Harry woke the next morning a lot earlier than normal. So early, in fact, that he was able to see a house-elf tending the fire that kept away the chill of the late spring morning. He had spent the night tossing and turning, wondering what exactly he had gotten himself into with Hermione. Would she really do it? It was silly. He couldn't believe she'd actually taken him seriously. All he'd wanted her to do was loosen up, particularly around him. He'd known what he was getting into once his relationship with the school's biggest bookworm went beyond friendship, but he had expected that a closer connection with someone whose name wasn't in one of her textbooks would open her up to possibilities about a lot of other things. Namely, beginning to live her life before she submitted herself to the endless cycle of work most adults enslaved themselves to. He wasn't looking for a totally different girlfriend, just one who was a little easier to be with.
He pulled the covers over his head and sighed. If getting Hermione Granger to loosen up a little was going to be his mission in life, he had better prepare himself for disappointment. Regardless of how she'd reacted when he'd baited her the night before, Harry knew she'd change her mind once she calmed down. Not only would she see reason, she'd probably be upset with him for even letting her come up with that ridiculous plan before they'd gone to bed. Still, if it worked, it would be something to try every once in a while if they needed a break. Maybe if they spent enough time alone together… Harry grinned, in spite of the improbability of his next thought.
Snuggling deeper into his pillow, Harry closed his eyes and began dreaming of a changed girlfriend, one who was quite determined to convince him that she was anything but boring.
Hermione looked at her reflection in the mirror over the sink and frowned. Her eyes looked too bright. More redness? No. Bigger bags. She grabbed the compact Parvati had left next to the sink and painted faint blue smudges under her eyes, giving them the appearance that she hadn't slept in days.
She stepped back from the mirror, removed it to rest against the sink and flicked her wand quickly to enlarge it. Not too bad, but still not right. Hermione pushed one of her knee socks down on one leg until it bunched loosely around one ankle. Then she removed her tie and untied and retied the knot, swirling it around quickly until it looked like she'd let Harry's five-year-old sister tie it for her. Then, sighing, she took her brush and attacked her curly hair, teasing it until it looked bushier than it had in years. Since long before she'd learned how to mostly tame it. Hermione took one last look at her reflection, a frown crossing the normally morning-ready face. Perfect. It would fool anyone.
"Harry! Harry, wake up!" The covers flew back from the bed and Ron stood over Harry, reaching to shove him on the shoulder again if he didn't move. As the sunlight reached his face, Harry moaned and turned into his pillow, halfheartedly groping for his wand in case Ron didn't get the hint. "Honestly, Harry. You heard Professor McGonagall last time. If you miss another class, she'll give you a week's detention." He sighed as Harry didn't move. "Breakfast will be over in twenty minutes. If you hurry and get dressed, you can still grab some toast or something."
Harry mumbled into his pillow. He reached for his blanket and pulled it back over his head and bare torso again.
"What?" Ron reached for the blanket and jumped when Harry shot up in bed, clutching his wand by the wrong end. He quickly turned it around and pointed it at his roommate.
"Merlin's sake, Ron! Let me sleep." He fell back onto the bed and closed his eyes, wand still pointing in the air.
"Harry, you know you're going to get miss a lot in class this morning."
He opened one eye. "Since when do you care about what happens in class?" At Ron's frown he said, "I'm sick, okay? Professor Flitwick will let me make it up. Now can you please leave me alone?"
"If you're sick, you should go to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey—"
"Ron! Leave. Me. Alone." Though his eyes were closed, Harry's wand remained trained firmly on Ron. "I'm so dizzy I can barely stand up now, let alone walk all the way down to the hospital wing. I'll get up later."
Brows raised in surprise, Ron pulled the curtain closed around the bed and left, just in time to miss the low chuckle from Harry. He put his wand down next to his glasses and settled back under the covers to get back to his dream. Hermione had been just about to show him how much she liked her birthday gift, once he helped her with that tricky zipper.
"We should do something," Lavender said. She picked up a piece of toast and pointed it at Hermione before taking a bite. "You know how she gets when she has to miss something."
"It's not like she can't make it up," Parvati replied. "She's practically helping teach half our classes anyway."
"I can hear you," Hermione said in a weak voice. She cleared her throat and raised her head, squinting at the bright light as she addressed her roommates. "There's nothing wrong with me. I'm fine. Matter of fact, I'm going to eat." Hermione grabbed a piece of bacon from a tray and brought it close to her mouth before lowering it to the empty plate in front of her and groaning. She pushed the plate to the center of the table and put her head down again, moaning and clutching her stomach.
"Hermione, you don't have to push yourself like this," Lavender said. She reached across the table and touched Hermione's hand. Her skin was cold. "Let one of us take you to the hospital wing."
Hermione raised her head again and frowned. "No, I can't let you go to class late. I'll be fine." She used both hands to push herself into a sitting position and took a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly. "I'll be fine. I can go to class like this. It'll pass."
"No, you'll pass out if you don't take care of yourself," Parvati responded. "Didn't Madam Pomfrey tell you not to keep up your crazy class schedule after you passed out last year?"
Hermione pouted. "Yes, but—"
"And didn't you promise you'd get more rest and not push yourself too hard?" Lavender asked.
"Well, yes, but—"
"Didn't you promise your parents you'd never force yourself to go to class when you didn't feel well?" Parvati asked.
Hermione fought the sudden urge to smile. They really did care if she wasn't well. "Yes," she said in a small voice. "I just don't want to miss anything."
"We'll take notes for you," Parvati said. Lavender raised one eyebrow and mouthed we? before smiling as Hermione looked at her.
"I'll walk you to the hospital wing. It won't be a problem."
"No," Hermione said. She cleared her throat and tried to sound stronger. "I can—I can make it on my own. It's not that far." She reached down and grabbed her overstuffed bag from under the table. "Can you tell Professor Flitwick? I know Madam Pomfrey will probably just make me sleep."
Both girls nodded and watched as Hermione walked away from the table, the weight of her bag forcing her to lean heavily to one side as she lumbered through the door and towards the stairs.