AUTHOR NOTE: A big thank you to the few people that reviewed for this chapter.. it honestly meant a lot because it was a chapter I posted after having a major writers block, so it let me know there's people still interested in what I have to write =o) THANK YOU!! And thank you in advance to anyone who reviews in the future, it honestly is like fuel for me, so when that writers block hits it keeps me wanting to get over it so I can update again! I hope you enjoy… Michelle Moonshine, Hermione's scholarship is indeed for after Hogwarts, when she's going into a career direction, I can't wait to get starte don the sequel already!
CHAPTER 24
"HARRY , RON!"
Both boys jumped, scattering Wizard's Chess pieces to the floor of the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What's up Hermione?" Harry asked cautiously, sporting a worried expression.
"What'd Thorton want?" Ron questioned, looking rather angry.
"What're you two so uneasy about, relax, I, what I mean to say is…"
"Come on spit it out." Ron urged.
"Oh I can't believe it, I've been given a full scholarship to any school in the world, for anything I should want to take!" She beamed looking radiant and happier then Harry had seen her since her mother's death.
"That's wonderful," Harry smiled, embracing her tightly and twirling her around gently. "Congratulations!"
"Ha, they've had your name written on that scholarship the moment you set foot in Hogwarts." Ron laughed. "Hand her over Harry, my turn to congratulate her."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh loudly, she threw her arms around Ron and ruffled his hair playfully.
"My boys," she sighed contently. "What would I do without you?"
"You'd be lost for sure." Ron concluded.
"Now I wouldn't quite go that far, I've saved your arse plenty of times." She decided, planting her hands firmly on her waist.
"She just, did she just say arse?" Ron questioned, his jaw dropping slightly.
"Give it a rest Ron, she curses too." Harry said, looking rather amused himself.
Hermione just shook her head, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Listen, we've been given permission to visit Diagon Alley to have some fun." She said holding up the note from Professor Thorton.
"You mean to celebrate." Harry corrected, wrapping an arm around her waist.
She blushed slightly.
"Yes well, call it as you like," she added in an embarrassed tone. "I thought you'd like to bring Luna along Ron?"
"Yeah, that'd be great! If that's okay with you Hermione, we can celebrate alone though, just us three."
Hermione shook her head.
"No, the more the merrier, besides, I haven't seen Luna for a while, it'll be nice to have her around again."
Ron looked more then surprised.
"You really mean that?" He questioned warily.
"Yes, I do." She replied simply with a warm smile.
Ron's ears went red and he broke into a joyful grin.
"Thanks Hermione." Ron added sheepishly.
"No, thank you," She continued. "You're the one who made me realize I shouldn't judge a person so quickly. Luna's really good, I wasn't fair to judge her as I did; she's smart… in her own way. She wouldn't be in Ravenclaw if she wasn't."
Ron looked as thought he had just been awarded the Quidditch Captain badge all over again.
Before they knew it, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Luna found themselves stepping through Professor Thorton's fireplace and into the hustle and bustle of the Leaky Cauldron.
"What are you kids doing here, aren't you suppose to be at school?" Tom questioned as groups of people stared at Harry, some whispering something to one another; Harry took no notice.
"We've got permission Tom, we're here to celebrate." He smiled warmly at Hermione.
"Oh? Celebrate what exactly?"
"Hermione's got a," Ron began.
"It's nothing Tom, they're being silly." Hermione stated shrugging it off, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
"You're being impossible!" Ron frowned.
"Shh, Ron calm down, you see Tommy, Hermione here has snagged herself a Scuffizzle and a half."
Hermione couldn't help but burst out in laughter at the look on Tom's face as Luna tried to explain what exactly they were celebrating. Shaking her head lightly, still laughing, she curled her arm around Harry's and began leading him to an empty table near the crackling fireplace. She faintly heard Ron tell Tom what Luna meant, before the two of them joined Harry and herself at the table.
"He never seems to understand what I'm saying, odd fellow, he acts as thought I'm speaking a foreign language." Luna said draping her coat over the back of her chair, looking as dazed as ever.
"Couldn't imagine why." Hermione said sarcastically, giving Ron a reassuring grin.
"I like the way you talk Lovegood." Ron decided, casually sweeping an arm around Luna's shoulders.
"Do you really Ronnie? If I didn't know better I'd say you were flirting with me." Luna said casually. "Then again, when aren't you flirting with me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, looking rather ill. Harry smiled squeezing her hand under the table.
"I love you Looney."
"Love you more Ronald." Luna declared, teasing Ron with an affectionate Eskimo kiss.
"No, I love you more Lady Lovegood."
"Good lord." Hermione mumbled under her breath, wondering what in Merlin's name gave her the idea to bring Luna along.
Harry snorted, holding back a burst of laughter; Hermione gave him a disapproving glare.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but is there anything you'd like to drink?" A young girl, probably not much older then Hermione questioned, nervously sweeping her black hair from her eyes.
"A round of Butterbeer's on me for starters." Ron announced, tossing some coins into the center of the table.
The group sipped their butterbeers, laughing about one thing or another, recalling their years at Hogwarts and how they had met; Ron kept finding excuses to make a toast, including Hermione's scholarship in quite a number of them.
"How about a round on Fire Whiskey's on me?" Ron questioned merrily, signaling the girl over to the table.
"No the Fire Whiskey's on me." Harry added giving the young girl a galleon, before Ron could protest.
Luna lowered the newest issue of the Quibbler she was scanning and eyed both boys back and forth.
"The last round of butterbeer's were on you mate." Ron frowned slightly.
"Don't worry about it Ron, just enjoy yourself." Harry said clapping Ron on the shoulder.
Hermione looked at the glass of Fire Whiskey before her wearily.
"What's wrong `Mione?" Ron asked, throwing back his drink, reaching for the next.
"Oh…errr…nothing really." She said gently.
Luna gave her a sympathetic look; it was almost as though she felt guilty, Hermione wasn't really sure why.
She played with the full glass in front of her for a moment, before she pushed the glass away from herself.
"Ron, you mind if I take a walk with Hermione, we'll be back soon?" Harry asked eyeing Luna.
Luna gave him a nod of understanding.
"Sure mate, be back soon will yah?" Ron said with a slight slur to his voice.
Hermione grinned gratefully when Harry offered her an arm, and led her out into the softly lit streets.
Brilliant, ivory snowflakes blanketed the streets and shops of Diagon Alley; winter had yet to cast aside in order to make room for spring's pleasures.
Arm in arm, together they slowly strolled along the road like two silhouettes dancing beneath the moonlight; their cheeks brushed with red from the frosty chill in the air.
"Thanks Harry." She said softly.
He just smiled, holding her closer to offer her his warmth. Casually they'd glance through shop windows while others scurried around them in an attempt to accomplish last minute buys before the shops closed their doors for the night.
"It's incredible out here." She decided gazing up into the stars.
"Mmm." He agreed. "I never want to forget this."
"Yeah the sky is really clear, it's too bad we missed the sunset."
"No… I meant I never want to forget how beautiful you look." He said staring deeply into her dark eyes.
Her heart swelled, closing the space between them she lingered for his lips to touch hers, when suddenly a voice caught her attention; a small gasp escaped her lips as she startled.
Harry hadn't noticed as Hermione swung her head downwards, reaching into her robes for her wand.
"OUCH!"
"Shhh Harry quiet!" She spat under her breath dragging Harry to a dark corner between two shops.
"It's Kilmore, I wonder what he's doing here?" She continued, taking a quick glance towards Harry. "Oh god, I'm so sorry."
Harry's face was covered in blood; more seeped from his nose, down his lip and stained the white snow beneath their feet.
"I thought we bumped heads." She said again as Harry tilted his head back while pinching his nose. "Don't put your head back."
He gave her a painful glare.
"Well it's true...here," She said pointing her wand at his bleeding nose. "Amendo Sangrante Neus."
"It feels broken." He mumbled wiping the remaining blood from his face with the hem of his robes.
"I'm sorry Harry, I haven't looked at mending broken noses, though I imagine it would be similar to healing ribs, but I'd,"
"Wait, it is Kilmore, he's coming this way with…Thorton?"
"Oh no, I bet we've been out too late,"
"Hermione,"
"And he's looking for us,"
"What're they talking about?" Harry questioned ignoring Hermione's explanation and leading her closer to the two professors.
"You were right Kilmore, that Granger girl is indeed bright beyond her year, I was skeptical when you suggested her for a scholarship, but that diminished the moment she was capable of repairing her potion."
"She made a mistake?" Kilmore questioned curiously.
"Not at all, I'm lucky she believed she did."
"How did you manage that?"
"I just switched her flask of powdered dragon tooth with a flask I filled with ground dragon tooth, it ensured she added two doses of ground dragon tooth, instead of one of each. Then I simply just put back her flask of powdered dragon tooth when she was mixing."
"I knew it! I knew I wouldn't have made such a stupid mistake." Hermione hissed angrily into his ear.
He briefly stared at her with warning in his eyes.
"Sorry." She whispered back.
"You should have seen her in Defense against the Dark Arts," Kilmore mused. "She puts up an incredible fight, she and Potter were the only two remaining during my chaotic class on the Crucius Curse."
"Did they duel?" Thorton questioned.
"No…shame… it would have made an interesting experiment, I tried to force them into it, but they both refused."
"If they did, who do you think would win?" Thorton asked, almost pondering the thought himself.
"Ha, Potter's skilled, but Granger has attacks and defenses swarming through that smart little head of hers, she's two steps, if not three, ahead of her opponent. Potter is full of luck on the other hand, but it'd still put my money on Granger."
"Awh, yes, I'm not about to do any betting Kilmore, I have a feeling Granger would overthrow the Potter boy as well." Thorton smiled knowingly.
"So, you gave them permission to wander around here tonight?" Kilmore questioned with interest.
"Yes, I thought it would be a nice surprise, to celebrate Miss Granger's scholarship, why, is that a problem?"
"No, not at all, but don't you think it might not be safe for them here? I mean, after what happened to Hogsmeade, it could happen here any moment as well." Kilmore suggested looking about, as though danger might jump out at him.
"Nonsense," Thorton laughed. "Those kids need some freedom for a change, they can't possibly live life confined and driven to fear, it's their last year Kilmore, let them have some fun before they're forced to be adults."
"They already are."
Professor Thorton didn't say anything for a moment; he seemed to ponder the thought quite thoroughly.
"Maybe you're right, but they at least need the allusion of freedom." He said finally, patting Professor Kilmore on the shoulder and walking off down the street. "I'll see you later then."
"Yes, Goodnight Thorton."
Harry stared at Hermione; even in the dark of the corner they stood in, Harry could tell she was blushing quite furiously.
She cleared her throat.
"Well… urm… that was…weird." She concluded. "Let's go back to Luna and Ron shall we?" She whispered when Professor Kilmore slumped off out of view.
Harry didn't feel the want to argue, he didn't want to be in the cold any longer then he had to be; his hands were beginning to feel numb from the cold.
"Harry…" Hermione said, timidly bunching a bare hand into his robes.
He halted and waited for her to say what was on her mind; he was surprised to see her looking rather frightened.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Well… you aren't… you're not angry?… I mean, at what they were talking about?"
"Angry?" Harry questioned looking surprised.
"Well, I mean, Defense Against the Dark Arts, it's what you're good at… not me."
Harry laughed, but it wasn't the happy cheerful chuckle he normally had, this one was filled with a feeling of failure.
"Harry don't," Hermione said firmly, tugging rather hastily at his robes. "You're being
ridiculous, just because they think I'd win a duel, doesn't mean anything, you faced Voldemort, you
stayed alive, you protected us… you lead the D.A.!"
"And got my Godfather killed, and my stupidity could have cost your life and everyone else who tagged along too…
and you heard them, everything I managed to do was through luck."
"Show's how little they know then." She said through teary eyes.
He stared at her coldly for a moment, wanting her tears to fall, wanting her to feel guilty even though she was completely innocent to the crime he was blaming her for.
A tear trickled down her red frozen cheek.
He felt his heart break, feeling sick to the stomach for making her cry. He made her cry for being a jealous idiot.
"I'm sorry." He said, wrapping his arms around her. "Don't cry Hermione, please."
She sniffled, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. She felt thinner, more fragile, how did he not notice that the stress of everything that had happened was slowly taking its toll on her?
She sniffled again, slowly dragging her hand across her eyes in an effort to dry her tears.
Harry was reminded of the small girl with a tangle of bushy hair standing in a corner of Hagrid's hut and crying. He couldn't quite remember why she had been crying at the time, but her eyes were glossy and as each tear tickled the ground beneath her feet, his heart had sunk further down into his chest.
"I'm alright." She said finally, her voice faltering slightly.
"I'm sorry." He said again.
"Your forgiven this time Harry, but you better watch it, I'm not going to be a push over just because I'm your girlfriend."
Harry looked frightened.
She laughed.
"Come on, let's go back to Ron and Luna, they're probably worried."
Harry nodded and glanced down at her delicate long fingers burning red from the cold.
"You're cold." He stated gently.
"I'll be fine after a butterbeer." She answered, stuffing one of her hands into her robes and wrapping the other into Harry's hand, throwing him a devilish grin.
Before Harry could ask what she was up to, she tugged at his hand and began pulling him through the snow as fast as her legs could carry her.
"Come on Harry, faster." She giggled.
Soon they were both falling over in the knee-deep snow tumbling and laughing at their clumsy actions.
When they finally arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron, they were drenched from head to toe, but still smiling.
"Sara, we'll need two butterbeer's here, my friends look rather frozen." Ron announced, apparently having learned the waitresses name.
"It's Seera." She said, more to Harry and Hermione than to Ron, who obviously already had too many.
"Thanks Seera." Harry said when she placed the two butterbeers on the table.
"Yes thank you, we're sure making you run around a lot this evening." Hermione added.
"No problem, it's my job." She shrugged giving them a sweet smile before walking off again.
Hermione wrapped her chilled hands around the warm amber liquid.
"Where'd you two go off to for so long?" Ron questioned.
"Ronald was certain you weren't coming back." Luna chimed, sipping a glass of what looked like green slime with bits of chopped cherries.
"I did not." Ron frowned.
"Did too." Luna persisted popping a handful of nuts into her mouth.
"Did not."
"Well alright then Ronald, if the Jumborn cries its pitiful melody, justice and truth may actually follow."
Hermione raised her eyebrows, her eyes widening slightly.
Harry leaned in next to her.
"Did you just understand a word of what she said?" He questioned in a whisper.
"There's no such thing as a Jumborn, and no I didn't." She whispered back. "Well, I think she was trying to tell Ron to be honest."
"Right… do you think Ron got that?" Harry asked her again.
"No, but it stopped the bickering." She concluded, realizing perhaps why Luna and Ron worked so well together. She took that last thought back, that wasn't fair, it might be one of the reasons why they worked so well together, but it had to be something more, it was just something she couldn't see herself.
After sitting around the table for another hour, the group decided it might be a good idea to head back to school, it was getting fairly late by now and Ron was in need of assistance to stand on his own two feet.
"I'll take Ron with me, you two go first." Harry instructed, motioning for Luna and Hermione to go ahead.
"Hogwarts, Professor Thorton's office." Hermione stated clearly before throwing the floo powder beneath her feet.
Luna followed.
"Ron mate, try and put just a little weight on your feet, you're kinda heavy." Harry said, half dragging Ron to the fireplace.
"If you just let go, I can walk on my own." Ron declared staggering alongside Harry.
Harry shook his head and managed to step into the fireplace with Ron. Taking a handful of floo powder, he wondered how this was exactly going to work, he thought it safer if he held on to Ron with his other hand just in case.
"Hogwarts, Professor Thorton's office." Harry repeated Hermione's precise direction, and threw the floo powder around himself and Ron.
Engulfed by green flames for a mere moment, Harry and Ron soon found themselves launching out from the fireplace and spinning madly. It was lucky Harry held onto Ron, because the floo powder didn't seem to be keeping Ron afloat like it was for Harry; he imagined it was because Ron didn't speak the directions.
Before Harry's stomach could retaliate from the intense vertigo, Harry found himself sliding from Professor Thorton's fireplace on his knees.
"Graceful landing." Hermione chuckled, Luna joined her.
"Oh very funny." Harry declared, dusting the soot from his now extremely filthy robes.
"Actually it is mate, I'm drunk and I still managed to get through on my own two feet." Ron announced, ungracefully making his way to Luna.
"Yeah well, I hate traveling through the Floo Network." Harry said cracking a smile. "Where's Thorton?"
"He must still be out in Diagon Alley, we hadn't see him when we came through either." Hermione stated with a fairly large yawn.
"Right well, let's head back up to our dormitories then, I think we're ready to hit the sack." Harry said.
"Good idea mate, I'm bushed." Ron agreed slinging an arm around Harry's neck.
"I thought you said you can walk Ron?" Harry asked with mockery in his tone.
"Yeah well, I guess it's not as easy as I thought."
"Luna maybe you should head back to your own dormitory, there's no use coming along to ours." Harry instructed.
"Will you be alright Ronald?" She asked, concern etched in her voice.
"Yes, I think I'll survive." Ron answered, sounding as though he was preparing to go to war.
Luna threw her arms around Ron, who was still using Harry for support, causing Harry to nearly stumble to the ground.
"Goodnight Ronald, I'll miss you." She declared, burying her face into Ron's shirt; she looked as though this was the last time she might see Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'll miss your more." Ron grinned, rubbing her back in a soothing manner.
"No, I'll miss you more."
"Nah, uh, I'll miss,"
"You'll both miss each other more, alright, lets go to bed already!" Hermione instructed, frustration beginning to cloud her good mood.
She marched up to Luna and handed her a bit of parchment.
"That's the permission note Thorton gave me, use it if anyone happens to stop you, but try not to be seen, we don't want him getting in trouble."
"Thank you Hermione, but what about you three?" Luna questioned still staring dreamily at Ron.
"Don't worry about it, we're masters of sneaking around." Ron answered, giving Luna and quick, sloppy kiss. "Goodnight Loony."
"Goodnight everyone, sleep tight, don't let the Beezle's bite." Luna said, before drifting off away from the trio.
"There is no such thing as Beezle's, honestly, when will she ever listen to reason? I've tried to show her so many times that all these creatures, they're from silly stories."
Ron looked slightly hurt.
"Just because no one had proof they exist, doesn't mean they don't." He objected, as Harry threw the invisibility cloak over himself and Ron.
"Can we just get to sleep?" Harry questioned, hoping it would cease their bickering. "Come on Hermione, get under here."
"I don't need to."
"Hermione,"
"Harry, I'm Head Girl remember, I can walk these halls at any hour of the night. All Filch can do is scowl." She laughed lightly, leading the two boys out from Professor Thorton's office and towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
AUTHOR NOTE: I just realized I made a bit of a boo boo with the weather here…a few chapters back it was soggy and raining and now its snowing…I know the weather is that crazy here in Canada, but I'm thinking its not really like that in England…in Hogwarts.. It IS nearing spring, but this snowfall was suppose to be like a rush of coldness before the nice weather comes… I'll try and fix this up some day, I apologize for the mistake, I hope this chapter and the upcoming chapters are good anyway! Thank you and take care.
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