Chapter Three: What She Offered

All last night, Ron had dreamed of Harry and Hermione, snogging, Harry and Hermione, getting married, Harry and Hermione, laughing behind his back while they tickled each other's tummies. When morning came, he was bitterer than ever.

"Morning." He heard Harry said. He didn't answer, just slinked down to breakfast. Hermione was still ignoring him, but that was just fine as far as he was concerned. He had no desire to talk to her. He went over and sat with Lavender

Meanwhile, Harry was trying to figure out what was going on with Ron. He had been ignoring Harry since yesterday. When he spotted Ron in the dining hall sitting with Lavender, he figured maybe he could catch his attention, but Ron made sure there was nowhere near him for Harry to sit.

So, Harry went to sit with Hermione. Unfortunately, Hermione was sitting right next to Ginny. Harry loved being around Ginny, but at the same time, he found himself wanting to figure out what had Ron mad at him, which required keeping a clear head, and keeping a clear head when Ginny was around was simply not an option.

"Thanks Hermione, I really appreciate it." Ginny was saying. Her voice was so gentle, so subtle. There was something in the way Ginny carried herself, the way she spoke, which had a way of gliding through the air in something that was somehow quiet, and at the same time, impossible to ignore.

"Er, appreciate what?" Harry asked as he sat down on Hermione's other side.

"Oh, Hermione's going to help me get ready tonight."

"Get ready?"

"It's mine and Dean's anniversary. Apparently he planned something rather special, but he won't tell me what. Besides, I've never had an anniversary before. I wouldn't know how to dress."

Harry's breakfast had started to taste like mulch right around 'anniversary,' but he tried not to show it. "Yes, well, I suppose that would be … exciting." Harry managed with a grimace.

"I hope so. To be honest, things with Dean have been a little rocky lately."

"Really?" Harry asked, sitting up straighter. He could tell he had sounded too eager by the reproachful look Hermione had given him, "Um, do you, er, want to talk about it?" Ginny hesitated, "It's all right if you don't. I just thought, you know, you might, um-"

Thankfully, Hermione cut him off before he made more of a fool of himself, "So, Ginny, having any trouble studying for your OWLs?" Hermione asked. Harry gave her a grateful look.

Ginny started for a minute at the rapid change of subject, but then said, "Actually, I think I'm handling it a great deal better than I thought I would, not that I would turn down any advice if you're offering."

Hermione smiled, "I'd be happy to."

Ron stole a glance over at Harry and Hermione while Lavender took a break from snogging him to eat. They were sitting with Ginny, which, if they were keeping things a secret, was probably why they weren't being all obvious. Still, they were sitting right next to one another and their shoulders kept touching. Ron couldn't hear what they were saying, but Hermione was looking very pleased with herself, as though she had been paid a compliment, and Harry had an awkward, goofy sort of look on his face, similar to the one he used to wear when Cho Chang was around. Ron scowled.

"Oh, Won-won, calm down. I'll be done eating soon." She took another bite, as if to demonstrate, "See, all finished." Then she attacked him with her lips. After a minute, Ron separated from her, "Um, got to use the lavatory."

Lavender nodded, "I'll miss you Won-won."

Ron nodded, "Yeah, I'll miss you too." He said, though why she expected him to think about her while he was peeing was beyond him. Anyway, if he was being honest, she was part of the reason he was leaving. But the majority of the reason were talking and laughing as they bumped shoulders.

Harry saw Ron get up, "Look, I'll be right back." Ginny and Hermione nodded, and Harry got up.

"Ron!" he called. Ron sped up, "Ron! Oi, wait up!" but Ron just kept going. Harry followed him to the lavatory, and waited for a few minutes. Finally, he gave up.

"Where'd you get off to?" Ginny asked when he came back. Despite what he was thinking about at the moment, he felt his heart do a little flip. She cares where I've been, he thought, excitedly. Then, a more practical voice thought, of course she does, you dolt, she's your friend.

Harry considered bringing up his concerns about Ron, but then he remembered that Hermione was at the table. Lately, Ron was only a subject she would discuss if she were the one to bring him up. Otherwise, anything Ron-related was better left unsaid.

"Um, I'll tell you later." He said quietly. He did not want Hermione to feel left out.

"Well, it's later." Harry looked up from his homework to see Ginny standing over him.

"Er, what?"

"You said you'd tell me later, remember. Which either means you were trying to put off telling me, or you didn't want somebody around to hear. Either way, it seems to me it would have to be pretty important."

Harry tried to remember what she was talking about, then he remembered breakfast, "Oh, that. It was just cause it was about Ron-"

"And Hermione was around."

"You really are clever." Harry blushed a little. He had not meant to say it out loud. Luckily, Ginny did not seem to notice.

"Well, it is fairly obvious. Painfully in fact, and not just painful for them."

Harry smirked. Why did she have to be so clever, and so funny? Why did her smile have to be so pretty?

"Um, I thought you had a big date tonight?"

"That's not for hours, and don't try to shrug off the subject."

"I wasn't." Ginny looked at him reproachfully, "Honestly, I wasn't. It's not a big deal anyway. Ron's just been ignoring me lately, and I was trying to figure out why is all."

"Oh," Ginny said, sitting down across from him, "And did you?"

"No, I ran after him calling to him, but he just pretended not to hear me, and then went into a stall in the lavatory."

Ginny thought for a minute. Harry tried not to think about how cute she was when she was thinking, "Maybe I could help."

"How?"

"Well, he is my brother after all, and he's not avoiding me, at least not as far as I know. I could ask him."

"I don't want to put you in the middle of anything."

"I don't mind. Besides, with Ron and Hermione not speaking, the last thing we need is you too splitting up. After all, who does that leave him with to talk to, Lavender?" she chuckled.

Harry chuckled a bit too, "Yeah, I somehow doubt they talk much."