Disclaimer The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J. K. Rowling. No infringement intended, just borrowing
Chapter 5 - Will the real Harry Potter please stand up?
Hermione woke early and disapparated to Grimmauld Place. She didn't even wake Ginny to tell her she was leaving.
After unpacking, she went straight to the Black library to search for Under Your Spell. She hoped to find out what was on page 201, figuring that if Ginny were emulating her mother, she would probably use the same spell on Harry. Unfortunately, she couldn't find the book in their library. She would have to make a visit to Flourish and Blotts in the near future. At times like this, Hermione wished there was a wizarding version of Amazon.
She wondered what Harry was doing at this moment. Probably spending the day with Ginny, snogging or whatever they did when alone together. She felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach, partly due to jealousy, but also due to uneasiness about Ginny's knowledge of love spells. She had resigned herself to the possibility that Harry might really be in love with Ginny but what if it was only due to magic? Could Harry tell the difference?
Hermione was suddenly struck by a thought. She immediately reached for The Horrid History of Horcruxes and reread this sentence.
At this time, a human hosted horcrux can only be destroyed or removed upon death or a transformative experience not requiring the use of magical charms or spells.
Hermione had her answer.
Later that evening, as she was getting into bed, she heard a snap. Harry had just disapparated back from the Burrow, with his overnight bag in hand.
"Harry, you startled me."
"Sorry." He said sheepishly as he went to unpack.
There was an awkward silence until Hermione asked. "So how was the rest of the weekend?"
"Great, actually. I'm really glad I went. Thanks for nagging me to go."
"You're welcome." Hermione said, almost regretting that fact in retrospect. "Did you talk to Ron - how is he?"
"You mean after you shattered his heart into a million pieces?" Harry said dramatically.
"Not you, too," Hermione sighed.
"Sorry, it's just that the family, especially Mrs. Weasley, is taking it pretty hard - harder than Ron, actually. She now refers to you as that Granger girl. He and I talked and he told me he's going to be okay. It'll take some time but he thinks he'll come back here at some point to help us."
"I'm glad to hear it, Harry. I hope Ron and I will be friends again." Hermione said, reprising her stint as an actress.
Harry started to undress for bed and had his shirt halfway over his head before he stopped.
"Um, Hermione, could you turn around?" came his muffled voice.
Hermione blushed. Over the past few weeks, even though they were sharing a bed, they hadn't changed their clothes in front of each other.
"Sure." She almost giggled as she turned on her side away from Harry; her cheeks still red.
A minute later he approached the bed. "All done" he announced, dressed in his pajamas.
As he settled into bed next to her, she decided to ask him the burning question.
"So, how did everything go with Ginny?"
A big grin spread over Harry's face. "Oh, we had a wonderful day today. We went into the village near the Burrow, walked around, had some lunch and then you know…."
Hermione knew by his expression what they had been doing. She took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.
"Harry, I have something I want to tell you about Ginny."
"What about her?"
"I found something in her room last night that I think you should know about."
"Were you snooping?" Harry asked.
"No!" Hermione said, a bit defensively. "I was packing my books and I accidentally picked up one of Ginny's." She proceeded to tell him about the book and her conversation with Ginny afterwards.
"I'm really worried, Harry. She shouldn't be using those spells or potions on you. They can go horribly wrong, as we all know."
"You really think Ginny is using love spells on me?" Harry asked, looking surprised.
"Yes, I'm now almost certain that's how she got you to notice her last year."
"Hermione, I noticed her because she's a smart and pretty girl, not because of some spell. Honestly, you are being paranoid. And how could you think that about Ginny, she's supposed to be your friend?"
"Ginny is my friend and I'm concerned about her. I'm concerned about the both of you."
"Sounds more like jealousy to me." Harry muttered.
"Harry, I'm not jealous." Hermione didn't like the direction of this conversation.
"Sure you are. I'm going to marry Ginny someday and become part of the Weasley family. I'm going to be perfectly happy. And you won't be part of it. You blew your chance by turning down Ron." He said in a tone that sounded was awfully familiar.
"Don't you see, Harry?" Hermione said, her voice rising. "This doesn't sound like you at all. I think Ginny put a deflecting spell on you. I bet she did it in case I told you about the book. If anyone says anything bad about her, you'll just defend her and…"
"I'm defending her because I love her." Harry yelled. "How dare you accuse Ginny of this nonsense? I thought you were my friend, Hermione but I can't be your friend if you're going to badmouth the girl I love!"
Hermione's eyes filled with tears. Not looking at Harry, she got out of bed and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Later that night, back in her own bed, Hermione still couldn't sleep. She had stopped crying a while ago, but now her heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces. She was so disappointed in Harry; she thought he was stronger than this. She didn't know who she was angrier with, Harry or Ginny.
Give him a break; he's under Ginny's spell. The real Harry wouldn't say those things to you, especially considering how close you've been lately, her conscience reminded her.
But he has said some horrible things to me in the past. Harry has a terrible temper sometimes.
He does indeed, but he's not himself right now.
Hermione wondered how long it would take until the spell wore off, but her thoughts were interrupted by a scream coming from across the hall. She recognized it immediately but didn't move. Normally, she would be out of bed like a shot, but after their row, her pride wouldn't let her go to him.
The screams continued and finally she heard him yell out her name. Was he having a nightmare about her? Hermione screwed her eyes shut and covered her ears, hoping it would all go away. After a minute or so, the noises stopped. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and turned over to try to sleep when she heard a knock on her door.
"Hermione?" Harry's voice sounded raspy and desperate.
She tried to ignore him.
Maybe he'll give up and go back to bed.
Yeah right, give up? This is Harry Potter we're talking about.
Yeah, but which one?
"Hermione, please. I need your help." He sounded like he had been crying.
At this sound, Hermione relented. She couldn't stand to hear Harry, or any other being, for that matter in such pain. She got out of bed and opened the door. Harry was standing in the hall, carrying a lantern in one hand and holding his other hand to his forehead. He looked terrible.
She gestured him inside, took his lantern and put it on her nightstand as she sat back on her bed. Harry stood next to the bed, looking tentatively at her while he winced.
"My scar is killing me," he groaned, and started to sob. "I f-feel like my head is about to split open."
She had never seen Harry cry before about his scar. He had come pretty close to tears before, but she had never seen it this bad. She forgot that she was angry with him and held out her arms.
Harry immediately fell into her embrace and without a word; she pressed her lips to his forehead. He gripped her tightly as she kissed him, his breath ragged. She didn't pull her lips away until she felt his breathing slow and return to almost normal.
She lay down on the bed and brought Harry with her, the top of his head now right under her chin. Neither spoke for a minute until Harry broke the silence.
"Hermione? I'm so sorry," he said, regret evident in his voice.
This was the Harry she knew and loved. "It's okay, Harry," she replied as she stroked his hair.
"I'm sorry I said those things to you. I...I don't know what got into me."
But I do.
"Do you really think she put some kind of spell on me today?" Harry asked, looking up at her, his deep green eyes looking bigger than usual.
Hermione nodded at him and her breath hitched from the way he looked at her, like a lost little boy. If his face were any closer, she would've kissed him, but this time not on the forehead. She steeled herself; this wasn't the time to be entertaining such thoughts.
"I'm sorry Ginny isn't the person you thought she was. I'm so disappointed in her."
"Me, too," Harry said. "What should I do about her, though? She thinks I'm going to marry her someday."
"Well, at least you're away from her for a while, right?" Hermione said. "I don't think she can cast any spells on you with you miles away. I need to get my hands on a copy of that book, though. I want to learn as much as I can about these spells and love potions."
"Why, Hermione, are you planning to use it on someone?" Harry teased.
She chuckled; glad he was back to his normal self. "I need to find out what spells she might be using on you and hopefully find some kind of counter spells, if she strikes again."
Harry nodded. "Sounds like a smart idea." He lay his head down on her shoulder again and yawned.
Hermione wondered if Harry was going to be staying with her tonight, he certainly wasn't showing any signs of moving. She was soon answered when she heard his light snoring. He wasn't going anywhere, she mused as she reached over to turn off the lantern. She kissed him lightly on the top of his head before drifting off to sleep.