Darkness Falls

Twenty Four

1993 - Third Year

"-And then we went to The Three Broomsticks and - OH And Shamus did this thing-"

"Ron you've already told this story." Hermione interrupted Ron as he gave Harry a full update on their trip to Hogsmead, for the third time.

Ron's cheeks flushed as he closed his mouth and gave Harry an apologetic look.

"What did you get up to today then Harry?" Ron asked, changing the subject before he received another scolding from Hermione.

"I went and had tea with Professor Lupin." Harry told them, Hermione raised one of her eyebrows slightly at his answer.

"Oh really? And how was that?" Hermione asked sceptically.

"He knew my mum, and my dad in fact. So it was nice to speak to someone from back then who knew my parents." Suddenly his choice in company for the day made sense to Hermione, although she still couldn't fathom why he would want to spend the whole day of free time with a teacher.

"What do we think of Professor Lupin?" Harry asked his friends.

"He's the most normal teacher we've had yet, he just seems very... down to earth. What you see is what you get with this one." Ron answered whilst reaching for his bag of sweets he'd purchased earlier in the day.

"I'm not sure. I like him, he seems nice enough, but I don't think he's as much of an open book as Ronald may think, I think he's definitely hiding something, I just can't quite think what." Hermione added.

"Do you think perhaps, that might just be because of what we have experienced with the last two DADA teachers?"

"No there's something more. I know we've only had two months with him, but he goes through phases of looking full of life and happy to be here - to looking like he has some huge internal struggle,"

"Struggle with what though?"

"I don't know Harry, that's just it. I'm not sure, its just a feeling I have, as I said, there's just something about him I can't quite put my finger on."

Before her friends could ask her any further questions, the portrait to the common room opened, and a large group of Gryffindors wandered in.

"Told ya they'd be in here." Shamus said to Dean as they wandered over to the sofa opposite where Harry and Hermione sat.

"Look at these Harry." Dean said as he began emptying the contents of his bag, displaying the items he had bought from Hogsmeade.

"Hey." Ginny said quietly to Hermione before taking a seat beside her on the floor.

"Hey, what've you been doing today then?" Hermione asked her friend, turning slightly to face her more, aware that the boys were in a deep conversation about their new toys.

"Nothing much, I just kind of went for a walk, did some work. Nothing exciting." Ginny shrugged before her eyes flicked towards Harry, only briefly, but enough for Hermione to notice.

"Bump into anyone interesting on this walk of yours?" Hermione teased causing Ginny's cheeks to turn pink as she scowled.

"Perhaps,"

"Funny, he didn't mention that you went for a walk, I assume that was at your request?"

Ginny nodded at her before her eyes moved back to Harry briefly, she watched as he laughed along with his friends, his emerald eyes glistening as the sides crinkled, his smile grew wide, flashing an incredible smile that was enough to make Ginny's heart stop.