Forbidden Love
Chapter 31
Harry nuzzled his girlfriend's neck.
"Harry cut it out," Hermione muttered swatting playfully at his face and not looking up from her text.
He grinned, "What Luv? I can't help it, you just look so adorable right now."
She looked over her shoulder and smirked at him. "Well you'll have to. We really need to study, N.E.W.T.'s are just around the corner."
He rolled his eyes and gave a sigh, "Fine."
As she turned back to her book, Harry tilted his head back, resting it against the large tree behind him. Looking up at the sky above, he marveled at how well everything had been going lately. At first when everyone had found out about him and Hermione there had been a lot of whispering, speculation and rumors floating throughout the school. However those had died down quite a bit towards the end of the first day -he had a feeling Malfoy's broken nose had a lot to do with it. And everyone had quickly accepted that a duo from the "golden trio" had paired off once again. Honestly, Harry had actually been quite surprised by how swiftly everyone seemed to truly accept his relationship with Hermione. But he was even more stunned by how many people told him that they weren't surprised and that they had actually expected Hermione to be with him instead of Ron in the first place.
He smiled to himself, had also been blessedly nightmare-free since the one with Bellatrix and with Hermione as his girlfriend he was doing a hell of a lot better in all of his classes, which meant that his waking hours were peaceful too. He had aced his transfiguration potion, much to Snape's dismay, and he had begun pulling higher marks in every single one of his classes -even the ones he and Hermione didn't have together. Harry smiled and lightly kissed the top of his girlfriend's head. In fact now, at her insistence, they were studying for N.E.W.T.'s in the courtyard. He gave a wry grin… well he was supposed to be studying. And since the test was rumored to be so nasty, even Ron had readily agreed to give up his Saturday to sit outside and study with him and Hermione… oh and Luna, of course.
The red haired boy was sitting almost shoulder to shoulder with Harry leaning against the other side of the large tree trunk. Ron and Luna were sitting in the same position as he and Hermione with the blonde sitting securely between her boyfriend's legs reading a text on Transfiguration for her end of the year essay. Meanwhile, Ron teetered between paying attention to his own Transfiguration book and staring at his girlfriend.
`I guess Ron isn't studying either,' he thought with a chuckle. `Then again, he's also not likely to be the one quizzed by his girlfriend later on what he had learned.'
Harry mentally sighed and lightly stroked Hermione's waist while looking absently at his Potions book. He stared at the text on the pages for a couple of minutes before he was once again drawn back into thought.
The only cloud over his newfound relationship seemed to be his old one. Since the breakup his and Ginny's relationship had been extremely strained. Though the redheaded girl spoke to him, quite often in fact, the things that she said were so off that he didn't know how to take them. She still insisted that he was under some type of spell or potion, she had also taken to touching him whenever possible and on more than one occasion she had attempted to kiss him.
Luckily, because he had been there for her conversation with Hermione and had had several warnings from Ron, he already knew what she was about which made it easier to not only evade Ginny's advances, but also avoid being put into positions where he would have to be on guard for them. Harry sighed, well it could be worse -she wasn't even talking to Hermione unless it was hurling insults or hexes. Good thing his girlfriend was quite adept with protection spells and counter curses or she would be spending every other day in Madam Pomfrey's office. He had been quite upset when he had first heard about Ginny's actions towards Hermione, but it didn't take long for him to realize that his girlfriend had no problem at all handling herself against the younger Weasley.
No, what really troubled him was the strain in the relationship between Ginny and Ron. He and Hermione deserved what they got, but Ron… He sighed again, though the relationship between the Weasley siblings wasn't as bad as the one between Hermione and Ginny it was still bad. The younger girl didn't try to curse or hex her brother, but she also didn't try anything else either. When Ron would talk to her she would usually turn and walk away or worse yet stand there and ignore him, looking right through him as if her were invisible. What made Harry feel so guilty was the fact that Ginny seemed to have forgiven him and not her brother who, by the way, was as innocent as her in the whole mess.
It was during one particularly guilt ridden moment that Harry had asked Ginny why she treated Ron the way she did. She had responded that it was because Ron had chosen Hermione over her, so Harry had pointed out - somewhat hesitantly - that he had in essence done the same thing. But the redheaded girl had just smiled, patted him softly on the cheek and informed him that it wasn't the same. Knowing what Ginny was implying, he then tried to once again stress the fact that Hermione had not placed him under any spell or given him any type of love potion. But she had waved him off and hurried into her class. Harry sighed for a third time; he was really beginning to think Ginny had cracked her nut.
"What are you brooding about?" Hermione asked, turning and giving him a look.
He shook his head lightly, "Nothing."
"Harry," she said, arching a brow.
He exhaled, "I just don't understand how things can be so great and so horrible at the same time."
"Come on Harry N.E.W.T.s aren't that bad."
He chuckled, "Not what I was referring to Luv."
"Oh… then what?" she quizzed, her brows furrowing.
He sat down his book and fiddled absently with a blade of grass, "Ginny."
"What about her?" she frowned.
"Her relationship with Ron," he whispered, throwing a look to his mate to make sure he hadn't heard. Lucky for him Ron was so wrapped up in listening to Luna read softly aloud that he remained oblivious to the conversation.
Hermione bit her lip, "Harry that's not your fault."
"Yes it is," he insisted.
"No it isn't," she retorted, "it's Ginny's. She needs to grow up, if she wants to be mad at me fine, but everyone knows that she treats you like a mate and treats Ron like crap when it should be reversed."
"I know."
"Of course you know, everyone knows, weren't you listening?" she inquired turning and facing him fully.
"Of course I was, I-"
"Oh, sod off Malfoy!"
Harry and Hermione's gazes flew across the courtyard where, Ginny Weasley was being accosted by Draco Malfoy. Quickly getting up Harry and Ron rushed over to the pair with raised wands.
"Back off Malfoy!" Harry yelled.
"Step away from my sister before I hex your arse," Ron added with a glower.
"Oooo I'm so scared Weasel," Draco smirked, "puhleeze, everyone knows you couldn't hex your way out of a cauldron. Besides I'm not anywhere near the Weaselette anyway, I wouldn't want to get blood traitor on me."
"Yeah, well you're going to get a lot more on you if you don't get lost -now." Harry stated quietly.
"Harry," Hermione commented touching his arm lightly. "Calm down, I'm sure that it was nothing."
"Nothing!" Ron bellowed throwing the brunette a harassed look and ignoring the anxious glances from his girlfriend. "He was hassling my sister!"
Draco smirked, "If I we-"
"I can handle myself thank you very much," Ginny Weasley interrupted glaring at her brother. "So just mind your business and stay out of mine!"
Ron gave her a surprised look, "Gin what-"
"We were having a private conversation, so it would do you all well to just but out!" the younger girl exclaimed before, to everyone's surprise, grabbing the blond Slytherin's hand. "Come on Draco, let's go somewhere where we can talk -alone."
Everyone watched in wide-eyed shock as Ginny Weasley dragged Draco Malfoy through the courtyard and into the school building. The blond boy threw a bewildered look to his cronies who just stood with stupefied looks on their faces and their mouths gaping.
"What the hell mate?!" Ron exclaimed throwing Harry a confused look; having no response the dark haired boy just frowned.
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Harry scowled as Ginny and Malfoy walked hand in hand onto the Quidditch pitch. Ever since that day two and a half weeks ago the two had been just about inseparable. They were joined at the hip, and usually the lips, as Hogwarts newest and most controversial couple. The dark haired boy ran and agitated hand through his hair; he didn't know what the hell was going on. One day Ginny had hated Malfoy just like the other ninety percent of the student population, the next she was snogging him in the hallway in front of everyone.
In fact her and Draco's snog fests were so common -and disgusting - that there wasn't a house around that hadn't grown tired of the new couple already. On top of that they had gotten caught in the act by professors multiple times, which had caused a massive loss of points for both Gryffindor and Slytherin. It had also made Ginny the new enemy of her house.
Ron and Harry were both baffled as why the youngest Weasley was doing what she was doing, not to mention what they could do about it. Also, to make matters worse, when the other boy had told his mum and dad about his sister latest activities he had gotten blamed for it. Mrs. Weasley had even accused him of not looking out for her.
Ron had been hacked off at Harry for several days over that one, since they both knew that if it was anyone's fault it was Harry's. As a matter of fact that seemed to be the general consensus of the whole school, everyone thought that Ginny was just using the blonde Slytherin in a last ditch effort to get the dark haired Gryffindor back by making him jealous. As for Malfoy, everyone assumed that he was in it just to piss Harry off which, as much as Harry hated to admit it, was bloody well working.
"Give it a bleedin' rest, will ya!" Dean called from his broom.
Ginny threw him a disgruntled look as Draco made his way down her neck.
"Are you playing Ginny, or do we have to use one of the reserves?" Harry inquired sharply.
She gave a sweet smile, "I'm coming."
"Maybe later," Malfoy responded with a suggestive wink.
When she tittered Harry and Dean groaned.
"Ugh, gross…" grumbled the other boy, flying further away from the couple.
Harry didn't comment, but instead frowned as she took a dark broom from the Slytherin and placed it in front of her.
"Do you like it?" she asked with a grin. "It's Draco's."
"I let her use it," the blond smirked, "-you know, until I could get her new one."
"What's wrong with your old one?" Harry ground out.
"Nothing," Ginny stated with a shrug, hopping on the broom.
"Yeah, nothing." Malfoy echoed arching a brow, "She just likes riding my broom."
When the red haired girl giggled Harry growled. Quickly turning he flew away to rally the rest of the team, who were staring angrily at the couple. As he rounded the pitch and flew up to look for the snitch he threw another look to the blond.
`Fuckin' prat.'
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Harry looked to his left scanning the parameter of the pitch for the small golden ball. The game had just started and already Gryffindor was up ten to zero. He gave an anxious look down to the Chasers below, so far Ginny seemed to be doing ok, but there was no telling how long that would last. Several of the members of the team had expressed concerns about the younger Weasleys somewhat erratic behavior as of late. Others had just come out and flatly stated that they were worried that she would throw the game, just to get back at Harry or to make Draco happy. Harry had readily stood up for her, along with Ron, both stating that Ginny would never do something like that. However their bravado was short lived as they realized that they didn't think she would ever get involved with the likes of Malfoy either.
Harry was brought back to the present as a burst of cheers sprang from the crowd below. Looking at the scoreboard he noticed with some dismay that Ravenclaw had just made a goal, so the points were now tied ten to ten. Pushing away his disappointment he began to once again search for the snitch with added determination. So far Gryffindor had had a perfect season and he wasn't going to loose that, no, for his final year at Hogwarts he was going to lead his team to victory and bring the Quidditch cup back to his house for another term.
Leaning forward and squinting a bit he saw something glint in the sunlight.
`The snitch!' he thought going forward on his broom, just as he was about to pick up speed a loud screech rang out.
"What the hell?" Harry muttered turning his attention to the ground below.
Looking down he saw Madam Hooch standing in the middle of the field with a whistle to her lips. Noticing that she now had the attention of the student populace she placed her wand to her throat and spoke.
"I have an announcement," she stated in a loud echoing voice; the Quidditch players sat straighter on their brooms while the crowd leaned forward. "Today's Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw has been canceled until further notice."
"What!" "You've got to be kidding me!" Harry and Cho yelled simultaneously.
"Can they do that?!" Mike Tellie, one of the Ravenclaw Chasers questioned, throwing Cho an incredulous look.
"Players please touch down onto the pitch and proceed into the locker rooms to change back into your school attire. All other students please follow your respective Heads back to you houses. Prefects, be sure to keep a close eye on the younger students and make sure to proceed in an orderly fashion."
Harry and Ron shared shocked looks as they came down onto the pitch.
"What the hell is going on Harry?" Ron questioned in a harsh whisper as soon as they met up.
As the remainder of the Gryffindor team and a few of the Ravenclaw's gave him questioning looks, Harry he threw Ron a glare.
"I was up there with you, so I wouldn't bloody well know, now would I?" the dark haired boy retorted. "Bloody prat can't whisper worth a shite," he finished in a mumble.
Ron scoffed and rolled his eyes implying that he had heard his mates comment. "Well it doesn't matter now does it, considering you don't know anything any bleedin' way?" he replied as they headed into the locker area.
Quickly changing out of their Quidditch gear, the team hurriedly made their way back to the dorms to see if they could find out what was going on. Upon reaching the crowded common room several minutes later, they were disappointed to find that no new information had been given and everyone seemed as baffled as they were as to why the game was cancelled.
As the buzz began to wind down and the common area slowly cleared out, Harry fidgeted nervously with the sleeve of his jumper. He hadn't seen Hermione since just before the game. He knew as Head Girl she was probably helping the professors out with whatever the problem was, but he was getting a bit worried. When the portrait opened his gaze snapped to the entrance and he gave a disgruntled huff of breath when Ron entered.
"Gee mate, good to see you too," the redhead commented with a smirk.
"Sorry… have you seen Hermione?" Harry asked anxiously.
"Sorry mate, no such luck," Ron replied sitting heavily on the couch.
Harry sighed, letting his head fall back he stared blankly at the ceiling. Ron had been called out to help the other house Prefect, Natalie McDonald almost as soon as he and Harry had entered. Professor McGonagall had come into the room a minute or two after the Quidditch team and ordered the two to do one last sweep for any stragglers. Harry had been dismayed that he hadn't been able to help, but he had hoped that Ron would at least come across Hermione and be able to let him know that she was ok. Turning his head he looked at the profile of his best mate.
"Any news on what's going on?" he inquired.
Ron gave a hitch of the shoulders "Nah, they didn't tell us anything but to check the hall for students. Didn't come across any either -pity," he stated looking at his dark haired friend, "would have loved the opportunity to bust one of those slimy Slytherins. I just know that they're behind this."
As Harry nodded in agreement the portrait door opened once more, sitting up he gave a relived smile when the familiar face of his girlfriend greeted him.
"Hermione," he said, rushing to meet her.
"Hey," she replied with a small smile as he pulled her into a hug and placed a light kiss on her lips.
"Are you ok? What's going on?" he quizzed while checking her for bruises.
"I'm fine Harry," Hermione responded giving smile at his actions. "I wasn't there I was at the game just like everyone else when they announced the cancellation. Right after Madam Hooch broadcasted the first part, Professor McGonagall showed up and told me to go and meet up with Zach.
"To do what?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Ron added.
The brunette gave a look around the room, though it was a lot emptier than before there were still several student hanging around and they all seemed to be doing their best to hear the trio's conversation.
"Let's head up to my dorm," Hermione stated, ignoring the groans of he students that had been attempting to eavesdrop. The two boys nodded in agreement and quickly followed her to her portrait door.
"Well?" Ron asked as soon as they made it up to her sitting room with the door closed firmly behind them.
Hermione sighed and flopped down onto the couch. "Well, it was a breach."
"A breach?" Harry questioned as he took a seat and placed an arm around his girlfriend.
"A breach?" Ron echoed plopping onto the chair and watching the dark haired girl closely.
"Well," she said with a frown, "kind of. It was an attempted breach. Someone had tried to enter through the waters surrounding the school, luckily the mermaids found out and notified Dumbledore."
"How did they find out?" Harry asked.
She gave a light shrug, "Don't know. We didn't receive that much information, basically they told us what they needed us to know in order to help assist with the search of the grounds."
"What were you looking for?" Ron inquired with a frown.
"You didn't go alone did you?" Harry asked simultaneously.
"We were checking to make sure that no one had gotten onto the grounds that wasn't supposed to be here. The mermaids said that the person turned back just before making it to shore but Dumbledore wanted to be sure. -And no I went with Professor McGonagall."
"So he cancelled the Quidditch match," Harry stated; Hermione nodded. "So then they're sure that it was someone evil?"
"It had to be, otherwise why try to sneak onto the grounds," she responded laying her head on his shoulder.
Hermione gave a contented sigh as her boyfriend pulled her closer and lightly stroked her arm.
"So you didn't find anything?" he asked.
When she shook her head Ron chimed in "Then how do they know that the mermaids weren't full of it?"
"Why would they lie Ronald?" she asked throwing him an annoyed look, "I mean really? Do you think they made it up just to annoy you? Oh wait -I know, maybe they're big Ravenclaw supporters and they thought Gryffindor would win so they concocted the story so you'd have to cancel your game."
"Of course not," the redhead responded, blushing.
"Then why ask such a stupid question?"
"Blimey, leave his head there Luv," Harry cut in with a chuckle "he may need it."
"Why he doesn't seem to be using it," she muttered.
Ron scoffed while Harry grinned, "He's just confused and trying to get as much information as possible. I swear he's not asking you questions just to set you off."
Hermione sighed, "I know, I just… I'm worried Harry. It's been a while since your last dream and if this is V-Vo-Voldemort…"
"Don't worry, the schools well protected. Look how quickly Dumbledore found out about what happened today. You're perfectly safe."
She sat quietly for a moment before giving him an anxious look, "But are you?"
He gave her a lopsided smile, "Of course Luv, don't worry about me, yeah?"
"I can't help it."
"Well try," he replied before leaning down and kissing her lightly on her lips.
The second that his lips touched hers Harry knew that he wouldn't be able to pull away and he knew Hermione felt the same when her fingers threaded themselves in his dark locks.
"Okay," Ron muttered, "Awk-ward… I'm just, gonna, you know, go now. So… yeah…"
When he heard the soft click of the portrait door, Harry knew that his friend had left. However, he also knew that he didn't care.
A.N. So that's it for this chapter on to the next. I predict about four or five more and then we're done. So see you for the next installment. PLEASE REVIEW and Ja ne!
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