Wild Side

"WHAT?" Hermione had feigned a look of disbelief on her face, and sat down in an armchair.

"Hermione, we've known for ages, we -" Ron was trying his best to reason with her but it wasn't working, the fireworks had begun.

"How can you say that? All these years he's hated us! And you think I'd just forget about that?" her voice faltered slightly, she was still trying to keep the lie going. Malfoy tell you to do that as well? Scarhead and Weasel won't guess eh? They're too thick for you? Harry thought furiously. A small glass object at the other end of the Common Room exploded. Ron tried again.

"Don't try and hide it Hermione. We know. You think we haven't noticed, the looks, the late nights, the way you act around him now..."

"But...but..." Hermione was seemingly struggling to come up with an answer to defend herself. "So what's it to you about the late nights? I've been in the library. I'm always in the library you know that! And what looks? Honestly if anyone's having late nights it's you two and now your probably hallucinating! How exactly do I look at him? Like he's a worthless piece of slime maybe but..."

"Hermione, listen to yourself! I haven't heard you lie so much since...well...I haven't heard you lie so much. You can't have been in the library every night because you never come back with books anymore! And..." Hermione cut off Ron.

" I never come back with books anymore because there's nothing good to read anymore! I've read the good books now!"

" That's a lie and you know it is. You're always used to say the Hogwarts library was the best place for books besides Flourish and Blotts! The library hasn't let you down!" Harry looked up darkly.

"Yes it has! Remember in fourth year? We couldn't find anything for the Second Task?" She jumped up from her chair "The library let me and you down and that nearly had fatal results!"

"But the book had been in the library until Crouch took it out! It was in my dormitory! Hermione please just tell us the truth! We already know the truth so there is no point of this. Look I know I can't stop you, heaven knows who can, but we're not doing this because we're jealous. It's because we care about you."

"If you cared then you wouldn't interfere!"

"So there is something going on then?"

"I never said...Oh forget it you two are just...urgh!"

"Can't you see? Are you really that blind? He's turning you into something you're not and can't you see the effect it's having on you? On us? Besides, I thought you had standards Hermione. I suppose I thought wrong." Hermione had now changed tack immediately.

"So I'm going out with Malfoy. That upset you does it? Yeah? Well stay out of it, it's nothing to do with you." Harry reached for her again "No. Leave me alone." She ran upstairs, and they heard a door slam. Ron slumped into a chair.

"Well," he said looking up at Harry "That went to plan." Harry rolled his eyes at Ron and decided to go up the merry hills of Bedfordshire to see the blanket show.

Next morning, Hermione went straight to the Slytherin table, murmurs and heads turning followed her. Ginny leant over to Lavender, their heads bent in furious discussion. Harry poked Lavender in the back.

"So? What's new then?" Lavender looked at him for a second, then at Ginny, "Alright, I'll tell you. Just don't poke me."

"Well?" Ron had joined the conversation.

"She's really upset with you two. I mean, you must've either found out something or said something because she was going insane at you two! And...phwoar....I never knew you could do that with a hedgehog! So she's decided she's going to stick around with her boyfriend for a bit. My advice is try and stop her, because next thing you know, he could've convinced her to become a..a...a..."

"A what?" Lavender looked around.

"One of them."

"A what?" Harry was now thoroughly befuddled

"Death Eater." Ron bit his lip and lent in towards Lavender further.

"So what's your advice, oh Wise One? Stop her? How do you plan on doing that exactly?"

"Maybe I could pretend to be all matey with Malfoy, and somehow convince her what she's doing is wrong. I'm not sure how but I'll give it my best shot."

"And then there's the fact that you fancy Malfoy..."

"Put a sock in it you." Harry smiled for what seemed like the first time in days.

"Come on children, Transfiguration next."

The Terrific Trio ran in to Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws two minutes before the bell and squabbling over who got to sit next to Seamus. "I'm his girlfriend."

" And I need to discuss Quidditch tactics!" Harry grabbed Lavender's waist as she ran to sit next to Seamus. He began to tickle her, and she reached for Dean's hand as he walked past.

"Dean! Save me that space next to Seamus! NO! DON'T SIT THERE! HE'S MINE!" Dean turned to Seamus.

"You certainly are in demand today!" Grumbling, Harry, Lavender and Ron all sat on a row together. Hermione came skidding in mere seconds before McGonagall. She pulled her stuff out and sat down in the row in front of the Terrible Trio.

Professor McGonagall noted the new seating arrangements, but decided against interfering. She pulled out her register and began to call out the names.

"Lavender Brown."

"Here Professor."

"Mandy Brockl-" Professor Lupin running in cut her short.

"Sorry to interrupt Professor, but I have a missing student. Do you know where Draco Malfoy could've got to? And before you ask, I've tried Professors Snape, Sprout, Sinistra, Hagrid, Flitwick, Hooch and Vector." McGonagall shook her head. Lupin sighed and rolled his eyes. He turned to the Gryffindors. They all gave him blank looks.

"Do any of you know were Malfoy is. I know it's unlikely but, you never know."

A row behind her, Harry saw Hermione lower her head. Lavender spoke up.

"We don't know sir. Sorry." Lupin sighed and shook his head.

"Don't worry, I'm not blaming any of you. See you later in Defence Against The Dark Arts." And with that, he marched off.

Professor McGonagall finished the register and began the lesson. Today was a practical lesson, and they were changing kiwi birds into kiwi fruits. Harry' s mind was straying away from his bird, which landed him in it with McGonagall.

"Mr. Potter, unless my eyes are deceiving me, am I right in saying that your kiwi bird has turned into a carrot? A carrot. Stop laughing Mr. Weasley," Ron was unsuccessfully fighting off a fit of the giggles. "It's not a laughing matter. Please, concentrate Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter?"

"Wha- oh sorry, yeah, concentrate. Kiwi fruit into bird. No! Bird into fruit!" Harry set about turning his carrot into a kiwi fruit. Hermione swung round.

"Want some help?" She looked at him hopefully. Harry shrugged, avoiding her eyes. "Never mind." She turned around again. Harry looked dispiritedly at his carrot. He picked it up and toyed with it. Well carrot, he thought, it's just you and me now I suppose. How d'you fancy the exotic look, eh? Harry sat and stared at his carrot.

"I wish I was like you." Ron turned around

"Me?"

"I mean you just have to worry about being orange and full of vitamin A. Lucky carrot."

"Harry? Harry?" Ron waved a hand in front of his eyes, "You're talking to a carrot..."

"And? I hear you talking to the spiders that haunt your dreams." Ron flushed a colour that oddly matched the carrot Harry was tossing about in his hands.

At the end of the lesson Harry packed away his stuff and was just about to head for the door when something fell in front of his face. He picked it up. It was a piece of parchment. Harry picked it up and unscrewed it a little bit, looking to see if he recognized the handwriting. It was Hermione's. Harry looked out of the corner of his eye; she was hovering hopefully by the door. Harry shoved the note into his pocket, and breezed past Hermione. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but soon closed it again. Harry was in one of his moods. She would have to stick it out. Things with Draco weren't looking so sweet now she'd lost Harry. Hermione closed her eyes and lent back against the door.

"Men." She sighed.

"Women." Muttered Ron as Hermione sat at the Slytherin table that lunchtime. "Why do they have to be so...so...stubborn and...Hermione-ish?" Harry shrugged, picking at his food. He pushed his plate away.

"S'matter?" inquired Ron through a mouthful of mashed potato.

"Not hungry. See you in Defense Against the Dark Arts." Ron looked after Harry as he stood up, shrugged and reached for the gravy. Harry made his way out of the Great Hall. As he went past the Slytherin table he heard Hermione call after him. Harry desperately wanted to turn back and yell something back at her but resisted. He lowered his head and carried on walking, oblivious to everyone around him, until he walked into something - or more accurately, someone.

"Err...."

"Harry! Where are you going?" Lupin's wolfish face was looking at Harry in quite a scrutinizing way.

"Nowhere professor, I swear. I just need to go for a walk."

"Ok." Harry smiled briefly and walked on. "Harry?" he turned "The grounds are that way." And with a smile Lupin strolled past. Harry smiled grimly to himself.

Harry eventually arrived at the lake. He sat by the edge of the water, silently trying to understand his life. He stood up, picked up a stone and threw it into the lake. He did it again and again, and then when he picked up the fourth stone he threw it in and screamed. "I hate you." Harry's face, pale with cold and anger, darkened. "I hate you, I hate this, and I hate everything!" He yelled at the top of his lungs "I hate you but most of all I hate me! I hate this!" Tears prickled in the back of his eyes, Harry shut them tightly. He wasn't going to cry, Harry never cried. He reached up and touched the scar on his forehead. Voldemort, it all came back to Voldemort. If Voldemort had died when his mother did then the world would be so different. It wouldn't matter that Draco was going out with Hermione. The school wouldn't be so divided. A bell rang in the distance somewhere. Harry trudged back up to the school.

Harry slunk into his next lesson and threw his bag on the floor next to Ron's.

"So here's that bundle of joy I've missed." Harry looked at him witheringly. He threw himself in a chair and began to pull his books out of his bag. He sat back in his chair and waited for another person to come into the room. Suddenly Parvati rushed in, spotted Harry and Ron and dashed over.

"You will not believe what I just saw! I..."

"Parvati I believe your seat is over in that direction?"

"Yes Professor." She walked over to her desk and dumped her bag. Looking back at Harry and Ron she mouthed something about telling them at lunch. Professor Lupin smiled at the few people that had arrived early to his lesson. He opened his mouth as if to ask Harry and Ron something, but quickly shut it again. Harry knew what he wanted to know.

"I think she's in the library Professor." Damn you Hermione, Harry thought bitterly, I still have to lie for you. Hermione rushed into the classroom.

"Sorry Professor I was in...."

"The library?" Hermione looked at Harry, and he nodded towards Lupin.

"Oh ... yes that's where I was." Lupin smiled at went back to his work. Hermione walked past Ron and Harry, mouthing two words, thank you. Anytime, thought Harry.
"Today's lesson, Acromantula's." Harry felt Ron slide down the chair in the seat next to him. "How to combat them, spells only." Ron perked up a bit. Professor Lupin took out Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and read out the description to them.

"Now," he said putting the book down, "Acromantula's are believed to be colonizing in the Forbidden Forest. We aren't about to jump out there and go after them straight away, because unlike other practical lessons this one will be highly dangerous, but as you've probably heard before, Dumbledore has a higher opinion of your nerve and ability. He thinks you can do this, and so do I. We are planning on going out to the Forbidden Forest and hunting for this colony. That's hunting for the colony, not the colony itself. You can of course refuse to do this; there'll be a list coming round in all of next weeks Defense Against The Dark Arts lessons so you have a week to decide. The actual "trip" won't happen for at least a month yet. It will take place in daylight and several teachers will be present. That's all I know as of yet. Any questions?" Not a hand was raised. They were stunned that something this dangerous was permitted to go on at Hogwarts.

"No questions?" Lupin repeated. Hermione waved her hand in the air. "Yes Hermione?"

"Please Professor, will other houses come with us at the same time?" Ron rolled his eyes and Harry's hands balled into fists.

"I'm afraid I don't know..." Lupin picked up a piece of parchment and scanned it quickly.

"Oh, ok professor. I just wondered." Harry started to see red for the third time so far.

"Any other quest...Ron?" Ron put his hand down.

"Harry's glasses have just smashed sir."

"How? Oh never mind. Oculus Reparo." Lupin pointed his wand in the direction of Harry's face.

"Thank you Professor." Harry straightened his glasses. Hermione glanced at him. She knew his glasses had only exploded once before, last year, when Cho Chang wouldn't go out with him. And that must mean....

No.

No way.

Harry wouldn't.

He couldn't!

Could he?