Harry Potter and the Dark Lord Defeated?

Chapter two

"Freedom!" Ron shouted as they finished their Transfiguration exam at the end of the day.

" 'Freedom'? What do ya mean, 'freedom'? We still have our other exams to do!" Harry replied. He wasn't really in a good mood; he must've failed all of his exams so far. More exams definitely weren't what he wanted right now.

"Yeah but all the hard ones are over! I mean Divination, come on! We can just make a whole load of lies about our lives being in danger or us dying of misery! She's so easily satisfied with that kind of stuff!" Ron argued.

"That's just dishonest, Ron!" Hermione snapped. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Reality check, Hermione, I don't bloody well give a damn!" he answered helping himself to some chips when they sat down for their dinner.

"Anyway, Ron, if you were to predict our lives being in danger and our lives about to be a misery you'd be one-hundred percent correct." Harry said trying to force a smile.

"What do you mean, Harry? The Potions exam isn't going to be that bad is it?" Ron said looking curiously at Harry. Hermione stared at him.

"... er... Ron, I don't think that Harry means the Potions exam!"

"Then what does he mean?"

Harry handed his letter from Sirius to Hermione for them both to read. When they had finished it, they both stared at Harry not knowing what to say.

"Oh, Harry not again!" Hermione finally said.

"You-know-who isn't going to try and do you in again is he?" Ron asked.

"More than likely," Harry sighed, "at least, as Sirius said, I will be prepared this time."

"And this time we'll help you! Won't we, Ron?" Hermione offered.

"We will what?" Ron raised his voice. Hermione kicked him hard in the shins under the table, "I mean, of course we want to help! Nothing like killing the Dark Lord of the universe for a good fun way to let some aggression out!"

"I appreciate it guys but it's far too dangerous for you two to get involved," Harry said shaking his head but secretly laughing.

"Well, that's that, he doesn't want our help so we can just- OW! I mean, we are helping and that's that Harry James Potter! My foot is down on this one!" Ron said after Hermione kicked him under the table again.

"Thanks you two! All right you can both help me as long as you stay out of danger!" Harry finally gave in.

"How can we stay out of danger when we are up against you-know-who!" Ron half shouted.

"Okay then Ron! Hermione and I will handle Voldemort, while you take care of the Deatheaters!" Harry looked satisfied at the terror in Ron's face and smiled, "you know there are hundreds of them but you can handle that, can't you?"

"On second thoughts, I think it would be a lot better if we just stuck together!"

Hermione began to laugh. When Harry and Ron got into conversations like these, they really made a good comedy act out of it!

"I'd better go talk to Professor Dumbledore about this other piece of information Sirius is on about," Harry changed the subject slightly.

"You're too late, Harry!" Hermione pointed out, "professor Dumbledore has left to go to an important meeting with the school governors, he left just before we finished our transfiguration exam!"

"DAMN!" Harry shouted. Everyone at the Gryffindor table stared at him. ".... Sorry...." He added turning pink and pushing his chicken around the plate.

"Don't worry Harry! If it was really that important, Sirius would've told you himself!" Hermione reassured him.

"Yea, I guess," Harry replied. He was still quite annoyed but he trusted Sirius. Sirius wouldn't purposely put Harry in any danger and if it was of any threat to Harry, Sirius would've told him. Wouldn't he?

"I'm going to the common room to study, I can't study for my Potions exam in here," Hermione announced as she stood up.

"Why's that? Not up to the studying standards of Hermione Granger? Too noisy?" Ron asked poking fun at her.

"No, it's just that it's Potions and that's depressing enough never mind the atmosphere around Harry at the minute!"

Harry wasn't listening but he looked up at the mention of his name.

"Cheer up for God's sake! You can find out tomorrow! It's not like you have to find out tonight! See you both in the common room!" Hermione ran off out of the great hall.

Hermione was right. This cheered him up a bit. Hermione always had this way of cheering him up. That's another reason why he liked her, although he would never admit this to anyone, not even Ron. Harry felt comforted at knowing that there were no other boys with Hermione or that she fancies any of them. Harry smiled to himself, he had a chance with her as long as he told her how he felt soon and until then, he hoped that it would stay this way!

 

 

Draco sat on the stairs leading up to the main Foyer reading over his notes for his Potions exam first thing in the morning. He didn't dare go back into the library after the little episode earlier that day with Madam Pince.

God this is boring! He thought as he shut his notebook and threw it away only to accidentally hit Hermione on the back of her head as she walked past towards the Gryffindor common room. She spun round with a mixed look of anger and surprise on her face only to see Draco sitting down on the stairs. His face clearly read, OOPS...not good! Hermione picked up his notebook and walked over to him handing him it back.

"Out of all the books you could've hit me with, you had to pick a Potions one!" she said calmly. Draco was surprised that she wasn't snapping at him but he wasn't complaining.

"... When it comes to something that isn't getting to class on time, you have crap timing, Granger! You really do!" he sneered.

"I guess I deserved that," She said sitting down beside him, "I mean, I wasn't exactly nice to you earlier. I appreciate you apologising to me but it came as a shock! Because, well, you apologising is just... just..."

"Unnatural..." Draco finished for her tonelessly.

"Yes, exactly! So... now I'm apologising for what I said and did earlier. I'm sorry Malfoy."

Draco suddenly blushed. It was the first time that Hermione had ever seen Draco blush before but it made him look cuter. He smiled and looked up at her, his silver eyes shining in the torch-light.

"Thanks Hermione!" he said, leaning over and pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, "I appreciate it! You have no idea how stupid I felt when you rejected my apology! But maybe that's 'cos I'm used to people accepting what I say! Not very many people reject what I say or argue with me! It's actually very annoying!" he said looking up towards the ceiling as if just realising this.

Draco stood up and winked to her as he walked off towards the dungeons.

"See you tomorrow in Potions!" he called up to her opening the door that lead to the dungeons.

Hermione watched him go and only then realised that he had called her 'Hermione' not 'Granger'! Her heart seemed to skip as she strode off towards the Gryffindor common room feeling lighter than air!

 

 

Draco couldn't stop smiling as he walked down into the dungeons to go to the Slytherin common room. Why can't I stop smiling? Why do I have this strange feeling inside me? Oh no! Don't tell me I'm starting to like Hermione Granger?! Was all he could think about while listening to his echoing footsteps around the dark and wet tunnel. Yes. I think I do! Don't I? Does she like me? He asked himself.

When he stepped through into the common room, reality came flooding back like the damn that had been holding it all back had broken.

Draco looked round the square room with its cold stone walls and floor. He saw his fellow Slytherins sitting talking with one another and looking over their notes for the next day. That's what brought the biggest impact on him. He was a sly Slytherin; she was a do-good Gryffindor. Forget it... It could never work out anyway... he thought as he ran up to his dormitory.

 

 

* * * * *

"So... bored!" he said lazily with his head still in the same position on the desk and buried in his Potions notebook, "need... energy... need... fun!"

"That's it!" Ron suddenly said in dark voice, "I can't take this anymore! If I'm gonna fail the stupid, pointless, boring Potions exam, so be it! I truly don't give a damn about Potions! Who does?" he slammed his book shut and threw it clear across the room. His book landed on Hermione's head.

"What is it with people and hitting me on the head with books today? Potion ones at that!" she laughed picking up the book from the floor and looking at the name on the front, "Ronald!"

Ron looked from his left to his right and to his left again for something to say or someone to blame.

Where's Malfoy when I need him? Oh dear, she's glaring at me, better respond! Ron thought.

"It was him!" he finally said quickly pointing to Harry who still had not moved. He moved at last. He lifted up his head slightly.

"Huh? What'd I do now?" Harry asked looking around him dazed and confused.

* * * * *

Harry sat up and held his book up at Ron.

"So I threw my book at Hermione did I?" He said slyly raising an eyebrow.

"I mean, how dare you throw my-" Ron started but Hermione cut in.

"Give it up Ron!" she threw his book back at him but he caught it in time.

Harry grinned at Ron and laughed.

"Nice try! But no one can pull a fast one right under Hermione's nose, you should know that by now!"

"Shut it!" he snapped but laughed as well.

"Honestly Ron! You could swear you're a blonde!" Harry carried on but soon realised that that was just too far!

"Harry Potter! Are you saying that I'm stupid?" Ron glared as he looked up. Harry nodded with a smile on his face. "You die now Potter!" Ron laughed as he started pretending to wrestle with Harry. Hermione laughed and a few of the others in the common room cheered!

They stopped fighting with each other and they laughed. Their studying lay on the desk, forgotten.

 

 

A loud noise woke Harry up early the next morning. He put his glasses on and looked at his watch.

Two thirty? What the hell could that be? He asked himself as he walked over to the window and looked out over the grounds.

It was a clear, warm night. The giant squid was making smooth ripples over the lake that reflected the moonlight perfectly while the stars shone brightly. The odd bat flew across the sky and some people were running into.... People? Harry looked more closely but he couldn't see much in the dark. All he could see were people running into the forbidden forest before a noise from directly on the ground below startled him. Harry looked down but he saw nothing. He became scared because he could hear voices although he couldn't quite make out what they were saying except for the odd word like 'sure', 'of course not' and 'Gryffindor'. Unfortunately, Harry couldn't hear them well enough to work out whose voices they were. After a while Harry heard something that made him jump. Someone was yelling in pain but Harry could only hear it slightly.

What's going on here? Who are they? Where are they? Harry wondered as silence suddenly dawned except for a bit of muttering. Not long after that, it turned totally silent. They had gone.

Harry lay back down on his bed but before he had time to think about anything, he fell asleep.

 

 

"I have certain rules about exams in my class," Snape announced coldly as they sat down for their Potions exam the next morning. Ron looked bored already; Hermione looked prepared for it like always. Harry looked over at the Slytherins and saw that Draco and Dominic looked tired. Dominic couldn't keep his head up and Draco could hardly keep his eyes open. "Firstly, there will be no talking what-so-ever or there will be house points taken off and the people caught talking will get zero. Secondly, I will not tolerate anyone looking at someone else's work. The same punishment will be given. Finally, You have an hour and a half, no more! Got it?" The class nodded out of habit, "good. Once you receive your exam you may begin. Be sure to put your name on it. You wouldn't want to do all that work for nothing now would you?" he grinned. Harry knew that he would've just loved to give most of the Gryffindors zero, starting with him! Harry began working on his paper straight away because knowing Snape, it was going to be hard and even Hermione would have trouble finishing it in time.

 

 

"That wasn't so bad! I thought that it was going to be a lot harder than that!" Hermione boosted when they were heading out of the dungeons.

"Yea but don't forget, you're the all-knowing Hermione Granger, nothing is a challenge to you!" Ron pointed out. Something in his voice made it clear that it didn't go to well for him.

"That's not true!" she retaliated slamming the door behind her.

* * * * *

"Awe did that hurt?" he taunted, "bet that one woke you up huh?"

Harry and Hermione looked round the door to see Ron leaning against the wall with a satisfied grin on his face and Malfoy rubbing the back of his head and face as he got up looking dazed.

"You'll be the one who gets hurt if you don't shut the hell up right now, Weasley!" he snapped.

"OOOOHHHH! I'm terrified! Oh no, Draco Malfoy just threatened me! Oh what am I going to do?" Ron replied sarcastically adding in a few fake terrified actions. Draco just smiled coolly. Looking calm as usual!

"You may not be scared of me but I know that you are terrified of spiders! I mean a sixteen-year-old boy that's terrified of little spiders? Come on! They're about as harmless as Flobberworms!" he raised an eyebrow as he admired his comments' affect on Ron. Ron's face went pink and he started to glare at Malfoy when he did his imitation of Ron in a higher voice.

"URGH! GET 'EM OFF! GET 'EM OFF! URGH! HARRY GET 'EM OFF ME!" he said this as he circled around Ron trying to rub it in as much as possible and provoke him to retaliate. It worked! Ron wrestled Malfoy to the ground and was about to hit him when Professor Snape walked up to them with a look of death on his face.

"What is going on here?" he asked coldly. Ron looked up and Draco craned his neck around to see Snape standing right beside them.

"...er... I tripped over into my friend Draco here and I was just about to help him up!" Ron lied. It sounded to Harry like it took a lot of his energy and dignity to say the words 'friend' and 'Draco' beside each other in the same sentence. Ron got up and helped Draco up too, "You OK, Draco?" Ron asked. Draco looked simply traumatised at this but he caught on quickly.

"... er... yeah! I'm fine! Don't worry about me, Ron...!" He answered trying hard not to glare at him, answer through clenched teeth and even call him Ronald! Harry and Hermione had to hold back their laughter.

Snape obviously didn't believe them but he walked off anyway, looking at them strangely. As soon as Snape was out of sight, Ron and Draco moved about five long paces away from each other and glared.

"I can't believe that I actually went near you! Never mind help you up!" Ron said evilly.

"Oh! And I wanted you to? I think I'll go wash my hand now! I have Weasley all over it!" Malfoy answered darkly as he pushed past Ron standing on his toe on the way out past Harry and Hermione.

Ron shouted after Draco and called him something that made Hermione throw her book at him. Draco retaliated by sticking up his middle finger back at Ron as he walked off to the Great Hall.

Harry tried to hold back his laughter but it was too much, he burst out into fits of laughter and Hermione hid behind Harry and giggled.

"What?" Ron said irritated.

Harry started to imitate Ron, "I tripped into my best friend Draco here and I was just about to help him up!" he eyed Ron's face, his eyes were getting narrower but that didn't make Harry stop, "Are you OK Draco? Do you want to come over to my place for a spot of tea, Draco?"

That's what did it. Ron started to chase after them.

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY HARRY! I SWEAR, IF YOU MENTION THIS AGAIN, YOU'LL REGRET IT!" he yelled as he chased them around the entrance hall.

 

 

The rest of the day past quite quickly. Their Care of Magical Creatures exam was extremely easy and their Divination exam, well, you know, the usual! Predicting death, misfortune, misery and romantic tragedies ... it was a sure pass! Harry was feeling a little better now. Especially now that he could talk to Dumbledore at last!

"I'm going to ask Dumbledore now before he decides to disappear again!" Harry announced getting up from the Gryffindor table and making his way up to the teacher's table with discomfort.

"... er... Professor Dumbledore?" he said approaching the headmaster.

"Yes? What is it Harry?" he asked in a friendly voice.

"I need to talk to you for a minute," He whispered and he looked over at the other teachers, "privately? It's about the other bit of information that Sirius was talking about."

"Ah, Sirius did warn me that you would come and ask me about that sooner or later," he said standing up, "come on into my office. No one will over hear us there."

Harry followed his headmaster up to his office.

"Fizzing Whizzbes!" he said to the suit of armour that stepped out of their way to let them into Dumbledore's office.

"Sit down Harry," he said gesturing towards a chair by the fire. Harry sat down while Dumbledore sat down on the one opposite.

"Harry," he started but hesitated, "don't be angry at me for what I am about to tell you but I haven't been truly honest with you."

Harry was confused. What could they be possibly keeping from him this time?

"We have been keeping this from you for quite a few years now as not to alarm or worry you," he carried on. Now Harry was getting worried, this didn't sound good, "but we think that it's about time that you knew about it."

To be continued...

(Oh dear! In the next chapter you will find out what is going on. More comedy is coming your way too!)