The Boy Who Fought: OC X Hermione

Cursed

The quartet walked through Hogsmeade, trudging through the deep snow. Carson and Hermione were wearing matching hats she had made for the two when she was learning how to knit.

"For weeks you carry around this book, practically sleep with it... and you have no desire to find out who The Half-Blood Prince is?" Hermione asked, Carson giving Hermione his scarf to keep her warm, after she shivered from the cold.

"I didn't say I wasn't curious. And, by the way, I don't sleep with it." Harry reasoned.

Ron chortled at this, "Yeah right." Harry glared at him as he said it "Well, it's true. I like a nice chat before I go to bed. Now you're always reading that bloody book. It's like being with Hermione and Carson except no kissing." This time, Hermione and Carson glared at him.

"Well, I was curious. So I went to.." Hermione started, going into lecture mode.

"The library." the boys finished her sentence for her.

"And?" Harry asked.

"And... nothing. There's no reference to the Half-Blood Prince anywhere."

"Good. That settles it then."

"Settles what? That's even more fishy. If someone created those spells written in the book, they're most likely dangerous."

Harry started to object when Hagrid made himself known. "Hey, you four!"

Hagrid emerges out of the trees, beard crusted in white, looking like a crazed Father Christmas. Aurors can be seen in the forest, their silhouettes prominent in the trees.

"What've you got there, Hagrid?" Hermione asked, as Hagird opened the bag to reveal a few stink saps.

"Stinksap. Burn the whiskers right off yer chin. Trees 'ere are drippin' with it."

"Stinksap? You're not sick, are you?" Carson asked, worried that Hagrid was not healthy.

"It's not fer me. It's fer Aragog. Yeh remember Aragog, don' yeh?" Hagrid informed.

"Spider? About six feet tall? Ten feet wide?" Ron asked, knowing the spider.

"The one that nearly ate us alive that one time we went into the forest in second year when Hermione was petrified? Yeah I know him." Carson told Hagrid.

"Tha's the one. He's taken ill. I'm hopin' ter nurse 'im back. Keep yer fingers crossed."

Carson and Ron force a smile and nod their heads, both not wanting to make Hagrid sad.

"Barking. Does he not remember that raving arachnid tried to eat us? What?" Ron asked the group once Hagrid went back to the forest.

Carson caught Hermione staring at the aurors again, and he put his arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him.

"The Aurors. I know they're here to protect us, but... somehow I don't feel any safer." Hermione commented.

"Who's up for a butterbeer?" Harry asked, as they all nodded and went into the warm tavern.

They make their way inside and sit in a booth towards the back. Carson and Hermione are seated next to each other, Harry and Ron on the opposite side.

"What'll we have?" The waiter asked the four, as Hermione ordered for them.

"Four Butterbeers. Splash of vanilla in mine and his, please." Hermione ordered, pointing to herself and Carson.

"Bloody hell..." Ron muttered, seeing Ginny and Dean holding hands.

"Oh, honestly, Ronald. They're just holding hands... you've seen worse....And now their snogging." Hermione told him.

"I'd like to leave." Ron told the group.

"Leave? You can't be serious." Carson muttered, and Ron heard him.

"That happens to be my sister."

"So? What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Hermione asked.

"First of all, that will never be happening so don't get any ideas Ronald Weasley." Carson told him while glaring at him.

"Wouldn't dream of it mate."

After that, Slughorn found the group and invited Harry, Carson, and Hermione to a dinner party. Hermione accepted the offer for herself and Carson, much to his anger.

They left the pub, Ron and Harry walking ahead as Carson and Hermione were farther back playing in the snow. They shared a few kisses and Ron was speaking to Harry.

"Bit worried about her. Did you hear that rubbish she was talking back in the pub? Her and me snogging. Ha. As if Carson wouldn't murder me if I did. Plus they're happy so that's that."

"Katie. You don't know what it could be!" Leanne shouted, as Hermione and Carson made their way up to the boys.

"What's Up?" Hermione asked, putting her arm over Carson's shoulder.

At that very instant, Katie Bell rises into the air. Her hair dancing violently in the wind, her face remains eerily horrified. Then she... screams. Harry, Carson, and Ron dash forward and grab her ankles. At their touch, she falls to the snow, thrashing and screaming, eyes rolled up in her skull.

"I warned her! I warned her not to touch it!" Leanne shouted, as Hermione glanced at the package.

"Get back! All o' yeh!" Hagrid shouted, making his way to the group.

He says this so forcefully the others instantly obey his command. Effortlessly, he scoops up Katie's thrashing body and then, as if calming a terrified animal, her eyes went limp and fluttered shut.

"Don' go touchin' tha' but by the wrappin's. Unnerstan'?"

Carson lifted the package with his wand, an ornate opal necklace being seen from the tear in the package.