Havoc

Havoc by Amy Wong

I still remember it. It was supposed to be a normal day, at least as normal as it could be for me. The thing is… I had Potions that day, and something went really, and I mean REALLY bad. Aw, man… I can remember it as if it were yesterday…

It was Monday, and I, along with all Gryffindors in my year had Potions, the most annoying class of all, mainly because Snape was there… and we had to take it with the Slytherins, so you can imagine…

Anyway, I sat next to Hermione as she had been helping me in the last potions assignments to stop Snape from docking points from us. Hermione was moving her lips, I know she's trying to tell me something, but I can't focus… her lips are just so… wait, Harry! This is your friend you're thinking about. Get a grip!

“So Harry… Did you get it?” Hermione asked.

I wasn't really listening to anything because I got distracted with… well, her. I think she knows I didn't get it because she starts moving her lips once again.

“Harry? Harry!” she snapped her fingers in front of me.

“Uh?”

“Are you even listening to me?” she said and bit her lower lip in sign of her frustration.

I wonder what that'd feel like, biting her lower lip, I mean. Wait a minute, Harry. Focus! She's talking to you… Oh, no! That's the look she gets right before she loses her patience with a certain red haired mate we got. In this kind of situations, I've come to learn, thanks to our seven years of friendship, that it's better to give in to her.

“I'm sorry, Hermione. I don't know what's gotten into me today!” but I perfectly knew…

“It's alright, Harry, but you have to start concentrating before class is over…” she said with concern.

“I know, I know… or Snape will take it out on me.”

I think Snape heard his name being spoken as he shot deathly glares at me. I won't give him the satisfaction, so I started concentrating, with help of Hermione.

Time passed by so fast that when I checked my watch, thirty minutes had already gone by. I was a bit behind, but certainly greasy Snape wouldn't let me go that easy.

“Mr. Potter” he said from behind my back. “A bit behind, aren't we? Hope that you finish today's assignment, or I'll be forced to dock fifty points from Gryffindor.”

“Don't worry, Sir, I will.” I answered him with my most respectful tone.

“And Ms. Granger, don't help Mr. Potter. Worry about your OWN work.” he said. “We certainly know you're an attention seeker, but I won't allow it here.” he added annoyingly.

Hermione blushed, and I apologized to her. It was my fault Snape said that, so I started working harder. Soon enough, I was a little ahead of most of the class, with the exception of Hermione, of course, but I had run out of the last ingredient for my potion, so I left my seat to get some from the Ingredients Cabinet. When I got back to my seat, I saw the strangest thing had happened to my potion… it turned from its original pale red to a bright, almost devil red tone. I looked around and briefly thought Malfoy and his posse were staring at me. The hell, what did they do now?

I forget about them for a moment to finish the potion once and for all, so I chop the last bits of ingredients and add them. Suddenly, BOOM! All went black.

“Look, look… he's waking up…” I hear someone saying, probably Ron.

“Oh, dear Merlin… poor, Harry…” I hear a girl say, probably Hermione. “*sighs* He looks so… how should I say this? Hmm… he looks so-“

“Always me, it has to be always me! Always this careless attitude!! How am I supposed to relax when all students end up in the Hospital wing? In MY Hospital wing nonetheless…”

What in the name of Merlin is going on? My head hurts as bad as if a Hippogryph had stepped on it. I finally open my eyes; Ron is looking at me, as well as Hermione. I blink a few times to adjust my eyes to the light ambience and see Madam Pomfrey staring back at me.

“Glad that you finally wake up, Mr. Potter.” She says. “What in the name of Merlin happened back in Potions?” she asked with concern.

I stutter a few times before I manage to get the words out, somehow I keep hearing this soft muttering in my head. Where does that come from?

“Come on, come on!!! I don't have all day, Mr. Boy-Who-Lived. I've got other patients to attend to.”

“Excuse me, what did you say?” I ask.

“I asked you what had happened back in Potions.” She said rather annoyed.

“No, no… after that.”

“Harry… she didn't say anything after that.” Ron says.

What IS going on? I clearly heard Madam Pomfrey being all bitchy about this. And what's with the muttering? I think I'm going crazy here…

“So Mr. Potter… what happened?” Madam Pomfrey asked.

“Er… well, I don't know. Er… a minute I was working on my potion, the next I noticed it changed its colours and then that's it… really.”

“Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, anything that you may want to add?”

“Not really.” Hermione said. “There was this huge explosion that hit Harry full on.”

“I bet it was Malfoy…” Ron added. “That sneaky little fe-“

“Ron!!” Hermione interrupted him, eyeing him daggers. “Seriously, if he were more… UGH! Okay, don't lose your temper, Hermione. Calm down… focus on Harry. You know it was Malfoy, but how can I prove it?”

What???? Wait, am I hearing right? I can hear Hermione's voice, but… how can that be? She-she's not moving her lips. Okay, calm down, Harry. You have heard her voice before… this is a strange occasion, but it could happen…

But Hermione kept on talking, about things that I shouldn't be able to think of and started blinking. It was inevitable. Suddenly, Hermione stopped talking… and asked me with a huge unease look.

“Harry, are you feeling alright?”

“Er… yah, everything is fine I guess… What were you talking about?”

“Uh… Harry, I wasn't saying anything…” she told me with a really worried look.

“Yes, you were… It was something about Malfoy.”

“No, Harry… that was Ron talking.”

“Yes, mate, I still believe Malfoy did it.”

“Yes, I know, and Hermione does too…” I said convinced.

“What? No, she does not! She just shut me up a minute ago for saying it!!”

I was a little confused, but this was overshadowed by the huge headache. I blinked a few times, when I noticed the look on Hermione's face. She was expressionless, as if she were scared of something.

“How did Harry know I thought Malfoy did it?”

“I told you already! I heard you…” I assured her.

“What are you rambling about, mate? Ron asked.

“Didn't you hear what Hermione just said?”

“She didn't say anything… did you, Hermione?”

“No, I didn't.”

“Yes, you did!! I heard you… you said you thought Malfoy had something to do with it!” I was starting to lose my patience.

“Mr. Potter! May I remind you that you are in the Infirmary?” Madam Pomfrey stared at me as if I were dead meat. “Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, you two can leave Mr. Potter alone so he can rest for a while.”

Hermione and Ron left me in the Hospital wing, but I would hopefully join them in a few hours. I probably had Transfiguration to get up to date and homework. I sighed, why does things have to happen to me?

“Always, always this disrespectfulness towards me and MY job! Really, if it weren't for my admiration towards Albus, I would find another job!”

Okay… what EVER is going on here? Harry, focus! Analyze… So… you're hearing things you didn't hear before. You heard Hermione's voice before, but never like you have just now… You hear them, but you er… don't see them moving their lips. And then it hit me; I could read their minds… or something along those lines. Hey! Don't blame me… I'm not that bright, I might have to test my theory.

So I went to the Common Room, passing along the corridors, after feeling a bit better. I found a couple of fifth years and almost stumbled upon them. I was going to apologize, but I was a little taken aback… no, make that really taken aback.

“Oh dear Merlin, Harry Potter! I just stumble upon him! What a hottie… I wish I could just”

“-jump him… yeah, he's just so hot!! With his ruffled hair and those sexy green eyes… I could just melt!”

I just smiled nervously and walked away. Oh, shit! I forgot to apologize. Nah! Whatever! 2 fans less. It doesn't really affect me. I hope they don't think I'm an arse though. Okay, I need to get help… who can I talk to with about this?

Soon I was in the Common Room; there were a lot of people there. I felt trapped, all this voices in my head. ARGH!!! The hell with this!! I'm going to my room… but I stumble upon Ginny who was curled up in a corner.

“If I bring the condoms tonight, would he think I'm easy?”

I blinked at this. What the hell??? Who is Ginny dating?? AH!!!! All this voices… must get to my room!!! And I ran. In no time, I opened the door and found Hermione there.

“Hey, Hermione! Where's Ron?”

“Oh, he got bloody hungry and went to the kitchen to ask for food.” She said looking at me. “Bloody stomach of his, the only thing he thinks about - Food… along with sleeping and shagging.”

What the hell! I blinked a few times more. Really, if this continues, I'd be taking blinking as a new habit.

“Harry, are you alright?”

“Actually… I need to tell you something weird…”

I sit on my bed, right in front of her. She looks at me with concern, and I don't seem to react. She takes me out of my reverie by putting her hand on my shoulder, her brown eyes never leaving mine.

“Harry, what's wrong?”

“Er…”

Okay, Potter… just get it over with!

“Hermione… I think I can hear women's thoughts.” I say as fast as I can.

She doesn't seem to register anything. I don't hear anything for a while, and start to worry… maybe it was just a thing of the moment?

“Hear women's thoughts? That's not possible, Hermione… is it? He did know about your thinking Malfoy was guilty…”

“Oh! I knew it!!! You do think Malfoy is behind the explosion of my potion!”

“What?” she said a little scared. “This is crazy!! Can he really?”

“Yes, Hermione!! I'm telling you…”

“Okay, okay… let's think for a moment. If you can read people's minds, prove it to me…”

“Not people's! Women's minds! I can prove it to you… ask anything you want, I bet I'll be able to prove it.”

“Okay, okay… hmm… who's my secret Hollywood crush?”

“Okay, think about it… Leo, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck… no Matt Damon, no Ben Affleck… Brad Pitt, no! Ryan Phillippe… would you make up your mind?”

Hermione looked freaked out; she had her eyes wide open. She was speechless, as was her mind… a rare occurrence, in my opinion.

“Hermione, say something…”

“Don't think, don't think… don't think.”

“Hermione, what don't you want me to know?”

“Harry! Would you stop reading my mind?

“I can't help it! I need help; it's a nightmare out there!!!”

“Okay, what we need to do is tell Professor Dumbledore…” she said focusing in not thinking much. What was she trying to hide?

“Okay, okay…” I said calming her. “But what don't you want me to know?”

“Nothing!” She said uneasily.

I let it go; I didn't want to discuss this. First things first, get these bloody voices out of my head. There are enough voices that don't belong to me inside it already.

“Okay, Hermione. Let's go to Dumbledore's so he can fix me up.” I tell her.

“Actually, Harry, I have some stuff to get done before five this afternoon, so I should probably start with them.” And she left.

Weird, she's never like that, never-leaving-stuff-at-the-last-minute-Hermione. Always-by-my-side-in-my-worst-Hermione… something odd is really going on. Desirable-when-she-bits-her-lips-and-twists-her-hair-Hermione… okay, definitely something odd with me too… *sigh*

I talked to Dumbledore, but he wasn't much help as he told me the only thing I could do was to wait for the potion to wear off, which would happen in a week. What the hell am I supposed to do until then, uh?

Hermione wasn't around much since I told her, I'm a 100% sure she's hiding something from me. I might be daft and thick, but I can tell… It was time to go to Herbology class. Oh, boy! What a comment was awaiting me…

“Okay, class, today we're going to be talking about cloves and their properties.” Professor Sprout said to everyone. “So, who can tell me some of the illnesses treated with this herb? Yes, Ms. Granger.”

“Clove oil is effective against fungal infections; it also has anaesthetic properties, as well as disinfectant. It increases blood circulation, and thereby promotes digestion.”

“Very well done, Ms. Granger, ten points for Gryffindor.” Professor Sprout added. “Now, do you, Ms. Granger, know what their magical properties are?”

“I believe, Professor, that cloves are hex breakers and wish fulfillers. Cloves united people and are excellent for astral work.”

“Excellent, Ms. Granger! Ten points more for Gryffindor!” She said. “Although she forgot to mention their aphrodisiac property and the physical sensitivity they create when you-“

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I left the classroom like a mad man. I surely needn't hear that bit of information. I went to my dormitory and stayed there, until I came out once again a few hours later. I went to the library. Hermione was sitting there, in her usual place, I wasn't sure if to come up to her or not, but as I made up my mind, I was already there; she looked up to me, uneasiness in her eyes.

“Sorry, I won't bother you…” I said a bit sad.

“No, Harry…” She said softly to not disturb the silent place. “I don't want you to go…” She said, uneasiness still in her eyes.

“You've been avoiding me these past days-“

“It's not that-“

“What don't you want me to know, Hermione?” I asked her. “I know you're trying not to think about anything, you're afraid I could hear something…

“It's personal, Harry…” She said blushing. “Besides, you wouldn't understand…”

“Try me…” I said. She said nothing. “Is this about Ron? Do you fancy him?” That four-word-question hurt.

“What?? No! Harry, you're hopeless…” She said laughing faintly.

“Then what is it?” And then I heard it in her mind.

She was blushing. I was shocked. Suddenly, she left the library, but I did not move. Why? I don't know, I just couldn't move. A breath escaped from me, I didn't realize I was holding it, and I blushed as what Hermione thought hit me.

I didn't see Hermione that night, until the morning at breakfast in the Great Hall. She avoided my eyes whenever she could, but I got quick glimpses of her looking at me and blushing. She finished breakfast rather quickly, so I had to leave my spot in the table to follow her wherever she may have been going.

We had Transfiguration class that morning, so I realized she was heading that way. She entered the classroom, without realizing I was following her from afar - I knew the class was empty for sure, we still had twenty minutes before classes started, but that was Hermione, always ready, always on time… the perfect opportunity for me to talk to her about everything…

She was taken aback by my entering the room.

“Hermione, we need to talk…” I said searching for her eyes, but she turned away. I suddenly felt the urge to get close to her, sweep her off her feet. I had pixies in my stomach causing havoc inside of me; I walked towards her slowly. Her breath came to a halt, she knew I was getting closer to her, but she still didn't turn to face me. I was about to turn her over, but a sudden sound of steps getting closer and closer to where we were stopped me.

I walked passed Hermione, feeling my heart beating faster than ever. I could see she was flushing, as a sigh of relief escaped her. Our classmates came into class, and soon, Professor McGonagall joined us. If I hadn't been more distracted, a group of vampires could've busted the doors in the middle of the day and caught fire, and I wouldn't have ever noticed it.

Professor McGonagall did nothing to make it better, as she asked Hermione to help me with the in-class exercise. Little did she know that Hermione was the reason I was not paying attention. This didn't help Hermione either as she was a bit more distracted than usual, which caused Ron to noticed.

“Oi, mate! Stop what you're doing!” He said taking something from my hands. “Hermione, didn't you noticed Harry was strangling this?” He added a bit mad.

Hermione turned, her eyes seemed lost.

“Oi, what's the matter with you? And you, Harry… you both!” Ron said.

“If you only knew, Ron…” Hermione said in her mind.

“It's just a lot in my- our minds, Ron…” I told him.

Ron, surprisingly, contented with that answer and left us in peace for the rest of the class. There were two conclusions to draw from that, or Ron was really thick and definitely bought our lame excuse, or he was really smart to understand that this was beyond his powers…

At the end of the class, I was stupid enough to drop everything that was on my desk, including Hermione's books, which were quite a few. We had to stay over after class was dismissed to pick everything up. We were alone again, and that sudden urge that I had gotten before class came back all over again.

As my hand accidentally brushed hers, I sighed her name. And in a sudden and fast move, I placed my lips on hers. It all felt right. For a few seconds, I didn't move, but after those few seconds, I parted my lips a bit and tasted her. Feeling that I had trespassed the invisible barrier that was our friendship, I took a step back, waiting for her reaction.

She had a mix look of shyness, confusion and surprise. When a negative reaction didn't show up, I thought it was a good sign, but I awaited a bit more for her thoughts… and nothing came. This could happen because - one, or she was trying not to think about anything, or - two, I left her speechless and thoughtless with my kiss… nah, just kidding, or - three, the spell had worn off. I didn't care. I went for her lips once again, but this time, she did react.

“Harry…”

“I'm sorry…” I said. Why am I saying I'm sorry, if I am not?

“You don't have to be sorry…”

“I'm sorry I'm sorry…”

She laughed faintly.

“Harry, you're hopeless…”

“More hopeless than Ron?” I said playing, and she laughed.

“Okay, no! Not more hopeless than Ron… for sure.”

“Hermione…” I started, but left it mid-sentenced as I start thinking…

“What is it?” She asked concerned.

“I can't hear it anymore!” I said surprised. “The voices, they're gone!”

“What did you say?” She asked obviously not believing me.

“I can't hear the voices anymore!” I said kind of happy; those voices were definitely driving me mad! “You don't believe me, do you?”

“How can I know for sure?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course, I do.” She said kind of mad I would question her. “We just need to make sure that the voices are gone for real, and not a thing of the moment.”

“Okay, let's do the first try then.” I said smugly. “Try and think about something you'd want me to do.” I added with a smile.

Hermione narrowed her eyebrows, a signal of her thinking, and tapped her left foot as she thought of something. I didn't hear a thing, which was a really good sign. The problem was when she started biting her lower lip, as my pulse got faster and the urge to have her invaded my body once again, so I decided to take advantage of the situation.

She was surprised when I started moving towards her, took her in my arms in a swift moved and claimed her lips once again, of course, kissing her properly. She didn't fight me; I reckon she was quite enjoying it as much as I was.

When our kissing ended, Hermione looked flushed and was speechless which drew a smug smile on my face.

“Proud of yourself, Potter?” She said fairly amused.

“Maybe…”

“Well, I can certainly say that you can't read minds…”

“Oh, really? So you didn't want that to happen?”

“Oh, no… that wasn't what I had in mind, but I'm glad otherwise I don't know what would have happened to me…” She said laughing.

“What? Why? Hermione!!” I yelled as I realized what she might have thought.

The sneaky smile on her face confirmed some of my thoughts.

“Oh, you Miss dirty girl… what were you thinking?”

“I was just testing…” She said innocently, but looking at my desperate-to-find-out face with amusement. “And I'll never tell…” She added as she walked out of the classroom with her stuff.

After that day we talked a few times, adding a few snogging sessions which were fun, and decided we should date officially. Surprisingly, no one was really surprised. I thought it was going to be fun to see their faces when we told them, but for some reason, everyone knew. When we told Ron, he wasn't surprised at all. On the other hand, he gave a sigh of relief.

“It's was about bloody time, mate!!”

And here, Hermione and I thought Ron was thick as a brick. We were really surprised for real. How everyone could have noticed but us? We certainly didn't expect ending up together, but I guess we underestimated everyone… especially Ron, yah… we totally underestimated Ron.

The End.

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