It Could Have Gone That Way; A Harmione Fanfiction

Chapter 30: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

"Professor! Professor Lupin!" Harry and Hermione sprinted down the corridor on the final weekend before the Christmas holidays. They had had a rather lengthy conversation during their bedpan-cleaning detention the previous evening regarding dementors, and had both agreed that they should ask Professor Lupin to mentor them on how best to fight them.

"Harry, Hermione. What a pleasant surprise. Just returned from Hogsmeade, I assume?"

"No, sir," Hermione shot Harry a glare,"we didn't get our permission slips signed, so we shouldn't be going."

Harry avoided looking either of them in the eyes. Ever since Hallowe'en - when Harry and Hermione had snuck into Hogsmeade and found out about Sirius Black in the Three Broomsticks - Harry had been sneaking out with Ron every Hogsmeade weekend, much to Hermione's disapproval. She would constantly lecture him that he shouldn't be going with Black at large, and that he'd only get himself in trouble. Frustrated and desperate for a taste of the Wizarding World outside of school, Harry had gone with Ron each time, despite her protests.

Lupin cleared his throat,"I suspect you would like something from me?"

"Um...yes. Professor, we were wondering if you could teach us both how to perform the Patronus charm. Just in case the dementors decide to...you know..." Hermione stuttered.

"I'm not sure," Lupin sounded thoughtful,"it's a very tricky spell to perform...but, seeing as the dementors took a specific liking to you both...yes, perhaps that would be a good idea. All right. We can begin on the first Thursday after Christmas and continue every Thursday evening after that, if that suits you both."

"It does, thank you, Sir." Harry replied gratefully.

"No problem, Harry." Lupin smiled, turning to Hermione,"If you'd like, you can work with your Boggart again as well as the dementors. I shall let you go now, but you should both have a think about Hermione's boggart over Christmas. See if you can come up with anything by our first Patronus lesson." Lupin looked slightly apologetic as he walked away, and Harry suspected he had already guessed the Boggart's meaning.

As soon as Lupin was out of earshot, Hermione rounded on Harry,"I can't believe you went to Hogsmeade again! All you're doing is putting yourself in more danger than necessary."

Harry started towards the common room hurriedly. To his annoyance, Hermione strode alongside him.

"What if Black was waiting for you in the Honeydukes cellar? What if you climbed out, turned around and he was there, waiting to kill you?" She looked furious,"Think about it. Sneaking out, Harry. And for what? Sweets? Toys? Butterbeer?" Hermione questioned him as the pair climbed through the portrait hole,"What are you trying to achieve? What are you getting out of going there?"

"Oh," Harry said loudly, stopping in his tracks,"I don't know, maybe some freedom from all the worrying about what might happen if Black finds me. Maybe a glimpse at being normal wouldn't hurt me once in a while!" He regretted his words as soon as he said them,"Hermione...I-"

Hermione's nostrils flared,"Harry, this isn't just about you. I respect that you want to be normal and I respect that you aren't likely to have that chance handed to you on a golden platter, but just think of what you would do to everyone who cares about you if you went and got yourself killed by Black. Just think!"

Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil giggled from across the room.

"Uh..." Ron stepped in between the pair,"...hi. Don't you think you're both taking this a tiny bit too far? I mean, Harry, you need to chill out, and Hermione, you need to leave Harry alone."