The entire room had gone pin-drop silent. Everyone's eyes were on the two who had emerged from behind the sheet. They watched as the two of them stared at their dates. They watched as the two redheads just took a few steps back slowly and ran outside. A moment later, the Chosen One and the Bushy-haired girl ran out after them, calling out their names.
"RON!" Harry and Hermione called out in unison as they tore across the corridors, "GINNY!"
They stumbled into the Gryffindor Common room and raced to the dormitories.
"RON!" Harry ripped off the door to his and Ron's dormitory only to find Seamus and Lavender.
"Oy, mate! Give us some privacy, won't ya?" Seamus indignantly covered his bed with the curtains around his bed. Lavender and Seamus had been red in the face.
"Uh, sorry. Hey, please let me know if you see Ron." Harry apologized.
An impatient grunt from Seamus told him no one should dare come inside the dormitory for a long time. Dejected, he went down to find a shaking Hermione.
"W-What did he say?" she asked, on the verge of tears.
"Ron isn't there, nor is anyone going to go there anytime soon," Harry said. Then, in a small voice, he asked, "Ginny?"
Hermione just shook her head and began sobbing. She was the only one in the dormitory, Parvati having left to visit her grandmother in India, and Lavender... occupied for the night. Having nowhere to go, Harry decided to search the entire school on his Marauder's Map. He checked it with Hermione. Unfortunately, the blessed dots named 'Ron' and 'Ginny' did not see it fit to grace their presence.
Upset and furious, Harry pulled out his herb. It was this herb that had followed him to the party and disrupted his evening. It had tripped him and was dragging him along everywhere. Having finally reached behind the white curtain, Harry had finally regained control and subdued the vile plant. With both his hands ahead of him, he restrained its force and slightly opened his mouth. Then, the nasty plant scarpered across the room, and Harry shot out, bellowing at it to come back.
Harry hadn't understood at first what was happening - why the room had gone silent, why Ron and Ginny looked so shocked, hurt, and betrayed, or even why, a split second later, he heard Hermione's voice from behind him saying something about wanting some peace and quiet. All he knew was that there had been a huge misunderstanding. Hermione clearly thought so too. On their way to Gryffindor Tower, Harry had found the nasty plant and dragged it along. That's how the disgusting thing lay at his feet innocently, as though it hadn't just started a nuclear war!
When at two in the morning he saw Lavender return to the girls' dormitory, Harry rushed to his dormitory and slept without a word. The following day, Harry was awoken by Ron, who was already ready.
"We are leaving soon." He said in a neutral voice. Wanting to make up with Ron, Harry quickly dressed up and rushed to Professor McGonagall's office. Hermione stood with Ginny, clearly attempting to talk. Ginny, too, hid her face from Hermione or Harry.
As soon as they reached the Burrow, Ginny and Ron raced to their respective rooms.
"RON! GINNY!" Mrs. Weasley admonished them but it's likely they didn't hear her. "Sorry, Harry, Hermione." She said.
Harry's chest heaving with guilt, he followed Hermione up the stairs. As she turned towards Ginny's room, Harry stopped her. Through eye contact, they conveyed to each other that they needed to first talk to their partners. Nodding, Hermione took her bag upstairs to Ron's room. As Harry entered the room, Ginny said, "Don't enter!"
"G-Ginny, it's me." Harry said. "Please let me explain."
Ginny turned around in such fury that rivaled that of Mrs. Weasley. Harry had to take a step back.
"There's nothing more to say or do! In fact, you could have told me long ago that you fancied Hermione, and I wouldn't have minded! Or Hermione could've told me she fancied you! Instead, you both cheat on Ron and me...!"
Just then, the door banged open, and in came Ron, followed by Hermione.
"HARRY! DON'T YOU BOTHER MY SISTER!"
"But, Ron..." Harry said. Hermione tried to grab Ron's arm pleadingly.
"No! Hermione, you had better not do anything you'll regret! You have both hurt my sister and me!"
"Ron, please let me explain..." Harry said.
But Ron shook his head. All four of them were crying now - none of them ready to listen to the other. Head bent, Harry and Hermione decided to leave for London.
"What happened to Harry? And Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley asked the two youngest Weasleys.
"We had a row. Don't ask us anything."
"Hermione! What a surprise! We thought you were staying at Ron's?" Mrs. Granger said as she opened the door.
"Change of plans, Mum. Oh, and this is Harry Potter. Harry? Come here."
With a forced smile, Harry walked in. Mr. and Mrs. Granger interpreted his sullen mood to be because of the whole Voldemort fiasco Hermione had told them about in brief. Harry looked so anxious and morose, and even Hermione mirrored the expression. Hermione's parents were seriously concerned and decided to make everything jolly for the two teens.
On Christmas Day, Harry watched as Hermione laughed and had a genuinely good time with her parents. Happy for her, he went out on a stroll. As he walked the streets of London, he heard a voice, "Harry? You here?"
It was his cousin, Dudley Dursley.
"Big D?" He said blankly.
"What are you doing in London, Harry? Why don't you join Catherine and me for dinner?" Dudley said, as a blonde girl about Dudley's height appeared next to her.
"I thought you were at Smeltings?" Harry said.
"And so do my parents. Atleast for now. I spent the last two weeks at home, so I could spend some time with Catherine in London. And boy am I so glad to see you, Harry, in London! Kate, this is my cousin, Harry Potter."
Pushing his wand further back in is arm, Harry introduced himself with a smile.
"I really need to get going, Big D."
"What? No, I insist! You're all by yourself anyway!" Dudley said.
Just then, Hermione showed up, "Harry! We were wondering where you..."
"Hermione, meet my cousin, Dudley. And this is Catherine." Harry said. "Hermione is one of my best friends and lives here in Oxfordshire."
"Nice to meet you. Harry, join us." Hermione insisted.
"No, Hermione, you should spend time with your family. I'll be fine, really."
"In that case, why don't you come with us, Harry?" Dudley said enthusiastically.
Harry couldn't understand. Dudley never liked him and was glad to be rid of him. Why was he suddenly nice to him?
Just so he didn't go back to the Grangers and interrupt their already limited time with their daughter, Harry said, "I'm going with Dudley. Err, change of plans, Hermione."
Hermione frowned but nodded. "Fine, Harry. Do you know the way back?"
"It's okay, we will drop Harry here." Dudley offered. "And your house is right around that corner, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Cool, come on, Harry!"
When Hermione left, Harry turned to Dudley, "Big D, I don't want to interrupt you..."
"Nonsense!" Dudley said. "Kate and I have our meals together often. It will be great if you join us this once."
"Uncle Vernon? Aunt Petunia?" Harry asked.
"Oh, well, I figured that this year, for a change, they spend Christmas together. Just the two of them. I also wanted to spend time with Kate!" Dudley blushed. Harry stared.
Misunderstanding his glance for curiosity, Dudley continued, "Oh, we are in London to meet Kate's parents. She wanted to introduce me to them."
"You?" Harry said blankly.
"Oh, he jokes so good!" Kate laughed.
Blushing, Dudley said, "We've been seeing each other since the summer."
Harry stared. His cousin had a girlfriend? That was unbelievable, considering how Dudley had only been a childish bully one year ago.
"Yeah, Harry. So, what about you and Hermione?" Dudley asked, bringing back all the memories from school that Harry that temporarily forgotten.
"Oh, that, no. She is my best friend, and is dating my other best friend, Ron Weasley."
"Why are you so morose, Harry? Do you fancy Hermione?" Dudley asked.
"NO!" Harry answered rather roughly. Then, embarrassed, he added, "It's-it's my best friend's sister."
"Oh, I didn't know Hermione had a sister." Dudley said brightly.
"No, not Hermione. Well, Hermione did say she wanted a sister, and her parents had kinda thought of having one years ago. But they decided against it. I'm talking about my other best friend. Ron's sister, Ginny."
"So, you like this 'Ginny'. And what's stopping you from telling her?" Dudley asked, as the two cousins walked with Catherine.
"Nothing! In fact, we are dating." Harry said.
"Then? Does your best friend dislike the pair of you?" Kate asked.
"No." Harry said. In fact, Ron and Hermione started dating the same time as Ginny and me."
"Let me get the drinks." Kate said brightly, and Dudley insisted he would get it.
"No, Dud. You talk to your cousin. I don't mind getting the drinks." Kate said and hopped off.
"This is what I like about her." Dudley said. "So, Harry, you were saying?"
"Last week, we had a row. There is a huge misunderstanding that Hermione and I are dating secretly. Ron and Ginny are furious with the pair of us and won't talk to us. They believe we have betrayed them." Harry said miserably.
"Oh, dear!" Dudley said.
"I have placed the order! What's wrong?" Kate asked.
"Harry and Hermione had a row with Ron and Ginny. It's a misunderstanding. I daresay you want to make up with them, Harry?" Dudley said.
"But how? They won't even talk to us!" Harry said miserably. He even began drinking muggle beer.
Taking the beer from Harry, Dudley said, "Well, why don't you corner them?"
"Cornering them will only make Harry and his best friend look hostile to Harry's girlfriend and other best friend." Kate shook her head. "You will need to give it some time if you ask me. Maybe by the end of the holidays, they will listen to reason?"
Harry shrugged and saw Dudley and Kate enjoy each other's company while dearly wishing that Ginny was with him. Later, he bid goodbye to his cousin and his girlfriend.
"I do hope this gets cleared, Harry." Dudley said.
"Keep your fingers crossed." Harry said dully.
"Time." Kate said suddenly.
"Blimey, it's nine! I've to go to Hermione's house!" Harry said.
"Not that time. What I meant was that you and Hermione could do with waiting for a few days before talking to..." She looked at Dudley, who supplied, "Bonnie and Donald."
Harry laughed out loud. Then, he looked at the bewildered faces of Kate and Dudley and said, "You mean Ginny and Ronald."
"Yeah, that's the one." Dudley said, the color on his face highly reminiscent of Uncle Vernon when embarrassed.
"Thanks, Big D, Kate!" Harry said, and he meant it.
"Mention not, Harry!" Catherine said brightly.
Dudley, however, muttered something that sounded like, "Least we could do... After troubling you for so long."
When Dudley saw Harry staring at him, he changed tact quickly, "So, Kate and I will be heading back to Smeltings! See you around, Harry! I do hope to meet your headmaster again! He seems interesting to me!"
Harry nodded, completely unaware of the fate that awaited Albus Dumbledore in a few months.
"What took you so long?" Hermione demanded as Mr. Granger locked the door from inside after Harry walked in.
"My cousin and I discussed stuff" Harry vaguely said.
"What stuff?" Hermione demanded bossily. Then, her face went pink, "Oh, if it's anything personal, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, no. Dudley and his girlfriend - that blonde with him, remember? - Catherine told me that it'd be better to wait for a few days before Ron and Ginny calmed down. Maybe then we could explain." Harry explained.
"Oh." Hermione said vaguely and went to bed, muttering, "Night, Harry."
Yawning, Harry said, "Night, Hermione. And Mr. and Mrs. Granger."
The following morning, Hermione and Harry left for Hogwarts and sleepily went to their dormitories at night - having eaten Chocolate Frogs and looked outside the train windows all day.
While Christmas was a jolly time for Harry ever since he started at Hogwarts, this year's Christmas was filled with anxiety. Days passed by where Harry would stare at Hermione as they tried doing their Christmas homework or some revision. Hermione wasn't interested in Quidditch or pranks, nor was Harry interested in spending hours in the library. So, they had settled for doing their schoolwork in the Common Room. He was bored. Hermione was also prone to getting bored quickly - at least Ginny was another girl, rather than a boy, to talk to.
Harry felt blank and empty. Everything reminded him of Ginny. Their favorite hangout places in the corridors, the courtyard, the lake, and the Great Hall. He could see Ginny everywhere and knew Hermione could see Ron in those places.
When he wasn't thinking of Ginny, he was definitely thinking of his best friend. Ron. Most of the things that reminded him of Ginny in the school also reminded him of Ron, such as the places they walked around laughing and chatting. He could tell that Hermione felt similarly about Ginny.
Back in the Burrow, Ron and Ginny had become sullen and withdrawn. Although they missed Harry and Hermione, they didn't want to bring it all up.
"How can he cheat you, Ginny?" Ron said furiously. "He's the only boy I'd have ever trusted a boy with! And he's supposed to be my best friend! He is now seeing Hermione!"
Wiping her eyes and offering Ron some tissues, Ginny furiously said, "How could Hermione ever do that to you, Ron?! You're so pure of heart and really sensitive! You wouldn't hurt a fly! And she's the one who gave me advice about Harry, and now, she's seeing him!"
"They're probably enjoying right now!" Ron punched his pillow.
"Maybe they couldn't care less that we've gone!" Ginny buried her face in her pillow.
The two weeks were over before any of the teens realized it. With long faces, they headed back to Hogwarts.
"RON? GINNY?" Hermione said when she spotted them! "I'm so happy to see you."
Ron gave a noncommittal grunt and looked at Hermione with such hurt in his eyes that it broke Hermione's heart. Ginny just burst into tears and ran away. When the siblings confronted Harry, Ron's reaction was a low growl, and Ginny turned her face away from him, fuming.
On the first day of term, Harry had taken his herb straight to Professor Sprout.
"Professor, I can't handle this any longer. I'm hopeless in Herbology!" Harry lamented.
"Don't worry, Harry. I won't give you a zero. You tried real hard, unlike..." Professor Sprout cast a dark look at Crabbe's and Goyle's plants that were withering by the trash.
Although Harry and Hermione tried to talk to Ron or Ginny everywhere - classes, corridors, Great Hall, and even Quidditch - the two redheads only seemed less eager to listen.
"Ron, I can explain. That stupid plant was what started it all! You've seen it! You know how it behaves!" Harry implored. "Ginny, I'd never dream of cheating or hurting you - you know I love you!"
Hermione was doing no better. "Trust me, what I'm doing has the potential to help people! Harry and I aren't together or anything!"
Two days after term started, Harry and Hermione could see that their - and Ginny's - mates staring at them. It seemed like they could tell that something was seriously off about them.
"Harry, you miss them." Neville pointed out. "If only you'd at least tell us what's wrong."
"Hermione, if only you could... I don't know. Have a talk. This is a communication gap!" Lavender pointed out.
"Ron, it wouldn't hurt to give them a chance," Seamus said. Dean continued, "Maybe hear what they've to say. It's obvious you miss them!"
"Come on, Ginny. Just this once." Demelza and Violet encouraged Ginny.
Hermione began to point out to Harry how Kate's suggestion, too, hadn't worked. The passage of time only gave them a cold front and an I-don't-care attitude in return.
"I know Kate's idea isn't working, Hermione, so cut that out!" Harry said miserably.
"Well, you shouldn't have listened to her! You barely even knew her!" Hermione retorted.
"Oh, yeah? Then, why did you listen to this advice?" Harry retorted.
"BECAUSE I TRUST YOU!" Hermione screeched, making several first years scatter in fear.
"Potter and Granger having a break-up now, eh?" Malfoy laughed. The news of the party had spread around like wildfire and did nothing to help Harry or Hermione.
"Good for you, Granger! Atleast show better taste next time! Potter? Eurgh!!" Pansy shrieked, and several Slytherin girls and boys laughed.
"Oh, I don't know about you, but I'd never touch that slimy, filthy Mudblood!" Malfoy roared with laughter.
Harry made a furious move, but the slimy git of a professor showed up just then, and Hermione tactfully pulled Harry back, "Ignore those fools!"
But as Snape turned his back, a sudden jinx had Malfoy dancing uncontrollably! "Yeah, Malfoy? You were saying?" Ron said savagely.
Professor Snape returned to the scene and undid the curse. Furious, he bellowed, "WEASLEY!"
But Professor McGonagall showed up just then. "SEVERUS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU TAUGHT YOUR STUDENTS TO BEHAVE! It was Mr. Malfoy and the Slytherins who provoked Miss Granger!"
"Hundred Points from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy, for yours and the other Slytherins' antics! Now mind your language if you don't want expulsion! Off you go!"
"And you, Mr. Weasley. You would do well to stay away from trouble. Now, disperse, all of you!" Professor McGonagall said with dignity.
Harry thought this was a good chance to make up with Ron. Hermione, evidently, understood, for she, too, was eager to talk to Ron. Unfortunately for them, Ron vanished.
"Hermione, you and Ron are prefects. Maybe if you talk..." Harry said.
Shaking her head and crying, Hermione said, "I've tried it, Harry. But he is upset with me. More than anger, it's hurt."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny started looking lost as time passed by in a blur. Hermione seemed in tears most of the time, often looking at Ron longingly and trying to get Ginny to talk. As for Harry, he would watch Ginny with a scowl on his face, desperate to talk to her. Even more so, he wanted to have fun with Ron like in old times. But he and Ginny always looked at Harry and Hermione with expressions of hurt and betrayal rather than outright disgust. Harry would find himself blankly standing or walking.
"Harry! You have been spilling the Blue stone potion on yourself without realizing it! Do you want to burn your trousers?"
"Miss Granger, I've been calling you for the last two minutes! What happened to that presentation I asked you to present to the class? Why is it incomplete?"
"Weasley, that's the fifth goal you have missed! Your attention isn't even on the game!"
"Ginny, you aren't even listening to my story of the Wrackspurts!" Luna sounded angry. "Are you or are you not interested?"
They had started hearing such comments almost daily now. They were eating and drinking less and taking an even lesser interest in everything. Even Hagrid noticed.
"Yer okay, Harry?"
"Err, I guess maybe?" Harry said blankly. Harry couldn't help losing track of time. Days seemed to rush past without any meaning. Once or twice, he even became jealous and furious that Dudley was doing much better than him. Dudley, out of all people! And what about him? Ginny wouldn't even talk to him! He felt hollow inside. On one such occasion, he was so lost that...
"POTTER!" Harry suddenly stared.
Neville was staring at him. Harry realized that it was almost curfew time and he had been blankly staring at a wall near the Owlery. He didn't even remember having supper.
"You don't call me Potter." Harry said with a frown.
"Harry, come with me right now!" Neville said and dragged him to the Gryffindor Common Room. It was empty, almost as though everyone had made space for something. Harry watched Seamus dragging Ron through the portrait hole. He tried to escape but unfortunately for him...
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Neville bellowed, and Harry fell face down on the floor. Neville, with the help of Dean, made Harry sit on one of the couches.
"Why have you bound me in magical ropes, Seamus?" Ron demanded. Just then, Violet Hunt walked in, carrying Ginny on a conjured stretcher which she seemed unable to escape from, "LET ME GO, VIOLET HUNT!"
"YOU LIED, PARVATI!" Hermione's shrill voice came from above.
"Not that you have any choice now, Hermione!" Parvati prodded Hermione to walk down the steps.
Hermione's wand was with Parvati, and she was ready with a spell at the tip of her tongue should Hermione try to escape.
Once Neville undid the spell, Harry demanded, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
Harry was breathing heavily. His breath came in sharp takes, and his chest hurt. He could see Hermione out of the corner of his eyes, burying her face in her hands. Ron and Ginny looked livid.
"We think we're trying to bring you guys to your senses! Correct us if we're wrong to think you have any!" Neville said. "We're your friends, Harry! Hermione! Ron! Ginny!"
"Where is everybody?" Harry said.
"Bed! In any case, that isn't the issue!" Lavender piped in. "You four should realize that if you have a problem, you should seek help!"
"Yeah, why didn't you guys ever think of coming to us? We can help you!" Demelza Robbins chimed in.
"Help?" Harry said blankly. "What do we need help for?"
"There's nothing you can do!" Ginny said furiously.
"It is over and will never remain the same, so snap out of it! Let me go!" Ron demanded furiously.
Hermione stopped restraining and said, "It's a lost cause, guys."
"No!" Parvati insisted. "You will tell us what is wrong. Even if it takes all day, we will not leave until you speak up!"
"Nor will we allow you to leave!" Seamus said, eyeing them beadily.
"Listen, drop it." Harry said.
"You haven't even told us what's wrong. But it is evident that it isn't something you're dealing with well on your own!" Dean said.
"So, let's start again. What happened?" Seamus questioned.
"ASK HIM, won't you?" Ron spat in Harry's direction.
"Maybe ask HER!" Ginny spat, glaring at Hermione.
"WE HAVE BEEN TRYING, BUT YOU WON'T LISTEN!" Harry bellowed.
"You didn't even give us a chance to speak!" Hermione cried out in a shrill voice.
"What's there to speak, YOU TRAITOR! You cheated on MY SISTER!" Ron bellowed at Harry.
"After giving me advice about how to win Harry's affections, YOU HAD THE GALL TO DATE MY BOYFRIEND!" Ginny spat at Hermione. "Have you ANY idea how badly you've hurt my brother, Hermione?!"
"After all that we did together, Hermione, you decided I WAS NO LONGER WORTHY, IS IT?" Ron spat in hurt.
"That was A MISUNDERSTANDING!" Harry said. "Ask Neville about that plant! You've seen that plant. It had come after me to the party without my knowledge! I've been try..."
"DON'T... LIE...!" Ron hissed. "How can a plant follow you without your knowledge?"
"By clinging on to my shirt, Ron!" Harry said.
"NO!" Ginny began to sob, "YOU WERE KISSING HERMIONE! WE SAW IT!"
"Untrue! I was wrestling with that plant and had no idea Hermione was there! I only realized later!" Harry said.
"What was Hermione doing there?" Ginny spat.
"Magical Braille!" Hermione said. "Braille is the system of writing muggles use for blind people to read and write. I have been reading about braille for magical people - a severely underrepresented subject in the magical world. I had read that there are certain chants to be invoked. Ron, you, Harry, and Ginny were having fun. So I thought my absence for a while to practice this shouldn't be worrisome. That's why I went in to try using the spell! If this system is developed, it could benefit blind witches and wizards, and I was shocked at how no one ever thought of this before!"
There! Finally, everything's coming out into the open! Seamus is dating Lavender, and Dudley has a girlfriend too! Will they cross paths with Harry? What's going to happen next? The next and final chapter is coming soon. Do not forget to review! It helps!