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Love by poacher
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Love

poacher

Story, " "

Chapter, " "

And here was Harry. Tired and miserable. Just after leaving Sirius, Harry had examined all the school, asking about Hermione, trying to find her. To no avail. He had asked Draco, he had asked even that infernal Weasley, but he couldn't find her. No, he couldn't.

But he would. This afternoon had been one of the worst one of his life. He felt like a total prat. He desperately needed to find the girl he loved, the girl he wanted. He wanted to hold her. To admit his undying love for him. To remedy for everything his bastard of a godfather had said. He really needed her.

Grouped in his thoughts he aimlessly passed through the corridors. He couldn't even find Hermione with his new found powers. She seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. He had tried a tracking spell, a scent-proving smell, a detecting spell, but still couldn't find her.

He had told nobody about his confrontation with Sirius. He felt bad enough with listening to anyone else sympathetic bleaching.

He was passing in front of the charms room, when he saw someone coming out of the room. For a moment he almost wished that it was Hermione, a dreamy look came on his face, but vanished the moment when he saw who it was.

Ronald Weasley stood in front of him, flanked with his body guards, Crabbe and Goyle. They were so fat that they towered over the ugly, thin body of Weasley.

"looking for the mudblood are we…Potter?" Weasley said tartly.

"cant spend two moments without getting in her pants…can we?" His companions laughed suddenly when he elbowed them to make them laugh.

Harry was in mode of courteous bows.

"Shove off, Weasley." He tried to get past him, but his cronies at once blocked the way.

"Oh no, the famous Potter cannot go without…err…some questioning. So Potter, Brown said that you seduced her yesterday? Is that correct. Your infernal mudblood friend would only be too happy to listen to that. Look here Potter, she is too low for even the likes of you. Keep away from her or you will regret." Weasley went on, not noticing the look in Harry's eyes. if looked could have killed then Weasley would have been dead the instant.

"I said shove off. At least Hermione is way better then your hoard of bitches that would give a buck even to get in the pants of a dog. And no wonder that even "they" desert you. You would no wonder try to get in the pants of your sister. You are an infernal bastard. Now shove off, and go suck the disgusting cock of your cronies. Nah…Weasley, even they are too better for you…I would advice you to look at your sister before commenting on someone else."

"How dare you. After him, shatter him into mincemeat."

But Harry was in no mood for games. He was too quick for Weasley. With the help of his newfound powers he could do wandless magic. With one swift spell the three of them went flying towards the wall, hitting it with a loud thud. They tried to get up, but could only gag, for invisible ropes tied them in form of a bundle and some invisible thing began to take off their shoes and socks. After that some invisible hand shoved the stuffy socks in their mouths. They were bound, gagged, perfect example of three detestable cockroaches.

Harry muttered a quick spell. Their memories would be erased with this spell.

Finished with them he moved forward. Where could he find Hermione? How could he locate her?

Wait! Locate her! The Prankster map!!!

Harry turned on his heels and bounded towards the Gryffindor Seventh year dormitories, in order to retrieve the Marauder's map.

The common room was barely filled as the students, which had given their last papers, had gone out to enjoy the golden sunshine. He went to his dormitory and rummaged in his trunk. He could swear he had placed the map, after the last time he had used it.

Finally after a lot of finding he at last found a map. It was a blank piece of thick, yellow parchment. Muttering the password he looked at him, to see the dot of Hermione. She was nowhere in the premises of Gryffindor tower room, not on the first and second floor, not in the north tower, never in Trealenway's tower, no need looking there, not in the Hagrid tower. Bingo! There she was at the top of astronomy tower! Bloody hell! On the very top! The top most spire of Hogwarts had a small platform built. She was currently standing there, his form bent dangerously towards the edge of the platform.

"Oh my god! She is going to jump over the building! The foolish girl! Fears clouded, Harry's brain. With all the speed he could muster he ran like a hare towards the astronomy tower. Reaching it in record time he preceded the long step with tireless agility that was normally never there. In record time, he reached the terrace like tower. Strong gusts of chilly wind hit his face as he tried to ward them off unsuccessfully by his cloak. He franticly looked around.

"It had to be here!" He looked around for step holds. In the far most corner, he found an iron ladder. Going upwards till it reached an arch that opened up into a slit.

He climbed the stair as quickly as he could and soon found himself onto silt where small stone steps were cut in order to reach the top most platform. He was barely aware of breathing of someone as he quickly climbed the stairs to reach the platform.

The platform was not Enwalled from all the sides. It had a small roof on it, which was all it had. It was open for cross way winds to meet each other. Wind there was very strong and it was difficult for Harry to keep his stepping. The platform was long and wide enough for 10 people to stand. Probably in older days, this platform was used to keep track of the movement of stars.

Harry looked up. He could barely see a huge red ball slowly sinking below the horizon. He turned around looking for Hermione. She was standing on the western side, facing the sun. His back was turned towards him. She hadn't apparently registered his arrival yet.

Though the wind was blowing east to west, he could still register her sobs.

Harry gently moved forward. Even in this state he had to admire the perfect curves of Hermione's back. His cheek flushed. He was now behind Hermione. They were standing just off the edge. He was aware that his fingers were cold and if he touched her, then he would probably startle her, which could be dangerous.

"Hermione." He said softly.

Moving his hand, he gently touched her on the shoulder. She jumped and over-balanced, landing in the lap of Harry who was forced to sit down due to her weight. She could feel him tight against her when she landed on his lap. For a moment content passed on his face and he almost gave in to his snuggle, but suddenly as if something was triggered inside her, memories of the recent past. She stood up and untangled herself from Harry. She could feel the disappointment on his face. His heart was greatly moved, yet his brain registered the words of Sirius Black, some hours ago.

"You are so lame Hermione Granger! Don't you have any honor! He is the godson of the man who accused you of slander and being a scarlet woman! Don't you have any sense Hermione granger?" Somewhere from her heart a weak cry rose,

"No I love Harry! Didn't he stand for me there? What if he is the godson of that accursed man! He loves me! He said so." Yet the cry was not loud enough and her brain won the game. A cold look came on her face and her pretty features narrowed.

"why have you come here Potter? Probably to tell me you don't want to be with me because I am a slurring bitch!" Harry had never heard Hermione swear like this before and he was surprised and a little hurt by her reaction.

"How can you think like this Hermione? You know I love you. Love you with all my heart. I would do anything for you." He seemed so hurt and miserable, that for a moment Hermione succumbed to her heart desire. It was with considerable effort that she was able to shake off the feeling of utter pity. Deep down in her heart she knew that Harry was entirely sincere, but she was too proud to accept it fully.

She choose to keep quiet. Harry took it as a cue to keep talking.

"Sirius probably drank too much. He didn't know what he was talking about. You should forgive her Herm." This was probably the worst thing that could be said at that moment.

This did it.

"SO THAT'S WHY SO WERE HERE! You want me to beg to that infernal son of a bastard. All men are the same! You think I am your whore! I would do everything you like at your bidding. You are dead wrong there, Harry fucking Potter!" She screamed at him with full force. For a moment Harry felt that his ears would crack. When at last she was finished he looked at her. She seemed furious.

Harry could feel rays of wrath radiating out of her. He at once regretted saying his last sentence. After all it wasn't her mistake that Sirius was behaving so foolishly. He had actually accused her of masturbating. And here he was arguing in Sirius's favor. Although he meant no offence to Hermione, yet he knew that in a way he was suggesting that Sirius was correct and Hermione wrong. Hermione was a very proud girl. She was cute, adorable, and lovely, loving yet had a strict regard of rules. She had never on the first point agreed on their making love before the end of the year. Harry, after many spectacular shows had finally convinced her.

But now it seemed Sirius had ruined it all.

He turned towards Hermione. She was moving backwards, getting dangerously close to the edge of the platform.

"Oh no Hermione! I didn't mean to make it look like that. I know Sirius is being a master dork but…"

"Oh yes you wanted to Potter. You men have an ego too big for yourself. When you see a beautiful girl, you want to make her a part of your bed. Your bed not your heart! You would just through me away when you were finished with me. And he accused me of trying to get in your pants! Here you want me to apologize to him! I am a grown woman Harry, and I can bloody well choose your company. I don't need you right now. Just go away! Leave me alone!"

Tears ran down Hermione's face. Harry moved a gentle hand trying to throw away the tears, but he denied his hand.

"Just go away. Not you also! I don't want to see you!" Hermione was a total wreck. Harry felt his soul cringe seeing her look like this, yet he felt that for once leaving Hermione alone was the right choice.

He wanted her on his side. He wanted to hug her. To snuggle her, showing how deeply he cared for her. But he couldn't do it. Live was sometimes too cruel.

"Okay I am going Herm! I know I have acted bloody foolishly, but I never meant to accuse you. Sirius had probably lost his mind. Please do forgive me." Harry pleaded to her.

For a moment Hermione melted by the warmth in those adorably cute green eyes. Yet, the other second his honor was in the way again. He thought of the time when Harry had accused him. Tears again welled down her face. She needed time to think. At that moment she felt that she would never be able to forgive Harry.

"Just go away!"

"Okay I am going away, but do promise me. You wont do something dangerous. Like throwing yourself from the tower?" Harry looked at him with sincere concern.

Amidst all this she suddenly felt she could laugh.

Did Harry think she was so dim-witted that she would actually jump down the tower?

He didn't know her. Her mind questioned her that was it prudent to be a person who didn't know her. Who had hurt her so deeply? She couldn't answer just yet, but deep down she had feelings that yes it was prudent. But not now, She needed time. Things had gone along too quickly for her. It didn't take her a long time to figure that Harry had known about her being at this spot through the Marauder's map.

"I will do nothing of this sort. But better get your arse out of here." Hermione tried to look stern, but tears made her face look more horrible and added to Harry's misery.

Harry just nodded and slowly backed away, all the while looking at Hermione.

Hermione felt a huge disappointment.

"Oh why didn't he ask just once more? Probably he is too proud too say sorry to his girlfriend even when he is wrong." Hermione's heart hardened in resolve. "Okay two can play the game as well." It hurt her to think like this. But it hurt her more to be with Harry thinking about the accusation of Sirius.

Harry slowly climbed down all the time facing Hermione, and for a moment she feared about his safety, but apparently he had placed some kind of spell on himself, so that he would swiftly climb down. His face disappeared after a while and she could never forget the last look he gave her. This was the first fight between them after they had gotten together. And Hermione was very miserable about that. She badly wanted to patch things up with Harry but not without him first asking pardon for his near accusation.

She needed to consult Lavender about this. Surely by now she had a lot of experience about such matters. She stood there for a few minutes, thinking about various things till the sun finally vanished behind the lonely mountains standing tall and grimacing not far away. Miserably, with trembling lips she deseeded the stairs and down to the main balcony of the Astronomy tower.

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Harry walked through the corridors aimlessly, thinking about the problems. He had tried to find Draco but he had also disappeared somewhere along with Ginny, and quiet frankly he was quiet envious of Him just now. He wouldn't have thought anything better then sharing a nice, cozy evening with Hermione in a nice quiet room, with a cozy bed and…But that dart of a Sirius had spoiled his plans. He was thinking of going towards the Gryffindor dorm, when he heard someone passing by. He didn't want to be seen just then by anyone. He swiftly hid himself behind a shining knight in medieval Armour. After a few seconds Harry saw Professor Mcgonagal passing through the corridor in a great hurry carrying an open bundle of cloth. She seemed to be muttering something. Harry thought he distinctly caught the word "time" but wasn't able to make out anything else. Just when Professor Mcgonagal had taken the turn, something fell off from her bundle of cloth, hitting the hard floor noiselessly. Professor Mcgonagal didn't seem to realize that something was missing. She just went on and after a few second even the noise of her footsteps disappeared. When Harry was sure that the corridor was empty and no one was within hearing range, he leapt out of his not so comfortable hiding place, (the suite of Armour was very naughty with his hands) and looked at the object.

It seemed like a small ball, the size of a globe with a curious key at the top. He bent forward and picked it up. The ball glittered in the light of candles. It was apparently made of some un-known metal. Just as he was examining it, he unconsciously moved the key a little. Suddenly there was a small click and the back part of the ball disappeared. Now a screen was visible with two buttons there. Harry pushed the first button, feeling like a prying toddler who want to learn about new things. There was something visible under the glass screen. Where they numbers. They seemed something like 1978…without thinking Harry pushed the second button.

Two things happened almost simultaneously.

Hermione came into Harry's view and when she saw Harry pushing the button on the ball-cum-globe, she screamed, "No Harry don't push that!"

Secondly Harry felt a sudden tug on his shoulder, as if someone was trying to pull him towards itself. He felt the world moving around him, and dizziness made him close his eyes. With a sinking feeling he felt the ground leave his feet.

Harry had activated a time turner. He was not traveling towards unaware destination. All he could do was to clutch at the time-turner.

He suddenly felt his feet hit solid ground again. The world seemed to steady a bit. Cautiously, Harry opened his eyes.

He felt the shock of his life.

He wavered, trying to grip thin air, unbalanced and crashed down.

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Disclaimers: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

You men have too big an ego for yourself © King.

Prying toddler © Seven ways of taking care of children.

"That's private" © Harry from many stories.