After what felt like many hours, a few people had finally granted Harry's unspoken wishes, and gone up to bed. Shortly after, Ron had risen to his feet.
"I'll get this done tomorrow" he said, sounding slightly exasperated, "That practice really took it out of me".
Harry and Hermione bade him goodnight, and continued on with their Charms homework, still wary of Fred and George, who they knew were lurking around the common room somewhere, and without any more first years to torture, were likely to catch them out. To Harry's relief however, they soon followed suit, leaving only a small group of students huddled across the other side of the room, none of which they knew particularly well. He decided it was now safe enough to relax a touch.
"So I've been thinking…" he began, frantically trying to work the words he needed, "about Ron…-"
"I don't think we should tell him just yet" she said, cutting him off. To his relief, the quickness of her reply confirmed his suspicion that she had been thinking it over as much as him.
"Maybe not…" he started, "but it's getting a little frustrating to have to be so secretive".
"I know" she agreed, "but I think we should at least wait a week. There's a quidditch game on Saturday, and his confidence is low enough as it is. He doesn't need anything more to worry about just yet".
Harry was visibly surprised. He had not even thought of this, and was sincerely glad Hermione was so on top of things, much more than he was.
"I take it you agree" she said, with a slight grin at the look on his face.
"Yeah I guess so" he said, reaching out for her hand. "It will be a tough week though".
"Tell me about it" she agreed, grasping his hand in return, "but there's only a few days till the Christmas break after the game, we can do it then".
Harry could see no immediate problem with this, and a wave of relief rushed over him. He walked over and settled himself in Hermione's chair, suddenly feeling much more energetic than he did just minutes ago.
"So what was it like watching quidditch practice anyway?" she inquired, once again without even looking up.
"Painful" he replied, "it feels like forever since I last got to fly".
"You know…We should go out for a fly tonight!" she said suddenly, looking up at him, her face alight with the mischievous grin he had seen so much of recently.
Harry gaped at her. "You hate flying", he said, in a slightly awed voice.
"I know" she agreed, "but I'm sure it will be fun with you". "...You'll take it easy, right?" she added suddenly, looking slightly apprehensive.
"Of course" he laughed, "but there's just a slight problem; we don't have a broom, Umbridge has mine locked up".
"I know" she said rising to her knees and looking excited, "but I think I know where we can get one".
"Where?" Harry enquired, clearly surprised.
"You'll see" she winked, "just go and fetch your cloak and map in a few minutes".
Harry could hardly believe what he was hearing, but didn't question it. Waiting till he was sure the rest of his dorm would be asleep, he snuck up as quietly as possible and retrieved his invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map, then ran back down to Hermione.
"You weren't thinking of taking Ron's broom were you?" he enquired, "or trying to get mine back?" he added, quietly hoping this was the case, though he was almost sure it was impossible.
"No, no" she said while neatly stacking her books, "though I think I may know a way to get yours back, but we would need more time to think it over".
"Really?" he asked in surprise, "…but then we are we going tonight?" he added.
"You'll see" she repeated, her grin growing wider, "just get under the cloak and let me lead the way".
Before Harry knew quite was happening, she had thrown the cloak over them both and set off towards the portrait hole. Harry frantically activated the map as he half ran to keep up with her. This proved somewhat pointless however, as Hermione didn't show the slightest interest in what the map said.
After a thoroughly confusing few minutes of scurrying, Hermione had come to a halt. Harry looked past her to see where they were.
"The Room of Requirement?" he asked, in a great state of confusion, "what are we doing here?"
"Well", she started, eyeing him as though she could hardly believe he still didn't understand. "We require a broom don't we? Where else would we go?"
Harry, finally catching on, allowed a broad grin to spread across his face. It was so simple yet brilliant. They proceeded to walk past the wall three times, thinking hard, Harry praying their need was considered real enough to be granted by the room. We need a broom. We need a broom. We need a broom. Suddenly, the door materialized. Opening it quietly as possible, they discovered a plain, dusty old broom cupboard. Upon further inspection however, they unveiled a shiny new Firebolt, much like Harry's, though in what appeared to be unused condition, hidden right in the back corner. Grinning broadly, Harry snatched it up, made sure it was fully concealed beneath the cloak as a rush of excitement sped through him, and together they took off across the grounds towards the quidditch pitch, Harry feeling much more enthusiastic about it than he had done just hours earlier.