Chapter One: Harmony
Harry walked through the hallways of Hogwarts thinking fondly of his new girlfriend Hermione. Even after a few weeks he was still stunned that he even had a girlfriend, let alone that it was one of his two best friends. He had thought for such a long time that Hermione would end up with Ron, and Harry knew that Ron had wanted exactly; he possibly still did. But Harry and Ron had a strong enough friendship, and the feelings Ron had for Hermione had been weak enough, that Ron had been happy for his friends, at least outwardly. Harry had a sneaking feeling, however, that Ron was masking his insecurities about the situation. He had always been good at bottling up unwanted emotions. On the other hand, Harry mused, Ron had been trying to make Luna Lovegood laugh a lot lately. Maybe he had turned his attentions elsewhere. Harry chuckled at the thought of the brash Ron and the serene Luna making a match of it, but didn't dwell on the matter too much. His new girlfriend occupied most of his thoughts. After last year's fiasco with Cho Chang, Harry had decided he must be the most useless boyfriend out there. Hermione's descriptions of what he should have done made him sure of it. And yet, here she was: his girlfriend. His girlfriend. His Hermione. He grinned again just thinking of her. Finally, early this year, Harry had noticed just how wonderful Hermione was and to his infinite surprise it seemed she felt the same way about him. She was warm, caring, thoughtful, beautiful and she did more than anyone else for him. No-one else had been there through thick and thin for him the way Hermione had been, not even Ron. Plus, she was the most ferociously intelligent person he'd ever met. He snorted; well apart from choosing him as her boyfriend she was ferociously intelligent. A few weeks ago the penny had finally dropped for Harry that Hermione wasn't on his side through everything just because she was his friend. No, it was because she inexplicably liked him, had feelings for him. Harry couldn't believe that someone who could have the pick of any guy she wanted had chosen him, so he thanked his lucky stars every day that he had somehow convinced her to go out with him.
Still lost in thought, Harry crashed up against someone walking the other way.
'Why don't you look where …' he snarled, before realising who it was. His face lit up and he caught her around the middle. She squeaked and pushed against him til he let her go a little then smiled up into his face.
'I was right. You really have got tall and fanciable' Hermione said, cocking her head and looking him over.
'Glad you approve' he said and bent to brush her lips with his. They held the embrace for a moment then he pulled back and leaned his head on her forehead. He still couldn't quite believe it that she was here and she was his. They had been together for 2 weeks now, and it still felt as right and natural as if they had been together for years. Of course in a way they had been. Their friendship spanned 6 years now, and seemed to have only grown stronger now that they were together. She broke into his thoughts.
'Well, come on Harry. We need to get to class; Slughorn may think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread,' here she stopped and gave him a little frown showing once again her displeasure over his use of the Half Blood Prince's potion book, a frown which he pretended not to see, 'but he demands more from the rest of us.'
Harry sighed and allowed her to draw him along towards class. The truth was that Harry was less interested in the Prince's book and Slughorn's approval now that he had Hermione. Even his obsession with tailing Malfoy had taken a back seat to being around her. He hadn't bothered to try out that enticing sectumsempra spell 'for enemies' on him yet.
As they sat down at their customary table Ron shuffled in looking furtive.
'What's up with you?' Harry asked.
'Nothing' said Ron. 'Just an experiment Ginny and I tried. I think it bloody worked.'
As Slughorn's massive belly began its journey around his door, signalling the start of the lesson, Ron added in a strangled whisper 'I'll show you after class, OK?'
Harry barely had time to nod before Slughorn took them through how to make a babbling beverage potion which was tricky enough to drive everything from Harry's mind except for Hermione. Every time they shared a potion ingredient or brushed hands he looked up and smiled at her. Eventually Ron said 'Oi you two. Just keep it private OK. Not everyone wants to see your PDAs when we're trying to work here!'
Hermione smirked at him but after that she carefully kept her hands and looks to herself. Harry shot a glare at Ron who shrugged unrepentantly.
After class, Hermione gave Harry a quick peck on the cheek before she headed off to her Arithmancy class. She warned the boys, who both had a free lesson, that they'd better get to work on their essays for Snape. They had 10 inches due by next Friday and Harry thought he had plenty of time but Hermione was insistent that they all get to work as early as possible to be sure to do their best work. She had become even more determined to make him do his homework since they got together. Harry was extremely grateful for her input as he knew her words kept him conscious of his schoolwork which he had neglected a little during his obsession over Malfoy. But he retained enough of his own nature to dissemble and still put off what he knew he ought to do. It felt like the old days when he and Ron would practice quidditch rather than do their homework. He always regretted it later, but somehow, even now that he wanted to please Hermione, he still managed to delay getting started on work. There were just so many other more interesting things to be doing.
'We'll do some research, promise' Harry said, clutching her hand to the very last moment as she walked away causing Ron to pretend to gag behind his back.
After she left he added to Ron with a grin 'Well, we will research, just maybe not today.'
'Definitely not today,' said Ron. 'Wait til you see what Ginny and I have been working on.'
He wouldn't say another word til they were in the Room of Requirement with Ginny.
As he walked in Harry's mouth dropped open.
'What is it?' he asked.
'We don't know' said Ginny. 'But we were talking about other dimensions, you know other realities, when we saw this open.'
'Other realities?' said Harry.
'Yeah' said Ron. 'We were wondering if there was like a parallel universe to ours where things were, I don't know, a little different. And this … just appeared. It looks like Hogwarts, but it's not this Hogwarts is it. I mean, look. That's me in there and I'm not doing what I'm doing here. My clothes are different. What else can it be?'
'I don't know' said Harry, turning towards the shimmering light. 'But there's only one way to find out.'
'You can't, Harry' shouted Ron. 'What if it's dangerous? Remember what Dad said about staying away from stuff we don't know anything about'
'Oh don't be such a wet blanket, Ron' said Ginny, rolling her eyes at his theatrics. 'And it doesn't look dangerous. Aren't you even a little interested in what's through there? Besides Harry knows what he wants to do, don't you?' she added, turning to Harry with a bright smile.
Harry gave her a grateful nod before turning around and heading for what seemed to be a doorway into the other Hogwarts. He cast one look back to see Ginny looking excited and Ron nervous. He gave them a blinding smile and turned and walked towards the shimmer. Something seemed to be calling him onwards and he was intensely curious to know what it was. The people in the other Room of Requirement had changed, and Harry thought he could see himself. But he was sure he must be mistaken, especially as he noticed himself bend down to kiss someone with fiery red hair, someone who looked a lot like Ginny. Only one way to find out, he reiterated to himself, and walked quickly through the shimmer in front of him.