous relief, there had been no new Death Eater attacks for days so far. Dumbledore was uneasy about it, though. He thought of it as some kind of calm before the next storm. He told Harry, Ron, and Hermione that the Dark Lord also liked to use this strategy: keeping his enemies guessing of what and when his next move was. This was the least of Harry's troubles because he kept wondering where his godfather had gone to. Sirius had not returned to Grimmauld since the last time he saw him but Dumbledore assured Harry that he was staying over at "a big friend's place". Harry wished Dumbledore didn't have to be vague about it although he felt better now that he knew Sirius wasn't wandering around like before.
This year's Christmas Eve dinner was the most sumptuous of all dinners Harry, Ron, and Hermione ever had. Molly was in her element with regards to cooking tasty dishes - everybody had to have third to fourth helpings each of everything. They couldn't say no to breakfast on Christmas Day either because of the bacon, eggs, and lean ham. Ginny simply fled at the sight of them at the table.
Sirius' Screaming Scale was heard throughout Grimmauld on Christmas morning, teasing the people trying to see how much weight they gained by bellowing words like "Hermione's going fa-at!", for Lupin, "Gerrof! Gerrof!", and Harry "Still thinking you're skinny, aren't ya?" (Hermione didn't need to get mad about the scale's insults because she had seen it flying out of the window at least twice already.)
The only damper to Harry and Hermione's otherwise enjoyable holiday was Ron's lessening enthusiasm of spending time together with them. His daily mood appeared subdued ever since their last conversation at the garden before meeting Ramius Palkov. Hermione was especially worried about Ron, and he was usually evasive when she asked him what was wrong. Harry felt it, too, and made it another point to talk to his best friend about it to help clear things up.
Harry, meanwhile, chose to set aside his determination to get another chance to open up his feelings towards Hermione. He simply lacked the courage and knew that the last thing he wanted for the rest of the holidays was Hermione not wanting to talk to him ever again because of it. Harry also thought he almost knows why Ron was acting like a loner most of the time doing nothing but lying down on his own bed almost all day just thinking to himself. Harry wasn't sure about it, though, because he had never again been alone with Hermione after his "abortive" confession with her (that was five days ago). He, Hermione, and Ron had spent most of their time together like the trio they had always been - if not alone to themselves at times. Still, he had to talk Ron again and try to find out what was bothering him.
And it proved to be an unpleasant discussion.
"You don't care about our own little trio, do you?" roared Ron at the garden Harry. Harry was just sitting down on a bench, looking up at his livid best friend quietly. Ron had finally snapped as Harry had feared.
"I do care about us. I…" Harry began but Ron cut him off again.
"No, you don't! I can't believe you'd be this insensitive and dishonorable, Harry! After what we've talked about, you're still chasing Hermione around like a caveman!"
"That's not true, Ron!" Harry said, and he was getting increasingly peeved by Ron's incessant shouting. "We've been together with her all the time, and I haven't been alone with Hermione except for once - and we just talked about Russelpunk and the missing scientists…"
"Ha! Isn't that the truth?" snorted Ron. "Selective amnesia, it is!"
"What do you mean?"
"You talked about your feelings with her, and Hermione's little memory problem kicked in fortunately at the right time…"
"How do you know about that?" Harry said, his stare at Ron getting sharper.
"I just know…"
"Don't lie to me, Ron! We didn't talk about romance! Ask Hermione. Prove you heard what he talked about, or you're just making it up!"
Ron stared back at Harry for a moment piercingly, trying to decide if he'd show Harry how he knew about what transpired in their conversation when Ron was nowhere near them at that time. To Harry's shock, Ron contemptuously threw the rubber ear on top of the bed - it bounced and Harry caught it.
"Now who's lying, Harry?" said Ron angrily.
Ron proved without words Harry had lied to his best friend just to cover himself up. Harry would have melted on the spot as he stared on the Extended Ears sitting on his palms. However, new anger coursed from deep within him this time. Ron had eavesdropped on his and Hermione's private conversation without his knowledge and permission, and this was a very different matter as it was intrusive. He didn't know how Dumbledore took it all too lightly when he found he out they were doing the same thing to him, but now he understood how it felt like. This was way more personal than talking with Fudge.
"You were listening in on our conversation…" Harry began. Ron kept silent while he glared at Harry and he looked unwavering in his determination to fight this one out.
"You were listening in on our conversation…" Harry repeated, gritting his teeth. "How could you, Ron, you…have no right to do that, Ron! Have you ever listened to your mother about not invading other people's privacy?!?"
"Don't you drag Mum into this, Harry!" Ron warned furiously, pointing a finger at him.
"I'm talking about your etiquette, not your mother!" Harry shouted.
"Whoa! I could see the old 'change the subject quick' trick coming! It won't work on me, Harry. You're stooping so low as to try to hook up with our best friend. I should have known you were this selfish ever since, Harry, and I haven't bothered trying to follow you around wherever you go. We're through for good this time, Harry! I don't want to talk to you ever again!"
"Fine!" Harry bellowed, swung his foot in midair like he now always did when he was extremely angry, and moved to another spot further from Ron. He was so angry with Ron that he didn't care to say sorry anymore. He felt Ron had left (angrily, too) and threw a scathing look at Ron's back as he walked away fuming.
Harry could not believe how Ron could sever their friendship like this readily - the subject about his desire for Hermione would have been easy to settle, but he didn't feel he'd forgive him for a long time because of his eavesdropping. Harry knew this shouldn't have happened if Ron had approached him nicely, but at the same he felt he should have not exploded like that when he learned of Ron's intrusion. They've been friends for so many years - Ron was the only true friend he knew ever aside from Hermione, and he was already beginning to feel very sad they were breaking up, especially during Christmas.
Harry didn't go to the house for a while after his blistering encounter with Ron to avoid meeting him again. However, he knew he couldn't stay out here forever and whether he liked it or not, he could still cross paths with him - Grimmauld wasn't too big for the both of them. Harry was still too angry with Ron that he didn't remember deciding to return to his room to cool off. He also didn't remember meeting anyone along the way, though more than one had called on his name to ask what was wrong with him.
Harry had gotten just outside the room he shared with Ron, and he felt anxious of what he could do to him if he'd find him there. If Ron was inside, he'd just find another place to be. Fortunately he wasn't there, only his snowy owl Hedwig who was perched on the window sill. He got in the room and found Ron's bed devoid of sheets and pillows. His trunk was nowhere to be found, too (clearly he had vacated this room already).
The only place Harry thought Ron could transfer to could be either his parents' room or the twins'. He bet his only glasses he chose to be with Fred and George, because knowing Ron, he wouldn't want to make Arthur and Molly wonder why he didn't want to stay in the room with him anymore. Molly would surely be unbearable for Ron admonishing him for going to a fight with his best friend - she would probably try to convince them to make peace with each other. He wished Mrs. Weasely would do so, because even though he hated what Ron did to listen in to his private conversation with Hermione, he didn't want to be enemies with him again. The sooner this little conflict would be resolved, the better, but he was prepared for the possibility that this one won't end very soon.
Harry believed that with all the enemies he had in his life - Voldemort, Lucius, Draco, or maybe even Dudley - the most difficult to deal with was his best friend, if not the worse. The longer the conflict dragged on, the more it hurt because he'd be longing for his lost company. It was hard for him to believe it was just only a few days ago when they helped each other get out of some sticky situations as real friends, like their encounter with Steve Wraskon that Death Eater attack at that Burrow. Now they hated each other.
He had now admitted he had made a mistake of pushing for something that he knew would anger Ron - he thought he was ready to express his regret for it in front of him. But aside from being very reluctant to give in to Ron first this time, it didn't erase the fact that he eavesdropped on his personal conversation with Hermione - Ron owed him an apology, too. A big one at that.
"He must apologize to me first," Harry thought at last. "What he did to me was much worse than telling Hermione about my feelings. Right, Hedwig?"
Pride had prevailed over their friendship.
-o0o-
It took almost a couple of days for Hermione to notice that Harry and Ron weren't talking to each other. In fact, she was the first one to notice of all the people in Grimmauld. Harry and Ron had skillfully avoided each other, but they both knew where the other was when somebody asked them.
Concerned, Hermione chose to talk to Ron first about what's going on between him and Harry, but Ron was not talking. He flatly refused to tell her the details, which made Hermione slightly mad with impatience.
"Ron!" she called as he stormed away from her, "Please, let me help you and Harry…" but he didn't go back to her at all.
Desperate to look for answers, she immediately searched for Harry and caught up with him at the very bench they had sat on and talked a few days ago. Harry was all by himself, looking lonely from Hermione's standpoint. She sighed and approached him slowly.
"There you are," she said as she got within a few feet from him. "I thought I'd find you here."
Harry was a bit startled with Hermione, though he smiled and dusted off the spot for her to sit on.
"Can we talk?" Hermione asked.
"Sure, what's on your mind?"
"Ron."
"Oh. Him," Harry said with bitterness in his voice. "What about?"
"I knew there was something wrong between the both of you, so I got concerned…and I asked him about why you're both fighting."
"Great," Harry muttered under his breath, "now he's trying to make her mad at me by telling her everything…"
"Sorry, what did you say?" asked Hermione, leaning closer to Harry.
"Nothing…nothing. What did he tell you?" Harry said, now looking anxiously at Hermione. He was afraid Ron had told her some twisted tales to make him look like a jerk to her, thus getting her sympathy.
"Practically nothing!" she said exasperatedly. "What's going on between you two? You've fought last year and you're fighting again. Are we seeing some kind of a new tradition here?"
Harry just fell quiet. Hermione sat down beside him, determined to squeeze out some bit of an explanation from Harry.
"Harry, I'd like to know - I need to know so that I could help you reconcile," she wheedled, moving closer to him. "It's bad enough if you're not in talking terms, but I don't want to think what'll happen if it gets worse…"
"If he'll apologize to me first I'll consider talking to him again…"
"Why, what did he do?"
Harry hesitated answering her for a while, but he couldn't deny to himself he did want Hermione's help to end this little war with Ron. It was only a few days old but it's taking an emotional toll for the trio already. Like most people, it wasn't easy for Harry to live on with his life while he knew he was not at peace with somebody, especially one of his best friends. But the reason he would give Hermione why Ron hated him will be very revealing…he'd just have to tell her about it using carefully chosen words…
"Ron…you see, thinks I've got the hots for you…" Harry trailed off. Now he'd done it. He let it loose.
Instead of some expected moments of silence while Hermione absorbed that revelation, she said "Oh, is that all?"
"Huh?" said Harry. He was completely surprised at Hermione's reaction.
"You're fighting because of the mere fact that you're attracted to me?" she said, frowning. "What right does he have to tell you what you must feel towards me? I don't mind it at all if you want me…I've got to have a word with him again…"
"Please, you don't have to - I don't know how he'll take it…"
Hermione, in a rare form of delayed reaction for the brightest witch of her age, then snapped into realization what she had just heard Harry say. She stared straightly at the space in front of her for a good couple of minutes. She, then at last, gathered the strength to gaze back at him very slowly even as her mind kept absorbing the impact of his revelation.
Hermione shifted on her seat awkwardly, and breathed in deeply like she was preparing to ask a very difficult question. "Harry…Do you really…?" She glanced at Harry expectantly, but he didn't see the look on her face.
Harry stared straightly at the space in front of him. This was the exact condition that he had wished for some time to really tell her what he felt for her, but ironically, something was holding him back now, and sadly he didn't know what it was. Things were getting too fast for his mind (and to some degree, his heart) to process at the very moment. He thought he'd still needed time to think it over. He'd pour out himself to Hermione right now, but he thought he had to resolve everything first before he'll commit himself to a relationship with her.
Above all, was he thinking right?
Harry, with much difficulty, now looked at Hermione straight at her widened brown eyes. Her face revealed that she wanted something positive, the very first sign he ever had that Hermione might be open to a relationship, not like his fears of being slapped across the face when he'd raise the subject. Opportunity knocked on his noggin at the moment, but this time he now felt afraid - afraid of wrecking the five-year old friendship he had with her if their romance didn't work (before he had just thought that letting her know about it would already wreck their friendship, but Harry had gone to another step in the process). How would they relate to each other then, if that happened? He again saw this on TV so many times - former couples going on with their lives apart from each other. They usually forgot about each other, and when they met again, it always turned ugly. He didn't want that to happen to them at all. Perhaps TV mirrored real life, he wasn't quite sure.
Now, Harry asked himself, why was he always this so negative? It seemed that he was gradually losing control of his former self - his optimistic side. It's just wasn't like him at all. Just when did this start at all? His mind was buzzing wildly.
He now had to choose between confirming it or by just lying about it by saying "No, I don't have the hots for you, Hermione," but he knew she'd be positively insulted right there and then. He would have lost the chance to get much closer to her forever because she'd be so angry with him she won't even say his name anymore.
"Maybe I could just play it safe and dip my toe on the water first and see what happens…no too quick…" he thought.
It just came to him automatically:
He gave her a slight smile, keeping his green eyes locked to her brown ones. It was a smile that spoke a thousand words, but at the same time, it seemed that it was void of any definite meaning. Hermione breathed and stared at Harry. She ran her eyes around his face; he looked very handsome to her at the very moment he wore that little smile. Instead of getting what he meant by that, however, she became more confused. She didn't know what Harry's answer was. Was he confirming what Ron said was true? Was he just flattered about it, or was he just teasing her?
Pop! POP!
"Tis getting too quiet, oy, mate?" Fred laughed beside George and slapping Harry and Hermione's shoulders from behind, startling them both and making them scream.
"Fred - were you listening to…" Harry started furiously after realizing it was the twins. He and Hermione instantly went pale with embarrassment.
"Of course, not!" George said severely, acting scandalized. "We just apparated in to tell you Sirius is looking for you!"
"Sirius is here?" Harry said happily, standing up at once and looked around the garden for any sign of him.
"Hang on a minute!" said Hermione, regaining the color on her cheeks. "You two know how to apparate already?"
"Do we look splinched to you, Hermione?" Fred said, faking annoyance. "Oh, wait, I think I have George's face by mistake."
Harry laughed and Hermione followed on shortly.
"Hermione," Harry said uncertainly, "sorry if this was cut short, but if it's okay…"
"Oh, of course, Harry," she replied, doing her best to hide the disappointment from her voice (she failed). "By all means - he's your godfather! Get going! Go on!" She then forced a smile, which Harry returned.
"Hermione - sorry if I…"
"No, it's okay…really," she said with another forced grin. "Another time, maybe…"
Harry waved at her gently as he walked off and she waved back, too, looking dreamily ahead of him. It was refreshing to know for Harry that Hermione didn't object if he was romantically interested with her, thanks to the slip of her tongue.
It was sadly another missed chance for Harry to really let her know how he felt for her (it was getting more and more frequent, though), but he finally decided this wasn't the time for it yet, unfortunately. It was hard for him to admit it, but Ron was right. After thinking under much pressure, he resolved it was of the utmost importance to reconstitute the trio first - only then would Ron start to accept he could not stop him and Hermione from going steady. Of course, this wasn't the only motive why Harry wanted to make peace with Ron as soon as possible. The bond was essential for their survival against Voldemort, too, like Dumbledore had told him countless times.
The problem was how and when would stop being too selfish and wake up to reality?
-o0o-
Harry was happy to see Sirius back from wherever he came from. They met at the attic of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, which Buckbeak the Hippogriff inherited as his room. The attic was the perfect place to be for Buckbeak because of its floor to ceiling window where he could just slip in and out when he fancied (as long as it was at night).
"Where've you been?" Harry said happily, going into a hug with Sirius. "When I got out after meeting Dumbledore, you were already gone."
"I had to go somewhere, Harry, sorry," Sirius replied. He pulled out a bag full of dead rats for Buckbeak. "Want some?" he grinned.
Harry just pinched his nose and crossed his eyes.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this, but since you're my only family now…" said Sirius, pulling out a dead rat from the bag and feeding it to Buckbeak, "Dumbledore asked me to take a look at what's going on in Hogwarts."
"Wow, you've been at Hogwarts? But..but that's dangerous! What if you got caught?"
Instead of appreciating Harry's concern for his safety, Sirius breathed and stared on ahead sadly. "I thought you'd be happy I was allowed to get out of this rotten place after being virtually imprisoned here for ages since Dumbledore accepted this house for the Order…"
"But I am - only that I don't want you hurt out there without me…"
Sirius smiled this time. "Sorry about that, Harry, but I'm glad to know you really care."
"Like you said, we're the only ones left in this family." Harry dusted off the floor beneath him and sat down. "So what's going on in Hogwarts now, Sirius?"
"It's quite peaceful there, actually. Too peaceful. Hagrid thought he'd adopt me as a dog because it was extremely lonely and quiet for him out there. I declined at once - you'll never know how I hate it when his Boarhound always got in position behind me."
Harry laughed for a long time, and Sirius went along with him.
"The people I was supposed to watch, Fudge's men, have already arrived at Hogwarts two days ago," divulged Sirius. Feeling Buckbeak's impatience to taste another dead rat, he threw another one at him. "I counted about fifteen, there could be more, and they aren't a friendly lot from how I look at them."
"They're there already?" said Harry, frowning. "But it's still a few days away when we go back to school."
"Yeah, but I think they needed to study the Hogwarts grounds very well for whatever purpose they might be in for. Probably they wanted to know where the possible hiding places are."
"Do you recognize any of them, Sirius?"
"Not one, I'm afraid," Sirius sighed. "I've been in Azkaban for too long. I won't give them my full confidence that one of them is clean. I've asked Dumbledore to allow me to stay at Hogwarts and look after you when you go back. I can't accept being stuck here and not doing at least something to help keep you safe."
"What'd he say?"
"Nothing, he just kept quiet about it, which maddens me a lot. He probably thinks I can't take care of myself out there - I feel like being treated like a little boy younger than you…"
"Maybe he just doesn't want you to get hurt or something."
"I don't care what happens to me!" Sirius growled, making Harry jerk back a little out of surprise. "We share the same concerns for you, and here I am, an Animagus, a very capable wizard who isn't afraid of Voldemort, cooped up in the attic with a Hippogriff most of the time. He should be grateful to be relieved of some burden trying to protect you, but I feel like a liability instead of a good asset…" Sirius paused for a while and sighed. "Great, now I sound like a brat!"
"I know how you feel, Sirius," soothed Harry, and patting his shoulder. "I think you just need to ask him more than once - I think if you try enough he'll give in, but I'm also guilty of worrying about you being out there in the open…" Harry said that with an uneasy smile, hoping Sirius wouldn't get offended with the belief he shared with Dumbledore about him being much safer when he'd stay in Grimmauld.
"Yeah, I think I'll do that"
"But you don't have to…"
"C'mon, Harry! I could use some excitement," Sirius said, now laughing. "Nobody knows I'm a lovable dog except you, your friends, the Weasleys, and Dumbledore - well, Snape, too after what happened last year."
"Tell you what, we'll just worry about each other in Hogwarts and I think we're even. But if Dumbledore's against it, I really have to ask you to obey him…"
"Yes, sir, Harry, sir!" said Sirius sarcastically, which Harry didn't mind as long as he expressed what he wanted his godfather to do. They both fell silent, watching Buckbeak smooth his feathers with his beak.
"I've heard about your escapade at Xanthius, Harry," Sirius said a little later, steering away from the last subject. "All I can say is that I'm extremely impressed - and proud of you. I bet no one's supposed to ever get out of there."
Harry smiled. "Well, if it weren't for Hermione and her dragon, we wouldn't've."
"Yes, that was a fortunate coincidence she found a dragon that you're said to have been acquainted with," Sirius laughed softly. "But it may not have happened if you haven't stood your ground against Voldemort, too. James and Lily would have been so proud of you if they were alive today."
"Yeah, and then I'd get grounded for a lifetime after that," Harry joked and Sirius laughed.
"It's always a great blessing when you have very faithful friends, like I had," Sirius sighed. "I do admire the friendship you're sharing with Ron and Hermione. James also valued his friends above all else, but you know the story about the feat of our other former friend that separated all of us up in just one night…"
Upon hearing that, Harry felt instantly guilty. Sirius had noticed this at once.
"Anything wrong with what I said?"
"Oh, no, it's perfectly okay, but…" he hesitated, "there's something that happened between us when you were away…" Harry was now glad he had someone to share about to ease the burden he had carried on his shoulders during the last few days. He told Sirius about his attraction to Hermione and how Ron had handled it lately. He also told Sirius about his decision to defer his intimate desires with Hermione for the sake of the trio.
Sirius smiled slightly, looked at Harry a little more, and said, "I see nothing wrong with your feelings - one of you had a good chance to get attracted to Hermione, after all the joys and pain that you shared with each other these years. It's not because I'm you're Godfather and I'd always side with you, Harry, but I agree Ron had over reacted. He got too mad he forgot about what you and Hermione did for him all these years." Sirius sighed again. "Worse, he did something that was unacceptable, you know, like bugging your conversation with Hermione…I don't like that thing either."
"So do you think I should ignore him from now on and just go on and do what I want?"
"No, Harry." Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Harry, it's a noble thing you did, setting aside your personal desires temporarily for Hermione for the sake of the trio, as you call it. If you ask me, since I know what you've been through together, I'd try to make friends with him again. But you must still try to make him realize what he did was wrong about the eavesdropping thing, well, without losing some of your teeth. He can't control your and Hermione's life by being a spoiled brat. He should also learn how to respect you, as much as you respect him."
"I've been thinking of the same thing," Harry said. "I might forgive him for eavesdropping, but I admit it's easier said than done. He might just want to be angry with me for some time. Knowing him, when he realizes he erred at the first place, he won't readily admit it…"
"That's the difference of making an enemy out of your best friend. It's very humbling when you say you're sorry. The best condition for reconciling would be he'll say sorry and you say sorry, too. You're even. Just try to have a talk with him if you can…if you don't succeed at first, give him some time before trying to talk with him again. He'll give in eventually, though I don't want you to become the martyr or something…bad precedent, I say!"
"Yeah, thanks," Harry exhaled and stood up from the floor. "I got to go and clean up - see you around, Sirius…" He started on his way towards the door and reached for the knob.
"Harry…"
"Yes?" Harry said, looking back at Sirius.
"If we don't see each other after this before you leave back for Hogwarts," Sirius said slowly, not facing Harry, "I have a package for you on your bed. Open and use it to call me if you need me…and I'll be there for you as fast as I can."
"Okay," Harry said. "Thanks."
He got out of the door and headed downstairs towards his room. He didn't know what was inside the package, but if it was something that would put Sirius in extreme danger by going to his rescue if he got into deep trouble, he knew he wouldn't try to use it.
-o0o-
Harry had tried twice to talk with Ron about their problem towards the last day of their Christmas vacation, but each time he did he was angrily rebuffed. Harry heeded Sirius' advice about giving it more time before he'd try to talk to him again, but Harry felt this has emboldened Ron even more to refuse any conversation with him, and as a result, made him even madder with Ron. Ron might have felt he was gaining the upper hand in their civil war because of his reconciliatory moves, which was a bad thing, Harry thought.
Worse, Ron was also mad at Hermione for still going alone with Harry most the time, which also made her extremely angry with him.
"Do you know what Ron wants me to do?" Hermione exploded over lunch with Harry one day.
"No," Harry said, forgetting to swallow his soup, dripping some off to his chest. "Why, what did he say?" He took out a napkin to wipe the stain on his shirt.
"He wants to me to stop talking to you, too, can you believe it?!? He doesn't want to see us both together anymore!"
"Really. Well, I can't stop you if you…"
"Don't be silly, Harry," Hermione cut Harry off. "He refuses to even see your face. Naturally I'd be the only friend you have right now while he's on a tantrum that I'm the only one you feel at ease talking to! If he keeps telling me to keep away from you and telling me what to do like a king, he'll find out who's without friends someday! Oh, he's got the nerve…"
"Hermione, you could still afford to be patient with Ron - I think he's just too confused right now."
Hermione snorted. "He's not being confused, Harry. He's being a selfish oaf and a total jerk! One more word from him like that and I don't want to speak to him ever again!"
Ron did confront Hermione again, to his dismay. She read all of her course books just before going back to Hogwarts just to forget about Ron completely. Ron, meanwhile, found a good reason to bond even more with his brothers and Ginny, the only people who seemed to look indifferent to what was going on between Harry, Hermione, and him. Not that they didn't actually care; they were very tired of Ron's nightly talk with them about how sneaky Harry and Hermione was.
The night before they all went back to Hogwarts, Harry had received another letter from Russelpunk (Harry had asked Dumbledore to give his letter to Russelpunk during one of his trips to and from Hogwarts and he got a reply when Dumbledore had come back).
"He says he's okay and he had not been sending letters to me all Christmas," Harry said as Hermione looked over his shoulder to read the letter, too, in Harry's room. "But he's eager to see us when we get back. He says he has a lot of questions to ask us…"
"Then from whom were those letters the owls were carrying for?" asked Hermione. For days they had counted at least ten owls just flying around in circles, failing to deliver the letters to their recipients.
"I don't know," Harry said thinking and placing the letter back to its envelope. "Could it be for Dumbledore from Fudge?"
"Possibly, but Dumbledore goes back and forth from here to Hogwarts everyday, doesn't he? He could get his letters from there."
"Oh, yeah," Harry realized. "How about Viktor Krum?"
Hermione suddenly felt uncomfortable hearing Harry say Krum's name, though he mentioned him very casually.
"I think I'll find out if he was writing as soon as we get back to Hogwarts," she said quickly. Hermione sat on the center of what used to be Ron's bed and pretended to inspect her toenails.
"Yeah, please do find out, will you?" said Harry, not sounding upset with a well-disguised tone of voice. Harry now felt upset each time he heard Krum's name even from himself, though he usually succeeded in acting being relaxed about it. "I don't know why I feel something's wrong about those owls…"
"It probably happens with other witches or wizards living in a place subjected to a Fidelius Charm, too," Hermione theorized absently. "It's only the first time we've seen it, I think that's why you feel something's wrong."
"Ah, maybe you're right," Harry muttered, finally deciding to pack up his belongings after a few days of putting it off. Harry took a look back at Hermione, who was still on Ron's bed but now deep in thought.
"Hermione, how're your headaches?" he asked carefully.
"Oh, I still get them one to three times a day, so I haven't stopped my medication. Why?"
Harry didn't answer at once, though this was one of the things he wanted to talk to her about. Madam Pomfrey would've disagreed with him, but he strongly felt Hermione needed to know what was happening to her. They were going back to Hogwarts the next day and he didn't want Hermione to look silly in front of everybody when her memory lapses attacked in public, especially to Draco would be unbearable to her then. She had to be aware of it, and maybe he could help her through it while it lasts. So he told her everything.
Hermione became anxious when she learned about her real condition. Like Madam Pomfrey had predicted, she didn't seem to be concerned about her health but her chances to top the upcoming O.W.L.s when she could forget about what she studied for.
"Harry, this is terrible!" she gasped. "Why didn't you tell me before? I kept wondering why I felt I'd read some books more than once already…"
"Madam Pomfrey didn't want us to…she said it didn't hurt you if you didn't know about it, but I quite disagree."
"No wonder the days felt shorter than normal for me sometimes," she said, holding her head with both her hands and looking fretful. "Did she say I'm demented?"
"No, of course not, she said it'll only be for weeks or a month," he replied, and then he felt he had made a mistake telling her about it. "Hermione, please, you must understand. I'm sorry I had to bring this up to you, but I thought you had to know despite Madam Pomfrey's warnings…"
"Harry, don't worry, it's okay! I'm really glad you told me…you're right. I thank you for it. Look at it this way - how can I help myself recover from this problem when I don't even know I have a problem, right?"
Harry glanced sideways and nodded his head. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Then I think it's best you should see Madam Pomfrey as soon as we get back to Hogwarts. Have her look at you, you know. I'll go with you if you want."
"Of course, thanks," Hermione said, smiling but looking anxious still. "Merlin's beard - what if I forget what I learned in the classroom, it'd be like being not in class at all! What if the lessons turned out in the exam?" she wailed. "What if I didn't notice it all? Harry, will you do something for me?"
"Sure. What?"
"Please let me know when it attacks. I'll ask you what happened before then, I might be able to recall it. I could try."
"Of course…but you know it upsets me each time I know it happens," Harry said, which made Hermione smile in appreciation for his concern again. "I just don't know how that would help you with your upcoming tasks at Hogwarts."
"You mean what Dumbledore and Olga want me to do there? I don't think it'll be a problem, Harry. I'll just be telling them what I heard that's suspicious, that's all. I can't tell them what I don't remember, right?"
"Maybe, but what if…"
Hermione waited for Harry to finish his sentence, but he just fell silent. "Yes, Harry?"
"Oh, nothing, I'm just being a little paranoid," he said finally, laughing a bit, but his face failed to hide his anxiety.
Hermione smiled, reached for his hand, and squeezed it reassuringly. Harry nodded in response and pursed his lips - he frantically thought of a way to do something to take his mind off Hermione or else he'd be kissing her in two minutes, counting.
He let go of Hermione's hand as gently as he could and started to rearrange the folded clothes he had already put in his suitcase (it definitely didn't need any rearranging at all). A picture of him, Ron, and Hermione taken during their second year fell out. Harry frowned, picked it up, and buried it deeper in the stack of clothes out of disgust.
"If you don't want to be friends with us anymore, I don't care!" Harry thought angrily.
Harry was so upset that he didn't feel Hermione was already at the door. "Harry," Hermione said, "I think I should go back to my room before Mrs. Weasley finds me here alone with you…it'll get ugly when she does!" She peeked out of the corridor and when she saw it was clear, she moved stealthily but briskly towards her room.
"See you tomorrow," Harry whispered, "and thanks for seeing me." Hermione nodded at him anxiously, imploring to Harry to keep his voice down. Just as soon as she entered her room and closed the door as quietly as she could, Mrs. Weasley's door started opening. Harry quickly closed his, and dove towards his bed, ready to pretend to be asleep if Molly checked up on him.
-o0o-
Arthur and Tonks were to escort Harry and the rest of the Hogwarts students in Grimmauld back to school the next day. Ron wasn't still speaking to Harry and Hermione when they ate breakfast together, which was very awkward for them in front of everybody else.
Harry had noticed that Mrs. Weasley was looking non-enthusiastically towards Hermione, and to some degree, at him, too. He didn't have to wonder why at all. Last year, she had also been cold towards Hermione when the rumor of her being Harry's girlfriend surfaced in the Daily Prophet, and Harry believed that Ron had already told his mum about the reason why they were fighting. Harry didn't want to predict how bad Molly would treat Hermione if they became more than just friends. It wasn't very comforting at all this early.
Harry gazed at Hermione, who was at the same snatching glances timidly towards Molly. She had noticed Molly's coolness towards her, too. Harry felt sorry for Hermione, and stirred his porridge pensively while he blamed himself for probably causing this to her. He had assured Molly before the Triwizard Tournament that Hermione wasn't his girlfriend, but things have changed quickly in a year. It was hard to accept for Harry that he had caused a lot of ill feelings between the people he knew and cared because of his ever-growing attraction to Hermione, and this was the prime reason he now had second thoughts about pursuing it. He felt bad about that, because it meant he couldn't decide on his own what to do for his life because he slightly feared what other people might think about it, though he knew this wasn't healthy, too…
It was like "me and Hermione against the world" for him, though for the Weasley's world for now. But wasn't that often the reason how couples' relationships get even stronger when they encounter strong opposition? Harry didn't know what to think - things were getting more and more confusing.
At least Harry's godfather showed opposite treatment towards him unlike Molly's: when Sirius said goodbye to everyone he made sure Molly and Ron saw him drag Harry and Hermione together into a long three-way hug and kiss them. As for Ron, Sirius merely looked and nodded at him curtly without saying a word, leaving Ron in the middle of the floor feeling uneasy. It was refreshing for Harry to be reminded that Sirius was behind him and at least Ron also knew how it felt like when a person he respected turned cool against him, like they were experiencing with Molly now.
Arthur, on the other hand, didn't change his treatment towards everybody even though Molly had told him Ron was angry with Harry and Hermione. He happily escorted all the Hogwarts students in Grimmauld back to school with Tonks by chartering the Knight Bus under Dumbledore's instructions. After Harry had taken his seat, he remembered that when he came to Grimmauld in the Knight Bus from the Burrow, he spent the whole trip on the top deck alone with Ron because he thought Hermione was angry with them both. Now, it was actually the opposite. Ironically, he and Hermione were now alone together at the top deck because Ron was angry with them both.
Hermione knew what was preoccupying Harry's mind when he sat silently on the front row of the bus, watching the light poles giving way for the bus and said, "Don't worry about how Mrs. Weasley looks at me, Harry, you didn't do anything wrong."
Harry wasn't sure if it was one of her subtle messages about any hint of romance and chose to keep quiet because he felt his heart would go under another tug-of-war.
After a few hours they reached the Hogwarts gates at the same time as the rest of the school had arrived from Hogsmeade. There were a couple of wizards Harry didn't know who looked like they were guarding the gate. Upon seeing them disembark the Knight Bus, the new wizards approached them.
"Why didn't you come in the Hogwarts Express like the rest of the school, boy?" one of them inquired Harry while he helped Hermione with her luggage. The wizard was half a head taller than him, had a white and cleanly cropped head of hair, and was wearing dark sunglasses and a trenchcoat. He looked like a politician's security detail than a wizard. The only thing missing was a clear coil of cable just behind his ears.
"Uh," Harry started, but Arthur had moved to his front.
"Hello, Horace," said Arthur coolly. "Finally decided to soak your shoes today with the mud, have you? Quite a departure from your usual clean office back at the bureau…"
So this was Horace Whipple, Fudge's appointed administrator for Hogwarts security as they liked to call it, Harry thought. The problem was, Fudge didn't believe Horace was a probable Death Eater also serving Voldemort like Olga had said. Harry and Hermione readily hated him. They surmised Horace wasn't supposed to man this post, but to lay in wait to make sure they met.
"Hello yourself, Arthur," Horace said directly. "Do you realize they have violated, uh, Section 23 of the, uh, Second Article of the Revised Hogwarts Security Code, which states all students are required to use the Hogwarts Express in order to go to and leave the premises? I had the impression that you really think that they would be attacked by - Death Eaters - since nothing is safer than taking the train. You don't want Minister Fudge to know about this, do you? "
Harry glared at Horace sharply. How dare he mock Mr. Weasley about having Death Eaters at Hogwarts when he himself could be one?
Arthur simply took out a thick book from his bag, which was the only thing that it carried, and waved it in front of Horace's face.
"You mean, this, Horace?" Arthur said, unfazed with his challenge and ignoring Horace's statement about his boss, Cornelius Fudge. "The same so-called revised code states that any person in authority of Hogwarts have the right to designate the most practical and efficient means of transportation for the students aside from the Hogwarts Express in special circumstances. As Albus Dumbledore is the top authority of Hogwarts, he cleared Harry Potter and his friends here of using the Knight Bus, in this special circumstance, which is as safe and secure as the Hogwarts Express itself. Section 71! Read about it if you want." He handed Horace the book.
Horace, however, just looked on ahead statuesquely.
Arthur didn't wait for any more argument coming from Horace and said, "Come along now, everybody. I'm sure you're all famished because of the trip…"
They passed by the stone-faced Horace without saying any word and walked up the stone steps towards the Hogwarts castle. Ron obviously avoided Harry and Hermione by walking alongside the twins a few yards behind.
Halfway towards the entrance, Hermione said, "Wow, Mr. Weasley, you really did your homework, huh?" She pointed at the thick book Mr. Weasley was lugging and was impressed at his excellent memory.
Arthur looked flattered. "I was hoping I didn't ever need to say a single word to him at all because he's a Death Eater, Hermione," he replied, "but he forced me by slamming a student, especially Harry, with a quick charge. Imagine - you all just got here and he's already making accusations!"
Hermione nodded. "I haven't seen that book on the new code before, do you have another copy of it somewhere, Mr. Weasley, because I'd like to borrow and study it. I'd like to know about this so-called code."
"Sure, Hermione," Arthur said, grinning. "You can have this book. It's yours."
"Thanks!" Hermione said happily. She didn't open to read it all at once like she always did when she was handed an interesting new book, and just carried it beside her as she walked up further the steps.
Harry caught a glimpse of the book's faded title printed along its spine, which read "The Ultimate Guide for Magical Bird Watchers by Forsythe Fowl" and suppressed his laughter. Mr. Weasley had made up his own argument front of Horace, who apparently didn't know everything about this so-called Security code he brought into play. Harry also couldn't help but imagine the look on Hermione's face tonight when she opened the book. He laughed at last, bringing out a puzzled face from her. Arthur just walked serenely along with them.
Further up the stone steps Harry saw more patrolling wizards who had the same features as Horace. They all wore standardized haircuts and get ups, and Harry could not help but feel queasy at the stomach. This just didn't feel right for him, like Hogwarts was under some kind of authoritarian rule, minus the Muggle tanks and guns. He wasn't alone - most of the students looked apprehensive with the new security measures designed to stifle any dissent against Fudge.
But he knew that it wasn't the only reason why they were here. Knowing that Lucius had a hand with the selection of Ministry Wizards sent to Hogwarts, they were here for some sinister reason. Either if it was for Hogwart's weakening in preparation for Voldemort's possible attack, or all of these were elaborate preparations for mainly finding the right conditions to snatch him for Voldemort. Harry didn't think they needed to bother. They could just get him anytime they wanted.
"Mr. Weasley," Harry hissed, "can't Dumbledore really do anything to kick them all out of here? They're actually the threat rather than the…"
"I'm afraid not, Harry," Mr. Weasley replied regretfully, feeling the urgency to answer Harry's question before they get within earshot of the wizards. Hermione was also listening in. "Fudge had all the legal bases covered, and Dumbledore's only responsibility is to oversee and issue directives for the academics and sports of this school."
Harry and Hermione groaned.
"I'm begging you to be very extra vigilant, Harry and Hermione," Mr. Weasley continued, now stopping to talk a little longer. (Ron also stopped but a few yards away from them, and looking stern). "Be wary of their intentions, but at the same time, don't make your studies suffer. You need to keep learning what you can while the school year lasts. I know it's difficult to concentrate when you keep looking what's behind you. Please don't be reckless or careless. They're here for…"
"Move along, now," said one of the Ministry Wizards, who had approached them while they were busy talking. "No huddling for more than three people. You can read that rule posted at the main bulletin board. Sir, if you intend to enter the castle, you need to secure an appointment with the Administrator. Thank you."
Mr. Weasley didn't say anything, and just shook hands with Harry and kissed Hermione. "That's one of the rules, too," Mr. Weasley said, sighing. "We'll try to keep checking on you as much as we can, and be extra, extra careful Hermione - and especially you, Harry."
They both nodded and Mr. Weasley walked over to Ron, the twins, and Ginny to say goodbye to them all with a hug. When Ron had broken away from his dad, Harry and Hermione had met his eyes, but he looked at them very coolly and went off towards the castle as if his best friends were strangers.
"C'mon, Hermione, let's have something to eat…" Harry said sadly, looking at the back of Ron, who was now way ahead of them. "I can't help but think we're gonna just have to rely on ourselves without Ron, just to survive whatever's coming with all these Death Eaters walking loose."
"Yeah, we'll watch each other's backs whatever it takes, right Harry?" she replied anxiously, and on instinct they just went into a friendly and reassuring embrace, which fortunately Ron had not noticed otherwise he would have misinterpreted it again to fuel his new obsession. "It's the first time I'm feeling scared about all this - I thought I won't…until now."
They looked around. The sight of more wizards had an ominous feeling for him and Hermione. The last time that Death Eaters were in Hogwarts was a few weeks ago, and for Hermione it was nothing like compared to this. They knew they had to expect a much difficult time for them in the days and weeks ahead. Hermione felt an odd feeling that the Wizards would just manifest themselves finally as Death Eaters whenever they wanted and surround both her and Harry for whatever purpose they were sent here for. They now shared the mutual duty of looking after each other in these dangerous times.
Harry and Hermione knew the trio would have been their best chance for protection against the threat of the Death Eaters, now more than ever. Unfortunately, Ron now didn't seem to appreciate that any longer.
-o0o-
(This is simply the longest chapter yet. I hope this chapter wasn't too long!)
Next Chapter will be posted as soon as it's ready…please keep checking back for updates. Thanks.