Chapter 9 - Rhymes with Witch
Disclaimer The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J. K. Rowling. No infringement intended, just borrowing.
Hermione awoke the next morning feeling peaceful. She opened her eyes and was relieved to see Harry still beside her; he seemed to be fast asleep. Most mornings he was up before she was or was curled up on the other side of the bed facing away from her. This morning was different; his face was just inches away and his right arm was stretched across her middle. Hermione took this opportunity to watch Harry sleep from her unique vantage point. Although he had changed physically over the past six years from a small, skinny boy into a strong handsome young man, Hermione couldn't help but be reminded of the boy she first met on the Hogwarts Express. She remembered when he was innocent and oblivious to the adventures and challenges he would face.
Her eyes traveled from the faint stubble on his chin to his full mouth, then to his nose and then over his long eyelashes. She then scanned his bushy eyebrows and finally his forehead. Hermione did a double take, realizing something was indeed different - Harry's scar had all but disappeared. She looked a little closer and recognized the faint outline of the lightning bolt. But to the untrained eye, his forehead looked like any other.
Just then Harry opened his eyes. Startled, Hermione backed away and sat up, embarrassed that he caught her hovering.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Harry asked sleepily, as if it were perfectly normal for him to find her like that.
"I, I was looking at your s-scar," she replied, stammering. "Harry, it's almost gone!"
She got out of bed and grabbed a small mirror from the dresser to show him. "Look!"
Harry sat up, reached for his glasses and looked in the mirror. He was no longer sleepy, in fact he was positively wide -awake and gobsmacked.
"I can't believe it. It's barely visible!" He said excitedly. "Oh Hermione, you're a genius!"
Harry put down the mirror and pulled Hermione into a fierce hug, making her smile.
He's so affectionate these days, isn't he?
"Well, I don't know about genius, Harry," she said, blushing.
Harry pulled back to look at her. "No! You are a genius, I will never doubt any of your theories ever again."
He then did something he'd never done before. Harry gave her a kiss on the cheek and then was off to take a shower.
Yes, definitely more affectionate. Imagine where he might have kissed you if his scar completely healed?
Hermione examined her situation. It was obvious that Harry was starting to let her into his heart - first he told her about his nightmare, and then he consciously wrapped his arm around her before they slept. And this morning he hugged and kissed her. Before last night, Hermione was usually the one to initiate affection, but now Harry was beginning to feel more comfortable with her physically. She was certain that he would begin to acknowledge his feelings for her soon.
Well, almost certain.
Later that afternoon, Hermione was doing some housework. Although Grimmauld Place was much more habitable than it had when she had first encountered the place over two years ago, it still needed upkeep. With Kreacher dead and given Hermione's feelings about house elves, she didn't mind doing the housekeeping.
She was doing some light dusting when she heard some wild hooting outside the window. She recognized the noise immediately and turned to see Pigwidgeon flapping its wings. Hermione opened the window and let in the tiny owl, gently tugging at the note from its leg.
Hermione
I've got good news and bad news. Good news first - I will be back at GP next week, most likely Friday.
Bad news - Ginny knows her love spell book is missing. She popped in this morning (yes, she can apparate already - it took me months and she just started her lessons!), looking for it and asked me if I knew where it was. I played dumb but I think she suspects something. She muttered something about you before she left - she was very angry.
Just thought you should be warned in case she shows up.
Ron
Hermione turned over the parchment and wrote a quick reply.
Ron
Thanks for the heads up - I think I can handle her. Don't worry. Glad to hear you'll be back next week - Harry and I could use the help.
Love from,
Hermione
She attached the letter to Pigwidgeon's leg and the owl flew away.
A few minutes later, Hermione heard a pop. Startled, she turned around and saw Ginny standing in front of her, her long red hair flowing over her school robes, her arms crossed in front of her.
"Hermione, where is my book?" Ginny demanded.
"Well hello to you too, don't I get a hug?" Hermione said sarcastically, in no mood for Ginny's bratty behavior.
"I want my book," she repeated.
"What book is that?" Hermione played innocent.
"Don't play dumb, you sound just like Ron. It's the one you found in my room the last time we spoke." Ginny said. "I know you have it, so stop playing games."
"Why would I have your book?" Hermione asked. "I have plenty of books here to keep me occupied."
"You want my book because you don't want me to use any magic on Harry…. or perhaps you want it for yourself? Got your eyes on someone now that you and Ron are done?"
"Ginny, I would never try to trick anyone into falling for me…. that apparently is your arena."
"I told you that I haven't used the book!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Maybe not technically," Hermione replied. "I assume you had some help, then? Someone who made the potion for you who has some experience, perhaps the very person who gave you the book?"
Ginny then turned a darker shade of red. "So you think Mum helped me?"
"It's just a theory, but yes, Ginny I do. I think you were too scared to make the potion yourself so you asked your mother for help. Seeing as she wants Harry to carry on your bloodline so badly, she was eager to help."
Ginny sighed, softening her tone. "Hermione, I need the book back please."
Was that an admission of guilt?
"What do you need it for?"
"None of your business," Ginny snapped.
"Ginny, please tell me, perhaps I could help you. Let's be friends instead of enemies. We used to be like sisters."
"But that's before you ruined everything! You were going to marry Ron and help strengthen the bloodline. And now with you gone, Mum says I can't marry another pureblood - I have to marry someone with Muggle blood!
"And it has to be Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Well, it doesn't have to be Harry…but I love him. He's strong and brave and amazing. And he's so cute, isn't he?" Ginny sighed.
Hermione had to agree with Ginny there. "I guess so," she said.
"And I have to save him…" Ginny admitted.
"How?" Hermione asked, knowing the answer.
"Ron told me that Harry's scar is a horcrux. I can help him get rid of it if he falls in love with me."
"You think you need the book to make sure Harry falls in love with you?"
"Yes." Ginny said desperately. "I'm afraid that while we're apart he's going to forget all about me, and fall in love with someone else."
"Who would Harry fall in love with?" Hermione asked.
"You."
It was Hermione's turn to be crimson. "Oh Ginny, no. Harry and I are just…"
"Friends?" Ginny finished, looking skeptical. "Oh please. Harry's had a thing for you for ages. All he ever talked about was Hermione did this and Hermione said that. Even when we were together last year, your name always seemed to crop up in conversation."
So Harry couldn't seem to stop talking about you, eh?
Ginny went on. "Oh, and on the night you and Ron broke up, I was watching you and Harry through the window when you were upset. I saw the way he held you and comforted you. Even though we spent a lot of time being, um, physical, I don't remember him holding me that way."
"What way?"
"Like he didn't want to let you go." Ginny finished.
Could it be true?
"But I'm pretty sure Harry would never acknowledge this. I even asked him about it - why he talked about you so much and he said that it was because you were one of his best friends. He told me he doesn't fancy you."
"But then again, wasn't he under the influence of your potion, Ginny? He wouldn't admit to being attracted to someone else, would he?" Hermione pointed out.
How clever of you Granger, let's see if she falls for it.
"I guess he wouldn't." Ginny admitted. "But I still maintain that Harry isn't aware of the extent of his feelings and as long as that's the case, I can still save him. I want him Hermione, and I'm not going to back down…now, where is that book?"
Hermione debated whether or not it was time to give back the book. Ginny might have to learn the truth about Harry's scar the hard way. On the other hand, what if this led to Harry being in danger? Hermione wanted to protect Harry at all costs.
"Ginny, I'm not giving you back the book. You'll put Harry in danger." Hermione said, crossing her arms.
"I wouldn't do anything to hurt Harry. And that book is mine. You stole it!"
"It's for your own good. Ginny, if you don't go back to Hogwarts right now, I will owl Professor McGonagall and tell them you've been apparating in and out of Hogwarts, which as you know is against school rules."
"You wouldn't dare -- what gives you the right - you're not a prefect anymore or even Head Girl!" Ginny spat.
"Try me. Professor McGonagall trusts me." Hermione said in her best authoritative, know-it-all tone.
"Fine!" Ginny said defiantly. "But I will find a way to get my book back. And I'm warning you, if you ever steal anything of mine again Hermione Granger, I'm going to unleash my bat bogey hex on you!"
And with that, Ginny was gone.