"I just can't do it, Luna. I just can't do it!"
"It's okay," said Luna. "You can do it."
"But I don't want to!"
"Okay then."
Hermione gave a great gulp and sipped the tea that Luna had brewed her. She grimaced; it was sickly sweet. "It just really hurt me. That's the main problem here."
"I think the main problem is that they don't know that they did it," said Luna softly. "You want them to apologise and they can't."
"Oh dear." Hermione set down the sweet tea and sighed. "It's just all a mess."
"Why don't you and Ron go out and have a date?" asked Luna.
"Why don't you and Neville go out and have a date?" returned Hermione. "Is it official yet?"
Luna shook her head sadly, and Hermione bit her lip. "He looked at Hannah the whole night," whispered Luna. "He didn't want to talk to me. He was too nice to say that, though."
"Oh Luna." Hermione squeezed her friend's hand. "Here I am going on about my problems, and you are going through something much harder than gossip."
"Your words are textbook perfect," said Luna. "I'm fine. I just need some snail slime on my tongue, and I'll be right as rain."
"If you say so!"
The Anna conversation was dropped, although not after Hermione had begun the hatching of a small plan.
/
Invitations were sent out from Hermione's office – three of them, identical, with thick white parchment and a red seal.
You are cordially invited to a small party at Hermione's home, to celebrate the New Year.
Address – 21 Cherry st, London.
Time – 6pm 31 December – 10am 1st January.
You are invited to stay the night. Please bring suitable clothes, pillows, and any sense of humour that you possess.
If you're doing anything else, please cancel. I expect to see you all there. Or else.
Love, Hermione xx
/
Anna knocked sharply on the office door. The maze that was the Malfoy Dungeon was a loud place, but the corner where Yaxley's office was situated was generally a quiet one.
"Come in." Anna stepped into the dimly lit room, shutting the door behind her.
"Sit," said Yaxley, pointing to the wooden chair in front of his desk. Anna sat. it was a full minute of Yaxley shifting through papers before he glanced at her again. "Yes, you wanted to see me for …"
"It's just," said Anna, "I don't quite know what I'm meant to be doing."
"What?"
"I'm close to Granger. Really close. Now what?"
Yaxley twiddled his quill, and looked at her from under his thick brows.
"I'm sorry if this seems impatient," added Anna hastily, glaring fiercely at Yaxley. "I'm just tired of not being giving information. When am I meant to meet the Dark Lord?"
"Patience," said Yaxley. "You are not yet ready."
"When will I be?"
Yaxley shook his head. "As to whether you're really close to Granger, will she eat out of your hand? Will she describe her greatest secret to you in immense, uncomfortable detail? Will she abandon her friends to make you happy?"
Anna scowled. "Yes. Probably. Yes."
"Prove it," said Yaxley. "You will know the rest of the plan when you are ready. You're dismissed."
And with that, he pointed to the door. It opened.
Anna took her cue to leave.
/
At ten past six on New Year's Eve, there was a rumble in Hermione's fireplace. Out jumped Ron, and a moment later, Harry. "How are you!" cried Hermione, hugging Harry and giving Ron a quick kiss.
"Please don't tell me I'll be third wheeling all night," sighed Harry dramatically, throwing his bag down in the corner of Hermione's living room.
"I'll make sure you're not," laughed Hermione.
"Nevermind, I'll just record the snogging."
"You wouldn't dare …"
"Try me!"
Hermione threw a cushion at him, while Ron called from the kitchen, "Where's the cocoa, 'Mione?"
"Second cupboard – oh, never mind," muttered Hermione, rushing to help Ron. "I tell you this every time …"
Harry grinned to himself as he listened to Hermione and Ron's flirting. It never grew old – but it did make him miss … something.
Maybe it was just the prolonged absence of a plus one. He hadn't been able to bring himself to date anyone since … since the war. It had just been all too much. Maybe he was ready now. Listening to Ron and Hermione made him wish that he had someone …
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," called Hermione, and she raced out of the kitchen and through the living room to the front entrance. "How are you?" heard Harry, as he settled into Hermione's comfortable sofa.
He glanced at Ron. Ron was frozen in the doorway, staring at the front door. Harry turned – to see Hermione, and – of all people – Anna. She was wearing a black dress that made her look three times taller than Hermione – and very attractive.
Harry caught that last thought, and threw it away into a deep corner of his mind, throwing away the key. There.
"I – I thought it was just us, Hermione?" said Ron.
Hermione bristled, and Harry sighed inwardly. "I didn't know I had to tell you everyone I was inviting, Ronald."
"Right. Sorry. How are you, Anna?"
Anna flashed Ron a smile. "Well, thank you. Hello, Harry."
"Hello," said Harry.
Anna smiled at him, and something in his stomach did a great big flip.
Hermione was saying something about sleeping arrangements and ordering pizza. Anna put her bag down in the corner, and Harry remembered to stop staring. Anna sat down next to him on the other side of the sofa.
Hermione came back from the kitchen with the drinks. "There you are," she said, plonking the bottles down on the table.
"You don't drink, do you Anna?" said Harry.
"No." Anna shook her head. "I'm sorry Hermione, but I try to stay away from alcohol."
"Just once won't hurt," said Ron, pouring himself a glass.
Harry could see Anna's mind whirring, and she bit her lip.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," said Harry quickly. "It's up to you."
"I'll just have one," said Anna, with a little uncharacteristic giggle.
Hermione shrugged with a smile, and handed everyone glasses full of firewhiskey. "Here's to the New Year!"
"To the New Year!"
Glasses clinked. Wine flowed. Heads buzzed.
/
Fuzz grew and faded in the corner of the room.
The world
T
I
L
T
E
D
And then righted itself.
Harry's head was a brick wall. Then it was a boiling pot of water. Ouch. He wasn't making sense. He couldn't imagine how Hermione would feel. Hermione –
Hermione!
Harry sat up straight. He was lying on the floor in the passage. The front door was ajar.
He groggily got to his feet. The world lurched and then fixed itself again.
He peered into the living room. Ron was lying on the couch, asleep, snoring slightly.
Putting his head round the kitchen wall, his first thought was that the kettle was boiling.
The second thought was that he never wanted to look at food or alcohol ever again.
The third thought was an observation; Hermione was sitting at the kitchen table, her head in her arms.
Harry approached her, each step a pounding effort.
Suddenly, Hermione lurched up and glared at him. "Harry Potter, nice to see you're awake! Now that you're up, you can leave, thank you very much!"
"Now now, 'Mione," said Harry. He sat down at the table heavily.
"None of that!" Harry peered at Hermione from under his heavy eyelids. He immediately noticed that she was furious; the soft and rapid fury that meant he was really in trouble. "You can leave! Right! Now! Both you and Ron!"
"What did I do?"
"Don't you remember?" she hissed. Harry shook his head. "Oh Merlin, remember, dammit Harry!"
Harry closed his eyes and searched his memory. Whisps greeted him, drunken, tipsy whisps of memories …
They are playing truth or dare. He doesn't know whose idea it had been, but they are playing it.
"Truth," says Ron.
Hermione giggles stupidly. "Have you ever wanted to break up with me?"
Anna points her finger accusingly at Ron. "You can't lie, I'll know if you lie!" she laughs.
Ron, although very drunk, looks sheepish. "Yes."
"Pardon?"
"Only once." Ron takes a gulp of beer. "And you don't gettoknowwhy. Who'snext."
Hermione is glaring. She gets up to go to the bathroom, disappearing into the dark. Harry says, "I'll go."
"Truth or dare."
"Dare."
"Kiss Anna," says Ron, bursting into laughter.
"Very well," says Harry. He turns to Anna. "Anna, do you consent to be kissed?" They are all laughing.
Anna's eyes are wide as they could possibly be. She closes her eyes and nods.
Harry leans in.
The kiss is wonderful.
After a moment, his face grows wet – he opens his eyes and is surprised to see that Anna is crying. Water is literally pouring out of her eyes. She is glaring fiercely.
He pulls away, and she –
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The kettle was boiling; a long drawn out scream. Harry groaned at the sound. Hermione hurriedly wiped away tears and got up to pour the water into a mug.
Harry snatched at the memories, but they were gone – ruined by a boiling kettle.
"I don't fully remember what happened," he said, rubbing his temples.
Hermione turned around. "You tried to kiss Anna, that's what happened." Her face was white with fury. "She didn't want to be kissed. Your forced her to kiss you. Ron put you up to it, he said the dare, but you. Kissed. Her."
"Hang on –"
"Don't hang on me." Hermione's voice was low. "You leave my house. You do not come back. You do not speak to Anna ever again. Do you hear me."
"I'll go, 'Mione, but that's not what happened –"
"OUT."
Harry hurriedly got up and left, as fast as his sore head would let him. He could almost feel Hermione's glare on his back.
What a way to welcome in the New Year, he thought, as he arrived with a crack outside his front door. The green paint on the door was peeling slightly, and he sighed. "Hope you're a good one, '99."