A/N: I want to apologize for not having this story out any sooner. I didn't mean for it to take so long, but I have been very busy getting ready for Christmas and applying for colleges. I have to write a story for my admission, and that has been my focus lately.
I noticed that in the last chapter, I accidentally had Harry say that it was the first Hogsmeade trip of the year; well I didn't mean that I meant it was the second trip because I already have the first trip in the earlier chapters. Sorry this chapter is so short! Hopefully the next one will be longer. Thank you for being patient and all of my wonderful reviewers, I thank you dearly!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Harry Potter!
Trying Times
Chapter Six
Hermione woke up early on this Sunday morning. She had a smile plastered on her face, apparently from the wonderful dream she was having. Life was so much better than it used to be. She and Gregory had grown closer and they had a good and stable relationship.
She walked to the mirror, studying her appearance. She didn't know why Gregory had gone for her or picked her out of everyone else, but she never questioned it to him. She didn't want to sound too self-conscious.
She picked up a brush and ran it through her hair, attempting to tame the bushiness. She knew it was useless. Giving up, she put down the brush and finished dressing. She grabbed her books and headed down to breakfast.
She walked down the hall, skipping occasionally, as she recalled the details of the past week.
Everyday, she would meet Gregory in the Great Hall. They would say their hellos, than go eat with their own houses. They reluctantly didn't have any classes together, but they still met in between classes and after school. They studied with each other in the library and after that, Gregory would walk Hermione to her room, or if they had time they would take a quick walk around the lake, which usually ended in some kind of mouth to mouth contact.
Hermione loved the attention Gregory was giving her. He practically never left her alone. She wore the bracelet he gave her everyday, never taking it off. It was the first gift any boy had ever given her, well besides Harry and Ron.
Harry…he was very quiet lately. She often caught him watching her, but when she would turn her head, he would look down or find something else to focus on; he would never meet her eyes. She found this very odd. Why is Harry acting like that lately?
He really didn't say much, ever since that night in Hogsmeade. She was still perplexed about that. Harry must have had some sort of reason to spy on her. He was only trying to help; maybe I shouldn't have gotten so mad. He didn't know that Gregory was giving me that bracelet; he was just looking out for me.
Hermione tried to be as nice as possible to him, but Harry would find an excuse not to be around her. She was getting worried about him. Ron was always with Lavender and she was always with Gregory, so she knew Harry was alone most of the time. She knew what that felt like. Even though she felt terribly bad for Harry, she couldn't help but think that now he can see what it feels like. Don't think that Hermione, Harry has had a hard life ever since he was one. He was alone for the first eleven years of his life, he knows as much if not more than you about what loneliness feels like. Maybe I should try talking to him! Yeah, that is what I will do; I will talk to him tonight after dinner.
Hermione pushed open the doors to the Great Hall, and walked in. Gregory was already sitting at his table. She walked over to him, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey," Hermione said as she smiled down at Gregory.
He smiled back and said, "How's my girl doing today?"
"I'm ok, what about you?" Hermione asked.
"Good now that you're here!" Gregory answered giving her another quick kiss, this time on the lips. Hermione didn't really like that much. She didn't like to show her personal life so publicly, especially when the whole student body, including teachers, were in the room.
"Well, Mr. Flirtatious, I'm going to head over to my table now. I'll see you after breakfast, ok?" Hermione said. Gregory nodded, and Hermione headed back to her table.
She took a seat in front of Lavender and Ron. She looked around and noticed that Harry was not at the table.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked Ron as she grabbed a piece of toast and buttered it.
"I went to his room this morning to see if he wanted to get any breakfast, and he was still sleeping. I didn't want to wake him. He looked pretty rough," Ron said. Then he leaned over the table so that no one would hear what he was going to say and whispered, "If you ask me, I think he is sneaking out at night. I saw his trunk open and his invisibility cloak was lying out!"
Hermione looked at Ron with a concerned face. "Do you have any idea where he's going?" She was worried now, maybe something was really wrong. She felt bad now for neglecting him lately. She didn't' mean to, but she had been wrapped up in her own life and Gregory to pay attention to Harry.
"I have my theories. I think he may be meeting someone, a girl maybe?" Ron said as he raised his eyebrows.
Hermione's heart dropped at that news, but she didn't know why. What if he is meeting a girl, what does it matter? He can't be meeting a girl, he just can't! Stop, you are with Gregory, who is wonderful remember! You can't think about Harry like that! Hermione knew, no matter what she, had to figure out what was going on.
Just then she heard the door open and in walked Harry. He looked terrible. His hair was even messier than it usually was and his face was pale. He took a seat beside Hermione, and proceeded to eat a few pieces of toast.
Hermione got a better look at him and she could see that he had dark circles under his eyes and they looked bloodshot.
"Good morning Harry," Hermione said as she continued to stare at him. He only gave a nod as he continued to eat, his eyes staring at the plate in front of him.
"'Morning mate!" Ron said as he gave Hermione a knowing look.
"Harry, is something wrong?" Hermione asked not knowing how to really address the situation. Harry was always good about bottling things up, but at least she could tell when he was lying.
For the first time that morning, Harry looked her in the eyes. Her heart seemed to flip and she held back a sob at the torment written on his face. Something was wrong, she knew it.
"No," he simply said. He stared at her for a few more moments before he turned his head back to his plate. Hermione watched as Harry ate his toast, and then got up from his seat.
"I'm going to go get my bags, I'll see you in class," Harry said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Hermione and Ron watched as he walked away. Hermione turned back to Ron and voiced both of their thoughts, "Something is definitely wrong with him."
Harry walked out of the Great Hall. He could barely move he was so tired. This past week, he had made it a mission of his to find out what this Gregory was up to. So at night, after everyone went to bed and Hermione and he had finished their duties, he would grab his cloak and go and stand in front of the Ravenclaw portrait hole, just waiting for Gregory to come out.
He would sit there till five in the morning, and so far Gregory hadn't done anything. Harry just knew something was up with him. He hated seeing Hermione and Gregory together. Some mornings he would wake up and think his heart couldn't break anymore, then he would see them together, and somehow it would find a way to shatter. He couldn't handle seeing them together, so he avoided them at all costs. Ron was no help, because he was so wrapped up in Lavender to even notice his best friend was in danger and his other best friend was trying to do something about it.
He tried to talk to him, but Ron stated that he was overreacting, and now Harry was starting to think maybe he was.
Hermione and Gregory had officially been dating for a week now, and nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. No one had started to get sick, even though Viktor and Colin were still in the hospital ward. Everyone was perplexed as to what was making them sick. He was able to hear a little bit about them when one night he was standing watch, and Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout walked down the corridor discussing Viktor and Colin. They had said that they just kept repeating that something was coming and that they wouldn't sleep, but other than that, their bodies weren't really technically "sick." Harry wondered what was wrong with them, but he didn't have time to investigate, he had to prove to Hermione that Gregory was a fake, a fraud, and someone she shouldn't be around; not only for her sake, but his also.
Harry knew now beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loved Hermione and he had to tell her or he would bust open. He was going to find out what Gregory was up to if it was the last thing he did.
The day was long and boring. He avoided Hermione at all costs, and for some reason he got the feeling she wanted to talk to him because she kept staring at him.
Finally the day was done, and Harry retreated to his room. He had Quidditch practice for two hours; then he had to hurry and get back, do his work, so that he would be free to spy again tonight.
He went out to the Quidditch pitch. Being the first one to arrive, he took off on his broom and soared high above the stands. This was the only place where he felt free, calm, and whole. He could forget all his worries. The wind blowing through his hair, hitting his face, tickling his nose, he was not "the boy who lived". Up here there was no Voldemort or Gregory; up here it was just him, Harry, the sky and the air.
He decided to take a trip around Hogwarts itself and he began to zoom around the towers. As he was making his way around, something caught his eyes. He could see someone people up in the Astronomy Tower. He looked a little closer, and noticed that it was none other than Gregory and Hermione.
Should I ease drop? No, I can't! It's wrong. But, he's not a good person. A little spying won't hurt!
Making up his mind, Harry dived a little and hovered just out of sight, so he could hear what they were saying.
"Hermione, why do you even care about that little jerk anyway?" Gregory asked.
"Gregory, don't talk about Harry like that! He is my best friend, and he needs help!" Hermione shouted sternly. Harry was elated by this. At least she still cares for me!
Harry moved just a little bit closer.
"Yeah, what does he need help for? He has everything. Money, fame, he's got it all!" Gregory stated. What a jerk, as if money and fame are everything. I would rather be with Hermione than be famous and rich!
"Gregory, I can't believe you just said that! Money and fame are not everything. Friends and family are what's important! And love," Hermione said. Harry could hear her anger and hostility and he couldn't be prouder.
"Yeah, ok!" Gregory said sarcastically. Harry knew, without even having to see Hermione's face, that she was not happy about that comment.
"I see how you feel," Hermione said and Harry could hear her shuffling around.
"Hermione, look, I'm sorry. It's just that when you talk about Harry it makes me mad. You know the only reason he acts like he does is because he is jealous," Gregory said. Harry scoffed. He was jealous, but he would never admit it. "He just wants to see you unhappy!"
I can't believe he is saying this stuff, Hermione will never believe it!
"Harry is not jealous! He is my best friend and only wants the best for me. Why can't you see that?" Hermione asked getting frustrated. Harry could just picture her in her "McGonagall stance" right at this very moment; hands upon hips and stern expression etched on her face. He couldn't hold back a smile.
"Hermione, why else would he say those things. He has been avoiding you because he can't stand to see you happy when he isn't! He just doesn't care about you; he just is your friend for your brains. That's it, I mean, why else would he want to be friends with you?" Gregory asked. Harry wanted to scream! Hermione can't believe it! I can't believe he just said all that crap!
"Oh, so why wouldn't he want to be friends with me? What's so wrong with me? Is that why you are with me?" Hermione was shouting now and Harry just wanted to yell, "Go Hermione, let him have it!"
"Hermione, I didn't mean it like that. I'm with you aren't I? There is no other person I would rather be with. I was just talking about Harry. Something isn't right with him. Just wait, next time you see him, I bet he will try and say something else about me too; like I'm conspiring with the enemy or something!" Gregory stated. Harry wanted to wring his neck so bad. If I ever get my hands on you!
"Gregory, I can assure you that Harry is not like. He was just looking out for me, and considering everything that has happened in the past, he is just being careful. Voldemort is out there and something is happening with all these people getting sick, and everyone just has been watchful," Hermione said. Harry was glad that she didn't succumb to Gregory's tricks and believe him. At least she still knows that I am her best friend.
"Ok, Hermione, but I just want you to be careful. And if something happens, just don't say I didn't warn you," Gregory answered. Harry could hear more shuffling and he wondered what was going on.
"Well, I am going to have a talk with him soon. Something is wrong and I'm worried about him. But I have to go now; I promised Neville I would help him with his Potions essay. So I will see you at dinner?" Hermione asked Gregory. Harry figured Gregory must have nodded because Hermione then said, "Good, ok then. Bye!" Harry heard them kiss really quickly and then the door. Harry was about to zoom over to the tower when he suddenly heard a voice.
"Well that certainly went well," the voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Hey, so what, all couples fight, it's natural," Gregory answered. Who is this person? If only I could get a little closer! Harry tried moving around, but when he did, he caught a glimpse of Gregory and he didn't want to chance it.
"So how is your little mudblood?" the other person asked Gregory.
"I've got her wrapped around my little finger," Gregory answered.
"Oh, so you are starting to feel something for the little bitch?" the other person said.
Harry's anger started to swell at the comment about Hermione.
"Whatever, I'm just doing this because I have to. I wouldn't be caught dead with her. She is such a boring freak; she doesn't even comb her hair!" Gregory answered and they both chuckled.
Harry had to restrain himself by holding onto the wall to keep from beating Gregory's ass. He couldn't believe that Hermione even saw something remotely good in this jerk
"Listen, meet me behind the greenhouse tonight at one am," a voice said.
"Alright," Gregory answered coldly. "What are we suppose to do about Potter?"
"Just leave him to me. He won't be getting in the way when I get through with him!"
"Well, make sure you are here at one and don't be late!" the voice hissed. Harry listened and heard Gregory open the door to leave. Harry looked around and he didn't see anyone still on the balcony. He flew to the tower and stepped off his broom. He looked around for any sign of anyone or anything, but nothing.
He stared at the door Gregory had just gone through and Harry couldn't help but get angry. His face turned red and he had to have some self control to keep from running in there and beating him down till he confessed everything to Hermione.
Harry mounted his broom, but before he took off he stated out loud, "I've got you this time Gregory, you can't fool me!" With that he tore through the air headed back to practice.
A figure stepped out of the shadows, completely unseen by the young Potter. Watching the retreating figure of the boy who lived, the person began to chuckle lightly, "Too bad Potter that I've already got you first!"
The figure then disappeared without a trace.
A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! You know the drill, REVIEW! The reviews are what make me preserve to get the new chapter out sooner!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!