AN: I'm going to sound like a broken record, but again, thank you for all the reviews and for the people who've put this story on their favorites/alerts list.
Hope you guys like this chapter.
Passed Those Tests
Immediately Hermione knew she was already approaching this the wrong way. She sighed as she pulled up a chair next to Ron, who was doing his best to look away from her with a sour look on his face. She sat down and made herself comfortable, she was sure she'd be here for a while at least. Ron's look was one of extreme annoyance; he looked more interested in the wrinkles on his bed sheet than he was in any sort of conversation with her. She wondered just why things had ended up like this between the three of them but hoped that things would go back to normal after this conversation.
"Look Ron, really, we have to sort this out. Harry's right there beyond this curtain with a head injury, a cracked skull Ron, and when he wakes up I want him to see both of us by his side. I want both of us to be the friends we are supposed to be." Ron didn't respond and instead crossed his arms and stared directly ahead, ignoring her completely. "Ron listen to me." She asked, "If not for my sake then for your best mate, for Harry."
That seemed to do him in, and while Hermione was pleased that he still had a soft spot for Harry it also hurt to know that he was higher up on his list of priorities than she was. She saw him clench some of the muscles in his jaw as he turned to look at her, though he didn't face her directly. "What are you talking about? We've both hung out with him, not at the same time but still. He's fine."
"No he's not Ron." Hermione replied, "We'll get to that later, first I want to say sorry."
"You want to say what?" Ron turned to look at her with a confused look.
"I'm sorry Ron. For the way I treated you while you were with Lavender. I," she paused, "You chose her, and I should have accepted that with some measure of respect, both for your choice and for myself. I shouldn't have acted the way I did."
Ron kept his head hung low as he fidgeted with his hands. "I didn't choose her over you Hermione," he muttered. "Lavender, uh. Well she's not half as brilliant as you." He finished, his face slightly pink.
Hermione smiled at the compliment, though only because it was so hilariously late. Had Ron complimented her last year she knew she'd be blushing just like he was right now. As it was her heart was completely with Harry, and his compliment did nothing beyond remind her how much she'd changed and how much Ron had changed too, if he had stayed like he was now, a fumbling best friend who had trouble expressing his fancy for a girl, she'd have stayed holding that torch for him. Instead he turned into a jealous and insensitive prat and had inadvertently pushed her towards Harry. She turned her seat to face him head on, "Look, I won't say that I understand why you started a relationship with Lavender even after I had already asked you to the party, nor will I say that it didn't hurt and that I didn't feel betrayed whenever I saw the two of you kissing but I will say that I'm beyond that. Really I am and I want to put it behind us."
"I don't even know why you were mad in the first place." Ron muttered.
"How could you say that?" Hermione asked. "I just told you why I was angry at you, I asked you to Slughorn's party and then you go off and start a relationship with Lavender." She added in a voice that was barely holding back her anger.
"So? You did the same."
"What? I've never done anything of the sort, what are-"
"You went and snogged Krum didn't you?" Ron interrupted, reminding Hermione that he'd brought up Viktor once before and suddenly she felt like she was going to go in circles when it came to Ron.
"I kissed Viktor"- she said before being interrupted by Ron.
"On a first name basis are you?"
-"which is completely different than snogging Ron." Hermione continued as she talked over him. Ron didn't seem to know there was a difference, which was unsurprising giving his stint with Lavender. "Snogging is what you and Lavender did, or what you saw Dean and Ginny do," Ron bristled at the memory, "and I most certainly did not snog Viktor or anyone else. I only kissed him on the lips, no longer than a few seconds if you must know. And he's been the only person I've done that with and that was only once."
"I'm supposed to believe that?"
"Yes you are Ron, because you are my friend and I'm telling you the truth. Even if I did do more with him-which I didn't-what does it matter? How does something I did in 4th year have anything to do with you going out with Lavender?"
"You went and snogged Krum behind Harry's and my back!"
"And you mention that I kissed him again," Hermione quipped, "Pray tell Ron, how are these two situations even remotely similar?"
Ron sputtered, seemingly unable to connect the two situations in any sort of way that made sense to anyone beside him.
"Like I said, it doesn't matter Ron. I kissed Viktor, yes, I went with him to the Yule Ball and I had a good time, if you didn't then that's your own fault. I'm not going to apologize for that again, and two years later at that." She paused as he scowled at the memory of 4th year and his disastrous date. "And I'm not going to ask you to apologize for leaving me high and dry for Lavender without so much as a word of apology. I don't care about that anymore, I really, really don't. I've done enough thinking about that and anymore heartache over that is useless Ron." She sighed, hoping she'd made her position clear. "I just want to put this nastiness behind us." She added in a tired voice.
"Just like that?" Ron asked suspiciously, "You're not even going to try to hit me or hex me, or cast birds at me again?"
Hermione pursed her lips into a thin line, her frustration growing even as she tried to stay calm. "Yes, just like that. Hexing you would be counterproductive to my goals." She added tersely.
"And you aren't going to say "Sorry that I doubted your Keeper skills Ronald, I should have had faith in you that you didn't need the Luck Potion to do good!" he said with a terrible impersonation of her, complete with what he thought much have been a spot on impression of her body language.
This boy is impossible.
"Ron, what was I supposed to think? Harry had the Felix Felicis in his hand and Luna said she saw him put something in your drink!" Hermione supplied in exasperation. "The logical conclusion was that he did add something to your drink!"
"I remember that conversation damn well Hermione. Harry said that "he didn't know what you were talking about" didn't he?" Ron shot back, "Well, why didn't you take your own advice and believe him then? Harry said he didn't add anything to my drink so that means he didn't add anything to my drink! I did good all on my own and you couldn't believe I had done so!" He was riled up now, and sat up even straighter, "You know I get enough comments thrown my way about how pants I am at being a wizard, how I can't get good grades without your help, how I'm nothing without you and Harry, how even my family jokes about me not having my own "thing" that I'm good at!", he ranted. "At this point I don't even care that my family doesn't have money because even if I did I'd still feel useless!" He pointed a finger at her, "So I certainly didn't need you thinking I had to cheat to be good at Quidditch. I've got one thing I'm good at, a ruddy damn game, and you couldn't even let me have that!" he finished with a shout that made Hermione grateful that she had cast the privacy charms.
Hermione was shocked, not at the outburst, but at the content of it. She really had no clue just why he had taken the news that she thought Harry had slipped him a Luck potion so hard. But now it made sense, she should have known that his low confidence wouldn't have been able to take that without some sort of negative repercussion. It'd be as if Harry turned around and called her a know-it-all in a demeaning way, or if Ron and she would taunt Harry for having no family.
"Ron," she said in a soft tone, "I apologize for that, I had no clue that you'd my suspicion that way, but that's ridiculous really."
"You don't tell how I feel," Ron snapped back venomously, "and you wouldn't know anyway, you've got things that you're good at, I bet your mum isn't hounding you to do something all the time and you've got no siblings to be compared to."
"Quite right." Hermione muttered darkly before sighing. "I don't know what to say Ron, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. You did great, you're a great Keeper and that was all you. No potions or luck, just you."
"Yes it was." Ron ground out. "And I'm a bloody amazing Keeper."
Hermione nodded. "Yes," she replied, thinking that she was laying it on a bit thick, but she wanted this to be over with. "Ron…"
Ron seemed quiet as he looked at her for a while, a frown still on his face. "Ok," he said after a long stretch of silence.
"Ok what?" Hermione asked.
"You said you wanted to put this all behind us," Ron offered in explanation. "Ok then. We'll do that." He said in a voice that clearly told her that he was having trouble admitting this, and he looked decidedly uncomfortable.
That's it? She wondered. Even though she hadn't expected much from Ron, she expected more from him than just "ok". However, she kept her tongue and accepted his response. She hadn't really expected him to apologize for any of his behavior, and if she was being honest with herself she wouldn't even be here at all if it wasn't for Harry. With what she knew now she could guess why Ron had started dating Lavender; He seemed to have self-esteem issues that ran deeper than she and Harry knew about, but that didn't excuse his actions, all it did was serve to help her construct an idea of Ron's frame of mind. Obviously her accusations of the Luck potion had offended Ron deeply, hurt him even, but was that enough of an excuse for him to betray her with Lavender? No, not in her mind it wasn't. Truth be told the situation was less than stellar, because while Hermione apologized for her actions throughout the Lavender affair Ron still hadn't, they were simply agreeing to ignore it and move past it. She was effectively letting Ron walk through this entire ordeal without having to admit he was wrong or take any blame. In an ideal world, Hermione thought, she'd hex Ron until he admitted that he was wrong to start seeing Lavender. But it wasn't going to be that way and frankly, Hermione did not care. She'd take her mother's advice to heart and get over it. Ron wasn't worth it, he simply wasn't. Any time she took to sit here and demand a real apology from him was less time she'd have to sort out the more important relationship in her life, their friendship. All Hermione wanted or cared for now was the friendship between her and Ron, between the two of them and Harry. Harry, Ron and Hermione, best friends since first year after they'd saved her from the troll, The Trio of Hogwarts, The three Musketeers as she once heard Harry say, the three spelunkers. And once that was sorted out she could hopefully start a real relationship with Harry. The situation wasn't resolved like she'd hoped it could have been but Hermione thought that Harry was worth swallowing her pride and going through with this.
"Thanks Ron," Hermione smiled, deciding that she'd take what she could get. "Well, now that we're past that," she waited for a moment to see Ron's reaction and continued at his nod, "I want to talk about Harry. I know I haven't been the best of friends lately, and you were right about what you said on the train." It was odd for her to admit that Ron was right about anything, especially recently. "I was the one who left Harry without a date to the party even though, well…"
"Even though it was clear he was about to accept you mean." Ron supplied from his bed. "Sorry about butting in on that by the way."
"It's alright," Hermione replied, even though she thought that it wasn't. She'd missed her first chance at a date with Harry. Had she had the privilege of being his date to that party maybe they'd be further along in their relationship right now, but it was the past and she couldn't go back and change that. Time Turner or no.
"So what do you mean about Harry?" Ron asked.
"Well, I know for a fact that I haven't been the best of friends for him this year. I've recently started to try to change my behavior, but I haven't really apologized for my actions… and I'm guessing that neither have you."
"And like I said, he's fine. He hasn't said anything so I don't really know what you are getting at." Ron replied dismissively.
"Don't." she snapped before remembering to control her tone. "I know for a fact that you two got into a row just before Christmas break and didn't get along smashingly during the Christmas break." Hermione continued on when she saw him involuntarily frown. "And something tells me that you haven't made up for that. And don't think he missed those dirty looks you were throwing our way recently." Ron flinched under her gaze; even now he knew when Hermione wasn't in a mood to argue. "And this is stops now."
"You're still mental. Harry is fine and I don't-"
"Do you know what I just realized?" Hermione interrupted, her tiny hands balled into fists on her lap. "Just before I walked in here I was outside with Luna. Do you know what she said?" She asked rhetorically, "She reminded me that Harry has no family left in the world."
A long silence passed between the brunette and redhead.
"She's barmy," Ron's reply came out in a hoarse whisper, "Nutters she is. What does she know? He's still got us and we're his family." He continued on in a slightly hurried tone.
"No," her reply was more forceful than she'd intended. "Don't do that, because I realize that I did that and look where it got me. Yes, we're like family, the three of us. You're like a brother to him and, and maybe he sees me like a sister," mentally Hermione cringed, that was the last thing she wanted right now, "And I admit, maybe your family thinks of him as an honorary Weasley…" she saw Ron nod his head furiously, "But it's not the same. It isn't."
"What do you mean it isn't?" Ron asked in a furious tone. "You and I know bloody well that he's my best mate, he's saved Ginny's life, he saved my dad's life, I'm sure he's saved my life several times, I know he gave the Twins their start-up money for their shop. Don't tell me this nonsense that Harry's got no family because he's got us!" he yelled with a vehemence that slightly warmed Hermione's heart.
"Ron, no. No matter how much we want it to be true, it isn't the same. Imagine, for a moment," Hermione whispered, "That Harry didn't save Ginny in second year. Can you?" She looked up at him to see him with a hard solemn look, his breathing coming out in slow huffs. "Imagine that he didn't save your dad through his visions. Imagine they were both gone Ron, gone for good and forever." She took a deep breath as she imagined both of her parents gone from her life, leaving her as an orphan. "Imagine," she continued on as her whisper became softer, "That the twins are gone too, Percy, Charlie, Bill, your mum. I know that maybe you've got some issues you've got to resolve with your family Ron, but can you imagine waking up one day and they are all dead?"
Ron shook his head numbly, now that he was picturing a large graveyard with all his brothers, his little sister and his mum and dad he was very quiet and still.
"And not even that Ron!" Hermione choked out, "But your uncles and aunts and cousins! All of them gone! That's what Harry's living through right now, his entire family is gone. Not a single person in the entire world can say they are related to him. 5.8 billion people on the Earth," Hermione stated, remembering a news story she'd read over the Christmas break, "Billion Ron, do you know that number?" Ron shook his head, "A five and an eight followed by eight zeroes. 5 billion people and not one of them is even a distant relative." Ron saw tears starting to form in Hermione's eyes and her breathing became much more pronounced. "No, I'm wrong, he's got family. The Dursleys," Ron was surprised by the venom in her voice as she spat out their name. "But that's no sort of family, those-those monsters don't have the right to be called his family at all, they shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Harry's name."
Ron was starting to see Hermione get more and more distressed as she went on.
"And where the bloody hell have we been Ronald?" she demanded through gritted teeth, her body shaking in anger. "Huh?" she looked up at him with a fierce look in her eyes that made Ron involuntarily flinch back as he always did whenever he saw her get riled up about something. "We've been bickering like babies, like spoiled brats! "Oh no Harry! Don't use that stupid book!", "Oh no Harry! The boy I fancied went off with another girl!" All the while Harry had to listen to us complain and whine for months with that stupid noble heart of his he didn't tell us to shut it! Not once did he snap at me and tell me to get over it; that he had to deal with bigger issues like the loss of his last remaining family member! He sat there and smiled and listened and let me cry on his shoulder and you!" she pointed a furious finger at Ron, "And he still went with you too! He took your relationship with Lavender in stride even when it made you late for Quidditch practice, even when it meant that if I wasn't there to keep him company you wouldn't be there either because you were gone snogging Lavender! He tried to be friends with both of us and didn't take a side in our petty squabble!" Hermione closed her eyes and looked down, her tiny fists shaking in anger in her lap, "Oh I've been so stupid."
Ron had a pensive look on his face, because while Hermione seemed to be ranting about her own failures now her speech did make him think about his own. Hermione was right, not once did he stop to think about Harry's feelings in the entire matter, he'd only cared about Lavender and how good it had felt to get one up on Hermione. He'd only briefly asked Harry if he was ok once and then dropped the issue forever. He looked back at Hermione who was shaking, either in sadness or in anger at her own behavior he didn't know. He tentatively reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder flinching only slightly when she turned up to look at him.
"You're right, Harry is brilliant." He started, "He's bloody brilliant. We don't deserve being his friends do we?"
"No," Hermione said as she tried to clear her throat, "Not the way we've been acting recently."
"And yet he still calls us his best friends." Ron said as he began to pat Hermione shoulder in his most comforting show of support for her this year.
"He does." Hermione whispered.
"We've botched up good," Ron muttered, "But you're right you know, as usual. Come on, Harry might wake up soon and we'll be there for him. Like he's there for us."
"You mean that Ron?" Hermione asked as a giant smile grew on her face.
"Yeah," Ron nodded, growing more confident that his hand wouldn't be ripped to shreds by being so close to her. "Yeah I am."
"Oh Ron!" Hermione smiled and stood up to hug him. Ron, however, hesitated and seemed to draw back. They both made to hug each other again but couldn't decide how to approach the hug. In the end Ron just sighed and stuck out his hand, Hermione looking at it dumbly before smiling again and simply shaking his hand vigorously, remembering a similar episode after she awoke from her Petrification.
When they separated Ron gave her mischievous grin. "So I hear you're in love with my best mate?"
Hermione suddenly clamped over Ron's mouth, "Shhh! Be quiet Ron! I don't want him to hear you!" she said with a terrified look on her face.
Ron slapped her hand away with a laugh, "You've got privacy charms up Hermione! He can't hear us, so what are you so scared about? Have you told him yet?"
"No, I haven't." Hermione admitted, feeling silly after overreacting. "I only realized the day that you and I fought, I know that was a while ago," she said at Ron's incredulous look, "but…" Hermione sighed and leaned back before pulling open the curtain to reveal a Luna still sitting by Harry's side. She was leaning over him and smoothing out his hair while whispering soft words, one of her hands gently holding his own. Hermione's heart felt a terrible sensation go through it, and she quickly closed the gap in the curtains before they were noticed. "That's what I'm scared about. That and what if he rejects me?"
Ron grew quiet as Hermione looked at him, an idea popping into her head. "Ron, Harry mentioned that Luna visited him at the Burrow a few times over the break… what do you know about that?" Ron looked quite uncomfortable which made Hermione's stomach churn. "Please Ron."
"Well…" he looked at her, "Are you sure?"
This doesn't sound good. Hermione though with an increasing feeling of dread. "Tell me."
"I walked in on them snogging once." Ron said in a hurry, Hermione's face falling. "But!" he added in just as fast, "I think it was a onetime thing, I only saw that once and I don't think they did it again. The next time Luna came over they both looked a bit awkward around each other so… I." He stuttered over his words, "Maybe they just did it once?"
"Why would they do that if they didn't like each other?" Hermione asked in a small voice before she hung her head in her hands. "Oh…" she groaned. "What if I'm already too late?"
"I don't think so Hermione," Ron spoke gently, "Harry's not me. I don't think he'd choose anyone over you."
Hermione looked over at Ron and smiled, encouraged by his words before being startled by Luna's voice.
"Hermione! Ron! Madam Pomfrey, he's waking up!"
Hermione shoot out of her seat and made her way to Harry's side again, Ron grumbling behind her as he was stuck behind the privacy charm. Hermione looked down at Harry as he started grumbling and turning in his cot, "Harry," she whispered soothingly, "Harry it's me, you're ok, you're in the hospital wing."
"He'll be in a sort of daze," Madam Pomfrey's voice rang out as the head nurse walked over to their little scene, "I suspect he won't be much for conversation at the moment." She informed before casting some diagnostic spells over him, "Mister Potter, can you hear us?"
"Harry, stay still and rest," Hermione cooed after Harry tried to sit up, only to fall back down almost immediately. "Don't try moving so much."
He turned to look at her, a dazed look in his eye caused by the several pain relievers he was on. "Hey Squirrel. You…" whatever he was going to say died in his throat as he fell back asleep.
Ron overheard the entire thing and proceeded to start laughing, his raucous laughter muffled behind the still working privacy charms. He was driven into tears as Hermione squeaked "Squirrel?" as her face blushed furiously. Even Luna smiled.
"I think it's a nice nickname Hermione," Luna dreamily said. "Where'd it come from?"
"I've got no clue," Hermione admitted as she noticed their gazes on her, "I've never heard it before today."
"Well," Madam Pomfrey spoke up, "It looks like Mister Potter is still recovering. As I suspected, he'll be out until tomorrow at the least, now as for you," she looked at Hermione, "I've let you back in here on the condition that you wouldn't cause a scene again," she threw a glance over at Ron who had begun to calm down. "Although it looks like that won't be an issue now would it?"
"No Madam Pomfrey," Hermione admitted, embarrassed at being reminded of her punishment in front of Ron and Luna. "There's no issue with Ron and me anymore."
"Good," the elderly nurse replied, "Now, will you be staying as usual Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded in the affirmative, and Madam Pomfrey took her leave after reminding her that she'd have to leave before curfew. It was a few moments later that Luna reached over and hugged Harry's prone form before looking over at Hermione and Ron, who still seemed to be under the effects of the privacy charm. "Well," she said, "I think Harry's in good hands. I'll be leaving then. Hermione, where'd you leave Harry's broom?"
Hermione brew in a sharp breath, she'd forgotten all about his broom outside. "It's probably still in the hedges outside, where I left it." She admitted. "How did you know I came in here on a broom?"
"The Faceless Man told me," Luna said dreamily before laughing airily, "No, I'm kidding, I heard you crash. Bushes you say?" And with that she turned around and skipped out of the hospital wing.
"-that one," Ron's voice cut in, causing Hermione to turn to look at him. "Oh you heard me? The charms must have worn off."
"Must have," Hermione replied absentmindedly as she looked at Luna skip away. She turned back to Harry, who looked sound asleep. "Madam Pomfrey said he'd out until tomorrow didn't she?"
"S'pose she did," Ron answered. "Gonna go question her?"
"Yes." Hermione said before lowering herself over Harry, "I'll be back for you Harry." She then kissed him on the cheek before scurrying out of the hospital wing, hot on Luna's heels with butterflies in her stomach. When she reached the entrance doors she found Ginny outside.
"Ginny, what are you doing here?"
"Waiting to see Harry," she answered, "Is he still inside?" she asked.
"Yes but Madam Po-" Hermione didn't finish explaining as Ginny strode past her into the hospital wing, the doors closing behind her, "-mfrey said he'd be asleep." Hermione huffed at the girl's rudeness and continued on her way back out of the school. A short walk later she reached the small garden area that she'd landed in, a soft humming voice alerting her to Luna's presence.
"Luna?" she asked as she walked over to a row of bushes, "Is that you in there?"
Luna popped out of the shrubbery with several broken twigs and leaves tangled in her hair and a beetle crawling along her nose. "Look I found his broom." She said as she stepped out, Harry's Quidditch broom cradled in her hands and the beetle flying off. "And it's not broken and the Nargles hadn't stolen it yet. You know Nargles love to steal things, like my shoes, but they'd love to snatch something soo valuable away." Luna walked over to a nearby bench where she sat down and proceeded to check over the Firebolt, Hermione sitting down next to her.
"So what do you want to ask me Hermione?" Luna asked innocently as she picked broken twigs out of the end of the Firebolt, Hermione shifting uncomfortably next to her. "I bet you want to ask me what my relationship is with Harry right? Since you love him I mean."
Hermione wondered how Luna knew what she wanted to talk about. Either she was easily red or, more likely, Padma had talked to Luna at some point. "Yes, that's right Luna," Hermione answered as she wrung her hands together. Suddenly she dreaded hearing the truth. "Could you start at Slughorn's party?" she asked.
"Ok," Luna said as she finished cleaning the Firebolt. "Harry asked me to the party as friends, and I said yes so we went together. It was fun." She nodded happily with her explanation. "Oh!" she gasped as she saw Hermione motion to continue, "You want more then? Ok, on the way back me and Harry caught site of a Crumple Horned Snorkack and-"
"Luna," Hermione interrupted. "Please no jokes," she pleaded, "I just want to know if I still have a chance with Harry."
"Oh," Luna said as she looked at Hermione with her wide eyed expression. "Well… I won't say that were just friends that night, we did kiss." She went on in an even dreamier voice, a small blush coloring her cheeks. "It was my first kiss," she added in a happy tone as she touched her lips with one of her hands. "And it was nice." Luna looked at Hermione again, who was looking quite sick. "Hermione, let me finish my story before you run off crying ok?"
Hermione swallowed, her heart breaking at her words. She nodded slowly, though inside her mind was reeling. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.
"Well, after the party we just walked around. Harry had that map so we were able to avoid any Prefects or Mister Filch, we went up to the Astronomy tower for a while, though Harry wanted to avoid that for some reason. We just looked at the stars for a bit and talked, and then decided to go to bed. He walked me back down to the Ravenclaw tower and we hugged goodnight. He's nice." Luna said as she thought back on that night. "Over the break he owled me, it was nice to get mail from a friend. I'd never gotten that before. Harry found out from Ginny that I lived near the Burrow, and wondered if I could go over or if he could visit me." Luna paused for a moment, "So I went over a few times since Daddy was too busy to have guests over. Harry didn't seem to be getting along with Ron, so he was alone most of the time. We talked and played games or walked around. We did this for a few days. We got closer too."
Hermione was on the edge of her seat, her knuckles white from gripping the edge of the bench, she had a forced smile on her face and nodded, waiting for the story to turn bad.
"I think it was a few days before Christmas that the twins, Ginny and Harry and me went to have some fun on our brooms. We flew around for a bit, but the twins started playing their own game and Ginny had to go back inside to help Missus Weasley prepare some food. I thought I caught sight of a Flying Talking Mudcrab and raced after it. It was just my imagination. Oh well," Luna looked genuinely sad at that, but brightened up at her next few words. "Harry chased after me, and after I found out I was seeing things we raced around for a good while. It was fun."
Hermione saw a blush spread across Luna's cheeks again. "And something happened?" she hesitantly asked.
"Yes, we kissed again. When we were done flying around and landed back in the Burrow's yard, I realized I had to go home. I hugged Harry goodbye but then found out that we weren't ending the hug. We were both smiling and laughing and still out of breath from all the flying and it just happened." Luna sighed dreamily, "It just happened. We started kissing. It wasn't a friendly kiss like the one we gave each other at the party, it was one of those kisses that some of the older years give each other." She giggled lightly, "It's so weird that tongues feel so good."
Hermione suddenly stood up, tears welling up in her eye. "Well, I think I don't need to know anymore." Her lip was quivering and she struggled to force it into a smile, "I'm happy for you and-"
"You said you'd listen to me before you ran off crying." Luna said, "Please Hermione, sit down. I don't want to yell at you again and make you listen to me."
Hermione considered Luna's words, she didn't want to listen to Luna, but also realized that her legs were giving out under her, she was dizzy and felt like throwing up. She sat back down simply because she felt the energy leave her body.
"Thank you," Luna said, seemingly unaware of Hermione's rapidly plummeting spirits. "So, we were kissing and Ron came out and saw us, he was pretty mad about that, but I don't know why. We stopped kissing of course and I left to go back home." She paused and looked down at Harry's Firebolt. "It felt wrong to kiss him."
Hermione's hair whipped around as she suddenly turned to face Luna.
"Harry's nice, he's my friend. But when I kissed him like that I felt like I was stealing something. I think he knew it was wrong too, because he couldn't look me in the eye for a few days after that." Luna sighed as she handed over Harry's Firebolt to Hermione. "Here. This belongs with you."
Hermione took the Firebolt from her hands.
"Sorry for being mean," Luna added with a smile. "I don't like being mean but you deserved it."
"I did." The brunette agreed, gently patting the Quidditch broom while looking it over.
"He fancies you." Luna said, startling Hermione with her words. Luna had to smile at Hermione's face as it nearly glowed with happiness. "It took him a few days, but he realized he fancies you. That's why he felt weird when he kissed me."
"Really?" Hermione asked, scarcely believing her words. "Are you sure? You're not kidding are you?" she asked in a hurry.
"I'm not kidding. I'm sure he does. He told me so, I wouldn't lie to you like that Hermione. I don't like being mean." Luna added as if it was nothing.
Hermione felt amazing and nearly squealed in delight. He fancies me! She was suddenly glad that she had waited for Luna to finish, otherwise she'd be off in her dorm crying her eyes out at this moment. Instead she'd found out there was nothing between Harry and Luna. She turned to look at the younger girl who was kneeling down on the ground, picking at a nearby flower while muttering something. "Luna," Hermione called out to her, "Are you… Ok with me asking Harry out on a date?" she asked. "You don't?" She left her sentence unfinished, unsure why she suddenly cared what Luna thought.
"I said I felt like I was stealing something," Luna said as she stood up, picking a flower off of the ground and sticking it in her hair, "I felt like an Umgubular Slashkilter and Harry was like a Moon Frog. We wouldn't work as a pair, Harry would need another Moon Frog," she said with a significant look towards Hermione. "Just like you and Ron," she added. "You and Ron could have started dating, and maybe you'd be a good couple, but you wouldn't be great. You wouldn't be great like you'd be with Harry." She started walking around and picking up more flowers off of the ground. "My daddy told me that, after my mommy died," she said. "I once asked me why he didn't marry some other nice lady if he was lonely. I miss my mommy, but I want my daddy to be happy too. He said he was fine, he said he could fall in love with someone new, but that he'd never love that woman like he loved my mommy." She paused her gathering and turned back to Hermione, a few more beetles flying out of her hair as she did so. "We can all fall in love with different people, but there's only one person out there for each of us that'll be our one true love I think. If I stole Harry away from you and Ron stole you away from Harry… Well, we could be happy together, but we wouldn't be brilliant together like you and Harry would be. So I'm fine. I'll fine my own boy to be brilliant with one day. But Harry will always be my friend, I'm sure. I think he'll be in my life for a long while still."
"I'm sure he will, and I won't mind." Hermione flashed her a smile. She wasn't sure if it was because she'd gone through so many mood changes in the past few minutes but Luna's words made complete sense to her. If she paused to imagine a relationship, any sort of romantic future with Ron, she could admit that she'd be happy. But she'd also have to admit that there would be moments, perhaps numerous moments, where she wouldn't be. Where they'd argue and bicker, where they'd spend days on end without talking to each other over some trivial argument. Where they'd have a relationship that was completely unlike that of the ones she knew her parents had, like the one Mister and Missus Weasley had. They'd have a life where they were merely content with one another, not truly happy. But with Harry…
"You'll be brilliant." Luna supplied, as if she was reading her mind.
"Thank you Luna," Hermione beamed as she stood up, Harry's Firebolt in hand.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you," the blonde girl responded. "I don't like being mean. And you don't have to thank me, I didn't do anything."
Hermione walked over and hugged her, which seemed to startle the girl. "Thank you anyway."
"Oh, ok then." She said in a surprised tone.
"I'd like to be friends Luna," Hermione said while still hugging her. "Would you like to be my friend? You, me and Harry and maybe even Ron?"
"That'd be nice." Luna said in a small voice.
It was a few hours later, after Hermione and Luna had walked into the Great Hall to have lunch together, to sort out any misunderstandings they might have still had, to simply talk and get to know each other, that Hermione walked back into her dorm and ignored Lavender and Parvati's questioning looks that she lay down in her bed.
Harry fancies me! She thought over and over. If she wasn't so happy she'd be in pain over her constant smile, or she'd notice that she still hadn't seen Madam Pomfrey about her injured hand. Thinking about Harry brought on that funny feeling near the pit of her stomach, and now that she knew she didn't have to worry about Luna, and that Harry fancied her, she was on cloud nine. She couldn't wait until tomorrow when Harry woke up.
"Oh Harry," she whispered, "I hope you're ok."
She turned over in bed, unable to find any relaxing position to fall asleep in when she suddenly threw off her covers and sat up in bed. What am I doing here? She felt an indescribable need to see Harry, she felt wrong being asleep in her own bed while the boy she loved was knocked out in the hospital wing and a plan began to form in her mind. She slowly got dressed and tiptoed out of bed, casting glances over at her dorm mates and hoped that she hadn't woken any of them up. Everyone's asleep. With that she snuck out of her dorm and into the common room and found herself standing in front of the stairs that led to the boy's dorms. She knew from Hogwarts, A History that the stairs into the dorms were charmed to alert their Head of House if any one attempted to enter the dorms of the opposite genders, a security measure to prevent any illicit behavior between the students. However she'd also overheard gossip from some of the more daring Gryffindor girls that the security charms had long since failed and any girl could sneak up to the Gryffindor boy's dorm with no worry. Hermione, however, worried. She wasn't sure if she should trust the gossip or not. On one hand she hadn't heard of any girls being reprimanded for such behavior in the past… but on the other she wasn't even sure any of the current girls were up to any such behavior. And if the rumors were false and she did trip the security charms, how would they work? Would Professor McGonagall know it was her? Or would it simply be an alarm and she'd be able to run back before anyone knew it was her? I always heard love made you do crazy things. Hermione suddenly jut her foot onto the first step of the boy's dorm.
And nothing happened.
Nothing I know about at least. Hermione took caution to the wind and began to walk up the boy's dorms before she reached Harry's floor. She slowly pushed the door open and cast a look inside, satisfied that everyone seemed to be asleep. Luckily, since both Harry and Ron were in the hospital wing, only Neville, Seamus and Dean remained in the dorm, which meant she'd have an easier time sneaking in. She quickly found Harry's bed, and started rummaging through his trunk. She knew where he kept his Invisibility Cloak and quickly retrieved it before throwing it over herself, afterwards it was a quick search under his pillow for the Marauder's Map. She hesitated for a moment, feeling guilty for taking his possessions without permission. He had always said that she, along with Ron, were able to use his Cloak and Map whenever they wanted to, but it still felt odd to use them without his knowledge.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," she whispered as the map came alive, filling with the entire layout of Hogwarts and showing the location of all the people within. She quickly scanned the area around her to make sure no professors were converging on her location to catch her in the boy's dorm and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no movement at all. Except for a few patrols, everyone seemed to be asleep. She quickly made her way back out and into the common room.
If I'm caught… Hermione wondered, I can try to pass it off as my patrol night, or that I'm covering for another Prefect. No, that wouldn't work, if she was simply carrying out her Prefect duties, why would she be under an invisibility cloak, which was on the banned items list, carrying a map that most certainly would fall under a restricted item? Ok, she decided. I just won't get caught.
It was a brief but heart pounding jaunt through the castle later that Hermione entered the hospital wing, her nerves on edge because of all the sneaking around she'd just done. She made her way towards Harry's bed and immediately felt the entire experience was worth it as she saw his sleeping form. She touched his forehead, caressing that famous scar of his and lowered her head down to his as she pulled up the Cloak. "I told you I'd be back for you Harry. I'm never leaving you again." She drew closer and kissed him on the cheek again. The chair that Luna had used to sit next to him still stood by his side and Hermione pulled it closer to Harry's cot before sitting down on it.
Even in that uncomfortable chair, wrapped in a simple cloak to protect against the cold, she fell asleep so quickly. She smiled as she held his hand under the cloak, her heart fluttering with dreams of their future together.
She couldn't wait until tomorrow.