Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan, released in 1965) [here's a nice live performance from 1964, at Newport; does he look a bit nervous?] v=OeP4FFr88SQ
There's also the 1965 cover by the Byrds (v=ShgRJqdaTrI); a nice take, but why did they change "There is no place I'm going to" to "There ain't no place ..."? Ouch!
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That afternoon, not yet aware that Lavender had awakened, Hermione and company arrived to visit her. They were overjoyed to find her awake, alert, and able to talk. The toxins and evil spells had all been dispelled, and though she was weary, Lavender was sitting up, smiling, and pleased to have company. Mrs. Brown was sitting in her usual place beside the bed, and Padma and Parvati also were in the room, as was Mr. Brown. He was a tall, physically robust man, but Hermione sensed a deep sadness and resignation in his demeanor. As Hermione recalled what Mrs. Brown had said of him, she reflected on the manner in which the burdens carried by one person can affect the lives of others around them. And she considered again how casually she had dismissed Lavender's exuberant behavior through the years as evidence of immaturity. First impressions can be deceiving; and second and third impressions too, for that matter.
Introductions were made all around, and each of the visitors, in turn, hugged and kissed Lavender, and told her how glad they were to see her awake and recovering. Nobody was ashamed to be seen wiping his or her eyes.
Hermione found a seat by Mr. Brown, and told him what a wonderful and inspiring friend Lavender was. As she was speaking with him, a Healer walked by in the hall, and seeing eight visitors in the room, he said that at least four of them would have to leave. Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and the Patil sisters, insisted on leaving for a while, so that Lavender could spend some time with those who had just arrived.
Hermione followed Parvati into the hall, and quietly asked her if she had told Lavender anything about their recent discussion over tea. "Not a thing," said Parvati. "You and I agreed that she and Ron should be free to navigate on their own, didn't we?" Hermione smiled and nodded, and soon she was back in the room, happily chatting with Lavender, along with Harry, Ron, and Ginny.
Lavender seemed strong enough to hear about the people who had been lost in the battle, nor did she wish to be spared news of any of the tragic losses. She wept on hearing of the deaths of Fred and Colin, and Professors Snape and Lupin, and others. "I always felt that Professor Snape was a good person," she said, "even during that awful seventh year when he was Headmaster. His behavior always seemed a bit artificial. In fact, I began to feel sure that he was playing a double game when Ginny and some others were caught trying to steal the Sword of Gryffindor from his office, and their punishment was simply to be sent to the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid."
Lavender turned to Ginny as she continued: "As I recall, you returned a couple of hours later, and apparently no worse for the experience."
"Quite the opposite," said Ginny. "We had fun in there. Hagrid showed us some unicorns and other forest creatures, and it was great to get away from the castle for a while."
At this point, Hermione abruptly announced that she'd like to have a cup of tea, and she asked Harry and Ginny to join her, saying there was something she wished to discuss with them. It was obvious to everyone that she was arranging to leave Ron and Lavender together, and although some of the party didn't see this as a great idea, Hermione eventually prevailed.
With the others gone, it was suddenly quiet in the room. Ron and Lavender looked at each other for a moment, and both of them smiled. Lavender asked, "Is there something going on that I should know about?"
Ron replied, "Hermione didn't tell me that she was going to leave us alone like this, but I think she wants us to settle a few things from last year. She and I took a walk the other day, and she told me about the scheme you all worked on me during sixth year."
Lavender nodded, and said, "I thought she would get around to telling you about that sometime, and I agree, it's best that you know. Ron, I'm really sorry for the embarrassment and pain that we caused you. And I hope you weren't too angry with Hermione when she told you about it. It was really my fault more than hers ..."
Ron didn't answer right away. He looked at Lavender for a few moments, and then spoke: "Actually, I wasn't angry at all. She was expecting me to be, and she waited until we were far away from the house before telling me. For a minute or two, after it all came out, I did think that I was going to be angry, but it kind of struck me that I didn't really mind, and that got me wondering why. I don't need to go through the whole story now, but part of it was that I know I was pretty awful that year. When I considered that, I began to realize that what you did wasn't such a bad thing."
Lavender thought for a minute, and then replied, "Look, Ron, I had mixed feelings about it then, and I still do. But at the time, taking everything into consideration, I felt that it was the right thing to do. You and Hermione were fighting like Hippogriffs and Acromantulas, and it was awful to see you two carrying on that way. I knew you were both good people, and good friends down deep, but somehow you couldn't seem to work things out. And I also saw how Harry was trapped in the middle, trying to keep the peace between you two. The three of you had always been such a good team, and you'd done so much together through the years. I don't know if you believe in fate, or predestination, or things like that, but it just seemed to me that you had bigger challenges still to come, and that you had to find a way to start working together again. But I also knew that we were being manipulative. And of course, I also felt ridiculous about all that gooey, sticky-sweet behavior, and the constant clinging and phoney laughter. I hope you realize now that that's not the real me."
"Yeah, I've figured that much out. And a few of Ginny's stories about what you did during the past year also helped me to see that. I like the way you made trouble for those lowlifes who were running the school. I really like the name of your little gang, and the way you pushed back. And I especially like the attitude. But I'm still trying to figure out exactly who the real you is - I mean are. You know, Lavender, now that it's all behind us, I feel like we should just try to forget that whole sixth year."
"Yes, I agree," said Lavender, and with a smile she continued: "'In such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable.'"
Ron asked, "Is that a line from something?"
"Jane Austen."
Ron rolled his eyes in mock disapproval, but said, "Actually, it's pretty funny."
"Yes, she can be hilarious, in her quiet little way. But more important, she can show how petty and mean some people can be. And also how even the very best people can be shortsighted and foolish, and create a lot of trouble for themselves and others. Like you and Hermione that year. But she usually provides a happy ending."
"Well, as for happy endings, I should tell you that Hermione and I did finally get together, as a couple. But we've already broken up."
"That's too bad, Ron; I always thought you two would be a good couple someday."
"So did I. For a very long time. We had our ups and downs during the years, but I thought it would work out some day. I don't even want you to know about some of the awful things I did last year, when we were traveling together. But during the final battle, Hermione and I finally connected. And then, after we all went back to my house, it just kind of faded away. We were both surprised by that. But it's been a few weeks now, and we're fine again. You know, just friends.
"But I want to tell you something else, Lav, just for the record, so you'll know. Before sixth year, before I was fighting with Hermione, and before you were running your little operation on me, I actually liked you. You know, really liked you. I was pretty conflicted, because I had those feelings for both you and Hermione, and I didn't know how to sort it out. Then I thought that my strange year with you had settled it all, because I disliked that time so much. But if that wasn't the real you, I actually don't know how you and I might get along, do I?"
"Ron, please don't tease me. I know who I am. Even though I exaggerated my behavior that year, we both know that I've always been the silliest girl in the school."
Ron smiled now, and said, "Lavender, I'm not teasing you. And as for silliness, that's not how it ever looked to me. Before sixth year, I always saw you as someone who knew how to laugh, someone who could take a joke, and give it back just as good. And I remember times when you found little ways to make people feel better, when you saw that they had problems, like when they were homesick, or afraid, or just unhappy for some reason. You always seemed to know when people needed a bit of cheering up, and I remember the things you did that made them feel better. You know, a little gift, or a joke, or one of those little cartoon doodles that you used to draw, with two people talking to each other.
"And then, after the truth came out about you and McClaggen, and we heard that you'd pushed him off when he went after you, and told him to watch out, I was really pleased, and not just because I didn't like him. I realized that you could be tough when you needed to be, that you could take care of yourself, but you didn't have to advertise. I like that in a person.
"And this is not going to sound like me, but I've always liked the way you dressed. What do people call that, a personal style? You know, like that blue and yellow striped sweater you used to wear, and that fuzzy hat, and those bows on the ends of your braids. Playful, you know? You always dressed the way you liked, instead of the way someone else thought was proper. And keep in mind that I never notice what anyone is wearing; but I always noticed you.
"And I remember one time, in Hogsmeade, when I was sitting there at the Three Broomsticks with Harry and Hermione. We were always worried about something, and that day was no different, and in the midst of it I remember looking up and seeing you, a few tables away, laughing about something with Parvati and Padma and some other folks, and, well ..."
"And what?"
"I just liked the way you laughed, and I remember thinking, 'I want to be at her table.'"
"Ron, that's very sweet of you to say. But look, you've said a lot, so let me tell you something now: I've never thought of it in quite those terms, but I like the way you put it; and I want to be at your table too. The truth is, I liked you too, for a long time, but you were always caught up in some life-or-death situation with Harry and Hermione, and I felt that I shouldn't disturb you, that big things were going on, and that you three were part of it all, that you had a job to do."
"Yeah, that was our life for all those years. But now it's over, isn't it? So maybe the time has come for us to try sitting at the same table, and see how it works?"
"Yes, I'd really like to do that. But do you know what I want to do first? To kind of clear the air, and start things over?"
"No, what?"
"I'd like to kiss you, Ron, the way I always really wanted to, and maybe drive away the memories of those other times ..."
Ron smiled, and said, "And do you think I'll be able to tell the difference?"
"There's only one way to find out. And I think a good rule is that less is more."
Ron walked over and sat on the bed, facing Lavender. He looked into her eyes, and said, "So it's going to be the real thing this time? A real kiss, from the real Lavender Brown?" Lavender nodded. They closed their eyes, and moved slowly towards each other, until their lips barely touched. And then they moved a tiny bit closer, and kissed for several seconds. As they drew apart, and opened their eyes, they smiled.
Ron said, "I agree, less is more. That was nicer than any of the thousand that came before it."
"And you know something, Ronny," said Lavender, thoughtfully, "it seems to me that with sufficient practice, we might even improve our technique."
Now they heard the voices of the others coming down the hall, and Ron quickly rose and returned to one of the chairs in the room. Lavender smiled, and said, "Scaredy cat!" as Ron blushed.
As the group entered, Ginny and Harry were suppressing smiles as they looked from Ron to Lavender and back again, as though they were now partners to a secret.
After some friendly talk, Hermione asked Lavender if it would be alright for her to drop by early the next day. Lavender agreed, and soon the four visitors were on their way out, with warm good-byes all around. The last to speak was Lavender, who called out, "Bye, Won-Won!" to general laughter.
As they walked down the hall, Ginny turned to Ron and said, "Just a word of advice, Won-Won: You need to be very careful around the Bad-Ass Witches; they know how to take care of themselves." Harry and Hermione broke into laughter.
Ginny expected Ron to be irritated, at least a little bit, but he surprised her by smiling and answering, "Yes, Gin, I'm aware of the risks. But for some reason, I feel like I need a bit more of that kind of danger in my life." The whole group laughed again as they stepped onto the lift.
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The following morning, Hermione entered Lavender's room before her parents arrived. Lavender was already dressed, seated in one of the chairs, and finishing her breakfast.
"You're looking great, Lav!" said Hermione.
"Thanks. And I'm feeling pretty good too. I just had to get out of that bed. I'm not ready for anything strenuous yet, but I know that I have to get up and move about if I'm going to make it back to normalcy."
"I'm so happy to see you feeling better. But I have to admit that I'm here to apologize for something. Did Ron tell you what I told him the other day?"
"Only that you confessed to the scheme that we ran on him."
"Well then, he's better at keeping secrets than I am." Now Hermione lowered her voice, and said, "I told him about your special ability. I know I promised you that I would keep it secret, but the only way I could see to explain to him why we manipulated him that way was to make it clear that we had higher motivations than his and my personal relationship. I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Hermione. I'll talk to him about it. And it's not like it's top secret, the way it was before, it's just something that I don't want to be spread around too much. Actually, when I spoke to Ron yesterday, about my behavior that year, I glossed over the part about exactly why we ran the scheme; I just said that it was about his relationship with you and Harry, and he never questioned it. And then we got onto other subjects. But he did tell me that the two of you broke up. Is there anything I should know about that?"
"Not really. We suddenly found each other during the battle, but later, after things cooled down a bit, we decided that something wasn't really there. We were hanging around a lot with Harry and Ginny, and watching them draw closer and closer together. And I guess we both just felt the contrast, like those two seemed so right together, and we didn't."
"And that's all? No major scene?"
"No, none at all."
"And may I ask you something about yesterday, when you left him alone with me? We both knew that you dragged Harry and Ginny away to give the two of us a chance to talk, but did you have any inkling that he'd ever had feelings for me before sixth year?"
"Oh Lav, the honest answer to that is 'yes', but at this point I'm trying to get out of the manipulation business! I just thought that the two of you had some unfinished business to attend to, and that a little chat would be helpful. The rest is entirely up to you two."
"Thanks; that sounds fine. You know, Hermione, I remember one time, way back, when you told me that we were playing a dangerous game. Maybe now we can declare that game officially over. Ron and I will be back to school this fall, and we'll just have to see what develops. Hmmm, I wonder what people will think if it all starts to heat up between us again."
Hermione smiled, and fanned her face with one hand, pretending to be overheated, as she said, "Somehow, Lav, if it does begin to heat up between the two of you, I don't think either of you will care a whit about what anyone else thinks. And by the way, I expect complete reports from all of you! Well, I know that Ron will never write, but if I hear from you and Ginny and Harry, I should be able to piece things together."
"You're not coming back?"
"No, I've actually graduated. Professor McGonagall showed up at the Weasleys' house and presented me with a diploma. I'm going to travel for a while, and think about my future."
"And do Ron and Harry know that they won't be able to copy your assignments?"
"Ha! I hadn't thought of that! Well, at this point they haven't focused on that yet. They're mostly thinking about the Bad-Ass Quidditch team they're going to build. But I suppose it will dawn on them at some time that there may be some academic demands."
The two were laughing together as Lavender's parents entered the room. Hermione greeted them, and after they had settled in, she said to them, "Mr. and Mrs. Brown - I mean, Robert and Lucy - I want to tell you something about your wonderful daughter. And about me as well. For the first five years at school, I didn't understand how fortunate I was to have Lavender as a roommate. And that was my fault entirely, because I allowed myself to be misled by superficialities. But in sixth year she helped me open my eyes to a lot of things I'd never appreciated before. I'm so happy, and so lucky, and so proud, to have her as a dear friend, and I'm so glad that the three of you can be together again."
"That's very touching, Hermione," said Mrs. Brown.
Mr. Brown smiled, and said, "Thank you, Hermione, you're very kind."
"I'm leaving, later today, to do some traveling," Hermione continued. "My first stop will be in Australia, to bring my parents back home, after I restore their memories. They're non-magical, and I removed their memories of me a year ago, and sent them away, to protect them during the war. So if I seem a bit weepy today, it's partly because I'm going to see my Mum and Dad for the first time in more than a year. But I'll write, and keep in touch with all of you."
Hermione hugged and kissed Lavender and her parents, then walked out of the room and down to the street, and apparated back to the Burrow. Once there, she hunted up Harry and Ron and Ginny, and asked them to take a walk with her.
After they had walked for a while, she said, "I'm leaving today, and I don't expect to be back for another year or so. Professor McGonagall has asked me to teach at Hogwarts, and I'm planning to start in September of next year."
"Where are you going?" asked Ginny.
"First, to bring my parents home, and spend some time with them. We have a lot of catching up to do. And then, well, it may sound strange, but I've decided that I have to explore the world a bit, to experience some new things. Look, Ginny, I don't know if we ever told you everything about the Horcruxes, and how we found them, but I was always fascinated by something that Harry told us about one of them. When he returned from the cave where Salazar Slytherin's locket was hidden - the false locket, as it turned out - Harry said that Professor Dumbledore had found the location by sensing an aura, or shadow, or afterglow, or something like that, of the powerful magic that had been used at that spot. He said that this aura remains, as a kind of signature, wherever great magic has been performed. I think he also used that quality to find the ring, in the old shack where the Gaunt family had lived. That was dark magic, in both of those cases, but this signature is a quality of all really powerful magic. It's a link between the past and the present.
I've been reading up on these auras for a while, what little is known of them, and training myself to sense them, to feel them, and learn about them. That's one of the reasons that I'm interested in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy; they often hold clues to these things. And there are places in the world where great magic has been used, in some cases for thousands of years, and in forms unlike those we're familiar with in Britain. Some of these places are known, even to non-magical people, like Stonehenge, and Uluru, and Chaco Canyon, but others are more obscure. I want to work on my ability to sense the magic in these places, to learn from it, and I'm hoping to find other locations like them. These auras seem to represent connections to past events.
"And I've also been thinking about predestination, about how Seers can perceive future events, and make prophecies, and it seems to me that these connections must run in both directions - magical strings of some sort - that unite the present with the past and future. But not much has been written about this, just an occasional comment in certain books to something called "string theory." And if I want to know more about it, I need to go out into the world, meet people, and experience the magic.
"And this is part of something bigger that's been happening to me for the past couple of years. I've been surprised, blindsided even, by things that I never would have believed are real, and I've learned that a lot of what's really important in the world can't be found in books." Now Hermione smiled, and said, "Don't ever tell anyone I said that," and the others broke into laughter.
"I have plenty of book knowledge, and a diploma, but now I need to understand some other aspects of how the world works. I'm going to visit places where great magic has been used, places where it's still being used today, but not in the forms that we've learned at school. I'm trying to connect some of these bigger things.
"And all of you have helped me to get to this point, where I can see that there's a bigger world out there than I ever imagined, and so have Parvati and Padma and Lavender and Luna and Neville and so many others. I love all of you so much!"
"But you'll come back, right?" asked Ron.
"Oh yes, I'm still me. I'm not going to wander forever, but I am going to take my time on this. And it's not all work and study. I have a few other plans as well. I'm planning to hit a few beaches, watch the stars roll around in the sky, feel the wind blow in the Andes, and I don't know what else. I'm going to get out there for a while, drift around, and see what happens. I just feel like I need to know what it's like to be my opposite."
"Maybe not your opposite, Hermione, but your complement?" said Harry.
Hermione thought for a moment, and said, "Yes, maybe that; my complement."
Now they turned back toward the Burrow, and as they walked, the group straggled apart a bit. For a while, Hermione walked with Ginny, with Ron and Harry several steps ahead of them. Then Ginny joined the two boys, and Harry dropped back and joined Hermione. They slowed their pace, and soon Ron and Ginny were far ahead.
As they walked along, Harry said, "Hermione, there's something I want to ask you, but after what you said back there, about exploring, and learning more about magic in the world, I'm afraid it will sound rather mundane."
"What is it, Harry?"
"Well, you and I and Ron, after all the time we've spent together, through the past seven years, dealing with all of those challenges ..."
"Yes?"
"After all of that, Hermione, we finally made it through. Somehow, we all survived. And now, I mean, you never really know, but Ron and I are in relationships, or in Ron's case, maybe not quite, but things look promising for him and Lavender ..."
"And I'm alone. Is that it?"
"Yeah, that's kind of my question ... Did you ever think that ... "
"That you and I might end up together?"
"Yes. Or you and Ron? Because I thought about it a lot, all through the years. Even when we were little, and I didn't really understand much about what being 'with someone' really meant, beyond knowing that grownups get married and have families. It's just something I've always wondered about ... "
"And you're asking if I thought about those things, about love, and marriage, and my future life?" Harry nodded, and Hermione replied: "Yes, Harry, I did. Every single day."
"Hermione, your plan for the next year is brilliant. It's just an amazing thing you're going to do, and I know you're going to work things out that nobody's ever understood before. And I have a feeling that you're going to write a book or two about it all. But speaking for a moment as your old friend, who first met you on a train one day, when neither of us had a clue about what was coming ... I'm just wondering if, well, if you're going to be happy."
Hermione stopped walking, and she turned and looked at Harry. After a long pause, she spoke: "I've been asking that myself. And I've also been asking myself if I'm really doing this for the reasons I told you, to see those places, and experience the magic, or if I'm just trying to get away on my own for a while, to work things out in my head. I guess it's a little of both."
"And?"
"And I've decided that none of us really knows what's next. You know, Harry, if we were characters in a book, everything would unfold in a certain way that ultimately made sense. It would be like the author was a Seer, who knew how it was all going to work out, and then it would happen that way. But we're not in a book, are we? We're living our lives in this crazy, unpredictable world, and we never know what's waiting for us around the next corner. So we have to move forward, try to do our best in the time we have, and see what tomorrow brings. And somewhere down the road, I don't know when or where, I'll find out what's next for me. Maybe, somewhere in Peru, or India, or Morocco, or in the middle of London, I'll run into someone on a train, just like I met you and Ron that day, and my whole life will change."
Without another word, Harry took a step toward Hermione, and put his arms around her. They hugged and wept quietly for a long while, then separated and turned back toward the Burrow.
An hour later, after emotional good-byes to all, Hermione lifted her pack, walked out to the garden, and disapparated.
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That evening, around twilight, Ginny was sitting in the garden with Ron and Harry, idly watching a gnome struggling to dig up a carrot. They had been reminiscing about their years with Hermione. It was strange to think that she wouldn't be at school with them that Fall, that they wouldn't be seeing her for a year or more, and Ginny said, to nobody in particular, "I just hope she'll be alright."
Harry replied, "I think she will. She's out exploring now, learning new things about the world, and about herself; and have we ever seen Hermione fail at that?"
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Thank you for reading! rj
