Hi Everyone!!
I want to say thank you for al the kind reviews people wrote about this story. I'm so glad you are enjoying it.
Well here's chapter 3,( not as long a wait as there was for chapter 2!) I hope you like it and as before I'd love to here what you think, even if its just a review saying "Good" or "Bad."
Thanks again for reading, and a BIG, BIG, HUGE thank you to my new beta reader, Tea-with-tom. Other wise it's like that you wouldn't have got this chapter for a few months.
Flea
P.s My little boy is doing great! He's a terror!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 3 (Its' starting)
Harry slowly walked along the corridor with his hands stuffed deep into his pockets and his head hung low. He could feel Hermione behind him, her eyes shootingdeath glares at his back. He had to say something to her before they reached the meeting other wise it was going to be torture. She needed to understand why he was doing it.
"Bloody hell Harry, can you walk any slower." Hermione grumbled at him, he could hear the anger in her voice and realized it was him who had caused it.
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"Where the hell are they?" Snape questioned Dumbledore "He left to get her 20 minutes ago." Snape was not happy. Voldemort was gathering men and planning to attack plus with this business with Peter Pettigrew, he needed to warn people to keep their eyes out for a rat sneaking around. Snape paced slowly around the small room which was filled with many people most he couldn't stand like Black and Lupin.
"Patience Severus, I'm sure Harry and Miss Granger will be here shortly." Dumbledore spoke calmly.
"What could possibly take them this long I mean her room isn't that far away." He was off again, raving and ranting Dumbledore just rolled his eyes. "It should have only taken 5 bloody minutes."
Sirius just chucked to himself in the corner earning him strange looks from all that were around him.
"What you laughing at Black" Snape eyes narrowed glaring at Sirius who's smile just grew even wider.
"Severus just give them a little time will you? It's not hurting anyone."
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"Hermione…" Harry paused unsure of how to continue they had walked most of the way in silence and pretty soon they would be at their destination. "About earlier I …"
"There's nothing to say about it Harry." And with that she increased her speed.
"What do you mean there's nothing to say," He didn't want to lose his temper but, Hermione was being completely unreasonable couldn't she see that he was in love with her that the time they were together meant everything to him. Ok, he was a little harsh in her room but there were reasons for that.
"Look it was a mistake ok!" She told him hoping her voice sounded more convincing. "It shouldn't have happened. I know what your going to say, save your breath and don't bother I already know!"
Her voice was harsh which matched her words. Harry was taken back for a second did she really think that's what I was going to say?
"That wasn't what I was going to …"
"What Harry, tell me, what is there to say?" She had turned to face him; her eyes on fire with anger and pain.
"What do you want me to say Hermione?" He voice was rising no matter how hard he tried to control him self. "Do you want me to tell you it was a mistake that it shouldn't have happened."
Hermione just looked at him, tears beginning to show in her eyes. Did he want it to be a mistake? Didn't he know how much she loved him? Didn't he feel what she had felt when they first kissed? All her self control was gone now, her emotions had been tossed around too much in one day, and she didn't know what to feel what to think.
"Is that what you want?" she yelled back at him
"What I want…" Harry had to laugh at that, he knew perfectly well what he wanted and at the moment she was standing in front of him arguing. "If you only knew what I wanted." He told her with a chuckle sharing into her eyes.
"Then tell me Harry," her voice was quieter now but he could still hear the anger there, "What do you want?"
Harry stared at her; he knew what he wanted he wanted her. He wanted the war to be over for there to be peace. He wanted a normal life, but still he just stared not saying a word not moving a muscle.
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Sirius heard them coming down the corridor and straighten him self out ready to listen to what Snape had to say. They had heard the shouting; from the sound of things they were really letting each other have it out there. He looked out at Remus, who looked slightly confused, Ron and Lavender showing expresses of shock.
Everyone in that small little room stared at the wooden door waiting for the climax of the fight, but it didn't come they just continued shouting at each other.
"This does not sound good" Ron said shaking there his head. "If their arguing it's something serious, they don't usually fight."
"Not like this anyway" Lavender added
"Does anyone know what they are fighting about?" Ron asked not even taking his eyes of the door to look around the room. Sirius and Remus just glanced at each other knowingly.
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"I really can't believe you sometimes." Hermione was infuriated now; the worst thing being Harry really looked clueless to the reason why.
"Me … what the hell did I do you're the one who started this not me."
"I started it I don't think so," she said Pushing him backwards, it took all the restraint she had not to
pull out her wand and hex him. "Just because you're Harry Potter, the boy who lived you think you can just go
around screwing every girl you meet." Harry looked at her shocked but she continued, Hermione was too worked up
now to stop. "Did it even cross your mind that I was your best friend? Or did you just think hay what the heck
probably going to die in a week or
two I'll fuck her any way."
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"Did she say what I thought I just heard? Please tell me she didn't" Lavender turned almost begging Ron to tell her it wasn't true, he just continue to stare at the door.
It wasn't that Lavender didn't want two of her best friends to get together; they were perfect for each other. She always believed when they finally got the nerve to tell the other one how they truly felt it would be wonderful. But by the sound of it things hadn't work out for the best. That's when it hit her, Hermione avoiding them earlier in the day, messy inside-out clothes, grass in her hair, confused expression. Her gasp echoed around the room as realisation hit her straight in the face. They hadn't told each other how they felt they wouldn't be arguing like this if they had, they'd just acted on there feelings let instinct take over.
"Ron" Sirius spoke quietly, Ron turned to face him looking concerned. "Maybe you should open the door; they might not know we can hear them." Sirius nodded towards the door behind which the battle was still raging on.
"Yeah," was the only reply he gave. Edging over towards the door he clenched and relaxed his hands as he prepared himself.
All of a sudden a loud bang came from the other side of the wood sounding like someone had just thrown something rather big and heavy straight at it.
"Or maybe not," Remus spoke from the corner of the room near Sirius. Ron just froze his hands only inches from the door handle.
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Hermione's back was pressed up against the door and Harry was against her , not leaving even the smallest amount of
space. His hands held her arms firmly to the wooden barrier, and the way he positioned himself meant she couldn't
kick him. Hermione's breath caught in her throat with only a small gasp escaping as she felt his whole body up
against her for the second time that day
but only this time it wasn't in passion it was in anger.
"Is that what you think?" Harry eyes burned into hers; she could feel the rise and fall of his chest against hers. "You think I would risk throwing our whole friendship away for a little bit of fun." His grip became harder as he waited for her reply.
"Then why did you?" her voice almost pleading him for an answer one that wasn't going to break her heart even more.
Hermione's answer wasn't what he was expecting. He expected her to shout back at him yes accusing him more of
just shagging her, he even wished she'd said no coming to her senses and realising that he would never do that to
her, but to ask him why. He searched her eyes for a sign that his feelings would be returned but they were cold, not
like her eyes at all. They showed no emotion not even pain only unshed tears could be seem in their depths. Harry took
a deep
breath this was it he was finally going to tell her the truth.
"Because I love…"
That's when it happen the wooden barrier which was holding them both up disappear and they fell into the room. Harry's arms went around Hermione's waist keeping him and her from ending up on the ground. As they regained their balance they looked around the room and saw everyone's eyes on them, including one very angry pair belonging to Snape.
"I see you finally decided to join us, it's about bloody time." He growled at them
Hermione finally coming to her senses discovered that her and Harry were still standing in the door way with their arms around each other. Quickly untangling her self she muttered and quietly apologised and hastily retreated over to the other side of the room near Neville her cheeks burning red. Harry turned and closed the door where a still very surprised Ron stood. Everyone was quiet, afraid of speaking in case it started off another argument between the two. Dumbledore rose from his seat and walked across to the centre of the room where Snape stood.
"Good to see you Miss Granger we missed you at dinner." He nodded her way.
"I feel a sleep sir I'm …." Hold up a hand to silence her as he continued
"It is ok Miss Granger… I have called this meeting as we have received some more news of Voldemort's activity. As I told Harry earlier Voldemort and some death eaters were spotted only 50 miles from the castle so it would appear..."
"Do we know were he's hiding out yet?" one of the Aurors interrupted.
"I'm afraid not," Answered Snape "Since he's come back to power I've been left out of the inner circle not being able to get all the information. As far as they are concerned I'm working on the inside sending them information. If they need me they contact me not the other way round." Snape looked angry at himself for letting this happen.
"But I do know two things, firstly he's gathering his people and I mean seriously building up his numbers, Fast. There's going to be a lot of them. Secondly Peter Pettigrew has …"
"What the hell has the little rat been up to now?" Sirius asked loudly from across the room. He still blamed himself for letting Peter get away, he couldn't stand it first he betrayed Lily and James, and then framed him. Plus after all that the little weasel wanted to turn Harry over to Voldemort as well.
"If you let me finish Black I can tell you … Voldemort has been using…."
The door crashed open four; Aurors came rushing in their clothes covered in blood, three looking very alarmed while the fourth that was unconscious carried between them.
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"Adams what the hell happened?" Harry asked anxiously while he applied pressure to a rather nasty cut to his left shoulder which refused to stop bleeding. Harry looked around at the other three, two of them seemed ok, just a few minor cuts and bruises. Hermione was looking them over. Harry couldn't help but think that these guys were rather lucky to have Hermione fixing them up since they'd left school Hermione and taken a great interest on wizard first aid saying that she's needed to know is as he and Ron had a nasty habit of getting into to trouble. The Fourth Auror however was not looking has luckily, Harry could see a huge cut on his lower abdomen but Poppy went straight to work applying this and that. it wouldn't be long till he was back on his feet, or a least Harry hoped so.
"We were attacked, came out of no where," Adams reply was weak as he winced in pain.
Adams and the three other Aurors were down in Hogsmeade keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble or death eater activity.
"Death eaters?" Lupin asked handing the poor man a drink
"Yeah, loads of them must have been forty or fifty we didn't stand a chance" Taking a mouth full of the drink. Adams made himself relax and took a deep breath before he continue. "Just came out of no where, started blasting the place, the villagers were terrified there was screaming and shouting."
Sirius turned angry to Snape "You didn't know about this?"
"Don't you think I would have told you if I did?" Snape was already angry and Sirius questioning hadn't helped calm him down. He stood up to face him. "I had no idea Voldemort was planning an attack tonight." He snarled through gritted teeth.
"Don't you think you should of?"
Harry looked over at the two men and could instantly see where this was heading. Harry turned to Lavender and nodded for her to take over with the wound on Adams shoulder. Just as he was about to step in to stop them from cursing each other he saw Hermione was already there standing right in front of Sirius stopping him from advancing any closer to Snape.
"The last thing we need right now is for you two to start fighting each other." She turned to face Snape fixing him with a glare "Right?"
Snape just huffed and turned back to the window while Sirius wandered off to the opposite corner, leaving Hermione standing there watching the two. Once she was convinced they weren't going to try killing each other she went back to work looking at Richard's wounds.
Minerva who had been very quiet so far left poppy's side and walked up to Dumbledore. "What could this mean Albus?" Her voice slightly shaken and her face showing great concern.
"I believe it means that Voldemort no longer believes Severus is loyal Minerva" His voice as calm as usually Harry couldn't believe how nothing seem to shock this man not in all the years he'd known him.
"But how," Minerva getting worried "How did he find out?"
"Pettigrew" Snape growled over by the window. Everyone in the room turned to look at him. "That's the news I had to tell you. Voldemort has been using Pettigrew to spy on us in his rat form sneak around the grounds."
The room was silent as people took in this new alarming information. Sirius face like Ron's was red with fury, while Dumbledore just showed signs of understanding.
"As far as I knew Voldemort had planned the attack for sometime in the next few weeks, something must have happen for him to change his mind." Snape looked around the room to see if any one had any idea what that could be, what Peter could have seem to suddenly make Voldemort change his plans. His eyes settled Harry, something was bothering him his eyebrows were frowned in concentration, and then he looked up.
"How long?"
Snape eyed him suspiciously "I don't know." He replied a slight hint of annoyance sounding in his voice. "I was talking with some of the younger death eaters, the new recruits don't know how to hold their tongues. That's when they mention Peter had come rushing in raving about some very important news, he could have be watching us for only hours, days maybe even months"
Snape stared at Harry who once again was in deep concentration. There was something Harry wasn't telling them Snape
knew it for sure. Snape watched has Harry glanced over at Hermione. After hearing there argument and ignoring it
thinking that people had just got the wrong end of the stick he was now not to sure. If there was there something more
than friendship going on between these two it would certainly give Voldemort a reason to change his plans but how
would
Peter have found out. Harry removed his gaze from Hermione and back to Snape. He waited for the next question which he
knew was coming.
"Do you know what time?"
People now began to take interest in the conversation; Hermione stopped what she was doing just as anxious to hear Snape's reply.
Her argument with Harry outside in the corridor kept running through her head. Had she heard him right? Had Harry said 'Love'? But who … her? That was ridicules! How could he be in love her but then if it was some one else why did they have sex? Hermione lightly shook her head and turned her attention back to Snape not wanting to think about her and Harry at the moment.
"Do you know something Harry?" Dumbledore asked from across the room everyone fix their eyes on to Harry waiting his answer.
"I don't know anything." He ran his hand through his hair something he always did when he was nervous. Sirius always took great pride in saying he was just like his father when ever something made him worry he'd run his hands through his hair just like James use to do. It's how Sirius could usually tell when something was wrong.
"You said Voldemort suddenly changed his plans, meaning something must have caused him to do it." Snape
nodded, Hermione glanced at Harry knowing exactly what he was getting at and hoping it wasn't true
"Roughly what time did Wormtail ..." Harry found it hard to complete the question he was to worried that
he's worst fear was about to come true.
Snape looked at Harry his face was worried never before had he seem Harry look this scared, it even shocked him for a second. "It must have been about 3:30, maybe 4."
Hermione gasped and all eyes turn from Harry and fixed on her. She couldn't believe it was to close to be a coincidence Wormtail must have saw them, saw them together. The through of that creep seeing and very intimate part of her life not to mention her half naked made her sick. She looked at Harry but he hadn't moved he just stared down at the floor.
"There's something else" Adam's interrupted the silence and broke some the tension that was forming. "The death eaters they weren't aiming to kill, just scare people that the once reason we got out alive." Adam's started searching around in his pockets looking for what he was try to tell them about.
"Adams what is it?" Harry walked up closer to him, getting worried.
"As we were dragging Johnson out one of the death eaters came up to us." He carried on searching through his pockets. "We thought we'd had it for sure but then he gave us …" He carried on looking.
"Gave you what?" Sirius asked getting up from he's seat and walking over.
Adams looked up and saw that Harry, Sirius, Ron and Dumbledore were standing by him waiting to see what he was going to show them.
"Here, I got it." He pulled out of his inside pocket a black envelope tied with a dark red ribbon, and handed it to Harry. "The Death eater that approached us threw this at me, told me to give it to you." He handed the envelope to Harry.
"That's it?" Sirius asked "Just threw it at you then walked away?"
"Yeah told me the battle was coming and Harry better watch his back." Every one turned to Harry as he played with the letter which was in his hands. What could it say, why the hell had Voldemort send him a letter? Did it mention anything about Hermione? The only way he could be sure was if he opened it.
"What the hell would Voldemort be doing sending Harry a bloody letter it doesn't make sense." Harry heard Ron say. Everyone was talking all around him but all Harry could do was stare down at his hands.