A/N: Right, well, if any of you are still interested, here's the next chapter of this fic. I know many thought it abandoned, but the truth is I've just had a lot going on in my life at the moment. Too much, and my writing has, unfortunately, taken a back seat to more important things. I want to thank you all for your support though, it really means a lot to me.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: MOVING ON
~~~~~February 15th, 1997. Hogwarts.~~~~~
Hermione had been heartened to hear of Harry and Ron's conversation in the DADA room. She hoped that they'd work things out as soon as possible. The two had complied with Ron's wishes and given him some more space and time.
Valentines Day had been a Friday so that weekend had been declared a Hogsmeade weekend. With everyone going into the small village, Harry and Hermione opted to stay in the peace and quiet of Gryffindor Tower for the day after the holiday of love.
They lay about together, enjoying the comfortable silence as they both quietly read. Harry flipped through a Defense Against The Dark Arts book Brodsky had given him while Hermione re-read his mothers research notes.
She'd already read the small diary about a dozen times but she couldn't stop herself from reading it over and over. It made her feel connected to Harry's mother and she was also learning a lot from it. Hermione had realized quite quickly that Lily Potter had truly been a brilliant woman and she felt honoured to be compared to her by so many people.
"Find anything interesting?" Harry asked lazily as he closed his own book and looked up from where his head lay in her lap.
Hermione's brow was furrowed and she was biting her lip, "Did you ever read this, Harry?"
"No." He answered.
"There's some stuff here at the end. It must of been after she found out about the prophecy and they went into hiding. She was searching for ways to protect you. I might be able to build off some of this." Hermione muttered the last part almost to herself. "She really was quite brilliant."
"And you being able to work with her research just proves how brilliant you also are, my love."
Hermione closed the diary and looked down at him with a smile. She unconsciously brushed the hair off his forehead to reveal the scar she hated so much.
"Stop feeding my ego." She said cheekily.
"Why? You feed mine all the time." Harry grinned back.
"And now the both of you have heads so big you can barely fit through doors." A third voice filled the solitude of the common room.
Ron was watching them with a small smile. Both jumped apart and stood in front of him, almost holding their breaths to hear what he had to say.
He looked down at his feet, embarrassed. "I don't want to be left out. I don't want to miss out on how happy I know you make each other and I certainly don't want to miss out on the adventures we'll have. I was a git. And I'm sorry for getting angry at you both. Forgive me?"
Hermione looked ready to burst into tears as she launched herself onto Ron. Harry smiled at the scene and answered, "Yeah, we forgive you mate."
Ron pulled Hermione away from him a little, but kept hold of the embrace. "I was wrong, Herms. I love you like a sister, nothing more. But if this dick ever hurts you, you tell me so I can beat the crap out of him, as a brother is entitled to do."
Hermione had tears pouring down her face as she grinned and hugged him again. Harry laughed, "Hell, mate, if I ever hurt her, I'll tell you myself." He paused as he moved closer.
As Ron and Hermione parted, Ron vowed, "If I ever act like that again, one of you hex me. I really am sorry."
"I'll do it." Hermione offered straight away with a smile.
"I'm happy for you both." Ron admitted as they all sat down. "I know you two are perfect for each other. Just wish I'd realized it sooner. I do wish you had told me straight away and I'm still a bit upset at both of you and myself that you didn't, I mean if I weren't such a wanker you would have."
"No, Ron. You deserved to know straight away and we didn't tell you, we should have and we're sorry too." Harry told him.
"Yeah, well, it may take me some time to get used to seeing you two hanging all over each other being all sick and that - -"
"Sick?" Hermione interrupted.
"Yeah, well," Ron began to explain, "You're my brother and sister, it just isn't right."
They all laughed at that then Harry said, "That does sound kind of twisted. But you'll get used to it."
"I'm sorry about you and Lana." Hermione told Ron. "She seemed great for you."
"Nah, never would've worked." Ron waved it off. "She was too intimidated around you two. And if I'm gonna' be with a girl then she'd better be comfortable around my best friends."
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. "Intimidated around us? We tried our best to make her feel welcome." Hermione said, not quite understanding why the girl would be intimidated.
"Yeah, I know, but still ... I have to find myself a girl who doesn't care that one of you is the Boy-Who-Lived and the other is the brightest witch of her age. Someone not easily intimidated." Harry and Hermione exchanged another glance with a small, knowing smile. Ron looked at them with a raised eyebrow, "What?"
"Well, mate, there's someone out there that is perfect for you, and isn't easily ... anything I guess." Harry answered.
"Yeah and who would that be?"
Hermione giggled a little, "If we told you you'd miss out on the fun of working it out on your own."
Ron probed a little more but the two wouldn't tell him. They sat and talked the way they had always able to, with the last bit of tension dropping away as they chatted into the afternoon. Everything was the way it was supposed to be.
~~~~~~February 22nd, 1997. Hogwarts.~~~~~
The five Gryffindors and Luna, who was an honourary lion by now, sat under a tree down near the lake. Harry leaned against the tree, with Hermione in front of him using him as a cushion, reading his mothers notes again. Occasionally he would read over her shoulder but he was mainly focused on his conversation with Neville and Ron who both straddled a bench, a chess board between them.
Luna and Ginny lay on the cold grass reading from text books. It was their OWL year and they were both starting to study hard for the big exams. Hermione was their main help, pointing out which chapters of which books to pay close attention to and such.
The snow had just cleared, leaving the grass wet and green. Nearing the end of winter it was still very cool and therefore they were all rugged up, but the sun had decided to make an appearance and they figured they'd take advantage of it.
Harry was warmer than the others since Hermione's back was pressed against his chest. He took in her scent; the vanilla of her hair, the brazil nut from the body wash he knew she used and the smell of parchment her robes picked up from spending so much time in the library.
He nuzzled into her neck, taking his focus off the quidditch talk and whispering, "Why do you love to read that so much?"
Hermione kept her eyes focused on the page of Lily's handwriting she was absorbed in as she answered, "Like I told you before your mother was brilliant. She understood the arithmancy of magic so well. And besides, reading this, it makes me feel ... I don't know, connected to her or something like that. It makes me feel close to her." Hermione admitted quietly.
"She would've loved you." Harry smiled. "Remus said you're a lot like her. You two would have gotten along so well."
Hermione turned a little so she could look at him, "I would've loved her too. I would've enjoyed getting to know her."
Harry laughed sadly, "I can just see it. I'd take you home for Christmas or something and you and Mum would go off on an in-depth discussion of ancient runes or arithmetic progression or something and just leave me and Dad watching the both of you with dumbfounded looks on our faces, not understanding a word of what you were saying."
Hermione's eyes were sad as she smiled at him, "I'm sorry, Love."
He squeezed her tightly, "Don't be, Mione." He whispered then kiss her cheek. "She sure would've loved you. They both would have."
"I didn't know you knew that there was such a thing as arithmetic progression." Hermione teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Harry laughed a genuine chuckle, "I know the words, I have no idea what they mean though."
Hermione gave him the dictionary meaning as she turned back to Lily's notes, "A sequence of terms in which each, except the first, differs from the preceding one by a constant quantity, as two, four, six, eight."
"I still don't understand what it means, my little human textbook." Harry teased.
She gave him a quick whack around the side of the head and then both went back to what they were previously doing.
"I still don't like Bulgaria's chances this year." Ron was saying. "They haven't had the best season. It's not that Krum hasn't been flying as good as he always has, it's the rest of the team, they're almost bloody hopeless."
"Yeah, but if any seeker can get them to the World Cup it'll be him." Neville argued.
"I still maintain that he's a git." When there was responses from both Neville and Ginny, Ron defended his position. "Come on, he was Harry's enemy during the Triwizard Tournament!"
"That doesn't mean we should hate him, Ron." Harry smiled. "In fact, I actually liked Krum, he was a nice guy."
Hermione, being in the teasing mood smothered her grin and exchanged a look with Ginny as she said, "I quite liked Krum too."
Ginny and Neville broke out laughing. Luna smiled but kept her dreamy look. Ron's eyes widened and he looked at her with an unusual look before realize that she was joking around and started laughing himself.
Harry turned her so he could look at her with a grin, "You did, did you?" He chuckled.
She smiled back at him with a loving gaze, "Oh, yes. I found the time we spent together rather
pleasurable."
Harry's mouth opened wide and his eyebrows shot to his hairline as he laughed. In a quick movement he spun her completely, pinned her to the ground and tickled her.
"Vicky, eh?" Harry laughed. "He was pleasurable, was he?"
Hermione could only think of one way to stop his tickling. She grabbed his hair and pulled his lips down upon her own. Harry's fingers immediately stopped and slid down to her waist.
"Bloody hell, get a room!" Ron interrupted. When the two pulled apart and smiled up at their friend he rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You know, I'm fine with you two being together now, but that don't mean you can do it in front of me."
"Well isn't this the most revolting scene. The Boy-Who'll-Die, his mudblood and their pathetic sidekicks."
All six of the friends looked around to see Pansy Parkinson flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. Ron and Neville stood immediately, hands on their wands, ready to fight. Ginny, Harry and Hermione were on their feet in a matter of seconds as well. Luna just looked up at the three Slytherin completely unphased.
Pansy seemed rather insulted by Luna's indifference. "Oh Loony, didn't you know you should stand in the presence of your superiors?"
Ron moved and stood in between Luna who suddenly burst out laughing saying, "Superiors! I get it, that's funny." Parkinson was looking toward Luna as if she'd gone completely mad, which she may well have done long ago.
"Bugger off, Parkinson." Ron growled.
Pansy had been so shocked by Luna's outburst that she'd missed the five Gryffindors draw their wands. Ron's was pointed at Goyle's head, Ginny and Neville had theirs covering Crabbe, but what made up Pansy's mind for her was Harry and Hermione's wands pointed directly at her chest, both tips glowing already.
With one parting shot at Hermione, "Enjoy him while he's alive, mudblood." Parkinson turned on her heel and stormed off, Crabbe and Goyle scurrying after her.
A thousand words were shared between Hermione and Harry as their eyes met. Harry knew by the fire blazing in her eyes that Hermione was thinking, I'll kill her one day. And Hermione could tell by the soft, yet full-stop look in Harry's eyes that he was telling her to just ignore the bitch.
"That was brilliant Luna." Ron grinned as he held out his hand and helped Luna to stand.
Luna blushed a little, "Thank you Ronald. Tonks has been working on diversionary tactics with Ginny and I."
Ginny was standing quietly, a worried look in her eyes. Hermione was first to notice this, "Gin? What's wrong?"
She looked up at Hermione, a little horror in her eyes, "Draco." She whispered. It only took Hermione a second to figure out what she was on about, but the rest needed an explanation. "Crabbe and Goyle don't just follow Pansy around. Something has happened. Draco could be hurt."
Harry, Luna and Hermione were the only two that knew about Draco and Ginny being friends. Neville looked on confused while Ron let rage glaze his eyes.
"Draco?!" He roared. "Since when do we call Malfoy 'Draco'?! And what the hell do we care that he could be hurt?!"
"He's my friend, Ron." Ginny quickly explained, then ran off.
Harry looked at Hermione who immediately understood, nodded and ran off after Ginny. Ron watched them go, his mouth gaping open, his eyebrows low.
"What the hell is going on?" He asked with disbelief.
"We'll help look." Luna said and grabbed Neville by the sleeve, dragging him towards the castle.
Ron turned to Harry, "Do you know what just happened?"
"Malfoy and Ginny are friends, Ron."
"Friends?! Friends with a Malfoy? That's impossible."
"No, it's not. They really are friends, Ron. They've been meeting each other for ages now and talking, getting to know each other. And I have to say, she's changed him for the better, Ron."
"You knew about this? Bloody hell, Harry, what else have you been keeping from me?"
Harry sighed, "Hermione and I caught them talking on the train home for Christmas. I was just as angry as you are now, Ron. Hermione promised Ginny that we wouldn't say anything and I had to uphold that."
"This is crazy. He's a bloody bastard, Harry! He's an evil wanker who's had all his fun at our expense!"
"I know, Ron. We made Ginny promise that if he ever hurt her she'd tell us straight away and he hasn't hurt her. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him, and I can't even pick him up, but I trust Ginny and I trust that she can handle him."
Ron thought about things for a long while and then sighed loudly, "I don't trust him either, Harry. Bloody hell! This is just getting ridiculous!"
"Come on." Harry said then began to lead Ron towards the dark forest.
"Where are we going?"
"Well they all went to the castle to look for Malfoy, but if I were a Slytherin who found out that my so called evil leader was really a good guy and I bashed the hell out of him, I wouldn't leave him in the castle, I'd leave him somewhere no one could find him." Harry explained.
"So we're actually going to look for the git?"
"If he really is on our side Ron, we need to help him, otherwise we'd be just as bad as the people who've hurt him. And besides if he's dead you can't beat him up for being friends with your sister."
Ron smiled a little, "Good enough reason for me."
They ran into the Forbidden Forest searching for any signs of recent movement. They were fairly deep inside when they started calling for Malfoy. Probably not the best idea. An arrow flew through the air, barely missing Harry's head as it soared by and into a tree.
In an instant they were surrounded by five centaurs. Harry leaned back to Ron, "Let me do the talking, Hermione and I didn't make the best impression on them when we were here last, they're very touchy."
"What are you doing here?" One asked angrily.
"We didn't wish to trespass in your forest, but we're looking for a ... friend. He's probably hurt and in danger. We simply want to retrieve him and leave."
"You are looking for the pale wizard?" Another at Harry's right asked.
Harry slowly turned to him, "Yes. Do you know where he is?"
"We found him. He is badly injured."
Harry thought it best to talk to this one as he seemed calmer than the others and he was the only one not pointing an armed bow at them. "Would you mind showing us where he is? So we can take him and leave."
After a moment of exchanged glances amongst the centaurs, the calm one nodded. "We will. But you must swear to leave with him immediately."
"We swear."
Harry and Ron nervously followed the calm one through the trees. He led them to another circle of centaurs, surrounding a very pale, blood-stained Draco Malfoy.
"We saw them bring him in here." The calm one told Harry. "They did not look very pleasant."
"They're not." Harry said as he knelt down by Malfoy and felt for a pulse. He certainly looked dead, but there was a weak, slow beating in his neck.
Harry nodded to Ron who drew his wand slowly and levitated Malfoy. Harry turned to the calm one, "They were Death Eaters in training. They'll soon be followers of the Dark Lord." Harry told him.
The calm one looked at Harry as if he was sizing him up. After a long moment he spoke, "The stars have not yet decided your fate, Harry Potter." Harry thought he should say something but opted to stay silent. "Take your friend back to the castle, our forest is not safe for your kind."
Harry nodded. "Thank you for your help." And then followed Ron who was levitating the unconscious Malfoy in front of him.
They got out of the forest and headed quickly for the castle, taking Malfoy directly to the infirmary where Madame Pomfrey immediately began working her magic to heal him.
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