Fight For Her

Fight For Her

Chapter 3

Mirrors, Rabbits and Rape.

"Honeydukes!" Both Ron and Harry said, as they pulled their bags and themselves into the fireplace.

The swirling colours around them almost blurred the images of the various fireplaces whizzing past. After only a few moments they finally fell through a cosy looking fireplace with a thud. They sat and shook off the colours and dizziness, then kicked their bags aside to stand and straighten themselves out. In front stood Dean, Seamus, Parvati and Lavender standing in a group being spoken to by Rufus. They were all excited, and were talking with Rufus about the new treats at Honeydukes. His face glowed with the conversation of his favourite subject. Harry overheard them speaking.

"Oh yes! And two barrels of Chocolate frogs, the Cockroach clusters were running low so I am expecting the arrival any moment. I've also sent an order of all the teachers favourites for the next two chaotic weeks of rebuilding!"

Ron heaved his bag along and went to join the conversation, turning once to gesture Harry to join. But Harry was looking around the room. His eye caught many unusual things in the distance from himself to the conversation. There was a large mirror with a glistening, frosted frame. It sparkled in the light from a huge lamp in the shape of a frog. It seemed to be made of terracotta and held its arms up and fingers wide flat. In its hands was a pool of water and floating candles of many shapes bumped and collided with one another, lighting up the room with joyous light. He was sure he heard the candles giggle when collided. But then his eyes met another curious being. There dashing from the hall on Harry's' left was Dobby! Not only Dobby but also another small house elf he did not know.

"Dobby! I wasn't expecting to see you here!" He said in surprise.

Dobby leapt up and grabbed his hand.

"Dobby is camping with Harry Potter, Sir! Mr Dumbledore says to Dobby to pick out two reliable house elves for each house. Dobby chosed Gryffindor with Harry Potter!" He began hopping again.

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh okay, so why are you here? And who's your friend Dobby?" He asked as timidly as he could so as to appear friendly with this other house elf. Dobby was enjoying question time.

"This is Tibbar, Harry Potter. Tibbar will be with Gryffindor too." Tibbar gave a huge grin from his wide face. He looked very similar to Dobby, apart from his rugby ball shaped head and his stained pillowcase. Obviously, Tibbar wasn't one of Dobby's 'converted friends' to freedom. "Mr Dumbledore says that we's are to help the teacher in camp with Gryffindor." He stopped hopping at the look on Harry's face. This wasn't an aspect Harry was expecting.

"Of course a teacher was going to come, Harry." Came the smooth voice of Hermione behind him. Harry turned to see her now fully dressed and smiling in excitement.

"Miss Grangie!" Dobby called. He gave a little jump and hugged her legs. "Hello, Dobby. You know you need not be here. It's wrong they have sent you to watch over us as well as a teacher. You could have used this as a break."

Tibbar piped up.

"Rabbit." He squeaked.

Harry and Hermione both paused. Blinked. Then turned to Dobby for translation.

"Tibbar likes rabbits." He said.

"Oh... kay," Harry replied. Dobby nodded in agreement.

"Moving on," came Hermione breaking the silence.

"Could you tell me which teacher is with us, Dobby?"

"Rabbit," squeaked Tibbar again.

"Dobby thinks it is Mrs Trel-inny. Mrs Mag-onall is busy at Hogwarts."

Harry and Hermione both sighed.

"That's not too bad is it?" Harry said grinning.

"Rabbit." Tibbar said again.

They heard the voice of Rufus calling in a friendly growling tone across the room.

"Alright everybody. Let's budge! Go up to Honeydukes through the hall and wait for me there. The Slytherins will be coming through any moment so let's give them room." He turned and led them through the hall.

Everyone dropped conversation, grabbed bags and followed him through. The house elves ran ahead hand in hand to help lead the way and Harry and Hermione walked a little behind. As they passed the mirror Harry turned and saw himself in a very odd situation before. He didn't see his reflection; he saw himself in different clothes. This Harry seemed to be wearing jeans and a NY Red T shirt. Harry didn't even own a NY T shirt! He paused, wondering the possibilities of this magic mirror, when Hermione came into view. She was more gorgeous than ever. She wore a white lace gown, and had small pink flowers in her hair. The gown framed her figure perfectly. But there was one even more unusual point. In the reflection Hermione was completely soaked, as if she had gone in the shower with the beautiful outfit on. Hermione hadn't noticed the mirror and seemed to be growing concerned about the rest of the group being further away. She turned back, took the hand of a rather confused Harry and tagged him along behind her like a puzzled puppy.

* * * * *

Harry was just handing over the five sickles to Rufus to pay for that night's feast of Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Cakes when he heard the distressed voice of Hermione coming from outside the store. Panic hit him like a bullet in his chest. No one else seemed to notice so he shoved everything into Ron's hands, and ran to the front with the confused calls of Ron and Seamus behind him. He ran out of the open door and looked both ways. Pausing for less than a second he ran left slipping on the cobblestone paths. He heard muffled noises like a hand over a mouth, and ran down an alley next to the buildings towards the sound. A moment later he ran directly into Hermione fighting off Crabbe. He took one look at Hermione's panic stricken face, the hand covering it and the other pinning her almost bare chest against the wall and threw the mightiest punch he remembered giving. Crabbe fell to the floor, face coated in blood as Hermione fell in tears into Harry's arms. He looked down at her hair and how tight her quivering arms were holding him. She looked up into his eyes for a moment, and in that second Harry's heart filled with anger. Her face was pale and tear stained. He looked up at Crabbe who had scrabbled to his feet and was wiping blood off with his sleeve while looking at Harry. Harry felt his face eyes shoot threats at him as his hand traveled to the pocket where his wand waited. Crabbe noticed.

"Oh, come on Potter. As if I'd want a mudblood anyway." He began in a confused defence and pushed his way past them. He followed him with his eyes until he was out of sight. Hermione continued her silent crying in his arms and held him tight. She spoke in between heavy, frightened breaths.

"Thank you, Harry... I was so scared. You saved me." The sounds were muffled in sobs of fear.

He stroked her hair and held her tight, making comforting 'shh' noises. "Its alright. He's gone. I'm here with you."

He kissed her forehead lightly, covered her weak body where her clothes had been torn with his jacket, and led her out of the alley to report Crabbe and sort out any cuts and bruises she may have acquired in the her rough and scary encounter.