Somehow I discovered this chapter in my pc and I don't know why I had not uploaded it. Well, I know the time lapse between each chapter has been very long. Pardon me for the delay T_T
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar to the world of Harry Potter.
Hermione buried her face into a large tome and shook her head wildly. She couldn't believe what she had just done in broad daylight. What if someone had seen them? What if Ron had seen them? It would only serve to fuel his anger even further. She groaned into the book. There was a time and place for everything.
"I hope you're not trying to smother yourself with a book."
Hermione raised her head and smiled at Harry. "Good morning."
"Where's Ron? He said he was going to the library first. I was quite surprised to hear that," said Harry as he slowly scanned the titles on the shelves.
Hermione wordlessly held up Ron's wand. Harry's eyebrows rose and his jaw dropped.
"What happened? Is he injured? Why do you have his wand?" asked Harry, stumbling over his words as he tried to ask all questions at once.
"He's physically fine, Harry. I took his wand from him." Hermione turned away and let out a sigh.
"Why?"
"Oh, Harry! Ron was being such a-"
"An ass?" completed Harry, resuming his search for a suitable book.
"Yes." Hermione plucked a book from the shelf and thrust it into Harry's hands. "This should be relevant for your part of the essay."
"Thanks. Shall we take a seat then?"
The two of them walked to a quiet corner where there was a narrow table and two seats. Hermione almost slammed her tome down in frustration.
"He is so utterly stupid, Harry. He tried to hex Draco in the corridors but Draco blocked his spell and I expelled his wand," explained Hermione, flipping the pages in her tome.
"But why would he do that all of a sudden?" asked Harry, resting his arms on top of the book in front of him.
"Well, you know how Draco can be. He likes to tease. And he sort of hinted there might be something between me and him -"
"Is there something you should be telling me?" Harry cocked an eyebrow, leaning his head on his hand.
Hermione's face turned pink instantly. She could feel the heat and knew that she couldn't hide it from Harry. "We're together."
Harry's eyes widened. "Since when?"
"Yesterday."
Harry nodded and opened his book. "Go on about Ron."
"So Ron got all worked up just like that and sent a hex. I may have called him stupid for doing that," said Hermione drawing imaginary circles on the page.
"Hermione," said Harry, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I know I shouldn't have done that. It just came out."
"You aren't going to give that excuse to Ron, are you?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
Hermione rested her forehead on the tome. "It's not an excuse. And no, I can't possibly tell him that. What should I do?"
"Apologise to him," said Harry simply.
"It didn't look as if a simple apology would cut it."
"Maybe some roasted chicken to go along with it?" Harry grinned.
Hermione gave him a playful punch. "He's not a pig."
"He likes his food."
"Agreed."
"But it didn't really work too well the last time, did it?"
Hermione shook her head. "Why is he so sensitive?"
Harry shrugged. "He just compares himself to both of us. Weren't you the one who said that last time?"
Hermione nodded. "Ron never had much attention because his family is large. And you had the attention from everyone because ... you're part of Wizarding history. Ron isn't fabulous in his studies while I make up my lack of pureblooded-ness with my academic results."
"So, you mean, he's just jealous we've been paying attention to Malfoy?"
"Yes. Exactly."
Harry frowned. "But we weren't ignoring Ron."
"It doesn't matter. He just wants it to be the three of us. Like how it always was."
"'The Golden Trio'?"
Hermione nodded.
"I thought Ron disliked that label," said Harry, his eyebrows shooting past his fringe.
"He just pretended to dislike it. Why would he dislike the label? 'The Golden Trio' are part of wizarding history now."
Harry smacked his forehead. "I know exactly what Ron needs." He stood up abruptly, the screech of the chair earning a glare from Madam Pince who was sorting the shelves nearby. "Let's go."