Moments in Love

Another Step Closer to Death

As March rapidly approached, the weather became drier and biting winds buffeted those who ventured onto the grounds beyond the walls of the castle. Harry felt the ominous prickling in his scar which told him that Voldemort was still brooding - his mood darkening. But waking up in Hermione's embrace every morning made all the difference in the world; Harry supposed he was feeling rather well, all things considered.

The Third Task was months away - not till June 24th - and Professor Moody had given them both a week off from training. And though a few Slytherins and some others had taken to quoting Skeeter's article at every opportunity and sniggering, things with the rest of the school populace didn't seem quite as bad as Harry had thought they would be after the piece in Witch Weekly had made the rounds.

Harry spotted some third and fourth year girls looking at him, dawdling coquettishly as they hovered nearby in the drafty corridor, batting their eyelashes and striking curve enhancing poses, seemingly trying to make themselves more noticeable and alluring as they had preceding the Yule Ball. Some even seemed to be giving Hermione the friendliest looks he'd ever seen them give her. Hermione giggled at Harry's bewildered expression.

"I think they're hoping to be enticed into our 'Secret Harem,' Harry," she whispered as they passed by the group of vamping girls. Harry shook his head in amazement and grinned.

Dora glanced at the girls as she followed at a distance behind the Potters, chortling at their disappointed expressions when Harry and Hermione didn't stop and offer them drinks surreptitiously laced with Love Potions.

It wasn't all fun and games for everyone though - Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode had ended up in the hospital wing for an afternoon after mysteriously coming down with something which had caused them both to uncontrollably scratch themselves in their private regions and moan loudly during lunchtime. Faces blazing with embarrassment, they had both fled the Great Hall, leaving their lunches untouched.

Parvati and Lavender fell into a fit of hysterical giggles. Harry and Hermione glanced past Lavender and Parvati at Ginny and Luna, who were whispering and grinning at each other - seeming quite pleased with themselves. Fred and George were regarding their younger sister and her Ravenclaw friend with a mixture of awe and pride, and not a small bit of trepidation.

"I'd be cautious around those two, if I were you," George said pointedly to Fred.

"I thought you were me," Fred retorted, eyebrows raised.

"Oh... right!" George grinned.

Another who seemed to be in disgrace was Justin Finch-Fletchley, who had been frog-marched up to the Gryffindor table by Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot and forced to apologise to Harry and Hermione.

"I'm sorry," said the curly haired Hufflepuff boy earnestly, "I didn't mean anything by it - really! I've known since the end of Second Year that you're alright, Potter. That reporter just waylaid me near the greenhouses one day... I didn't know she'd been banned from Hogwarts. All I told her was that you were a Parselmouth - that's it - that's all I told her... I swear!"

"It's alright Fletchley," said Harry sincerely. "We're square... I didn't really think you did it on purpose."

"Harry's right - we understand completely... Skeeter's just a shrewish scheming harridan who will twist anyone's words to suit her story!" Hermione added, smiling kindly at Justin.

Justin departed, making a note to himself to look up the word 'harridan' whenever he got a chance. Neville blushed furiously when Hannah gave him a winning smile as she and Susan returned to the Hufflepuff table. Susan noticed Dean admiring her red hair and grinned at him.