Unfortunately people seeing Cedric talking to them opened the floodgate and other students started coming by and trying to make small talk with Harry. Some wanted to wish him well while others wanted to ask about the battle the previous night. A lot of them brought up his surviving the killing curse again. This forced Harry and Fleur to abandon the tree and retreat to Fleur's room.
A short time later Hermione's voice made its way into Harry's head. "Love, Ron wants to talk to you. He said he wants to apologize."
"What do you think?"
"I don't know, he sounds sincere but..."
Harry shook his head as he thought about the person he considered his best friend. "Just like the first task isn't it?"
"I really don't know Harry. It's all different now, back then I was trying to see both sides but now I know he's been wrong."
"Okay. Tell him that you'll tell me when you see me."
"Already have."
"Love you."
The twins organized the party for that night. Harry and his bondmates really thought Gryffindor tower and the school in general could use it after the news from the previous night so this time they did not object. Shortly after they arrived Harry noticed Ron over in the corner occasionally looking at him. Finally Harry knew it was time to talk to his old friend. He went over and tapped him on the shoulder and nodded toward the steps. Shortly the two of them were in the fourth year boys' dorm.
Harry sat on his bed and stared at his red-headed friend waiting for the apology. Ron had a nervous look about him and paced until finally.
"Harry I...look maybe I was wrong."
"Maybe?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"I was just trying to look out for you. I thought, you know, the Veela were..."
"And I told you that you were wrong," Harry replied testily. "You made a choice but more than that Ron you didn't believe me. That's twice this year that you refused to believe me when I told you the truth, this time you even made it worse by writing your mother."
"I'm trying to apologize for that," Ron exclaimed. "I was wrong and I'm sorry."
"You don't get it do you?" Harry asked. "A simple I'm sorry doesn't do it. What would make me think you wouldn't do it again? Look I really need to know that my friends are really my friends Ron," Harry lowered his voice since it had been constantly rising. "Let it be for now, there's going to be a few more things that might cause problems over the summer. So we'll talk then or when school starts back in September."
Ron ears were red and he was looking at the floor as he mumbled something.
"What?"
"Nothing," Ron replied as he got up and left the room.
Harry just shook his head as he watched Ron leave. As he thought back over the last few months, Harry had to admit, that he really hadn't missed his friend that much. At first he had, since Ron had been a mostly constant companion for over three years, a connection to the Weasley family. Now Harry had his own family and he wasn't sure exactly where Ron would fit. The thought of friendship made Harry remembered the favor his mother had asked of him.
A couple of minutes later he was back in the party and he found a dark haired young man sitting by himself watching everyone else. Harry sat down beside him and said. "How is everything Neville..."
...
Later that night, Harry and Hermione sneaked out of the Gryffindor Tower under the invisibility cloak. Though they had cleared their plans with McGonagall and Flitwick, there were other people they wished to avoid. Snape and Filch were at the top of that list. They made their way outside and by use of the Marauder's map and quickly found who they were looking for, a large beetle that sat upon a tree branch.
They were concerned that Rita might be followed so they waited for several minutes. Finally Hermione ducked out from under the cloak and made her way over.
"Hello Rita," she said. "No...stay in your beetle form. I'll take you."
The beetle took flight and landed on Hermione's shoulder and the two of them set off toward the Forbidden Forest. Harry remained under his cloak as he followed. Occasionally he'd stop and review the map under the light of his wand.
"Still no one following," He told Hermione several minutes later.
"Then we'll presume she's alone," Hermione replied and altered her course toward the Whomping Willow. When they got there, she again verified with Harry that no one else was around. When he confirmed they were alone, she levitated a small branch and made it touch the knot on the tree. As soon as the branches had stopped moving, she quickly climbed into the small opening at the base of the tree. Harry followed quietly behind them. When they made it into the Shrieking Shack, Hermione made her way into the small bedroom that brought back memories of the previous year. Sitting in the middle of the room were two chairs.
"Here's where it will happen," Hermione said when the Prophet reporter had transformed back into her normal middle-aged self, Hermione cast a few spells. Finally satisfied, she said. "No locating spells on her. You can come in," The last was said more loudly. She turned back to Skeeter. "Here's your interview Rita."
"Sirius Black?" Rita said as a man entered the doorway.
"You know it's me Skeeter," The man said grumpily. "Now let's get this going so I can get out of here."
"By all means," The reporter said as she reached into her bag and pulled out parchment and a quill. "Before we begin, did you know the order for you to be kissed on sight has been lifted?"
"No," Sirius replied as a bit of tension could be seen leaving his face. "Are you sure?"
"The paper will be publishing it on the front page tomorrow. That's why I wanted the interview tonight. It will go well with that news."
Sirius only nodded before saying. "Well let's get this over with. I have places to go."
"Very well," Rita replied. "For the first question tell me why everyone thought you were the Potters' secret keeper."
"To answer that you have to understand..." Sirius and Rita started what would end up being an hour long interview.
While the interview itself was going on, Harry slipped back out and met up with Fleur and Gabrielle. Soon they were headed for Myrtle's bathroom to help in the release of Buckbeak.
"I wonder," Harry murmured out loud.
"What?" Gabrielle asked.
"Oh, I was just thinking that if the piece of Voldemort soul gave me the parseltongue ability, if I've lost it now?"
"Zat..zat is unlikely," Fleur said.
"Why?" Harry asked. "Dumbledore said it was that which gave me the power in the first place."
"Yes, but..." She stopped to explain further. "Ze bond. Ze Veela magic. It has been protecting you from ze piece of 'is soul zat was in you."
Harry nodded as he realized what she was saying, "But I've still been able to use parseltongue."
"Exactly," Fleur responded as she started walking again. "Zere is a quick test though," She said. She turned away from him so he could not see her lips and said "Open" then turning back to Harry she asked. "Did you 'ear zat?"
"Of course but why did... you said that in parseltongue didn't you?" Harry asked.
Fleur smiled at him before she replied. "I think zat proves you still are a parselmouth, non?"
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.