Harry Potter and the Mysteries of Love

Harry Potter and Mysteries of Love

Chapter 1- All the World's an Emotional Roller Coaster

He lay there staring at the wall. That is what he spent most of his time doing, nowadays. He dreaded the day when he would have to face the world again, yet he wanted to. He shifted in his bed and started to stare a picture of his godfather. Then, all of the sudden, all of the memories flooded back into his head. He recalled the first time he ever saw his godfather. Harry remembered how Sirius had told him that he could stay at his house and get away from the Dursleys forever. But then, there was Dumbledore telling him that the Dursley's house was the safest place that he could be. He still wasn't quite sure why this was, but he knew that he should trust Dumbledore.

"I've got to get some sleep," he said to himself. Harry Potter rolled over in his bed and cleared his mind, just as Professor Snape had taught him. He thought he'd better start practicing Occlumency, just in case of the worst. The Boy Who Lived closed his eyes and for the first time since he returned to the Dursley's house from Howarts, almost two months ago, he had good night's sleep. Not all the Wizarding world slept that night; dark things were happening.

The next morning, Harry awoke to the sound of his cousin, Dudley, whining about his choice of breakfast foods. 'How can Dudley care so much about something so little?' Harry thought.

"Okay, my Dudley darling, what would you like then?" Aunt Petunia asked in flustered tone. 'How could she be my mother's sister? Wouldn't my grandparents have taught her better?' Harry wondered.

"Waffles with strawberry jam!" Dudley insisted. 'A most delightful breakfast, but doesn't he realize he'll only get fatter that way?' Harry asked himself.

"Whatever pleases you, Dudley," Aunt Petunia replied and she began to fix the requested meal.

Harry walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. "What's for breakfast?" Harry asked nonchalantly, secretly hoping the Dursleys had changed overnight and were willing to treat him like little (or should I say big) Dudikens.

"You're thirteen now, aren't you? Shouldn't you make your own breakfast?" Uncle Vernon coolly asked as he walked into the room. Harry rolled his eyes, knowing that his atrocious Uncle knew his real age (not to mention the fact that he knew Dudley was that age, too).

"Sixteen," Harry said through gritted teeth, unable to restrain himself. He made his breakfast, quickly ate it, and ran back upstairs. He collapsed on his bed. Harry began to think. He thought about the only things that had kept him from tearing himself apart: his friends missed him and he would see them tomorrow. He looked out the window, and a little ways down he saw Mrs. Figg. It comforted Harry that he had some connection to the Wizarding World. She was intently speaking with a young man who resembled Mundungus Fletcher.

Harry turned to his bedside table and picked up a book that the Weasleys sent it to him as a sixteenth birthday present. It was a book he would need for school. This coming year at Hogwarts, Muggle Studies was becoming a mandatory course and this was required reading material. The first of three books was called, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring by: J. R. R. Tolkien. Reluctantly Harry opened it and began. He was so captivated by the book that soon he had forgotten about his unpleasant encounter with the Dursleys.

In the middle of his chapter ten, Harry's reading was brought to a halt by Hedwig's insistent chirping.

"What's the matter with you?" Harry asked Hedwig. "Surely you're not hungry; I just fed you breakfast." He glanced out the window and saw the setting sun.

"My Gosh!" Harry yelped. It was nearly eight o'clock! He went over to feed poor Hedwig. "I'm so sorry, Hedwig." He began to think again. He started to think about school and how he loved it, which led to friends, Hermione and Ron, and how much he missed them, which led to other friends, including Cho Chang. His stomach lurched. Harry hadn't thought a thing about Cho since school got out. He remembered the Christmas kiss, the Valentine's Day date, the fight about her friend, the last time he saw her on the train--his thoughts lingered on her beauty. This was too much. He just couldn't think about that. Harry just couldn't think about her. That would make him dwell on the memories. He decided to think about the book. He wondered why he'd been so intrigued from the first page.

Harry thought for a minute, and then it hit him. He finally realized why he'd been so intrigued from the first page. It was because Frodo was like him. He had been bestowed with magical powers and had to destroy evil. Harry began to giggle out loud when he thought of whom Gandalf reminded him of. Dumbledore and Gandalf both had the same irresistible since of humor and inconceivable wisdom. He decided he might enjoy Muggle Studies this coming year.

Despite his hunger and the early hour, Harry lay down on his bed, cleared his mind, and soon, sleep was upon the young wizard.

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"This going to be a great day," Harry said to himself. He dressed and went downstairs to grab a piece of toast. His excitement must have shown, because as he passed through the kitchen, Uncle Vernon gave him a dirty look. Mr. Dursley would drive him to Diagon alley at nine thirty. At a quarter past nine Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and made for the car. As he reached the front door, Harry thought he heard someone say, 'Harry,' in barely audible whisper. Confident he made up the voice he opened the front door and got into the car with Mr. Dursley. He knew that he was almost home.

The drive from the suburbs into London was never fun. All he could think about was school. But all his happiness about school soon was crushed when he thought about Sirius. Harry's agonized mind decided to distract itself with the book it'd had been reading. Harry picked it up and began where he left off. To his delight, in what seemed like an instant, they arrived at Diagon alley.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed with delight as she saw Harry approach the Leaky Cauldron. "Ron, it's Harry! He's Here!"

"Hey, Hermione!" Harry called to one of his closest friends.

"Harry! Hey! What's up?" Ron called.

Harry ran up, kissed Hermione on the cheek and ran over to hug Ron. To his delight, he then saw Remus Lupin. "Lupin!" Harry turned away from Ron and embraced the only (living) adult whom he loved like a father. Ever since Sirius died Harry had needed the comfort Lupin was giving him. Though to onlookers it may have looked awkward, it was what Harry had been missing. Seeing Harry look genuinely happy again was too much for Hermione. She grabbed Ron's hand. Noticing the situation, Ron pulled away and gave Hermione an awkward smile.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione, finally got to the shops they were distracted by greetings. Hermione stopped to say hello to Lavender, Parvarti, and Padma, while Harry and Ron greeted Dean, Seamus, and Neville. Apparently, Hermione was engrossed in a deep conversation with the Patils and Lavender, so Harry and Ron decided to get a start on there shopping.

This year on his book list he needed no less than nine books: The Practice of Aspirancy by: Jane Andragle, The Chronicles Of Narnia by: C. S. Lewis, (Seven Books) and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by: Miranda Goshawk. Harry already owned The Lord of the Rings. He thought this year in school was going to be really interesting.

"You're dad must've loved this year at Hogwarts," Harry commented.

"Actually, when he was a sixth year this class wasn't required, so he didn't take it."

"He didn't?"

"He told me that was when he still wanted to be a teacher."

"Never would've guessed."

"Yeah, I know," the two laughed at this. "He was going on about a surprise for the students."

"A surprise?"

"Yeah," Ron replied, "the only other thing he said about it was that there was going to be a new professor other than the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"Wonder who it could be?" Harry spoke half to himself. "Well, why didn't you ask him who it was?"

"I did," Ron started. "But he wouldn't tell."

"That's strange." An unusual silence came over the two best friends. Harry was dwelling on the thought of Sirius and Ron was thinking of something not even he knew fully of.

"Guys, wait up!" Hermione called, a little frustrated. As she ran up to them she asked them, "Have you guys started yet?"

"We're done Hermione," Ron said with the slightest tone of a tease.

"Oh, I'm so happy," Hermione replied sarcastically.

"Yeah, we are too," Harry put in, and they all chuckled.

"Will one of you come and shop with me?" she pleaded.

"I guess I will," Harry answered and he gave his books to Ron.

Hermione and Harry were walking back to the bookstore when Harry asked Hermione, "So, how have you been?"

"Great," was the reply but then Hermione also said, "Harry I need to talk to you about something."

"Anything, Hermione."

"Well, I think I-" Hermione stopped and paused. "Okay Harry this is going to sound really strange but-" she paused again. "Fine I'll just say it. I think I'm falling in love with Ron."

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Meanwhile, Ron carried back Harry's and his own books to where his mother was waiting at the Leaky Cauldron. On the way down the alley, Ron was peaking in shop windows when he came across Cho Chang. She was holding the hand of some Italian boy whom he'd only seen once or twice at school.

"There's his friend," Ron heard Cho whisper in the boy's ear.

"He's probably nearby; let's go." Ron barely understood these words due to the Italian boy's accent.

"So, she really hasn't gotten over him," Ron muttered to himself.

As he approached the Leaky Cauldron, to his left he noticed, Lucius Malfoy speaking in barely a whisper to a thin, red haired man. The man turned his head and to Ron's surprise the face looked familiar. Still recovering from this latest surprise, he bumped into a blacked haired witch who was muttering something that sounded like, "...if only he'd listened to Dumbledore...worse than death..." The already startled Ron was now so confused that he almost tripped over his own robes.

When he opened the old door to the Leaky Cauldron, he noticed that the room suddenly had hushed when he entered. Out of the silence Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "Hello Ron!"

"Hello," he answered trying to act as if he hadn't noticed anything. "I got the books."

"Where are Harry and Hermione?" she asked, finally acting herself.

"Off getting Herm's books," he replied as though he was busy with something else.

"Herm?" his mother questioned with a sly smile.

Ron turned a deep shade of pink before recovering and saying, "Oh please, Mom." Ron turned and walked to the other side of the vast room, greeting Tonks and Mad Eye Moody on the way.

"Tonks, your hair looks great," Ron complimented Tonks. "The silver is a good color for you skin tone," he joked.

"Well yours isn't really worlds better," she replied and they both giggled. Tonks then walked to Mrs. Weasley and began a conversation in hushed whispers. Ron was still talking to Moody when he saw them. He said goodbye to Mad Eye and slowly walked over there. As if they knew his was approaching Molly starting speaking audibly about the weather. Ron immediately turned away and started thinking about what he could use to hear them. Like lightning strikes a tree, it hit him.

"Extendable Ears!" he said aloud, but luckily, his mother didn't hear him. He turned around and started fishing through his pocket. "I know I've got one somewhere," he murmured in frustration. "Got it!" he exclaimed, and he put one end in his ear and attached the other to a wall near enough to hear the two women.

"I haven't told Ron or Ginny about Fudge's incident yet," Mrs. Weasley spoke concerned.

"You'll need to sometime, after all, Ron and Ginny will understand about the Dementor's Kiss," Tonks told Molly.

"Last night was worse though, I think," an unidentified voice put in. "I'm sure it was Lucius Malfoy who killed Mundungus." He had heard enough. He needed to find Hermione and Harry and tell them what had just happened.

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Harry was in shock at what Hermione had just told him.

"Harry," Hermione called. "Harry." There was no reply. "HARRY!"

"What," Harry said, as if only half of him could talk to Hermione.

"Say something!"

"What am I supposed to say?"

"What do you think about it?"

"About what?"

"Harry, don't be so stupid!"

"What if I don't want to tell you?"

"Well, who are you going to tell if you don't tell me?"

"It's not for you to know, not for Ron to know, not for any one to know but me!"

Why can't he just tell me? Hermione thought to herself. "Oh my Lord!" she spoke dumfounded, just now realizing what Harry was truly saying.

"Guys, I've got the worst news!" Ron exclaimed, as he suddenly ran into the shop.

"What on Earth could possibly be that urgent?" came the cool, oily, voice of Draco Malfoy. Harry later swore that steam came out of Hermione's ears.

"Nothing that you wouldn't know about," Ron answered Malfoy's question as if flicking a piece of dirt from the table. Ron, shocked at his own retort, turned toward his friends and began to speak when Draco interrupted again.

"Oh I'm sorry, I forget that none of your parents tell you things," Draco replied as if he knew exactly what Ron was planning to tell his two confused friends, with that he turned around and started walking towards the door, but on the third step he turned around, as if on queue, and said with the most sarcastic sympathy in his voice, "Except in your case, Potter, because your parents are incapable of telling you these things" With that he turned back around and continued walking.

"Someday I'm going to come up with something to say-" Harry was cut off.

"Everybody just stop talking and let me tell you this!" Ron interrupted Harry and Hermione's sudden outburst of conversation. "Mundungus is dead." The two listeners jaws fell open. "That's not all, Fudge has been kissed by a dementor."

Harry insides burst with rage. Hermione (a little flustered by all the day's emotions) began to cry. Ron seeing her reaction tried to comfort her. But Harry got there first. He stood there watching Harry pat Hermione's back. He then realized to himself the conclusion to his earlier thoughts, which he now knew he was ready to reveal.

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That night, the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry returned to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Despite the death of its owner, this house remained headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix.

Harry was confused. That was all. He was just plain confused. There were just too many things going on. This whole thing with Hermione liking Ron, Sirius dying, Fudge dying (well close enough) was too much, and Mundungus dying was just the icing on the cake. Harry didn't know what to do.

Apparently neither did Ron. But he carried a considerably less load of burdens due to the fact that he didn't have a best friend who likes his other best friend and is feeling guilty because he likes that friend, but he still thought that he could talk to Ron. So, that night after the boys said goodnight to Hermione and had gone to there separate rooms Harry asked Ron a very important question that needed to be answered.

"Ron," Harry asked timidly, "do you have any feelings for Hermione?"

"What? Well, she's a great friend-"

"No, Ron, romantically."

"No way!" There was a long pause in which Harry realized, to his discomfort, that Ron really did like Hermione back.

"Really Ron, tell me the truth!" Harry demanded of Ron, a little frustrated.

"Okay fine, I like her." At this his voice began to rise. Harry began to worry that others could hear them outside the room. "Maybe I like her a lot."

"Well, why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"I was just afraid that you would be angry with me!"

"Why is that?"

"Well it's obvious to us all that you've liked Hermione ever since Cho ditched you!"

"What? That's not true!" Harry lied.

"C'mmm," Ron pretended to cough and gestured toward the door where Harry saw the tip of an extendable ear at the bottom.

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Hermione was getting worried. She could not stop crying and it was getting out of hand. She needed to think about what was going on. There was something more she hadn't told Harry. It was something very important. She also had some information that she couldn't share with her friends. It was something Dumbledore had told her. If her friends didn't know there lives might be in danger, but Dumbledore had told her not to tell. She lay down on her bed and grasped a picture of Harry and Ron and clutched it to her heart.

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"For heaven's sake!" Harry shouted. "Ginny Weasley, get in here right now!"

The door creaked and in came, the no longer so little, but now slender and fitted, body of Ginny Weasley. She quickly shut the door, ran over to where the boys were and in hurried voiced proclaimed, "Oh my gosh!" She then began to blab on and on about how she'd could tell all along. She finished by asking, "Who gets Hermione?"

There was a long pause. Ginny started to play with the end of her hair. Ron began drum his fingers. Harry began to hum Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.

"Harry should," Ron finally said with the most undeniable humility exhibited by anyone present.

"No."

"Why not?" Ginny immediately responded.

"Because Hermione is in love with Ron."

Despite the fact that Ron tried, with all his might, to hide his feelings, no one could deny the look of sheer pleasure on Ron's face.

But before Harry could even begin to feel jealous, Ginny interrupted him by pronouncing loudly, "That's not what she told me!"

"What?" Ron and Harry questioned in unison, though they both clearly had heard the news.

"I said that she told me differently," Ginny repeated.

"Well, what did she say?" Harry asked anticipation growing from letter to letter.

"Harry Potter, I am not that thick." Ron suddenly frowned. He had believed for a second that his dear sister would tell him something worth his while.

"Why did you lead us on like that?" Harry asked, somewhat annoyed.

"I didn't lead you on," she answered with a sly smile. "You guys are just so eager to hear anything you can about Hermione." She then exploded into a fit of giggles and Harry was sure that a certain somebody could hear them.

Ron must have been thinking the same thought because soon after he demanded worriedly, "Ginny, could you please keep it down?"

Tap, Tap, Tap! There was a rap on the door.

"What next?" Harry moaned, though barely audible over Ginny's yelp of surprise.

"It's prob'ly Hermione; We prob'ly woke her up!" Ron remarked.

Without a word the girl that Ron and Harry loved so much so much walked into the room.

"Children, you really need to get to sleep," Mrs. Weasley said in a scolding tone. Ginny then left to go back to her room and Harry, as well as Ron, settled down into bed and soon fell asleep.