Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

By Natasha *winky wink winkedy blink*

Hermione smiled at him. "If I wanted you to know, I'd tell you," she told him.

He folded his arms before his chest and pouted. "But it isn't fair," he whined.

"Yes, well," she said, "I'm busy. Why don't you go bother Ron?"

Ginny stared at him. Hue just grinned. "Make me," he challenged.

"Ginny," Hermione began.

"It would be my pleasure," Ginny replied evilly. She raised her hands above her head and wiggled her fingers menacingly.

"Er... on second thought, that sounds pretty fun," Hue stammered. "Ron! Oh, Ron! Cu-uz...!" he called, jogging down the hall.

Hue was Ron and Ginny's cousin. He was recently visiting because his parents had to go to Asia on a special mission. Helen, Hannah, Henry, Hi, the four Harrys, Bob, and all of Hue's other siblings were also there... eh somewhere.

Hermione had been bowled over to hear about the four Harrys. There was the oldest Harry. He looked just like Ron. In fact, all of the boys looked like Ron. Except for Hi, who's gender you couldn't really tell. All the girls looked like Ginny, but all had either shorter or longer hair.

The Harry we all know and love, the Harry Potter, would be there shortly as well. And, honestly, they were almost too busy to remember.

Harry didn't stir when he heard the door open. He didn't open his eyes when he heard the footsteps. He didn't jump when he felt the hand on his back. He did, however, when he heard an annoyingly high-pitched voice squeak, "IS MISTER HARRY POTTER READY TO LEAVES, SIR?"

He let out a shout and leapt out of bed. "Darla!" he scolded.

"Sorry, Mister Potter, sir," the small house-elf apologized. "But your girlfriend, sir, is here."

Harry thought a moment. "Oh." Then he laughed. "She's not my girlfriend, Darla! Just a friend." He stepped over into the changing room so he could talk to Darla as he dressed. Darla was a friend of his. She worked for Lupin. Lupin had let Harry live with him for quite a while. In the time there, Harry had befriended Darla and Quin, the two house-elves. Quin didn't speak much.

Harry heard Darla's sarcastic voice. "Sure, sir."

"What makes you say that?" Harry asked, tilting his head to one side.

"Well, she's been talking about you nonstop since she gots here, sir. And she's been asking questions about you, sir. Oh, so many questions! It hurtses Darla's head, sir!" Even though Darla was on the other side of a door, Harry could almost see her cover her ears.

Harry laughed. "There's Hermione for you!" He struggled with his sock and fell backwards, making a loud thudding noise. He quickly stood up again, and smacked against the wall trying to pull off the difficult sock.

"Yeah. Nice friend to have," Darla sighed.

"Hermione may be talkative but -"

"Sir, what's Miss Hermione's last names?"

"Granger," he said automatically. He grinned triumphantly as the sock finally came off his foot and into his hand.

There was silence.

"Darla? You still there?"

"Yes, sir. Sir, how old is Miss Grangers?"

"My age, seventeen."

"What's her favorites color?"

"Purple. What's with all the questions?"

"Just curious, sir."

Harry stepped out to see Darla, with her little bow nestled in her hair and hem of her skirt in her hands, staring up at him. "Quin offered hers some breakfast, she did," Darla told him. "But Miss Granger wanted to waits for you, sir."

Harry nodded. "Want a ride downstairs?"

Darla squealed in delight.

He put her on the bed and turned around. The little house-elf clambered aboard and he set off into the hall with her on his shoulders. He entered the kitchen to see Hermione talking to Lupin. She spotted Harry and turned around.

"Harry!" she cried. Then she stopped. "Make a friend?"

Harry nodded and gently dropped Darla to the floor. She hurried off to find Quin and set to work making breakfast. Once Darla was gone Harry rushed toward Hermione and wrapped her in the biggest hug he could muster. "Missed you," he whispered into her hair.

"I missed you too," she gasped. "Harry... you're squishing me. Can't breathe...."

"Oh. Sorry," he said, stepping back.

Lupin crept out of the room.

"Lupin!" Hermione called. "Where are you going?"

"Er..." he wheeled around, "t-to... er... t-the er garden! That's right, the garden!" He laughed nervously, shrilly.

"Why?"

"There's been an injured mouse out there I've been tending to," Lupin lied, averting his gaze from her.

Harry jumped and covered his ears as Hermione screamed. "Can I see him? You'd think living in Grimmauld you'd see mice, but I haven't seen one!"

Lupin couldn't have looked more luck-stricken. Bad luck, that is. "Er... sure. R-Right this way."

The look on his face would never be forgotten.

Harry 1 sniffled and sneezed. "I wanna come too," he croaked.

Ginny apprehensively came closer. "You have the flu, Harry; you can't come along. And besides, despite the half-hour Hermione's been gone, I'm sure she'll be back real soon."

Harry 2 and 4 whined and tossed about weakly.

"All of you! Hold still! You need your rest!" Luna snapped. "Er... how many of these things are there anyway?"

Ginny smiled and shrugged. "I think there's fourteen. There's the four... or was it five?... Harrys. And there's Hannah, Helen, Hi, Henry, Harmony, Heather, Heidi, Holly, Hands, Bob..."

"Bob's new?" Luna asked dryly.

"Surrogate mothered, actually," Ginny replied. "Isn't that right, cousins?"

Harrys 1, 2, and 4 sniffled. "Yup. Bob's the weirdo," they whispered.

Ginny shook her head at them. "And there's the newborn. I can't seem to catch her name. It's a nice one, though, I'm sure."

"Henny?" the sick Harrys asked in unison.

"No, no... oh but I did forget her, didn't I?"

"You forgot Hank, too," they coursed.

"There are so many of you!" Ginny playfully scolded. "They're always... moving around! It's like trying to count bees in a beehive!"

Luna laughed as she stuffed the nightcap on Harry 4's head.

Hermione looked at the clock. "Oh no!"

"What is it?" asked Lupin.

"The Harrys! They'll be needing me!"

"The Harrys?" Harry and Lupin asked, puzzled.

"The Harrys!" Hermione repeated. "Oh. That's right. You didn't meet the Harrys yet, have you?"

"No," Harry replied cautiously. "Who are they?"

"My babies," Hermione cried. "Come, you'll see!"

Harry, more bewildered than ever, grabbed his trunk and strode after her.

Ginny smiled and closed the door behind her. "Whew! Those three are a handful! Now where's Harry 3?"

Luna and Ginny searched high and low, and eventually caught him modeling Ginny's underwear for Hank and Henry.

"Harry!" Ginny roared. "You just wait until Hermione gets home with Harry! You'll be jinxed into the next century!"

Harry 3 gazed up at her. "But I'm here," he said. "And brothers here. Who Harry if he not mine?"

"MY Harry. The Harry I go to school with."

"Oh. He's a name stealer."

"No. Actually, if you want to know, my Harry's famous. Your mother named you after him."

"I'm a name stealer!" Harry 3 began to sob.

Ginny rolled her eyes and left Luna to sort out this mess. She stood outside when she heard two loud cracks behind her. She wheeled around to see Harry and Hermione standing there.

Ginny opened her mouth but nothing came out.

Harry grabbed Hermione by the hand and dragged her to the door. She winced. "Harry, let me..." Too late. Harry reached out and grabbed the doorknob, and received an electric shock. Because he was holding Hermione's hand, she was also shocked. "See, Harry?" Hermione coughed. Her hair was wild now from the electricity.

Harry laughed.

"Lucky ducks," Ginny said. "The shock was on low today."

They all laughed.

"C'mon," Ginny said. "Let's go inside and take something to keep you from shocking everyone today. And something to drink too. Hmm...."

They let Ginny open the door and lead them inside.

Harry still hadn't let go of Hermione's hand.

"Harry, this was really fun," said Ron, combing his fingers through his hair. "But... well you have to go."

"Why?"

"Harry," Hermione started. She was juggling the situation. "Ron and his family are too large. We are too much for his family." Ron had tossed their trunks out the door, and was now pushing them from behind out into the morning sun. "Don't worry, he's making me leave too," she concluded, glaring at Ron over her hunched shoulders as he slammed the door.

Harry shrugged and picked up their trunks. "Where are we going?"

Hermione laughed hollowly. "Not to my house. My parents won't be expecting me and they're most likely in another country or something...."

"And not to the Dursleys'," Harry added. "They wouldn't take me in again if I returned. They were so happy when I left for Lupin's...."

"Well," Hermione breathed, snatching her trunk back from a grinning Harry, "we could always go to the Leaky Cauldron. I'm sure I could pay for it."

Harry ruffled her hair. "No, no. I'll pay."

Hermione smiled at him. "But -"

"La, la, la!" Harry said loudly, covering his ears. "I can't HEAR YOU!"

Rolling her eyes, she said, "If you insist."

Harry got on his broom. Hermione was to sit in front of him, carefully levitating the trunks next to them whilst Hedwig dangled from the broom tip in her cage, and Crookshanks rode in his basket in Hermione's lap. As Harry had predicted, it was a long, painful ride to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Two."

Tom nodded. "Follow me."

Harry and Hermione, clutching their trunks and Hedwig, tailed him up the stairs and down the hall to their rooms... er... room.

Harry flushed and thanked Tom for the free stay until Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione stepped into the room. One bed.

Harry flushed deeper. "Er... I-I'll sleep on the floor...."

Crookshanks jumped up onto the windowsill.

"O-Okay...." Hermione replied. "Let Hedwig out."

Harry obeyed. Hedwig flew up and out of sight.

"We should set this place up," Harry suggested nervously.

Hermione nodded feverously.

The room was considerably large. The bed was full-sized, and took up about a forth of the room. There was a desk complete with a quill, an ink bottle, and parchment. The quill bit when taken out of three feet perimeter of the desk to discourage stealing. There was a couch, an end table, and a coffee table. The couch was badly stained and had it's back faced to the fireplace, which crackled woefully behind it. Harry fished about in the cushions and found a galleon, which he saved for something special later. There was a Muggle stereo type thing that when you pressed a button played pop music. You pressed it again and played something slow and romantic, you pressed it again, rap, again, country, again, various kinds of Muggle music, and a final time it turned off again. And there were other secrets all over. Like the tray under the bed (Harry refused to touch it). The bathroom was nice. There was a bath and shower combo here. A self-flushing toilet. Harry had fun finding the button that opened another room. In there was another Muggle music-player, really fluffy towels, a tiny pool, and what appeared to be a small hot tub. The room seemed to be radioactive or something because everything had a red-ish glow. But, upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the tiles on the ceiling, walls, and floors were painted red. Therefore, the pool, hot tub, and sink had a red tinge to them. The towels were red. Even the light had a scarlet covering!

Tom had apparently given them the... uh... what would have been extremely expensive room. Harry made a mental note to pay Tom anyway for the stay.

When Harry returned to the bedroom, he saw Hermione laughing and trying to protect herself from a blast of bubbles streaming from the wall.

"What did you do?" Harry laughed.

"I don't know!" Hermione called back. "It must have been the picture I straightened!" She choked and quickly closed her mouth as it was suddenly filled with the spurting bubbles.

Harry quickly attempted to right the situation. By the time he succeeded, however, Hermione was soaked from head to toe and covered in bubbles.

Harry laughed and pointed at her. He doubled over, clutching his stomach, pointing. He couldn't breath, his face was red. His laughing quieted as the air in his lungs lessened. He was on his knees now, his nose nearly touching the floor. He was still pointing, still laughing.

Hermione had her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed, and was watching Harry with what could be considered disgust.

"Okay..." Harry panted when he was finished, "meet me back here at noon, alright? Let's have some fun."

Hermione laughed and left. It took him a moment to remember where she had gone. The bathroom. To change. He shook his head to clear it and went outside.

"Is he gone?"

Crookshanks meowed.

"Good."

She hurried about, changing her clothes and getting the bubbles from her hair. When she was finished, she checked her watch. It was ten-thirty.

"Aw! No time to do it today," she sighed. "I guess I'll hang out at Flourish and Blots until noon."

Harry tore himself out of Quality Quidditch Supplies with little difficulty as he headed out to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for or find Hermione. She was there, waiting for him. She had changed out of her soaked jeans and sweater into... well... her dry pair of jeans and sweater.

"Hey, Harry!" she called.

He ran up, pulling his sweatshirt's hood over his head and over his eyes, and grabbed her wrist. "Come on! You just HAVE to see this place! It's like a Muggle theater, only it's... oh, never mind, you'll see!"

They raced down several allies before halting before a large building.

"Harry! What is this?"

"It's like a Muggle movie theater, except you have lunch or dinner in it."

She looked skeptical. "But what's on?"

"You'll see," he said mischievously.

When they had found Harry's insistent "perfect seat" and had settled with their lunch of popcorn, water, sandwiches, and a single bag of M&Ms, they talked and waited for the movie to start.

The more they talked, the more it felt like a date to Harry. He flushed eventually and looked away.

"What's wrong?" she asked in concern.

He grinned. "This just feels like a date," he said.

She laughed. "If it helps you feel a little clearer, it is," she replied.

He nodded. "Thought so. Just one thing."

"What?"

"Don't tell Ron."

"Cross my heart and hope to die."

The movie started and they fell silent.

"Star Wars," she whispered, and held back a laugh. "Episode one."

Harry grinned at her. "Got some of the highest Muggle ratings," he whispered to her.

"Shh," a girl with spiky green hair and piercing and tattoos all over hissed at them from behind. Harry instantly wondered what kind of incident made her sink into such low self-esteem as to destroy her body so.

"Sure, porcupine," Hermione sneered.

Harry quieted her and turned her around to watch the movie.

During a tense moment in the pod race, Hermione shrank back, biting her lip and clinging to Harry's arm.

A couple off to their right began to argue. The girl slapped the boy, knocking him out of his seat. She was shouting at him, holding out her wand now. She lobbed a few hexes at him before slapping him over and over in rapid succession right out of the theater. This had scared a little boy up in front and he began to cry. This startled another little kid, and she began to cry. No matter how their parents tried to calm them and stem the flow of tears, the two wouldn't quiet. Eventually the two families got up and left.

Hermione raised her eyebrow at Harry.

He shrugged at her.

They returned to the movie. Hermione constantly jumped or winced, and grabbed Harry's hand. And every time she did, he'd poke her until she let go.

At one point a woman in the back began to scream her head off. It was a light saber fight. Her husband swiftly led her out of the theater. A man threw his popcorn at them. His date was extremely embarrassed because of him and was hiding her face as she left. He ran after her, calling her name and tripping over his shoelace as he raced out the door. A girl of about sixteen quickly stole his seat.

Hermione was trembling a little. Harry lifted out the water bottle that was settled in the cup-holder in the armrest and raised the armrest so it was out of the way. He held out his arm.

Hermione gratefully leaned sideways to lay her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her in a one-armed hug and rubbed her shoulder.

"It's okay. It's not real," he whispered.

She nodded.

"You poor thing," a girl of ten next to Hermione said.

Hermione stared at her.

Harry stared too. He had a hood pulled over his head so no one could see his scar. The girl was pale with blond hair, reminding him forcefully of Draco Malfoy.

"Having to sit next to that sap," the girl continued.

"Erika!" a boy next to hissed. "Shut it!"

The girl wheeled around to face him. "But it's true, Draco!" she screamed at him.

"Draco?" Hermione whispered in shock, and thankfully only Harry heard.

"Erika!" Draco scolded.

Erika glared at him, arms folded. "What? Don't I have the right to speak my mind?"

"Shut your trap, Erika! That's Hermione Granger!"

Erika turned and gaped at Hermione. "Really?"

Hermione huddled closer to Harry. He tightened his grip on her. "Yes, I'm Hermione Granger," she said slowly.

"You're famous! You're amazing! You most definitely don't deserve this sap."

Draco cuffed Erika round the head. "Erika, that 'sap' is Harry Potter! Are you blind!? Stop insulting people!"

Erika stared at Harry. "Are you really?"

The people all around them were staring at the four.

Harry bravely pulled back his hood. Hermione was tilting her head back to look at him. The theater was thankfully dark enough so that you couldn't see her grin.

Erika screamed. "THE Harry Potter! THE HARRY POTTER!"

There was a buzz that lasted quite a while. Harry still had his arms around Hermione, and was looking around at people as if challenging them to beg to differ with Erika. The lights turned on. No one had noticed the movie was over. All of the people in the theater, now having a clear view of Harry, were shouting with glee. In turn, Harry got a clear view of the Draco who was telling his niece off. It was, indeed, Draco Malfoy.

Hermione stood up. "That was a wonderful movie, Harry. Come on, let's go." Harry got up as well, picked up the water bottle, and followed her. About half-way out he pulled his hood on again. They walked at a normal pace back to the room, acting as if nothing had happened.

Hermione changed in the bathroom first. She came out in a long flowing nightgown of an appealing gold. She had tamed her hair a little and had put it in a high pony-tail. She smiled warmly at Harry before taking a book from her trunk and sitting on the couch. She almost gingerly crossed her legs and opened her book. She quietly and daintily read until he came back out of the bathroom.

He sat next to her, and attempted conversation. "Did you see Draco?"

"Yes," she sighed. "I was utterly embarrassed."

Harry laughed. "Really?"

She gazed up at him. "Yes. I... well I wasn't embarrassed to be in your company... it's just that this is going in the papers! And I'll tell you right now, it isn't going to be something cute like 'Harry Potter Watches Movie With Best Friend'!"

Harry nodded solemnly and wrapped her in another one-armed hug. "I bet. But this has happened before, has it not?"

Hermione grinned at him. "Did you know Draco had a niece?"

"No," Harry said truthfully. "She was quite the brat. She will probably be going to Hogwarts next year."

"Or this year."

"Speaking of Hogwarts," he said, "when do you think we'll be getting our letters?"

She shrugged. "Don't ask me."

Just then Hedwig tapped on the window. "Yes, Hedwig?" Harry asked, opening the window. "You have a letter."

Hermione said in a frighteningly robotic voice, "You've got mail."

Harry laughed. "Let me see, girl."

"Who's it from?" Hermione asked.

"It's from Ron," he replied, absent-mindedly stroking Hedwig's feathers. "Hedwig must've flown over to his house, because this is what he wrote:

"Dear Harry," he paused and looked up to Hermione, eyebrows raised. She shrugged absently and continued reading, though this time she mouthed the words on the page with dark eyes and furrowed brows. Harry looked back to the letter and continued where he left off.

"I think Hedwig dropped your letter. She just turned up and stared at me. She freaked me out really bad until I asked her how she was. She then stole my lunch. I think that means she's happy. Anyway, if you meant to send me a letter, try again. If not, I want to know how you're doing.

"Your friend,

"Ron

"I guess Hedwig thought I sent her to Ron on purpose," Harry said. "Is that it, girl?"

Hedwig hooted.

"Well, I didn't. But good girl for doing your duty. Here." Harry pulled some owl treats from his pockets and gave them to her.

Hermione was smiling. She had obviously forgotten her previously dark mood. "Harry, are you going to write to Ron?"

Harry could tell she had already predicted the answer. "No."

She nodded and patted the seat next to her. "Thought so," she said. "I've never heard Draco defend us before," she suddenly said. She said it so thoughtfully, as if they had been on that subject for quite a while instead of the Ron subject. "It was a bit odd."

"A bit odd, yeah," Harry agreed.

They talked for quite a while, until Hermione turned on the music. They listened and mimicked the lines in stupid voices until it grew very late. Harry then turned the music off, and said goodnight. Hermione gave him a hug, apologizing about stealing the bed, and said goodnight. There was a short awkward moment when the pulled apart, but Harry quickly cleared it up by yawning. He curled up on the soft, stained couch, and fell asleep.

He heard sniffling. He pulled himself completely from his groggy state and looked around the room. She was curled up against the side of the bed, crying quietly. Her hair was down now instead of up. Her eyes were puffy and red. She did not see him stir or even stand.

He watched her intensely. He didn't know why she was crying. It's not like her to cry. She always has held her ground, why the change now?

He softly called her name...

"'Mione?"

"H-Harry?"

He swiftly and silently glided over to her and sat next to her.

"Oh, H-Harry, I-I'm so sorry! I-I d-didn't mean t-to wake you!"

He smiled at her. "Don't worry about it. I'm glad you woke me. What's the matter?"

"I-It's nothing."

"Tell me. Please." He put on his puppy-dog face, the one that always made her crack and talk to him.

"I-I d-dreamt t-that I-I was falling. Falling and d-dieing. You t-tried t-to catch me, you r-really d-did...."

Harry reached out a cradled her in his arms. "It's okay, 'Mione. You're okay. You're not dead. You're fine."

She was clutching his shirt, sobbing. "I-I d-didn't d-die, H-Harry. I-I was I-injured. I-I could never walk or t-talk or even move!"

He ran a hand through her hair. "It's alright."

After a while of his gentle talk to her, her tight, rapid breathing slowed into a steady rhythm. She was asleep. Harry very carefully placed her back in her bed and went back to his couch. Her soft voice called him back.

"Don't leave me."

"I'm not. I'm just -"

"Stay."

With no other choice, he sat propped up against the wall until sleep overtook them both.

"Morning, sleepy head," Hermione said.

He smiled and yawned. "Morning."

She was dressed. "Hurry, get dressed! There's a Muggle in town singing for free! Come on!"

Harry, bewildered, quickly dressed and chased Hermione into the center square. A Muggle girl of about thirteen was on a platform with a Muggle microphone. There were two girls on her sides.

"Thank you," the main girl said. "Here's one last one. I wrote it myself. Hope you like it. It's called 'Free'." By her accent, the girl was American. She had dark brown eyes hidden behind a pair of turquoise glasses and long, sparkling golden hair braided down her back. The girl was a little pretty, but not much. She smiled and waved.

The girl to her left had light brown hair, and silvery blue eyes.

The other had a square-ish jaw and light red hair. They began to sing.

"Take me away," the lead girl cried. She was strumming a guitar, as was the girl with brown hair. The shorter one happily blew into a wind instrument of sorts, and two blonds behind them played keyboard and drums. A brunette artfully toiled with a computer, messing up the girls' voices and the sounds of the instruments over the loudspeakers. There was a brief rest as the music played, then she started up again. They sang in an enchanting harmony.

Many of the people had begun to dance. Hermione grinned at Harry. "Like it?"

She didn't receive an answer. Harry dragged her out into the square and coaxed her into dancing.

Then, near the end, Hermione began to sing along. Alarmed, Harry stared at her.

The girls bowed. The main girl pretended to stumble. She regained her balance and gave the thumbs-up sign. The redhead blushed. She mouthed something to her. The main girl got the message, but shrugged at her friend.

"Oh, wow," the girl laughed into the microphone, "what a blast. We have a stand over there. We have cookies with out names on it, and pictures drawn by yours truly and company sold by my close friends Carissa, Sam, and Kiara. Oh. And Jeremiah and Jenny are selling C.D.s. Bye!" she jumped and backed away, waving. Her four friends lazily followed her.

"Come on. Harry! Let's go see!"

Carissa was very nice. She was also blond like the girl who had sung. She smiled. "Hello. Nice to meet you. How may I help you?"

"We're just browsing at the moment, thanks," Harry said.

She eyed him a moment. "Do I know you?"

Harry played with his hood. "No."

She nodded and returned to her work. Hermione tugged on Harry's arm and led him to the pictures. "Look!"

She held up a portrait of the band dressed in Muggle clothes. They were grinning and giving each other bunny ears. There was a perky puppy in a girl's arms. It was the lead singer girl. There were names above each drawn figure. The girl with the puppy was Tawnee and the small redhead was Katie. The girl with the brown hair that had sang was Ray, and the other brunette who had been altering with the computer was Shannon, who apparently wears glasses. The blond with glasses who had been drumming was Emily. The blond-haired girl on keyboards was Courtney. Carissa, Jenny, Samantha (Sam), Kiara, Nick, Ezra, and Jeremiah were also in the picture. The picture was signed Tawnee and the bands name. Hermione was quick to buy it.

Harry rolled his eyes and followed. Hermione asked how much. Carissa looked stunned. "I.... W-Wizard money?"

Hermione laughed. "You're going to get a lot of wizard money here. Let me help you."

As Hermione explained everything to Carissa, Harry walked about looking for a familiar face. He crashed into someone.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" she cried, standing up again. She held out a hand. Harry shook his head and stood up by himself.

"Thanks -" he froze in mid-sentence. "Hey! You're the girl that was singing!"

Tawnee laughed. "Good spotting, dude!"

Katie arrived at her side. "Hello. I saw you two fall out here, and I wanted to see if everything was alright."

Tawnee sneered. "Of course not! There are children starving in -"

"Tawnee!" Katie scolded. "I know you are upset about the environment, but not here!"

Tawnee nodded. "Sorry, dude. The dead cow is still lingering."

"But that was a week ago!" Katie exclaimed. Tawnee nodded.

Harry felt a little alarmed now. "Er...."

Ray and Emily appeared. They both had one of their own cookies in their hands. "Who's this?" Ray asked rudely.

Katie shushed them. Tawnee stared at them. "Er...." Harry said again.

"Oh. You seem to be awful nice, putting up with me," Tawnee said. "Say, why don't you -"

"Come with us -"

"To lunch today at -"

"Say noon at the Leaky Cauldron?" they asked. They finished each other's sentences at a four-way!

"Er... sure. Do you mind if I bring a friend?"

The four exchanged glances. "Why not?" they said in unison. "Who?"

"My best friend."

"What's his name?" Ray asked eagerly.

"Hermione."

"Oh. Her name." Ray mumbled. Tawnee laughed. "Okay. See you there... um... name please."

"Harry. Harry Potter."

"Harry. Bye!"

"Harry! There you are!" Hermione grabbed his arm. "Was that the band you were talking to?"

"Yeah. They want us to come to lunch with them. At noon."

"But that's in just an hour!"

"So?"

"So we need to dress properly!"

Harry laughed as Hermione dragged him all the way to the Leaky Cauldron.

They arrived on time. They almost didn't. Hermione refused to leave if Harry didn't put on a coat. Then she couldn't find her necklace Harry had given her. Then she tripped over the carpet, and got sprayed with water. She then had had to change.

"Finally," Ray sighed. Tawnee poked her in the shoulder. "Hey!"

"We know a really good non-wizard eat," Emily said. "Do you mind?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. I used to eat in places like that all the time." Harry grinned. He would have also had the Dursleys allowed it.

"Then it's settled, dude," Tawnee said, clapping her hands together. She bounced away, leading the large group.

"Tawnee's a cheerful one, isn't she?" Hermione said to Katie.

"She can get out of hand, yes," Katie replied. "But not horribly."

Hermione nodded. "Where is this place we're going to?"

Katie laughed. "Pizza Hut."

Harry sniggered. Hermione, in one motion, smacked Harry upside the head. She did almost mindlessly. Katie stared at them. "You two make quite the couple," she commented.

Harry and Hermione flushed and looked away. "W-We aren't," said Harry. Emily was laughing into her elbow.

"I don't see anyone laughing at you, Miss I-Have-No-Fashion-Sense," Hermione snapped. Emily fell silent.

"Here we are," Tawnee sighed. "Okay, who's buying?"

No one made a move. "Come on," she cried. "Do all of you have empty pockets?"

"I have an empty purse," said Ray. Emily, Jenny, and Carissa nodded.

"I have an empty stomach," Tawnee replied. "I'm buying."

Jeremiah looked uncomfortable. "Am I the only boy here?"

"No," Kiara stated. "Clinton is over there."

"Ezra helps us make our dance moves," Katie explained to Harry and Hermione. "And Nick, over there, helps us write the songs."

"You have a lot of people," Harry said.

Katie laughed. "And there's more. But they're all old adults, and don't hang out with us twenty-four year olds."

Tawnee cleared her throat. "Some of us are twenty-five!" Katie shrugged apolitically. Katie was Tawnee's age, but looked quite young.

Ezra had begun having a playful shoving match with Jeremiah. Carissa broke them up by covering Ezra's eyes and nose with her perfumed scarf. He had coughed profusely until she took it off. Nick had poked Jeremiah in the back until he was punished by being locked in a headlock. He continually cried out that Jeremiah had forgotten deodorant that morning until he let him go. The group went up in laughter.

They had started into the building. Because they were a band and had a lot of money, they were welcomed in. They even evacuated a fat, obnoxious man and his loud, gassy wife out so there'd be more room.

When they were all seated, Tawnee said, "Two large of everything."

"Two large cheese, two large pepperoni, two large Hawaiian, two large all meat?" the man asked, betraying awe.

Tawnee nodded, eyes narrowed. She flicked her fingers in a dismissing gesture. Katie rolled her eyes at Tawnee.

After the food was served, a song came over the loudspeakers. Tawnee froze. "Avril!" she cried. "That's my favorite, man!"

Hermione smiled. "I thought you'd be your own favorite," she said.

"Well, yes. But I loved Avril songs since I was ten," Tawnee replied.

"Is Avril a band or a singer?" Hermione asked, taking a sip of soda. She shivered. "This is NOT pumpkin juice."

Harry laughed.

"She's a singer. She's really good, man. Oh! My favorite part!" Tawnee squealed. She sang softly along. After a while she broke off and ate. She threw questions at Hermione constantly. "How old are you, really?"

"Seventeen in seven weeks."

"Sounds like a poem to me, dude," Tawnee laughed. "You still go to school?"

Hermione nodded, head bowed.

"Not me. I graduated from college about two years ago. I'm an author. I'm also, as you guessed, a singer, and I'm a preschool teacher. My loyal friend is covering me back home at the school while I test my skill here. She is like my aid. Awful sweet, she is."

Hermione nodded again.

"So, what are you doing here without parents?" Tawnee asked. "All alone with a boy, dude. I, personally, don't trust boys." She received a punch in the arm by Jeremiah, who was on her right. "Ouch!" She punched him back.

Kiara started up on Tawnee's right, saying a silly accent, "Stupid boyfriends." Jenny laughed.

"I go to a wizarding boarding school. I was originally staying with my other friend Ron and his family. But Harry and my mouths were too much to feed for that family," Hermione said.

"Ron's family is huge," Harry stated.

"So they kicked us out. We're staying here until we get our letters so we can get our school stuff."

Tawnee thought a moment, apparently trying to get a hold on what Hermione had just said. "Oh. I see now," she stated. "You got kicked out of your friend's house, came to live here until school time."

Harry and Hermione nodded.

"You sure like to nod, don't you?" Ray commented. "Nice. So do I." She nodded vigorously until Sam held her head still.

"Chill, girl," Sam sighed.

"Thanks, girl, I really needed that," Ray said. The moment Sam let go, Ray pounced on her, tickling her.

They laughed.

Soon the food was finished. Hermione looked sleepy; Ray, Emily, Jenny, Carissa, and Courtney looked full to bursting; the boys were in a burping match; Katie, Kiara, and Shannon looked highly content; Tawnee, it seemed, was now more fueled because of the food, and was bouncing about in her seat, tilting her head to the left then to the right.

"We should get going," Harry said.

"Yeah, okay. That sounds cool," Jeremiah sighed. He burped right on the "cool", and brought an uproar from everyone else. Tawnee challenged it with a larger one.

"Ew. Tawnee, that was in my ear!" Jeremiah exclaimed. She ignored him.

"Okay. Everyone spit up the moolah," Tawnee said. "Except Harry and Hermione."

"Thanks, really, Tawnee," Sam muttered.

"Oh, shut up, Sam," Tawnee yawned.

"You don't need to s -"

"No, really," Tawnee said, waving a hand. "We want to, man."

"Not me," Ray chimed. Kiara gave her a hard glance.

"Me neither," Jenny admitted. "My purse is kinda tight."

Carissa glared at them both disapprovingly. Kiara and Carissa made a good glaring team. Only Hermione could match their glaring power.

"I thought you said you were paying, Tawnee," Sam said absent-mindedly.

"I did. But you all eat like pigs," Tawnee replied.

Nick burped in response.

Eyes narrowed, Tawnee observed the table. "All is paid. Let's get out of here."

The entire group fled.

"See you later, dude!" Tawnee shouted as they roared away in a large limo.

"Bye!" Hermione shouted back, waving.

"Catch you in the news!" Harry yelled.

They waited until the car was out of sight, before Hermione spoke. "Now, how are we going to get home?"

"Beats me," Harry replied. "Wait. We could -"

"HARRY!" Hermione screamed. "GET ME OFF THIS ANIMAL, NOW!"

"Okay." They came to a halt. "We're here." Harry slid off and caught Hermione as she clumsily fell off. He stuffed three galleons into the Horse's money pouch. "Thanks," he said.

"You're welcome," the horse grunted.

"Honestly, Harry," Hermione sighed. "Using a magical horse in a Muggle town... it's just flat out dangerous!"

"Well, that man was a friend of Lupin's. He said if I ever needed a favor..."

"But a high-speed, talking horse -"

"Was a good idea. No one saw us, I swear." He pulled her up to the room.

"Don't tell me -"

"Everything will be a little mellower in the morning."

"Please tell me I'm going to live until morning!"

Because Harry had pulled such a horrific stunt last night, Hermione refused to go anywhere near him.

"Aw, 'Mione!" Harry groaned, holding his arms out to his sides like a plane. "I'm not radio-active!"

"I know that," she replied. "But I don't trust you. See you later." She picked up her purse and fled.

Harry hung his head, defeated.

Harry stayed in the room all day that day. He was rewarded with his Hogwarts letter. He put Hermione's on the bed. He opened his own eagerly. He gasped as a heavy pin fell out onto his lap. Head Boy it read.

He slowly opened the letter the rest of the way.

Dear Mr. Potter:

You have been accepted as Head Boy at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The staff agrees this is a bit of a jump, for you were indeed not a prefect, but we made this exception. Your duties will include... blah, blah, blah....

Harry couldn't process the rest. He was in shock. Head Boy? But... even the letter stated the he had not been a prefect! How could he be Head Boy?

He re-read the letter. It was there: Mr. Potter, Head Boy. Harry was now Head Boy. He waited impatiently for Hermione to get back.

She studied the large building for a moment. "No..." she sighed, "not today." She started back.

"'Mione! You gotta see this!" Harry pulled her inside. "We got our letters today and..."

"You got a badge!"

"Head Boy," Harry said proudly.

"Oh, Harry! That's wonderful!" She gave him a huge hug.

"Open yours," he told her.

"Oh!" she exclaimed after a moment. She paused a moment, then she jumped up and down. "I'm Head Girl! Harry! I'm Head Girl!"

Harry laughed as she screamed and bounced about.

She rushed over to him and hugged him again. On impulse, he put his hands around her waist and spun her around.

She laughed when he gently set her back on the bed. "Harry, are your ears ringing?" she asked breathlessly.

He listened a moment. "No."

"Neither are mine."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I think you're a little too excited, 'Mione."

"No. I just need a break." She fished about in her trunk. She pulled out a swimsuit. "I'm going swimming."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "In the little pool in here?"

"Yes. I can't go swimming in the sink, Harry."

"Mind if I leave you to it?"

"And just where would you go?"

"Around."

"Be more specific."

"AROUND. I don't really know."

"Okay. But be back before dark."

"Yes, Mum."

"Good boy. Bye."

"Bye, 'Mione."

"Harry, I've been trying to get to something all week," Hermione said over breakfast. "So, no special surprises, okay?"

"Oh." Harry stared down at his plate a moment. "What time d' you think you'll be done?"

Hermione smiled at him. "I don't know. If you want, we can go to some place you like afterwards."

"'Mione?"

"Hmmm?"

"What is it that you're going to do?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

"Aw man!"

Harry spent his lonely day waiting for Hermione and writing to Ron.

Dear Ron,

Guess what? I was chosen as Head Boy! Although we'll most likely end up in different dormitories, it won't matter, right? Hermione left today to do something. She won't tell me what. Speaking of Hermione, she's been chosen as Head Girl! It's really awesome! If only there was a second Head Boy space, I'm sure we'd all be put together. Hermione's been a lot more outgoing this year. She almost made a friend today, if she hadn't later fallen into a lake and ruined their clothes. How have you been? We've been missing you. How are your cousins? Still there? How's Ginny and the crew? I'm having fun here. We got to have lunch with a really nice band. They were all really kind. Except maybe Ray and Jenny. They could use some attitude tips. Tawnee is really funny. She'll make you laugh your head off. But she's really bold. Almost frighteningly bold. I know what you're thinking. "Sounds like a girl I could live with." Forget it, Ron. She's Muggle. No magical abilities. And, she's way older than both of us. She says she's and author and a singer and a teacher. She also says she's twenty-five. Well, I have to leave. I think Hermione will be back soon. Miss you, Ron.

Sincerely,

Harry

Harry rolled up the letter and attached it to Hedwig's leg. "Take this to Ron, okay, girl?"

Hedwig hooted softly and flew out the window.

Harry waited for a while, before deciding to read a book. It was a pretty-looking book. It had a creamy-colored cover, and gold letters announcing the author and the name of the book. It looked intriguing.

Harry was reading through the first few chapters, when the door opened. Harry looked up to see a woman in the doorway.

She did look slightly familiar, but Harry couldn't place where he had met her.

She had dark chocolate hair, streaked with gold. She wore the slightest hints of perfume and lipstick. She wore flair jeans, and a warm, friendly-looking top. Harry then remembered where he'd seen it. Hermione had worn it the day before. It was a sunny-yellow T-shirt. It was clipped in the shoulder seams so it showed off a bit of her bare shoulders with the sleeves still in tact.

"'Mione?" he gasped, staring.

She flushed. "Do you like it?"

"Wow! You look... wonderful!" He flushed as he added, "You look beautiful."

She smiled gratefully. "Thanks. Does it -" she stopped. "Never mind."

"What?"

"It's just that... oh, forget it." She grinned. "See you later. I need to get..."

Whatever that was, Harry never found out. Hermione disappeared into the next room, still muttering. Harry chuckled in amazement and continued reading. She returned. He didn't see her crestfallen face.

He never notices, does he? She thought angrily when she was sure he was asleep. No, of course not. He's a boy, after all. But for crying in a bucket, he is as clueless as clueless goes! That naïve little... hero. Ugh! Can I not stay angry at him?

She settled herself deeper in the covers and glared at the ceiling. He stirred and startled her. He was sitting up now, his emerald staring at her, piercing in the pitch blackness. Why are his eyes like such beacons? She asked herself. He was still staring at her through the dark. He made her nervous. Honestly, Harry! That's creepy! Stop it!

"Is it cold, little girl? Have you had enough?"

"STOP! STOP, PLEASE!" screamed a girl's voice.

"Are you suffering, dear? Is it too cold? Too painful?"

"STOP! PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!"

"Too painful, child? Do you wish to leave?"

"PLEASE STOP! STOP!"

He jumped out of his sleep. He knew who the dream was about. Though he couldn't see her, he stared through the darkness at her. He saw her chocolate eyes staring back at him, relaying surprise. After a minute or two they begin screaming fear. He broke eye contact immediately. He couldn't scare her. Wasn't in his nature. He looked back up. She stood directly before him.

"What's up?" he asked sleepily. Both knew it was an act; both knew what he was thinking.

"What's up? The sky, that's what," she replied, and sat next to him. "I should be asking you the questions. You had a nightmare, didn't you?" It was more of a statement rather than a question.

He silently nodded. "Yeah," he sighed. "But I can't tell you what happened in it."

"And why not?"

"You're a girl," he replied shortly as she stuck out her tongue at him with a "Mwma" noise.

"So what if I'm a girl?" she said. "I can take anything."

"Anything?" he asked evilly, grinning up at her.

"Yeah."

Harry elaborately told what had "happened."

"Oh, Merlin, Harry, that's sick!"

He laughed whole-heartedly. "I was just joking, 'Mione!" he cried, speaking in between laughs. "I was just kidding!"

She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling and leaned forward to rub her foot.

Harry finished laughing and looked at her. "Say, what time s' it?"

She paused, then sighed loudly. "I don't know! It's too dark. Lumos!"

A bright light came from the bed, shining on the wall clock. "Midnight."

The light went out.

"Ok. Sorry about waking you. We should go back to sleep."

"Yeah."

"Ok."

The went to their own beds and lay down.

A few minutes passed, then Harry spoke again. "I can't sleep."

"Neither can I."

"What do you want to do?" he asked, sitting up again.

"Harry, it's midnight. Nothing's open."

Harry grinned evilly in the darkness. "The public club's ALWAYS open."

"Great," she said flatly.

Despite the fact she wore no more makeup and her hair was a bit tousled, she was still the prettiest one there, Harry noted to himself.

Both of them really didn't appreciate the dingy club. It was loud and uncomfortable. After a few minutes they left.

"Well, that was all BUT enjoyable," Hermione stated dryly as they walked the twelve blocks back.

"Don't be so negative," Harry replied.

"I'm NOT being negative!" she retorted.

Harry smiled. "Forget it. This never happened."

"Agreed."

They were silent for the next few blocks, then Harry spoke again. "You know that thing I had planned but you decided to get a makeover that day?"

Hermione thought about it a moment. She looked at him. "Yeah."

"Well... can we do it now?"

"Harry, like I said, nothing's open!"

"I know. But please, come on!"

She followed him the rest of the way back, then up the street.

He stopped. She nearly crashed into him but managed to maintain her balance. She looked over his shoulder to see a puppy.

She stared at it, then to Harry. "What?"

He shushed her. "Look."

She obeyed. The puppy slowly opened it's mouth and said, quite clearly, "State your business."

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin. Harry smiled and replied, "Special notice."

"Number please."

"Classified."

"Number please."

"25578206," Harry recited.

"Name."

"Potter, Harry."

"Adjunct?"

"Positive."

"Partner name."

"Granger, Hermione."

"Welcome and please enjoy yourself." The puppy stepped aside, revealing a golden egg. Hermione expected Harry to give up and leave right there, but instead he grabbed the egg and twisted it. He pulled up, and a hatch opened.

Hermione looked down into its depths. She gasped aloud. Down below there was a floor made of marble and gold. Long, graceful silk scarves wove their way back and forth, uncontrolled by any hands. Harry opened his palm and dropped the egg squarely onto a gold tile. A scarf stopped, wrapped it up, and swooshed off to stash it somewhere. Harry watched a moment, and then a pair of gold wings shot up and out of the mysterious room and into his hands. Then another came.

"Here." He handed her a pair of wings.

"What do I do?"

He laughed. "Put them on!"

With his gentle help, she managed to fit them on. Harry slipped on his and jumped through the hatch and into the room. Hermione gasped inwardly. They were at least twenty feet up. He was going to hit that hard floor and break every bone in his body! But then, suddenly, his wings burst out to his sides and flapped, stopping his fall and letting him hover.

He looked up at her and motioned for her to do the same. She took a deep breath and jumped. It felt, as soon as her head went beneath the little hatch door, that she had dove into hot water. She gasped, thinking she couldn't breathe, when suddenly the sensation was gone. She looked around. She felt light as air.

Harry flew next to her, grabbed her hand. "Awesome, eh?" he asked.

"Yes," she said resolutely.

The room was large, with stained glass windows for the ceiling and along the walls. There were doors lining the walls with gold handles, a gigantic fountain in the center of the floor. It was gold, layered so that the water cascaded down like mini waterfalls, and had quarts jewels placed artfully here or there. White and gold scarves danced about, picking up gold and crystal eggs that fell from the ceiling. When they had collected an egg, they danced up to the fountain and dropped the egg into it. But instead of sinking, the egg vanished. Then the scarf would rush back and continue looking for any more eggs.

Couples and friends and single people in white and gold wings soared about like angles, laughing and talking or watching. Some of the braver people chose to go close to the floor to touch the fountain or follow a scarf.

Hermione allowed herself to sink several meters before hovering again, Harry with her the whole time. "This place is amazing," she told him.

"I thought you might like it," Harry replied, brushing absently against her. "Follow me. There are other neat places to see."

He hurtled like a torpedo to the ground. He landed softly on the tiles and stood there, watching the scarves flutter about until Hermione reached him.

"Let's go," she said softly.

They fluttered to a door. Harry opened it and they stepped inside.

Hermione's mouth dropped open. They were standing on air, surrounded by blackness. Stars near and far twinkled brightly, and a comet could be spotted off to her right. They were in space.

"Whoa."

"Yeah. That was my first impression too," Harry said with a shrug. "Come on, we have a long way to go."

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked.

"You'll see," he replied breathily. He led her swiftly to an odd-looking planet she hadn't seen before. They had been walking at light-speed, she believed. In the surface of the planet was a little hatch door similar to the one back where people didn't fly.

Harry opened it and jumped in, pulling Hermione in as well. They fell for what seemed like an eternity, before landing with a splash in a large body of water. Harry, without missing a beat, shot forward through the salty water like a bullet. Hermione was being dragged awkwardly behind him, eyes narrowed against the fierce pressure. Suddenly, after five or so minutes, a whale zoomed from under them. It rushed upwards and out of sight. They pressed on. About ten minutes later, Harry dived. They went down, until they reached the bottom. There, on the ocean floor, was another hatch. Harry opened it and went through. Hermione went after him.

They were in a forest world now. Gargantuan trees loomed over them, so tall you could barely see the tops, and tiny bushes the size of human heads lined a narrow path. Harry called out and moments later, a huge creature that resembled a kitten rumbled out from behind a tree. Harry clambered onto the behemoth's back, and yanked Hermione up as well. She set off at a super speed like they had in the other two lands, and about twenty minutes later they stopped. Harry slipped off, pulled Hermione down, and opened a door on a tree.

At least it's not another hatch, Hermione thought dryly. They stepped through. She was unprepared for what she saw.

They were in a gigantic bathroom with showers, sinks, and toilet stalls lining the white walls. Lizard-like creatures with many legs and clubbed tails skittered here or there on two legs, the rest holding towels, toilet paper, hair care products, or soap. The things stood about thrice normal human height.

Harry started forward, head down, taking long strides. Hermione followed suit, taking care to stay close to him. When they made it to the other side, Harry flashed her a grin, and opened yet another door.

They stepped into a normal hotel room. Hermione sighed in relief, and started to laugh. Harry gave her a look that she ignored. She laughed harder. When she was done, she looked around. Several long, black, hairy legs protruded from under the bed. They waved about sneakily, as if beckoning them over. Harry stiffened and reached for his wand.

"A SPIDER!" Hermione squeaked loudly.

Harry cast her a stern look before taking careful aim and hitting the spider.

A horrible shriek came from under the bed and the legs lashed about viciously. Numerous pairs of eyes glared at them from under the bed. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand, and ran towards the door. She ran with him, panic filling her. What was that spider under the bed?

Then suddenly it was gone. They were in another world now. It was a campsite.

Harry turned to her and bored his eyes into hers. "Why did you shout?"

"I-I didn't mean to."

"Don't do it again. It might kill us."

She bit her lip. "Okay."

Harry smiled at her now. "Good. Come on, we are almost there."

They walked through the campsite, into the forest, then into a clearing. "Are we there yet?" she asked quietly.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Hold on there, trooper, just a little more ways."

She followed him more. Finally, they appeared in yet another campsite. Harry knocked on a cabin door.

It opened. A pair of soft gray eyes peered out at them. Then the door opened completely. A girl of Hermione's age stood there. She was thin and quite pretty, with a freckled nose and cheeks and wavy brown hair that went past her shoulders. She leaned against the door frame and said in an American accent, "Are you Harry and Hermione?"

"Yes, this is them."

"Kit!" she called. "They're here! Fix them something, will you?"

"Okay, Neets," came a boy's voice from inside.

"Come in, come in," the girl said, stepping aside and letting them in.

When the three were seated, the girl leaned forward and stared at them. "It's so fascinating to learn about you," she said. "I used to think only wizards like me and Kit existed. You two have proven me wrong."

"For once," a boy said.

Hermione's head snapped up to see him. He was tall and slender, with a round face and a wide grin. He had dark hair and dark brown eyes that stood out on his slightly pale skin. He was actually quite cute. He handed Harry and Hermione a cup for each of them and sat close to the girl.

"I'm sorry, but my friend didn't really explain anything to me on the way here," Hermione said. "Who are you?"

"I'm Nita Callahan," the girl said. "And this is my partner, Kit Rodriguez."

"Hey."

"Partner?" Hermione asked.

They laughed. "Yes," said Nita. "Don't you have those where you come from?"

"We have close friends," Hermione said.

"Same thing," Kit said.

"Really?" Hermione scooted a little closer to Harry. "Interesting."

Harry stood up. "We are here for a reason, however," he said. "Kit, Nita, would you please explain?"

"Hey, she's YOUR girlfriend," Kit protested. "YOU do it!"

Harry flushed deeply. Hermione blushed scarlet and coughed into her fist.

Nita tried her best to hide her laughter by coughing, but it was no use. She roared and grinned like it was the funniest thing she had ever heard.

"W-We're not..." Hermione tried to explain.

"Sure," Kit replied, grinning widely.

"Look, would you just explain?" Harry snapped.

"Harsh," Nita said. "But fine." She turned to Hermione. "We have a villain too, you know. The Lone Power. It creates death and pain. Similar to your Voldemort. Anyway, we've learned these two are working hand-in-hand, so we are going to set a trap for both of them, let them fall victim of their own demise."

The room was silent. Harry looked at Hermione out of the corner of his eye. "Let's get this party started," he said.

"This is your room," Nita said. "Bunk beds, so don't feel offended or anything. You should feel lucky, actually. Kit and I only have one bed on our room."

Harry nodded. "Feel lucky already."

Nita grinned. "Good. Now, get some sleep." She left.

Harry and Hermione let the silence swallow them up a moment, then Hermione spoke. "One bed..."

"I know," he replied. "Come on. Like she said, we need some sleep."

"Alright."

"I CALL TOP BUNK!" Harry shouted. They laughed and argued playfully over the bunk a while, and Harry won.

"Goodnight, Harry," Hermione yawned.

"Goodnight, 'Mione," he replied.

She kissed him softly on the cheek and clambered into bed. She fell asleep almost immediately. Harry stood in the dark, a hand to the side of his face. He stood thinking a while, then decided. "Nah," he said, and crawled into bed.

"Harry, wake up," Hermione hissed in his ear.

Harry woke, but kept his eyes shut. He lay completely still.

"Harry, if you're going to pretend to sleep, at least continue your snoring."

That got him. He opened his eyes and stared at her. "I snored?"

"No," she replied, a smile now on her face. "I just wanted you to get up."

He narrowed his eyes at her, but nonetheless grinned. "Get out of my face so I can get up, please." She stepped back, smiling, and watched him get up. He stretched and yawned and rubbed his eyes, doing everything he could to wake up. He stood now, and was rummaging around in his suitcase. He froze. "Hey, where did these come from?"

Hermione laughed. "Kit and Nita conjured them. We are still renting the Leaky Cauldron, however, so don't panic."

"I never panic," he said. He pulled out a shirt and shook it. Several rocks fell out. "As I suspected," he said dryly. He turned to Hermione. "Do you mind?"

She shrugged and left, searching for Nita or Kit.

When he was dressed he headed downstairs. Kit and Nita were sitting very close, watching a Muggle TV, with Hermione on the floor in front of them.

Harry cleared his throat. "You guys?"

The three turned to look at him. "What?"

"How long are we going to stay here?"

"Uh... I'm not sure I want to answer that..." Kit said uncertainly.

"As long as we need," Nita said shortly.

"But what about school!?"

"Um... yeah... forgot about that. You won't be going this year."

"But what about the Head Boy and Girl?" Hermione cried. "What'll happen then?"

Harry frowned and nodded. "Hermione's right. Incidentally, we are both the Head Boy and Girl. And NO, that means nothing more than we are good students."

Nita shrugged. "Don't know, don't care. And you shouldn't, either."

Harry sighed and shook his head. "Why do I bother?"

"Beats us," said Kit.

Nita leaned against him with a yawn.

"What do we do now?" Harry asked.

They shrugged again. "Study I guess. We need all the help we can get against this Voldemort guy," said Nita. "And otherwise, just wait for him to come to us."

***

Hermione blinked furiously, trying hard not to close her eyes, but it was no use. Her eyes shut like a door being slammed or blinds being pulled down by hundred-pound weights. She slumped forward and she smacked her forehead against the book. She was asleep.

Harry stared at her, then looked at Nita and Kit, who were leaning over the same book, pointing at two different paragraphs. "She never falls asleep when she studies," he told them.

Nita looked up at him, eyes narrowed, and flicked her gaze towards Hermione. "Well wake her up then. We have studying to do." She hunched back over the book.

Harry frowned. "I think we should let her rest. She's had it rough lately."

"Go ahead," she said, this time not even looking up.

Harry grimaced. Nita could be mighty cold. "Let's all get some sleep. I think you need it just as much."

"Thanks but no thanks," she replied. This made Kit lift his eyes to Harry's face, then look down at Nita. He sat up straight and tapped her. Her eyes snapped up and she gave him a savage look.

"I think Harry's right, Neets," he said softly.

"Slackers," she hissed. "Fine. Let's take a break."

Kit looked at Harry, shrugged, and said, "Be glad she didn't send you to another dimension."

Harry, gathering Hermione in his arms to carry her to the room, returned Kit's gaze, and nodded.

***

Sleep. Blissful, mindless sleep. Why did it have to be interrupted by such awful dreams?

Harry rolled right off the top bunk, landing with a loud thud on the floor. He didn't wake, and continued to toss and turn, fighting with thin air and obviously losing.

"Harry! Harry, wake up!"

His eyes snapped open. He sat up so quickly it was amazing he didn't fly forward. "Hermione!"

"Cool down, Harry, she's right here," Kit said gently. He and Nita stepped aside, allowing Harry to see Hermione across the room, pale and nervous.

She stepped forward, eyeing him as if unsure if he would do something savage. "It was another Voldemort dream, wasn't it?" It was a statement rather than a question.

He nodded, and jumped up. Kit and Nita backed against the wall out of his way. He ran forward and hugged Hermione so tight, Nita would have been surprised if she didn't pop. Harry sobbed.

Hermione's expression changed from nervousness to surprise to wariness to downright concern. She patted him on the back and pushed him back. Her eyes widened and softened, like a mother's eyes. "Harry," she said quietly, "what happened?"

Harry's head suddenly snapped up. "He's here. I-I... Hermione, you need to hide."

"What? Why?"

He shoved her back, and raced out the door. Nita, eyebrow raised, looked at Kit. He was pale and looked completely frightened. Hermione frowned and paced. "What should we do?" Nita asked.

Kit whipped out his manual, skimmed a moment, then, without hesitation, began talking in the Speech.

Nita read over his shoulder, and quickly fell into line with him. Hermione watched curiously, then sucked in a breath.

She had a look on her face, a mixture between realization and panic. Eyes wide, she mouthed the words "Nita, wait" and disappeared with a loud sound of displaced air.

After a long pause, Nita looked at Kit. "What do you think?"

"I think she's hiding."

"She'd better."

"What is this place?" Hermione asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know," said a voice.

She let out a sound between a squeak and a scream and wheeled around. She straightened and stared in, completely confused. "Harry?"

"At your service," he said, grinning, and giving a sweeping bow.

"What-what is this place?" She looked around.

"Saventeharth," Harry said. When he said it, his voice deepened and became raspy, and yet it seemed oily, like it flowed off his tongue with the taste of honey. "It means nothingness." He straightened and looked at her.

"But..." she stared, blinked, and gasped. Suddenly the pure darkness around them vanished, and was replaced with rolling green hills and tall, graceful trees scattered loosely about. The sun was shining in a periwinkle sky, and birds twittered in the trees.

Harry's eyes darkened and he looked around him in surprise. "What did you do?"

"I-I don't know..." she replied shakily.

"Dometove," he said now, his voice now in that strange raspy smoothness. "Now there's something." He gazed around a moment then looked back at her.

She frowned. "Why are you here?" she asked him.

He looked at her like he couldn't believe his ears, as if she were the stupidest person on earth. He tilted his head to one side, then looked at the sky. "You made me."

"What?" She was becoming distressed.

"This place isn't real," he said, as if she were a slow child. "There's a war raging outside in World as we speak."

"Does this place do exactly as I want?" she asked. She pictured a soft chair to sit in, and a moment later one appeared right behind her. Despite the guilt in her about lazing around out here while people were fighting for their lives Outside, she sat down and watched Harry. A dark cloud hovered some ways away, and Hermione was sure that was her guilt.

"Yes." Harry sat on the grass.

"Does it make people?" she asked.

"I'm here, am I not? I'm the real Harry, but an image."

"I barely understood that," she said.

He laughed.

"Do the people here do as I say too?"

"Whatever you please. You could make me jump off a cliff if you wanted to."

She nodded. "I would never do that."

"I'm sure you wouldn't, 'Mione." He grinned at her.

She felt a sudden pang in her chest and, without warning, the Harry before her blushed. He looked away, and made to stand up. "Did I just make something happen?" she asked suddenly, alarmed and worried.

"I-I think so..." Harry looked at himself, looked at her. He flushed more, and started to sweat.

"What's wrong?" she cried. She was frightened. Had she done something bad?

"I feel odd," he said, and looked pleadingly at her.

"What should I do?"

"I don't know... wait. I think it's gone," he said. "You probably willed it away."

She sighed and sat by him. She looked at the sky, and smiled. "I have another question."

"Ask away."

"Do the people here... do they remember what happens here when I leave?"

"No. We are erased."

"Do you fear being erased?"

"No. It happens, and then nothing happened."

"Will I have memory of this?"

"Yes. We wouldn't erase you!"

"Do your real counterparts remember this?" she asked.

He looked shocked. "Uh... I don't know."

"What?"

"I don't know. I... didn't get it."

"Can I make you have it?"

"No. Knowledge is something that comes naturally."

"Ah. Well, can I leave?"

"Yes. Just will it to be so."

"I want to go soon, but first... I want some practice."

"With what?" Harry asked, leaning forward.

She smiled at him. She made a wish, willed it to happen. "What do you say?"

His eyes softened and he relaxed. He put a hand on her arm, and used the other to make her look at him. "Hey," he said, "look. I... I think I love you."

She took a deep breath, liking the moment. She pulled him to her, staring fiercely into his eyes. "I love you too." She willed it once more, and waited.

He leaned into her, and kissed her.

Nita hid her face, laughing hard.

Kit looked at her. "What's so funny?"

"Her!" Nita said, and snorted in sustained laughter. "This is her fantasy!"

"So?" Kit said, grabbing her hand and squeezing. "When you've been partners with someone for a long time they tend to grow on you that way."

"I hear you," she said. She grinned evilly at him and closed the porthole to give Hermione and her fantasy some privacy.

Harry's eyes widened as the green jet of light headed right for him. He thrust his chest in the air and pulled an amazing back flip. The spell missed him by mere inches. He landed on his knees, breathing hard, and glaring up through his bangs at Voldemort. "Missed me," he whispered.

Voldemort hissed darkly and stepped up to Harry. He placed a bony hand on the boy's shoulder and shoved him back. Harry teetered on his heels and finally landed on his back in the grass. He propped himself up on his elbows and gave his enemy a death glare.

Voldemort leaned forward so that their faces almost touched. He opened his mouth and began to speak...

Hermione gave a sad look over her shoulder at the fake-real Harry, then gazed at the sky and threw her arms out. With a loud sucking sound, she was gone.

She appeared before the forest they had passed a while ago to see Kit and Nita. She walked a ways, and heard a hissing voice. She froze. Harry!

"Surrender, Harry Potter," he said. "Surrender."

Harry narrowed his eyes and spat at the hem of Voldemort's robes. He gave him a hateful look.

Voldemort drew back, looking mildly offended. He shook his head at Harry. "Foolish." He carefully took aim...

"No," she whispered. "No. NO!" She shot forward, running faster than humanly possible, and reached the clearing a matter of several milliseconds. She never stopped. She lunged forward, arms outstretched. She spun like a torpedo, right in the way of the green light.

Harry had no idea where Hermione came from, but one second he was about to be killed, and the next Hermione had blocked the spell and was sailing through the air at ten miles per hour. The spell hit her, giving her a brief burst of speed. She flew through the air like a rocket, and, slowly, began to fly head-over-heels.

Voldemort, composure lost, watched her spin out of control through the chilly air. Harry watched too, eyes wide, as she somersaulted, airborne, arms flailing limply. She slammed into a tree trunk on the other side of the clearing with a sickening sound between a thud and a crack, and landed in a crumpled heap at the bottom. She stayed there and didn't move.

Harry returned his gaze to Voldemort, who was staring at Hermione's form in utter shock. Harry stood up, panting. "Oh Voldy," he called.

Voldemort wheeled around to see Harry standing there with a cold, hateful grin on his face. He opened his mouth, but it was too late.

Harry spun once in a circle, and fired.

The green light shot at Voldemort in slow motion, and when it did, both were shocked. Nothing happened.

Then a scream filled the air, and was quickly joined by several others. Suddenly clouds filled the sky, and rumbled darkly. Voldemort gawked at the stormy sky, eyes wide in panic. There was a soft rumble, and then an emerald lightning bolt leapt from the sky. It hit Voldemort squarely in the chest. Voldemort jerked backwards, looked down at himself in surprise, and stared at Harry. The screams became louder, more persistent, and in a split second, Voldemort was gone.

Harry, panting, fell to his knees. He shook a moment, a tremor of cold rushing down his spine, blood smeared on his forehead. He was drenched in cold sweat, he was sick in the stomach. He gave a final shudder and turned his head to look around. Nothing was left of Voldemort except his wand, a piece of his robes, and a red eyeball which was rocking back and forth. He smiled slightly, then his face returned to its grim expression.

He gazed around again, this time his gaze landing on Hermione's lifeless form. He gagged and his shaking returned. He started sweating again, his stomach churned again. He made a moaning sound, a hoarse sound like a crow's cry.

He came to her, gathered her up in his arms, placed his head against her chest, and cried. He didn't know how long he'd been crying, but when it was over, he was in utter shock. He had CRIED for Merlin's sake! He sobbed again, dryly, and looked softly at Hermione.

The wind whipped his hair back and forth, and a few stray tassels of hair blew into her face. Harry sat back and laid down. He cried and cried until he fell asleep.

He woke up somewhat later. He felt sick and his head pounded. He felt his forehead. Dried blood scraped against his fingers. He sighed. He looked around, and saw Hermione. "Oh," he groaned.

Kit and Nita suddenly lumbered through the trees, wands held out before them. They saw Harry, and gaped. Nita spotted Hermione, and screamed. "Oh, God! Don't worry, Harry, I-I'll get an ambulance!" She turned and ran away. Kit followed her.

Harry sobbed again and stared at Hermione again, waiting for the doctors to come... to pretend to try to save Hermione's life... tell Harry that they did everything... that she was dead....

And suddenly she stirred.

Harry let out a mangled cry, and jumped back.

Hermione sat up, panting, and pale. She quaked from head to toe, and looked ready to vomit. She looked up, eyes sparkling with amazement, and glanced at Harry. She grinned.

"I'm back."

He let out a huge breath of relief. "You're alive!" he cried. "How?"

She smiled wider. "Long story short: Up in a little cloud called heaven, your father demanded I come back here and live again."

Harry smiled. He lunged forward and hugged her. "I... I don't know what to say..." he croaked. He swayed her a little. "Aw, 'Mione, I missed you."

"I wasn't finished," Hermione said. "He said I could come back on one condition."

"What's that?" he asked, too happy to really care.

"He heard me screaming and banging on the gates, he heard what I confessed. I have to tell you the truth about me." She raised her eyes to his, a smile playing on her lips. "I love you."

And Harry was struck down. Without any thought beforehand, he shouted out, "I LOVE YOU TOO!"