Chapter 8 : Tension
A/N: I know that Cho is a year ahead of Harry but how could she be Harry's girlfriend (well it's an ex-girlfriend now) if she's away. This is in Harry's last year of Hogwarts. Now about Ginny, I know that she's a year behind Harry but I feel sorry for her if she is left behind. Besides, I like to meddle with canon. ;)
Thank you, LadyWhitehart for betaing a beginner like me.
Hannah ran through the corridors of Hogwarts. She knew that she would be in trouble if one of the teachers found her running around the hallways or not yet in class, but she didn't care. She needed to reserve the Quidditch Pitch for Harry and Hermione. A black, pointed hat caught Hannah's attention so she quickly ran for it.
"Professor McGonagall! Professor!" she called out.
Professor McGonagall turned around to see a panting Hannah. "What is it dear? Is there something the matter?"
Hannah slowed down and gasped for air. She placed her hands on her knees and tried to speak. "I wish to postpone the try outs. I need to rest after the meadow."
"But my dear, the first Quidditch match of the season will be in two weeks." the professor replied.
"I know, Professor. But we can manage. I know that we can." Hannah urged.
Professor McGonagall pondered this for a few seconds then smiled at Hannah. "Since you are very determined to get my approval, I will allow you. But you have to make sure that you will manage."
"Thank you very much, Professor."
"Well, you better rush to your class or your teacher will be forced to take points away from you," Professor McGonagall instructed.
"Yes, Professor," Hannah said as she rushed to Herbology.
*~*
"Sorry, Professor. I just had to run an errand," Hannah apologized when Professor Sprout stopped lecturing her.
Draco raised an eyebrow at Hannah's excuse and merely scoffed at it. He quickly interrogated Hannah as she settled. "An errand eh? An errand from You-Just-Got-Caught-Red-Handed Village or Spill-The-Beans mountain?"
Hannah simply laughed at his sarcastic remark. "Okay, I give up," she surrendered. "I had to book the Pitch for Harry and Hermione so that they could practice. Happy now?"
"You did that for me?" Hermione whispered as Hannah nodded. "Are you crazy? You almost lost us points, and you almost got detention because of something that might not happen."
"Hermione, I'll gladly do anything for you," Hannah replied, which shocked Hermione. She grabbed her knife and began slicing like everyone else. As she tried to split the seed in two, Hannah asked, "What are we suppose to do with these seeds? Take the juice out of them?"
"We have to study the characteristics of the seed," Ginny replied as she finally managed to slice the seed into two. The juice of the seed burst out, leaving Ginny soaked. The group laughed as Ginny groaned. "Ack! This is so yucky!"
Lavender tried to contain her laughter, but she couldn't. She burst into laughter and looked at Ginny. "Come on, Ginny. It fits you being soaked."
"Shut up you guys. It isn't funny," Ginny said as she tried to contain her laughter. It was always like Ginny to laugh when others laughed.
"Then why are you containing your laughter?" Parvati asked as she offered her handkerchief.
Ginny took the handkerchief and wiped the sticky liquid from her face. "I'll forever hate this subject."
*~*
The group exited their Herbology class together as usual. The boys tried to look their best as the girls walked by, swooning. Harry walked by flashing his priceless smile, while Ron ran his hand through his red hair. Draco was surprisingly looking at his book but winked at every girl who walked by. Hannah merely rolled her eyes and tucked a curl of her hair behind her ear and continued on reading her notes. Hermione, who managed to slightly tame her hair into a headband, kept her eyes on her book. Parvati simply flipped her hair a few times and continued on walking. Lavender and Ginny were too busy talking to each other to even notice all the boys who were drooling over them.
"Finally, two more classes left then it's a break!" Draco exclaimed as he looked over his schedule.
Hannah giggled and smiled at her best friend. "And I'm happy that I will enjoy in these last two subjects."
"We better hurry or we'll be late," Ron said as he rushed to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
They managed to get in their class in time. They had time to chat in peace before Professor Lupin entered the classroom. When Professor Lupin entered the classroom, silence filled the air.
"Students, we are here to approach the Dark Arts in a practical way and this way is for fun." Professor Lupin started as the students cheered. "I wish all of you to pass this class with smiles and laughter in your faces. I wish you to divide into groups of three." Professor Lupin instructed.
The students scrambled and rushed to their best friends. Cho was stuck with Parvati and Lavender, Draco, Ginny and her brother Ron while Hannah, Harry and Hermione were the threesome. "Now, I wish for you to take turns in using non-verbal spells to protect yourself." Professor Lupin continued as spells came flying all over and so were students. Harry was the first one to be caught unguarded then Hermione and lastly was Hannah. The three laughed as they stood up and practiced their non-verbal spells. When it was time, they gathered their books and bid their favorite DADA teacher goodbye and rushed to their next class.
*~*
The dungeon of Hogwarts wasn't that dark anymore. Instead of whimpers filling the air, there was laughter from the students. They were not exactly being taught by the strictest professor anymore since he was busy spending his days in Azkaban. They didn't have to worry about losing house points because of a slight whisper or murmur. Instead, they will be greeted by a warm and welcoming smile.
"Good day, Professor Tonks." the class greeted in chorus.
"Good day children. Now, there are several Potions in each of these cauldrons and I wish you to identify each Potion like Professor Slughorn asked you to," Tonks put something in the pearly colored potion and asked, "What is in this cauldron?"
"That is Amorentia, the most powerful love potion in the Magical World. It is most recognized by its mother-of-pearl sheen, and its smell varies according to what attracts the person it tries to attract. The potion that you put in it is an odorless potion which causes the potion to lose its odor so it won't affect other people," Hermione replied.
"Very good, Miss Granger. I award the Gryffindor house five points. And in this cauldron?" Tonks asked as she revealed a cauldron with muddy liquid in it.
"That's Polyjuice Potion. It allows the user to be transformed into someone else within one hour. One hour per one dose. Doses can be renewed though, apparently indefinite. Polyjuice Potion can be used in cross-gender transformations which means that I can transform into Harry using it. Instructions regarding the making of this Potion are in the book Moste Potente Potions," Hannah proudly exclaimed.
"Very good, Miss Fairlings. Another five points for Gryffindor," Tonks remarked. "And in this cauldron?" Tonks asked as she pointed the cauldron which contains water like potion.
"That is Veritaserum. Veritaserum is a colorless and odorless potion which is the most powerful truth telling serum," Harry remarked as he remembered the time Snape threatened him with this potion and the time Snape used it against Barty Crouch Jr. "A truth potion so powerful that three drops would have the drinker spilling his or her innermost secrets. Use of this Potion against students is strictly forbidden." Harry continued.
"Remarkable Mister Potter. Five points to Gryffindor," Tonks said as the three smiled. They had earned 15 points for Gryffindor in Potions and another 30 points in other classes.
"Well, basically, our studies will be on the properties of these potions. Break yourselves into groups of three/" Tonks said as Hannah and the others sighed. They had to break into threes again. Cho, Parvati and Draco were the ones now, while Ginny was once again stuck with her brother but she was with Lavender. And the three Gryffindors, Hannah, Harry and Hermione were once again the trio. "Now, each of you in the three groups will choose one potion and write an essay about it. You may discuss you matters now."
"So, what Potion do you pick, Hermione?" Hannah asked.
"We better choose the ones that we recited. I will do an essay about Amortentia, you on Polyjuice Potion, and Harry on the Veritaserum." Hermione suggested.
Harry nodded. "That would be brilliant."
"Looks like we run out of time. I expect your essays to be on my desk next week after class," Tonks said as the students nodded and bid their goodbyes and farewells.
"I love Potions now!" Harry exclaimed. "We earned 15 points for Gryffindor and what's best is we earned them in Potions."
"I totally agree; I love this subject now!" Hermione smiled.
"We better start on our essays," Hannah said which the others groaned at. "Don't groan at me, you guys always have something to do and we have to submit this essay on time. Where should we do it? In the library or in the dormitory?"
"Hannah, look at us, we're tired after a long day, Draco complained. "Why don't you just let us rest for a while?".
"Well, do whatever you want. As for me, I'll be in the library and I'm gonna start my essay," Hannah informed them as she strolled off.
"Hannah, wait, I'll go with. Nothing relaxes me but the library. I love the silence," Hermione said.
"Don't forget about me. I'm in the threesome too you know," Harry said as he trailed after the two towards the library.
*~*
The library was a very relaxing place. One could think without interruptions.
Hannah came over to Harry and Hermione, struggling with a stack of books. "Here are five more books,and I took the Moste Potente Potions book too, Hermione."
"Hannah, let me help you with that," Harry said as he grabbed the books from Hannah.
Hannah smiled at his gesture, sat beside him and uttered, "Thanks."
"How's your essay going?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Oh, it's great. I think. I have to rewrite the whole thing since this is only a draft. Thanks for the books, Hannah." Hermione thanked her as she was scribbling madly at her parchment.
Harry turned to Hannah and asked, "How about yours Hannah?"
"I think that it's fine. At least I think so; I'll reread the whole thing in our common room. How about yours?" Hannah asked.
"Not doing so well, I think that it'll grow in progress because of the books you found." Harry shifted his seat closer to Hermione and asked, ." How many hours have we been sitting here?"
"I think about a few hours," Hermione replied as she continued to scribble madly at her parchment. "Hannah, why did we start this early at our essay?"
"So you and Harry can train for Quidditch sooner. I booked the Pitch for you tomorrow after Potions," Hannah informed them as Hermione groaned. "Don't groan Hermione; Harry is a great teacher. Though, I wouldn't know that since he didn't teach me."
"Be easy on me okay, Harry?" Hermione pleaded.
Harry smirked at Hermione. "Let's see how tough you are as a student. I'm sure that you will learn fast since you're the smartest witch of our age."
"Brightest," Hannah corrected as she continued scribbling on her parchment.
A couple of hours later, Hermione and Harry were talking about other stuff (which caused some students to murmur) while Hannah just smiled and continued on her work. Harry would sometimes switch chat mates and start talking to Hannah about other stuff (which caused more students to murmur) while Hermione just continued with their essay.
"It's growing dark; we've been here for three hours. I'm going to get some rest, and you two will come," Harry said as he grabbed the two girls, who involuntarily gathered their things too. "We'll continue this after we rest or after our Astronomy lessons."
"Harry, I really want to finish this essay," Hannah protested, but Harry dragged her.
"I agree with her. I really want to get away from our "lessons" but I want to finish this essay early," Hermione complained.
"You two will rest and I order that," Harry said as he cast a spell which caused the girls' things to shrink. He grabbed the miniature books, quills, inks and parchment in his pockets and dragged the two protesting girls out of the library. The students continued murmuring and whispering about what happened.
"You just had to drag us out," Hannah grumbled as she removed the ponytail from her hair which revealed her wavy, brown hair.
"You wouldn't go out voluntary, so I had to make it mandatory, " Harry chuckled.
Hermione crossed her arms across her chest and pouted. "I don't care what you do; I'm going back in the library."
"Hermione, you won't!" Harry said as he yanked Hermione. Hermione almost fell to the ground when Harry caught her. Harry looked deep inside Hermione's chocolate brown eyes. They stared at each other for quite some time. Harry felt his heart race but he almost let go of Hermione when her chocolate brown eyes turned into Hannah's crystal blue ones and turned back into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes once again. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I almost hurt you." Harry apologized as he returned Hermione to her feet.
"It's alright, Harry," Hermione assured him. Why did you pull away? Did you see something wrong?
Hannah was disappointed with what Harry did. At first, it looked like she was going to kiss Hermione (and that was good with her plan) and then he pulled away. That was a major breakdown for a girl. Hannah felt like she could slap Harry over and over with what he did to Hermione but instead, she just contained her anger. Was she being selfish just because of her plan? Silence filled the air between the threesome again, but Hannah broke it. "Come on, you guys. Let's go back to the common room."
While they were walking, Harry's head was full of thoughts. Was Cho right about him loving both Hannah and Hermione or was he just imagining things because he wanted to love the two? His head hurt because of his thoughts.
"Hermione, Hannah, I think I love you two." Harry thought to himself as he watched the two females walking in front of him, giggle and talk.