Disclaimer:
Me: I don't own Harry Potter!
Harry Potter: Y..yo..You don't?
Me: Sorry Harry, but I don't.
Hermione: So this means Harry and I aren't together?
Me: *nods head yes*
Harry and Hermione: *cries*
Ron: So is there a chance of me and Hermione getting together in the real books!?
Me: Don't get too happy Ron! I can still kill you off in my story! AND WIPE THAT GRIN OFF YOUR FACE!
Josh: *pops in and laughs at Ron* I've been telling you to kill off Ron for months and you just think of it now!!!!....................YAY No more Ron!!!!
Me: Still not happening so stop singing
Josh: *Pouts and walks way mumbling about killing Ron off himself*
Recap:
In a few minutes they will find out the truth about the heir.
Chapter 15: Well….She Had Part of It
Harry was sitting with Hermione waiting on Ron. He first assumed it'll be a 2 or 3 minutes wait. How long can it take to get a hair hidden under the pillow? It had been 10 minutes and Ron had not shown up yet. That's when a thought struck him. OH no Ron. What if he lost it!
"Hermione, I better go and check on Ron. He's been up there 10 minutes and I'm worried that he may need help"
Hermione looked at how nervous Harry looked and said "Ok but hurry back we really need to be there in 5 minutes!"
Harry nodded and dashed up the stairs to the boys dorms. He saw Ron sitting on his bed looking panicked!
"Ron!"
"Erm, hi Harry"
"Don't you 'hi Harry me' I know something happened. What is it?"
"Well you remember how I hid the hair under my pillow in a tube?" Harry nodded yes and urged Ron to continue. "Well Crabbe's hair was in the tube but it must have fell and broke."
"What do you mean it must have fell and broke! Did the tube break or not!?"
"Yeah Harry! What the bloody hell did you think I was implying! I should be more nervous than you anyway! There were a lot of scary things under my bed, but only 3 hairs around that length! One was obviously mine! You know, when I went gruff look!" Harry rolled his eyes at Ron, "But I know it's mine because it's red. But the other two are black and the same length! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"
"Come on Ron! This was supposed to be the easy part! We already had the hairs. All we had to do was take them to the potion!"
"Don't blame me! Look Neville is waking up. Let's go ask Hermione"
Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and followed Ron out of the room.
When they got downstairs Hermione rushed over. She grabbed Harry's cloak and threw it over them and shuffled them along to the girl's restroom.
When they arrived Myrtle laughed and said, "Hi Harry bear! Come to see me again. Oh you pulled your friends with you. You don't love ME!?" The eccentric ghost cried and flew to her favorite stall while Hermione poured three goblets filled with the polyjuice potion.
"Okay the potion is ready and I sent the notes after the duel! They are going to meet us in the 3rd floor cupboard. In 15 minutes! All we need to do is put the hairs in and it'll be ready for drinking" Hermione put the hair in her goblet and it bubbled and it bubbled and emitted a foul smell. Her stomach lurched at the thought of drinking it but she knew it had to be done. She put the potion to her lips and noticed that the boys were still looking at her. "What?"
Harry looked at Ron and then back at his potion. He put Goyle's hair in it and he had a similar reaction to Hermione.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron. "What are you waiting for? Put Crabbe's hair in and drink"
"Erm. You see. What happened was…erm…I may have put it under my pillow and it may have broken and I may have two hairs that could be Goyle's"
"What do you mean you may!?"
"What? Now you too? Harry didn't get it and now the smart one doesn-"
"I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT RON! How could you mess up!?" Harry snickered. "Don't you dare laugh!" his smile dropped.
"Look it's no big deal! I'll pick the one that I think is Goyle's!" Ron looked at the hairs and examined them and dropped one into his potion.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "If you turn into a rat don't blame me." She looked down at the foul potion and said "Bottoms up!"
The three friends hurriedly downed their potions hoping to get it over with faster. They all took a brief look at one another and covered their mouths on their run to the stalls.
Harry wanted to let out a yell of panic. He never thought it'll feel like this. He could literally feel his structure start to change. It wasn't painful, but it did feel odd. Vision clearing, growing several inches, gaining a bit of weight, it was all just odd. Luckily, it ended before his fear took over.
Well, that wasn't that hard! It only scared me senseless for five seconds!
He heard a stall burst open and he heard Hermione's voice "Harry? Are you okay? What about you Ron?"
Harry stepped out if the stall to see Pansy looking at him with care. It was almost scary. Every time he saw Pansy she was glaring at him over Malfoy's shoulder. But this Pansy had Hermione's expressions written all over her face. Then Ron walked out of his stall.
Harry looked up at Ron in shock and Hermione glared at him. "Ugh. Here I was laying it into Ron about doing badly with the potion and you messed up Harry! How did you do this!? I didn't even think it was possible."
Harry tapped her shoulder and she looked back at Goyle standing there with as much confusion as her. "Hermione, I'm Harry" Hermione's mouth formed a small O and she turned back to Ron to see Harry standing there.
Ron looked nervous and said "Surprise?"
Hermione looked furious. "You turned into HARRY! Ron the plan is ruined! What will we do!?"
"You and Harry can go on with the plan and say that Crabbe got sick from too many muffins or something. I'll go back to the common room and lay low."
Hermione looked skeptical, but agreed. "Come on Harry we have to go and meet Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle to still go on with the plans."
Harry looked over at Ron and threw him his glasses, "You'll need those mate"
"Man Harry! You're as blind as mum's blind brother Uncle Lester!"
Harry laughed and ran after Hermione.
They arrived outside the cupboard and Hermione leaned her ear against it and heard the other three teens muttering.
"Pansy, I thought you said he would be here!"
"He did Goyle! He wrote me a letter saying for us to meet him here and don't bring wands. He probably wants to feel superior again. You know we aren't allowed to have our wands out in his presence unless he okay's it! Since the meeting is secret he doesn't want us to have it!"
Crabbe spoke up, "He said all that in the note?"
"NO! But you can assume that's why we weren't supposed to bring the wands! ...Unless it's a trap!" Pansy reached for the handle to discover it had been locked.
Hermione muttered "silencio" and no one could hear the banging on the door. She smiled and pulled Harry along to the Slytherin dorms.
~~~OUTSIDE THE SLYTHERIN ENTRANCE PORTRAIT ~~~
(I'll refer to Harry and Hermione as Goyle and Pansy )
"OH NO! We don't know the password!" Pansy was frantic as they paced in front of the portrait of a slick haired man who resembled Snape in his younger years.
"Umm…Pure-blood!"
The portrait looked at Goyle and said; "Well we know you're a pure-blood, but what's the password" When Goyle looked at the portrait like he didn't know what to say, the portrait spoke up, "Well this won't be the first time you forgot! I'll let you in again but only because I don't want Draco setting my painting on fire again! Now ENTER"
They walked into the green and silver common room that eerily reminded them of being in the cold dungeons
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN GOYLE! You are late! And why is Pansy with you!"
"Oh I was umm just-"
"Figures you can't form a sentence! Sit down and make sure I can't see your wands!"
Goyle took a seat at the table with their names labeled. They label their seats!? What's that about?
Draco took his seat across from Goyle, and motioned for Pansy to sit besides him.
"Now! Where is Crabbe?"
"He said something about too many puffin' muffin' cakes. I assume he's in the toilet letting it all out."
Draco smirked and said, "I always liked when you help me with these buffoons! Good work this time babe!" And he threw his arm around Pansy.
He has his arm around my girl. I'd crack his wand across his head if I weren't in this body!
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SCOWLING AT!?" Malfoy jumped up and pointed his wand that Goyle's face.
"I was scowling at-"
"THE fact that Crabbe is somewhere on the toilet. Don't let this idiot get to you Draco"
Draco looked at Pansy and smirked. "Well that is a rather foul thing to imagine. Just watch how you scowl!"
Goyle nodded He doesn't even give his own friends respect! This is all up to Hermione then.
As if on cue, Pansy spoke up, "So Draco, what are your plans for the winter holiday?"
"My father and my mother will be away, but I still have other family coming over…and you of course."
"I'm staying with you for the break?"
"Are you feeling well? You and your parents come over every holiday. We're betrothed! We won't be married for another eight years or so. And our parents agreed that I can date other people until then."
"I'm sorry Draco. I can't believe I asked that stupid question"
"You're forgiven then" Pansy gave a pleading looked to Goyle. It was obvious that she couldn't ask about family, since she must have known his family from all the visits.
Goyle looked a bit upset but he went along anyway. "What about uncle Tom? Will he be there?"
"Uncle Tom? Are you using a muggle saying around me!?"
"N…no. I was just asking about your uncle whose name is Tom"
"Greg you should know by now that I have no uncle named Tom! You're at every gathering too!"
"Oh sorry Draco"
Draco stood up and paced around the common room. He looked upset.
I hope we don't have to run for it! He may be catching on
"Pansy! Greg! We've got to do something about Potter! I can't believe he beat me in that duel. The thing is he spoke Parseltongue!"
"What's the big deal about that?" Harry was having a hard time trying to dumb it down as Goyle.
"The big deal is the last heir of Slytherin was a parslemouth! My dad told me all about it, but he's never been able to track down the heir. The rumors say that Potter is the heir, but I'm starting to believe that they aren't just rumors."
"Why would your dad want to get the heir?" Hermione's inquisitive side was starting to show a bit too much.
Draco frowned at her and said, "If we can manipulate the heir we'll have him under our control. If it's really Potter, then we'll have troubles. The old bumbling fool keeps him under watch and we can't get to him"
Goyle looked over to Pansy to see shock written all over her face.
I have to get her out of here now! She's not being like Pansy at all! Draco isn't that dumb.
The truth was, Hermione really tried to keep her scowl, but everything she thought about the heir just completely fell apart. She couldn't hide the shock and disappointment written on Pansy's face.
Goyle stood up. "I better go fetch Crabbe. He's taking a long time."
"Since when did you learn to tell time!?" Draco honestly looked shocked, but he relented and told Goyle to go on and fetch Crabbe.
Pansy stood too, "I'll go help this idiot get him Draco. He got lost on his way back the last time."
Malfoy nodded and absentmindedly flicked his wand and the door flew open.
~~~Gryffindore Common Room~~~
They rushed into the common room, after saying the passwords. Harry saw himself sitting by the fire and noted that the rest of the room was empty. He took his invisibility cloak and rushed over to Ron.
But he stopped short when he saw the look on his face. Ron looked afraid. When he noticed his friends he tried to look his best, but failed miserably.
Harry was going to speak up but he noticed he was shrinking. He looked at his hands and noticed they were bubbling the same way they did when he changed in the first place.
I must be changing back to normal. His vision blurred. Yep I'm back!
Ron handed him his glasses back, and they took a seat next to their friend.
"Ron, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Hermione had no idea what was bothering Ron but she's never seen him that afraid before.
Ron had been looking at his hands the whole time, nervously wringing them and fumbling with them. "First I want to know what happened with you guys. Was it really Malfoy?" He almost sounded desperate. Like he hoped Malfoy was the heir.
Hermione hung her head. "No Ron. I was wrong about the heir. I feel so bad. I let you guys down. I was sure he was the heir. Now we have no idea who it is. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have assumed it was him."
"Hermione there was no way we could blame you. We all thought it was him. Don't blame yourself. We don't. Tell her Ron. It's not her fault" Harry was hoping that Ron caught on, but Ron seemed to not want to look up. "Ron?" Harry nudged his shoulder.
Ron looked up with pure rage etching on his face. "What do you mean it's not her fault!? She led us to believe everything! My sister was in more danger!"
"What are you on about Ron? You're the one who suggested it was him in the first place! She didn't do it. I know I thought it was him. There is no one else in this school that hates muggle-borns more then that slick haired snake!"
"I just don't know what to do! Ginny is scaring me. She was fine but she just told you something" He put emphasis on you by poking a finger at Harry. "Well she thought she was telling you. She told me instead."
"What's this got to do with you mistreating Hermione? You're mad about Ginny and take it out on her?"
"I well I…umm yes?" Well at least he looks ashamed of what he did.
"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry but you weren't only wrong about Malfoy. WE weren't only wrong about him." Harry and Hermione looked puzzled.
Hermione took a deep breath and asked "What was it that Ginny told you Ron?"
Flashback:
Ginny Weasley walked down to the common room and saw Harry Potter sitting alone. She had been meaning to talk to him for a while but never got the chance.
"H..Harry?"
Harry looked a bit shocked and uncomfortable but he responded anyway. "Yes"
"May I speak with you? I promise it's not about you and Hermione or anything like that"
He seemed to relax at that and motioned for her to take the seat across from him.
She took the seat and said, "Harry I've been going to Ron telling him about what has been scaring me lately. I'm sure he's told you since he never shuts up!"
Harry scowled at the last part.
"But Harry I never told my brother something. I'm afraid of his reaction." Harry nodded for her to continue. "It isn't a student here that's controlling me. It's a student of the past. All I know is he was the LAST heir" Ron was trying to process the information given to him by his sister.
"What do you mean a past heir? Is he still alive? Is he in here?"
Ginny smiled, "I'm glad you're concerned Harry but I've gotten it taken care of. No need to worry. Now I really want to say I'm sorry about you and Hermione. I don't want to cause anymore trouble for you two. I'm still a little mad but after everything that happened and you both still care about me…I'm just sorry"
"But Ginny he could still be out there!"
"HARRY! He's not. I took care of it. Now drop it all. I don't want to remember anymore of it. It wasn't fun Harry. It was the worst and I don't want to relive it" She had tears in her eyes and he didn't push her to talk about it anymore.
He smiled at her and said, "We forgive you, no need to worry about that."
Ginny looked nervous again. "Um Harry? I know you're with Hermione and all, but do you think you can give me my first kiss anyway? Just because I don't want to date you doesn't mean I don't think my first kiss shouldn't be with you." She leaned in a little too close for his liking. Her face was closing in on his! He pushed her back with more force than he meant to use and she flew back into her chair.
Harry jumped up and started pacing, "I …erm…you. NO! NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS!!! Maybe you should find a nice Hufflepuff Boy. Yeah yeah that's it! A Hufflepuff! ANDWHAT DO YOU MEAN KISS!? YOU'RE WAY TOO YOUNG. MAYBE IN ABOUT 15 MORE YEARS! You can ask that Hufflepuff for a little peck….ON THE CHEEK!"
"In 15 years I'll be 26!"
"Good! You need to be more responsible and level headed when you make such a big step!"
"I wouldn't have thought a kiss was the biggest step I'd make in my life. I've never seen you act like that before! I'm kinda glad you said no. You sounded just like Ron when you said that. And I'd rather not kiss people like my brother. So maybe we should be friends or better yet like family?"
"You know, you're real quick to change your mind. That's exactly why I said wait until you're 26! You girls don't know what you want!"
Ginny smiled and gave Harry a hug. "Thanks Harry. And tell Hermione thanks when you see her. And stop hanging with Ron. You even rant like him." she ran back up to the girl's dorm and he sat there thinking of how whoever was controlling his sister was very much still alive and here.
End flashback
Ron said, "So…I guess I forgave Gin for you eh?"
Harry nodded and Ron excused himself for bed.
"I can't believe it" Hermione still looked shocked and hurt at what Ron said about her.
"Yeah, Ginny almost kissed Ron"
Hermione was going to leave too but Harry stopped her. "Hermione, no one blames you"
"It sure seemed like Ron did"
"Since when do you really care about Ron's opinion about you? He was mad and he even kinda apologized. Hermione we are all confused. We were all sure it was Malfoy. One thing we did learn is that there is no new heir. The old one is still around somehow. Maybe we can talk to Myrtle more after the break?"
Hermione nodded and then suddenly said "Oh I completely forgot! My parents sent a letter saying they need to speak with you when you come home. It's important."
"Erm did they say what we were going to talk about? Was it bad? Am I gonna die from your dad!? Did he realize we're too young!? I swear I never thought about doing anything more than a kiss -"
"Harry, calm down. It's important, not bad. They said it was about some letters they have been receiving at home. You said they can open your mail in case there was something with the emancipation that came late. And I guess they've been doing it. So they just want to speak about some letters"
Harry was a little relieved, but he was still afraid of Tim. He may have been a nice man but he was very intimidating. "So did he say anything about what the letters said?"
Hermione laughed and said, "Don't worry Harry, he won't do anything…I think"
"You think! You're trying to scare me on purpose."
"You should see your face. Let's head to the dorms. We have to be ready for the train tomorrow."
"Okay. Goodnight Hermione"
"Night Harry"
~~~NEXT DAY~~
Harry awoke to someone shaking his shoulder.
"Honestly Harry! We'll be late! Even Ron is awake!"
Harry knew that voice, but he really didn't care. He had his pillow tucked under his head just right. And his bed had actually taken shape around his body. He really didn't want to move.
"If we're late my dad will skin you alive"
Ugh. She learned how to get me up, using her father and my fear of him.
"Okay okay, I'm up!"
"Good because I packed your trunk! We have to go now. So shower and meet us downstairs"
Harry grudgingly slumped to the showers. Once he was fresh, dressed and fully awake he walked to the common room to meet his friends.
Ron was jumping on his trunk trying to get it closed. Ginny and Hermione were laughing at the red headed boy.
Harry said, "And you rushed me! You guys are down here playing around! Let's go then!"
Hermione muttered a spell to help Ron with his trunk and Ron said, "Well if you knew that all along you could have helped me from the start!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and walked out with Harry.
~~~9 3/4 ~~~
Harry helped Hermione off the train. He had her backpack, school trunk, and bag full of her light reading; then there was his trunk.
"OH HARRY, HERMIONE! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Break. Why didn't you stay over our house this break? Oh you can still come. Come on go ask your parents Hermione!"
Hermione still didn't like Mrs. Weasley much. She was too pushy for her liking.
"Mrs. Weasley I have a family I would like to see during some part of my childhood and -"
"She means we had plans. Sorry Mrs. Weasley"
Molly didn't seem to notice that Hermione had almost told her off.
"Okay, see you later children!" she pulled them into a hug and sent them off.
They walked through the brick wall and Hermione spotted her parents and ran full speed towards them, leaving Harry pulling all of their things.
When Harry made his way over, Rachael pulled him into her arms. "I've missed you too Harry! Wow I think you grew a bit over the months"
"Now Rach, leave the boy alone! He didn't even say hi to me yet." Tim gave a mock pout and pulled Harry into a man hug and said. "Now that that is over with, let's help the poor boy"
They walked to the car and Harry and Hermione piled in the back seat. On the drive home, Tim looked at Harry in the rearview mirror.
"Did Hermione tell you that we needed to talk to you?"
"Uh. Yes she did." Harry was nervous again, and it showed.
Tim narrowed his eyes then smiled. "No need to worry Harry. When we get home we all have some business to discuss"
Harry looked over to Hermione and she looked at him then out the window.
What could be so important!
A/N: Hi everyone! Hope you all liked the next chapter to my story. I've got another beta to add to my list. Josh is in the disclaimer. He hates Ron and wants me to get rid of him, so once again (for Josh) NO! I also have JAY! He's my new beta! He's the one that keep telling me to update and get to writing. Kinda hard to ignore someone you're always chatting with lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter will be into the winter break for sure. Don't forget to read and review!