Chapter 7; Malfoy
Harry was up earlier than he had planned; somehow he couldn't sleep properly during the night. Thoughts of Hermione filled his mind as soon as he woke up. Looking towards the balcony, he wondered if it had only been a dream
Shaking his head, he walked to the bathroom for a quick shower. A little later he was downstairs making coffee for him and his two friends. When he was done he saw Hermione entering to the kitchen.
"Good morning, are you feeling better?" Harry asked.
"Yes I am," she responded. "But Ron's not. I just found out he didn't tell his parents he would be staying with us for the remainder of the holiday. He just sent them a letter and now he's afraid to meet them at the train station. It's the first time he spends a summer without his parents," she explained.
"If he's afraid, what about me? He stayed away from parents because of me," Harry stated.
"Don't blame yourself. It was immature of him not to talk to his parents about it first," she said.
"Have you talked to them?" Ron asked at the doorway after making both Harry and Hermione jump up in surprise.
"I…well, it's different. They're not exactly used to having me around every summer and holiday," Hermione responded.
"She's right, you know," Harry said, taking Hermione's side.
"Fine, you win. I made a mistake. But it's still me who has to face them and not you two," Ron said rather sadly. Harry and Hermione simply chuckled.
"Relax mate, what harm can they do?" Harry asked but then and regretted it later that day.
Harry, Ron and Hermione got to King's Gross in the Knight Bus. After a not so pleasant ride, they were between platforms 9 and 10. They walked past the barrier and prepared for the worst: meeting Mrs. Weasley. Just as they had thought, she was waiting for all three of them. Hermione and Harry both glanced at each other and then at Ron, who was scarlet from ear to ear.
"RONALD WEASLEY," she boomed. "How DARE you do this to me and to your father. We were worried to sick because of you. Of course, I don't blame you two," Mrs. Weasley said gently turning to Hermione and Harry. Harry had an awful feeling that Mrs. Weasley was only nice of him beacause he was the Boy-Who-Lived. He knew Mrs. Weasley loved him like a son, but still she didn't seem to say a bad word about him like she did to Ron and the twins.
"I, well…mum, you see," Ron started with a shaky voice, but Mrs. Weasley didn't let him finish.
"No note from you all this time, no visits, where were you?" she continued yelling at him. Harry noticed how many people were staring them now and he felt himself blush a little, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Mum, stop it. You're embarrassing me," Ron managed to mumble, but Mrs. Weasley didn't stop there. She kept yelling at him about how worried she still was and how she thought he was dead. "I really need to go now mum," Ron said, bravely interrupting her. By the time Mrs. Weasley accepted this, everyone on the station were staring at them.
Ron, Harry and Hermione were finally able to get on the train when Mrs. Weasley gave up on her lecture. They took the last compartment and sighed collectively. They had survived the angry Mrs. Weasley but they weren't quite prepared for what was to happen next. The door to their compartment opened and they were greeted by Draco Malfoy himself.
"Look who's here. Potty and Weasel," he said and leaned against the doorway. "Oh and the mudblood is still with you?" he asked as he glance at Hermione. Both Harry and Ron jumped up, their wands pointed at Malfoy.
"Never call her like that again," Ron said menacingly, but Draco simply laughed.
"Defending your little mudblood girlfriend. What a pity, everyone thought Mr. Famous got the mudblood, just like his father did." Before Harry could do anything, Hermione had stepped between Harry and Malfoy.
"Forget it Harry, he's not worth it," Hermione whispered and looked pleadingly at him.
"What are you doing here? How dare you even show yourself? You should be in Azkaban alongside your Father," Harry said looking coldly at Malfoy.
"Oh Potty Boy, how foolish you can be. Haven't you heard I was under the Imperius and I was forced to try and kill the old fool Dumbledore?" he asked and Hermione forced Harry to stay back.
"You weren't under any spell, Malfoy," Harry snarled.
"Maybe, maybe not. But that's what the Ministry believes. Just try to prove they're wrong," he said with a smirk and left the compartment.
"I can't believe that git is coming back to school," Harry said as he sank down on the in his seat, Hermione right next to him. "Why did you stop me?" he asked furiously.
"He's not worth it," Hermione responded.
"The hell he isn't," Ron snapped.
"No he's not. Look at this in that way. Had you attacked him, you would be in so much trouble, especially because the Ministry believes his false lies about the curse he was under. And you would have ruined any plans we have to get the horcruxes," Hermione stated matter-of-factly. "You'll have your time to get the revenge you want so much."
"I suppose you're right," Harry said and turned his attention out of the window.
"Do you think he was right?" Ron asked now, looking down.
"Right about what?" Hermione asked.
"About you and Harry," he said. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other and then back at Ron.
"No, he just said it to upset you," Hermione said a bit nervously.
"Yeah, forget it Ron," Harry added and looked outside again. They sat in silence for the remainder of their trip to Hogwarts, all three of them lost in their thoughts.
Hours later when they walked out of the train, they immediately heard a familiar voice calling out all the first years. "First years, Come 'ere, First years over 'ere."
"Hey Hagrid," Hermione said brightly and Ron added: "See you at school!" before the three of them made their way to the carriages they would be sharing with Ginny and Neville.
"Where were you Ron?" Ginny immediately asked. "Mom was in a fit," she added.
"I was with Harry," Ron replied
"With the muggles?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes," Harry replied quickly.
"And you Hermione?" Ginny asked and looked at her friend.
"Why all the sudden questions?" Harry asked, eyeing Hermione, who looked at him too.
"Just curious," Ginny responded.
"Well don't be," Ron snapped.
"So, does anyone know who the Prefects and Head students are?" Neville asked nervously, breaking the deadly silence that had fallen upon the four of them. They all shook their heads.
"Professor, I mean Headmistress McGonagall didn't say anything in her letter," Hermione said and looked Harry to see how he reacted to the word Headmistress. Just as she had thought, he didn't react at all; he looked numb.
Harry looked out the window, watching the threstals looking back at him with their white and deadly eyes. They didn't seem to bother him anymore; he was used to seeing them now. He had accepted the cold truth after he had witnessed Cedric Diggory's death, followed by the death of Sirius and then Dumbledore. The thought of them dying before his eyes didn't hurt him anymore, he was simply numb. He felt almost no pain but felt only guilt and grief that pounded hard on his heart. How much he wished to turn back the time and make everything right, to save the ones he cared about from death. But he knew it was impossible. He knew it was, but that didn't stop him from wishing. And now, hearing Ginny asking questions that he wanted to answer but wasn't allowed to, made him think of what lay before him and his friends.
He had attempted to escape, leave them behind, but Hermione wouldn't let him. Hermione, knew all about him and he was sure she also knew how scared he was for their life and how he wished they would stay behind and let him face the fate that was meant for him. Only for him. No one else should suffer or die because of his fate. He didn't want to carry this burden but what else he could do?
Ron wasn't going to stay behind, knowing how much his family cared for him and worried about him. Sometimes Harry wondered why he came along at all. Was it beacause of him or was it more because of Hermione. He was scared, Harry could tell that by looking at Ron's eyes, but he still came along. Sometimes he thought Ron came with him just to get some fame as well because Harry knew how jealous Ron was of him and now any success was his chance to get famous as well. Nonsense, Harry thought. How could he think Ron didn't back away because he wanted fame? Ron came to this mission because they were friends, so there was no way he could change his mind about coming at all.
And Hermione. Wasn't she the one who had great plans with her life? School was important to her and now she was practically giving it up to help him. How could she give up on her life like that? How could she give up her plans for the future, knowing the risks? She, who was so perfect and who had everything she deserved waiting for her. But she abandoned her dreams and wishes just beacause of Harry.
That made Harry sad and happy at the same time. He, who didn't have parents and no family what so ever, had best friends that anyone would die to have. Everything was too good to be true; the friendship was too perfect. He felt like he didn't deserve it at all. He, who brought only doom, had best friends.
He looked at the threstals and forced back thoughts of what he would do if anything happened to Ron and Hermione. What would he do if he lost them on the way of a journey the was supposed to take alone?
"Harry, are you listening?" He felt a soft hand on his shoulder and heard a beautiful voice beside him. When he turned around to look at the one who had spoken, he saw magnificent chocolate brown eyes what were full of worries.
"Yes, I umm…what did you say Hermione?" Harry asked and felt himself blush a little.
"I said, we're here. Come on, the others already went to castle," Hermione said and smiled at him. Harry returned the smile and gazed into her eyes. He went out of the carriage waiting for Hermione to follow. Hermione stumbled and fell out of the carriage and Harry, who had fast reflexes, caught her in his arms.
They remained that way for quite a long time, looking at each other in the eyes, feeling each others hearts beating while they were so close. Harry could only think of one thing- to kiss her or not. He wanted to kiss her, but something held him back. He didn't know what was keeping him from doing what he wanted to do; all he knew at that moment was how good it felt having her in his warm embrace and how perfect she fit in his arms.
Harry could feel her heart beating against his chest, just as fast as his heart was beating. Her eyes looked unblinkingly back into his eyes. His right arm was around her small waist and with his left arm, he brushed away her hair from her face. His palm lingered on her cheek, caressing it with his thumb. Hermione, clearly enjoying his touch, closed her eyes.
When he lowered himself to meet her lips, he saw Hermione take a step closer, if that was even possible. She was breathing deeply. He stopped himself and put his forehead against hers.
"What are we doing?" he asked quietly, his breath tickling Hermione and making her breathe deeper.
"I don't know," she responded, keeping her eyes closed.
"We better stop, before anyone sees us," Harry suggested, but he didn't really want to stop; he didn't want to let her go. He wanted to remain like that, remain inside their own little world where time seized to exist.
"Mhm," Hermione managed to mumble and Harry forced himself to let her go. Both of them walked silently towards the castle and into the Great Hall where everyone was already waiting for the sorting to begin. Both remained deep in thought to the moment they had just shared.