[Disclaimer:] I don't own it, I don't own, I really don't own it...JKR OWNS IT! WHHAAAAAAA!

[A/N:] Here is Chapter 2. Enjoy and Please Read and Review, because I need them...my precious.

Harry Potter's Magic Heart

Chapter 2

Confrontations

Draco Malfoy was not a happy blond ponce, no not happy at all. He could never figure out how Harry Potter escaped his carefully crafted schemes designed to humiliate him. Heck, not only did he escape them, almost eighty percent of the time, those schemes were turned around and ended up humiliating Draco. But, this year was the worst. First, there was that Dueling Club incident that actually had people convinced that Harry was the Heir of Slytherin. However, that turned around once that mudblood whore was petrified. Everyone and that meant EVERYONE knew that Harry would never do anything to harm Hermione Granger. Heck, most people realized that the two of them were closer than most boyfriends and girlfriends. They had almost no secrets between them, shared experiences and adventures, and completely relied on each other. It was Hermione's petrification that made their reliance on each other quite evident.

Harry had spent much of the time period of Hermione's petrification looking lost when he wasn't hiding out in the Hospital Wing. He'd even been unmoved by many insults on his person by Draco or the other Slytherins, even insults against Harry's mother had no effect. The only thing that got Harry riled up was when someone dared to insult Hermione, and then that was close to having a death wish. Draco remembered wetting his pants at just the look he received before being stunned the last time he had insulted Hermione in Harry's presence while she was petrified.

[Flashback]

They had just left the Potions classroom, Harry just a little bit ahead of him. Draco smiled evilly, knowing this was a good time to try to draw Harry into getting into trouble. He decided to raise his voice loud enough to be heard easily by Harry. He said, "I was thinking about heading to the Hospital Wing to see if the mudblood would be able to feel anything while I showed her what a good time a Slytherin could show her. Of course, she would then be my willing toy for when she woke up, and would know her place in our society."

Harry spun around and Draco saw the rage on his face. Before Harry could say or do anything, Draco sneered, "You know she would then serve me willingly, right Potter. You wouldn't even hold a candle…"

Draco never finished, because he could see that Harry's emerald eyes now shone clearly like the light from the Killing Curse. He, also, saw the look of pure death that glinted clearly across those eyes. If Harry had been Voldemort, Draco knew he would have probably been hit with both the Imperious and Cruciatus Curses, then with the Killing Curse or some other dark curse to show everyone how foolish it was to cross him. But what made Draco really wet his pants was the flash of determination that accompanied the pure death in those Killing Curse green eyes. It was like the Irresistible Force and the Immovable Object of Physics were joined together for a single purpose, meaning that nothing would be able to stand in the way of one Harry Potter and anything he desired to do.

All these thoughts rushed through Draco's mind, before he could register Harry's raised wand pointing straight at him. As he realized that Harry's wand was pointed at him, he failed to notice the red light of the stunner that was rushing at him. Finally, everything went dark. The next thing he knew, he woke up inside a broom closet without clothes on. He had to use two buckets, one in front and one behind, to hide his nakedness as he hurried to his dorm.

[/Flashback]

He still hadn't found out who had undressed him and put him in the broom closet. In fact, the only thing he knew about it was that it wasn't Harry who had done so. No, the rumor was that Harry had to be held back from killing Draco, and that it was others that had a beef with Draco that had stripped him.

Then, there was the humiliation of his father over the Chamber of Secrets and his move to oust Dumbledore as Headmaster through blackmail and threats. Finally, on top of it all not only did Harry accuse his father of giving Ginny Weasley the diary, he tricked his father into freeing their house-elf. Harry Potter not only kept outsmarting the Great, in his own mind, Draco Malfoy; but had outsmarted his father, Lucius. That was adding insult to injury to insult and needed to be repaid thrice over!

Now, here he was at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall pondering his next move. His attention was drawn to the doors as Hermione and Harry entered the hall and went towards the Gryffindor table. He got up and motioned to his two meathead bodyguards to join him as he headed toward the Gryffindor table. He was going to see about getting Potter in trouble, again. He smirked when Ron had made his predictable statement questioning Harry holding the mudblood's hand. The blood traitor didn't realize how many similarities they shared. If he hadn't been a blood traitor, then he would have made a wonderful servant for Lord Voldemort.

Sadly, for Draco, he had picked the wrong time to approach Harry and Hermione, as this was the point where Ron had decided on what he would say about their relationship. Of course, what Draco didn't realize was that he was Fate's playtoy, while Harry was Fate's weapon. Harry had gone through a great deal of pain and suffering in order to temper him into the best weapon to take down the scumbag known as Voldemort. Hermione was Fate's reward to Harry and was given to him early to help counteract some of the scars and pain from that tempering process. Ron, on the other hand, was just a pain in the arse piece of comedy that was annoying but needed for laughs because of his bumbling.

As Draco approached the Gryffindor table, Ron stood with a delusional smile on his face and said, "Harry, I'm glad for you."

Harry looked at Ron in surprise at this statement. Hermione was also shocked and looked at Ron in a new light, but that light was quickly extinguished by his next words.

"Yeah," Ron continued, "I'm glad for you, because you have a bloody brilliant idea having Hermione as a practice girlfriend. When you're done with her, do you think I can have her be my practice girlfriend?"

At first, Harry was too shocked at Ron's utter idiotic and selfish thought process; but then as the words broke through his shock, rage took over. "RON! HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT ABOUT HERMIONE?" Harry yelled as he shot up from the table. Ron just blinked, confused at how his best mate could be defending the annoying know-it-all mudblood. Of course, this was his last thought before Harry lunged at him with a right hook followed by a jab and an uppercut. As the first two punches landed, Ron saw more and more stars. The uppercut not only turned Ron's world dark, it also lifted him up and threw him into Draco and his goons.

Hermione and everyone else in the Great Hall were shocked as Harry pretty much pummeled Ron with just three punches. Of course, Ron being a lazy pureblood did as little physical activity as possible, unless it was Quidditch, but then he usually played Keeper which didn't amount to much activity at all. This lack of physical activity made it easy for someone with any Muggle combat skills or, in this case, brawling skills to beat an unprepared wizard. Harry only had brawling skills because of his cousin, Dudley, and his gang; but that was a lot more skill than Ron or Draco had.

Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Ron all fell into a large pile of thrashing limbs when Ron landed on the ponce and goons. This, in turn, led to Ron having a few more punches and a couple of kicks land on his face and body. Of course, being unconscious, Ron didn't notice or feel them right away. Draco, on the other hand, felt the punches and kicks that Crabbe and Goyle blindly threw out while trying to disentangle themselves from Ron's unconscious body, each other, and Draco.

The Slytherin table was hard pressed to keep themselves from laughing. The First Years, in particular, had many breaking down and laughing at the Three Stooges-like pile of bodies near the Gryffindor table. The other Slytherins had smiles cracking their normally stoic faces. The Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors were laughing and cheering as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle kept smacking each other around, while trying to get Ron off of them. Hermione was looking at Harry with pure adoration for defending her against his, now former, best friend.

There was one person at the Gryffindor table that wasn't laughing and cheering. In fact, her entire being felt crushed. Ginny looked at Harry and Hermione with tears in her eyes, her entire fantasy of being with Harry having been crushed by Harry's and Hermione's announcement and Harry's reaction to Ron's foolish statements. Those reactions made it quite clear to her that Harry would never be hers. But, how could she tell Harry after the way Ron had acted and the words the idiotic prat had said about Hermione? Harry and Hermione would be on their guard, particularly considering the fact that they both knew how infatuated she had been over Harry before that damned diary came into her possession.

As Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle finally extracted themselves from Ron and each other, Professor Snape approached from the entrance to the Great Hall with his cape billowing as usual. He sneered at Harry and snarled, "Fifty points from Gryffindor, Mister Potter, and detention with me tonight after the Leaving Feast for fighting. Another Fifty points from Gryffindor and detention with me tonight for Mister Weasley. Mister Malfoy would you like to make any formal complaints against Misters Potter and Weasley?"

Professor McGonagall approaching from the Head Table said, "Not so fast, Professor Snape. Mister Malfoy was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Mister Potter was not intentionally trying to involve him or Misters Crabbe and Goyle in the fight between himself and Mister Weasley. As these are members of MY House and this fight was between them and not members of other Houses, Professor, I believe that their detentions should be spent with me. I will agree with the docking of the points, but Mister Potter will receive One Hundred points for proving that chivalry is not dead for defending his girlfriend from the insults of a person they called friend." She stopped without realizing that she had placed her left foot on top of Ron's right hand, which happened to be his wand hand, crushing his fingers with her heel.

Professor Snape bowed his head in acquiescence and kicked Ron in the ribs as he turned to walk to the Head Table. Professor Dumbledore looked on with concern written all over his face. He had needed Ron to keep Harry pliable for his plans to defeat Voldemort. However, the selfish, jealous fool had in one fell swoop destroyed everything. Now, Albus knew Harry would buckle down on his studies just to keep Hermione Granger happy; but then again, she had helped Harry out with figuring solutions to the problems facing the school. But, could she be relied upon in the future? Sadly, he would have to remind Harry and try to prevail upon Hermione that it was in Harry's best interests to return to the Dursleys. She would probably insist on letting him leave their house to visit her, which he couldn't allow due to the need for the blood wards to be recharged. But, if she could be persuaded to visit there instead, then Albus could have Mrs. Figg keep an eye on both of them to keep them out of trouble and the blood wards would be maintained.

Dumbledore saw Ginny moping about and decided to have her summon Harry and Hermione to his office before the Leaving Feast. He didn't even spare a glance at the broken, bleeding, and unconscious body of Ron Weasley. Albus could see that Ginny was accepting, though disappointed, of Harry's and Hermione's new relationship. He wanted to help her mend fences, despite her brother's attempts to destroy all relationships between people he was close to.

Dumbledore caught Ginny's eye and motioned for her to come to the Head Table. When Ginny had reached the Head Table and was near enough to hear him, Dumbledore spoke to her. "Miss Weasley, I wish for you to tell Mister Potter and Miss Granger that I need to speak with them before the Leaving Feast. I trust that you will use this opportunity to aid yourself in your own problems, as well."

Ginny just nodded her agreement before saying, "Yes, Professor Dumbledore, I will do that. Thank you, Professor."

While Ginny was up at the Head Table talking to Professor Dumbledore, Ron was finally carted off to the Hospital Wing by Professor McGonagall and Harry and Hermione had walked out of the Great Hall holding hands. Ginny approached Neville and asked him, "Where are Harry and Hermione, Neville?"

"They went back to the dorms to get changed and take showers," Neville replied to her.

"Thanks Neville," Ginny said as she left the Gryffindor Table to head back to the dorms.

When Ginny reached the Gryffindor common room, neither Harry nor Hermione were in sight. She plopped herself down in a chair that had a good view of both stairways to the dorms. She needed not only to relay Dumbledore's message but to talk to them about her feelings about their new relationship. She wanted to let them know that she supported them, despite having wanted to have a relationship with Harry.

Harry was the first one down to the common room after getting cleaned up and changed. Ginny motioned him over, and was a little embarrassed by how her heart started racing when he approached. She tried her best to calm herself and said in a whisper, "Harry, I'm sorry…"

Harry cut her off, "Ginny, you don't need to apologize to me for getting possessed by Voldemort or for unleashing the Basilisk."

"No, Harry," Ginny retorted as Hermione entered the common room and approached them, "I don't want to apologize for that. I want to apologize for my git of a brother and to let you know that I support your relationship with Hermione. Also, I wanted to let you know that Professor Dumbledore wants to see you and Hermione in his office before the Leaving Feast."

"Thank you, Ginny," Hermione replied. "Your support means a great deal to us. And, thank you for letting us know that Professor Dumbledore wants to see us."

"Yes, thank you, Ginny," Harry agreed with Hermione. He turned to his girlfriend and said, "I wonder what he wants to see us about."

"I don't know. I guess we'll find out when we get there before the Feast, love," Hermione said.

Neither of them had classes for that afternoon, so they went to the Library where Hermione started working on her missed assignments. As she worked, they discussed Ron's reaction and Harry's upcoming detention with him under McGonagall's stern care. Hermione always amazed Harry with her organization and ability to multitask.

Harry and Hermione were both nervous as they approached the gargoyle that guarded the stairs to the Headmaster's office. When they got to the gargoyle, Harry sang the passphrases. "Give me a break. Give me a break. Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar!" This caused the gargoyle to move to the side and the steps to rotate upwards to the door of the Headmaster's office. Harry and Hermione silently climbed the stairs while holding hands, somewhat puzzled by the use of a jingle instead of an actual word for the password to Dumbledore's office. As soon as they got to the door at the top of the stairs and before they could knock on it, they heard "Enter" called from the other side of it.

"Harry, my boy, and Miss Granger, please have a seat," Albus Dumbledore said to them as they entered his office.

"Professor, why did you wish to see us?" asked Harry as he took his seat after helping Hermione into her own.

"Ahh, straight to the point as usual," Dumbledore smiled, sadly but kindly at them. "I have a feeling that you won't like what I have to tell you. Miss Granger, were you planning to ask Harry to stay over with your family or visit you this summer?"

"Yes," said Hermione.

"I thought so," Dumbledore frowned. "I'm sorry, but you will have to forget Harry coming over this summer until after his birthday."

"WHAT?" shouted Harry as he shot up from his seat.

"Harry," Dumbledore patiently stated while holding his hand up, "it is necessary for you to stay with your relatives each summer until at least your birthday until you are seventeen, even if you can be legally emancipated. In the future as Harry's magical core matures, we may be able to reduce your need to return to the Dursleys to a week or two."

"Why?" Harry asked dejectedly as he slowly slumped back into his seat.

"Because, Harry," Dumbledore sadly explained, "there are special protections around your aunt and uncle's house that will protect you and them from the Death Eaters and Voldemort should they ever decide to try to get at you outside of school. These protections are known as Blood Wards and were created due to the sacrifice your mother made on the night she and your father were killed by Voldemort. I was able to use your mother's sacrifice out of love and the existence of her sister to create these Blood Wards to grant you a place of protection while you are underage and mostly defenseless. This way you have some place that you can go where you are unassailable by Death Eaters until you are fully trained to take on Voldemort."

"Excuse me, Professor," Harry said seriously, "but I've fought Voldemort twice since I've come to school. I don't know how much more training I'll need to defeat him once and for all."

"Harry," Dumbledore sighed the twinkle in his eyes somewhat dimming, "you have only fought Voldemort while he is weak. You have yet to face him at his full power. Also, you've had a lot of luck and help in defeating him both times here at school. First, you had the aid of the protection from your mother's love to defeat Quirrell and Voldemort in your first year. This year, you had the aid of Fawkes, the Sorting Hat, and Gryffindor's Sword to defeat the Basilisk and Voldemort this year. Without that help, you would probably not be here right now, as Voldemort would have been able to kill you. You went into both situations not fully prepared and survived just from pure luck. I'm not putting you down Harry, just telling you the facts. You need to be humble and know you need more training than what you have already."

"I'm sorry, sir," Harry said dejectedly.

"It's quite alright, Harry, you should feel good about beating Voldemort twice already; but you can't let it get into your head to the point where you start underestimating your opponents," Dumbledore said. "It's when you underestimate your opponents that you start defeating yourself. Now, Miss Granger can come over and stay or visit with you at the Dursleys until your birthday at which point you may leave them to stay wherever you wish, just as long as you let me know ahead of time. Do you both understand?"

"Yes," both Harry and Hermione said simultaneously; but dejectedly. Neither of them was looking forward to being at the Dursleys' home. Hermione wasn't looking forward to it; because that meant that Harry wasn't going to be protected from them. Harry wasn't looking forward to it; because it meant that Hermione would be exposed to their insults and attitudes. With their reluctant acceptance of the stated reality, Dumbledore dismissed them; and they left his office and headed to the Great Hall for the Leaving Feast.