The Bond of the Links

Chapter 7

'Wonder what they are talking about,' Ron said, as Harry wrote an essay about how crushed spider legs could be used to make Exultiserum, a happiness potion. How spider legs could make anyone happy was beyond Harry's comprehension, and the distraction was welcome. Ron, for one, had left the essay for last, revolted by the fact that the thing he hated most could actually make him happy. That was like saying that Malfoy's smirk could make him jump with joy.

'Dunno. It looks like Hermione is searching for something. Looks like they found it,' Harry said, looking over at Hermione's excited face. He couldn't help noticing the way her curls bounced about her flushed face when she got excited. He was hoping she would catch his eye, but she continued talking to Shalimar, stomping all over his prayers.

He shook his head and returned to his work.

'You like her,' Ron's voice came out of nowhere.

'Huh? What? Who?' Harry asked, momentarily confused.

Ron rolled his eyes and smirked. 'Hermione, who else?'

Harry's eyes widened. 'N-no! Of-of course not! What made you think that? Strictly friend. You know- friend not girlfriend,' he sputtered, going red

Ron snorted. 'Now there's denial for you.'

'Oh shut up! You were the one with a crush on her a year ago. I wouldn't want to interrupt that, would I?' Harry quipped, rolling his eyes at Ron's lame comment.

'I don't have a crush on her. Not anymore. If you get her, well... lucky you,' Ron said with a slight hint of bitterness to his voice. Harry stared at him. He had a slightly hurt expression on his face. Noticing his expression, Ron backtracked.

'Sorry...it's just that-' Ron said before Harry cut him off.

'Do you really think I want all this? It'd be different if I were famous for being in some Quidditch team, like Krum. I would want that. At least the attention would be less. It's not the same when you have defeated the most feared Dark Wizard for a century, four times. All I ever wanted was a nice family.

'You have no idea how it feels. You want to be in my place? I would switch places in a matter of seconds. But I can't. In a way, I'm glad. I wouldn't want anyone else going through what I have and will have to,' Harry said quietly. Ron had the decency to look abashed.

'Sorry Harry. It's just that sometimes I feel overshadowed by my brothers. I feel like some measly sidekick. It's always you who gets the attention,' Ron said.

'Don't give me that crap. Who nearly sacrificed himself in the chess game in first year? Who was brave enough to come into the Chamber with me? Who volunteered to be chained to Wormtail to ensure that he didn't escape? Who helped me with my tasks in the tournament? You. I couldn't have done anything without your and Hermione's support.'

Ron grinned. 'Comes back to Hermione doesn't it? Let's go. It's lunchtime and I'm starving.' Harry groaned.

The day passed pleasantly. The five friends played chess and Exploding Snap in the common room. They soon went down to dinner, laughing on the way at something Ginny was saying. They found a large group of students milling around the Entrance Hall. They joined them and waited for the doors to the Great Hall to open. Harry saw Malfoy and his cronies enter the Entrance Hall. Malfoy was looking very pissed. The reason was evident.

'Drake! Wait for me! Hey! Listen to me!' Pansy Parkinson's 'sweet' voice drifted from the corridor.

Shalimar snorted in disbelief. 'Honestly. She's going to end up killing all the boys she likes with that attitude of hers.'

'The poor lost souls wandered the earth searching for the true love of their lives,' Ron said in a misty voice. Everyone who heard him cracked up. Malfoy's face went, if possible, even more sour. At that moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened, treating them with the delicious smells of dinner.

'Does she always act like that?' Shalimar asked, still sniggering as they sat at the Gryffindor table.

'You should have seen her at the Yule Ball last year,' answered Ginny, doling chicken casserole onto each of their plates. Ron snorted into his cup of pumpkin juice.

'Yeah. She was clinging to him as if he would run away if she didn't,' he said.

'Which he probably would have,' Harry seriously. Looking at the Slytherin table, they saw Malfoy trying desperately (and unsuccessfully) to shut Pansy up. By this time, they had the attention of the whole school.

'Wonder what's got into her. She's never like this usually,' Shalimar said. 'Maybe they're betrothed,' she added with a wicked grin. Harry and Ron gagged.

'You know, I'm beginning to pity Malfoy,' Ron said clutching his stomach. The girls giggled. Seamus and Dean, who were sitting next to Ron and Harry, had similar expressions on their faces.

Dinner was an amusing event, what with Shalimar making snide comments about the Slytherins and the Weasley twins telling them about their latest inventions. Harry looked around and savoured the feeling. He couldn't help feeling happy with his friends around him and his godfather sitting right across the hall. Nothing could spoil his happiness and he pitied anyone who did.

***

The days seemed to whiz by. Every day was fun in one way or the other, even with Snape berating them for forgetting how to make a Remembrance Potion. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, they were just ending their lessons on trying to block out curses. Few people had managed it so far. Shalimar and Harry did it with ease and Ron and Hermione were getting quite good at it. To everyone's surprise, Sirius said that he would place the Cruciatus Curse on selected people.

'Out of all the Unforgivables, Avada Kedavra is the only one that is unblockable. Unless you dodge it, of course. Anyway, I will place a VERY mild curse on you. If you feel even the slightest pain, cry out. The people who I will curse are Ron, Harry and Shalimar.'

The three went forward, and Ron went first, shaking from head to foot.

'Crucio!' Sirius said in a soft voice.

The concentration on Ron's face was obvious. He was able to block the curse for about half a minute, which was no small feat. His face was flushed in pride, although he winced from the slight pain he had experienced.

Harry went next, feeling like his legs were about to give way underneath him. Hearing Sirius utter the dreaded word, he concentrated hard. He felt nothing. He did not feel any strain or difficulty in throwing of the curse. Sirius lifted it, looking like Christmas had come early, though now it was only a month away.

'Ready to tackle a stronger one?' he asked, catching Harry totally off guard. Not wanting to seem like coward, he nodded.

'You sure?' Sirius asked, seeing his uncertain look. Harry nodded, feeling more confident. The class held its breath, the tension palpable.

'Crucio!' Sirius cried, putting more force into the spell. Harry's mind went strangely numb as he blocked out his feelings. He could feel the power of the spell, but not the effect.

'Well done Harry!' Sirius said, lifting the curse. Harry, still somewhat shocked by what he had managed to do, nodded absently. Shalimar went next. It was apparent that Sirius's curse was as powerful as the one he had thrown at Harry the second time. Shalimar's teeth were gritted in concentration. She was, predictably, successful in throwing of the curse.

Like this, the days whizzed by until the long awaited Christmas holidays arrived. Harry woke up on Christmas Day to find the windowsill covered in snow. The Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Shalimar were the only ones left in Gryffindor tower. Surprisingly, Draco Malfoy was staying too, along with another 1^st Year Slytherin. No Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws were staying. What a jolly holiday it was going to be.

'Oi! Wake up Harry! Ron!' Shalimar and Hermione were standing at the foot of Harry's four-poster. Harry sat up.

'I'm awake. Ron's not though. You know he hates to be disturbed,' he said, a wicked grin on his face. He looked over at Ron's half-open mouth.

The three threw pillows at Ron's overly peaceful face. He woke up with a jolt, shouting about the Chocolate Frogs.

Harry grinned widely. It was going to be a jolly holiday indeed.