Chasing a Dream

Chapter 21

A Necklace

Professor Lawrence dashed across the room, her anger radiating off her in waves. She towered an intimidating nine inches over Hermione and grabbed Hermione forcefully by the arms. Harry felt the urge to go over there and pull his teacher off Hermione when he remembered he wasn't supposed to be there. However, he resolved that if Prof. Lawrence did anything further, he'd jump in there as fast as he could.

"I loved Andy more than anything in the WORLD!!!!!!! Don't you understand?! I had to leave you! They wouldn't let me stay! Believe me, other than forgetting about him, it was the last thing I wanted to do!"

She let go of her and her shoulders slumped. Her long black hair was slipping out of its tidy bun, and her face was flushed. She covered her face with her arms and sat down on a desk muttering, "I do love him. I do. I do."

Hermione's face softened. She walked over to her and wrapped her arms around Angie and buried her face in her hair.

Harry was starting to feel uncomfortable. Seeing it wasn't likely anyone would notice, he walked over to the doors and slipped safely through to let Hermione and Angie be alone. This year was getting weirder and weirder.

_-_-_-_-_

"Where have you been?"

"Ugh."

Harry grunted as he flopped down onto his bed, throwing his invisibility cloak to the side. Ron stood up and bounced onto the bed next to Harry.

"Hey, Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm still you're best friend, right?"

Harry looked at him; expect to see the same stupid grin he always wore when he was joking around. To his surprise, he looked completely serious.

"Of course you are!"

"It's just that I haven't seen much of you lately. You seem to always be going off somewhere with Hermione."

Harry didn't quite know what to say.

"You're still my best friend, Ron, but she is, too."

"Yeah, I know."

"You'll always my best bud, Ron. No girl will change that. Not even 'Mione."

"Hey, how come she lets you call her 'Mione, but not me?"

Harry shrugged.

"You want to check out Zonko's on the Hogsmeade trip? Just us guys."

Harry nodded.

"Sure, why not?"

That night Harry did not see Hermione. He didn't know where she was and was starting to worry. He didn't see her the next morning and didn´t see her when he climbed on the train to Hogsmeade.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Harry laughed as he watched Ron look, frightened, into a mirror that shows the person looking into it a good thirty pounds heavier.

After purchasing a couple Tongue Tinters, the boys headed for the pub for some butterbeers. On their way, Harry noticed that new store in Diagon Alley, Magical Artifacts of the Eighteenth Century, was also in Hogsmeade as well.

"Hey, Ron, hold up."

Harry stopped him. Ron stopped and looked at where Harry was pointing.

"Lets go in there."

"Why?"

"I just want to check it out."

Ron shrugged and followed Harry into the store.

It was dim and all sorts of strange objects littered shelves that covered the wall. Harry walked slowly around the room, taking in all the strange things he'd never seen before. He stopped a glass display of sparkling jewels and things.

His eyes were glued to this one necklace in particular. It was a beautiful light blue diamond-like stone cut in the shape of a heart. It was strung on a thin silver chain. Harry couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

A voice from behind him caused him to jump and turn around. An elderly man smiled at him. Harry nodded, returning his gaze to the necklace.

"It is beautiful. How much is it?"

The old man was now side to side with Harry, admiring its beauty along with him.

"Well, normally it is three hundred Galleons, but for you..."

The old man turned to Harry and smiled widely.

"Twenty-two Sickles."

"Oh, but sir! I couldn't-"

"Nonsense! The entire wizarding world is in debt to you, Harry Potter. Besides, I would be much put out if I interfered with young love."

He dropped a knowing wink at Harry and proceeded to the counter. Harry was very glad that Ron was on the other side of the room.

_-_-_

"What did you get?"

Ron asked, eyeing the shopping bag in Harry's hand. The bag had a locking charm on it so that only Harry could open it up. Harry pondered whether he should tell Ron. Harry had no real idea as to what it was that prompted him to buy the necklace; except that he couldn't help imagining how beautiful it would look hanging delicately around her neck.

"I-uh. It's a necklace."

Ron's eyebrows shot up.

"For who?"

"Hermione."

Ron smacked his forehead and rolled his eyes.

"Again with Hermione! If I didn't know better, I'd say you love her!"

Ron started laughing at the ridiculous idea of Harry liking Hermione. Harry chuckled a strangely high laugh and he felt his cheeks flushing red. Ron stopped laughing.

Harry kept walking, chuckling fakely.

"Good God!"

Harry stopped and turned to his friend. Ron was staring at Harry in a very surprised way, and Harry realized that he knew.

"You do like her!"

_-_-_

"How long have you liked her?"

Ron asked anxiously in a hushed voice over a mug of butterbeer. Harry had gotten Ron to save his questions until they were inside, but he was too eager to know all the details. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Does it really matter?"

"Of course it does you twit? Spill! How long have you liked her?"

Harry thought for a moment, back to the time he first began feeling it. It was then that Harry noticed he'd always felt it but hadn't noticed until...

Hermione and Ginny were dancing around in her room, a song blaring from Hermione's c.d. player. Ron began to laugh.

Harry watched as Hermione dipped and spun around her room. Even from that distance, her smile still radiated and warmness spread through his body like sunshine.

"Harry?"

Ron waved in front of Harry's eyes to snap him back to the present.

"Well?"

"It was this summer. When I we were watching her dancing in Ginny's room. Though, I've felt it much longer before then."

Ron donned a thoughtful expression as he pondered this. He took a long drink from his butterbeer and smiled.

"I'm happy for you, Harry. What was her response when you told her?"

Harry shook his head.

"I haven't yet."

"Blimey, Harry! If you don't you know I'm going to!"

Harry shot Ron a venomous look across the table.

"You do and you're dead."

Ron laughed so hard he spilled butterbeer down his front.

"You do and I'll tell Lavender that a certain someone keeps her picture in his top drawer."

Ron stopped laughing.

"That was low."

"I know."

This time it was Harry who laughed. It felt nicer knowing that Ron knew now.

_-_-_

"I wonder where 'Mione is?"

Ron shot Harry an amused expression as he replied.

"Why would you want to know?"

"For your information, I wanted to know how her thing with An-"

Harry clamped a hand over his mouth, realizing a second too late that he'd said too much. Ron stopped.

"Thing with what?"

"An... Andorandus Potion. She was looking it up for me in the library so I could go out on our little Hogsmeade trip."

"Oh."

Harry mentally patted himself on the back for his quick thinking. I wonder where she is? Is she still with Professor Lawrence?

"Harry!"

Harry whirled around to see Hermione just coming through the portrait hole. She was smiling which was a very good sign.

"Hello, Ron!"

Ron was smiling very broadly at, not Hermione, but Harry. Harry jammed his elbow in Ron's ribs as he said to Hermione,

"Can I talk to you?"

Hermione looked worriedly at Ron, who was doubled over yet seemed to be laughing.

"Sure, Harry."

As Harry was exiting the portrait hole, Ron called after him mockingly.

"See you two later!"

_-_-_

"What is it you wanted to talk about?"

Harry and Hermione were walking down a deserted corridor that hardly anyone ever used. Harry whispered to her.

"How did the thing with Angie go? And where were you last night?"

Hermione smiled.

"I knew that was what you wanted to know. I was with Dumbledore. He already knew I had discovered Angie's identity! He seems to know everything! Anyway, I have been permitted to know of her existence. He didn't even ask how I knew whom she was or if I knew about Andy! I can't tell anyone else about her, though. You already knew, however, so I wasn't breaking any rules."

Hermione winked at him. Harry smiled. It made him feel, for lack of a better word, special. He alone knew so much about Hermione. Not even Ron knew all that Harry knew.

"Are you going home for the Holidays?"

The sudden question stirred Harry from his thoughts. He looked at her questioningly, as if deciphering if this was some sort of a joke. When have I ever gone back to the Dursley's house over the holidays? Then it hit Harry. He didn't have to go back to the Dursley's ever again. Hermione was talking about Chrysoberyl. Back home to Sirius and Margaret.

Hermione continued to stare at Harry as Harry thought. It would be the first time since he was ten that he'd ever been away from Hogwarts at Christmas. Ron would probably go home. Sirius and Margaret would probably want them home. Hermione would probably want to go home. Harry looked into her face that was anxious for an answer. He'd do this for her.

"Of course, 'Mione."

Hermione broke into a huge grin and clapped her hands together excitedly. She bounced up and down.

"Oh, Harry! This will be the best Christmas ever! There's so-"

Hermione suddenly moaned and fell forward onto her knees, clutching herself in pain. Beads of sweat broke out on her hairline.

"Hermione!"

Harry knelt down next to her. He didn't know what to do! Hermione suddenly looked up, seemingly fine yet still a tad more pale than usual.

"What was that? Are you ok?"

"I'm-I'm fine. I just need to lie down."

Hermione struggled back up to her feet. Harry went to help her but she put out a hand to stop him.

"I'll be fine. I can make it on my own. See you at dinner, Harry."

Harry watched Hermione walk slowly away. Hermione wasn't at dinner that evening. From what he heard from Parvati, she hadn't left her bed all evening. She stayed in bed all Sunday, too. Harry didn't know what was going on but it wasn't good. Not good at all.