Stress

Chapter 2 : Emotions

Harry slowly walked to the door to the Prefects' common room, pausing in front of it. He looked up to the ceiling and sighed deeply.

"Here goes nothing," he said quietly to himself. He placed his hand on the door handle and began to turn it, but it wouldn't turn the whole way. He banged hard on the door, hearing the girl's sobs racking through the wood from the other side.

"Hermione, let me in!" Harry stood still, thinking for a moment. He muttered the Alohomora spell under his breath but the door still wouldn't open. Clearly, Hermione had jinxed it somehow.

"Hermione, are you in there?" There was still no answer. "Well, if you won't answer me, you're going to have to hear what I've got to say anyway."

Harry slouched down with his back against the door and began to speak very slowly and carefully "Hermione, I know this must be really difficult for you, but hiding away isn't going to make this go away. I know how it feels to not have any parents, but you should know that I will always be here for you if you need to talk or if you just need me for some support. And if you don't need me for anything, I would really appreciate it if you would come out because I...I...I miss you. I miss you a lot. School just isn't the same without you."

Harry sat up slowly and started to count in his head. 5-4-3-2-Hermione opened the door slowly. She stood up straight and stared into his eyes, her eyes red, bloodshot and puffy from hours of crying. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. She pulled him closer to her, muttering words of thanks into his shoulder. Harry held her tight and let the tears come.

*

Harry and Hermione walked to the first Defence Against The Dark Arts class of the year, not knowing who the new teacher was. He stopped Hermione outside the door of the classroom.

"Hermione, you should know I meant every word of what I just said." Harry looked into her eyes, hoping to find some sense of what the girl was feeling.

Hermione nodded, her eyes still glistening with tears, as she gave Harry a smile and stepped into the classroom. Harry knew that people would want to know where she'd been and he was very protective of his hurting friend. Neither of them were surprised by the stares their classmates met them with as they came through the doorway. Taking her hand, Harry walked Hermione over to the desk where Ron was sitting and they sat down together to wait for their new teacher.

"Hermione?" Ron said quietly. "I'm sorry about what I said to you earlier, I didn't mean what I said." Hermione looked up and gave him a weak smile and a small nod of acceptance.

The next minute, the classroom door swung open and a familiar man stepped through the door. Harry's face lit up as he recognized the professor before him. "Professor Lupin?" he said.

"Correct. Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore asked me if I would care to rejoin his staff and I accepted. I bet you're all shocked aren't you, a Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher lasting more than one year?

"I know you're also wondering why I'm back? After all, last time you saw me I had been framed as a werewolf. But I assure you that you are perfectly safe and as long as you never catch me under a full moon you have absolutely nothing to worry about."

The students chuckled, but some in the class looked nervous. Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins scowled as they watched on. Professor Lupin ignored their titters and continued.

"Obviously, this lesson is going to be very important this year with the War and everything, so throughout the year we will be learning some more spells which will help you to defend yourself. Or, in other words, beat your opponent to a pulp. Today's spell is called the Ferano Armbre spell. If you are wondering what the spell does, I will show you. Harry, if you would please join me up here."

Harry got up a little apprehensively.

"Nothing to worry about, Harry." Lupin moved Harry directly in front of him about two metres apart. He raised his wand, pointing it straight at Harry and shouted "Ferano Armbre." A blast of yellow sparks shot at Harry and twisted themselves up his arms and then disappeared with a bang. Harry looked himself up and down trying to see the effect of the spell but nothing happened. "Good work, Mr Potter."

Lupin pulled out his hand offering to shake Harry's. Harry wanted to shake it but his arms didn't. He tried to make them move but they just would not budge. "Now you know what the spell does. Your opponent will lose complete use of his arms for one minute."

"Right. Mr. Potter, if you would care to sit down while you wait for your arms to heal we will continue to try the Ferano Armbre spell on a partner." Lupin walked over to Hermione and looked her directly in the eyes. His eyes were soft and he gave her a caring sigh. "Hermione I understand that this is a tough time for you so I will leave it up to you as to whether or not you participate today."

"Thank you Professor," she said as she looked up at him with a smile. Hermione decided to participate with the rest of the class using Ron as her partner as Harry was still recovering. Harry was then unfortunately stuck with the one student without a partner. Neville Longbottom. Neville pointed his wand up at Harry and muttered the spell. A blast of yellow sparks flew out of the end of his wand but did not hit Harry. Instead they went completely passed him and hit Dean Thomas square on the back causing him to drop his wand to the ground as he lost control of his arms.

"Oh nice one Neville," sighed Dean. Harry walked over to Neville.

"Come on Neville, I know you can do it remember last year's DA lessons? You got better then so you can get better now." Harry stepped back. "Now try again."

Neville again pointed his wand at Harry. This time the spell went straight at Harry and wrapped around his body, his arms freezing. "Well done Neville," Harry muttered. After many more minutes of practicing the spell the lesson finally drew to a close.

Ron walked over to Harry. "I'm off to work on some tactics to improve my Quidditch keeping even more, do you want to come along?" he asked.

Harry glanced over at Hermione and then back at Ron. "No, I'll hang around for a bit, you go ahead." Ron dashed out of the class.

Harry looked at Professor Lupin, starting to say something, but Lupin cut him off abruptly. "Sorry Harry but I must be off I have some papers to mark, we'll have a chat soon about Sir...you know...stuff." Lupin left the room leaving Harry and Hermione alone.

Harry smiled at Hermione. "So Hermione what did you want to do? We have a couple of hours off now," asked Harry.

"Oh I don't know I haven't really thought about anything other than my parents," she replied quickly.

"I know it must be difficult for you Hermione." Harry said softly. "Do you want to go for a walk by the lake? It will be quiet there and the fresh air might do you good."

"Sure," replied Hermione, a smile developing on her face.

*

The sun shone down brightly on Harry and Hermione and this brought Harry to notice just how beautiful Hermione's shiny brown hair was. He stared at it for a while as they continued to walk on.

"Harry what are you looking at?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Oh, um, just the sun," Harry said. He could feel himself blushing. They came to a circle of trees dotted with purple and yellow flowers with a hidden away bench inside. The bench was perched underneath a tall stone arch, which had flowers dangling over the sides of it. Harry led Hermione in and they sat down together on the bench staring into the clear blue sky.

"Harry, how did you find this place?" Hermione asked.

"I found it one day when I was flying around Hogwarts on my Firebolt, I find it a good place to escape from the school for a while. I thought you might like it."

"It's beautiful," answered Hermione.

"So, Hermione how are you?"

Hermione sighed and held her head in her hands. "Not as bad as I was, I just feel so alone and deserted. I know it sounds silly but sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be here because my parents aren't."

"That doesn't sound strange at all Hermione, I've often thought that about myself."

Harry noticed the tears rolling down Hermione's cheek; he put his arm around her and pulled her to him in a warm embrace. "You're such a great friend Harry," she said.

Harry whispered gently into her ear. "I'll always be here for you, Hermione."