"Shit," Ron muttered as he sat up and ran a hand through his hair. Hermione slowly sat up.
"That wasn't supposed to happen," she said, a feeling of guiltiness wash over her. Guilty? What? she asked herself, frowning for a moment.
"What are we going to do?" she asked him nervously.
"For one thing, we are NOT making out in the common room anymore," Ron answered. Hermione slapped his arm.
"This is serious!" she exclaimed.
"Who said I wasn't being serious?" Ron asked, a smile playing at his lips. Hermione couldn't help the small smile that spread across her own face. Even as she did, the guilty feeling was growing inside her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry just sat there, still as a statue. He had been sitting there for - he glanced at his watch - an hour now. Thoughts were racing through his head faster than his Firebolt. Just accept it, Harry. She doesn't like you like that, he tried to console himself. It seemed to work for a split second. Then, just as suddenly, his head was in his hands and the silent tears were cascading down his face and he couldn't stop them. Little did he know that in the common room, Hermione felt like crying a bit herself.
The next day seemed to go slower than a snail. Everything seemed to drag on.
Not everyone noticed, and some Slytherins took this to their advantage (more specifically, Malfoy: "Potter, you look like someone died! No, you look worse...like when Weasley realizes that even a snake has more money than him!" At this, Ron had almost attacked him, and if Hermione hadn't pulled him back, Malfoy would be in the hospital wing now.) People noticed. Hermione, Ron and Ginny, who was still pining after Harry, noticed. Everyone in Gryffindor noticed. This was clearly not Harry's day, because Snape had taken twenty-five points from Gryffindor for Harry's lack of attention, he had spilled Bubotuber Pus on himself in Herbology, and he had to put up with Malfoy's taunting remarks all through the first half of the day. It took all the power he had not to sock him.
After the day's classes were over, Harry headed straight for dinner, then back to the common room, glad that the crap was behind him. He entered to see Ron and Hermione talking and laughing in front of the fireplace, not noticing him. He rolled his eyes and walked toward the corner and settled himself in one of the high-backed chairs, starting on his homework.
Ginny Weasley had seen Harry Potter come in. She had seen him look at Hermione and Ron with a painful sadness, then go sit in one of the high- backed chairs in the corner. She had also observed that Hermione and Ron hadn't noticed him, and that had hurt him somehow. Ginny felt her heart breaking for Harry. She couldn't stand to see him like this. Set aside the fact that she had a huge crush on him, she was also his friend. And she had to go make him feel better...somehow.
"Damn Snape," Harry muttered to himself as he finished his 2-foot long essay on how powdered root of Asphodel acts in the creation of the Prophylaxis Potion. He glanced quickly at his watch, realizing it was ten. He started to pack his things, noticing that the room was quiet. Everyone must have gone up to bed, he thought. Then, he heard soft footsteps behind him. Must be Hermione, he thought, and sped up. The person sat on the chair's arm and he could feel eyes on him. He slowly looked up to see Ginny.
"Hey, Gin," he said softly before resuming his packing. He put away his inkbottles and started to stand up, but she gently pushed him back down. He was a bit surprised, even though he did not show it.
"Harry, I'm really sorry about the whole Ron and Hermione thing. My brother can be kind of an asshole sometimes," Ginny said comfortingly. Harry laughed.
"Kind of," he replied, sighing.
"Is it me?" Harry said after a few minutes of silence.
"What?" Ginny wondered.
"Last year, at the Yule Ball, Parvati ditched me for some Durmstrang guy. And now this," he went further.
"No, Harry! Of course its not you!" she exclaimed, getting off the arm and kneeling in front of him. He looked down. "Maybe it is," he muttered.
"Harry, look at me," she instructed. He reluctantly looked up. "It. Is. Not. Your. Fault," she said slowly and distinctly.
"How do you know?" he asked defiantly.
"Because..." she put her hands on his cheeks. "You are the sweetest..." she kissed his cheek, "kindest..." she kissed his other cheek, "and not to mention a gorgeous person." And without thinking, she lightly kissed his lips. For a second, they both forgot what was happening, and Ginny mindlessly deepened this kiss. After a couple more seconds, Ginny pulled away, turning a deep shade of red.
"I'm...I-I..." she stuttered. Harry didn't have any brilliant words just then either, so he just got up, the same shade of red as her, and swiftly walked away, not noticing Hermione, who was standing near the portrait hole with tears in her eyes that even shocked her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Students, I have a few announcements to make," Dumbledore stood up at breakfast, making the morning sun gleam across his silver beard. The normal buzz of different conversations stopped, and all eyes feel on the staff table.
"First, I would like to welcome our Gamekeeper and teacher of Care Of Magical Creatures back!" Dumbledore grinned, and as if on cue, the doors to the Great Hall swung open and Hagrid entered with a grin to match Dumbledore's. The Hall erupted into applause, everyone except some of the Slytherins. Hagrid thundered over to the staff table, past the Gryffindor table, where he winked and grinned at Harry, Ron and Hermione, then continued on. Harry was ecstatic.
"Since Hagrid is back with us, Care of Magical Creatures will resume as scheduled," Dumbledore added. Papers were rustling as students pulled out their schedules, and gasps could be heard through the room as they watched 'Care of Magical Creatures' scrawl across their schedule. As for the Gryffindors, they had it with the Slytherins.
"Second, I would like to announce this year's prefects," Dumbledore continued, bringing the students' attention back to him. "This information was not owled to the students because Hagrid was out on business, and forgot to give me the grades for his class last year." At this, Harry saw Hagrid blush deeply, and grinned.
"When I call your name, please come up to the table to receive your badges. First, Hermione Granger." Hermione guessed she would be a prefect, but she was surprised nonetheless as she walked to the front and pinned her badge on.
"Harry Potter" was the next name called. Harry grinned as he stood up and stole a quick glance at Malfoy, who was sneering and muttering something to the table, which burst into quiet laughter. Not caring, Harry went up and proudly accepted the perfectly polished badge. As they took their seats, the prefects for the other houses were announced (not surprisingly, Malfoy was a prefect for Slytherin, along with a girl named Jean DuBois.) Soon, the usual sea of owls encircled the Great Hall, searching for their owners to deliver their burdens to. A thin envelope fell on Harry's lap, with shaky handwriting on the front. Harry quickly ripped it open to find a short note:
Harry ~
Glad to be back! Come by around three for tea!
Hagrid
At least some things haven't changed, Harry thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At three, Harry, Ron and Hermione went down to Hagrid's hut, like old times. They could see an orange glow coming from the window, and realized that a fire must be burning. They rushed forward and banged on his door. Hagrid opened with his face split in a toothy grin, and all three rushed forward and hugged him. He hugged them back, his arms big enough to fit twenty people inside and still have room left over. As soon as they entered, Fang once more attacked Harry and Ron, pinning them to the ground. They laughed as they pushed him off and each scratched him behind the ears before walking past him. Ron and Hermione sat close together, and Harry sat on the huge armchair, well away from them. Hagrid noticed the uncomfortable silence between the inseparable trio.
"We're so glad you're back, Hagrid!" Hermione said, trying to cover up the awkwardness.
"Glad ter be back, Hermione," Hagrid answered warmly. "What 'ave you three been up to? Not getting' into more trouble, I 'ope?" he asked, eyeing them.
"Just the usual," Harry answered, looking at the other two, who seemed to blush together. "Where were you?"
"Sorry. Can't tell you, Harry. Official Hogwarts business. But I can tell you that I've got a great deal of information that will help Hogwarts," he beamed. Being the curious person he was, Harry asked, "Like what?"
"Just...stuff, Harry. Anyway, Dumbledore tells me you saw somethin' happen in here?" Hagrid questioned. Harry blushed.
"Sort of," he replied. "Did Dumbledore tell you everything?"
"Aye, he did. I can't for the life of me figure out who could've been in here, except Lucius..." Hagrid trailed off thoughtfully. The three's attention caught the name "Lucius", who was Draco Malfoy's father.
"Malfoy's father was here?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that," Hagrid muttered to himself.
"Hagrid, what was he doing here?" Ron asked angrily.
Now, listen, you three. Its not what you think, so leave it up ter Dumbledore ter figure it out. Don't go meddlin', understand?" he said in a stern voice. The three quickly nodded, at the same time thinking the total opposite.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry had been thinking about what Lucius had said all day, and decided that he needed a break. An hour before dinner, he took his Invisibility Cloak, along with the Marauder's Map, and started exploring the vast castle called Hogwarts. He knew it would take a lifetime to actually explore every door in the building, but he needed to clear his mind. He went up to the third floor, which wasn't out-of-bounds anymore, and started looking around there. He went along the familiar path that led to Fluffy's old lair. As he swung the door open, he smiled at the string of events that had started in this very room with the giant three-headed dog of Hagrid's.
After about half an hour, Harry decided to go back to the common rooms as he was getting a bit bored and cold. He quickly ran in the direction of the portrait under the Invisibility Cloak and bumped headlong into someone, toppling to the floor. Harry got up and brushed himself off, seeing that the other person was none other than Ginny. He groaned inwardly. Seeing her brought back all the things he had tried to forget in the past half an hour. Ginny looked around for the person that had bumped into her, finding only air. She frowned as she brushed herself off, and Harry slowly removed the Cloak. Her eyes grew wide and she would've uttered an ear-splitting scream if Harry hadn't clamped her mouth shut with his hand.
"Oh, god, Harry! You scared me!" she exclaimed when he removed his hand. He smiled.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to," he replied, rolling the Cloak and Map up and stuffing it in his robe pocket. She smiled back.
"Its all right. Um, about the other night..." she started when he stopped her.
"It's all right, Gin. I was upset, and as a friend, you were making me feel better. It was merely an accident...right?" he asked a little uncertainly, trying to convince himself that this was the fact.
"Uh, right. Accident. Of course," she replied just as uncertainly. He nodded and pushed past her into the common room to get ready for dinner.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"May I please have your attention?" Professor McGonagall demanded as she tapped her goblet with her spoon. The Hall grew quiet as Dumbledore stood.
"Students, I have some very disturbing news."
The students waited with bated breath.
"I am very sorry to inform you all that Hogsmeade has been attacked."