Forbidden Love
Chapter 14
Harry sat on the train with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. He was in an extremely foul mood. Before he left for holiday Professor Dumbledore had called him into his office where he advised Harry that during and after the break he had some very important matters that he needed to handle with The Order. Next, he told him that Professor McGonagall would be acting as Headmistress for a couple of weeks, which was no big deal. However, then he told him that due to what "The Order perceives as an ongoing threat", he would have to continue his Occlumency lessons in Dumbledore's absence... with Snape. Harry's scowl darkened.
"What are you looking so upset about Harry?" Luna asked from her seat across from him. "Did a Nargle steal your favorite outfit?"
When Ron burst into laughter, Harry glowered at him. "Nope," the redhead said, still grinning and ignoring the other boy's dark look. "He's upset that he has to take some private lessons with Snape next term."
Luna gave Harry a sympathetic look. "He's not a very pleasant man, is he?"
Harry snorted. "That's an understatement."
"You know that it's important Harry, otherwise Dumbledore would never ask," Hermione chimed in looking up from her book.
"I know that already Hermione, I don't need you to hassle me," Harry grumbled.
Hermione scoffed and slammed her book shut "Hassle you?! Why-"
"Lay off Hermione, you know he's just under a lot of stress," Ginny said, rubbing Harry's arm and glowering at the older girl.
"That doesn't give him the right to act like a jerk," Hermione responded returning the other girl's fierce look.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't give you the right to act like an old nag."
"I was not acting like a nag, old or otherwise and I object to being constantly referred to as one!" Hermione replied, her voice rising.
"Please, what do you call constantly telling him what he does and doesn't need to do? Especially today, when you already know that he's already upset," Ginny retorted, her voice rising also as she glared at the brown-haired girl, "-because I call it nagging!"
"Well I call it being a friend! I was just trying to look out for him and give him a friendly reminder that Dumbledore would never have him placed in such a position for no reason!"
"Well perhaps you should keep your friendly reminders to yourse-"
"Ok, that's enough!" Harry interjected, "Ginny, thanks for sticking up for me and Hermione, thanks for looking out for me, but all I want to do is sit here and mull over my options in silence, ok? Can we do that please, without all the arguing?" He asked, looking between the girls.
Ginny shrugged and gave one more glower to Hermione before turning to look out the window, while Hermione returned the girls glare before looking at him again. When she opened her mouth to comment he cut her off.
"Can we not, please Hermione? How would you like it if you had Snape probing your thoughts or seeing your most private memories, huh?"
"I wouldn't like it at all, which is why I would try my best to-" she abruptly stopped, as her eyes widened. "Wait, any of your memories?"
Harry gave her a grim look and nodded.
Hermione stared at him for a moment longer, then sat back in her seat and began chewing her lip, her brows furrowing in concentration. "Ok then, we'll just have to practice over holiday," she said after a minute. "We need to go to Flourish & Blotts to get some materials. I actually recall seeing some Occlumency books there before the start of term, and if I remember correctly they were pretty advanced. I would have gotten them myself, but I didn't have the galleons, however that's not an issue for you. I'm sure that we'll be able to get mum and dad to swing by Diagon Alley on the way home and I'll show you were they are so that you can get them." Harry and Ron shared a look. "Boy how I wish there was a wizard's library near my house," she mumbled to herself before rummaging through her bag for a quill and parchment to make a list with.
Ron looked at Harry and grinned, "Sounds like you're in for great fun this holiday mate."
Harry gave a dejected sigh and let his head fall back onto the seat. There was nothing he could do about it now, once Hermione got going all you could do was stand back and watch in amazement until she pointed you in the right direction and sent you on your way. He supposed that he should be glad though, with her in the lead he was almost certain to find some type of solution to his problem with Snape. A few minutes later, Ginny grasped his hand and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you Harry," she said it in a whisper, but he was somehow able to hear her over Luna's humming, Hermione's furious writing and Ron and Neville's talking.
"I'm going to miss you too Ginny," he replied, kissing the top of her head... and wishing that he meant it.
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They had all just gotten off of the train when they were met by a jovial voice.
"Welcome back!" Mr. Weasley called, smiling as he approached. "Are you kids ready for holiday break?" He paused long enough for them to nod 'yes' before continuing. "Good, good, I remember how much I use to look forward to them when I was a lad. My mates and I lived rather close to one another and use to get together to roast cherry-nuts over the fire," he finished with a wistful smile.
Mrs. Weasley gave her husband a look and rolled her eyes heavenward before coming forward and giving Harry a soft smile and a hug. "We're going to miss you at the Burrow this holiday Harry. I was looking forward to having you there with the rest of the kids, now that Fred and George have their place in Diagon Alley, you and Ron would have even been able to have your own rooms this year."
"Really? That sounds like it would have been great Mrs. Weasley," Harry responded with a smile. "I'm so sorry I couldn't make it, it's just that-"
"Now never you mind," she interrupted "I understand perfectly, not only did I get your owl post, Arthur and I also a nice chat with Ella and Dan when we got here."
"My mum and dad are here?" Hermione interjected from her spot next to Ron.
"Of course dear," Mrs. Weasley said, giving Hermione a quick hug and a smile before turning and making her way towards the entrance to platform nine and three-quarters. She politely pushed passed the eager students and through the small throngs of families with the rest of the group following her ready-made path. "They're just outside," she continued as the crowd cleared a bit more "we suggested that they come through to the train with us, but they couldn't seem to get the gumption to walk through the wall," she answered throwing a grin over her shoulder.
"Can't blame them there Molly," Mr. Weasley added from just behind Harry, "must be an awfully awkward thing for a muggle to walk right into something that they were taught they couldn't walk through."
Harry nodded his head in agreement remembering his first year at Hogwarts and how nervous he had been walking into the pillar between platforms nine and ten. After they made it off the platform and made their way out of the station, they finally spotted Ella and Dan Granger standing by their car. The couple gave a smile and a wave to the loud boisterous group and grinned as their daughter separated from the crowd and rushed forward to hug them both. By the time Harry made it over, Hermione was just finishing her embrace with her dad.
"Harry," Mr. Granger said extending a hand, "good to have you back."
"Thank you sir," Harry responded giving it a firm shake.
"Oh and of course it's good to see you again Ronald," he added looking to Harry's left.
"Go-good to see you too sir," Ron responded turning a dull red.
"Hello Ron," Mrs. Granger said with a friendly smile at the redhead before looking to his right. "Hello again, Harry." She paused for a brief moment before stepping forward and embracing him in a motherly hug. "I am so glad that you were able to come back for the holiday. I'm afraid Hermione gets dreadfully bored with just her dad and I to hang out with at this time of year," she said once she pulled back.
Now it was Harry's turn to blush. "Thanks Mrs. Granger, I'm glad to be coming back," he responded giving a small smile.
"I told you to call me Ella," she commented with a grin and a playful nudge, and Harry grinned back.
"Well let's get these bags in then," he heard Mr. Weasley say as he popped the trunk on what Harry assumed was another vehicle the Ministry had let him borrow.
"Harry?" he turned to see Ginny standing just behind him, facing her fully he gave a lopsided smile.
"Hey Gin."
"I'm going to miss you," she said with a shy smile.
"I'll miss you too," he responded "but I'll be up on Christmas Eve and we can owl one another."
Ginny frowned, "You better, if I remember correctly you only owled me once during the last two weeks of summer."
Harry blushed "Er, yeah, I'm sorry, it's just that- I was kind of... adjusting to my new surroundings."
She gave him a look that said she didn't believe him, before coming forward and pulling him into a hug.
"Well you should be well adjusted by now, so I plan to hear from you often" she said drawing back and looking him in the eyes. Then, after a momentary hesitation, she got on her tiptoes and gave him a long kiss on the lips.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" her mum said from behind her. "Just what in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?!"
Harry blushed and quickly pulled away giving Mrs. Weasley an apologetic look, but she wasn't focused on him, her gaze was on her daughter. She came forward swiftly and grabbed Ginny by the ear, pulling her over for a mother daughter chat. Harry cast a glance back at Mr. Weasley to see how upset he was, but the older gentleman seemed to have missed the whole scene and was still busy trying to fit trunks and pets into the back of the car. Hearing a noise to his left he turned to find both Mr. and Mrs. Granger giving him amused looks; his blush deepened.
"So, are we ready to go?" he asked with a weak smile.
Mr. Granger laughed outright, while his wife just continued to smile and patted Harry's arm. "In a minute dear, we're waiting on Hermione."
"Where is she?" Harry asked looking around in another attempt to shift focus.
"Not far I'm sure, she just said she had to say goodbye to Ron," her mum said joining Harry in his search.
A minute later he located Ron and Hermione over by a pillar talking. "There they are," he said, indicating the direction with his head.
Hermione was in plain view but Ron was partially obstructed, Harry was just about to call out that they were ready when suddenly Ron came forward. Wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist, he pulled her against him and captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
Harry hadn't even realized that he had taken a step in his mates' direction until he felt a hand grab his forearm. Looking down and then over he noticed that Mrs. Granger was holding him back; she gave him a diminutive smile before turning and looking at her husband, who she was holding with her other hand.
"Now Dan it's just a kiss; all you'll do if you go over there is make her upset. After all" she turned and looked at Harry, a tickled expression on her face "-he is her boyfriend. It's perfectly natural for them to kiss."
Harry and Dan's frowns deepened and Mrs. Granger seemed to become even more amused. "You didn't seem to mind when Harry kissed Ginny."
"Ginny's not my little girl," Mr. Granger retorted, giving an annoyed look to his wife.
"She's someone's little girl," was the response. She then let both of their arms go and turned to the car with a contented smile.
Harry and Dan Granger shared a look before giving resigned sighs. Dan walked around to the driver's seat while Harry turned and walked to the back of car. On the way he used the extra strength from the adrenalin coursing though his body to lift his and Hermione's trunks and carry them to the trunk. Deciding it was better to do that than to use the force for what he really wanted to use it for, which was to punch Ron in the face. Just as he closed the trunk and grabbed Hedwig and Crookshanks' cages, Hermione ran up with her face flushed.
"What?" she asked looking between the two frowning men. Neither said anything, but instead got into the car, slamming their doors shut harder than necessary. Hermione's confused gaze swung to her mum "What?!"
Ella Granger just laughed.
A.N. That's it for this chapter I know it seemed a bit short but this seemed like a good place to
stop. The chapters doo's what they doo's… er is that English?… Well, anyway stay tuned for the next one, same
bat time, same bat channel. Ja ne!! Don't forget to review!!!
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