Chapter 44

Hermione and Ron lay collapsed against each other under a tree halfway between Hagrid's Hut and the Black Lake. Their final exam- Theory of Charms- had ended less than an hour ago and they just wanted to take some time to not think and enjoy the dappled sunshine. At least, Ron later mused, he did not want to think.

"Where's Rasalas?" Hermione murmured when she had regained her ability to speak without mentioning the morning's exam. Ron granted.

"Mentioned something about drinks, her cousin and snakes then vanished. Hopefully to do what we've done- not think." He shifted and tightened the arm he had loosely draped around his girlfriend. Hermione huffed in annoyance before silence fell between them once again.

A few years before they and Harry - the original- had found this tree and claimed it together, all agreeing that it was the perfect tree. It was close enough to Hagrid's Hut to step in if it grew too hot or the weather changed suddenly, just far enough away from the Lake that they didn't get wet or feel like any of the creatures residing there were spying on them and alone enough that they had their privacy and could talk about whatever they wanted without anyone sneaking up on them...

"Hey guys!" Anyone sneaking up on them when they were paying attention.

Ron opened one eye grudgingly at the visitors, while Hermione slowly sat up with the air of someone who has been caught doing something they shouldn't be, and knows it, but is pretending that they weren't.

Harry stood a few feet away from them just inside the shadow that recreated. He looked very pale, but Ron wasn't sure if this was due to the exam they had just sat, or because his sister was clinging to Harry's right arm.

"Harry was telling me that he hadn't seen you for quite some time, so I persuaded him to look for you. Isn't that good of me?"

Ron couldn't believe Ginny was asking that question before he realised that she wasn't asking him, she was pointedly asking Harry who looked extremely uncomfortable with the situation.

"Thanks Ginny." Piped up Hermione.

"Yeah, thanks. But Harry would know that we were here, this has been our tree for the last five years, and it's where we always relax after exams." Ron pointed out, keeping half open eyes on Harry to watch him shift uncomfortably.

"Of course." Muttered Harry shoving a hand through his tousled hair messing it more.

"Well come on! Sit down Harry!" Ginny chirped as she dragged him to sit on the floor. Ron squeezed Hermione with the arm wrapped around her shoulders and the two closed their eyes and relax into silence again. It was soon very obvious that neither Ginny nor Harry was happy with this as neither of them could seem to stop fidgeting.

"Is this really what you three do?" Ron felt Hermione soundlessly sigh as his sister spoke up. "You just sit here?"

"Ginny, when you've been best friends, practically family, for six years and then been through what we've been we have together, there are no secrets, no mysteries and sometimes no words are needed." As Ron answered his sister both he and Hermione opened their eyes and looked straight at Harry who seemed to go a strange grey colour while his skin flushing an unattractive pink. Ginny didn't seem to notice the strange tension as she thought through what Ron had said, maybe one day she and Harry would be able to be like that too.

Suddenly a figure appeared blocking the sun from reaching Hermione's eyes and both she and Ron seemed to simultaneously tense and relax. The newcomer sprawled out elegantly resting her head on Hermione's stomach and closed their eyes ignoring everything around them. Ginny gripped Harry's hand as she recognised Rasalas Black and didn't want her to get any ideas, even if she wasn't looking at Harry.

"Question five?" Hermione asked lazily as she petted Rasalas' head.

"Mmmh. Did you get the link between the two," Rasalas waved an arm vaguely "whatsit charms?"

"Yeah, bonus mark for that do you think?" Ron murmured and the three lapsed into silence again.

"Hey Rasalas," the grip on his hand didn't seem to stop Harry from drawing attention to himself, "what are you doing now the exams are over?"

Lady Black opened one eye and paid at him, as though surprised to see he was there.

"Many things, but none that involve any input from you Mr Potter." Closing her eyes again Russell as gently nudged her head against Hermione's limp hand before rolling to her feet.

"Where are you going now?" Harry asked quickly seeing Ron and Hermione starting to move. The three students shared a glance.

"Harry, what is wrong with you? First you don't remember where to find us, then you can't sit still even though we've done this countless number of times and now you don't remember we always go and see how good when we finished all the exams?" Hermione stood in lecture mode and threw up her arms.

"Hagrid is the groundskeeper? Right?" Asked Rasalas and at Ron's not continued "May I join you or is it just something you do as a tradition, just the three of you?"

"Why would I want to see the groundskeeper?" Harry asked and then was left speechless as Hermione gave a small scream and stalked off while Ron and Rasalas swapped glances before hurrying after her leaving Harry and Ginny looking after them.

"I literally just gave him the perfect opportunity to come clean or at least promise to talk to us in private and all he takes away is why Hagrid? Honestly!" Hermione muttered to herself as she crossed towards Hagrid's Hut.

"Honestly, I'm more surprised that he didn't jump on it when he realised that Rasalas was coming with us." Ron grinned as he sidestepped a half-hearted whack from the girl.

"Don't jinx it!" As Ron and Russell as laughed Hermione came to a sudden stop. "Hermione? What is it?"

"This is the last time we're going to do this." Hermione whispered. "Last visit to Hagrid as a trio, in a couple of weeks will be moving on in our lives. Will we even be friends?"

Rasalas and Ron looked to each other before moving to Hermione and taking an arm each.

"This is the last time as students yes, but we're still going to come and see Hagrid, not as easily as students but we will, we just have to make time. And as you told Harry after what we've been through together there is no way we can be broken apart, if you want this friendship to last half as much as I do then we'll make it work."

"How do you know?" Whispered Hermione. Rasalas surreptitiously looked around, before taking a stand in front of Hermione and Ron and looking both of them in the eye and stating.

"I am the Girl- Who- Conquered. I am going to triumph over anything."

Hermione and Ron could do nothing but believe her.