Chapter 1: Hanging Out
"Petrificus totalus!" Hermione waved her wand frantically towards the figure charging at her. She gave a small squeak of dismay when she saw Ron pause in his headlong rush towards her to throw up a warding spell, blocking her attack.
Whirling away from his determined gaze, she gave a small shriek as she started running. She could barely make out Harry and Hagrid's figure skipping stones on the glassy surface of the lake as she called out their names for help. If she concentrated hard, she may be able to run fast enough away from Ron to the safety of her friends. But the many days spent studying did not help in her endeavor to outrun anyone, let alone someone who worked out everyday for quidditch.
As she approached the lake, Ron gave a terrifying roar as he tackled her to the muddy ground, twisting so that he took the brunt of the fall. Rolling to a stop, Hermione laid there helpless with Ron looming over her, a wicked grin stretched across his face.
"You really thought you could outrun me?" he laughed as he scooped Hermione up and dumped her unceremoniously over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Ronald Weasley," Hermione scolded as she tried to hide a laugh by pounding her fists against his back, "you let me down right this instance!"
Ron's hold on her legs tightened for a moment before he started strolling towards Harry and Hagrid. "Oy, Harry! What should I do with her now?"
Harry stepped out of the lake and smiled at the sight Ron and Hermione made, both covered in mud. He mulled over his options, "We could take her with us on our brooms and give her a tour of Hogwarts. You know how much she hates flying. Or we could…"
Hagrid shook his head at the three teenagers as he started to wade out of the lake, "I knew yer shouldn't 'ave given 'em those candied grapes." He murmured to himself. "Never could trust anythin' Fred an' George gave yer ter eat, I always say."
"But you guys were only purple for a few hours!" Hermione wailed as she pounded on Ron's back some more. "How was I supposed to know that they'd put a spell on them?"
"How were you supposed to know…?" Ron shook his head in disbelief, "bloody hell, Hermione. For a smart girl, you can be pretty thick."
"Well, I think you need a little dip in the lake." Harry waved his wand at the muddy Hermione, "Wingardium leviosa." Slowly, she lifted off of Ron's shoulder to hover a few feet above the lake.
"I'm sorry!" Hermione pleaded, "I'll never listen to Fred and George again! I'll treat both of you to ice cream and butterbeers! I'll stop nagging you about homework!"
"Say that we're smarter than you." Ron grinned.
"But you're not smarter than…" Hermione automatically answered. Before she could finish her sentence, Harry started to lower her more rapidly towards the water. "Ok, ok! Stop! I'll say it!" She made a face, "You're both smarter than me." she mumbled.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear what you said." Harry prodded.
"Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are smarter than me!"
Harry and Ron laughed as her feet touched solid ground. Even Hagrid chuckled as Hermione feigned indignation as she cast a cleaning spell upon Ron and herself.
It was good to see Harry and Ron smiling again, Hermione thought to herself as she gazed proudly at her best friends, even if it was at her own expense. They had all gone through so much this past summer, finally defeating Voldemort in an intense and isolated showdown that seemed to last an eternity. Everyone involved had come out slightly changed by the experience, even herself. Hermione shook her head, clearing her mind of such dark thoughts. "What's past is past, what's done is done," she whispered to herself as she followed Harry and Ron into Hagrid's hut.
The trio were on their backs staring up into the blue sky, birds singing in a nearby tree. The sun shone brightly, warming their relaxed bodies as they searched the clouds for familiar shapes.
"I miss this." Hermione sighed after pointing out a quill-shaped cloud. "I miss hanging out with you guys."
"What do you mean, 'Mione?" Harry turned his head to look at her, brushing at the grass tickling his nose, "we always hang out."
"Not like we used to." Hermione tried to explain, "Now that you two have girlfriends, we haven't really hung out the way we used to."
"Sure we have." Ron sat up and looked over at Hermione. "We hung out a few nights ago."
"Well, I supposed if you consider tutoring you for a Potions quiz hanging out." Hermione shrugged, "I'm really happy for both of you, and I'm not complaining, but I don't think your girlfriends like me very much."
"That's ridiculous, 'Mione." Ron looked hurt. "They just don't know you yet. Plus, you haven't been Miss Friendliness, either. Didn't they ask you to go shopping with them today at Hogsmeade for the Halloween Ball?"
"I turned them down because I already have everything I need, silly." Hermione sounded a little exasperated.
"But you didn't want to go to Hogsmeade with us last weekend for lunch, either." Harry pointed out.
"That's because I had a Head's meeting with Dumbledore, and I had to go over last minute plans for the Halloween Ball with Malfoy." Hermione gave up trying to make them understand, "Never mind what I said. I guess I'm just feeling a little melancholy because it's our last year."
"Malfoy isn't giving you any trouble, is he?" Ron asked, frowning at just the thought of the blond snake.
"Oh, not at all." Hermione placated, "I don't see him very much, and when we do meet, he's been surprisingly pleasant towards me."
"Malfoy?" Harry arched a brow, "being 'pleasant'? Never thought I'd live to see the day."
"Well, 'pleasant' may be stretching it a bit, but he has been a lot more civil." Hermione stretched her hand towards the sky, spreading her fingers open. "Which means that he only insults me every other time we meet."
"I still can't believe you have to share a common room and a bathroom with the git." Ron picked at the grass, "you sure he hasn't tried anything, 'Mione?"
"Yes, I'm sure, Ron. And like I told you at the beginning of the year, I can handle anything that little ferret can dish out."
After a pause, Harry propped himself up on his elbow, a questioning look in his eyes, "Who are you going to the Halloween Ball with, Hermione?"
"Oh, that." She refused to meet Harry and Ron's gaze, "Well I didn't really have a choice in the matter. Dumbledore was talking about improving interhouse-relations, so in actual fact he was the one who chose my date." Hermione fell silent, firmly keeping her eyes on the clouds above.
"Um, so who is it?" Ron encouraged her to continue, his curiosity piqued by her reluctance to give a name.
"Well, seeing as the…" Hermione shifted uneasily and sat up. She took a deep breath, then another.
"Go on, we're listening." Ron started to get impatient, "why won't you just say his name? It's not like you have to go with Malfoy."
Hermione stiffened visibly at the name, and gave a hurried glance at her best friends before looking down at the grass.
"No way." Harry sat up from his reclining position.
"Bloody hell." Ron looked horrified.
"Well, seeing as the Head Girl is from Gryffindor and the Head Boy is from Slytherin." Hermione glanced at them again, "And considering how hard it is for both houses to get along, Dumbledore decided that it would be best if we were to attend the Ball together. You know, to set a good example for the rest of the houses."
Harry and Ron stared at Hermione, speechless after their initial outburst.
"Well, isn't this fitting?" said a drawling voice from behind the trio, "I say, I never imagined that I'd find filth sitting in the dirt. It suits you, Granger, it really does."