She thought she would feel relieved. Free. She was only holding him back from being with the girl he loved.
So why didn't she feel relieved?
To tell the truth, she DID feel quite a bit relieved. But there was also a sadness in her that hadn't been there before. She supposed it came along with any breakup.
"Hey, you OK?" a concerned voice inquired. She felt a warm presence, probably attached to the deep voice,
sit next to her, shoulder to shoulder.
She sighed deeply. "Its over," she curtly replied. He followed her sigh up with one of his own.
"Well, it's a good thing. I mean, you both were probably just torturing each other inwardly," he answered softly. She only nodded, for she knew this was true.
"I'm just feeling depressed. I-I don't know. Does that always come after a breakup?" she wondered out loud.
"Well, I wouldn't know from personal experience, but I've been around enough people to tell that it usually does, especially if that person like the other a whole lot," he explained.
"I did. As a friend. I realized that AFTER he asked me out." She laughed. "I'm so stupid."
"No, you're not." He touched her arm lightly, causing goosebumps to appear on it. She involuntarily shivered, wondering how he managed to do that.
"You're just human. There's nothing wrong with that. You got hurt. It happens. You're strong. You'll get through this," he said in a comforting voice. She put her head on his shoulder, and he placed his on top.
"Harry," she laughed. "You don't HAVE to say that. I'm happy for Ron," she said. "I really am. But that was so pointless. He liked Lavender the whole time."
"'Mione, you don't know he didn't like you too," he pointed out gently.
"Not like that," she agreed. "It was the SAME, except with a new title slapped on it," she muttered. "I'm just depressed. I'll get over it. And it doesn't even matter. I liked someone else," she let out.
"Who?" his voice had a surprised tone.
"You'll find out when the time is right," she said softly in his ear.
"Hermione!" he stood up along with her.
"Harry," she laughed, "Don't worry about it. Or about me. I'll be OK." She reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek before disappearing into the common room once more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hogsmeade Saturday rolled around. Harry woke up at six in the morning from a strange dream about Dudley becoming so big that he rolled over in his sleep and fell on Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, who then screamed and gurgled. He tried to go back to sleep, decided that he couldn't and wandered down to the brightly-lit common room in the chilly air of early morning. He sat directly in front of the fire and stuck his hands out, trying to warm them.
"What are you doing up so early, Harry?" He turned around to see Hermione with a surprised mixed with concerned look on her face as she wrapped her thick nightgown tighter around her. She situated herself to the left of Harry, imitating him as she held out her hands to the fireplace.
"I had a strange dream and I couldn't go back to sleep. You?" he asked.
"Parvati's Rememberall woke me up. It kept screeching in her trunk, and it didn't help that her bed was right next to mine. She kept mumbling in her sleep, too," she explained, smiling a little. Harry laughed.
"Any less depressed than before?" he asked, hoping she was.
"Significantly," she answered proudly, grinning.
"I'm glad," he replied, grinning back.
"Thanks to you. That little talk really helped," she added, softer this time.
"You know I'm there for you," he replied, just as soft. He placed his hand on top of hers. She nodded as their fingers entwined, and they stayed that way for a minute, lost in each other's eyes.
"Oh, I almost forgot! Want to see something?" she asked suddenly, a sparkle in her cinnamon eyes.
"What?" he asked carefully.
She ran up to her trunk quietly, retrieved her wand, and raced back downstairs.
"Ready?" she asked, aiming her wand at the ceiling.
"I... guess," he answered slowly, wondering what trick she had up her sleeve.
"Astrum Athrubius!" she intoned. When nothing happened, she sat down, seeming satisfied, and placed the wand on the center table.
"What's going on, Hermione?" Harry asked, bringing his eyes from the unaffected ceiling back to Hermione.
"Look up," she whispered. He did, and what he saw amazed him beyond words.
The ceiling was gone. Well, at least it seemed like it. In its place was the night sky, a million stars spread out
across the blanket of blue expanse. In the corners, he could see the galaxies slowly rotating and sparkling as they did
so, and the ceiling seemed to move, to spin, ever so much every minute. It was a bit like a Muggle planetarium that he
had seen on television at the Dursleys'.
"Hermione," he said softly. "Where did you learn how to do that?"
"I was in the library studying for the Charms quiz, and I came across it," she answered simply, staring at Harry. He looked so adorable, just sitting there, gazing upwards at the natural beauty over their heads. He looked like every worry was temporarily wiped from his mind.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she whispered, also looking at it for the first time.
"You know what's a more comfortable way to see this?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck and wincing slightly. She laughed.
"What?" she asked. He lay down, parallel to the fireplace, placing his hands behind his head. She followed, still laughing.
"Now THAT'S magic," she commented, and they both burst out in a fresh fit of laughter.
She sighed. "I could stay like this forever," she said.
"So could I," he replied, but his focus wasn't on the ceiling anymore. He watched her as she watched the natural wonder up above, the flames dancing lightly across her porcelain skin and her silky hair, highlighting it different colors at once. He reached over and tucked a stray strand behind her ear, causing her to turn on her side to face him.
He propped his head on his hand and turned on his side to face her, who looked up at him with uncertainty in her chocolate eyes. Harry didn't say a word, just leaned in and kissed her, her soft lips making his mind spin.
She took in a sharp breath. Granted, this wasn't the first time this had happened to her, but somehow, it felt... special. She guessed it was because she wasn't linked to Ron while doing it.
He pulled back, breathless and flushed, a mirror image of her.
"That was..." she couldn't form the rest of it. He laughed.
"It was THAT bad?" he asked, a mock hurt expression on his face. Hermione was about to protest, but decided to play along.
"Eh, I've had better," she shrugged.
"Oh, really? With Ron, I suppose," he said in a flat tone, sighing.
"Not quite. I mean, no offense to your best friend, but he was nowhere close to Viktor Krum," she grinned wickedly. Harry gaped.
"Hang on. You're comparing me to Ron, who's worse than VIKTOR?" he exclaimed.
"In my experience," she answered calmly. "I mean, YOU have a lot of potential. You just... need the lessons."
"Lessons?" he raised one eyebrow.
"Definitely. Kindle the talent. You know what I mean?" she asked, grinning again.
"Really? And WHO is going to give me lessons?" he asked, bringing his hand, which had been supported by his
elbow on the floor, back up to his head.
"I don't know. Go ask Dobby's girlfriend," she said, laughing.
"Dobby has a girlfriend?" Harry asked, surprised.
"OH! WINKY!" he realized, then laughed. "No offense, but I'd rather gouge my eyes out."
"That can be arranged," she replied coyly, running a finger down his cheek.
"Sure, but I was thinking more like YOU giving me lessons," he mused.
"For a price," she responded.
"Name it," he said. With that, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him intensely. He kissed back just as fiercely. She immediately pulled back, chest heaving, and said, "THAT... is the payment." He laughed and kissed her again, more playful this time. She laughed underneath his lips before he parted hers with his tongue. She accepted immediately as his tongue ran over her bottom lip, making her tighten her arms around his neck.
He moved downward form her lips to her neck, planting butterfly kisses there and making her sigh. He smiled before she pulled him back up and their lips made contact again. Their tongues fought with each other, against each other, a battle that had already been won.
She felt a thousand sensations explode inside her as he moved on top smoothly and ran one hand up her shirt slowly as the other ran up her back. He felt the shiver run up her spine, and ran a finger slowly down it, feeling the goosebumps appear. He kissed the other side of her neck, and she bent her head forward so that she was breathing in his ear. Now it was his turn with the gooseflesh. She kissed the spot just below his earlobe, making him tense up. She smiled and ran her hand below the collar of his dressing gown and outlined lazy circles on the spot below his neck, claiming his mouth once more. He readily gave in.
The portrait door opened. Harry abruptly pulled away, panting, and stood up, pulling Hermione up with him.
"Someone's coming," she managed to say between the short gasps of breath. He nodded and they both straightened each other out. Harry reached out to push a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. She kissed his palm and he leaned in and kissed her very quickly. They were OK, except for their breathing. They forced themselves to take deep breaths just as Ron Weasley walked in, looking dazed (to say the least) as he ran one hand repeatedly through his already tousled hair while the other one was behind his back.
"Where have you been, MR. Weasley?" Hermione did her best impression of Professor McGonagall, and Ron almost fell over the couch as he tripped. He struggled to regain his composure as he glared at Hermione and Harry, now doubled up laughing in front of the fireplace. His blue eyes were a mixture of shock and anger.
"That wasn't FUNNY, for your information!" he exclaimed edgily.
"I'm sorry, Ron. It was too good to pass up," Hermione said, straightening up but still laughing.
"Where have you been anyway?" Harry asked, grinning but standing up straight. Ron colored, the freckles on his cheeks disappearing.
"I-I... nowhere. Just went to get a drink. Yeah. WHAT are you two doing up?" he asked, desperate to change the subject.
"But Ron, I was up there a little while ago. The pitcher was full," Harry said, not letting go.
"It doesn't matter," Ron mumbled.
"Ron, tell me or I'll deduct house points RIGHT NOW!" Harry warned, taking a step forward.
"I was... visiting someone. Now, if you'll excuse me," he feigned a yawn and an unnatural-looking stretch, "I'm beat. I'm going to bed." With that, he rushed up the stairs before anyone could utter a word. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then burst out laughing. They had a good idea of where he had been.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Let's go to the Three Broomsticks," Hermione suggested, rubbing her gloved hands together.
"Yeah, before my head freezes up," Ron muttered, his head buried deep in his high-collar coat so that you could only see his very red nose and very blue eyes. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, and he was shivering with every step.
"Come on, Ron. Don't be a wimp. You can't stand this cold?" Harry asked, waving an arm at the sky.
"No," Ron immediately replied.
"Well, neither can I. Let's go," he replied, making Hermione laugh, as they ran across the snow-covered street to the Three Broomsticks. As they pushed the door open, the little bell above their heads tinkled three times. A blast of warmth greeted them, mixed with the busy chatter of all the people who were sitting at the tables as Madam Rosmerta and her red shoes ran around, trying to get everyone's order.
They took a seat at a table in the back of the room near a small fireplace built into the wall. Ron sighed in immense relief as he slid into the seat next to Harry, who sat across from Hermione. It was still a little awkward between Ron and Hermione. Even though the majority of their little time spent together these days was friendly, a wave of tension still hung in the air. They weren't able to be free around each other anymore, and it made Hermione a little mad. Harry noticed that whenever the three of them were together, sometimes they fell into an awkward silence and Harry mostly had to restart the conversation.
"May I take your order?" Madam Rosmerta asked, beaming at them, a quill and a pad of paper poised in her hand.
"Three butterbeers, please," Harry smiled at her. She nodded and scribbled it down.
"I'll be right back," she said and hurried off, whereupon Harry turned back to his friends.
"Look who's here," Ron snarled, nodding at the doorway. The other two looked in his direction to see Malfoy and his thugs step in through the door. They walked over and sat 3 tables away from where Harry, Hermione and Ron sat.
"Just ignore them," Hermione said in a low tone, talking more to the table than to the two across from her.
"She's right, Ron. Just leave them alone. They're not worth our time," Harry agreed as he turned
back to the table. After rolling his eyes one final time, Ron turned his attention back to the table too.
"Here you go," Madam Rosmerta came back with three butterbeers in her hands and set each down in front of
them.
"Is it true that Peter Pettigrew was at Hogwarts?" she asked in a whisper.
"Yeah," Harry replied.
"Oh, you poor things. Is he gone?" she asked with sympathy.
"For now," Ron answered, taking a swig of the butterbeer and reveling in the sweetness of it.
"Such audacity, terrorizing children in SCHOOL. Got to learn..." she muttered more to herself than to them, walking away.
The three sighed and took a sip of their butterbeers.
"I really do hope he doesn't come back," Hermione said.
"Me neither," Ron agreed. They looked at each other as the awkward silence descended again. Luckily for Harry, a big black dog suddenly scratched at the glass window next to where Ron was sitting. Harry looked at it, surprised, and looked into a pair of familiar brown eyes. As realization hit him, Ron screamed and scooted over to Harry, almost knocking him to the floor.
"RON!" Harry exclaimed, shoving Ron back over. "Its Snuffles!"
"Let's go outside!" Hermione said excitedly, and before they could reply, rushed out the door. Harry and Ron hurried after her.
"Wait!" Ron exclaimed, gripping Harry's sleeve to stop him.
"What?" Harry asked, stopping and turning around.
"I forgot something," Ron said and ran back to the table. As Harry watched, he gulped his butterbeer down and then ran back to Harry, panting.
"You went back to DRINK that?" Harry asked, amazed.
"That's what's going to keep my insides warm for the next minute. Let's go," Ron explained and pushed Harry out the door. They rushed across the street where Hermione was on her knee, scratching the big dog behind his ears as he growled.
"Took you both long enough," she commented, not looking at them. The canine immediately ran over to Harry, who also scratched him behind the ears, and tugged on the edge of Harry's cloak.
"Where to?" he asked as the dog led them up and around the street to a small house that looked very run-down. Once inside, Harry saw that no one had lived there for years, and he knew why. The floors were eaten away by years of decay and insects, the wallpaper was cracked and peeling, and there was a dank smell all around. Thick vines were creeping up the back wall, aiming for the ceiling.
"What is this place, Sirius?" Ron asked, pinching his nose with his thumb and index fingers.
"An old house I found while roaming the other day," he answered, walking forward as he assumed his human form again. Harry studied him, and he looked healthier than the last time he had seen him, when Sirius Black had been all skin and bones.
"You look alive, Sirius," Harry commented, grinning, glad to see his godfather in good shape. Sirius laughed.
"Why, thank you," he answered, bowing. "There's something the three of you should know," he added in a more serious tone.
"What?" Hermione asked, tensing up.
"Well, in case I'm very much mistaken, which doesn't happen often, Wormtail is coming back for a third round. Remus and I did some investigating and obtained this information. But this time, he has a reason: He's coming for you, Harry."
"What do you mean, coming for HARRY?" Ron exclaimed.
"I mean, he's coming to take Harry to a secret hideout somewhere - I don't know where yet - and prepare you for Voldemort," Sirius explained edgily. Harry sighed.
"Well, we all knew it was only a matter of time," he answered heavily. Little did he and the others know that Draco Malfoy had seen the dog as well, as was scribbling it down on a piece of parchment out of the sights of Crabbe and Goyle, the brainless twits.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was too clear to be true. And yet, it couldn't be a dream. There was no haze. Every person's face, contorted in some expression, stood out, each clear as the next, except for the dark figures in the hooded black cloaks, hunched over in a circle with their hands clasped in front of them. Their faces you couldn't make out at all.
A cauldron bubbled in the middle of the large circle formed by the hooded figures as big purple bubbles popped on the surface and a thick steam rose out of it. Suddenly, a tall, skinny hooded body appeared in front of the cauldron from the darkness beyond. It raised its hands up in the air, causing circle to simultaneously move down in a single bow. As they raised back up, their heads still bowed, the tall figure behind the cauldron cried in a high, shrill voice: "My fellow men, today we welcome a new member into our circle. One who is certainly worthy of such a high title. Son of my most loyal, Lucius," the voice paused as one of the hooded people stepped forward, bowing his head even lower.
"My lord," he greeted curtly in a steely voice.
"Lucius, bring forth your son, and we shall see if he is ready to join me," the voice commanded as the body attached slid around the cauldron so it was standing in front of it.
"Yes, my lord," the man named Lucius bowed quickly and rushed off. A few moments later, he returned, followed by a smaller body cloaked in black, hood drawn up over his head. The two stopped a few feet from the tall leader, the smaller body in front now.
"My lord," he answered in a cold, crisp tone, bowing curtly.
"I see you've taught him well, Lucius," the voice appraised. "Lower your hood," it demanded. A pair of pale hands with long fingers lowered the black hood in one swift motion, revealing a boy of about 16 with shocking blond hair that was slicked back and glittering silver eyes.
"Ah," the voice said, circling the boy. "Draco Malfoy," it drawled, touching his back with a wand.
"I've been preparing him all his life for you, the Dark Lord," Lucius said.
"Good, good," the Dark Lord nodded, stopping in front of the cauldron once more. He raised his hands to his hood and lowered it, revealing the most grotesque face a person could ever see. Red eyes surveyed the audience with a cold strength, while the small slits for nostrils took in deep, even breaths. The scaly skin and slit for a mouth with gleaming, strong teeth completed its ugly face.
Without warning, he raised his wand to Draco and cried, "Crucio!" Draco fell to the floor on his hands and knees, gritting his teeth together against the pain. Among the many things his father had taught him, one was that a Malfoy should never show pain. Draco stayed absolutely still as the stabbing pain surged through him, squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his jaws together.
When the pain finally subsided, he took a deep but shaky breath and stood up, standing straight but his head bowed.
"No display of pain... I must say, Lucius, you've prepared him more than adequately for me," the Dark Lord commended, serpent-like eyes on Draco.
"Adipiscorius!" he intoned next, making Draco fall to the ground on all fours once more. This time, the pain started in his head, then slowly spread down his body, feeling like molten lava was pouring through him slowly, agonizingly, and making it seem like death was better. But like before, he restrained the scream that threatened to rip out of his throat and settled for gritting his teeth and pinching his eyes shut. When the unbearable pain had passed, he stood up straight once more, bowing his head again.
"Very good," the Dark Lord approved, twirling his wand in his hand.
"Thank you, my lord," the two Malfoys replied in unison.
"It is time," the Dark Lord announced after a few seconds more of studying Draco. He nodded, causing the other hooded figures to press together and make the circle significantly smaller. Lucius retreated into the empty spot behind him, and Draco stepped forward, calm on the outside but trembling violently inside.
"Show me your arm," the Lord commanded. Draco raised his left sleeve and extended his flawless arm. The Dark Lord clasped his hand above the wrist, sending a freezing chill through Draco.
"Consurgo Appareo!" he intoned, making Draco flinch in his mind. His brain was still quite in control, however, and he stood still, watching as the infamous Dark Mark, a skull with a serpent protruding out of its mouth, burned permanently into his arm.
Harry shot up in bed, his scar burning, bathed in sweat. Draco Malfoy had gotten the Dark Mark, and Harry had seen it.