Disclaimer: I've never really written anything publish-worthy... and I don't think I ever will. So... none of this belongs to me... (cries)
Chapter 1: Losing Chess
It was mid-winter and Hogwarts was one again preparing itself for Christmas. Festive decorations began to adorn the walls, staircases and even the outdoors grounds. Because of the upcoming holiday, students were given extra Hogsmeade visits to purchase gifts for everyone they forgot to buy gifts for on their last visit. It was on the evening of one of these visits that Ron and Hermione got into a row... again.
"Hermione! I'm not saying you can't buy gifts for your friends! I'm just saying you shouldn't give business to the competition!" Ron bellowed from in front of an upturned spindly wooden chair he knocked over when he stood up in front of the Gryffindor fireplace.
Hermione let out a frustrated squeal. "Ron, I just need to buy a few presents for some of my friends from Zonko's. I don't have time to owl-order away for a few things from Fred and George! Christmas is only two weeks away and I could just as easily walk to Hogsmeade tomorrow and but the same things there!"
Ron glared at her and she glared right back, but Ron looked away quickly. Hermione blinked. Was it...?
"Harry! Harry mate, back me up! She can't just be going and helping out the enemy!" Ron was motioning to Harry who was seated in a large armchair reading and trying to ignore his best friends' yells that seemed to take up the entire common room. He reluctantly looked up from his Quidditch book and glanced from Ron to Hermione and back down, examining a photo of an ancient broom.
"Sorry mate, Hermione does have a point. Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes is probably swamped with orders already. There's no telling when they'd get around to Hermione's. And, besides, it's not as if she's going to buy out Zonko's and eliminate Fred and George."
Hermione looked quite mollified while Ron looked shocked by Harry's choice of sides. "But," he continued looking up again and staring directly into their eyes individually, "I really wish you two would stop fighting every five minutes over the most feeble topics. You guys have been my best friends ever since we first met on the train before out first year. After all we've been through together," he said, looking away, "you'd think you would have gotten over the little things and could actually get along with each other." Harry was now observing the picture of the ancient broom, but Hermione and Ron both got the feeling he was thinking of something else. Ron looked more worried than shocked now and Hermione no longer looked so elated. They both exchanged meaningful glances alone with a mutual (but temporary) agreement.
"Listen, Harry. I-I know we've been a pain and we're sorry, but sometimes... sometimes we forget that we're friends and" she paused contemplating what to say next, "I know it's a very confusing time for me, well, not for me, for all of us. And circumstances have changed since our first year, but you're right, we're being completely stupid about this." She sat down on a rickety table cluttered with papers and quills. "But look around" she gestured to the Gryffindors joking and laughing and having a good time. "It's almost Christmas! We should look forward to the holiday at the Weasley's... and the Hogsmeade visit tomorrow. Lets-lets play chess or something."
Ron nodded fervently behind her looking quite affronted to see Harry and Hermione reminiscing about 'the good old days.' He quickly scrambled to retrieve his worn chess set from the boy's dormitories. Although the tension between the three friends lingered for a little while, it quickly dissipated and soon the were enjoying a healthy loss to Ron even though Harry and Hermione were working together against him.
Chapter 1: Losing Chess
It was mid-winter and Hogwarts was one again preparing itself for Christmas. Festive decorations began to adorn the walls, staircases and even the outdoors grounds. Because of the upcoming holiday, students were given extra Hogsmeade visits to purchase gifts for everyone they forgot to buy gifts for on their last visit. It was on the evening of one of these visits that Ron and Hermione got into a row... again.
"Hermione! I'm not saying you can't buy gifts for your friends! I'm just saying you shouldn't give business to the competition!" Ron bellowed from in front of an upturned spindly wooden chair he knocked over when he stood up in front of the Gryffindor fireplace.
Hermione let out a frustrated squeal. "Ron, I just need to buy a few presents for some of my friends from Zonko's. I don't have time to owl-order away for a few things from Fred and George! Christmas is only two weeks away and I could just as easily walk to Hogsmeade tomorrow and but the same things there!"
Ron glared at her and she glared right back, but Ron looked away quickly. Hermione blinked. Was it...?
"Harry! Harry mate, back me up! She can't just be going and helping out the enemy!" Ron was motioning to Harry who was seated in a large armchair reading and trying to ignore his best friends' yells that seemed to take up the entire common room. He reluctantly looked up from his Quidditch book and glanced from Ron to Hermione and back down, examining a photo of an ancient broom.
"Sorry mate, Hermione does have a point. Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes is probably swamped with orders already. There's no telling when they'd get around to Hermione's. And, besides, it's not as if she's going to buy out Zonko's and eliminate Fred and George."
Hermione looked quite mollified while Ron looked shocked by Harry's choice of sides. "But," he continued looking up again and staring directly into their eyes individually, "I really wish you two would stop fighting every five minutes over the most feeble topics. You guys have been my best friends ever since we first met on the train before out first year. After all we've been through together," he said, looking away, "you'd think you would have gotten over the little things and could actually get along with each other." Harry was now observing the picture of the ancient broom, but Hermione and Ron both got the feeling he was thinking of something else. Ron looked more worried than shocked now and Hermione no longer looked so elated. They both exchanged meaningful glances alone with a mutual (but temporary) agreement.
"Listen, Harry. I-I know we've been a pain and we're sorry, but sometimes... sometimes we forget that we're friends and" she paused contemplating what to say next, "I know it's a very confusing time for me, well, not for me, for all of us. And circumstances have changed since our first year, but you're right, we're being completely stupid about this." She sat down on a rickety table cluttered with papers and quills. "But look around" she gestured to the Gryffindors joking and laughing and having a good time. "It's almost Christmas! We should look forward to the holiday at the Weasley's... and the Hogsmeade visit tomorrow. Lets-lets play chess or something."
Ron nodded fervently behind her looking quite affronted to see Harry and Hermione reminiscing about 'the good old days.' He quickly scrambled to retrieve his worn chess set from the boy's dormitories. Although the tension between the three friends lingered for a little while, it quickly dissipated and soon the were enjoying a healthy loss to Ron even though Harry and Hermione were working together against him.