Hunted AIAOY 3

Chapter 6

The castle, though shook from the break in, rebounded quickly.  The winter weather was beginning and snow had already blanketed the grounds the day of the first Hogsmeade trip.

Rebecca grinned at Harry, pulling her hat down enough that it covered the tops of her ears as the third years submitted their permission slips before the carriages left.  Hermione had qualms about taking an entire day away from Buckbeak research, but Hagrid forbid them from missing Hogsmeade to work further.

Fred and George had been true to Fred's word, helping every opportunity they could.  But they too were greatly anticipating showing their friends all around Hogsmeade.

Professor McGonagall tapped her wand to the stack of signed slips in her hand, frowning as one flew out.  "Harry Potter?"  Harry's head shot up.  "Plagarised signatures do not grant access to Hogsmeade."

The class turned and watched as Harry stepped forward, McGonagall's rebuke entirely public.  "But professor-"

"No 'buts.'  You're lucky I don't assign detentions."  Minerva looked over her glasses at him, silencing anymore reasons.  It pained her to see him so deeply saddened, it really wasn't his fault, but she knew it would be easier to keep an eye on a single Potter than the two.

Besides, trouble truly did seem to seek them both out wherever they went.

Harry went back to Rebecca's side and Rebecca apologised instantly.  "I'm so sorry, Harry.  I didn't think-I had no idea she'd charm-check them."

Harry shook his head.  As sad as he was to not go to Hogsmeade, he couldn't have her be sad before she went.  "How could you have?  It's alright."

Hermione snorted, thinking he was joking.  "How could you have known a professor at a school for magic would use magic?  I don't know..."  Her voice trailed away as Harry and Rebecca looked at her blankly, finding no humour in the situation.

"It's alright, Harry."  Rebecca hurried, trying to think of a backup plan.  "Maybe we can go play Quidditch.  Oliver'll unlock the room if we tell him we'll train and-"

"Don't be mental.  You've been going on about Zonko's for ages."  Harry sighed, looking up to the castle.  "I'll be fine.  Probably start that Potions essay, take a trip up to see Hedwig, I'll be busy."

Harry and Rebecca went back and forth a few more times as he walked with the others to the carriages, she trying to convince him they could do something together and Harry trying to tell her she couldn't not go because of him.

"Bring me back some licorice wands and I'll hardly notice you were gone."  Harry said at last, waving as Fred and George joined them.  Only one carriage remained.  "Go on, you don't want to be the last ones now."

Harry turned and left, not wanting to stand and watch them leave him.  

Fred and George, in a moment of complete synchronicity, nodded to one another.  They knew what they were going to do.  "Stall two minutes, forgot something!"

Ron got into the last carriage, sitting down and sighing.  Who knows what they forgot or how long it would take them to come back?

Hermione and Rebecca had no idea how to stall a carriage driver.  Hermione sighed.  "What does this do?"

Question after question, the driver answered.  Just as he was to tell them that they needed to go if they were to go to Hogsmeade, Fred and George appeared and dove into the carriage with red-faces.

Ron snorted, raising his voice in a poor imitation of Hermione.  "How many calories does the average horse need to pull a load of students?  Two horses?  How does inclimate weather factor into these figures?"