Chapter 9
Hogsmede
Hermione perched nervously on the top stair and waited for Harry and Ron after Divination. She had Arithmancy at the same time as their class. It was at the end of the hallway next to Professor Firenze's Forest room. She almost wished she had stayed in Divination just to see what the mysterious and forbidding Centaur was teaching. Peering into the darkened room, she could see the outline of the two boys against the softly lit night sky above them. They were gathering up their books and saying their goodbyes to their unusual professor.
"Don't tell anyone, but I think I fell asleep in there." Harry stretched and shook his head to get the cobwebs out.
"Yeah. No one noticed at all when you rolled over and started to snore." Ron snorted.
Harry punched him in the arm and pushed him through the doorway into the hall.
The slender girl caught step with the boys and walked beside them as they jostled each others books. Harry was looking much better these days. She knew he had worked through a few things, but she didn't know if it was because of her yelling at him or just feeling better because he knocked down Malfoy. Whatever the reason, she was glad he was better. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her overanxious nerves.
"Harry, what are you doing on Saturday?' She questioned with a small smile. "Would you like to go to Hogsmede with me?"
"What!?" The question caught both boys off guard as they turned to face their best friend.
Harry's mouth dropped open in surprise. He had almost convinced himself to ask her out as well, but he didn't think he'd have the courage. She had been his best friend for ages. What if she said no and it messed everything up? Then, here she was asking in plain sight as if it was the easiest thing in the world. Harry had thought about asking her but then he would remember how pretty she had been the day of his fight and his mouth would go completely dry.
"I'd love to go with you, Hermione." Harry said quietly.
Ron looked back and forth between his two friends and tried to hide his dismay.
"Good." She pronounced matter-of-factly. She pulled her arms over her class books to stop her shaking hands. "We need to get a book on physical self-defense and a book about strength training. You were too slow with Malfoy. I saw the fight. He was faster and much better trained."
"Oh." He paused. "For the D.A."
All three stood silently as Hermione's face blushed full red.
"Well, um. Yes. Um. For the D.A." she looked up at Harry through her lashes and smiled tentatively.
Harry slowly smiled back at her. He could see her insecurity and the reddening blush of her cheeks. That told him a lot more than he had previously suspected.
Ron couldn't help grind his teeth at the two smiling teens as they stood there blinking owlishly at each other.
"Come on, you two. You can stare at each other during lunch."
Ron had to admit to himself he was a little jealous. Hermione had been a crush for him for a long time. He had figured out finally that she didn't see him that way and he had nursed his broken heart eventually enjoying chatting up other girls in school. He knew the time would come and she would pick someone; and to tell the truth, he was glad it wasn't old bandy legs Krum. Harry, though. That kinda hurt. He didn't really want to think about it. He tried to stifle the growing sense of envy that always seemed to crop up when Harry got something he wanted for himself. It had felt great to get the Prefect position when Ron had been sure Harry was going to get it. He tried not to gloat, but it had felt bloody brilliant.
It's just a Hogsmede weekend, it's not like they're getting a flat together or something. Calm Down.
Now, with a sinking feeling, all the terrible feelings low self-worth and resentment were slowly creeping back into his mind.
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The first Hogsmede weekend was a glorious tribute to the coming autumn. September had bloomed with soft, cold breezes echoing the call of winter in the distance. Troops of students with light jackets and money jingling in their pockets waited impatiently for the officious Mr. Filch to allow them to leave the castle grounds. A caravan of fancifully decorated horse and carriages were lined up in front of the gate waiting to take them to the nearby town. The Weasley brothers had supplied the transportation and had plastered their name over every available surface of the brilliantly color changing coaches. They were difficult to look at as the colors and script styles moved randomly.
Hermione was ten minutes late. Harry had been standing in the line anxiously awaiting her. He was nervous and excited and unsure of what was really going on. Did she want to go on this trip with him because she wanted a book or had that been a convenient excuse for them to go together? He had convinced himself back and forth until he gave up in despair of ever knowing what the girl was thinking. Sadly, the only one he could turn to for girl advice was the girl he was completely clueless about. With a groan he turned and checked the doorway again. He knew he was going to collapse if she didn't show up soon.
His breath left him in a woosh. She had sneaked up behind him and wrapped her hands around his face in a "guess who". She smelled deliciously of apples and vanilla and her soft laugh made him grin in appreciation. When he turned around he saw a very fashionable and pretty girl with a scared expression on her face. It made him more aware of the hand-me-down raggedy clothes he was wearing today. At least his jacket covered most of the worst spots. He shrugged. She had seen his clothes before and it had never made a difference. That was one of the things he's always liked about her.
Smiling, he slowly took her hand in his. Her expression slowly changed to relief and she let out the small hidden breath she had been holding in.
"Is this okay?" He whispered closely in her ear.
She twined her fingers in his and bit her lip nervously.
He grinned to know she had been just as unsure and nervous as he was. It made everything so much better, somehow.
The line started moving pretty quickly and they entered an overly garish carriage with Neville, Padma and a couple of fifth year Ravenclaws.
The coaches stopped in front of the new second store-front for Weasley's Wizarding Weezes II. It was brand new and the first week of opening. Their blitz on marketing at the school had won them instant acclaim and the building was packed full of students. Fred and George spotted the slowly wandering couple and waved them back.
"Oy! Harry! Partner in crime! Come on back!" George and Fred yelled together.
Hermione and Harry shoved through the throng and eventually reached the back of the store where the two tall red-headed twins stood grinning.
"Where's Ron? I thought for sure he'd be here to give us a piece of his MIND." George guffawed.
Harry rolled his eyes at the lame brain joke. Fred and George had dressed the same in bright blue shirts that said "Prefects are brainless" with an outline of Ron's face.
"Ron's not with us. We're um...we're here, uh… Together."
Harry stammered and gripped Hermione's hand tighter. She hid her smile with a turn of her head.
"Oh, they do grow up so quickly! Oh my!" Fred or maybe it was George grabbed the other twin and pretended to cry loudly on his shoulder.
Hermione laughed at their antics and shook her head. Harry was so sweet. She had tried not to be caught up in the whole girl's dorm hero worship of the Boy-who-lived that had run rampant throughout the school. She didn't like how girls who had never even spoken to him professed utter devotion to those beautiful green eyes and Quidditch muscles. Hermione had slowly fallen instead for the kindness and fearless friendship he had given an insecure and bossy little know-it-all. He had been a friend when she had desperately needed one. He still had his moments of silliness that every sixteen year old boy had and she knew from personal experience he had faults. She had seen every one of them up close. But she was finding herself falling for him anyway. And those gorgeous green eyes didn't hurt.
He caught her staring and he squeezed her hand. He understood completely. It was like he had never seen her before. This was Hermione, but it also wasn't. She had changed but was completely the same. He loved to see the expressions flying fast across her face. She had always been so easy for him to read. Every emotion she had was obvious to him. That look on her face as she had been watching him however was new. She had been thinking about him, he was sure of it. It made his breath catch and they stood there in the middle of a bustle of students and stared at each other as if they were absolutely alone.
Alone except for the two red-haired men in front of them that were talking at them trying to get their attention. Fred and George grinned as they looked back at each other. Fred reached over the counter and pulled a small round firework out and handed it to his brother.
"Do you mind, Forge?"
"My pleasure, Gred."
"Won't little Ickle Harry be sooo grateful!"
"It makes me want to just cry." They both grinned maliciously.
With a whiff of smoke the firework shot up in front of the couple and popped off above their heads.
"Oy, What are you doing?" Harry ducked pulling Hermione down with him.
The fireworks let out a whizzing pop and streamers of flame magically cascaded over their heads. The words, "First Date" was floating above them sparking with little hearts at which tiny magical cupids shot arrows.
"Bollocks." Harry grimaced.
Hermione giggled. Yes, giggled. Harry was shocked. Everyone in the store started clapping and laughing at the embarrassed two.
"You want to get out of here?" He whispered into her ear.
"Please." She grinned up at him and then stuck her tongue out at the twins. They raced out as people split to either side of the store to let them out of doors. The floating label however, hovered above right along with them.
"Brilliant. What are we going to do about that?" Harry scowled pointing above his head.
"Let's just go somewhere where we can wait it out. None of Forge and Gred's fireworks last that long." Harry grinned at her use of the twins' favorite nicknames. They set off at a leisurely pace and walked down the sidewalk past other hurrying couples.
To their right, the Wizarding clothing store, Gladrags, was a shiny modern building with enchanted gargoyles that called out for customers to try their wares. Hermione slowed and peered at a pretty crème dress robe that caught her eye as they were passing.
"Would you like to go in?" She asked hopefully.
Harry grinned at the hungry look the girl gave the dress and gentlemanly held the door for her as they breezed through into the brightly lit clothing store. Ginny was there and when she saw Hermione she squealed and pointed excitedly at the pretty garment in the window.
"Hermione! You have to see this one. You would look fabulous in this!"
Harry couldn't help but grin at the excitement the two girls had for something as common as clothes. He didn't understand it at all. He had gotten by with Dudley's old cast-offs for years. It wasn't a big deal he thought. It was just clothes.
Hermione and Ginny were laughing as they eventually walked back to where Harry had seated himself in one of the chairs kindly placed by the store management. He imagined lots of blokes had sat here waiting for their girlfriends as the girls tried on dress robes and such. The idea that he was waiting for his girlfriend made him grin and blush just a little. Maybe not quite a girlfriend yet, but he was determined to make that happen as soon as possible.
Ginny smirked at Harry as he blushed when he saw Hermione walking back.
"You know, Harry, your style could use a little dressing up as well." She eyed him speculatively and leaned back on her heels examining his attire.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" He mumbled to himself. He knew his clothes were old and too big, but he really didn't see the big deal.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Men! If I had the galleons that you have!" She sighed at his obvious maleness.
Hermione grinned at Harry's discomfiture. "Why don't we get you a couple of new outfits, Harry? It'll be fun."
Harry looked back at the two teenage girls in horror. He suddenly felt like somebody's ill-used dress up doll. This was going to be frightening.
The girls laughed and dragged him over to the men's section of the store that had casual wear and nice shoes. Before long he found himself actually enjoying the shopping. He'd never been shopping for clothes before if you didn't count school robes. It felt good to try on a shirt that actually fit and didn't have to be shoved over his elbows to keep his hands free.
It took Hermione several minutes to drag Harry out of the Quidditch theme wear that sported every team from the Puddlemeres to the Chudley Cannons. They had filled his arms full of shirts and casual pants and even a set of new dress robes. Ginny had forced him into new trainers that he had to admit felt like heaven. When the laughing trio finally checked out, he turned and smiled at the two girls.
"Thanks. I think I am really going to enjoy these." He smiled sheepishly at them as they beamed in response.
The clerk rang up a shocking number on the register that Harry barely twinged over. Ginny gasped at the galleons he was willing to spend, and was a little jealous, but still glad to get Harry out of those horrible rags he had been forced to wear for so long.
Ginny didn't want to interrupt them any longer. Hermione was perfectly able to take over from here. She was glad
she had seen the couple, however. The red-head was sure Hermione would have died rather than tell Harry his clothes
needed replacing. Ginny left the couple as she saw Harry's eyes twinkling hugely at the equally smiling brown
haired girl. After all his purchases were set up for delivery to the castle, they nervously reached for each
other's hands and slowly walked out of the store. As their hands reconnected, the fizzing fireworks burst back into
life above their heads causing Harry to groan out loud.
They wandered into the darkened bookstore around the corner and riffled through several books about self-defense and physically training the body. Hermione had stacked a large pile into Harry's arms while she searched the lower bookcases for more.
"Are all of these really necessary?" Harry huffed as he switched hands underneath the heavy stack of new books.
"Well, I don't know…"
With a huge bang that caused Hermione to scream, she was knocked against the wall by an enormous blast just outside the doors of the bookstore that shook wafts of dust and falling books off the walls and sent Harry tumbling. Shrieks could be heard as students rushed to get out of the way of the falling dirt and debris.
Harry pushed the piles of books off him where he had fallen in a heap and grabbed the frightened girl by the hand. Rushing, they reached the shattered glass doors and witnessed several Death Eaters screaming hexes at fleeing students.
Shouting as he ran Harry pulled his wand out and yelled "Stupefy" at the closest masked figure. The dark robed Death Eater fell backward as three other masked fighters caught sight of the boy before raising their wands in defense.
Hermione was shooting hexes right and left from the doorway of the bookstore. They both knew someone had to stay there and keep the younger students inside and defended. He was worried, but knew she could take care of herself. It was the frightened children cowering behind in the store that had to be kept safe. The crossfire of wizard fighting was dangerous and often deadly.
With eyes blazing, the witch waved several groups that were fleeing other blasts into the bookstore. Crying children rushed to their prefect and scurried into the safety of the familiar storefront. A couple of Death Eaters had noticed her barrage of hexes and had stationed themselves behind a wall to fire steadily back. Two third year Hufflepuffs had been struck by Immobilous curses and were precariously standing in the middle of the street. With a grunt, the girl pushed off the wall and launched herself at the two children knocking them down. At least down was better than directly in the path of flying spells.
As she pulled up from her position, a heavy red curse slammed into her back throwing her into the pavement knocking her unconscious. Several others in the D.A. including Neville and Ron rushed to her side. Ron furiously shot at the two robed attackers hitting one in the chest with an,"Immobilous" and missing the other by inches.
Shots fired back and forth as Harry took on several other Death Eaters at the end of the street. His eyes narrowed as he could see other attackers around the corner setting the "Imperio" curse on several students making them furiously attack each other. One group had set the Hog's Head on fire and was hexing people as they tried to flee from the flames and the smoke.
Harry had finally taken care of the three attackers that had surrounded him and left them stunned on the ground. He raced over to help put out the fire and joined Cho Chang and Professor Flitwick as they tried to charm the flames away by turning them into flowers.
A harsh cackle made Harry's neck shiver when he turned and found himself face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange. Her face was contorted in glee as she pointed her wand at the boy and yelled "Crucio!"
Harry fell to his knees in blazing pain. He couldn't help but scream in agony. Lestrange had stunned Cho and the Professor before they even saw her coming. The hurting boy writhed in pain and rolled into fetal position with a whimper. Leaning close, she slowly ran her fingers through his hair, petting him softly.
"Poor little boy. Does it hurt?" She grinned evilly as his eyes narrowed at her malicious words.
She ended the curse and kicked him hard in the back. She was reaching down to grab his arm and pull him up when he swung his legs around knocking her off her feet. Shakily he whipped his wand around and stunned her as quickly as he could.
Looking down the street, he could make out the figures of Ron shooting curses at a fleeing black robed figure and the bodies of Neville and Hermione lying prostrate on the ground. Luna Lovegood and Blaize Zambini were shooting hexes from behind a hedge even though Harry could tell both of them had been hit in the face with a `conjuctivitus' curse.
One of the masked attackers was leaning over Neville and Hermione and looked like he was shooting a spell them again. Ron and Blaize couldn't hit the Death Eater since he had a protection shield surround him in a glittering blue haze.
With a snarl Harry burst into a run shouting as many curses at the attacker as he could come up with. The man turned and disapparated before Harry could reach him. Suddenly, the air was filled with popping noises as yelling Aurors filled the street throwing curses at fleeing black robes. In minutes it was over. The Aurors had chased the Dark Wizards away, but apparently Volemort had provided a portkey to his minions that activated the instant the Death Eater had been rendered unconscious or unable to move.
Harry rushed to Hermione's side just as Ron had reached her as well. Neville had apparently fallen on top of the girl trying to take a curse that was meant for her.
"Ennervate." Harry yelled through gritted teeth.
Neville woke suddenly with a groan and it took a second before he stopped struggling against Ron who was trying to help him up. The shaken boy stood up with a whoosh of breath and staggered to lean against the bookshop wall.
Ron woke Hermione who nearly knocked him over as she grabbed for her wand ready to continue the fight. When she saw Harry dirty and clothes torn, she grabbed for him and pulled him into a hug. They clung to each other for a moment before releasing in embarrassment.
"That's alright; nobody needs to give me a hug. I just will stand here all by myself." He grinned at the two who immediately swallowed him in a death grip hug.
Fred and George rushed around the corner with eyes blazing and a fierce expression on their faces. Their clothes and arms had been burned somewhat as they had finally put out the fire that had threatened the Hog's Head. Several shop owners had worked together to put out the blaze. Students that had been cursed or stunned were being floated back magically to the castle in a line organized by Madam Hooch. A small group of third years that had been corralled by Ginny followed behind them. Professors were calling shrilly for the students to load up into the carriages as they herded them back to the safety of the castle. Fred grabbed Ron from his friends embrace and pulled him into his own arms.
"Murmph!" Ron's muffled surprise at the fierce affection shown by his brothers was cut off by George's slapping him on the back.
"We knew you'd be okay, little brother, but we had to be sure or Mum would've killed us." The twins grinned in relief at each other and let him go with a ruffled head pat.
Ginny smiled with rolled eyes at her brothers then tiredly shuffled the smaller children into the nearby coaches sending them sniffling on their way.
Harry turned back to Hermione and grabbed her shoulders while peering anxiously into her wide eyes.
"Are you okay, `Mione?" He watched her start to shake as the enormity of the attack hit her.
"Mione, you were brilliant! I saw you fighting at the storefront doors. You were positively frightening!" Harry laughed to lighten the mood as he could tell she was starting to break down.
Ron laughed. "You were absolutely wicked!"
She smiled tremulously at her friends and leaned slightly onto Harry's arm.
Dumbledore and Professor Snape appeared suddenly in front of the group. The headmaster looked furious. You could see the crackling magic that threatened around his person. His eyes were thunderous and the students stepped back a step or two in awe of the forbidding figure.
"All students should be back in their common rooms within fifteen minutes to be counted by their head of house." The grey bearded man swept past the students and entered the still smoking building just behind them.
Snape stared silently at the students watching them without his customary sneer. He waited a moment then merely pointed at the carriages to imply his command.
The group trudged over to the waiting coaches and climbed in shakily as the adrenaline rush was fading leaving everyone horribly tired. Harry had wrapped his arm around the white-faced girl and let her lean back into the seat close to him. No one said a word as the carriage jerked into motion to lead them back to their school in silence as the softly fading fireworks above Harry and Hermione's head fizzled away.
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