AN: Hey everyone! Thanks for sticking with me this far! All reviews and reviewers are greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoy this chapter! As always, if you're feeling benevolent, review!
Spoiler Alert: There still shouldn't be any spoilers until further along in the story, so no worries (hopefully!).
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that you might recognize from the Harry Potter series. And that's a rather interesting coincidence because I do not own the Harry Potter series either!
III
Harry and Ron trudged tiredly to their first class of the morning several days later. Even having a couple weeks under their belts, it would a few more days before they grew accustomed with waking up early in the morning every day, going to the laborious classes, and immediately hitting the books to study for tests and to write out five-foot essays. Not to mention, for these boys, that Quidditch season had begun. Their lives were a whirlwind of activities which they doggedly scrambled to keep up with.
"What do we have this morning?" Ron asked with a large yawn.
"Well," Harry joined in on the yawning, "I believe we have Professor Flitwick this morning for charms."
"Oh, that's nice," Ron said, "I think I like that class."
Harry smirked, "Too tired to remember, Ron?"
The only reply he received was a grunt. Harry just laughed and dragged his friend into class. He sat next to Ginny who was already in a seat and pulled Ron into his chair. The red-haired boy immediately collapsed onto his desk and began snoring.
"Should I wake him?" Harry asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Ginny rolled her eyes at his antics, "Just let him be until Flitwick gets here. Anyways, how are you doing?"
"I'm alright, a wee bit tired," Harry answered automatically.
"Well you better wake up and get active, Harry," Ginny leaned in, "I heard that someone was going to ask Hermione out. You need to ask her before this other bloke does."
"Someone else wants to ask her out? Why-" Harry trailed off as Hermione walked into the room. Her stance was confident and awake as she strode into the room. She smiled briefly at Harry who just stared at her before taking her seat at the front of the classroom. Immediately she pulled out a book and began reading. "Never mind," he muttered, "I know why someone else would, she's beautiful." Harry whispered.
Ginny giggled, "She's in school robes, Harry. No girl can look beautiful in those."
"She can, definitely." Harry nodded with finality.
"Well, still," Ginny prodded, "You really ought to ask her to Hogsmeade. It's coming up this week so now would be the perfect time. We can't let someone else beat you to her."
"I-I don't know. What if she says no?" The way Harry said it, no would be the only conceivable answer.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Just think about it, Harry."
No more was said because class began. A large throng of students swathed in green marched purposefully in the room. They silently moved to takes their seats on the right side of the room.
"Good morning, Potter." A familiar voice spat out disdainfully.
Harry slowly turned fully around in his chair before nodding, "Malfoy."
He strutted to the front of the room, right to where Hermione was sitting. Harry made to rise out of his chair but Ginny held him firmly in his seat, "Let's watch how this plays out." With that, she slapped Ron over the head to wake him up and settled back into her seat.
"You're in my seat, Granger." Draco Malfoy announced loudly.
Hermione looked up slowly from her book, "And who do I have the pleasure of meeting now?" she asked, emphasizing the word 'pleasure' sarcastically.
"I don't see the need to introduce myself to the likes of you. Is it not obvious to you which of us is in the higher class?"
"Oh it's obvious to me, but I'm not sure if we share the same definition for 'class'." She answered coolly.
Draco looked at her carefully, "I do believe my definition is correct. I come from one of the oldest of pureblood families. It is apparent to me that you are nothing but a filthy little Mudblood. Now get out of my seat."
The entire Gryffindor side gasped at the word and Harry jumped up, "Take that back, Malfoy! You helped our side in the war! Why are you still saying all of this rubbish?" Ginny and Ron quickly pulled him back into his seat.
"You can't make it so obvious that you like her!" Ginny hissed in his ear.
"Well," Hermione said quietly, "If you're so childish as to resort to name-calling, then I think I will leave." She got up slowly and started moving to the other side of the room only for the blond Slytherin to add insult to injury and trip her harshly. Hermione fell with a thud on the ground and Ginny had to restrain Harry from leaping up again."
It was then that the short Professor Flitwick entered the classroom, seeing Hermione on the ground, he hurriedly moved to help her up, "Are you alright there, Ms. Granger?"
"Oh yes, thank you. I-tripped." She said simply and moved to the Gryffindor side of the room to sit in the front. She pulled a quill and parchment out of her bag and sat ready to listen and take notes.
"Good, good. Welcome back, class. Today we will be working on the Everlasting Ice Charm. What do any of you know of this?" Hermione's hand instantly shot up into the air. "Yes, Ms. Granger."
Hermione took a breath before launching into her rant, "The Everlasting Ice Charm, as its name suggests is a charm that creates ice that will never melt. The incantation is Glacies Eternus and this ice can only be 'melted' by a strong cancelling spell such as Finite Incantatum-"
While Hermione was taking another breath, Professor Flitwick clapped, "Very good, Ms. Granger! Five points to Gryffindor-"
"Furthermore," Hermione continued, "The Everlasting Ice Charm is an advanced way of practicing magic control because we are dealing with ice which is inherently solid rather than fire or water which are far more pliable. Practically, this charm can be used to extinguish almost any sort of fire without the use of water. It is also a quick way-though costly in magic-to produce ice if one needs it immediately which is especially useful in conjunction with the healing techniques that involve ice. This spell is very costly on the caster because of the magical stamina it takes to create ice that does not melt, however, if casted under strict moderation, the caster may only be slightly sore if they feel anything at all after casting." Hermione smiled pleased with herself while the entire class-including Flitwick-gaped at her.
Ron leaned over and whispered to Harry, "Whoa… I've never in my entire life seen someone as smart. Shouldn't she be in Ravenclaw?" Harry didn't respond. Ron laughed, "I wouldn't even consider dating her," he said to no one in particular, "She's definitely bad news."
"Well done, Ms. Granger, well done!" Flitwick exclaimed, clearly very happy, "Another five points to Gryffindor. Well, seeing as Ms. Granger here stole my job as teacher," Hermione blushed, "Why don't all of you start practicing this spell. Be careful though, or you might totally exhaust your magical supply. Remember, Glacies Eternus. You may all begin." With a wave of his wand, bowls of magical fire appeared in front of all of the students. Exclamations of the spell could be heard throughout the class as everyone attempted to master the difficult charm.
Harry quickly mastered the spell-not as quickly as Hermione, of course-and turned to help Ron, but when he saw that way that Ron was waving his wand around, he opted out and decided to help Ginny first. "Need any help, Gin?"
"Nah, I think I almost got it. It looks like Ron needs more help," she answered with a smirk.
"Do you see what he's doing, Ginny?" Ginny looked over to look and made a distressed face at what she saw, "Exactly." Harry nodded with a pained look.
~<>~
Class passed by rather quickly for Hermione Granger. Already having studied the spell, the young witch already had the charm mastered and spent the class re-reading another textbook. The only interruption was a large explosion from behind here. She found out that Ron Weasley, Harry's red-haired friend had somehow managed to blowup the fire-how that's even possible was beyond her, but she didn't doubt his magical… skills. After class ended, Hermione quickly packed her notes, her book and started to make her way out of the classroom. She ignored the harsh goading that she received from the blond Slytherin Harry called Malfoy earlier. Hermione had only made it a short ways into the hall before she was stopped by a hand on her elbow. She whirled around to find Harry staring at her. Hermione smiled sweetly, "Harry! You startled me!"
"Sorry, Hermione, erm… can I talk to you?"
"Of course you may. What's the matter, Harry?" He seemed to be suffering from a lot of internal turmoil. Little did Hermione know that Ginny's advice was really having an emotional impact on the usually confidant teenager.
"Erm… Well, I guess I just wanted to say that, er…" Harry blushed, "You're really smart," he blurted out. He turned a brighter red and gave her a lopsided smile. Hermione grinned widely at the compliment. "Not that I didn't know-sorta," Harry continued, "I already knew that you did a lot of reading, but I didn't know you were that brilliant! You got Gryffindor ten points in just five minutes, nice."
"Thank you, Harry."
As Hermione moved to continue walking down the hall, Harry decided to hope for the best and ask. "Wait, Hermione!"
Hermione stopped again, "Yes, Harry?"
"Erm… I just wanted to ask you-"
"Hermione!"
Hermione turned again and came to face another tall boy with glasses standing before her. "Can I help you?" She noticed his green robes with obvious distaste.
The boy held out his hand and Hermione shook it carefully, "Hey, I'm Nicholas. Sorry about Draco earlier, I had nothing to do with it, I swear."
"Swearing is rude," Hermione answered evenly.
Not at all taken aback the blond-haired boy continued, "Well, you're really smart and I truly admire that. There aren't that many honestly intelligent people in this school," he glanced quickly at Harry, "and I often find myself lacking a companion of similar intellectual stamina. Anyways, I'm just wondering if you'd like to go with me to Hogsmeade with me this weekend."
Harry stared wide-eyed as the boy asked her the exact question he was about to endeavor upon. He glared nastily at the Slytherin and mentally willed Hermione to decline the offer. He waited anxiously for her answer. Hermione took a step back in surprise. No one had ever asked her out before and the way this boy did it was very flattering. He was fairly good-looking as well and seemed genuine about the offer. Hermione quickly analyzed the situation. Not coming up with anything pressing, she looked Nicholas in the eye. He looked expectant, "I'd love to." Hermione smiled sweetly.
Nicholas's eyes gleamed at his success. He quickly thanked Hermione before rushing off. Harry looked downcast at the ground. He looked up when Hermione released a big sigh, "Wow! No one's ever asked me out before, Harry. Nicholas seems to be quite nice as well; I wonder why he's in Slytherin. I'm getting on so much better than I ever expected socially here at Hogwarts, isn't it wonderful, Harry?"
Harry forced himself to smile, "Of course, Hermione! I wouldn't be lying if I told you I was surprised it hasn't happened before."
"What was it you wanted to ask me before we were interrupted, Harry?"
Harry's speeding train of thought suddenly derailed. There was no way that he could ask her out now; he would have to accept his defeat. "Oh, er… I was just wondering what your next class was," he quickly lied even though he already had her whole schedule memorized. She had a free period where she would go to the library to study and do homework, and then she had lunch as her day went on.
"Oh, I don't have a class right now. I was planning on going down to the library to study a little and get started on that essay that Professor Flitwick assigned. You should probably get to work on it as soon as possible, Harry. It's due next week, you know."
Harry smiled and nodded weakly, "Yeah, probably. Erm, well, I'll let you go. I have Potions next, so I better get going."
"Ooh, right, Professor Snape won't be happy at all if you're late. I'll see you later, Harry." Hermione hurried down the hall towards the library. Harry stared dejectedly after her. Ginny appeared behind him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright, Harry?" she said softly, when he didn't answer, she carried on, "I'm really sorry you know, I really am. I could tell that you really liked her."
"Yeah. I should listen to you more often, Ginny," Harry said and tried to smile.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Well, I'll have you know that I wish I wasn't right this time. You really deserve to be happy for once. Are you going to be alright? Ron's probably down in the dungeons already waiting for us. We should go before we're late and Snape kills us. Don't worry, Harry, things will get better, and I won't tell Ron." Ginny hurried off down the stairs before the staircase shifted and Harry made to follow her, but he heard uproarious laughter in the opposite direction. It sounded very much like 'Slytherin laughter', so Harry threw caution to the wind and moved closer to hear. Pulling his invisibility cloak on, he donned it before creeping behind the howling Slytherins. He noticed Nicholas and Malfoy instantly.
"So, you're going out with that Mudblood now? Why ever would you do something as demeaning as that?" Malfoy asked.
"Why, to get to know her better of course," Nicholas answered with a laugh, "Much better. I'm thinking I can get into her knickers after just two dates."
Malfoy laughed, "Wanna bet on that? Why would you be interested in her knickers anyways?"
"It's a bet. And trust me, the smart ones tend to 'work' the best, I'm very well-experienced in that!"
The two continued discussing the finer details of the bet leaving a frozen Harry behind. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. He pulled the cloak off slowly in his shock. Then a wave of anger quickly washed over the boy. He wanted nothing more than to run down the hall and beat those two prats into the next dimension. He was knocked back to his senses by a nearby portrait. "You should warn her!"
"Hermione!" Harry gasped, "You're right." Harry nodded to the figure in the picture. He would have to do it after class though, he was already late, and he'd be lucky if Professor Snape didn't boil him in his own steaming cauldron. Even though Snape also fought on the light side of the war, he didn't like Harry any better. Harry fled down the opposite direction again down towards the dungeons.
Harry burst into the dungeon, drawing the attention of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students, and also Professor Snape. "So kind of you to join us," he drawled, "But I will have to take off ten points from Gryffindor. Just because you saved the world does not give you the license to do whatever you wish, Mr. Potter. If you will take your seat now, please."
"Yes, professor," Harry said with a bowed head. He was still breathless from the run as well as from the shock if what he just learned. He knew that he couldn't keep it to himself. As soon as class was over, he decided that he would confide in Ginny, (the more understanding of his best friends) swallow his pride, and ask for help. If it could help protect Hermione and help him figure out his own feelings, he was willing to do it.
~<>~
The class dragged on endlessly, but Harry was able to earn back five of the points for accurately answering a question that Snape posed. The potions professor wasn't too bad now that he did not have to fool Voldemort into believing that he was on the dark side. When class ended, Harry stuffed his books and notes into his bag before rushing out of the classroom and standing by the door, waiting.
"Why were you late, mate?" Ron asked curiously.
"Oh, eh… I took a detour on the way to class and it was longer than I expected, no big deal." Harry answered quickly.
Ron nodded in understanding, "Let's get to lunch, I'm starved!"
Harry laughed, "Actually, I need to talk to Ginny about some homework, so you go ahead. I know how hungry you can get, mate." Ron laughed and nodded in agreement before heading off towards the Great Hall.
Ginny walked out of the classroom to find Harry waiting for her. "Are you alright, Harry?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine, but Hermione won't be. Ginny I really need to talk to you."
Ginny nodded before following Harry curiously down the hall to a deserted corridor. "What's wrong with Hermione?"
"Nothing yet, Ginny, but I just really need your help on this. I heard-something-and I don't know what to do." With that, Harry launched into the quick tale. Ginny listened intently, her eyes narrowing at appropriate times and she even gasped once but let Harry finish his story. "Now I really don't know what to do. I don't want Hermione to get hurt." Harry finished.
Ginny looked thoughtful, "Well, besides finding out all over again how cruel and heartless Slytherins can be, I almost have nothing to say." She looked Harry in the eye, "One thing is for sure, Harry, you have to tell Hermione. Don't let this get out of hand."
"That's what the portrait said too," Harry mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Erm… well, I suppose I should go warn her now at lunch. The sooner the better, right?"
Ginny stared at Harry incredulously, "You can't be serious, Harry. At lunch, everyone will be able to hear and listen. No, you have to wait to do it privately. Oh, and I don't know Hermione very well, but don't expect her to believe you the first time you tell her. She'll probably blow up at you if you push it too far, but the point is, you need to tell her. Then maybe wait a bit and gather some evidence, then try again. I really don't know what else to do."
"That's definitely the best plan. Thanks for listening, Ginny." Harry smiled appreciatively.
"Anytime, Harry. I completely understand why you didn't go to Ron for this." She winked at him and the two headed off to lunch.
After arriving in the Great Hall, Harry quickly scanned the tables. Not seeing the girl that's been on his mind for the past week, he quickly turned to Ginny. "She's still in the library."
Ginny nodded, "Now would be a good time then. Here take a muffin and give it to her. Perhaps it'll put you in better light before everything comes crashing down. Remember, don't push her too far, Harry."
Harry smiled and took the muffin before rushing out of the hall again. He vaguely heard Ginny explaining to Ron why he was leaving, "Uh… Harry said he forgot his quill in the library."
"When was he in the library today?"
"Erm… Oh, Ron! Is that lemon pie that I see over there?!"
"Ooh, where? I love pie!"
Hermione dipped her quill into her inkwell again before furiously scribbling a neat ending on her essay. "And so, it should be obvious with the arguments and evidence I have presented that Glacies Eternus is an efficient and effective charm whose positive points outweigh the negative sides by far. Perfect!" Her eyes glanced quickly over the entire four-foot essay searching for any spelling and grammar mistakes even though she expected none. It never hurt to double check. She glanced up and saw Harry entering the library. He quickly spotted her and moved in her direction tossing a muffin up and down as he would a baseball-if he knew what a baseball was.
"Hey, Hermione! I didn't see you at lunch. I brought you a muffin." He held out the muffin.
Hermione took up the proffered muffin with a smile, "Thank you, Harry. Good afternoon. What brings you down to the library?"
Hermione noticed him glance around quickly before sitting down closer to her. "Actually, Hermione. I, erm, wanted to talk to you about something I heard earlier." He glanced around nervously again.
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right, Harry?" Hermione placed a calming hand on his.
"Of course, Hermione. And you know that I'd never want you to get hurt, right?" Hermione nodded and Harry launched into his story, "What I'm trying to say Hermione is… well… argh… Nicholas doesn't actually like you!"
Hermione looked shocked, "What do you mean?" she said her eyes tapered slightly.
"I mean, I heard him talking to Malfoy and he said all he wants from you is to… well, to get into your pants."
Hermione glared at Harry dangerously, "I don't think you know what you're talking about, Harry."
Harry looked around desperately, "I'm not kidding, Hermione. I know what I hear and he said that! You have to believe me."
"I will believe whatever I choose to believe." Hermione said, "And I'll have you know that Nick was down here just a moment ago studying with me and we had a wonderful conversation. He was nothing but a sweet gentleman-"
"It's an act!" Harry interrupted.
"I think you should leave," Hermione said coldly, "I need to finish my essay, and who are you to be telling me what to believe. Good bye, Harry."
Harry sighed frustrated and looked one more time at Hermione but she had turned determinedly back to her essay, the muffin lay forgotten on the cold table. He stood up slowly and left the library while silently deciding that he would have to keep an eye on Nicholas during their dates.
He trudged out into the hall again to find himself facing an eager girl. "Hey, Vanessa." He mumbled.
"Hey Harry!" she said brightly. The light-brown-haired girl reminded Harry vaguely of Hermione and made him feel more dejected. Vanessa blushed before asking, "I was wondering, Harry, if you wanted to accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend."
The statement was said like a question and Harry was caught off guard, "Doesn't the guy usually ask?"
"Well, you seemed so busy that I figured you didn't have the time, so I wanted to save you the trouble." She smiled demurely at Harry, "but if you wanted to ask, go ahead."
Harry rubbed his neck unsurely, "Oh, sorry, Vanessa, but I'm going to be busy this weekend so I can't join you for the day."
Vanessa looked downcast and Harry felt really bad for rejecting her like he did, "Maybe another time." He added slowly and mentally kicked himself when he saw her face brighten. He hadn't meant to lead her on. Inwardly Harry groaned loudly as the girl flounced off. So much for a fantastic year…
AN2: Alright, I hope you all enjoyed that! I get the feeling when I'm re-reading that my characterizations are a little bit shallow. What do you guys think? It' s a little late to fix it for this story, but I could watch out for it on future tales if you guys think that it's a problem. Anyways, I'll try to have another chapter up for you guys soon. Perhaps I can get one up tomorrow night-if not then, Tuesday night for sure. Oh, and if you're interested in searching for it, I've scattered my all-time favorite number throughout the entirety of this fic so if anyone wants to have a go at looking for it, I'll recognize you for finding it! As always, comments and suggestions are welcomed and embraced happily! Cheers!