The alarm spell he had activated before bed woke Harry with a series of insistent trills. He preferred this version to the gong of Neville's version. It was half past six, time to go to Gryffindor tower and face his actions. Although the prospect of the Professors' reprimand and the criticism of the press or his classmates did not motivate him, he was especially apprehensive about Hermione and Ron's reaction. He took a few minutes to freshen up in the shower room, and regretted having forgotten to take his toothbrush. When he had finished his ablutions, he found a totally dishevelled and still half-asleep Luna at the table, munching on one of the remaining sandwiches.
"Good morning, Luna, did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Harry Potter. Yes, I slept well, did you?"
"One always sleeps well when Ron and Neville's snoring is not heard."
Luna laughed at his attempt at humour. She had a wild laugh that was quite amazing for her frail appearance, exploding without warning. Harry smiled warmly at her.
"Luna, if you're still hungry after your sandwich, would you like to have breakfast with me and my friends at the Gryffindor table? Even though she probably went to bed late, Hermione will be up by eight. And there might be other early risers."
Ravenclaw looked at him in surprise for a moment.
"Do you want to have breakfast with me?"
"Why not?" he replied with a shrug. "I feel like we could become good friends, and you were a great help last night in solving the egg riddle."
The embrace he received was no less than those of the day before. He hugged her back, and after a moment she began humming a tune he didn't know against his shoulder, but didn't release him for another two minutes.
"Thank you, Harry. I'll be glad to have lunch with you and your friends."
"See you around eight in the Great Hall?"
"That's fine."
He made sure he had everything together in his bag, and that he had taken the parchment with the egg song, which they had copied down after getting dressed on a sheet of paper given to him by Luna. Putting his hand on the handle of the exit door, he took a deep breath, gathering his courage to return to the 'real' world after the bubble of tranquillity that had been his evening. As he opened the door, he came upon a startling scene. On the opposite wall, under the painting of the Trolls and the ballet master, a small bed had been set up and a recognisable Elf was dozing in it.
"Dobby?" exclaimed a bewildered Harry.
Immediately the Elf opened his eyes and sprang from the covers, nearly falling over on his legs still wobbly from sleep.
"The Great Harry Potter is awake! Dobby wanted to make sure that everything had gone well."
"Ah... well, thanks Dobby. I had a good night and the sandwiches were delicious."
Luna appeared next to Harry, which startled the Elf.
"Thank you very much Dobby, we were well fed last night thanks to you."
"The Great Harry Potter spent the night with a young Miss?"
Harry blushed, then sighed.
"Dobby, this is Luna Lovegood, I met her in the corridors last night before I went to the Room and she offered to accompany me. I assure you that everything went well, the Room provided two separate bedrooms and we did not sleep together. Luna, this is my friend Dobby, the Elf who showed me the Come-and-Go Room, and who probably saved my life at the end of my second year at Hogwarts."
"The Great Harry Potter is too generous with Dobby! The Great Harry Potter saved Dobby too, he freed Dobby from his cruel masters."
"It's nice to meet you, Free Elf Dobby," said Luna, bowing slightly. "I think Harry has a lot of stories to tell me that I don't know yet, and yours will probably be very interesting."
"Dobby is very proud of this story, and can tell it to Miss Goody whenever she wants" Dobby added.
Harry swallowed. He didn't even want to imagine what the little Elf might tell Luna, with all the exaggerations that would include. And Luna seemed to be the sort to accept most of it.
"With that, my two new friends, I'm off to find my shoe again, a quest interrupted by an unexpected but fruitful encounter with Harry Potter."
"Miss Goody lost a shoe? Miss Goody must be waiting here, Dobby will be back soon!"
The Elf disappeared without further warning, leaving the two students a little stunned. They looked at each other, and waited three or four minutes in silence for Dobby to return. With a bag. And a shoe in his hand.
"Miss Goody is still here, that's good. Dobby found her shoe. And some other things that weren't in his suitcase or in his room. Dobby put them in the bag. Miss Goody is not very tidy, there were things of hers all over the Raven Tower."
Luna grabbed the bag with a slightly shaky hand and started to rummage through it. Suddenly she gave a little cry and grabbed what looked like a photograph of a blonde woman in a metal frame with dried clay flowers. She stood looking at it for a few seconds, then hugged Dobby in the same way she had hugged Harry. She sobbed a litany of 'thank you' to a Dobby who didn't know what to do and was very embarrassed to receive so much affection. When she had regained her composure, she sat up, clutching the bag.
"Thank you, Dobby. The Nargles took this photograph from me a while ago."
"Dobby can protect Miss Goody's things from the... Nargles if she wants."
"I can't..." began Luna.
"Luna will gladly accept your help Dobby," Harry cut her off. "I thank you for helping her like this."
"I... Thank you, Harry, thank you Dobby."
The three friends parted shortly afterwards, Dobby having to start his work in the kitchen and the other two getting ready for breakfast. Harry hesitated to put on his invisibility cloak, but he figured that there probably wouldn't be many people in the corridors at just after seven o'clock after an evening when most had gone to bed late. In fact, he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady without encountering a single other soul. The latter was showing strong signs of a festive night, and opened the passage without even lifting an eyelid when he said the password. The Common Room was empty, and Harry hurried as quietly as possible up to his dormitory. Ron and Seamus were slumped in their respective beds with half of their Ball clothes still on. Harry was delighted to receive confirmation that Ron had accepted his offer. As usual, the space around Neville's bed was well organised, his robes hanging on a hanger against the wall. Dean was in his pyjamas, but his things had obviously been removed in haste. Harry grabbed his toiletries and fled to the shower room for a quick shower and a more than due toothbrushing. He hurried off to wash up, and hoped that Hermione hadn't taken advantage of his occupation to leave the tower.
When he had finished getting ready and dressed, he consulted the Map and saw that she was still in the woman dormitory, but that she was bustling around her bed, gathering things either to shower as well, or to go downstairs if she had already finished. Harry retrieved his bag, into which he slipped the parchment with the egg song, and returned to the Common Room. He saw on the Map that Hermione was going to the showers in her dormitory, and he deactivated the map with red cheeks. He could only see one dot, but he found it disturbing enough. He thought to himself that this Map was a real transgression into the privacy of the people of Hogwarts. He made a note to try and limit its use to just him, or for protection.
Hermione was not the first to come down from the dormitories after him. Teryl Fraser, the seventh year female Prefect, arrived in the Common Room and gave him a puzzled look after a brief nod, but she soon left. Harry knew she was studying to be a Healer, and she regularly got up early for a quick chat with Madam Pomfrey before starting her lessons or revision. They would check on the students who were currently ill or injured, whether they were in the infirmary or well enough to attend classes or stay in their dormitories, and the latest news from St. Mungo.
Hermione came downstairs a few minutes after the Prefect, a little after half past seven. She looked down so as not to miss the last few steps, struggling to get her hair into a rubber band that was probably too small for it. She took three steps into the room before looking up, and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw him, yanking on the rubber band as it snapped.
"Harry!" she shouted, rushing towards him. "You're here! How are you? Where have you been? Did you eat? The Ball was great! I really wish you could have been there! Did you get into any trouble? What did Professor McGonagall say? Oh, for Morgana's sake, she was so angry last night, even though she didn't show it! I hope it's all right! And you..."
"Hermione" Harry cut her off, taking her hand in an uncharacteristic gesture that made her jaw clench shut. "I am fine. I haven't seen anyone yet, I just came back from taking a shower after I got home. It' s all good. For now."
"Oh. Right. I... Sorry, I just got a little bit too worried, I guess. You swear you had a good night and a good evening?"
"I did, yeah. I ate sandwiches made by Dobby and slept in a warm bed. And I even managed to solve the egg puzzle!"
"Oh Harry Potter, you have a lot to tell me!"
"You too I suppose, you said the Ball went well."
Hermione opened her mouth to launch into another tirade, but paused before she could begin. She looked down at the hand Harry was still holding, not paying attention. He blushed and withdrew it with an apologising whisper. She looked up, and smiled at him.
"I think we should take the time to go and eat and find a quiet place for the two of us to talk, don't you think?"
"That's more or less what I was going to suggest. Besides, I have someone to introduce you to. She spent the evening with me, and she's the one who helped me solve the egg puzzle."
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed for a second, but she continued to smile at him. He wondered if he'd said something wrong, but maybe she was just disappointed that she hadn't been the one to solve the problem. He got up first, adjusting his bag, and she followed him. They arrived in the Great Hall about ten minutes before eight. Harry glanced apprehensively at the Professors' table, but neither Professor McGonagall nor Professor Dumbledore were present. Only Professors Trelawney (who had not attended the Ball, Hermione told him in a whisper as she followed his gaze) and Sinistra (who was used to the late night hours) were currently seated.
They sat down at the end of the table. They were the only Gryffindors present. A few first and second years from Slytherin and Ravenclaw were there too, and a couple of sixth or seventh years from Slytherin. They started to serve themselves when the person Harry was waiting for came bouncing in. Luna was looking particularly cheerful, and her necklace of Butterbeer caps tinkled slightly with each step she took. She hesitated for a second, but Harry's hand gesture seemed to convince her that the invitation was serious. She sat down across from the two Gryffindors.
"Hermione, this is Luna Lovegood, she's a third year and I hope she's become my friend and yours soon. Luna Lovegood, this is Hermione Granger, my best friend, the most amazing person and the smartest witch I know."
"Nice to meet you, Luna."
"Nice to meet you too. Harry was talking about you a lot last night. And so far, all the friends he's introduced me to have turned out to be good people."
"But I only introduced you to Dobby, Luna?"
"And? He's a good person, isn't he?" Luna agreed, looking at Harry quizzically.
Harry sighed. One evening wasn't enough to get used to Luna's logic.
"You're right."
"Harry" Hermione continued, "how did you meet Luna?"
"She surprised me on my way to the place where I was supposed to spend my evening alone. In the discussion that followed she offered to keep me company and it seemed like a good idea."
"He had a bag of food that smelled good, and I hadn't eaten."
Hermione chuckled at the remark, and Harry looked at Luna with wide eyes, not sure if she was being humorous or totally serious. He shrugged after a few seconds. Luna began to prepare her breakfast, and the conversation became light, Hermione asking the Ravenclaw a few questions about her studies, the options she had chosen (Care of Magical Creatures, Runes and Arithmancy). Soon they were discussing Runes, and Harry was lost. Not for the first time, he thought that he probably should have taken that subject instead of Divination. But you couldn't change your option after the first term of third year. Then a small group of Gryffindor arrived, made up of the few first and second years who had stayed at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays, led by Ginny, who was surprisingly fresh despite having to attend the Ball with Neville.
The youngest Weasley paused for a moment as she saw who was talking to Hermione (the two young women were so engrossed in their discussion that they had not paid any attention to the newcomers). She stood for several seconds before deciding to step forward and hesitantly walked around the end of the table to sit next to Luna. Luna turned to greet her new neighbour and froze as well. Harry decided to have a little fun at their expense.
"Hello, Ginny. How are you? Did you have a good evening? I think you know Luna here? We met last night."
"Hello Luna, hello Hermione, hello Harry. Luna's a friend and a neighbour of the Burrow. But it's been a while since we've spent any time together."
"Hello Ginevra," Luna said softly, as if she was afraid to break the moment. "I... I missed you."
Ginny made a small movement as if she had been physically hit, and looked down before quickly looking up again. She stared into Luna's eyes.
"I missed you too Luna. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."
"But you're here now."
He kept a slightly mocking smile on his face as a slightly awkward conversation between the two third years began. He hadn't expected Ginny to get up so early, used to the fact that the Weasleys were usually late risers (including Percy, though he denied it). But the opportunity to try and bring two old friends together was too good to pass up. Gradually they relaxed, and Harry could see that Ginny didn't even blink for a moment when Luna uttered one of her trademark oddities. Hermione, on the other hand, could hardly contain a grimace. He thought that she and Luna would have trouble getting along at first. But he hoped that they would be able to get past their preconceptions. After a solid half hour and having just finished his tea, Harry felt Hermione begin to stir beside him. The sporadic conversation he was having with Luna and Ginny hardly involved her, and he thought it was time to have that discussion with her.
She didn't really give him time to think about his decision. She stood up quickly, almost hitting the table in her haste, and called him a pleading "Harry?". He apologised to the two young women in front of him, and stood up too. She grabbed his arm and began to drag him towards the exit. As she headed towards the Gryffindor tower, he stopped her.
"Wait, Hermione."
"Harry! I think I've been patient enough. I want to know."
"Do you want me to show you where I was last night?"
Hermione's face immediately lost its impatient pout and brightened. He chuckled and headed off to the right, in the opposite direction to the one she had wanted to go. They hardly spoke at all while she paid attention to the path they were walking on, probably to find it again when the time came. When they arrived at the Dancing Trolls painting, Harry stopped and said, "It's here," she looked at him with a surprised expression.
"Have you been in this hallway all night? Really?"
"Of course not" he replied with a lopsided grin.
Hermione turned her head away and blushed a little, which surprised him a little. She quickly pulled herself together.
"So what are we doing here?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
There was no hesitation in her answer. He would have responded in the same way to her.
"I'm going to ask you to do something that will seem very strange. But I assure you that you will understand very quickly. All right?"
"You're very frustrating me, Harry Potter. Can't you explain it to me instead?"
"It's more fun this way, and you always told me that a good example is worth a long explanation."
"Well, fine. I'm all ears."
"I'd like you to think about where you'd feel most comfortable for the discussion we're about to have. It doesn't have to be a specific place. Just imagine what kind of environment you'd feel comfortable in."
"Harry? I don't understand."
"Please, Hermione, allow me to surprise you."
He hoped she would agree to follow his request, but she always found it difficult to accept this kind of game when she didn't see the point. She let out a long sigh, and closed her eyes for a moment.
"It's okay" she said, opening them again. "I think I have a good vision of what I would like. What good is that going to do us?"
"Keep that image in mind. Now I'd like you to walk past the wall in front of the painting three times and think of this place."
"Harryyyyy..."
"This is my last request, I promise."
"All right, I'll do it. But then you'd better explain everything to me."
She had a small scowl on her face, but kept her forehead creased with concentration. She walked past him and began the three passages he had asked for.
"And now," she said, turning back to him, "what do we do?"
He smiled again.
"Turn around."
She obeyed him, and gave a startled cry when she saw the door that had appeared.
"Hermione Granger, this is the Come-and-Go Room, one of the greatest secrets of Hogwarts!"
Hermione held out a trembling hand to the door and slowly opened it. In front of them lay a patch of well-tended greenery in front of a pond, and a few trees offered welcoming shade under a cloudless sky.
"Harry! But... That's impossible, there's nothing behind that wall, it's outside!"
"Magic!"
"Harry!"
He laughed a little as she hesitated to step into the room. He decided to take the lead and entered through the door before turning and holding out his hand.
"Are you coming?"
She took his hand and squeezed it tightly as they crossed the threshold. They took a few steps as the door closed behind them.
"Harry? Where are we? I don't understand any of this."
"Dobby showed me this room about ten days ago. He calls it the Come-and-Go Room. If you walk past the wall three times with a particular place you want to appear, then the Room recreates it. I suppose there are limitations, and of course you can't conjure food in it. I haven't tested all its possibilities yet, but Luna and I have discovered that it can also open up passages inside Hogwarts. I think you and she will make a particularly good team to explore this Room."
"And you spent the night there?"
"Yes, but the Room I created was a living room with two bedrooms on either side and a shower room. I just asked for a place to be hidden away to spend the evening without being discovered."
"I guess it worked. I think Professor Dumbledore exchanged a few words with an Elf quietly during the evening, on two or three occasions. Maybe he sent them after you..."
"Probably. But there couldn't have been many available, Dobby told me that most of them were going to be drafted for service at the ball."
Hermione's brow began to furrow and Harry hurried to change the subject.
"Is there anything special about this place you've imagined, Hermione?"
"Yes, it's an improved replica of a part of the park not far from my house. I used to love to go and read under the trees by the pond. Of course, in the real version, the grass is much less maintained and there are often traces of mud."
"It's a nice place. And it's certainly better than the real temperature outside the school walls. If you concentrate a bit, you can make a blanket appear to sit on. And the only thing you can conjure in the Room is water. I suppose if we ask Dobby, he can bring us something else."
"Let Dobby rest. He had to work hard last night. The water will be enough."
Harry did not insist. He didn't even want to. Hermione was right, as she often was. A blanket appeared under the nearest tree and they sat down on it. There were a few seconds of silence before she spoke again.
"I'm not going to ask you why you didn't tell me about your plans to dodge the Ball. I probably would have tried to talk you out of it if you had, or you would have had to spend a lot of time and energy convincing me otherwise. I take it, however, that your regular excursions over the past few weeks were to prepare your plan?"
"Yes, they were. But I have only known about the existence of the Hall for a few days. I had thought of the Chamber of Secrets, but it is uninhabitable, even for a few hours, because of the Basilisk's decay. And Professor Dumbledore put an alarm on the wall, so he would know where I was. I don't know if he can open the wall without being a Parseltongue, but I'd rather not test that."
"He's right, I wouldn't have liked to know that you'd gone down there on your own. And I must admit I'd like to go with you to visit it one day."
"I'm sure you would. We'll have to organise an expedition later on. Maybe next year, if it's quieter."
"Harry? Why did you decide not to go to the ball?"
He remained silent for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. He suspected she wouldn't laugh at him, but he wanted to be sure he was speaking in no uncertain terms.
"Remember when Professor McGonagall announced the Ball at the end of her class? She asked me to stay after, to talk to me. Then she told me that as a Champion I had to attend the Ball with a date. When I told her I didn't want to, she didn't even bother to listen to me and just insisted that I had to go with someone. I was rather... annoyed. I spent a while thinking about this year. Between the Selection of Champions, the Dragons, Rita Skeeter... I'd had enough. I then decided that, since I hadn't wanted to participate in the Tournament and someone forced me to, I didn't have to participate in the associated ceremonies that weren't directly related to the Tasks."
Hermione looked thoughtful, and a little upset, but it didn't seem directed at him.
"Harry" she began, hesitating a little, "I think I know what you mean. I can't imagine Professor McGonagall refusing to listen to you, but I remember you and Ron pissing her off by playing during her class that day. Maybe that, combined with the announcement of the Ball to the class, must not have put her in the right frame of mind. I don't suppose you tried to talk to her again afterwards, or to anyone else."
"No, most adults at Hogwarts tend not to listen to us. Remember in first year, Professor McGonagall wouldn't even bother to check the Fluffy's room. And then they let me suffer the mockery of the Slytherin Heir. And none of them really stood up for me in the Selection of Champions, you saw what happened when Malfoy threw his famous badges, they did nothing. I don't know if I can trust the Professors at school, Hermione. Actually, apart from you, I don't know who I can trust completely."
It sounded more desperate than he would have liked, but it was no less false. Harry sometimes felt very alone at Hogwarts, in the sense that he was often reduced to having to fend for himself when everyone expected him to act according to rules no one had ever explained to him.
"Oh Harry, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, it's quite the opposite."
"I don't mean that. I'm sorry that you have so much on your shoulders and no one seems to notice."
Hermione suddenly looked resolute, the way she used to look when she decided to lift a mountain, and which was often linked to Harry's adventures.
"If the Professors call you in to explain your absence at the Ball, I want to go with you."
Hermione's statement relieved Harry of a weight he hadn't even felt. Knowing that she would be there if he was reprimanded to help him explain himself made him feel much better.
"Thank you Hermione, I'll let you know if I'm summoned."
"You're welcome, Harry."
She made a movement as if to take him in her arms, but their sitting position on the blanket did not facilitate the move. So, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. She spoke again after a short silence.
"How did you spend the evening? You mentioned the egg, I think."
Harry then told her about his meeting with Luna, and summarised their first discussions. He told her about Luna's family, about her mother's death, about her father who was sometimes absent both physically and mentally, about her fractured friendship with Ginny and the Weasley family, and about how she welcomed any sign of affection. Hermione agreed with him to try to befriend the young Ravenclaw. He then told her about the egg and Luna's theories. Hermione looked annoyed when he mentioned the swimming costumes and the big tub, but she didn't say anything. She was very interested in the text of the song, and he handed her the parchment with the lyrics which she immediately began to analyse. She put it down quickly, however, as he finished telling her about his evening.
"I'm glad you were able to be quiet last night. In retrospect, I regret that you weren't there with me for the Ball, but I can understand why you didn't want to be there. I was myself afraid that the evening would not go well."
"Now it's your turn to tell me. And first of all, who was your date? I'm quite curious to know."
Hermione blushed, embarrassed. She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.
"My date was Viktor Krum."
Harry was flabbergasted. Jealousy gripped his stomach and he tried to push it back down. But the thought of Hermione with the grown-up, muscular Bulgarian left a bitter taste in his mouth. And the thought that he was no match for him crossed his mind.
"He... Did it go well with him?"
"Yes, Viktor was a real gentleman. He didn't make a single inappropriate gesture, he talked to me without criticizing me, and he listened to me seriously. And he is a good dancer. And the other Champions were also very polite and courteous. I was particularly surprised by Fleur. She has a rather cynical view of the wizarding world, both French and English, and a rather effective humour. Cedric and Cho are very knowledgeable, and provided a lot of information I didn't know. After the meal, which must have taken a lot of work for the Elves, the first dance was opened by the Champions, and then everyone could go on the dance floor. I danced mostly with Viktor, but also with Cedric a couple of times, and once with Roger Davies, Fleur's date. On the whole their company was pleasant, Roger was somewhat arrogant and mocking but never discourteous. However, he did make one or two remarks about you which I did not like, but not necessarily aggressive."
"So, it was a good evening for you. I'm happy about that."
Hermione's face frowned for a moment as her gaze avoided his.
"Hermione? Did something happen?"
"No, it's nothing."
What happened?"
She fidgeted a little and wanted to take her hand away from his, but he held her back. Clearly, she was hiding something from him and she wasn't comfortable. Something she didn't want to tell him about, but it wasn't related to the dances or discussions with the Champions because she hadn't flinched when she'd mentioned it. So, it had happened outside of those moments. A thought crossed his mind and he felt his stomach tighten.
"Ron?" he questioned her anxiously.
She squeezed his hand and swallowed. He had guessed right. He felt his anger rising. Ron was a good person, fundamentally. But he had great difficulty dealing with his emotions and expressing them, and he often spoke before he thought. Hermione and Harry were much more introverted and it was really hard for them to have to deal with Ron's outbursts. Harry tended to withdraw to avoid conflict, but Hermione usually stood up for herself tooth and nail. Also, they sometimes found it hard to understand Ron's interests, as they had both grown up faster than their friend. He often regretted the distance between them, because Ron could be a witty person who could brighten up a whole day when he put his mind to it. He brought a normality that was missing from Hermione and Harry's lives, the former because of her superior intellect and the latter because of the trials fate was pleased to throw at him. But despite this, Harry was angry with him. He had let Ron's attitude after the Champions selection in November go by, and had accepted his phantom apology because he knew that Ron had just let his immaturity and jealousy speak for itself, and then allowed himself to be trapped by his pride. But Harry was far more inflamed by the fact that he had hurt Hermione again. He took a few breaths to calm himself down and let most of his resentment flow back out.
"What happened, Hermione?"
She sighed. But she certainly knew that he wouldn't let it go now that he knew.
"He didn't take kindly to the fact that I was Viktor's date. He felt that I had betrayed you by accepting another Champion's proposal, and he said that I should have gone with one of you and waited patiently for him to decide to invite me when the other girls were no longer available. He also said that it was because of me that you didn't want to go to the Ball, because I was scaring away all your potential dates..."
It seemed to him that her eyes moistened, but no tears fell. However, he suspected that she was not well. Their hands were still clasped, and he decided to move closer to her. He slid down on the blanket to sit against her, and she leaned against him.
"Do you remember what I wrote, Hermione?"
"Yes. Your letter was the only thing that stopped me from cracking up at his comments. What you wrote was so sweet."
"I didn't lie. If I had agreed to go to the Ball, I really hope I would have had the presence of mind to ask you to be my date. But I probably would have felt guilty about forcing you to endure my presence and my social ineptitude for such an event..."
"Harry, I enjoyed the evening with Viktor and the other Champions. But I probably would have loved it even more if you had been there and we had spent it together. I would have liked you to get to know the other Champions as I did, and I'm sure you would have been able to participate just as much in the conversations, if only because your experiences are no less impressive than those they were able to accomplish. None of them defeated a Basilisk or dispersed a hundred Destroyers with a Patronus at thirteen. And then..."
She paused, burying her head a little more against her shoulder, hiding her face behind her hair.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry asked her softly.
"I would have loved to dance with you" she whispered.
He felt his cheeks turn red and his heart race.
"I would have loved it too" he replied in the same tone.
They stayed like that for a while, without moving. Harry's heart returned to normal and he wondered what to make of the moment. Hermione suddenly stood up and stared at him for a few seconds, then moved her face forward to kiss him on the cheek, holding on for an instant longer than necessary. She pulled back a little, her face still close to him, as Harry tried to regain his composure, when all he felt was the velvety smoothness of her lips against his skin. He moved towards her in turn, and mimicked her action to place a kiss on her cheek, and she let out a long sigh at his action. She suddenly threw herself around his neck and pulled him to the floor as she lay half against him. Harry was both extremely uncomfortable as this was the first time they had initiated this kind of action, but also very euphoric and pleased to feel Hermione against him. He heard her take a breath.
"Let's go to Hogsmeade together next time. Just the two of us" she whispered.
"Okay."
A few seconds passed before Hermione began to laugh softly, and he followed her. They lay there for maybe a minute, laughing together.
"Merlin" Harry said under his breath, "I don't even know how all this... works."
"Neither do I" sighed Hermione. "In the novels I've read, or in the TV shows, they seem so sure of themselves. But I don't even know if I'm ready for... more."
"More? More of what?"
She straightened up a little and changed her position. He felt a small sense of loss as her head left his chest. She came to lie beside him, resting on his side. He turned to assume the same position, so that they could see each other face to face. They were much closer physically than they had ever been in the last three years, not including hugs. This new intimacy was not unpleasant, but too new for him to be really comfortable. However, he didn't want to back down.
It was as if a lock he was unaware of had broken. He now noticed the velvety texture of her slightly tanned skin, the very few imperfections and a tiny scar between her two eyebrows. He took time to look at her eyes, and the shades in their hazel colour. He could smell her skin and hair, and feel her warmth. Suddenly he saw her hand come up to his face, and she gently stroked the skin of his cheek with her fingertips for a few seconds, and then withdrew it hesitantly.
"More of... us. Although, I know I'm ready for that. I mean... more of... physical. Like... kissing."
Harry thought back to the few older couples he'd seen before and their activities in the less crowded corners of Hogwarts.
"Oh. I think I understand. We don't have to, you know, do... anything."
"It's not that I don't want to. I'm comfortable right now with you so close. But I guess I'm very apprehensive. And then, we haven't even defined... what we are."
Harry was a bit lost, not by Hermione, but in what was going on between them. He clung to his constant for three years.
"I am your friend, and you are mine. And maybe we are... more. But we are that above all."
She studied him for a moment, apparently thinking about what he had just said. Then her face relaxed, and she smiled at him.
"I'm fine with that. Friends and maybe more. In the end, it summarises what we have been for a long time."
She sat up and kissed his cheek again, and without giving him time to do the same as the last time, she nestled against him, her head under his chin.
"Hold me close, please."
He obeyed, and they stayed like that for a long time, getting used to the new physicality of their relationship. One after the other, without being able to say which one first, they fell asleep under the magical sky of the Hall, whose brightness gradually faded.
Harry was awakened by the whispering of voices.
"Hush, don't wake them up, they're sleeping so well!"
"But the Professor said she wanted to see him as soon as possible."
"But look at them!"
His nose tingled and his arm was blocked by an unusual weight. He opened his eyes and his vision was obscured by a mass of hair. He then remembered where he was and who was crushing his arm. The person was also becoming agitated. She raised her head a little and their eyes met.
"Hi" he said softly.
"Hi" she replied softly.
Before they could say anything else, a small chuckle sounded behind him and Hermione straightened her head so quickly that he feared for her neck. He turned around, but his arm was still restrained and he could not get up. Lying there, having adjusted his glasses with his other hand, which had slipped off, he recognised Ginny and Luna who were standing a meter or two away from the lying couple.
Hermione rushed to her feet and almost fell back down as her legs were wobbly from sleeping. Harry stood up as well and feeling more stable, he pulled her close to him and she took a few seconds against him, before pulling back and offering him a small smile. She gently grabbed his hand before they turned back to their two friends.
"Ginny, Luna, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to show Ginevra the Come-and-Go Room. But apparently I wasn't the only one who had that idea."
"But how did you get in?"
"The door appeared as soon as we entered the corridor."
Despite the few mists of sleep that inhabited his mind, Harry had an idea.
"I think it's because Hermione didn't include in her wish that the Room be accessible only to the two of us. That's okay, I'd rather it was you two than some Slytherin who found us."
"Hermione" Luna continued, "do you think you can try to change the Room while we're in it? Like trying to make it inaccessible to anyone but us?"
"I'll try."
She closed her eyes and concentrated, and after a handful of seconds the Room shimmered. Hermione opened her eyes again.
"I think we're good now."
"It may be selfish" said Harry, "but I think it would be best to keep the existence of the Hall a secret for the time being. Imagine what Malfoy could do if he had access to a place that allowed him to do almost anything he wanted."
Hermione and Ginny both grimaced in a similar way, and even Luna lost her dreamy look as if she had just bitten into a lime.
"The Room could do a lot for Hogwarts and education, but I think that keeping its existence a secret would be a good thing for the time being. Let's at least wait until the tournament is over. This is the perfect place for you to train, Harry. It would only be fair for you to have some advantage over the other Champions."
Hermione's arguments concluded the unspoken agreement. Ginny then turned to Harry.
"Professor McGonagall got wind of your presence in the Great Hall this morning for breakfast. She arrived just a few minutes after you and Hermione left. She asked us to tell you that she wants to see you in her office as soon as possible."
"I expected that" Harry said with a sigh.
Hermione shook his hand.
"Don't forget, I'll be there."
"Thank you, Hermione," he replied with a smile.
He took a deep breath, cast a quick Tempus and saw that it was almost eleven o'clock. They had been asleep for almost an hour and a half. He turned to Hermione.
"Do you think we have time to fold this before lunch?"
"I don't think she wants to linger very long, and will want to get it done quickly."
"I admit I'm not particularly keen, but I knew what I was getting into when I made this decision a fortnight ago. The sooner it's done, the better."
"Let's go then. Maybe we can ask Professor Dumbledore to be there, he didn't seem as worried or upset as she was last night."
"That's a good idea."
They promised Luna and Ginny that they would meet them at noon in the Great Hall and after a quick smoothing of their clothes, they were about to leave the Room, when Hermione pulled him back by the sleeve. He turned, and she took the opportunity to place another kiss on his cheek, blushing. Her blush deepened as he kissed her back. But she did not move out of the Room. She swayed from one foot to the other, bowing her head.
"Harry? I... I think we should... keep a low profile on... us, for a while."
He felt a small pang in his stomach. Was she ashamed of him? Or, as a cold sweat broke out on his back, was there someone else? Viktor?
"I... I don't understand. Did I... do something?" he inquired in a voice more plaintive than he would have liked.
She quickly raised her head.
"No! No, really, I assure you. It's just that... I went to the ball with Viktor. And there was absolutely nothing between him and me, I promise you" she reassured him quickly, probably noticing that his face was paling. "It's just that I don't want to... shock people by being closer to you the next day. I'm afraid they'll think I'm a... hussy."
"Oh. That makes more sense. Sorry... but okay. We can limit... all this, us, until you feel comfortable, that's fine. Anyway, I think it's going to take me a while to get used to... you know."
The thought struck him that they had never finally defined what was going on between them. Their dynamic had changed, and the novelty was losing him a little, taking him into unknown emotional territory. The lack of definition didn't help, but he also didn't know if he really wanted this novelty to become engraved with the verbal recognition of its existence. He hoped that Hermione would be able to help him, though she had no more experience, she probably had more knowledge on the subject. He would have to find the courage to ask for her help...
Hermione smiled at him one last time and they walked out of the Room to Professor McGonagall's office. Although they stood a little closer than usual, neither of them said anything about it. If their hands brushed against each other regularly, they didn't seem to mind. But deep down, Harry thought he might soon get a taste for these new sensations. They arrived at the Gryffindor Head's door too quickly for his liking, a little after eleven. He took a deep breath, and knocked three times on the door, less firmly than he had hoped.
"Come in" came the strict voice of their Professor.
He looked at Hermione who smiled weakly but resolutely at him, and he turned the handle. The first thing he saw as he entered was the usually stern expression frown even more.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter" she said in a very measured tone. "And good morning, Miss Granger."
"Good morning, Professor" the two students said, trying not to lower their heads in front of the intimidating witch.
"Miss Granger, my summons was only for Mr. Potter."
"Professor, I would very much like to attend your meeting, please."
"You're not a Prefect, not yet at least" she added with a ghost of a smile.
"With all due respect, Professor, I wouldn't have wanted any of the Hogwarts Prefects present, except possibly Teryl but she's busy with her studies. Hermione is the only Gryffindor student I trust with that, and I would like her to stay too, please."
The Professor had looked like she'd swallowed a lemon when Harry had admitted to her that he didn't trust his Gryffindor mates, and perhaps she was thinking of the little introductory speech she'd given them when they'd first arrived at Hogwarts, about how their future House would be their new family. Although Harry had a pretty good bond with the other Red and Gold students, especially the Quidditch team and the boys in his year, the fact that none of them had really stood up for him in second year and especially this year after his Selection as a Champion, had made him feel a little cold about his feelings. He knew that bonds would gradually be rebuilt, but for the moment he preferred to remain on his own.
"Very well, Miss Granger, you may stay."
"Thank you, Professor."
The two students sat down on the chairs opposite the desk. There was a legend that the Professor had deliberately transfigured these chairs to be as uncomfortable as possible. If this was true, then the two pieces of furniture were proof of their Professor's perfect mastery of her subject...
"I need not, I think, explain to you the reason for your summons, Mr. Potter?"
"I suppose it has to do with my absence at last night's Ball?"
"Yes, it does. Why didn't you attend?"
"I didn't feel like it, and I preferred to spend my evening in another way, studying the mysteries of the egg I recovered from the First Task of the Tournament."
"I don't think I implied that your presence was optional when we talked about this, Mr. Potter."
"In fact, Professor, you didn't even listen to a word I said at the time."
Her lips pursed so much that they almost disappeared from her face. To anyone who knew Minerva McGonagall well enough, it was a sign that her anger was beginning to rise. But Harry was also beginning to feel the same exasperation that had come over him after the announcement of the Ball and his obligation to attend. He tried to remain calm, but it was not easy.
"Mr. Potter, you are a Champion, and you must represent your school in the Tournament."
"I am not a volunteer Champion!" he retorted curtly.
"It's your duty, and you haven't fulfilled it. You have offended the whole school with your attitude."
"I have no such duty, Professor. I. Am. Not. A. Volunteer. Champion. Someone forced me to participate in this Tournament, risking my magic or my life!"
Hermione suddenly straightened up, and put her hand on Harry's, squeezing it gently. The action cut off the surge of anger he felt running down his spine. He took a few breaths, as the Professor turned his gaze to his friend.
"Miss Granger?"
"I think it would be appropriate to have another point of view to reconcile yours, Professor. May I suggest that Professor Dumbledore join us, if he is not too busy? Or Professor Sprout or Professor Flitwick?"
"Do you feel that I am not in a position to establish discipline in a neutral manner?"
"I think that in any situation you will always be far less biased than Professor Snape, Madam. However, I could see that you were irritated all evening last night, and I suppose you must have some resentment about that. Also, I think Harry is very sensitive to matters concerning the Tournament, and perhaps a little more outside eye might help everyone to understand the situations better, and what the best response is."
Their Head of House stood for a moment considering Hermione's suggestion, and the latter began to fidget slightly under her gaze. Finally, she nodded once.
"I consider your point. Don't move, I'll be back."
She stood up and walked into another room in her office, from which no sound came afterwards, probably blocked by a spell on the door. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand and they exchanged a long look through which he hoped to convey his gratitude. She smiled broadly at him and they remained silent for the next two minutes before the door opened again. Hermione immediately let go of his hand. Professor McGonagall entered the office, followed by Professor Dumbledore. Inwardly, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. The Headmaster of Hogwarts greeted the two students with a small smile and conjured a second chair next to the desk. Hermione took the initiative.
"Thank you Professor Dumbledore for your time. Professor McGonagall and Harry both have irreconcilable views on the events of last night, and I would hate to see this dispute escalate beyond repair. Harry has always had a deep respect for his Professor, and I am sure we can work to avoid severe consequences in the future."
"I agree with you, Miss Granger. Mr. Potter, could you please tell me your version?"
"When the Ball was announced just over a fortnight ago, Professor McGonagall informed me of my obligation to attend as a Champion. I tried to protest at the time, but my opinion was not taken into account, let alone heard. Indeed, I consider that as a non-voluntary participant in this tournament, I am not obliged to participate in other events than the Tasks, in order not to risk the punishment linked to the contract that the Goblet of Fire has created for me, a punishment that can go as far as the loss of my magic if I believe the legends around the Tournament. I remind you that it has been established that I did not put my name in the Goblet and that the person who did so probably has the goal of killing me, or at least confronting me with deadly situations. I've never been comfortable with being put in front of an audience, and the prospect of making a fool of myself by dancing in front of the representatives of the three best schools in Europe did not appeal to me at all. So, I decided not to attend the Ball, and used the evening to study the Golden Egg. You'll be pleased to know that I solved the puzzle just last night, with some unexpected but welcome help that I probably wouldn't have come across otherwise."
Both teachers nodded at this news, the Headmaster adding a smile of pride for his student. Harry stopped there, deciding that continuing his argument would make it redundant. Professor McGonagall looked pensive, but still irritated.
Professor Dumbledore turned to his colleague.
"Minerva, what is your opinion on this situation, please?"
"I consider Mr. Potter to have shirked his responsibilities, though I can understand his reasons. But he disobeyed a direct order from his Head of House, embarrassed the people who organised the Ball, spent the night outside his dormitory in defiance of school rules, and above all did not see fit to explain his plans to the Hogwarts faculty in advance."
Harry allowed himself to relax a little. The fact that Professor McGonagall accepted his reasons was a relief to him, as it meant that she wasn't completely closed to hearing him if necessary. It was a pity that it had to come to this for it to happen. He would hardly be able to refute the accusations, but he decided to add a shot, which could be very risky. He spoke again before any further intervention.
"I haven't told anyone about my plans, not even Hermione or Ron. As for the faculty, I'm sorry, but the events of this year have not led me to believe that anyone will listen to me. The most explicit reasons being that no one stood up for me when part of the school accused me of being a cheat, or even worse, when Draco Malfoy spread his infamous badges that directly insulted me. And let's not even talk about the fact that Professor Snape directly ignored the assault on Hermione while she was physically suffering the consequences of a spell and then insulted her about her appearance in front of both Gryffindor and Slytherin classes without even coming to her help. With all due respect, the faculty at Hogwarts, however competent they may be in teaching academic subjects, unfortunately do not give me enough trust to confide in any of you regarding my extra-curricular activities."
He could feel Hermione's dismay at his speech, but he was mostly focused on the Professors. The Headmaster of Hogwarts was looking extremely saddened and even a little contrite, while the Head of Gryffindor had her mouth open and was completely flabbergasted. She turned to Hermione.
"Miss Granger" she said in a slightly shaky voice, "what is Mr. Potter talking about? Who attacked you and what was the spell? And what did Professor Snape do?"
The last few words were almost hissed, so much so that Harry could have thought they were Parseltongue. He heard Hermione fidgeting in the chair next to him, and he suspected that she must be angry with him for putting her in this situation. She finally answered under the insistent gaze of the Professors.
"Draco threatened Harry and there was an exchange of spells. The two spells collided in mid-air, and Draco's hit me, while Harry's hit one of the Slytherin students. The one that hit me was the Densaugeo, which caused my front teeth to grow over thirty centimetres. The pressure on my jaw was particularly painful and I could no longer speak. Professor Snape arrived at this point and he..."
Hermione took a deep breath, and seemed to be trying to contain an emotion that was still raw, even after several weeks.
"Professor Snape neutralized the spell on the Slytherin student, and he started yelling at Harry. When my condition was pointed out to him, he... he said, 'I don't see any difference' and didn't worry about my condition. I then went to the infirmary... on my own."
Harry stood up and, seeing her emotional distress, took her in his arms, and she buried her head against his chest. Professor Dumbledore's face showed unusual anger, but Harry was more shocked by his Head of House's attitude, which radiated barely contained rage. Hermione stepped back after a minute or two, and she didn't seem to have really cried, maybe a tear or two. She grabbed a handkerchief to wipe her nose, though. Just then Professor McGonagall spoke up again.
"Why am I only hearing about this now?" she said in a blank voice.
Not knowing to whom the question was addressed, Harry remained silent. Hermione sniffed one last time before answering.
"I asked Madam Pomfrey not to mention what had happened. I've always been a bit... sensitive about the way my teeth look. Also... I do apologise for what I'm about to say... Also, most of the students feel that if Professor Snape is challenged by any of us, his attitude will become much worse, at least towards the students involved. And there is no alternative to learning Potions at Hogwarts. Apart from this episode, and a few less significant moments in previous years, Professor Snape has never shown me anything other than extreme severity, and never such... injustice. Compared to Harry or Neville, or most of the Gryffindor boys in general, I can still consider myself lucky. But it's not a comfortable environment, and we're trying not to let it become worse."
Hermione was silent, looking rather shocked that she had dared to speak of a teacher in this way. Harry was very proud of her, and he hoped that the fact that it was Hermione, an exemplary student, who was expressing these feelings would make it easier for the teachers to accept. Professor Dumbledore was deep in thought, while Professor McGonagall's rage had turned to an air of deep disgust. However, the Headmaster of Hogwarts spoke before her.
"I thank you, Miss Granger, for bringing these facts to my attention. I assure you that I was not aware of this incident, and although it is no great comfort, I am glad that your recovery was without any ill effects. Needless to say, I will review what happened with Professor Snape..."
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.
"... in the presence of your Head of House, of course. We will take every precaution to ensure that you and your fellow students do not suffer any undeserved vindication. I hope we can prove to you that you can turn to us when necessary."
Harry was sceptical, knowing that the Potions Professor could be extremely vicious and always managed to bully his students without seemingly breaking the rules. He tried to put on a neutral face, however, not wanting to jeopardise any small victory over one of his nemeses by being too brazen.
"Miss Granger, Mr Potter" Professor McGonagall continued, "I will return to this incident at greater length another day, and don't think I will forget it. But I have not forgotten the reason for our talk either. Yes, Mr. Potter, you have made it clear that you may be reluctant to share your decision with the Hogwarts teachers, but do you realise the damage you have done to the school? And in front of the other schools? They will have thought that we are ashamed of you, or that you don't value the Hogwarts you represent."
"Professor" Harry interjected, "your reasoning is flawed because you are assuming that I represent Hogwarts. I do not."
"You are a Champion of Hogwarts."
"Cedric is THE Champion of Hogwarts. I'm just an unwitting participant risking my life and my magic, and I just want to finish this year alive and whole. Like every year, by the way... I won't fight to win, I'll only do what is asked of me so that I don't suffer a serious fate. Besides, now that I'm talking about it, I think it's surprising that you never made an announcement in this sense. By not saying anything, the others were comforted in the fact that my selection was 'endorsed' and that I must therefore have had something to do with it."
"Harry's right" Hermione jumped into the discussion, "and we could definitely use his absence at the Ball to make an announcement to that effect, at least at Hogwarts, and ideally in the press, which has a particular and rather uncomfortable interest for him. It will clear the air and take the pressure off his shoulders."
There was some tension in the room, and the two adults exchanged a long look. Professor Dumbledore then turned his head towards the students.
"Well, it's a sensible request, as far as the school is concerned anyway. Communicating with the press will be more... tricky. I will prepare a statement to that effect for the dinner tonight. I hope it will address most of your grievances and give you greater peace of mind."
"Thank you, Professor" replied the two Gryffindors.
"I think we've come to the end of this meeting" said Professor McGonagall, "and in view of the discussions, I will not be applying the detentions I had envisaged. However, I can't let the fact that you spent the night outside the dormitory go. I am therefore deducting twenty-five points from Gryffindor for this incursion."
Harry swallowed slightly, but said nothing. If this was all the punishment he was getting, he would almost accept it with relief, expecting much worse. The Professor wasn't done talking though.
"I will also use my rights as Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and suspend any deductions of points against Slytherin and Gryffindor that may have been given by Professor Snape regarding the incident we discussed earlier. Our investigation will confirm or deny the suspension of these punishments."
Harry smiled broadly. There had been no suspension of points for Slytherin for this incident, of course, so all the benefit went to Gryffindor. His Head of House's small smile confirmed that she knew what was going on, or at least had deduced it, knowing Professor Snape.
"On that note" she said as she stood up, "it's nearly lunchtime and I think we've covered everything. If you don't have any questions, I'll let you go."
The two students stood up and greeted the teachers before heading for the door. As Harry was about to open it, he heard the witch clear her throat one last time, and turned back to her.
"Mr. Potter, be careful, will you? I'd really appreciate it if I could hand you your final diploma in three and a half years."
"I promise, Professor" he replied with a smile. "Hermione would never forgive me if anything happened to me."
Professor Dumbledore chuckled slightly as his colleague's smile widened. Hermione gave a small, falsely outraged cry and slapped him on the arm. With that, they walked out of the room and headed for the Great Hall. When they reached a quiet corridor, he suddenly felt her take his hand and stop. He turned to her, and saw her face with an ecstatic smile.
"I can't believe the Professors agreed to let you go last night! I didn't think they would be so receptive."
"It's thanks to you" he said. "You had a very good idea to involve Professor Dumbledore and you were able to explain the situation calmly instead of letting Professor McGonagall and I get carried away."
"You could have avoided involving me with the incident about my teeth" she pouted.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think of that when I mentioned what happened. I hope Professor Snape gets the punishment he deserves, although I don't really believe it."
Hermione stood pensively for a moment, staring at his face, and he felt himself being scrutinised as never before.
"Harry" she said lightly, "remember what I said this morning, that I didn't think I was ready to... more?"
"Erm... yes?" he replied hesitantly.
"Can I kiss you?" she asked quickly.
Harry was stunned, and didn't know what to say at the time. He opened his mouth and no sound came out. Hermione looked away, embarrassed.
"Ah, forget I asked, that was inappropriate."
He squeezed her hand to hold her back.
"No! Yes! I... It's just that you took me by surprise. I didn't expect that..."
He took a deep breath, taking the opportunity to organize his words.
"I agree. To kiss you. If you still want."
Her beaming smile was her only response. She moved her face closer and he imitated her, uncertain, anxious and terribly impatient. Their noses bumped slightly and she tilted her face a little so that it was no longer an obstacle. He saw her close her eyes as he felt her breath on his skin, but he was unable to do so. Their lips touched hesitantly, and the sensation was intriguing, not unpleasant. They stayed like that for a few seconds and she pulled away, opening her eyes again. Her cheeks were flushed, but he was probably in no better state.
"Thank you" she whispered.
"You're welcome" he replied in the same tone.
"Shall we go?"
"Okay."
They set off again, and Harry felt more cheerful than ever. The dynamic with Hermione had definitely changed, but he was worrying less and less and feeling particularly happy now. However, his state of grace took a hit when they entered the Great Hall and he saw Ron start to wave at him before lowering his arm with a grimace of displeasure at seeing who was with him. He felt Hermione tense up next to him, and for a moment he was afraid that she would decide to walk away. Fortunately, she did the opposite and moved closer to him. The displeasure on Ron's face increased, and there was a moment's hesitation as Harry wondered what they were going to do. Just then a call came in a melodious voice.
"Hermione! Harry Potter!"
He turned his head and saw that Fleur Delacour had risen to her feet and was waving her hand graciously, but imperiously, inviting them to sit next to her. As usual, she was at the Ravenclaw table, a bit apart from her fellow Beauxbaton students. Across from her he could see the faces of Luna and Ginny, the latter looking just as lost as he was.
"Let's go" Hermione whispered to him.
He followed her as she walked in the direction of the French witch, and he was very careful not to look towards Ron. He knew that this was just a way of postponing the confrontation, but after this rather eventful morning, he didn't feel particularly brave or motivated to bother. He could feel the stares and whispers from the vast majority of the students present, but he was used to that. Hermione sat down next to Fleur and he took the seat next to her, almost at the end of the table, across from Ginny. Immediately the Champion of Beauxbatons struck up a conversation in a light tone.
"Hello Hermione, how are you? I hope you're not too tired from your evening. And good morning Mr. Potter. We missed you last night" she added with a slightly mocking smile but even he could tell there was no malice in it.
"Good morning Fleur, I'm fine thank you" Hermione replied. "I got up early, a hard habit to break, but I was able to get some rest this morning. I see you've met Lune and Ginny."
"Oh, I met Luna a few weeks ago, but this is the first time I've seen her eat with someone else. She introduced me to her friend Ginevra."
The two young women engaged in light conversation which Luna occasionally interspersed with anecdotes about Hogwarts or the Forbidden Forest. Ginny looked at Harry and they shrugged at the same time, and exchanged a smile as they filled their plates, but they didn't say a word. Harry was thinking about how to broach the subject of Hermione and Ron's argument, and he figured the sooner the better. Perhaps he could find a moment this afternoon... He was distracted from his thoughts by a small tap on the shoulder from his neighbour.
"Harry, what are you thinking about?"
"No, nothing, just... school, classes."
"Um..."
He knew she knew he was lying, but she didn't say anything more. Fleur leaned a little behind Hermione to meet her eyes.
"So, Mr. Potter, what did you spend your evening doing if you didn't want to mingle with the rest of the people?"
"I prefer my peers to call me Harry, if that's all right."
"That's fine, if you call me Fleur and stay on first-name terms with me."
"Agreed. To answer your question, I spent the evening with company no less pleasant than yours, even if our outfits were much more basic and plebeian."
"Oh Harry" Luna interjected in her most dreamy tone, "you're forgetting about our swimming costumes."
Ginny choked on her food while Fleur stared at Luna with a stunned look on her face and then laughed, which tended to distract, if not hypnotize, most of the boys around the table. Hermione simply shook her head, knowing the story. Harry met Luna's gaze, and noticed that she had a slight smirk on her face as she patted Ginny on the back. She turned slightly and winked at him.
"Well, Harry Potter, I didn't think boys in the United Kingdom were so bold" Fleur said wryly.
Harry almost defended himself by admitting that it was only to solve the egg riddle, but he barely held back, not wanting to give his competitor any more clues, although he had to admit that she seemed friendlier than he would have thought at first.
"Believe what you want, Fleur, but I doubt Luna could complain about any bad attitude on my part last night."
The friendly smile the French witch gave him reassured him that she believed him. Hermione seemed pleased that this little exchange had softened the mood between the two Champions, and she went on to say that Harry had missed being able to admire Fleur's dancing skills, and they returned to a discussion about the Ball. The Frenchwoman spoke at length about how much she had enjoyed finally being able to eat French food that was less heavy than the traditional Hogwarts dishes, and even Ginny joined in the discussion when she confessed that she had particularly enjoyed what she called a cordon-bleu served with green beans. Hermione, who regularly go on holidays in France, offered several comparisons of the two countries' cuisines. The discussion naturally died down as they ate their desserts. As Harry and Hermione stood up, Fleur stopped them.
"Wait, please."
All trace of her cheerful mood seemed to have disappeared, and she wore a serious look that was very much like the one she had before facing the dragon for the First Test.
"Harry, I owe you an apology. I saw you fly against the Horntail, who was probably the worst of the four dragons. And I realise that I have been unfair to you. You are certainly not a 'little boy', and I beg you to forgive words that went beyond my thoughts. Although I know you are not a willing participant in the Tournament, I think you are not at all unworthy. So, Harry Potter, I wish you good luck and good fortune in the rest of the Tournament."
She held out her hand. Harry was aware that many students were witnessing this exchange, but he did not hesitate to take it. As he had expected, her skin was very pleasant to the touch, and her grip was both firm and gentle.
"I accept your apology, Fleur, and I don't forget that you were able to put a dragon to sleep by yourself. I believe you have a good chance in this tournament and that you may well win it. Personally, I will just try to get out of it alive..."
The whispers around them went up and down as Harry greeted Fleur, Luna and Ginny. They exited the Great Hall and naturally headed for the Common Room. Hermione had told him that she wanted to get their things and then go to the Library to do their homework or to start researching for the second Test. He took advantage of an empty corridor to tenderly grasp her hand and she blushed slightly, as he felt his cheeks heat up. This desire for physical closeness was totally new to him, and he was completely unable to say where it might have come from, but he rather enjoyed it, and she didn't seem to be reluctant at all. He let go of her rather quickly, however, as he heard voices in another nearby corridor, but they remained close as they climbed the last flight of stairs. Harry was a little euphoric as he passed the portrait of the Fat Lady, but once again his mood took a dive for a similar reason to when he entered the Great Hall: Ron was sitting on one of the sofas and glaring at them. He sighed deeply, while Hermione chose to simply ignore their friend and whispered a quick 'see you in a minute' before heading off without turning her head towards her dormitory. Harry stood there for a few seconds deciding what to do, then made a decision. He headed for his dormitory too, but stopped when he passed Ron.
"Look Ron, I'm giving you a choice. If you're still here when I get downstairs, Hermione, you and I are going to have a serious talk about what happened last night and try to work things out. If you're gone before I get back, then I'll assume you're not interested in saving your friendship with Hermione, and I'd rather tell you right now that I'm on her side in this. So, choose wisely."
Harry didn't wait for an answer and went up the stairs quickly. He grabbed his bag and put the egg in it, along with his Transfiguration and Charms books (he didn't feel like working on Potions today). He gave Ron a few minutes to make up his mind and headed back downstairs. When he reached the bottom, he saw Hermione waiting for him by the stairs, clutching her bag, superbly ignoring Ron who was sitting in the same spot. Harry sighed again, but he had to keep his word. He looked at Hermione.
"Hermione?"
"Do you really have to? Do you know how despicable he was last night?"
She paid no attention to keeping a low tone, and Ron probably heard her, but said nothing as his face grew redder.
"It's just a matter of talking it over with a clear head, okay? I promise I'll stay with you."
She hesitated for a moment, probably weighing the subject, then sighed.
"Okay, I'll give him a chance to explain himself and apologize to me. But I'm warning you, I won't do him any favours."
"Okay" he said with a small smile.
He was going to try to make things right, but if it didn't work, there was no way he was going to let Hermione suffer, and he would stand by her. He turned to Ron.
"Come with us, we need to talk."
Without waiting for her answer, he headed for the exit of the Hall, Hermione at his side. He quickly considered the Come-and-Go Room, but preferred to keep it secret from Ron for a while longer. He settled on the small classroom where it all began a fortnight ago. Luckily, no one was in it at the moment. He sat down in a chair and Hermione sat next to him. Ron hesitated for a moment and sat down opposite them. There was a heavy silence. Ron was the first to break it.
"How can you forgive her betrayal?" he asked Harry angrily.
"My betrayal?" Hermione snarled. "What betrayal? Viktor is not an enemy!"
"He's Harry's enemy for the Tournament!"
"Harry doesn't even want to win the bloody Tournament, he just wants to survive it!"
"Of course he does, he wants to win it! What's the point of him taking part if he doesn't?"
"To avoid being punished by the Goblet of Fire! Do you remember that there is a magical contract associated with the Selection, or have you already forgotten?"
"Stop taking me for a moron!"
"Stop acting like a moron!"
Harry sighed deeply. This was obviously not going well. His first instinct was to withdraw and let them argue. He knew from experience that they would eventually calm down, either because they were tired of it or because one of them would be so upset that they would leave the room violently. Harry had long been content to avoid conflict, especially between his two friends, but the memory of what had happened last year, one day and one year to the day, came back to haunt him, reminiscent of the shouting before him. And there was no way he was going to lose Hermione again. This new priority shocked him for a moment, but he put it aside for the moment. Ron was important to him too, and he wanted their friendship to survive. He raised his hand, clearing his throat.
"Time out, please."
Surprisingly enough, they listened to him and stopped shouting and turned to him. They must not have been used to him interfering in their arguments either. The silence was deafening for two seconds.
"Ron, I'm not going to try to find pros and cons for either of you. From what I understand from Hermione's side of the story and from what you've just exchanged, it seems to me that you were rather aggressive towards her last night."
"That's an understatement" Hermione grumbled.
"Please Hermione" he implored her. "Ron, Hermione's right. I don't want to win the Tournament. I'm only fourteen and they're seventeen or eighteen. Someone put my name in the Cup, probably to kill me. I had to fight a Dragon, and I still have nightmares about it."
He heard Hermione take a sharp breath next to him, and he knew she was holding back from hugging him.
"I don't know what I'm going to do in the second Task, I just know that it's going to be underwater, and I'm going to risk something that's very dear to me. If I don't participate, no one knows what the Cup will do to me as a punishment. You know as well as I do that the myths around the Tournament speak of the loss of Magic for those who give up. And I can't lose my magic, Ron. I can't go back to living with the Muggles forever. I can't."
He realised that he had clenched his fists at the end of his speech when Hermione gently took his hand. He felt himself slowly relax. The prospect of going back to live with the Dursleys was a far more frightening nightmare than the Horntail. He smiled weakly at Hermione, who looked up at him with worried eyes, and he nodded to her to let her know that he was fine.
"Harry" Ron said, "I didn't think you saw it that way. You did so well against the Dragon that I thought you were in the game."
"I was terrified, Ron. I had the idea several times of dropping to the ground and being eaten by the Dragon just because I thought it would be quicker than prolonging the torture by flying around it."
Hermione's hand was gripping him so tightly that he thought he would get marks. Ron looked embarrassed.
"Harry, mate, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I understand better now."
"Do you understand why I don't see the other Champions as enemies? They may be competitors to win the Tournament, but I just want to finish it alive and whole."
"Does that justify Hermione going to the ball with Viktor Krum?"
"What business is it of ours? Hermione had the right to go to the Ball with whoever she wanted to, and if she didn't go with one of us, it was because we didn't ask her. I knew she wouldn't have any trouble finding a date. Hermione is exceptional Ron. She's an intelligent, competent, rather pretty witch and an extremely mature young woman. I'd be surprised if Viktor was the only one who asked her..."
Hermione's cheeks were ruddy red and she mumbled something incomprehensible, and Harry gave her a questioning look. She blushed even more before repeating.
"After Viktor, I had six proposals, including two from Beauxbatons guys. And also one from Colin, but I'm not sure he was serious, I think he just wanted the opportunity to go to the Ball."
Ron's jaw dropped in shock. Harry felt the grip of jealousy again, but he tried to keep a neutral face. He remembered the kiss they had exchanged at lunchtime and took a deep breath.
"I think you owe her a sincere apology Ron. Hermione didn't 'betray' me and to even think that she might do so is laughable. She is the most loyal person I know."
"She compared me to Malfoy!"
Harry looked back at Hermione in shock, who wore a look of mixed defiance and guilt.
"I was angry at what he had said, thinking that I should have stayed and waited until he had no choice but to take me as his date. The Malfoy comparison was indeed over the top, but it hurt to hear that."
Harry shook his head, trying to control his anger. He shook Hermione's hand in return before turning to Ron.
"Ron, is this true? Do you really think Hermione deserves to be treated so poorly?"
"That's not what I meant!"
"But that's what you said" Hermione hissed.
Ron crossed his arms, looking grumpy.
"I just meant that you should have gone with one of us, since we're your friends."
"Just because she's our friend" Harry interjected, "doesn't mean she has to do everything with us. And it's also up to us to take the initiative. Viktor was quicker than you, it's not Hermione's fault at all."
"You can talk, you who preferred to run away from the Ball! You didn't have to make a fool of yourself in front of the girls by asking them to accompany you."
"As you say, I didn't want to make a fool of myself. I wasn't interested in the Ball."
"Except to see Hermione in her dress," thought Harry, but he did not voice that thought.
"All this talk and then what? To kneel before her and beg her forgiveness by whipping me with brambles?"
"Or you could just apologise to her for acting like an idiot."
Ron looked down at the ground, his face red, while Harry and Hermione remained silent. Harry was glad that Hermione had let him speak, even though he knew that she was quite capable of standing up for herself against Ron. He hoped that he had started to show her that he could take her side in arguments too. Too often he had left her alone in the face of their friend's often exaggerated, even unfair, accusations. And the memory of the Firebolt argument still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Hermione was often passionate and had trouble putting herself in other people's shoes, but she had a good heart and often only wanted the good of others before her own. She deserved Harry to take a much greater interest in her passions and defend her in the face of adversity. A long sigh from Ron snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Hermione, I... I wasn't thinking and I was an idiot. I'm sorry and I apologise. I'll try not to do it again."
"Ron" Hermione replied with a smile, "I apologise for comparing you to Malfoy, it was cruel and over the top."
Harry smiled broadly, and suddenly Hermione stood up quickly and embraced Ron in one of her trademark hugs. It didn't last long, and they parted a little awkwardly as Harry got to his feet too. He merely held out his hand, which Ron shook a little awkwardly.
"So, Harry, what did you do last night?"
Harry then told him about the evening, not mentioning the swimming costume episode, he just admitted to having a bath with the egg and let Ron think that Luna had stayed in the living room. Ron was stunned by the existence of the Room and was already beginning to fantasise about using it as a Quidditch pitch for training. Harry offered to show it to Ron, and Hermione added that they could use the opportunity to make progress on the riddle by asking the Room for a place to learn how to breathe and swim underwater.
As the three of them stood up, Hermione held Harry back.
"Ron, can you wait outside for a moment, I have something to say to Harry, please?"
Ron was quick to agree and after a curious look, left them in the small room. Hermione moved closer to Harry, and pressed herself against him, while he reflexively wrapped his arms around her. They were silent for just under a minute, until Hermione turned her head slightly towards him and tenderly placed a kiss right on the corner of his lips, which inflamed his cheeks in an instant.
"Thank you, Harry" she whispered.
"You're welcome, it's a pleasure. But what did I do?"
"You stood up for me against Ron and made him apologise. You know that's the first time he's done that without it being insincere or completely forced?"
"I'll do it more often if I get rewards like that..."
"Idiot" she said, smiling and slapping his shoulder lightly.
He took the time to look her in the eye. It was particularly easy considering they were the same height, although Harry refused to admit that she was probably a centimetre or two taller than him. She blushed a little under his gaze, but didn't take her eyes off him. He finally kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger for a moment to enjoy the texture of her skin.
"Shall we go? Ron must be getting impatient."
She nodded in response. She didn't let go of his hand until she opened the door. Just before she turned the handle, he held her back again.
"Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"One day I'll dance with you."
A delighted smile lit up her face.
"I'd love to. All the dances you want."
He moved his face to hers again, and this time he placed his lips gently on hers for a second as she closed her eyes, and she sighed with pleasure as he pulled back.
"Then we will dance for eternity."
END