A/N: I am back, baby! Alright, short chapter but this is going to be picking up steam soon. Anyways, thanks to my Beta, Teufel1987 who made this chapter 20% Cooler. If you get the reference I just made, then you get a cupcake. Please review, it's like an authors crack ha ha! So I now present to you, the return of "The Rise".
Chapter 18
*Great Hall*
6:40 pm
September 2nd
Harry walked into the Great Hall and was immediately ambushed by Hermione, who yelled at the top of her lungs, "HAROLD JAMES POTTER!".
At the sound of his name, Harry sighed and turned around to face the irate witch who had screamed his name. Shaking his head in resignation, he silently walked a fuming Hermione out of the Great Hall.
Five minutes later Harry walked back in with a glaring Hermione and he sat down to eat.
"Hey Neville, how was your day?" he asked the boy as he cut off a piece of steak and ate it.
"It went well, not as exciting as yours but then again you're Harry Potter and excitement finds you no matter what." Neville said and he soon regretted it when Hermione sent him a piercing glare.
"Don't mind her Neville. She is just mad that I put myself in 'unnecessary danger'." Harry told him as he continued to eat, completely ignoring Hermione by this point.
"It was unnecessary! Did you look at how the Headmaster and yourself showed up? I could hardly tell it was you with all that blood!" Hermione yelled at him, gaining the attention of the whole student body.
"Please Hermione, you're being hysterical. Now please refrain from yelling in my ear while I finish eating." Harry said as calmly as he could.
"Why I never! This is the treatment I get for looking out for your safety?" she continued.
"Hermione..." Harry said as his tone became dangerous "If you don't shut up right now and let me enjoy my dinner, I will curse your mouth shut." he said as he shot her his own glare.
"You wouldn't dare." she hissed at him challengingly.
Harry pulled his wand and pointed it at her shocked face. The spell was on his lips when fate intervened.
"Mr. Potter! Put your wand away!" the Deputy Headmistress told him as she stood by the pair.
"10 points from Gryffindor for threatening a fellow classmate. You should be ashamed Mr. Potter, as Head Boy you should be setting a good example." she admonished.
"And 20 points to Gryffindor for effectively shutting up Granger." Snape said with a sneer as he walked by.
"Severus!" McGonagall hissed.
"I have a point Minerva, and you know it!" he said nonchalantly as he walked down the Great Hall and headed for the Head table, followed closely by the angry Scottish woman.
"Ha ha! Even Potter thinks you are annoying!" Ron said from further down the table, his mouth full of half chewed meat. Harry scowled at him and sent the silencing spell at the redhead.
"Shut it, Weasley. I gave Hermione a warning because she is my sister. You on the other hand aren't as lucky. I can forgive her for annoying me because she is looking out for my wellbeing. The same does not go for you." Harry said as McGonagall yelled out from the Head Table.
"50 points from Gryffindor for attacking a student!"
"60 points to Gryffindor for not allowing Weasley to ruin my dinner." Snape drawled as he continued to eat.
"Severus!" McGonagall growled at the Potions Master.
"I can go on all night Minerva." He said as he paid close attention to his plate.
"Enough!" Dumbledore said as he strolled into the Great Hall.
"Harry, control yourself. Miss Granger, let Harry be since he will be quite cranky after our duels. Mister Weasley, I suggest that you stop interfering in other people's business. You might end up getting hurt. Minerva, Severus, quit acting like the children you are supposed to be setting an example for." He said as he lifted the spell from Ron.
"Why you son of a-" Ron was cut short from his tirade as Dumbledore silenced him again.
"On second thought, I like you better like this." The Headmaster said as the hall erupted in laughter at the expense of the youngest Weasley male. The arguments over, Harry just sighed and finished his meal.
"Well, I'm done for the night. Good-bye you two." Harry excused himself as he wiped his mouth with a napkin and threw it on the now empty plate. Standing up, he motioned for Daphne to approach him. The blue eyed Slytherin smiled slightly as she took his hand into hers and they walked out.
*The Black Lake*
7:00 pm
September 2nd
"You know, if someone told me last year that I would be 'seeing' you this year. I would have laughed in their face." Daphne said as they walked hand in hand around the lake, the air beginning to chill and the sky darkening.
"Trust me, if I had been told how much things would change over the summer, I would have called them insane." Harry chuckled as they stopped by the Forbidden Forest.
"So, Daphne, I need to know where we stand." Harry asked bluntly.
"Where we stand? No, I need to know where we stand. I saw you getting all cosy with Bones this morning, and don't get me started on Loony." She nearly growled.
"Don't call Luna that ever again Daphne. She is a dear friend of mine and I will not let you call her such things." Harry warned her, his eyes narrowing. Daphne saw this and gulped slightly in fear. He had the eyes of a predator, someone who was your friend one moment and enemy the next.
"Fine, sorry if I insulted you." She apologized, making note to tread lightly. Potter was a completely different animal now.
"So where do we stand, Potter?" She asked him and he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Last names again? My, my how touchy. Very well Greengrass, have it your way. I was hoping that we could date, you would let me court you and I would meet your parents. A traditional courtship. Would that be acceptable?" He asked her as he paced back and forth. Daphne smirked slightly as he did this and nodded.
"Very acceptable, Mister Potter." She said as she moved closer to him, stopping him in his tracks. Leaning in, she gave him a tender kiss. To her, sparks flew and warmth spread throughout her body. To Harry, he felt nothing but the start of a lustful encounter.
Pushing her away for a moment, the black haired wizard looked at her.
"There is one more thing, Daphne. One stipulation that you must agree to for this relationship to work." He told the confused young woman.
"What is it?" She arched her eyebrow as she sighed. 'Men...' She thought to herself.
"Luna and I come as a package." He said as he moved back slightly.
"What? Are you saying what I think your saying?" She asked, dumbfounded.
"Yes, I liked Luna before we met. I talked to her last night and she is okay with sharing me." He said.
"What the hell is your problem? I will not share anyone! What type of girl do you think I am?" Daphne blew up on Harry.
"Oh please, you and I both know that pureblood males always have a mistress you can't be that surprised at this. I'm willing to bet even your father has one. At least Luna agreed to be the mistress, making her secondary in the relationship." Harry said nonchalantly as Daphne slapped him with all her strength, leaving a bright red handprint on his scarred cheek.
"The nerve..." She said as she began to walk away, tears rolling down her cheeks. She could not believe what he said and what he wanted her to do. She was a fool to fall for him.
"Mother will know what to do." She told herself as she walked back into the massive castle to write a letter.
Harry growled in rage as he whipped out his wand and yelled "Fulmine"at the lake, the lightning branching out and scorching the surrounding trees. The spell fuelled by his anger, was much more potent than before. Apparating to Dumbledore's office, he heard the man speak to him as he walked back to his seat after feeding Fawkes.
"Trouble with love, Harry?" The old man asked and Harry dismissed it.
"I can handle it, sir. Let's just start." He muttered as he approached the Pensieve.
"Yes, let's," Dumbledore said with a wry smile. 'Ah, to be young and in love. And to be out of love.' He thought to himself not knowing how close he was to the truth.