The Wiser

P1

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"The final task is in a week Harry!"

"I know Hermione." Harry sighed separating his veggies from his fruits.

"Then you should be studying, not moping over your untouched plate of food!"

"I'm tired all right."

"Tired from what?" she asked indignantly with her hands on her hips.

'Tired of helping Ron treat you like a princess' he thought but said, "You wouldn't understand."

"Ron," she turned to her left, "Tell Harry to stop abusing his plate!"

Swallowing, "Umm let Harry do what he wants Mionie."

"Why have you been taking his side lately?"

"Because Harry's my best mate." He answered quickly.

Giving suspicious looks, "I don't know what you two are playing at but when I find out …"

"Aren't you two going on a date tonight?" Harry changed the topic.

"Why yes," Hermione nodded, "But that has nothing to do with your lack of preparing for this task."

"Yes and your nagging is making a much better job of it!"

"Harry!"

"Look Mionie I just need a little rest," Harry stood, "I'll see you later."

Hermione sat down. She didn't understand the boys these days. With the random lack of appearance from the Boy Who Lived came the bliss of being with Ron. In fact she was with the boy all day making her wonder how Ron managed to plan a magical date in such a short time? Clearing her head of that thought she discreetly reached for Ron's hand up under the table.

"I'm eating Mionie."He said with a mouth full of blood pudding.

"Sorry," she pulled her hand back slowly. A forlorn look replacing her usually bright eyes, "My fingers got cold."

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'Finally,' Severus thought to himself as he excused himself from the head table. Something just wasn't right. As the panther he spent nearly every afternoon with Hermione listening to her go on and on about Ron. The most recent of which involved a threshal ride through the sky.

That was the glue that put this mystery together. Only people who have seen death can see threshals and that pointed directly at the shortest member of the trio. With a wave of his cape he made for the door following Harry quietly for some time.

The boy's excuse about being tired was true enough for he stopped every so many feet to lean against a column to wipe his eyes and yawn. Eventually the boy made for the room of requirement where he resided for some time until Ron came constantly looking over his shoulder as he did so and knocked on the door.

"About time." Harry hissed yanking him in. As he did Snape cast a listening charm on Ron to be able to hear what was happening on the inside.

"She's suffocating Harry," Ron whined, "It's not my fault."

"Look Ron the magic I use for your dates and to practice for the final task is draining me! Bloody hell I couldn't even levitate my glasses to me this morning. Keep this up and I'll be sharing a room with Lockhart at St. Mungo's!"

"But I can't do this alone!"

"Yes you can … just take her on a walk tonight around the lake."

"But she'll be expecting more."

"And that's what I wanted to talk to you about," the movement of chairs sounded, "Hermione is your girlfriend and you need to be responsible for her. Imagine how Hermione would feel if she knew that I've done everything from planning the date to the gifts?"

"I take it she wouldn't take well to that."

"Precisely, and you can do it Ron! I have faith."

"But I don't."

"Well faith or no I can no longer help you."

"Damn."

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Snape had heard enough. He knew Potter was behind it all, but now what? As much as he wanted to tell Hermione he knew that doing so would break her heart and he didn't want her to be in more pain. But what if she found out for herself?

"What is going on in there Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

Not the least bit surprised that the Headmaster had followed him, "I take it you've been noticing Potter's lack of enthusiasm lately."

"I have."

"And as I've suspected he's been magically drained. If this keeps up he won't be able to enter the tournament."

"But he must."

"Never fear, he is telling the Weasley that he can no longer help him."

"Help him?"

"Fear not your chess piece is safe this round." Snape began to walk away when both males heard an approaching noise. The Potion's Master cast a spell to camouflage them.

"Ginny why would they be in the room of requirement?" They heard Hermione before they saw her.

"I don't know but he's there a lot these days," she said briskly, "Probably training."

"Oh that Harry," her voice was laced with approval, "I thought he wasn't training beforehand."

"He's more responsible than you give him credit for Hermione," Ginny smiled, "You see Harry's just itching to be a regular student like us and to do that he must kill Voldemort which is why he does everything in his power to accelerate the process. He may not be the smartest student but he never gives up … he has a lot of heart you know."

"Just like your brother," Hermione smiled back, "He has done so much for me. We may not always hold hands, but he shows me during all of our dates that he loves me."

She nodded, "I think my brother and you will make an okay couple."

"Just okay?"

She nodded, "Since I'm younger I see a lot of things that you older ones miss. I see how much you and Ron love each other and you will probably love each other for a long time, but."

"But what?"

Ginny turned to look at the decorative wall instead, "Hermione you are more like the intricate filigree that cover the walls, but Ron is more the sturdy beam that holds the ceiling up. You see he is simple and you are not. Eventually one day in the future your differences will separate you."

"We're not that different."

"But you are," the ginger looked back at Hermione, "Do you know the reason why my mother and father love each other so much?"

"Because of all of you."

"The love for a child should not define a marriage. You see my parents are both happy with where they are and what they do. But in your case you've been trying to change Ron since the day you met him always correcting him and telling him that, in short, he's not good enough."

"I never say that."

"Oh but you do," Ginny looked at the door, "Every time you correct him, which is a lot by the way, he will one day see it as you not happy with him. Take my advice Hermione find a person that you love just the way he or she is because unlike stone, people cannot be carved. Are you going in now?"

Had she just been talked down to by a third year? "Yes." she said quietly.

A moment later the boys came out.

"Hermione what a surprise." Ron stuttered.

"I was actually looking for Harry …"

"Whatever for?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"I was going to make him train but Ginny vouched for him."

"Well if no one cares I'm going to bed." Harry made his way to the common room.

"And I'll make sure you make it there." Ginny left with him leaving the couple alone.

"So what were you two doing in there?" Hermione asked.

"Just having a guy talk."

"About?"

"Nothing you'd be interested in." Ron waved her off.

"You'll be surprised what I'm interested in."

"Harry made me swear not to tell you." Ron tried wanting nothing more than for Hermione to drop the subject.

"Then show me … or write it down."

"Hermione I said no."

"No you said you couldn't tell me but there's ways around that … Harry's not sick is he."

"If he is I wish you'd ask him about it."

Hands on her hips, "We've been friends for a long time Ron and I just can't see why you two need to keep secrets from me."

"There is no secret," Ron thought for a second, "He just wanted to ask me about Ginny."

"They do seem a wee bit enamored, but isn't he still secretly dating Cho?"

"We talked about that."

"Then why not tell me?"

"Please ask him Mionie." He rubbed his aching temples.

"But I'm asking you."

"And I'm telling you to drop it."

"You can't tell me what to do."

"And you can't make me snitch on Harry."

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"Trouble in paradise?" Snape couldn't help but to reveal himself and the Headmaster.

"Professor Snape!" Ron gulped.

"Was just leaving with me," Dumbledore cut in, "Weren't you Severus?"

"Of course," he agreed, "There is nothing to see here."

"Well that was awkward." Hermione said when she turned to see that Dumbledore and Snape weren't the only ones to disappear.

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"Ginny surprised me today." She said racking her hand through the panther's fur. She had taken to speaking to him in the flower field a mile or two off the property where he wouldn't be seen.

The panther turned its yellow eyes to her as if listening. She smiled at him briefly before continuing on, "Ginny sounded so wise today … until she said Ron and I weren't meant for each other. Such hogwash. You know she almost had me fooled."

Severus placed his head on her lap as she continued to rant about her day as she always did, "And now Harry and Ron are hiding something from me, but I'll figure it out! I swear it!" He purred in answer then turned his head to the sky. Sunset was upon them.

"Is it time to go back already," she sighed, "Well till next time."

He watched her leave until he could no longer see her then transformed back into his original form, "Till next time." He promised as his arm began to burn.