Chapter Three

On Monday morning, whilst Hermione was helping herself to some scrambled eggs, she heard a commotion coming from the entrance of the hall. There they were: her best friends of eight years, Harry and Ron.
She rushed up to them, and hugged Harry first. He was getting taller, but not as tall as Ron. You thought he would have stopped growing now, but apparently not. Mrs. Weasley must be feeding him extra.

She turned to Ron, and he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace, and then he kissed her cheek. She decided this wasn't good enough and kissed him full on the lips. She didn't care she was in the middle of a public walkway, she just never wanted to let go.
Behind her, she heard McGonagall clear her throat. "Umm, Miss Granger? Mr Weasley? I would appreciate it if you didn't do that… here." She said, but that scrutinising gaze made them separate instantly.

"Now, Mr. Potter," she said, turning her attention to him, "I trust your trip was well?"
"Well, yes, we apparated into Hogsmeade and there was a carriage waiting for us there. Did you send that?"
"Yes, I did."
"Well thank you. So, what do you want me to do today?"
"Well today, the first and fourth years have Defence, so I would like you to go over the basics with them. What it's like to be in the sort of scenario with Voldemort, for example. And then I would like you to show them Expelliarmus. Most fourth years would know that, but first years wouldn't and I'm sure some fourth years wouldn't know yet. I know you're quite good at it."
"Of course Professor."

She nodded and walked away. Harry turned to Hermione, who was still being tightly held by Ron.
"Hello! How's Hogwarts been? I haven't realised how much I missed this place…"
"It's been fine. No disasters yet, no mysterious plots to unravel." She replied.
Harry laughed before he spotted Ginny, and then he rushed over to her as quickly as possible.
"Ah, young love." Hermione declared.
"That's my sister!" Ron half joked.
"Oh, she's been upset lately. Let her have her fun, even if it is just for a little while."
"So, you had much fun lately? Not been snogging any boys behind my back?" He intended it as a joke, but it hit too close to home.
"What? No! Of course not, how can you think that low of me?" She demanded, defensively.
"Woah, bloody hell! It was a joke!" he replied, startled.
"Oh… sorry."
"I don't think that low of you. You wouldn't do that, you are too considerate of others to do that." He tapped her nose in a flirty way.
"Yeah… I guess."
Just then, who should walk past, but Snape? He took one glance at Ron and Hermione, raised an eyebrow, and stalked away.
Ron must have seen her scowling at Snape, because he looked confused. "What's got your wand in a knot? Still upset about that detention?"
"No…" when he raised an eyebrow –Gosh¸ Hermione thought, that's so infuriating- she changed her answer to "Yes."
"Oh don't worry about it. He's like that to everyone."
She laughed half-heartedly and Ron took her over to where she was sitting before and sat down next to her. He looked at her food ravenously.

"Would you like some?" she asked.
"Not if you're going to eat it."
"No, it's fine. I'm not really hungry anymore." She picked up a fork, scooped some scrambled eggs onto it, and held it up to Ron. He gave her an "are you serious?" look, but let her continue. He opened his mouth and she placed the fork on his tongue. He grabbed it off her, and continued shovelling in mouthfuls without her help.
How romantic, Hermione thought sarcastically. Snape's smirk was unbelievable.
Was this some form of competition, or was she just imagining it?

She placed a kiss on Ron's cheek, and in response, he tried to feed her mouthfuls of food, just like she'd tried with him.
On the first attempt, when he'd spilled half of it all over her front, she tried to ignore it. After the second attempt, where he all but shoved the fork down her throat, she gave up. She took a drink, but someone must have put a hole in the cup because it leaked out the side onto her uniform. Ron was laughing so hard he accidentally sprayed his mouthful of drink onto her too.

She got up, huffed, and stormed off back to her dormitory. She had two of every clothing requirement, so she put them on, promising to clean the other ones later.

She went down to her first class, which was Potions. Professor Slughorn said he was delighted with the work they had done on Friday. He set them an essay on the next potion they were doing, The Veritaserum. It takes a while to make, so they would do a whole unit on it. The essay had to be about what it did, what its main properties were, etc.

In Transfiguration, Professor Merryweather took a brave step and allowed the whole class to attempt human to animal transfiguration. There was ruckus everywhere- children growing tails, some students' arms were replaced with wings and one student had gone one better: they turned the entire head of a Hufflepuff into a badger's head. Professor Merryweather demanded that everyone stop immediately, while she fixes everything, and after ten minutes she dismissed the class seeing as they clearly wouldn't make any more progress that day.
She had Arithmancy, which went along as smoothly as it always did. And then she had Runes, which went along just as uneventfully.
After all her classes had finished for the day, she went to the library. It looked as if the recent stint of good weather had gone, so she curled up with a good book to read.

Ron showed up about an hour later. "Hey," he said. "I'm sorry about earlier."
"It's fine." She replied, coldly.
"What's wrong?" He asked. It was hardly his fault what had been going on; maybe what had made her so upset was subconsciously she had been trying to make Snape jealous. What happened this morning certainly wouldn't have helped.
"It's nothing. Don't worry. Anyway," she said, trying to sound happier, "how have you been?"
"Oh, I've been okay. I've been helping George with the joke shop. But he isn't the same, he's just… a shell. He's not living, he's existing. I can't imagine what'd be like to lose someone that close to you. I mean, we were brothers, but we hardly spent every waking moment together. For the first week after the battle, he refused to even get out of bed. Then everything after that has been sort of forced, like he doesn't want to do it but has to."
"At least he's trying. I mean, it's October, Fred only died at the start of May."
"Yeah. Sometimes I think this is all a dream. Like, I wake up, we'll still be on the run, Voldemort will still be hunting us, and we wouldn't be together. And Fred would still be alive. I prefer reality, but I really do miss him."
"I understand. I didn't really lose anyone I really loved in that battle. I mean Lupin and Tonks were close friends, but no one as close as a brother."
"I'm glad you didn't. I don't want you to have to go through the grief my family did." He kissed her quickly, just a short, tender kiss.
"Thank you. So, we got any plans for tonight? Where are you guys staying?"
"We're staying in Hogsmeade."
"Oh."
"But the carriage will leave whenever we're ready, so I can stay until late if you want."
"No, no, you need your beauty sleep. I mean you really need your beauty sleep." He showed a look of mock outrage and then they both burst out laughing.
"I've missed you." He whispered.
"I've missed you too."
Her lips found his and they wouldn't let go. When they finally did pull apart, she stayed in his embrace.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Oh how touching," said the new edition to their group, Professor Snape.
"Hello, Professor." Ron said, holding out his hand. Snape pretended to ignore it.
"Weasley, your carriage back to Hogsmeade is waiting."
"But McGonagall said-"
"Professor McGonagall said."
"Sorry, sir, Professor McGonagall said that the carriage would leave when we are ready."
"There's been a change of plans. You need to leave now." Ron went to protest, but promptly shut his mouth.
"Goodbye, Hermione. See you tomorrow." He planted a kiss on her forehead and then left.
Snape was still hanging around after Ron had left.
"While Weasley is no longer a student, may I inform you that what you were just doing is still against the rules."
"Sir, I'm eighteen-"
"I am well aware of that Miss Granger, seeing as I have taught you for the seven years of your magical education. It doesn't change the fact that you are currently attending this school, so you must abide by the school's rules."
"I'm sure sleeping with a student is against the rules too."
"How dare you bring that up! Detention!"
"What, so you can sleep with me again?"
"Miss Granger, I'm warning you-"
What was she doing? She usually didn't behave like this! "I'm… sorry Professor. I shouldn't have brought that up."
"I should think so too. I am willing to forget the detention if you are willing to forget the other night."
Forget the other night? How could she? She may not have exactly planned it, but she didn't regret it. Just because she enjoyed herself doesn't mean that it was right, though. But something like that would be hard to forget.
"Yes sir."
He left.

The next day, Ron joined her in the hall for breakfast. They had their separate meals this time, and she scanned her cup for holes before attempting to drink from it. They were chatting about life- her school life basically. She had Defence against the Dark Arts today, so Harry would be teaching her. She'd barely even spoken to Harry since he arrived; he was too busy with Ginny. Right now they were eating, well, he was feeding her mouthfuls and she was giggling.
She left the hall to go to her dormitory to get her school books before her first class. She had Defence, then a free period, then Charms and Runes. She went down to Defence against the Dark Arts and found Harry already there, setting up for his lesson.
"Hey Harry." She said.
"Hey Hermione."
"So, what you got planned for us today?" she asked.
"Just as bit of this, bit of that. Same as yesterday, basically."
"Oh, cool."
Other students started filing in; Ginny was surrounded by other 7th Year Gryffindors. She waved at Harry and took a seat next to Hermione.
Harry then decided it was time to start the lesson. "What you learn in class is nothing compared to what it's like in the actual situation. Here, if you get it wrong, you can always try again. In a real situation you don't have that luxury. I know a few of you participated in the Battle earlier in the year, and some of you didn't. Some people, like your fellow classmate, Colin, tried to help and got killed because of it. I'm here to help you become prepared for what is out there."
The entire class were on the edge of their seats.
"Some of you would have difficulties with performing Unforgivable spells, which is what I understand you are learning now. I am not going to teach them to you, don't worry. I could never bring myself to use one, not even against Voldemort himself." Half the class gasped, they clearly were not used to hearing the name.
"I'm sure; however, some of you would have no queries in using them. When you are in a duel, you have to remember to remain focussed and know your protective spells. They could just save your life. Now, I know all of you know Expelliarmus. Today, I am going to teach you the Patronus. It is advanced, but if you focus hard enough you could just do it."
He raised his wand, shouted "Expecto Patronum!" and watched as a silver stag materialised before him.
He taught everyone how to, and within half an hour, most students could at least create a silver shield of sorts. "We'll work on this next time." He said just before he dismissed the class.
After school, Hermione went back to her dorm room to find a note on her bed.
Meet me in the Room of Requirement
Love Ron

She didn't know what he was up to, but she definitely was curious. She changed out of her uniform into a nice blouse and jeans, seeing as there was still a chill in the air. She went to where the entrance to the Room of Requirement is, walked past it three times and a door materialised. All that she found was a bookshelf, a couch, a fireplace and a coffee table with a platter of food. She supposed he had taken that from the kitchen because the Room of Requirement can't produce food.

And there Ron was: looking as handsome as ever on the couch. It was a long, comfy one; that looked like it had been around a while. If anything, that was more comforting, it made the room feel cosy.
"Hello." Ron said.
"Hi."
"What do you think?"
"This is amazing… hard to believe that only a few months ago this room was on fire."
"I didn't even think this room would be able to be used again, but I walked past it three times and it opened, to this room. I thought it would be a great surprise, so I got Ginny to leave a note on your bed and I got some food from the kitchens."
"Looks yummy." She remarked. He nodded, and she sat next to him.

He picked up a strawberry, covered it in chocolate, and ate it. She followed suit. They were eating for a while, but then she grew full.
He leaned forward and kissed her. This was a kiss full of passion, lust, all the time being away from him. They were kissing for a while, and then he asked, "Do you want to do this?"
"Yes, with all my being." She replied.
He started unbuttoning her blouse; Hermione got an eerie sense of déjà vu. When her shirt was completely off, a figure came bursting into the room.
"Weasley, Granger, separate!" Snape screeched. Of course. Could they never have a romantic moment without him showing up?
"Sorry sir-" Ron started.
"Weasley, the Headmistress wishes to see you. As for Granger, you put your shirt on."

Ron left and Snape surveyed the room. His eyes stopped when he got to Hermione. She still hadn't gotten her shirt fully on, so he would still have been able to see her bra line. His eyes lingered a bit too long.
She hastily buttoned up her shirt, hoping that would stop his gazing. Instead, it encouraged him.
"You know, you remind me of Lily Potter in a lot of ways."
"How?" she asked.
"She was exceptionally bright, and she was a Muggle-born. And both you and her seem to have a radical taste in men."
"Don't insult Ron! Or Harry's father for that matter."
"She was happy with him. I could never make her happy." He was opening up to her, she realised. Why in Merlin's name would he do that if he hated even the sight of her?
She didn't know how to respond. He placed a finger under her chin, and tilted her head upwards.
He kissed her.

An hour later up, she regretted what events had unfolded. She had slept with her teacher… again! And what about Ron? It was one thing to cheat on him while he was hours away, but another when she was in the same building, practically under his nose!
She dressed, and slipped away, for the second time in a week. What was wrong with her?
There were words in the Muggle world for her: slut, whore, slapper.

The week went by, much the same as it always did. She avoided Snape at all costs, and spent as much time as possible with Harry and Ron. She felt guilty, but she tried to ignore it. It didn't really work.
Ron was leaving Saturday morning, so she spent all of Friday night with him, in the Room of Requirement. It was much the same as the other night, but they didn't have sex. Snape didn't barge in this time. Hermione fell asleep in Ron's arms. This didn't feel wrong, this felt one hundred per cent right.

On Saturday morning they woke up and headed down to the hall for breakfast. Ginny was hugging Harry goodbye, and Hermione turned to Ron and did the same.
"I'm going to miss you." She whispered.
"Not as much as I miss you already."
Before they even got time to eat, McGonagall showed up and announced that their carriage was ready to take them to Hogsmeade.
"Goodbye."
"I love you." He replied.
"Love you more."
He left with Harry, and Hermione felt a small tear run down her cheek.
She hated this situation so much. One day, she would have to tell him. But Hermione decided that day could wait for a while.