Fury Little Problem {A Harry Potter Fanfic}

Chapter Twenty-Seven: War on three front

Harry and Hermione were on their first late night patrol as Prefects for the year. They were fortunate enough to be the last nightly patrol for the week, which meant that they were patrolling on the weekend and didn't have to worry about classes the next day.

All and all, they had a very successful run, they managed to help one Hufflepuff first year find his way back to his common room, collect some lost school books before taking them to Professor McGonagall, and finally had managed to find a potential prank that the Twins had planted. Harry had wanted to leave the prank there, seeing as he was the Twins' secret endorser, but a glare from Hermione hade shut him right up.

They continued their patrol down into the dungeons, Marauder's Map in hand, and noticed noises coming from a nearby broom closet. They double-checked the map first, before Hermione opened the door on the two Slytherins inside.

"Come on Davis, Zabini," with a flourish of her arm, the two quickly exited the cupboard with reddened faces, "This is the second time we caught you two this week, we're going to have to deduct points for this." The both Blaise and Tracey's faces quickly dropped into glares at both Harry and Hermione, but by this point, the two of them were used to it. "25 points from Slytherin. Now go back to your dorms." Harry watched the map to make sure that they went back to the Slytherin common room, before continuing their patrol.

After deducting points from the couple, they were making their way out of the Dungeons when Hermione noticed a grin on Harry's face.

"And what may I ask is so funny?" she asked with a faked haughtiness, but her amusement was clear in her voice. Harry turned towards her, mirth dancing in his eyes.

"You like doing this don't you?"

"Of course," she replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "I appreciate the fact that I've been given this responsibility and feel as though I have to use it. Why do you ask?"

The grin on his face didn't diminish one bit. "It's just that, you take yourself so seriously that I think you need to loosen up every once in a while. You're going to drive yourself spare once O.W.L.S. start."

Hermione considered his words carefully. She initial wanted to rebuke his claim, but when she thought about it, she had to admit that he may be right. She remembered how she had nearly ran out of gas in Third year when she had the time-turner and realized that she didn't want a repeat of it.

"I guess you may have a point Harry. I'll try my best." She looked Harry in the eye as se said this and could see the pride and affection that were behind his emerald irises. His gaze was so penetrating that she had to look away for a few seconds as a flush spread through her cheeks. Once she had regained her natural color, she turned to continue their patrol, soft footsteps behind her indicating that Harry was not far behind.

They ventured on in a companionable silence, allowing Harry to reflect on how different this year was, even after one week.

Flashback

Dumbledore rose to his feet to deliver his welcome back speech as he did every year. He went through the list of banned items as he did every year and told the new students that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. It seemed as though the speech was going as it always had, but Harry couldn't help but notice two details. Hagrid wasn't at the Professor's table and there were two new faces sitting there. He swore that the one witch that vaguely resembled a toad looked oddly familiar.

"This year we have two changes in staff. Firstly," Dumbledore motioned to his left towards a very official looking man, "I ask you to welcome Professor Isaac Warren, whom the Ministry has kindly appointed to help fill in as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." The applause for the man was subdued at best, it was obvious that he felt affronted by his response if the scowl on his face was anything to go by.