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Rise of the Dark Angel	By : isabel88 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 61368 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does, as such, I am NOT making any money off of this....

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
Title: Rise of the Dark Angel

Author: Mykkila09

Co-Author: Tonks-is-cool

Chapter: 21: To Discredit a Lion

Settings: AU after OOTP: It's canon up to the beginning of the battle at the DOM when they are in the veil room, after that, it's AU and mine and Tonks.

Pairings: HP/DM; LV/SS; LM/RL; NL (CL)/LL; RL/BL

Warnings: This story will contain mentions of Violence, Child Abuse, Adult Language, Alcohol Use, Slash/Het Sexual situations and Death. Please discontinue reading if such scenes or themes are offensive to you.
A/N: here is the new chapter. Hope you guys like it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing…if I did, Ginny would have died in the CoS, Dumbledore would have choked on his lemon drops and Harry would have stood up for himself against Molly and Dumbledore.

Disclaimer 2: this story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
“Talking”

'Thinking'

|Hedwig’s mental speak|

<Sesshomaru/Fawkes’ mental speak>

Harry’s mental speak

Letter or commentary/introduction and flashback

{Parssseltongue}

~…~ indicates scene change

Last time on RDA:
“The boy is becoming more and more Slytherin every day,” Lucius commented.
“I agree,” Voldemort said, “And that is an advantage for us.”
“Yes it is,” Lucius agreed.
No more was said between the two men and they went back to finish up.
Half an hour later, the four were ready to head back to England. The trip had been a complete success and they couldn’t wait to go forward with the rest of their plans to secure their future and their rightful place in the Wizarding World.

(At Hogwarts)
Back at Hogwarts, Hedwig had just dropped off George—polyjuiced as Harry—to where Luna and Cory were.
“Hi George,” Luna grinned up at her brother as Hedwig shifted into her owl form before flying off.
“Hi Luna girl,” George smiled, using the nickname Harry had for the blonde, and turned to the boy next to her, “Hey Cory.”
“Hey,” Cory replied with a nod, “so I take it things are moving along?”
“Yep,” George nodded, “Harry left already, and he’ll be back on Sunday night with Draco and Mr Malfoy.”
“Cool,” Cory said, “I hope everything goes well for them.”
“It will,” Luna hummed as she looked around. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Ok,” Cory and George nodded and the trio set off.
Sesshoumaru nudged at George’s leg, causing the teen to look down. “You know I’m not him.”
Sesshoumaru gave a nod and a slightly soft bark.
“Ok,” George nodded, “I’ll need you to work with me. No one can know I’m not Harry.”
Sesshoumaru stared at him; his face held a ‘how-stupid-do-you-think-I-am?’ look and had George wondering if the pup was taking lessons from Snape on how to make you feel stupid with just a look.
“Right,” George nodded, ignoring the giggles and chuckles from Luna and Cory. He turned back to the two with a sheepish smile on his face. “What?”
“Nothing,” Cory grinned, “absolutely nothing.”
“So,” George smirked, “Harry told me about Ginny and Ron.”
Cory laughed, “You’re planning on pranking them, aren’t you?”
“Maybe not Ginny,” George grinned, “as from what I gathered, Harry’s already done a fine job of doing that. Now Ron however, he’s fair game.”
“I suppose Harry told you just what it is he had scared Ronald with?” Luna turned questioning eyes on him.
“He did,” George nodded, “And I think it’s bloody brilliant.”
“It’s going to be bad, isn’t it? For Ron at least?” Cory raised an eyebrow at his friend.
George looked over at him, green eyes lighting up with a devious light and a dark grin spread across his face. “Of course it is. Ronald is going to regret the day he messed with a Potter.”
“This is going to be a fun two days,” Luna laughed.
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” George chuckled and the trio launched into a discussion about the different ways they could get back at Ron.
~…~
A couple of hours later, Cory, Luna and George entered the Great Hall for lunch. As they headed to the Gryffindor table, George’s eyes sought out Ron’s and when he locked eyes with the redhead, he allowed a malicious smirk to spread across his face. The smirk became a predatory grin when he saw Ron pale.
“When are you going to start?” Cory asked as they took their seats.
“Right now,” George grinned. He discretely pulled out his wand and also pulled a candy out of his pocket. Making sure no one was looking, he tapped his wand against the candy, slipped his wand back into the secured and covered holder and placed the candy in his mouth under his tongue.
He then stood up, exchanged a grin with Cory and then headed to where his former brother was sitting. He was aware of the students watching his move and mentally rolled his eyes. Really, the Hogwarts students were too nosy.
“Hello Ronald,” George greeted as he stopped next to Ron. He threw a glance at the student sitting next to Ron. “You mind shifting down a bit?”
“No,” the student, a male fourth year, shook his head and moved.
“Thanks,” George grinned at the student before he sat down and then turned to Ron. “So, how’re things going?”
“What do you want Potter?” Ron spat, angry and a little wary.
“What?” George raised an eyebrow, “can’t I come visit an old friend?”
“What are you doing here Harry?” Hermione asked as she looked at teen. A part of her was shocked, yet hopeful that maybe he was changing his mind and finally coming back to them. But another part was very wary; she hadn’t forgotten Harry’s words to Ron a few days ago after the Daily Prophet debacle and she wondered if he was up to something, but Harry’s demeanour didn’t scream anything but relaxed, open and friendly.
George looked at Hermione and had to fight the urge to scowl at her. He was still angry over the girl blaming Harry for Sirius’ death and for everything she had done to his little brother. Even if Harry forgave her, he never would.
“Just visiting,” George grinned. He reached out and grabbed Ron’s pumpkin juice. “Mind if I take a sip? I was out walking with Luna and Cory and I’m a little bit thirsty.” Without waiting for a reply from Ron, he brought the glass to his lips. Allowing some juice into his mouth, he slipped the candy out from under his tongue and into the glass. He pretended to take another sip before he placed the glass back on the table, smiling at Ron.
“Refreshing,” George grinned. “So what are your plans for today Ron?”
“Like I’m going to tell you,” Ron scowled as he grabbed his juice, pulling it out of the dark-haired teen’s reach.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” George shrugged, “just thought I’d ask, you know, since it’s the polite thing to do.” He looked around, noting that even though the students had gone back to eating, they were stealing glances at the three of them.
“Where’s Ginny?” George turned back to Ron, his eyes flaring slightly with a dark satisfaction when he saw the redhead lift his glass to his lips, taking big gulps of the juice. “Is she still in the hospital wing?”
“Why do you care?” Hermione frowned. “From your actions, you don’t like Ginny and you couldn’t care less if anything happened to her, so why are you asking?”
“Just curious,” George smiled, “have they figured out who cursed her yet? Or how to remove it?”
“No,” Hermione shook her head, suspicion rising in her. ‘No…it couldn’t be…Harry wouldn’t do something like that. I know him, he’s not that malicious. You mean you knew him. He’s changed, you’ve seen that and he hasn’t forgotten the betrayals from you, Ron and Ginny. But…’
George could see the suspicions in the girl’s eyes and almost grinned. Almost. Instead, he raised an eyebrow at her. “I know what you’re thinking Hermione, but I hardly see the girl as I spend the majority of my time with either, Luna and Cory or, with Draco, Blaise and Pansy. When would I have had the time to curse her?”
Hermione had to concede that he was right. Harry spent so much time with the Slytherins or with Luna and Cory that he really wouldn’t have had the time.
George could see the moment Hermione agreed with him and he mentally shook his head at her naiveté. ‘For being known as ‘the supposed brightest witch of her age’, she sure as hell is gullible and very stupid.’
“Why don’t you leave?” Ron glared at the teen as he finished off the pumpkin juice. As much as he knew they were supposed to be trying to bring Harry back to their side, under their control, his jealousy and rage made it hard to control himself around the teen.
“Fine,” George shook his head as he stood up, “I think I overstayed my welcome anyways. Besides, wouldn’t want anyone to think we were friends again.”
Hermione’s heart sank at the words and she looked away. She hated that she had lost her friendship with Harry, but she had no idea what to do now. And from Harry’s words, it didn’t sound like she was ever going to get it back and that really hurt her.
George saw the hope deflate in Hermione’s eyes and smiled before he turned and walk away. He got closer to where Luna and Cory were sitting and saw Lavender, Parvati and Romilda sitting with them.
“Hey girls,” George smiled as he retook his seat next to Luna.
“Hi Harry,” all three girls said as one.
“Where did Sesshoumaru go?” George asked as he looked around for the pup.
“I told him Yasha was a little lonely,” Luna smiled, “so he went down to the dungeons.”
“Alright,” George smiled. He was amused that the two pups were as close as their owners were.
“So Harry,” Lavender grinned over at him, “When is Draco coming back?”
“Tomorrow night,” George answered. He mentally shook his head, wondering how it was no one could tell that he wasn’t Harry. ‘Then again, that is a good thing. Whatever plan our Lord has would definitely go to hell if anyone figured out I wasn’t Harry. Although, I’m proud that I know my little brother so well that I can copy him exactly.’
“Is it weird?” Romilda asked, cocking her head and looking at him.
“Is what weird?” George asked as he grabbed the glass of pumpkin juice and took a sip from it.
“Being with Draco,” Romilda continued, “I mean, I know you told us that he has changed, but you have to admit, you guys have been fighting some pretty awful fights against each other since first year.”
George looked at her for a few seconds before he smiled slightly. He was beyond thankful that he was one of the few people Harry trusted completely as he knew just how Harry felt about Draco all these years. Of course, even without Harry telling him he had known seeing as how he and Fred had spent the last five years looking out for Harry.
“I’ll be honest,” George started, “I never hated Draco. I was always intrigued by him, but I was and am a Gryffindor and at the time, seeing as how I was friends with Granger and Weasley and they seemed to have this intense dislike for him, I had to as well.”
“Well,” Cory grinned, “it didn’t surprise me, that’s for sure. Out of everyone in this school, I’ve never seen any two people rile each other up as much as you and Draco did. It’s like you guys went out of your way to attack each other; almost like you needed to have the other’s attention and that was the only way you knew how.”
George laughed, as did Luna, while the three girls looked pensive.
“You know,” Parvati shook her head with a smile, “I never even realized it, but if you do think back to all the confrontations, it does make sense.”
“Pulling pigtails,” Lavender giggled, “I can’t believe we didn’t notice it before.”
“Shut up,” George smiled, causing the girls to giggle even harder.
“Let’s go,” Luna said suddenly, drawing the group’s attention. She stood, the others following, and led the way out of the Great Hall. As they passed the Slytherin table, Blaise, Pansy and Gabriella stood and joined them.
“What’s going on?” Pansy asked as she moved to walk next to Luna.
“Just a little retribution,” Luna grinned and it was so predatory that Gabriella stared at the blonde in shock, having never seen such an expression on her normally serene face.
Noticing the look on Gabi’s face, Pansy grinned. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.” She turned back to Luna. “So, what’s the plan?”
George grinned and pulled out his wand. He focused his thoughts on Ron and muttered an incantation.
“What did you just do?” Blaise raised an eyebrow at the teen.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” George chuckled.
~…~
Back inside the Great Hall, while Hermione was staring at the entrance where Harry and the others had left, Ron had turned back to his lunch. He had just taken a bite out of a sandwich when he froze. With wide eyes, Ron glanced up and down the table, paling as each second passed.
Hermione shook her head and turned back to her lunch, but stopped when she caught sight of Ron’s pale face. “Ron, what is it? Are you ok?”
Ron didn’t answer; he was too caught up in the horror that he was seeing on the lunch table.
“S-s-sp-spi-d-ders,” Ron stuttered out, his voice and body trembling with fear.
“What?” Hermione looked around, seeing nothing, and turned back to Ron. “What are you talking about? There’re no spiders here.”
Ron didn’t reply to that as he was too busy staring in horror at the spiders that were coming closer. He tried to move but found himself frozen in fear to his seat. He felt a funny feeling on his arm and a whimper escaped his lips before he forced himself to look down. He saw some spiders crawling over his arm. His mouth fell open, before the message got to his brain and—
“AHHHH!” Ron jumped from his seat, startling everyone else in the hall into silence. He moved around, batting at his hand with the other, trying to remove the spiders from his arm.
“Get them off! Get them off!” Ron screamed as he looked around.
“Ron!” Hermione stood up from her seat and went to him. “Get what off? Ron, are you ok?”
“The spiders,” Ron said, his voice trembling from fear, “they’re all over me.”
“There’re no spiders,” Hermione repeated her earlier words.
Ron looked up at his girlfriend, and instead of seeing Hermione’s face, he saw a spider’s head on her body. “AHHHH!”
Hermione jumped at the scream and took another step towards him, confused when he stepped back.
By now, the other students had gotten over the shock and confusion of seeing Ron behaving that way, and soon, chuckles and giggles started up.
Ron looked around the hall and saw instead of the students faces, they all had spider heads. He turned back to Hermione, letting out a breath of relief when he saw her normal head, but after a few seconds, her head morphed again into a spider head and she started towards him. Ron screamed and ran from the hall, laughter following him.
Outside the Hall, George and the others had just reached the main entrance when they heard the screaming. They looked back and saw Ron running in the opposite.
“Was that Weasley?” Blaise asked looking at the red head’s retreating form.
“Yes,” George grinned.
“What did you do?” Lavender asked, curiosity colouring her voice. She loved the fact she was being included in whatever Harry was doing and that the teen saw her as more than a giggly girl with nothing more on her mind than boys, fashion and make-up. People had always looked down on her because of the way she acted; Hermione especially seemed to take pleasure in snubbing her, but not Harry. He was treating her as if she was a regular person, like he wasn’t bothered by her girly acts and that in turn made her act more and more like herself and less like the persona she had created.
“Weasley’s afraid of spiders,” George chuckled, “George and Fred created a candy that causes the eater to see their worst fears. It’s kinda like what Boggarts do, but on a less serious level.”
“Cool,” Romilda grinned. “So how long is it going to last?”
“Not sure,” George shrugged, “the maximum time is twenty-four hours and the minimum is an hour and a half.”
“So Weasley’s stuck like that for almost two hours?” Gabriella grinned, “Sweet.”
The teens laughed and continued on their walk.
~…~
Over the course of the day, things were moving along just fine. To George’s and the others delight, the spell on Ron had lasted more than the minimum time and they hoped it would go on to the maximum predicted time. Like with Ginny, some of the teachers tried to remove whatever spell was on him, but found that they couldn’t.
Of course most, if not all, of the students suspected Harry—George—but no one was able to prove that he actually did anything. The Slytherins seemed to be having more fun with Ron’s condition than the other students; which was proven that night at dinner.
When Ron walked into the Great Hall that night, Theo pulled out his wand and tapped his glass, transfiguring it into a spider and he made it levitate in the air. Satisfied, he turned to Ron. “Hey Weasley!” when the redhead looked over, he threw the spider in Ron’s direction.
“AHHH!” Ron screamed and jumped back, falling onto a Gryffindor third year. The Hall burst into laughter and Ron once again ran from the room.
“That was hilarious,” Blaise laughed and slapped Theo’s shoulder.
Over at the Gryffindor table, George grinned in satisfaction.
~…~
Later that night, George left the common room with Sesshoumaru, saying he was going for a walk. They ended up in one of the unused classrooms on the second floor, just a short distance away from Myrtle’s bathroom.
Closing the door behind him, George pulled out his wand and cast Locking and Warding charms.
“Hedwig,” He called out when he was done, “I’m ready.”
The phoenix flashed into the room, landing on his shoulder.
“Hey girl,” George smiled as he rubbed her breast. “You can go get Fred.”
Hedwig trilled and rubbed her head against his before disappearing in a flash of fire, reappearing minutes later, Fred in tow.
“Hey bro,” Fred grinned, “so, did things go ok?”
“Yeah,” George smiled, “with the exception of Luna and Cory, no one knew I wasn’t really Harry.”
“Good,” Fred nodded. “So, how did our latest product work out?”
George laughed and Sesshoumaru and Hedwig barked and trilled as well. “It was perfect. Worked exactly how we wanted. Of course I had to use our dear former brother as the test subject.”
“Of course,” Fred smirked. “And I do have an idea of my own.”
“Care to share oh brother of mine?” George raised an eyebrow, sea-green eyes flashing with curiosity.
Fred grinned and did just that. When he was done, George was holding his stomach and laughing.
“Oh Merlin,” George said between laughter, “I can see it now. The little bint will fall for it hook, line and sinker. I wish I could see her face. When are you going to do it?”
“Tomorrow,” Fred replied, “maybe around lunch. I’ll tell Harry about it, so that he can know what’s going on.”
“Ok,” George said after he got himself under control. “You need to see everything that’s happened today.” He lowered his shields and gestured for his brother to enter his mind as he pulled the memories forward.
“Can’t believe Granger actually thought you were trying to rebuild your friendship with her and Ron,” Fred snickered when he left George’s mind.
“I know right,” George smiled, “so, you have the potion, right?”
“Yeah,” Fred pulled the vial of Polyjuice potion from his pocket.
“Take it,” George instructed, “so we can swap.”
“Thank Merlin Snape had been able to improve the Polyjuice potion to last longer,” Fred said.
“I know,” George nodded, “things would’ve been different if the potion lasted its usual hour. Having to sneak off every minute would’ve been too suspicious. This last one I took should be wearing off any minute now.”
“Well,” Fred said as he raised the vial to his lips, “bottoms up.” He downed it, grimacing slightly as he did so.
Almost simultaneously, while Fred started shifting into Harry, George was shifting back into his own body.
“I will never get used to that,” George sighed and looked over at his twin who was now looking like their brother. “You have extra vials to last until tomorrow night?”
“Yep,” Fred patted his pocket.
“Good,” George nodded, “Let’s go Hedwig.” He looked over at the phoenix.
Hedwig trilled and flew to his shoulder and he turned back to Fred. “Have fun.”
“I intend to,” Fred grinned. “See ya.”
“See ya,” George smirked and he and Hedwig flashed out.
“So,” Fred looked down at Sesshoumaru, “interested in causing mayhem?”
The pup barked and his golden eyes gleamed at the prospect.
“Yeah,” Fred laughed as he removed the Locking and Warding charms and opened the door, “you really are his.”
The pup barked again and the two left the room and made their way back to Gryffindor Tower.
~…~
During lunch the next day, Fred sat at Ravenclaw table with Luna, Cory, Blaise, Pansy and Gabriella. By now, everyone was used to their group switching between the three houses, so most of the students ignored them, while some talked to them.
Cho Chang was sitting a good distance away, but her gaze kept straying to Harry. After seeing the Asian girl glance their way for what seemed like the millionth time, Luna got up from her seat and walked over to the girl. They had no idea what she was saying, but they saw Cho’s eyes went wide before she paled and nodded.
Smiling, Luna walked back over to them.
“Do we even want to know what you told her?” Gabriella asked.
“No,” Luna giggled as she retook her seat.
“Hey guys.” They looked up and saw majority of the Gryffindor students coming in. Seamus had called out to them.
Seamus, Dean, Lavender, Romilda, Parvati and Padma who was with her sister, broke off from the rest of the students and headed over to the Ravenclaw table where they were sitting. Smiling, the teens shifted so that they would have enough room.
“You guys are late,” Pansy commented, “is it a Gryffindor trait to be eternally late?”
“Hey!” All the Gryffindors looked at her.
“Oh you guys know she’s telling the truth,” Luna giggled.
The Gryffindors looked at each other before laughing.
“She is right.” Lavender nodded with a smile. She saw Ron and Hermione walk into the Hall and looked back at her friends. “So, who do you think put that spell on Weasley?”
Almost as one, everyone turned to look at their green-eyed, black haired friend.
“What?” Fred looked at all of them. “Why is everyone looking at me?”
“Son of a Marauder,” Parvati cocked her head to the side, “Godson of another.”
“Son of the brightest witch Hogwarts has ever seen,” Romilda added on with a smirk. “And then you add in the warning you gave to Weasley last week…”
“I can honestly say that it wasn’t me that put that spell on Weasley,” Fred smirked. And it was the truth; it wasn’t him, it was George.
Cory grinned and Luna giggled at his words.
“Uh huh,” Seamus shook his head with a grin, “Whatever you say.”
“It’s too bad the spell ended so quickly,” Padma said, “I always thought Weasley needed to be knocked down a peg or two.”
They all had a laugh at that and soon, their talk shifted from Ron to other things.
~…~
It was later that afternoon, around three, that Fred decided to put his plan into action. He was outside with Luna, Cory, Blaise and Pansy—the others had gone off to do their own things—enjoying the day. He knew he had to be careful, as no one should see him because it would ruin everything, so he was being quiet and thinking things over.
“Harry,” Luna stopped walking and turned to him. “Walk with me?”
“Always Luna-girl,” Fred smiled, and like his brother, he used Harry’s nickname for the blonde.
Luna looped her arm through his and the two walked away, leaving their friends watching them with smiles.
“Do you have it with you?” Luna asked when they were a certain distance away. She didn’t want the others to hear. It's not that she didn’t trust them, but, this way, if for any reason what Fred was going to do didn’t go according to plan, then they could claim plausible deniability.
“Folded and in my pocket,” Fred replied as he untangled their arms and threw his own around her shoulders.
“Good.” Luna nodded as she snuggled into her brother’s side. She missed Harry, she really did, but she knew that what he was doing was very important, so she wasn’t going to complain. It wasn't that she didn’t love Fred or George—because she adored her big brothers—but there was just something about Harry. She didn’t know if it was because he had been the first to see past her “Looney” persona and see the person she really was, but he always had a way of making her feel special.
“She’s alone right now,” Luna continued speaking, a smile on her face. “No one really wants to be near her.”
“Hospital wing?” Fred asked, glancing at her.
“Yes,” Luna’s smile became a full blown grin, “Madame Pomfrey had to step out to St. Mungo’s for a consultation. You will have, at the very least, fifteen minutes of uninterrupted time.”
“Nice,” Fred nodded, “should leave right about now, shouldn’t I?”
“I think Hedwig needs to stretch her wings,” Luna giggled as she gestured upwards.
Fred looked in the direction she was pointing and saw said bird flying towards them in her owl form. She landed on Luna’s shoulder and trilled a few times.
“You up for some mischief?” Fred grinned at the phoenix in her snow owl form, chuckling when she bobbed her head. “Good. Our victim of choice today is in the Hospital Wing. I’ll call you when I’m ready to come back, ok?”
Hedwig trilled in affirmation.
Fred looked back at Luna. “Let the games begin.” He pulled Harry’s cloak from his pocket and threw it on, instantly disappearing from sight.
Humming to herself, Luna turned around and started skipping back to where her boyfriend and friends were.
~…~
Fred made his way up to the Hospital Wing, being as careful as ever. He made sure to avoid not only bumping into any students, but Dumbledore as well as he knew the man could discover him under the cloak with the Homenum Revalio charm should he become suspicious for any reason. Excitement had him giddy as he thought of his plan. It was brilliant and evil and genius.
Easing open the door, he quickly got inside, letting the door close softly behind him. He spotted Ginny lying on a bed almost in the far corner, her back to the door and smirked to himself. Removing the cloak, he folded it, shrunk and put it in his pocket and then he made his way over to where she was lying.
“Hey Ginny,” Fred greeted as he took a seat in the chair next to the bed.
Ginny flinched and whirled around, eyes wide in disbelief, which soon turned to pleasure. “Harry! What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you,” Fred replied. “I wanted to see how you were doing with the spell and all.”
Ginny, pleased to see Harry talking to her and showing concern, scowled at his words. “I feel awful. I don’t know who cast the spell, but if it’s anything, I bet it was Ma--” she stopped talking and looked at him, knowing he was dating the blond Slytherin, though she hated it.
“You were going to say Malfoy, weren’t you?” Fred asked. “It’s ok. I don’t blame you.”
“You’re dating him though,” Ginny sneered the words at him. “Why aren’t you angry that I’m blaming him? And why are you talking to me now? I remember the last time you called me a slut and said you wanted nothing to do with me. Why are you here?”
Fred wasn’t surprised by her words, as he had known before he came to see her that she would ask them or questions along those lines. He was prepared. Placing a contrite expression on his face, he ran a hand through his hair—like Harry would do—and spoke in a slightly soft voice. “Ginny, about what I said that first night here; the thing of it is, I was just so angry at Ron and Hermione that I snapped at you too. It was wrong of me to do that and I’m sorry.”
Ginny felt her heart pounding at his words. Never did she think this would happen and she wasn’t going to throw away the chance he was giving to her. But she still needed to know something. “What about Malfoy? You’re still with the ferret.”
Fred was glad his hands were out of her sight so she couldn’t see the way they had clenched into fists at her words. ‘Keep calm. Don’t hex the bint. You need to continue with your plan.’ “To be honest, with Draco gone this weekend, it left me time to think. You see, I have a duty, to not only myself, but to my Family Line and that is to carry it on. Your brother and his girlfriend really hurt me and I went with Malfoy because I know he’s your brother’s rival and I knew it would stick it to Ron. But now, I realized that I hurt the one person that loved me the most.”
“Oh Harry,” Ginny whispered feeling her heart fill with joy. “I do love you. I’ve loved you for as a long as I could remember. I always dreamed I’d be with you.”
‘Well, if for some reason we didn’t know she was a Boy-Who-Lived fan, then her own words just confirmed it,’ Fred snorted mentally. “I’m only with Draco because I have to. We don’t trust him or his father so I have to keep an eye on him. Don’t worry, it’s you I want, and when we find out he’s up to no good, then we can expose him.”
“So can we be together?” Ginny asked.
“Yes,” Fred nodded. When Ginny squealed and leaned towards him, he pulled back, “But, we can’t let anyone know. We have to keep this a secret.”
“OK,” Ginny agreed. “Wait till Ron and Hermione-
“NO!” Fred said forcefully, causing her to jump. “We can’t tell them either. It has to stay between us.”
“I understand.” Ginny nodded. She smirked at the thought of knowing something Hermione didn’t. More often than, Hermione’s attitude irritated and she loved having one up on the bushy haired girl. It was why she often made sexual remarks at her.
“I have to go now,” Fred stood up, “Remember, not a word to anyone, it’ll be our secret.”
“Ok,” Ginny nodded and pouted. “Do you really have to leave?”
‘Merlin yes! If I stay here I’ll be too tempted to rearrange your body.’ “Yes, I do. Goodbye Ginny.”
With that, Fred walked out the Hospital Wing. He opened and closed the door behind him, and after making sure no one was there, he called Hedwig.
The phoenix flashed onto his shoulder.
“Hey girl,” Fred reached up a hand to rub her breast, “Back to Luna and the others.”
Hedwig trilled before flashing the two out.
~…~
Luna had moved the group to a more secluded spot on the ground; one where they could still see the school and the students, but no one could see them. They had been at that spot for just over ten minutes when Hedwig flashed into the middle of the group.
“You’re back,” Pansy smiled.
“I am,” Fred grinned and after pulling a treat from his pocket, he gave it to Hedwig and watched as the bird flew off.
“How did it go?” Luna turned to look at him.
“Perfectly!” Fred grinned and sat down next to Cory.
“Good,” Luna nodded and then she turned away and started humming.
The friends talked softly amongst each other, not wanting to disrupt the peaceful aura that had settled over them.
The rest of the day passed by relatively normal and just before dinner that night, after getting a note from Harry via Hedwig, Fred made his way once again back to the classroom he had used earlier. The moment he was there, Hedwig flashed him out and back to the Shrieking Shack where he and Harry would switch. When he got there, he saw Harry waiting for him.
“Hey, how was it?” Fred asked as he grinned at him.
Hedwig flew from Fred to her master and trilled as she rubbed her head against his.
“Hey girl, you miss me?” he turned to Fred, “It was brilliant,” Harry chuckled, “Not only did our Lord accomplish what he wanted, but I had fun. Draco took me all over the place. Oh and Bill says to tell you guys ‘hello’ and that he’ll see you guys sometime soon. He and Fleur are planning a trip to England.”
“It’d be good to see them,” Fred nodded.
“How long do you have left on the Polyjuice?” Harry asked.
Casting a quick Tempus, Fred looked at his brother. “About fifteen minutes, which is good ‘cause I was on the last one.”
“Ok, so, are you gonna go straight back to the shop or home?” Harry asked.
“Home,” Fred said as he moved to relax against the old table. “George should have no problem locking up. He’ll send a Patronus if he needs help.”
“Alright,” Harry nodded and then he grinned at his brother, “so what all did I miss?”
With a laugh, Fred told Harry just what he and George had done for the weekend. He took great glee in retelling about what he did to Ron and couldn’t stop the laughter when he told what he said to Ginny.
“She actually believed you?” Harry raised an eyebrow as he started removing his clothes, Fred following. When he was down to his boxers, he held out the clothes to Fred.
“’Course she did,” Fred chuckled as he took the clothes and handed over those he was wearing. “By the way, that spell you have on her, you should remove it. Not because I pity her, but before the professors, Dumbledore especially, become desperate.” He paused, “Although, they didn’t do a bloody thing really this weekend. I think they gave up hope of removing it, or they think it’s a prank by one of our products.”
“I was planning on taking it off tonight anyways,” Harry told him, “I really don’t want to spend any more time on her. After this, she could be on fire for all I care. Well, Draco and his father should be back in school by now, just in time for dinner. I should probably get back too.”
“Alright,” Fred nodded and he straightened up, “First Hogsmeade weekend, you better come to the store.”
“Of course I will,” Harry smiled. He went up to Fred and pulled him into a hug. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Fred tightened the hug briefly before letting go and stepping back. “I’m ready Hedwig.”
The phoenix flew to him and flashed the two of them out. Minutes later, she returned and flashed her and Harry back into Hogwarts to the same classroom she and Fred had been in. After spending a few minutes with his bird, Harry left the room, pausing and smiling when he saw Luna twirling around giggling.
“Luna-girl,” Harry jogged over to her.
“Harry,” Luna stopped twirling and skipped to meet him, throwing her arms around his neck when she did so. “I’m glad our Lord is pleased with the trip.”
“So am I,” Harry grinned as he pulled back from the hug. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and the two turned and headed in the direction of the Great Hall. “That letter that I received from your father, I mentioned it to Him.”
Luna glanced up at him, “and what was his answer?”
“He thinks it’s brilliant of course,” Harry replied, “Well, actually, he was a little sceptical at first, but after I explained everything—with the help of Draco and Lucius—he agreed to it; said it was actually a very Slytherin move.”
Luna giggled and snuggled further into his embrace. “Of course it is.”
“So,” Harry squeezed her briefly, “what all happened while I was gone?”
“I’m sure Fred and George told you,” Luna smiled.
“I know,” Harry nodded, “but I know that you have something else to add…something to do with Cho?”
Luna laughed and then, she proceeded to tell him everything.
~…~
Cory and the others were sitting at the end of the Slytherin table, closer to the entrance, eating and talking as they looked out for Luna.
“Guys look,” Seamus gestured to the Head Table. “Mr Malfoy’s back.”
They looked up and saw the elder Malfoy heading to his seat next to Snape.
“So then,” Lavender asked after she swallowed the piece of chicken she was chewing, “where’s Draco?”
On cue, Draco walked into the Hall, grey eyes darting around until he landed on them. They watched as the blond smirked before making his way towards them. Almost immediately, the students shifted, allowing Draco to sit between Blaise and Goyle.
“Well isn’t this something,” Draco said as he sat down, looking around the Gryffindors and Ravenclaw.
“You don’t mind, do you?” Padma asked, not wanting to incur the wrath of the Slytherin Prince himself.
“Pad,” Parvati rolled her eyes at her sister, “I told you, it’s cool. We’ve been eating with Draco all last week at all three tables except Hufflepuff. I don’t think he’d mind you joining us.”
“And even if he did,” Lavender smirked at the blonde, “Harry might have something to say about it.”
“Where is Harry by the way?” Parvati asked as she looked around for their green-eyed friend.
“Probably with Luna,” Cory shook his head with a grin.
“Isn’t he always?” Draco chuckled. He looked up and a smile graced his face. “Speak of the devil.”
Harry entered the Great Hall, with Luna and as always, his arm was around her shoulder and the blonde was snuggled into his side. The sight never failed to generate sighs and jealousy in the students. The two ignored everyone, as usual, and made their way over to the Slytherin table. Luna broke off from under Harry’s arm and moved to sit between Cory and Seamus while Harry sat between Draco and Blaise.
“Where have you guys been?” Dean asked as he picked up a spoonful of rice.
“Walking,” Luna replied airily as she piled food on a plate.
“Of course,” Dean muttered dryly while the others laughed. Soon, conversations erupted amongst the teens as they all enjoyed each other’s company and their dinner.
~…~
Over the course of the next few days, nothing too out of the way happened; the students settled even further into their school life, Harry and the others still continued to showcase their knowledge in their classes, easily becoming the top students, surpassing Hermione and drawing praises and looks of approval from their Heads of House, and to the shock of the other teachers—exception being Snape—Lucius’ DADA classes were quickly becoming a class that was looked forward to by almost all of the students, no matter the year.
Dumbledore especially was shocked. He had been hoping and searching for an excuse—any excuse—to lodge a complaint to the Board of Governors and Minister for Magic and have the Lord Malfoy removed, but he could find nothing. At every time, whenever he questioned students, they all seemed to have the same answer; they all enjoyed the man’s class, they loved the way he interacted with them and actually seemed willing for them to learn something, which was something the upper years were grateful for as they hadn’t had a decent DADA class except for Remus Lupin and “Alastor Moody”.
Even the Muggle-borns, those who had heard of Malfoy’s views on all things Muggle and who had been wary about being in his class, were slowly warming up to him. And what was more, Harry’s speech that night in the Common room about the Creeveys and the reason behind the Statute of Secrecy was still going around the school. It was one of the many topics discussed between the students and it opened their minds.
To Snape and Lucius, they were in awe at what was happening. They had hoped that things would be ok, but even they had had doubts as to what impact they would have on the students, but their worries seemed unfounded.
~…~
It was Wednesday, and everyone was in the Great Hall for lunch. Harry had removed the spell off of Ginny Sunday night, and had avoided the redhead until now, but that hadn’t stopped her from throwing smiles and smug looks in his and Draco’s direction. He had told Cory and Draco about what Fred had done and the two had found it amusing and couldn’t wait to see how things would play out and as such, their gazes kept drifting to the entrance to the Hall, waiting for the redhead. They didn’t have to wait long.
“Hey,” Cory nudged Harry when he saw the female Weasley walk into the Hall. “Look who it is.”
Harry looked up, as did Draco, Luna and the others. They watched as Ginny walked further into the Hall and immediately, her gaze flitted around until she spotted Harry.
Harry saw Ginny smiling at him and he smiled at her in return. He knew she would take it as encouragement to come to him.
Ginny, couldn’t contain the pleased look as she walked—sauntered—over to the Slytherin table. She was still giddy from what Harry had told her on Sunday and couldn’t wait to be with him. She hated that Malfoy was sitting next to him, and for the last couple of days, she had had to stop herself from going off on the blond and blowing Harry’s plans, but today, she was determined to at least eat lunch with Harry.
“Hello Harry,” Ginny smiled at the dark haired teen as she stopped behind Dean and Seamus.
Harry raised his eyes from the table, well aware that the conversations around the Hall had died down as everyone became interested in what was happening. He shifted his expression from open and easy-going to blank and raised an eyebrow at her.
“Why exactly are you talking to me?” Harry asked in a cold voice, making Ginny flinch. “As I recall, I specifically told you and that brother of yours as well as his know-it-all girlfriend to stay away from me, so again, I ask, why are you talking to me?”
Ginny was confused and it showed on her face. She couldn’t understand why Harry was treating her that way. She wanted to snap at him, but then, she paused as she remembered his words from Sunday and her body relaxed as she thought that he was just keeping up appearances.
“Oh,” Ginny shook her head, “Sorry…I forgot.” She turned to Draco and sneered at him, “I hope you’re enjoying yourself ferret, because it won’t last long.”
“Says who? You?” Draco snickered at her, “get over yourself Weaselette. Harry and I are together and that’s how it’s going to stay and there’s nothing neither you nor anyone else can do to change that.”
Ginny’s hand clenched into fists as her eyes narrowed into slits, growing darker with her anger. Malfoy has always managed to get under her skin. She hated him. Their family had been feuding for as long as she could remember and whenever she was around him, it never failed to make her beyond angry. She hated the way he walked, the way he talked and the way he looked at her like she was scum, like she was beneath him. And it was that anger—that hatred—that drove her to say her next words.
“You think you’re something else Malfoy,” Ginny hissed, “but you’re not.” Her stance shifted and a smug smile graced her face. “I can’t believe you actually thought Harry really felt anything for you. You’re so stupid.”
Everyone gasped, and those at the Slytherin table glared at Ginny. To the redhead’s surprise, instead of being irritated or angry over what she was saying, the blond smiled and his grey eyes gleamed with something, but she didn’t know what.
“What are you smiling about?” Ginny demanded, angry that he had not reacted how she had expected him to.
“I know exactly how Harry feels about me,” Draco leaned back and looked at her. “He tells me all the time, especially when we’re…alone.”
Ginny fumed at his implications. She looked at Harry and saw the same cold look on his face and she couldn’t understand why he was looking at her that way.
“Run along Weaselette,” Draco sneered at her, “your obvious attempts at trying to break Harry and me apart are pathetic. It’s quite clear that your time in the hospital wing separated from the everyday norm has left you delusional.”
“You should probably get that checked out,” Cory injected with a smile, “I hear St. Mungo’s has a ward for delusions of grandeur.”
Laughter echoed around them and Ginny flushed with embarrassment and anger. “You’re the one who’s pathetic. You don’t know Harry’s just using you. He doesn’t trust you and is only acting like he does with you because it’s a trick. He loves me.”
The Slytherin table looked at each other, more specifically at Harry and his group of friends, before they all laughed, even harder than before.
Ginny turned flashing blue eyes to Harry. “Tell him the truth Harry. You don’t have to do this anymore. Just forget about it and leave him. I’m sure we can find out what he’s up to some other way.”
Harry crossed his arms and raised an eye brow at Ginny. “Ok, I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you remember?” Ginny asked, “You told me that you were just playing with Malfoy. That you really loved me and you wanted to be with me.”
Harry laughed. “Oh sweet Merlin, are you kidding me right now? When did I tell you that and why the hell would I say something like that? I love Draco. Everyone knows it, just like they all know I would never touch you, not willingly anyways. I don’t know what plan you’re talking about, but I would never hurt Draco. I’d die before I do that.”
Ginny was at a loss. “But—
“When exactly did we have this conversation where I supposedly told you I was only with Draco as a plan and I only wanted to be with you and no one else?” Harry asked.
“You came to see me in the Hospital Wing Sunday night,” Ginny glared at him, “you said it had to be kept a secret.”
“Well,” Luna spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention, “it seems we have arrived at the truth at last. You see, Ginerva, there is no way Harry spoke to you Sunday night due to the fact that he was with me, Cory, Blaise, and Pansy all afternoon at the lake.”
“She’s right,” Pansy agreed. She knew that Luna and Harry had left them for a while, but, she was enjoying herself too much to say anything and even then, Harry was her friend, and never would she go against him. “I think you were being played Weasley. Someone pretended to be Harry and told you all those things.”
Ginny’s gaze danced between the group. “No. I know it was Harry I talked to.”
“How are you so sure?” Blaise asked. “Everyone in this school knows how Harry feels about Draco and how he’s not friends anymore with you, your brother and his girlfriend. What reason would Harry have in coming to you and telling you he loves you? None. But, if someone wanted to play a mean trick, or to try and discredit Harry and create problems between him and Draco…” at his words, most of eyes went over to the Gryffindor table where Ron and Hermione were sitting.
“I’m not lying and I know who I spoke to!” Ginny insisted, though her voice lacked the conviction it did when she had first appeared at the table.
“Geez can you sound any more desperate?” Seamus called out, prompting everyone to laugh again. “‘Oh Harry loves me! Harry wants to be with me and not Malfoy! Oh, poor me!’”
Seamus’ voice had gone high-pitched. Students were laughing so hard they were holding their sides.
Ginny’s face became almost the same colour as her hair and her hand clenched into fists.
“Ok…once again for the slow person,” Harry spoke before she could, “I don’t know who came to you, but it wasn’t me. I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you I love you or that I was only playing with Draco. Get this through your thick skull; you mean nothing to me. I don’t want you, I have never wanted you, and I never will. Draco and I are in this for the long haul and nothing and no one is going to change that; especially not you. So please…leave us alone.”
When he was done, Harry dropped his gaze and started talking to Luna, effectively and abruptly dismissing Ginny.
Humiliated and angry, Ginny ran from the Hall.
“Someone really did a number on her,” Theo mused.
“Yeah,” Harry nodded, “and they dragged me into it too. I’m cursed.”
This started the others laughing again and lunch continued on without any more interruptions.
Harry smiled and glanced around, noticing almost everyone smiling and talking. His gaze caught the Headmaster’s, and he saw the frown on the man’s face and had to hold back his smirk.
~…~
The next two days passed with no disturbance. On Friday, they learned that Stan Shunpike had been arrested, but the students didn’t pay all that much attention to the information. It was now Saturday, and as was the norm, most everyone was outside.
Harry was at the pitch with some Gryffindor students, as it was the try-outs for the Quidditch team. Among the students were Ron, Ginny, Cormac McLaggen and Katie, who had been shocked—as well as the others—when she was told she was to be the new team captain.
“Alright, listen up people!” Katie shouted, the seriousness in her voice bringing everyone to a halt. “As you know, this is the try-outs for the new team. All positions, with the exception of mine, are open, and yes, that includes Harry’s though I know he’ll reclaim it. Just because I’m friends and I know you, doesn’t mean I will choose you. The decision to make you a part of this team will be based on two things only; one, your skills, and two, your sportsmanship and ability to be a team player.”
“That’s three things,” Harry injected cheekily.
Katie didn’t even look at him as she grabbed her broom with the intention of smacking him, but Harry ducked away with a laugh, “Ok, everyone relax and those going for the Chaser position in the air.”
Harry mounted his broom and was ready to take off when Katie stopped him.
“What are you doing?” Katie asked, turning fully to look at him.
“I’m just gonna do a few laps in the air,” Harry smiled, “make sure I’m not getting rusty.”
Katie snorted, “The day you get rusty in the air is the day I become bald.”
Harry cocked his head to the side and stared at her.
“Why are you staring at me?” Katie asked, exasperation colouring her voice.
“Just imagining you bald,” Harry replied with a grin.
“Get!” Katie pointed to the air as she tried, and failed, to stop the laughter from coming out.
Harry laughed and took off into the air. He did a few loops and swirls in the air before he made his way over to where Luna and Cory were sitting.
“Hey guys,” Harry called out as he hovered near them.
“Hey Harry,” Cory smiled. “Aren’t you going to try out too? I hear Ginny wants the Seeker position.”
“Please,” Luna hummed. “Everyone knows she can’t compare to our Harry.”
“True,” Cory grinned, “So, who do you think’s gonna make the team?”
“I don’t know yet,” Harry said as he shifted to face the players. “I know who won’t make it though.”
Cory looked over at Harry. “Ron.”
“Yeah,” Harry nodded, “Weasley will spend more time being nervous than to do any work at all.”
“It’s his turn now,” Luna smiled as her gaze focused on the pitch.
They watched as Ron rose in the air and couldn’t help but to laugh when they saw him lose his grip on his broom more than once. Their laughter increased when they saw the redhead fumble to catch the Quaffle and failing every time. By the end of his session, Ron had only managed to stop two Quaffles.
Harry watched with glee as the redhead flew dejectedly back to the ground and Cormac took his position in the sky. The teen flew with a grace and played with considerable skill as he effortlessly blocked every Quaffle that came his way. He straightened up when he saw Cormac fumble. ‘What the hell? He was playing perfectly just a second ago, why’s he messing up now?’
Again, Cormac fumbled; he missed the next few Quaffles, allowing Katie to score against him. Frowning, Harry looked around and his gaze narrowed on where Hermione was sitting. He saw her holding her wand discretely while she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Luna,” Harry said softly, his green eyes narrowed into slits.
“I see her,” Luna said, “don’t worry. I know exactly how to take care of it.”
“What’s going on?” Cory asked as he looked between his girlfriend and his best friend.
“Granger jinxed McLaggen so that he would lose,” Harry told him. “My guess is, she did it so that Weasley could win.”
“Are you serious?” Cory looked over at Hermione.
“Very much so,” Luna said as she stood up.
“Where are you going?” Harry asked.
“To take care of it, of course,” Luna smiled, and it was a smile full of mischief, “don’t worry dear brother, Granger will get the surprise of her life and you will love it.”
“Why do I get the feeling trouble’s about to be caused?” Cory groaned as he stood up.
“That’s ‘cause you’re paranoid,” Harry quipped with a grin.
“It’s the good kind,” Luna said to her boyfriend, “trust me, you’ll enjoy this.” she motioned Harry to come forward and when he did, she kissed his cheek. “Show Ginerva why you’re the best at what you do.”
Their eyes met, green locking on to blue and Luna’s slow, uncurling smile was dark. “No mercy.”
Harry grinned and his eyes flashed darkly in response, “Never intended any.”
“Let’s go Cory,” Luna said before she made her way off the stands.
“See you after practice,” Cory smiled and waved as he followed his girlfriend.
~…~
Almost twenty minutes later, Harry was making his way into the Great Hall. Practice had finished ten minutes ago and he had taken a quick shower in the locker rooms. Just like he knew, he had retained his position as Seeker, while Ginny was the reserve, which really meant, she would only play if he couldn’t. Due to Cormac’s mess, Ron had been given the position as Keeper, which had the redhead dazed and amazed, but left his girlfriend happy for him, even if her smiles were tinged with guilt.
As he entered the Hall, he saw his friends, and boyfriend, sitting at Gryffindor table and made his way over to them. As he walked, he could hear the whispers and could make out Granger’s name, as well as Weasley’s and Cormac’s and the word cheating and suddenly, he knew just what his devious little sister had been up to.
“Hey guys,” Harry said as he dropped into the open space next to Draco. “So, what’s all the buzz about?”
Lavender’s eyes gleamed as she leaned across the table to talk, “everyone’s talking about what happened at the Gryffindor practice today.”
“What do you mean?” Harry feigned ignorance as he snagged a grape from Draco’s plate.
“Weren’t you there?” Draco raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend.
“Yes,” Harry nodded as he swallowed his bite, “but, I was in the air mostly and I wasn’t really paying attention to anyone else. So, what’s going on?”
Just as Lavender was about to answer, all conversations ceased the moment Hermione and Ron walked into the Great Hall.
Ron seemed oblivious to the looks; he was feeling too proud and smug about winning the position, but Hermione’s eyes darted around as she noticed the stares on them. They had barely gotten anywhere, when they were stopped. But it wasn’t by a person per se; instead, it was a comment.
“Hey Weasley,” a student shouted out, “I thought you were the man in the relationship? I didn’t know you had your girlfriend do everything for you!”
Laughter echoed throughout the hall and Hermione winced at the words, even as she wondered what was going on.
“What?” Ron whirled around to look at the student. “What the bloody hell are you on about?”
Lavender stood up from her seat, a smug grin on her face and her arms folded across her chest, “Your girlfriend is such a hypocrite. She’s always on everyone’s case about following the rules, and she doesn’t do it herself.”
Hermione rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest, mirroring Lavender’s pose. “You know Lavender, I really don’t have time for whatever dribble you’re about to spit.”
“But you had time to fix it so that Weasley would get the Keeper position, didn’t you?” Lavender responded.
Hermione froze at the girl’s words. “What?”
Lavender took a step closer to Hermione and smirked, “It’s strange isn’t it? How Cormac played so well and then, all of a sudden, he started missing the Quaffle, he started fumbling and Weasley here, started catching his.”
Ron scowled at Lavender and stepped closer to his girlfriend, “Why is that so strange? I obviously did better than McLaggen did. It’s no one’s fault he messed up at try-outs.”
“Are you quite sure about that?” Lavender said, “Why don’t you ask your girlfriend what she did to McLaggen?”
“What are you talking about?” Ron demanded, “Hermione didn’t do anything. You’re just trying to cause trouble Lavender.” He then turned to Hermione. “Tell her you didn’t do anything.”
Hermione looked away as her arms fell from her chest. Her gaze flitted around the Hall and she saw everyone looking at them, her specifically. She could read the accusation in their faces as well as the glee on some students’ faces, like the Slytherins, at the idea that she had cheated.
“Hermione?” Ron called out when she remained silent.
McGonagall walked over to the trio. “I heard the rumours myself, but I didn’t believe them. However, I’m guessing by your reaction, there is some truth in it. So tell me Miss Granger; is it true? Did you really jinx Mr McLaggen so that he would fail at try-outs and so that Mr Weasley would get the position instead?”
Hermione looked up at Ron and then at her Head of House and Lavender before looking back at McGonagall. “I did. I wanted Ron to get the position because I knew how much it meant to him, so I used the Confundus charm on Cormac to make sure he didn’t do well.”
Whispers erupted into the Hall at Hermione’s confession and said girl turned red in embarrassment and shame.
“Hermione,” Ron stared at her, unable to say anything more.
McGonagall looked at her student, her face set in a frown, disappointment radiating from her in waves, “I am shocked Miss Granger, by your actions. Twenty points from Gryffindor for cheating,” She turned to Ron. “Unfortunately for you Mr Weasley, you will have to relinquish the Keeper position.”
“What?” Ron near shouted, but the look on his Head’s face had him keeping his voice low, “Why do I have to?”
“The position was gained through cheating Mr Weasley,” McGonagall said sternly, “by all accounts, Mr McLaggen performed much better than you, and if not for Miss Granger’s spell, he would be the Keeper, not you.”
“The professor’s right,” Katie stood up, a scowl on her face, “I’m sorry Ron, but I’m going to have to remove you from the team.” She turned to where Cormac was sitting, “Looks like you’re the new Keeper.”
Cormac smiled as his friends patted him on his back.
“I must say Miss Granger,” McGonagall spoke, “I am very disappointed. I never expected such deceit from you.” With that, the woman headed to the staff table.
Hermione’s eyes filled with tears as she looked around the Hall. The students were all staring at her.
“Cheater!” someone shouted and that was the catalyst for the others as they all started shouting out insults.
Humiliated, Hermione turned and ran from the Hall, the jeers and catcalls following her.
Ron turned to watch her go before he turned back to Lavender, blue eyes flashing with anger. “You did this! You bitch!”
Lavender took a step back at the rage on the redhead’s face and Harry, Draco, Cory, Blaise, Dean and Seamus all stood up.
“Ten points from Gryffindor and detention tomorrow and Monday night for that display of vulgarity and disrespect,” Snape called out, his voice filled with glee.
Ron’s face turned red and his hands balled into fists as he turned and left the Hall, heading after his girlfriend.
As Harry and the others sat back down, said guy turned to look at Luna sitting across from him. He waited for her to look at him and when she did, he raised an eyebrow in her direction.
Luna smiled and gave a slight shrug in response and Harry shook his head with a sigh before he grinned at her, causing her to giggle.
“If the silent conversation is over,” Blaise interrupted with a smile.
“Piss off Blaise,” Harry said.
“Love you too Harry,” Blaise grinned as the others laughed. “I must say, seeing the look on Granger’s face just now will forever be associated as a happy memory.”
“I still can’t believe she did that though,” Dean shook his head, “Hermione Granger, breaking a rule.”
“Just goes to show you,” Harry said as he took a slice of apple from Draco, “even those placed on a high pedestal can still fall off. You just have to be careful, and Granger wasn’t.”
Murmurs of agreement sounded from the friends and then, the conversation shifted to more pleasant topics. Twenty minutes later, the group finished with their meal and got up from the table, deciding to go outside.
They made their way to one of the trees in the courtyard and the boys climbed the tree while Pansy transfigured a napkin into a blanket for the girls to sit on. After a few minutes, Harry jumped from the tree just as Luna stood up.
“Let’s take a walk,” Luna smiled and held out her arm and as he stepped closer, she slipped it around his waist in their customary move.
“Don’t take too long,” Draco called from where he was lounging on a branch.
Harry looked over his shoulder at him with a smile. “We won’t.”
The group watched the two leave before Gabriella turned to Cory and Draco, “I don’t want to step on any toes or anything, but, I have to ask.”
“What?” Cory asked as he looked at her.
“Does it bother you—either one of you—that sometimes the two of them just go off together?” Gabriella asked; it’s something she wondered about ever since she started at the school and hanging out with them. Back in America, at the school she went to, things like that didn’t happen. Girls would freak if they saw their boyfriend or girlfriend, always spending a lot of time with someone else and boys were the same way. But neither Draco nor Cory had displayed any hint of jealousy and she was really curious.
Lavender, Padma and Parvati giggled while the others smiled.
“What?” Gabriella looked at the two girls.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Cory shrugged with a grin and he looked over at Draco, “and I know it doesn’t bother Draco.”
“But why?” Gabriella asked, needing to understand how they were so cool with it. “If I didn’t know any of you, I would say that Harry and Luna were the couple and not Harry and Draco or Cory and Luna.”
“It’s just how they are,” Lavender laughed, “We’ve known Harry for six years now, and we Gryffindors shared a common room with him and we know for a fact that Harry wasn’t a very people person.”
“He didn’t like to be touched,” Parvati continued, “and seemed to only tolerate Granger doing the touching; like hugging or hand holding.”
“And in Ravenclaw,” Padma added on, “No one really paid much attention to Luna when she started here. To be honest, some people bullied her; they loved to pick on her and were always hiding her things.”
“Harry lost his parents when he was a baby and Luna lost her mom when she was a little girl,” Cory said, “and I know Luna’s dad loved her and all, but friend-wise, neither one of them had friends to begin with. I know some others went through the friendless phase, but for Harry and Luna it was worse because of their home situation.”
“What do you mean?” Gabriella asked and even the others, with the exception of Draco, looked interested.
“Luna’s dad for all that he loves her, is a bit, um, eccentric,” Cory explained, “and because of that, she wasn’t raised in the same manner that most, if not all, pure-blood children were raised and Harry, his family didn’t really care for him.”
“So,” Gabriella bit her lip as her brows pulled together in a thoughtful expression, “basically, in a way, they were both neglected as children.”
“Yes,” Draco nodded, “and every year since they started Hogwarts, they’d had to deal with a lot of heckle from other students, myself included, except for this year. They can finally be themselves.”
“I think they recognize themselves in each other,” Cory continued on with a thoughtful look, “in a way, they’re both lost souls yet somehow, they’ve still manage to retain some childlike quality and with each other, they can express or balance it or something, I don’t know.” he finished with a chuckle.
“Look,” Draco grinned at his friend, “we don’t worry because there’s no reason to. The two of them can read each other so good that they know when the other has an idea; they go off together and try to work through it. When they do, they come back and explain everything to us. I trust Harry with everything in me. Luna is his little sister.”
“Same for me,” Cory nodded, “I love Luna and if I had to choose someone to be there for her and protect her, it’s Harry.”
“Oh,” Gabriella said after a few minutes of silence. “Thanks for clearing that up for me then. I didn’t want to say anything because I wasn’t sure how it’d be taken. I just wondered is all.”
“Understood,” Draco nodded. He could see how an outsider would view the friendship between the two teens and truth be told, he had already expected Gabriella to say something. He had seen the looks the girl had thrown Harry and Luna over the last few days.
He was just surprised she held this long.
~…~
Luna and Harry had ended up at the lake; they sat on one of the large rocks, watching the colours the sun was casting off over the horizon.
“What do you plan to do?” Luna broke the silence after a while and turned her head slightly to look at Harry.
“Discredit him,” Harry replied. “He is going to die, but not before we take away the most important thing in his life.”
“The love and respect of his followers,” Luna said, “you know his most loyal followers will not believe so easily.”
“I know,” Harry nodded, “but the majority will, and those that still have their doubts, they’ll lose them when the phoenix situation come to light.”
“True,” Luna rested her head on his shoulder, “He’s been in position too long and have done too much damage. He needs to be removed.”
“He will be,” Harry said, “his end is coming.”
Luna hummed and snuggled further into his embrace.
~…~
A few days passed and the main topic throughout the corridors of the school was still the Gryffindor team try-outs where Hermione cheated for Ron. Everywhere the redhead went, he was treated to jeers and mocking. Students had been sent to the infirmary after being hexed by him. As for Hermione, the jeers and catcalls were even worse and the humiliation had her eating away from the eyes of her classmates. She couldn’t stand the ridicule or the disappointment in McGonagall’s eyes.
Which is why, while everyone was in the Great Hall for lunch, she was sitting in an unused classroom, tears flowing down her cheeks like a river. Frustrated and needing comfort, she had written home to her mother the day after everything had happened. She had told her everything, leaving nothing out. Earlier today, she had received her mother’s response and it was not what she had expected.
Holding back a sob, Hermione reached down and picked up the letter lying next to her. Eyes shining with tears, she read it once more.
Hermione,
I was overwhelmed, concerned and in complete disbelief when I read your letter. I reread it about five times simply because my eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Hermione, how could you?
From the moment you were born, I knew you were special. I could feel it. And then, you started doing things, making things happen and even though I was scared, I knew it was harmless. And you were my little girl and nothing was going to change how I thought about you; so I just chalked up your accidental outbursts of magic to there just being something extremely special about you. Then that woman, McGonagall, showed up here when you turned eleven and she explained everything and as scared as I was about losing you, I could see the light in your eyes when she said you were a witch and that you could be a part of the magical community and I knew I’d had to let you go.
I worried of course, about you making friends, because I knew that during your time at primary school, you barely had any as kids were too intimidated by your brains, and for the first couple of months, I thought my worry was just and as I made the decision to take you away, you wrote home about meeting a boy; a boy that risked his life to save yours. From that moment on, I knew that Harry Potter would come to mean something to you and not because of his status, even then, as the Saviour—which I still think is complete rubbish. Imagine, grown adults relying on a boy to save them all!
Your letters from that point on were always about Harry, even though you had made friends with that boy Ronald as well, you wrote more about Harry. I remember reading about how he treated you normal, how he wasn’t intimidated by your genius but rather in awe of it, how he came to rely on you knowing something that he didn’t know. I knew then you had found a friend for life. And the letters over the next few school years did nothing to disprove that thought, they only strengthened it.
I admit that a part of me had hoped that you would eventually write about the friendship between you and Harry developing into more, but I understood that you saw him as your best friend, as your brother and from what you told of him, he saw the same of you. However, what I never got, was both of your friendships with that redhead boy Ronald Weasley and your subsequent relationship either.
From the start, I knew that boy was no good; for you or Harry. Everything you ever told about him just screams rude and inconsiderate and his actions showed he was nothing more than a brat who always wanted things handed to him, always looked for the easy way out, was too jealous of his supposed best friend’s talents and gifts, and was greedy and jealous for the fame and wealth that Harry has.
Hermione, we always raised you to do the right thing, and to also stand up for what you believe in. I told you to hang on to your friendship to Harry because true friends like that are a rarity, but now, what you’re telling me…I still can’t believe it.
Why Hermione? Why would you do such a thing? Why would you go against your best friend like that? Harry has always stood up for you and not once has he ever made you feel like you’re inferior, so why would you choose others over him when you have never done so? And all for what? A place in the Wizarding World? An in with a Wizarding family? To feel important because of your status as a, a Muggle-born witch? You betrayed the one person you could always count on for stupid things. It makes you no more than a slut selling herself for her body. The thing of it is, what makes it seem infinitely worse, is that, you gave up everything you are—your principles, your morals, your friend—not for sex, but for a position.
I never thought I’d ever say these words to you, but I am deeply ashamed and disappointed in you. I do not know who you are, because the girl that I know, the girl that I raised, she never would’ve done this. And to make matters worse, you were caught cheating. Cheating! You once again went against your principles to help that boy secure a position on his House team, a position he rightfully didn’t deserve. You knew that and you still helped him anyways. What were you thinking?!
And the things you said to Harry, throwing his Godfather’s death in his face, telling him it was his fault…I can’t even begin to touch on that point. That’s how upset I am! Are you so desperate for acceptance that you would go against your beliefs? That you would turn on the one true friend you had? Hermione, I don’t think you fully realized just what it is you have thrown away.
You’re angry over Harry and the way he’s been treating you for the last few weeks, but, I agree with him. Why should he be the fool and accept your apology when it was as false as me being a witch? The apology was only given because that daft, manipulative uncaring fool of a man that calls himself the Headmaster, persuaded you to do it. Harry’s actions regarding you, that boy, the Headmaster and everyone else was his way of saying he was done. He was done being the whipping boy, done acting stupid and done doing what was best for everyone and not what was best for him. And I applaud him for it.
Harry hasn’t changed Hermione; he grew up. And unfortunately, you haven’t. You are a genius Hermione, smarter than anyone I know, and yet, right now, you, you are monumentally stupid. Your actions, your words…it doesn’t scream genius, it screams stupid and selfish and makes you look like a puppet, a puppet moving to the tune that the Weasley boy and Dumbledore sing.
You’re angry because the twins turned their backs on their family because of what they did to Harry. You shouldn’t. What they did, that was brave; to go against your family for a boy you’ve only known for five years, that’s true loyalty. Sirius was right when he said you were just like the man that betrayed Harry’s parents; Harry trusted you and you sold him out.
You’re my daughter, and I will always love you, but right now, I don’t like you. When you find the girl who stood up for her friends, the girl who defied everyone to stand by and protect a boy who needed it, the girl that stood by her principles and who was willing to do the right thing even if sometimes it was the hardest thing to do and it meant going against everyone, when you find her, tell her I miss her and I want her back and I would love to talk to her, but until then, I have nothing more to say to you.
Your Mother,

Margaret
P.S. if you think appealing to your father to understand your side of the story will work, it won’t. He is just as disappointed and ashamed in you as I am.
The letter fell from her hands and fluttered to the floor as a sob tore free from her throat. She raised her hands, shaky as they were, and pressed them against her lips, but it did nothing to stop the sounds from escaping. Soon enough, she broke down, her body shaking with the force of her emotions being released.
She cried for what seemed like forever as images after images assaulted her mind. It finally hit her; what she did and what she lost. Harry was the first person to befriend her, to not treat her like she had the plague; he treated her normal, became her very first and best friend and what did she do? She tossed it away. She let others fill her head with promises of being someone important, when she already had that. She had had a position that a lot of people envied and would have killed for; she was Harry’s best friend, someone he trusted explicitly, someone he confided in and she had ruined that.
“W-W-W-What have I-I-I done?” Hermione cried. She kept crying and soon, her cries became wheezes.
She felt like she was at the lowest of low points and knew there was no one to blame but herself. Dumbledore and the other Weasleys may have placed the suggestions in her head and told her to do what she did, but it was her choice to actually do them. She could’ve said no, she could’ve told them she wasn’t going to go against her best friend like that, but she didn’t and now, not only had she been caught cheating, she had disappointed her Head of House, had made her parents ashamed of her and had lost the one person she knew she could always count on. And all for what?
Her cries slowly died down and when they stopped, Hermione fell back against the wall. After taking a couple shuddering breaths to get herself under control, she stared blankly across the room.
‘I-I can’t do this anymore. Mum is right; I sold out. I destroyed my friendship with Harry all because I listened to Dumbledore and the Weasleys. And now, the whole school thinks I’m a cheater. How could I have been so stupid?’
She brought up a hand, noticing how shaky it was, and wiped her remaining tears away. Her glance fell back to the letter and suddenly, she knew what she had to do.
“I’m done,” she whispered. “I’m not doing this anymore. Nothing matters. I gave up my best friend, all because I wanted to be close to a Wizarding family, all because Dumbledore promised me I could have an important position in life. But none of that matters anymore.”
Letting out a sigh, Hermione grabbed the letter and stood up. She brushed the dust off her clothes and left the classroom. As she walked down the hallway, she knew that she wasn’t up to facing any of the other students so she headed straight for the common room.
When she got there, she was surprised to see Ron sitting in one of the chairs near the fireplace.
“Ron,” Hermione asked as she walked over to him, “what are you doing here?”
“I was looking for you,” Ron replied, “you weren’t at lunch. Hermione, I still can’t believe you did what you did.”
Hermione looked away with a sigh before she sat down. “I can’t either. It was a stupid thing to do and I never should’ve done it in the first place. It was a wrong thing to do.” Hermione bit her lip, “Ron, we need to talk.”
“’Bout what?” Ron’s brows furrowed into a frown.
“About us,” Hermione answered. She took a deep breath to settle her nerves. “Ron, I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
“What?!” Ron growled out as he looked at her in disbelief. “What are you playing at Hermione?”
“I’m not playing at anything,” Hermione shook her head, “I can’t do this anymore Ron. I-I’ve become someone I don’t recognize, someone my own parents want nothing to do with and I don’t like it.” She closed her eyes briefly and when she reopened them, though they were sad, they were filled with determination. “I want to break up.”
“WHAT?!” Ron flew up from his seat and glared down at her. He couldn’t understand why she was breaking up with him. He loved her, and she loved him, and they belonged together. Everyone said so.
Hermione knew he would be angry, and he would try to change her mind, but she was determined to see this through. She was done with everything; being Dumbledore’s puppet, Ginny’s friend, Ron’s girlfriend, all of it. She had lost her parents’ respect and Harry’s friendship, and no position in the world was worth that. She knew she had to make amends with Harry, and this was the start of it.
“You can’t be serious!” Ron’s angry glare died down to a pleading one. “Is it because of what you did at practice? Hermione, it’s ok. I forgive you because I know you did it because you love me.”
“No Ron,” Hermione shook her head, “I’m not doing this because of that. Well actually, a part of this is because of that, but I’m mostly doing it because it’s the right thing to do. I messed up when I agreed to spy on Harry and to make him compliant and do whatever it is people wanted of him. My parents are angry at me, Harry’s not talking to me, and now everyone in school thinks I’m a cheater. I thought that being with you would be perfect because I had liked you for so long, but it’s not. I can’t be with you, not anymore, and not if being with you means I lose myself.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ron asked.
Hermione sighed. She had hoped he wouldn’t make things harder than needed, but it seems her hopes were in vain, “It means what it sounds like Ron. I can’t be with you. I don’t want to be with you. We’re over Ron.” With that, she got up and walked away.
“Hermione?” Ron turned to watch her leave and called after her, but got no reply.
~…~
By dinner, everyone knew that Hermione had broken up with Ron and like any news that became known in Hogwarts, it was the topic of all the gossip.
Harry and the others were sitting at the end of the Slytherin table talking about said gossip.
“Do you believe it?” Lavender asked as she placed a fork full of chicken in her mouth.
“Judging by Weasley’s posture and expression,” Pansy said as she gestured to where Ron was sitting, “I would say that yes, Granger really did end her relationship with him.”
Ron was sitting at the Gryffindor table, facing them, with his shoulders hunched over and a pinched expression on his face. The other students seemed to be giving him a wide berth as the seats on opposite sides of him were empty and his sister sat across from him.
“You don’t seem that surprised Harry,” Parvati said, looking at the teen.
Harry shrugged, “I’m not.” He leaned down and picked up Sesshoumaru, who had chosen to be the size of a small puppy, and placed him in his lap, feeding him some of steak from his plate, “I was her best friend for the last five years and I know her. I knew that despite the fact that she had followed Weasley’s lead and turned against me, there was still a part of her that hated what she was becoming. And like I told Cory, it was only a matter of time before she broke.”
Conversations around the Hall died to whispers and Parvati, Seamus, Dean and Lavender looked up to see Hermione standing at the entrance.
Hermione looked around, ignoring the way everyone was looking at her, and paused when her gaze landed on the Slytherin table. Breaking up with Ron and cutting ties with him was the start of finding herself, but this, this was the something she needed to do. She had to try and make things right with Harry, even though she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would never regain his friendship, but she could only hope. Taking a deep breath, she steeled her nerves and walked over to the Slytherin table, intensely aware of the fact that all eyes were on her. The closer she got, the others looked up at her and she almost turned around and walked back out, but she didn’t.
She stopped behind Harry, ignoring the fact that Draco’s grey eyes were boring into her. “Harry?”
Harry stopped feeding Sesshoumaru and looked at her, his face expressionless and his green eyes blank. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I know I don’t have the right to ask,” Hermione swallowed, “But I was wondering if I could talk to you.”
Harry stared at her and then, he slowly shifted his gaze to Luna. Green locked on to blue and held for a few minutes before Harry turned back to Hermione. “Alright.”
Harry stood up, shifting Sesshoumaru to Draco’s lap where the pup nuzzled Yasha. He looked back to Luna and jerked his head to the side. When she stood up, he turned back to Hermione. “Lead the way.”
Hermione turned and walked out the Hall, Harry and Luna following her.
~…~
Up at the staff table, Minerva sighed as she looked at her Gryffindors.
“Is something the matter Minerva?” Filius asked.
“My Gryffindors,” Minerva turned slightly to look at him. “Never before have I seen such discord among them. With the friendship between Mr Potter, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger severed; the fiasco with Miss Weasley; Mr LeStrange and Mr Potter’s friendship, and now, the ending of Miss Granger and Mr Weasley’s relationship, my entire house seems to have been turned upside down.”
“I rather thought those situations could all be considered good things,” Snape injected, drawing looks of surprise from the other teachers as they knew he never involved himself in the students’ affairs unless it had to with his Slytherins.
“However do you mean Severus?” Sinistra asked.
Snape’s brows furrowed slightly as his gaze shifted from his colleagues to the students; his dark eyes moved from where Ron was sitting, to over where Harry and the others were. “Ronald Weasley is a destructive force and a very jealous and greedy boy. From day one, his friendship with Mr Potter had been all about how it could benefit him. He used his position as Mr Potter’s best friend to his advantage and more often than not, it was him that led Mr Potter to trouble.”
He saw the looks on the teachers’ faces at his obvious defence of Harry and near scowled. “Mr Potter and I may have had our differences in the past, but I am not above myself to admit that I may have judged him too harshly simply based on the fact that he favours his father in looks. I have come to understand that Mr Potter is more like his mother.”
The professors who knew Lily Potter nodded as they thought on the dead woman and her son.
“As I was saying,” Snape continued, “it was often Mr Weasley who instigated everything; from the fights with other students to rushing headlong into trouble. I do believe that Mr Potter’s friendship with Mr Weasley held him back rather than push him forward. For now, without Mr Weasley’s influence, Mr Potter has thrived in all of his classes.”
“That is true,” Minerva said and the teachers who had Harry as a student nodded in agreement, “The Mr Potter in my class this year, is vastly different to the student I have been teaching the last five years. He understands and grasps the knowledge of the subject far better than previously shown.”
“I agree,” Filius near bounced in his seat from excitement. “He reminds me so much of his mother. Her talent at Charms was always astounding, but Mr Potter, his talent is surpassing his mother’s. There is an ease to him to the way he performs his spells that wasn’t there before.”
“It is the same in my class,” Snape added, “his potions skill has improved greatly and it too reminded me of Lily, and her talent for the subject. When I asked Mr Potter about it, what he confessed confirmed my suspicions about Mr Weasley’s influence.”
“What was that?” Sinistra asked, shifting to look at the Potions Master even more.
“He told me that without Mr Weasley to distract him by whispering how horrible the class is,” Snape said, “or by whispering such other nonsense, he can concentrate completely on what he is doing.”
“And what of the other stuff you said?” Pomona asked. It was very rare to hear Severus Snape offer his thoughts on a subject without scorn or cynicism, so she was very intrigued to hear the Potions Master’s thoughts on the shifts in the most famous friendships in the school.
“Mr Potter displayed his true nature when the truth surrounding Mr LeStrange’s family was revealed,” Snape continued, “while other students would have shunned the boy due to who his parents were, Mr Potter didn’t. He accepted the information and continued on as if nothing had changed, and for him, nothing had. As far as he was concerned, Corvus LeStrange was still Neville Longbottom; the only difference was a change in name. And as for Mr LeStrange, Harry’s continued friendship with him, allowed him to accept who he came from and it created a surge in his confidence and his schoolwork; though Potions will more than likely always be trouble for him.”
The teachers’ all had amused smiles on their faces at his words.
Lucius sat on the other side of Snape and had to fight the urge to showcase his glee at the discussion. He knew that some of the professors would be a hard sell to come over to his Lord’s side, but he was sure that there were those that would welcome the change as long as it meant the students were safe. He suspected that deep down, most of them didn’t completely follow Dumbledore like lost sheep, and that if given the choice to better their world, and their students, they would take it.
“And Miss Granger’s relationship with Mr Weasley?” Audrey Dering, the Muggle Studies professor asked.
“Severus,” Lucius injected smoothly, “if I may?”
“Certainly,” Snape nodded and allowed his companion and friend the floor, so to speak.
“You have just started here and as such, you are not familiar with the relationship between the two,” Lucius said, “I myself have only started teaching here, but, I am very familiar and I must say I agree with Severus. Miss Granger ending their relationship was the very best thing she could’ve done for herself. Mr Weasley to me, all family discord aside, has always presented himself as someone who was not willing to work harder for anything, and would like it if everything was handed to him on a silver platter. He is also a bully.”
Most of the teachers gave him sceptical looks and some scoffed.
“I know what you are thinking,” Lucius smiled, “how can I say that, considering who my son is? Here is how; my son, for all his faults, has never once reduced a person he was supposedly interested in to tears, nor has he ever made them feel as if they are to be ashamed of whom they are. Yes, he may have done it to others—like say Mr Potter, or Ms Granger—but never to someone he has shown an interest in. Mr Weasley on the other hand, has done exactly that.” he raised an eyebrow at the teachers. “Does the Yule Ball fourth year come to mind?”
The professors that had been there winced in remembrance.
“What happened?” Professor Dering asked.
“Throughout the entirety of the ball, Mr Weasley showcased his jealousy and at the end of the night, it culminated in Miss Granger crying due to the harsh words dealt by the redhead teen,” Snape explained.
“He insults her intelligence,” Lucius continued, “and then, goes after her to help with schoolwork. Mr Weasley is no more than a user. I dare say Miss Granger will better off without him.”
“Well I for one have never seen Miss Lovegood as relaxed and even more comfortable in her own skin,” Filius squeaked out.
“With the dissolution of the friendship between the “Golden Trio”,” Lucius said, “the possibility for more friendships has opened up. Take for instance, my son’s relationship with Mr Potter. Do you believe that if Harry had kept his friendship with Mr Weasley, someone who has openly declared that he hates all Slytherins and my family, he would be with Draco, or be friends with Miss Parkinson, Mr Zabini and Miss Garibaldi, or any other Slytherin for that matter? And what of his friendship with Mr LeStrange? Would he have remained friends with the former Mr Longbottom?”
The professors looked speculative, but before either one of them could comment, they all caught sight of Hermione walking over to the Slytherin table where Harry and the others were sitting.
“I wonder what that is all about?” Pomona said. “Are we about to see a reunion between the two of them?”
Snape and Lucius exchanged looks, knowing from Harry himself that such a thing would never happen.
“I very much doubt that,” Snape said, the tiniest grin on his face.
~…~
Harry leaned against the wall outside the Great Hall, and watched Hermione. Luna moved close, leaning against him, almost curling into his embrace.
“What did you want to talk about?” Harry asked.
Hermione watched the way Luna all but snuggled into Harry’s side and she couldn’t help the jealousy that flared up in her. ‘That could’ve been me…that used to be me. I wish it still was.’ Taking a deep breath, Hermione shifted her eyes to Harry. “I wanted to apologize.”
“For what?” Harry asked, though Harry knew exactly what she was talking about.
“For everything,” Hermione said, “for the way I treated you, the things I said to you, how I reacted after Sirius died, blaming you for it when it wasn’t your fault, that letter I sent to you and how I acted in Potions, but mostly, for the fact that I turned on you, that I betrayed you.” She swallowed, “Harry, you were my best friend; the one person I could count on and I betrayed you. Looking back, the reason seems so stupid and I can’t believe I did it, but I did and I am so sorry. I was wrong.
“It’s not your fault that Sirius died, and I shouldn’t have blamed you for it. Nor should I have blamed you for getting hurt at the Department of Mysteries. You had tried to get us to stay back, even going so far as to say you could handle it on your own, but we—I didn’t listen. I told you we were in it together and then, I did what I did.”
Hermione paused and took a few breaths and then, she continued, “I never should’ve allowed Dumbledore and Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley and Ron and Ginny to influence me into betraying you. You trusted me and I foolishly threw it away. I am so sorry Harry. I know I won’t, and can’t, get your friendship back, but, do you think,” she stopped and her eyes moved away from his as tears filled them. Swallowing back the tears that threatened to fall, she looked back at Harry, “I don’t have the right to ask, not after what I did, but, can you ever forgive me?”
Harry remained silent as he looked at her. Her words were exactly what he had expected, so he wasn’t surprised at them; what he was surprised at, was that she had broken so quickly. He had honestly thought it would’ve taken her longer to get to this point. He shifted and looked down at Luna, nudging her gently so that she would look at him.
Luna kept her gaze on Hermione; she knew the brunette was telling the truth. She could feel it. Unlike Harry, she wasn’t surprised that girl had broken so quickly; she attributed the quick breakdown to the letter she knew for a fact Hermione had received from her mother. Whatever the woman had told her, had brought home all of her actions and made her finally open her eyes and see what was wrong, that what she was doing and had done was not the person she was or wanted or could be. She shook her head when she felt the nudge and she looked up at Harry. She could see the question in his eyes and she gave a small smile and a barely perceptible nod to let him that Hermione wasn’t trying to trick him.
Harry shifted his gaze from Luna back to Hermione. “You’re right, you know? You don’t deserve to ask, and you definitely don’t deserve it.”
Hermione flinched and bowed her head, her tears finally falling. ‘I knew there was a possibility I wouldn’t be forgiven, but I never thought it would hurt this much to not have it. I have no one to blame but myself.’
Harry saw her reaction and had to stifle his chuckles. Luna noticed and rolled her eyes at him with a smirk.
“Hermione,” Harry said. She didn’t look up, so he tried again, “Hermione.”
Luna smirked and then, she snapped out, “Granger!”
Hermione jumped at Luna’s sharp tone and looked up at the two quickly. “Yes?”
“You don’t deserve my forgiveness,” Harry repeated. “But, that doesn’t mean you’re not getting it.”
“What?” Hermione was shocked. She didn’t expect him to forgive her at all, and now, he was telling her that he did.
“I forgive you,” Harry said, “for everything.”
Hermione wiped the tears that fell and gave a shaky smile. “Thank you.”
“Just because I forgive you,” Harry continued, “it doesn’t mean I want to rebuild our friendship. I meant it when I said I was done being friends with you. From this point onwards, you mean nothing to me. What that means is, I won’t go out of my way to do harm to you, but I won’t go out of my way to help you either. Where you’re concerned, I won’t have any feelings; no anger, no hate, no wistfulness, no regrets, no nothing. Do you understand?”
This time, Hermione didn’t even bother wiping the tears that fell. “I-I do.”
Harry nodded and leaned off the wall. He pulled Luna in even closer as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and the two headed back into the Great Hall.
Hermione watched them go before she turned and made her way to the common room. When she got there, she went directly to her bed, where she drew the curtains, cast a Silencing Charm and cried her heart out.
She had lost her very first friend, and the most important person in the world to her, other than her parents and the worst thing about it was, it was all her fault and there was nothing she could do to change it.

A/N 2: the end of the chapter. So, now that you’ve read, review so we can know what you thought.
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Rise of the Dark Angel