Harry Potter and Unexpected Beginnings

Chapter twelve

They stood outside the door, waiting for it to open, the large book of spells in Harry's hand. He and Ron were standing, tapping their toes, waiting as patiently as they could, trying not to make noise. They had to be quiet, or Mrs. Weasley would hear them, and right now was not the time to irritate the woman, who was already beyond her stress limit, having spent the day rushing to make certain all clothes were washed, mended, pressed and packed.

"Hello," Ginny said as she opened the door, smiling at her boyfriend and brother. "What's up?"

"Shhh," Harry said, glancing behind him. "Can we come in for a minute?" he whispered quietly.

"Sure," Ginny whispered back, standing aside for them to enter. She watched as the two stepped through the door, closing it behind them. Ron sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, kissing her cheek as he did, while Harry waited for Ginny to join them, taking her hand in his.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked the two.

"We don't want mum to hear us," Ron told her.

"Ron and I were talking about school, and mostly about Neville and Snape," Harry told them. "You know how Snape is always after Neville, making him nervous so he'll mess up?"

"Poor Neville," Ginny said with a soft smile. "He's such a sweet boy, but he's really rather clumsy. I've always felt sorry for him."

"We need to help him find a girlfriend," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"What about Luna Lovegood?" Ginny asked. "She's really quite sweet, and they'd make a great couple."

"Loony Luna, are you crazy?" Ron asked in surprise. "She's a nutter."

"She's a good friend of mine, and she should be your friend too," Ginny argued. "She helped out a lot at the Ministry last year."

"We'll have to think about that later," Harry said, putting a halt to the argument about to ensure between brother and sister. "But that's not what we were talking about. We thought maybe we could help him out a little, where Snape was concerned."

"Short of giving him a nerve transplant, I don't know what we can do," Hermione told them. Harry smiled, opening the book he was carrying, and showed them the page he had found.

"This may be the transplant he needs," Harry said, watching as Hermione and Ginny read the page.

"Courage for the Coward," Hermione said, reading the words out loud. "Harry, this isn't going to work. You have to have a piece of what the person is afraid of, in order to complete the spell, and there's no way Snape will ever allow us a piece of him."

"He doesn't have to know," Ron said with a bright smile. "He just happens to be downstairs with mum and dad."

"The spell says anything will work, even hair," Harry told them. "Look at what hair did for us, with the Polyjuice Potion. If we can somehow get a piece of his hair, we can cast the spell, and save Neville an entire year of bullying, not to mention keep a few extra house points."

"It may just work," Ginny said, excited at the idea of helping their friend.

"But how are you going to get it from him?" Hermione asked. "He's not exactly going to just hand us over a lock of hair."

"We've got that figured out," Harry said with a smile, then looked to the floor of the room. "Misty? I need you." They stayed quiet for a few moments, then a soft pop sounded, and Misty appeared, her large eyes brimmed with tears.

"Misty, what's wrong?" Hermione said, crouching down near the little creature.

"Harry Potter needs Misty," she sniffed. "Misty has never heard Harry Potter say that before. Misty is so happy."

"Misty, don't cry, I just need to ask you if you'd be willing to help us," Harry felt strangely squirmy in his stomach. He'd never had anyone cry over him before.

"Harry Potter, Misty will be happy to help."

"It's a little tricky," Ron told the house elf. "It involves Professor Snape." Misty cringed physically at the sound of the man's name.

"Misty does not like that Professor Snape," she said softly. "He scares Misty."

"We can't ask her to do it, if he scares her," Ginny told them. "It's not right."

"No, I guess it's not. We'll have to find another way," Harry answered, thinking how they would be able to get what was needed.

"What does Harry Potter want Misty to do?" the small squeaky voice asked. Harry showed her the book with the spell they wanted to use.

"We have a friend, named Neville Longbottom," he explained. "Snape really scares him, and we wanted to help him get through one year in his class."

"He's really mean to Neville," Hermione said. "He's always taking house points away from Gryffindor, and making Neville nervous so he'll make mistakes. It's not fair."

"That Professor Snape is a mean wizard," Misty said, a determined, angry look on her face. "Misty will help the son of Frank and Alice Longbottom."

"You knew Neville's parents?" Harry asked, watching the smile cross the little creature's face.

"Yes, very well, sir. Mr. Longbottom was good friend of Mr. Potter's. Misty liked him very much, and his wife. They had very good magic they were very kind to Misty. Both babies were born on same day, big celebration." Misty looked as though the years had faded away, and she was seeing the past replay itself before her large green eyes. "Very sad times ahead, though. Misty was very scared for both babies." She looked up at Harry and blinked. "Misty will help Harry Potter."

"Great, Misty," Harry said happily.

"All we need you to do, is help us get some of the greasy git's hair," Ron told her.

"Can you do it, Misty?" Ginny asked softly.

"Miss Ginny is very pretty," Misty told her, as a blush crept up her cheeks. "Misty happy Harry Potter has Miss Ginny. Happy she makes him." With a determined look, Misty raised her head. "Misty will get hair." The little house elf snapped her fingers, vanishing from sight. Harry glanced to Ginny who was still blushing, then realized where his house elf had gone.

"Come on," he told the others, grabbing Ginny's hand, and tossing the book aside. "We can't let her do this alone." The four hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen, seeing Misty preparing the teakettle. They sat at the table, quietly. Snape turned to them, narrowing his eyes as they sat.

"I hope you have all studied your Potions lessons," he told them. "School does start tomorrow, don't forget."

"How can we forget," Ron said, forcing a smile across his face.

"We're looking forward to returning," Hermione told him.

"Yes, really looking forward to it," Ginny added, a soft blush tinting her cheeks. Snape turned his eyes Harry and glared at the boy.

"What about you, Potter? Have you been studying your summer lessons?"

"Not only studying them, but actually completing all of the assignments due."

"That will be a surprise," Snape growled, ignoring the little house elf who stepped to his side, carrying the tray of teacups. "For once the famous Harry Potter is ready for class? We shall see when the time comes." Misty looked up at the man with an angry glare, and then pretending to trip, spilled the entire tray of hot teas on the greasy haired man. Immediately Snape jumped up, shouting obscenities at the little creature.

"Misty is sorry, sir," she said, her tone lacking in sincerity.

"Look at what you have done to my robes, you clumsy little bug,"

"Lay off her," Ron yelled, jumping up and going with Harry and the girls to the little elf's aide.

"It was just an accident," Hermione insisted, as Misty jumped up on the table.

"Misty is sorry sir. Please, let Misty make better. Sit please." Snape glared at the four standing around him, and sat in the chair as Mrs. Weasley hurried to get a dry rag. Misty snapped her fingers and a large towel appeared in her hand. She began wiping the wizard's robe, and then smoothed his greasy hair from his face. Once she was certain he was significantly dry, she smiled gently.

"Better, sir?" she asked, watching as Snape stood and inspected his robes.

"It will do," he snarled, and then turned back to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "I'll see you soon," he told them, turning back to his four future students. "We'll see you in school." With that said, Snape left the room, his dark cape billowing out behind him.

"Misty, you need to learn to be more careful," Mrs. Weasley scolded.

"Easy mum," Ron said, looking at the sad expression on the elf's face. "It wasn't her fault."

"Yeah mum, Snape had his foot out," Ginny insisted.

"Misty, go upstairs and wait for me please," Harry said and the little creature disappeared with a snap of her fingers. "I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley. Misty means well, she just gets nervous around strange people and you have to admit, Snape is pretty strange."

"Try and explain how things are to her, will you Harry?" Mrs. Weasley said, sitting with an exhausted sigh in the chair next to her husband, as he patted her hand. "We can't have a jittery house elf about."

"Yes, ma'am, I will." Harry nodded to the others and they all hurried out of the room.

Upstairs, Misty sat on Ginny's bed, swinging her legs freely. She glanced up as Harry and the others entered the room, a sly smile on her little face.

"Did you get it?" Harry asked her, watching as she held up a lock of greasy black hair. "Amazing, how did you do that?"

"Harry Potter wanted Misty to help. Professor Snape will never miss it, sir."

"Misty, you are incredible," Ginny said, sitting beside her on the bed, and hugging her to her chest.

"Now all we have to do, is make the potion without anyone knowing," Hermione said.

"We'll have to do it at Hogwart's," Harry, said, sitting next to Ginny and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "We can use Myrtle's bathroom again."

"The girl's lavatory? Again?" Ron complained, sitting on the bed next to Hermione. "Well, at least I won't have Percy around to hassle me about it." Harry stared at Ron for a minute, his memory going back to the conversation he'd heard the night before.

"You all right?" Ginny asked, seeing the distracted expression on his face. Harry smiled, kissing her cheek.

"Yeah, fine," he answered, watching as Hermione took the hair from Misty, and placed in a small vial from her trunk, placing a stopper in the top. "Listen, this is our last night here, want to do something? Maybe play a game, or something?" Ron glanced to Hermione and shrugged. Ginny giggled, patting Misty on the hand.

"We could always find a deserted closet, and see how long it takes mum to find us snogging," she teased. Ron cleared his throat, a soft blush on his freckled face.

"I have a better idea," Harry told her, kissing her cheek again. "Why don't we leave these two alone, and you and I can find a quiet place to discuss your idea."

"Harry Potter is very cute, when he is wanting to be alone with his Miss Ginny," Misty said, smiling as she snapped her fingers and disappeared. Harry stood up and held his hand out to Ginny, who took and followed him to the door. Ron watched them apprehensively for a moment, before standing up.

"Hey, Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry looked at his friend and frowned, then glanced back to Ginny.

"Wait for me," he told her, as the two boys walked out the room and across the hall. Once inside the room, Ron shut the door, and began pacing the floor. "Ron, what's wrong?"

"I have to ask you something, but I'm not sure how."

"Just say it. We've been friends too long for you to get tongue tied now."

"Okay. Have you shagged my sister?" Harry gasped, his face turning brighter than Ron's hair. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a sound that resembled a squeak. "I know it's none of my business, but I just have to know." Clearing his throat, Harry looked at his best friend, nearly falling to his bed.

"Have you and Hermione..."

"Bloody hell, Harry! I think she'd probably hex me a hundred different ways if I tried."

"So you haven't tried, even a little?" Ron blushed, sitting on the bed across from him.

"I really want to...I mean...she's not the Hermione I knew last year, and she's really..." Ron paused, unsure exactly what to say to describe his feelings for his other best friend.

"Do you want to...you know, because she's gorgeous, or because you love her?" Ron looked up and frowned.

"Would it be weird if I said both?" Harry smiled, shaking his head.

"I feel the same about Ginny," he told him. "But I don't really think I'm ready for that just yet. I mean, when she's in my arms, all I can think about is her. If she wanted to, if she tried or suggested...I wouldn't be able to say no. It's getting really hard to keep that distance between us, but when we're not together I know it's right not to, well, just yet anyways."

"I feel the same about Hermione, but I'm having a really hard time keeping control. I thought she was going to break my neck last night, after you left. I went to talk to her, and we sort of started a heck of heavy snogging fest, and I sort of touched her...where I probably shouldn't have. She went mental. Do you know she actually slugged me? She didn't slap me like she did with Malfoy, she slugged me. I thought she broke my jaw. I had to use a healing spell, before mum found out. I thought for sure it was over between us, but then this morning, she met me in the hall and kissed me like nothing happened. I'm really confused."

"I think we're supposed to be. It's a weird thing called love."

"Do you think we'll ever...you know? I mean, I heard the Patil sisters comparing notes last year during Divinations. Did you know they've both done it? I couldn't believe it."

"I can," Harry said, both of them falling into silence.

"Do you still care for Cho?" Ron asked, looking up at his friend again.

"Not like I do for Ginny. Cho is just a friend; I don't think she could have ever been anything else. She was really have a hard time dealing with Cedric's death, last year. She was really annoying when she cried, and she did that a lot."

"Do you think her and Cedric..."

"I don't know. Probably. They were going together for a while before he died, and Filch was always catching them snogging. If they felt the way we do, it had to have happened, at least once."

"Want to hear something really weird, especially coming from me?" Ron asked, a blush tinting his face again. "I'm in love with Hermione. I don't just love her; I'm totally lost in her. I can't think without thinking about her. Pretty mental, huh?"

"I think it's great. You two have been moaning over each other for so long, I'm surprised it didn't happen a long time ago."

"You're not going to do anything to hurt Ginny, are you? I mean she is my sister, and you're my best friend. I don't want to have to kill you." Harry chuckled.

"If I even think about hurting her, you won't get a chance to kill me. I'll do it myself."

"I guess if anything more happens between you two, you will make it right by her, won't you?" It was Harry's turn to blush.

"I promise, I'll make an honorable woman of her. And Hermione..."

"Don't worry, we'll make it a double ceremony," Ron smiled. "That way we'll have each other to force down the isle."