Chapter 11: Magical Theory
Harry was sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace in the small common room he and Hermione shared. Normally he would have been in the main Gryffindor common room enjoying the early evening with his friends playing wizard's chess, exploding snap or setting off some of Fred's and George's more tame creations. Ever since he, Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus had made up they seemed to have been a bit more exuberant in their carrying on than before. Hermione and the girls had likewise been sticking closer together. Several times he'd come up to the heads dorm to find them sitting around the fire pouring over magazines, doing each other's hair and giggling.
However, tonight had been devoted to their schoolwork. Everyone was off working on something. Ron, and Ginny were downstairs in the main common room, Neville was in the greenhouses helping Dean and Seamus with some extra Herbology, Lavender and Pavrati were working on some advanced Divination with Professor Trelawney, Hermione was doing some research in the library for Arithmancy and Harry was shut up in the heads dorm catching up on his reading for History of Magic, Transfiguration, Charms and Magical Theory. Between the extra Quidditch practices (there was a match against Slytherin the coming Saturday) and his extra Dark Arts Defense sessions Harry had fallen behind in the required reading and was therefore struggling with some of the concepts. He was presently reviewing a passage in his Magical Theory text that made absolutely no sense. He read the words again to ensure that his eyes were not playing tricks on him.
Strictly speaking there is nothing magical about magic. We tend to think of magic as something that is mystical, unexplainable and completely spontaneous. In all actuality magic is none of these things. If magic were as we imagine it to be it would not be possible to reduce it to a series of words on a page, or a collection of steps to be followed or ingredients to be measured. No if magic were indeed magical it would not nor could it be concentrated in any form that was teachable. The fact that magic can be and is learned from a book is proof that it is just another component of science. Magic is merely another force that can influence the matter and energy around it but it is still governed by said laws of matter and energy, as is everything else. And while it is true that one must possess a certain aptitude to fully grasp and understand how magic works and to perform it admirably the same could be said of some other less mystifying muggle vocations such as muggle medicine and muggle building. And while neither of those is anywhere near as fanciful to imagine as magic I dare say you would not want to run the risk of having a muggle builder attempting to heal you or a muggle healer constructing your home.
Harry stared at the words on the page staring back at him. According to this passage Magic wasn't really magic it was science and that just didn't make any sense at all. Of course magic was real! If it wasn't how did the idiot who authored the text explain that the subject of his book, Magical Theory, was being taught to a bunch of underage witches and wizards at a school for witchcraft and wizardry. Where was Hermione when he needed her? No doubt she'd be able to set him straight about the meaning of the words he'd just read. Harry was jolted from his thoughts by the opening of the portrait hole; Ron's head emerged around the opening.
"Budge up mate…we need a hand in the loo…seems the Creevey Brothers got themselves hexed into a toilet by three members of the Slytherin Quidditch team…if we can catch them we may be able to get them suspended for Saturday's game!"
Harry hopped off the couch and pelted after Ron all thoughts of schoolwork momentarily forgotten.
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Hermione was wending her way down the main corridor from the library towards Gryffindor Tower. She had just checked out about a dozen or so books for the Arithmancy project she was working on. She was levitating the stack ahead of her as she finished reading the chapter she'd began reading back in the library before Madam Pince shut down for the evening. Hermione was so absorbed in her reading that she paid no attention to the person coming down the intersecting corridor and was very unpleasantly surprised when she trod on someone's foot and looking up to apologize came face to face with Parker Wesley. She hadn't seen him since that fiasco in the Room of Requirement two weeks prior. Parker stared down at the book in Hermione's hand and drawled haughtily.
"Researching the magical principles and properties of the number seven, I see."
Hermione snapped her book shut and continued on past Parker making sure to trod brutally on his foot before brushing past him. The string of expletives Parker sung out brought a smile to Hermione's face. However, her joy was short-lived as she soon caught the sound of hastily shuffling feet coming behind her.
"Hermione…hang on just one minute…obviously you're still a bit upset about that little stunt I pulled but you can't honestly tell me that you're not glad that I told you the truth."
Hermione whirled around a furious glare in her eyes.
"And exactly what truth was that Parker?"
"Why the truth about your relationship with Potter of course. If it hadn't have been for me you would still be walking around deluding yourself by thinking that Potter was snogging you of his own accord and not because of that potion your so called friends fed you. I would have thought you'd be grateful."
Hermione stared at him incredulously.
"Grateful…you thought I'd be grateful!"
Parker nodded his arrogant blond head.
"I mean I wasn't expecting you to throw yourself into my arms and snog me senseless but a thank you would have been more than appropriate."
"And why would I thank you for ruining my life?"
"Ruining your life…how can you say that? All right I'm sure finding out that Potter's feeling were less than genuine was a nasty shock but I thought it was appalling what your friends were doing to you! What I did I did out of sincere concern for you!"
"Oh bollocks!! What you did had nothing to do with concern for me…it was just you being vile and loathsome. You couldn't stand the fact that I wanted nothing to do with you! The idea that I wasn't fawning all over you like the rest of the twits in this castle drove you mad, and the fact that Harry's better than you in every way in my eyes made you lash out and try to hurt us both. No none of this was about concern for me or my feelings it was all about your ego!!"
Parker's face contorted in an ugly sneer as he drew himself up to his full height and spat at her.
"You're so pathetic pining over Potter when he could care less! It took a bloody love potion to get him to notice you…and even then all it took was a second to get him snogging someone else! You should be happy someone like me even gave you a second glance…at least I was freely willing to work that sweet little body of yours over without coercion!!"
Hermione whipped out her wand and blasted Parker with the strongest hex she knew before she'd had time to think what she was doing. The stack of books she'd been levitating thudded to the floor. Hot salty tears leaked from Hermione's eyes as the reality of Parker's vicious words hit her. The only reason Harry had been with her was because of the potion and as soon as the affects of it had worn off he'd carried on as if nothing had ever happened. Hermione's wand clattered to the floor as she covered her face and sobbed.
Pavrati and Lavender turned the corner chatting animatedly about their private Divination lesson with Professor Trelawney and were quite shocked to hear someone crying. They were even more shocked when they found Hermione standing in the middle of the hallway crying, her wand at her feet, a dozen library books scattered about the floor around her and Parker Wesley lying at the end of the corridor covered in tentacles and slime. Without pausing the two girls rushed over to Hermione and standing on either side of her asked.
"Hermione what happened?"
"What did Parker do?"
"Herms why are you crying?"
"Tell us we want to help!"
Hermione shook her head profusely muttering incoherently as she shrugged away from Pavrati and Lavender and sprinted off down the corridor and around the corner.
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Ron was holding court in the Gryffindor common room recounting the tale of the Creevey Brothers being wedged in the toilet by the Slytherin chasers.
"So were running down through the dungeons…dead on the heels of those berks. Harry reckoned it'd be easier to catch `em if we split up so he took a shortcut and I kept on the way they'd gone. Just as I caught them up and got within hexing range Harry comes barreling out of this side passageway and BANG…they never knew what hit `em!! We told Filch we found them that way…didn't know what happened…and couldn't get `em down. He ran off to get Snape and we did a little oblivaration charm! By the time Snape sorts them out the Quidditch match'll be over and they can't even say who hexed `em. It was bloody brilliant…I mean you should've seen `em floating in the air upside down…robes hanging over their heads…warts, boils and hair sprouting all over… trousers down around their feet…pants out for all the world to see…"
The Gryffindors hooted and whooped with laughter at Ron's imitation of the Slytherins expressions as they revolved in mid-air, when suddenly the portrait hole burst open and Lavender and Pavrati came running in. They skidded to a halt in front of Ron and Harry. It was obvious from the look of them that something was wrong…they'd clearly run all the way to the common room, their faces were flushed and their breathing was erratic. They were panting and clutching at stitches in their sides. What was more they were both carrying an armload of books. Harry wondered if the Slytherins were already trying to retaliate when Lavender gasped out.
"Ron…Harry…come…quick…have…to…find…Her…Her…mione!!"
Ron grabbed Lavender by the shoulders and steered her towards one of the over stuffed armchairs closest to the table and said.
"Lav…sweetie calm down…take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong!"
Lavender inhaled and exhaled hugely then said.
"We found Hermione…crying in the corridor…"
Lavender took a deep breath and Pavrati picked up the story.
"Parker was a ways away covered in hex marks…we asked what was wrong…but she just ran off…"
When Pavrati gave out of breath Lavender resumed speaking.
"We went after her but she'd disappeared…so we grabbed her stuff and got here to fetch you as fast as we could!"
Lavender paused and Pavrati finished off.
"She dropped her wand."
Pavrati handed the wand to Harry. As he gripped it tightly in his fist his knuckles whitened. Ron stood up and said.
"We best go find her…she's out there without a wand with Wesley after her…and the Slytherins would just love to get their hands on her after what's happened. Reckon we need the map Harry? Harry!"
Ron stared around at Harry for an answer but was treated to the sight of his best mate running across the tabletops and a few fifth years' heads as he hurtled himself through the portrait hole. Ron mumbled, "Guess not" and took off after him.
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Hermione sat under the Beech tree near the lake trembling as tears streamed down her face. Whether it was her anguish or the evening chill that was wracking her body she neither knew nor cared. As she sat utterly woebegone she at last admitted to herself what she had been denying for years…she had feelings for Harry…very strong, very deep feelings. She laughed mirthlessly as she thought that that had to be the greatest understatement of all times. How could she have been so stupid as to believe that Harry had truly wanted to be with her? If he had really wanted to be with her he could have and would have done long before now. She'd believed it because she'd wanted to of course. Parker was right, she was pathetic.
She'd wanted Harry so desperately for so long that she was willing to overlook the obvious signs that his feelings and behavior were not customary just to have a piece of him. All those times she'd scoffed at the girls who threw themselves at Harry, taking the slightest nicety on his part as proof that he fancied them and here she was the worst of them all, sleeping with him when all the time she knew deep down that something wasn't right! She buried her face in her hands and wept even harder. She knew something had been wrong when they got together…it had been too easy…too perfect. But having wanted to be with him for so long she chose to take what was being offered her rather than question it. But Harry didn't see her that way…he never had and not even a potion could make him want her permanently. Sighing dejectedly she buried her face in her hands again and let her grief overtake her.
How Harry knew that Hermione would be by the lake he wasn't sure but as soon as Lavender and Pavrati had told the story of how they'd found her and she'd run off he'd instantly known where to look. As he drew near Harry unfastened his robes and slipped them off his shoulders. It was bitterly cold out tonight and he knew she had to be freezing with only her robes for warmth. Carefully he draped them around her shaking shoulders as he knelt beside her and asked.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
At the sound of Harry's voice Hermione looked up and burst into a fresh torrent of gut wrenching sobs. Harry quickly dropped down beside her fully. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her slender sobbing frame to his chest. He hauled her into his lap and leaned his back against the tree. He stroked her hair with one hand as he whispered soothing words in her ear and stroked her arm reassuringly with his other hand.
"What's wrong love? If that shite Parker laid a hand to you again I swear nothing'll stop me from killing him this time!"
Hermione sat up erect in Harry's arms and took in the angry glower covering his face and asked in a small voice.
"What does it matter what Parker did?"
Harry's grimace turned to a frown as he answered.
"What does it matter? It matters because its you Hermione. If he's done more harm to you by Merlin he'll answer to me!"
"I hexed him just fine by myself…there's no need for you to worry yourself."
Harry eyed her strangely.
"I'll decide who and what I worry over thanks. And right now I'm worried about you…its not like you to cry unless something is really wrong. Lavender and Pavrati told us that Parker had done something to set you off kilter…would you please tell me what he did?"
Hermione dashed away the tears glistening on her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"Parker didn't do anything to upset me."
Harry snorted contemptuously.
"Oh you're out here in the freezing cold crying for no reason then!"
Hermione sniffed. Harry cupped her face in his hands and spoke softly.
"If you won't tell me I'll look for myself."
At the threat of the use of Legilimency Hermione replied.
"Harry…don't."
"Then tell me."
Hermione took a deep breath.
"I bumped into him on my way from the library and he started going on about how he did what he did out of concern for me. I called him a liar and told him that he did it out of jealousy and then he…he said that I should be glad that someone like him really wanted me…be…be…because you never would without someone feeding you a damn love potion!"
Hermione had turned her head as far away from Harry as she could as she spoke. He only had a view of her profile but he saw the fresh tears as they tumbled down her cheeks and splashed on the front of his robes. They sat that way for a moment…Hermione staring out at the still, motionless lake crying…Harry watching her face intently trying to suss out exactly why the tears were there. He replayed her words in his mind and then suddenly, out of the blue he caught on. He reached up and gently touched her cheek. She allowed him to direct her gaze back to his own. Harry softly wiped away the tears glistening in her eyes and on her cheeks as he whispered.
"You're upset because you think the only thing that could ever make me want you is a potion."
Hermione smiled and choked back a sob.
"Pretty dumb, eh…getting upset with your best mate because he doesn't see you as just a pretty face."
Harry rubbed the pads of his thumbs across her cheeks.
"Do you want me to see you as a pretty face?"
Hermione blinked and chewed her bottom lip as she asked.
"When you look at me do you see a pretty face?"
Harry shook his head and replied.
"No I don't…"
Hermione averted her eyes but couldn't turn her head as Harry's hands were firmly holding it in place. He studied her face intently during his pause then said in a fierce whisper.
"I don't see a pretty face at all…I see the most beautiful face in the world."
Hermione's eyes flew back up and locked with Harry's for an instant before he captured her mouth with his own and kissed her passionately. His hands snaked up into her hair and he held her there as his tongue caressed hers and tasted every corner of her mouth. Hermione moaned as she allowed her body to melt into Harry's. She threw her arms around Harry's neck fervently returning his kisses, knowing she shouldn't but enjoying the feel of being in his arms again nonetheless.
Ron stopped dead in his tracks as he progressed across the lawn. He'd been trying to catch up to Harry and make sure that Hermione was all right…judging from the scene before him…he'd say she was about as good as one could get. Not wanting to interrupt the moment Ron quickly turned on his heel and legged it back to Gryffindor Tower.
When Harry could no longer ignore his brain's plea for oxygen he reluctantly pulled his lips away from Hermione's. Merlin how he missed kissing her and touching her. He licked his lips, she tasted as good as she ever had. Harry leaned in and nuzzled her neck, reacquainting himself with her divine fragrance; he was about to kiss Hermione a second time when she abruptly jumped up and scrambled off his lap as if someone had dropped a pot of boiling water on her. She was mumbling inarticulately and backing away from him, her eyes wide and disbelieving. He distinctly heard her murmur the words "Not again". Harry rose to his feet as she flung off his robes and threw them at him before she turned and flew off full tilt towards the castle.
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Harry was roused from sleep by the sound of the portrait hole banging open. Startled he sat up on the couch and ran his hands over his face as he hopefully called out.
"Hermione?"
The voice that replied was not hers.
"No such luck mate."
Harry blinked and focused his eyes intently. Ron had just lumbered through the portrait hole already dressed for classes a sly grin on his face. Harry swung his stiff legs off the couch onto the floor and tiredly massaged the crick in the back of his neck. Ron glared at Harry his grin sliding off his face and said.
"You look a fright."
Harry replied tersely.
"Yeah, well you try sleeping on this damn couch all night and see how you look."
Ron scratched his chin.
"Why were you sleeping on the couch?"
Harry stood up and stretched.
"Well obviously I was waiting for Hermione wasn't I?"
Ron frowned as he asked.
"She didn't come back with you from the lake last night?"
Harry gave Ron a sideways glance. They hadn't seen or spoken to each other since Lavender and Pavrati had burst into the common room the night before and told them about Hermione. For Ron to know that he and Hermione had been at the lake he'd have had to see them. And if Ron had seen them wouldn't he have said something? Surely he'd been worried about her as well. The only reason Harry could think of that Ron could've seen them and not called out to them would have been if he'd seen them kissing. Harry's expression darkened. Choosing to ignore Ron's query he asked.
"What time is it?"
Ron glanced down at his watch and answered.
"Seven thirty…I was about to head down to breakfast, I didn't see you downstairs so I came up to see where you were."
Harry nodded.
"I'm gonna get a shower and I'll catch up to you before classes start."
He turned and walked down the hall and disappeared into his bedroom. Ron stared after him for a moment before heading back downstairs in search of Lavender; he suspected he was going to need her expertise to sort this one out.
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Harry emerged from his bedroom twenty minutes later freshly showered and dressed. He walked into the common room of the heads dorm and found Hermione standing in the middle of the floor packing her schoolbag. A wave of relief washed over him at the sight of her; he'd been worried that something had happened to her when she never made it back to the common room. However, his relief was quickly followed by an equally powerful surge of anger at her for causing him to sit up half the night in worry. Therefore his voice was low and harder than normal as he said.
"Where've you been all night?"
Hermione reeled around in surprise.
"Harry…I thought you…you'd gone to breakfast with Ron."
Harry shook his head.
"I begged off."
Hermione nodded absently and turned back to the task of packing her bag. Harry repeated his question.
"Where were you last night? I searched the castle looking for you after you ran off and I took a kip on the couch waiting for you to come in. I was worried."
Hermione took a deep breath and replied.
"You needn't have troubled yourself…I'm fine as you can see. I just didn't think it was a good idea for us to share such close quarters so I slept downstairs in my old dorm room with Pavrati and Lavender."
Harry clinched his jaw tightly and ran his fingers through his mop of untidy curls.
"You stayed away because we kissed down by the lake."
It was a statement of fact, not a question. Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Harry I'm sorry…I…"
Harry cut in.
"What have you got to be sorry about?"
Hermione quickly responded.
"I shouldn't have…last night I was upset…"
Again Harry interjected.
"You think the kiss was a mistake…you think it was like before?"
"We agreed not to talk about that!"
"All right we won't talk about before…we'll talk about last night."
Harry strode across the room and turned Hermione around to face him.
"Last night you asked me if I wanted you and I think I satisfactorily answered your question, then you ran away from me…why?"
Hermione looked up at him an unbelieving look on her face.
"Why…why…after everything that's happened you have to ask why! The mere fact that you don't know…that you can't see it…tells me I was right to leave!"
"What's wrong with you? I thought you'd be all right about the kiss!"
"Why did you kiss me Harry?!"
Harry made a confused sound that was a cross between a groan and a chuckle.
"I kissed you because I've been dying to for the past two weeks! I miss being with you…touching you…kissing you…hearing you moan my name…"
Harry broke off and pulled Hermione snugly into his arms. She could feel the familiar heat emanating from his body. Closing her eyes she asked.
"You miss the physicality of us…our being together… making love?"
Harry nodded and replied in a raspy whisper.
"Yes."
Hermione pulled away from Harry and said.
"You miss my body…but not me…Parker was right…the potion gave me you but only on the basest level! I want more from you than a good shag Harry! I want all of you…and I want you to want all of me!!"
She snatched up her bag and stalked to the portrait hole. Grasping the handle she wrenched it open and flew through the opening in a swirl of robes.
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As Harry slid into the seat next to Ron at the start of Magical Theory Ron immediately knew something was wrong. His face was covered in a scowl and he kept shooting furtive glances along the table to where Hermione was sitting. Hermione was staring resolutely ahead at the blackboard awaiting Professor Thompkins to start classes. Ron turned back to Harry and throwing his head in Hermione's direction asked.
"You two have a row?"
Harry grunted in response. Before Ron could ask what the pair had been rowing about Professor Thompkins called the class to order.
"All right you lot settle down. Before we begin are there any questions about last night's readings?"
Ron was nearly bowled over out of his seat as Harry raised his hand. Magical Theory was one of those classes that you never paid attention in. It was a lot like History of Magic that way. Ron and Harry simply showed up and copied Hermione's notes before the tests. They never really paid attention much less asked questions. The rest of the class was as shocked as Ron, half of them were staring at Harry as he said.
"Yeah Professor…I've got a question."
Professor Thompkins turned and smiled at Harry and said.
"Yes Harry…what is your question?"
Harry pointed to his text and replied.
"This Anderson bloke doesn't make any sense. I mean he's a wizard and he thinks magic isn't real. He goes on and on about how magic isn't magic…what's he playing at…how can he be a wizard and not believe in magic?"
Harry finished and stared at Professor Thompkins, several of their other classmates were nodding and mumbling in agreement with Harry's assessment of the author of their text. Professor Thompkins smiled and said.
"It's not that Mr. Anderson doesn't believe in magic Harry he simply has a more practical view of how it works."
Harry quirked an eyebrow and asked.
"How so?"
Professor Thompkins stared around the room and asked.
"Does anyone understand Anderson's explaination of Magical Theory and want to take a stab at elucidating Harry and the others who are a bit confused?"
As Professor Thompkins continued to look around the room Hermione slowly raised her hand into the air. Professor Thompkins smiled brightly and said.
"All right then Hermione, have a go at it."
Hermione took a deep breath and turned her gaze to Harry and began speaking.
"Anderson isn't saying that magic doesn't exist, he's simply saying that like everything else in the world magic has to obey all the same laws of science…its just another force that can be manipulated to suit the situation or the circumstances."
Hermione paused briefly and looked to Professor Thompkins who nodded for her to continue.
"If you look at magic from a logical more objective position as Anderson obviously has you'll see that magic truly isn't magic in the sense of it being something spontaneous. Nothing is created out of nothing…the conservation of mass and energy rules apply the same in the wizarding world as they do in the muggle world. Any spell or enchantment we do only works for a set amount of time…Leprechaun gold and other magically conjured objects disappear after a time and potions eventually wear off. Magic isn't spontaneous it just conforms to fit the constraints of the situation in which it was used."
Hermione finished her explaination and averted her eyes from Harry back to Professor Thompkins who was positively beaming as she said.
"Very good Hermione!"
Harry spoke up again.
"So he isn't saying magic isn't real just that our perception of what magic is isn't real."
Professor Thompkins nodded.
"Exactly Harry! The abilities that we all posses, our magical abilities are much like any other gift or talent. Its rather like your natural acumen for Quidditch as opposed to someone else's natural skills in Potion making or Herbology, its not that you can't do those things its just that you have to work at them harder than some others may have to."
Harry nodded his head as he considered the information that had just been imparted to him then a cunning look stole over his countenance as he asked.
"Professor I understand how Anderson's theory works in regards to spells and enchantments but how would his theory on magic apply to say a potion?"
Hermione who had been writing something in her notes looked up at Harry in astonishment. Professor Thompkins turned back to Harry and asked.
"What do you mean Harry?"
"Well potions employ a whole lot of different ingredients to create a specific effect don't they? According to Anderson the effect you get depends on the circumstances so how can one potion affect any two people the same? It seems like potions would make Anderson's theory a load of rubbish."
Professor Thompkins answered.
"Ordinarily that would be true but the magical properties of plants and the like are set so that they produce the same reaction in any person so long as the individual who prepared the potion is a competent potion maker."
"So you're saying so long as it was made properly the potion would have the effect it was intended to have no matter what."
Before Professor Thompkins could answer Hermione interjected.
"That would be true if the basic composition of the potion hadn't been tampered with. Otherwise you'd be dealing with an unknown substance that would undoubtedly have effects not anticipated."
Harry looked to Hermione and shot back quickly.
"But if the added substance created the effect that was desired within its context within the potion then said potion would still conform to the rules by which it was made thus serving the purpose it was meant to serve."
Hermione replied heatedly.
"Precisely, the added ingredient caused the same behavior in one person in regards to two entirely different subjects the potion did exactly what it was supposed to do."
Harry jumped out of his seat and yelled.
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU!!!"
Hermione jumped to her feet as well and fired back.
"IF YOU'D BEEN ACTING ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN A JUMPED UP POTION YOU'D HAVE KNOWN THE DIFFERENCE!!!"
"I KNEW THE DIFFERENCE LAST NIGHT!!"
"OH, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE IMPRESSED BECAUSE YOU GET RANDY ANYTIME YOU SEE A SOBBING FEMALE!!!"
The room issued a collective gasp and Professor Thompkins stormed over to the table where Harry and Hermione stood raging and glaring daggers at one another. Red faced and waging her finger Professor Thompkins told both Harry and Hermione to pack their things and head straight to Professor McGonagall's office. Ron watched as the pair collected their belongings and flounced out the door with Professor Thompkins. As the door closed after them he turned to Lavender and asked.
"Any idea how to sort this one out luv?"
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