"WHAT ABOUT THE KISS?" Ron demanded.
As an answer, Hermione arranged her hands in front of the Common Room fire to create a shadow image of a fish. "This is what you'd have seen. An illusion!"
"So, why practice that at the party?" Ron questioned her.
"That was stupid of me. Or at least I should've informed you. I should've known parties are silent. You need silence for the spell to function." Hermione explained.
"That day, while leaving Hagrid's hut, why was Harry so invested in your cloak?" Ron demanded. "Ginny wasn't wearing a cloak either!"
"There was only one cloak that day, and it was Hermione's, and besides, Ginny sat closest to the fire. And what makes you think I wouldn't keep Ginny warm, Ron?" Harry shot back.
"That day, after the match, you and Hermione were lying on top of each other in front of the school near the library..." Ginny said.
"It's because of that stupid plant Harry's been talking about till now! Seems like it's nothing but trouble! And we collided and fell down. It was an accident!" Hermione said in a hurt voice.
By now, the four of them had calmed down.
"I'd never dream of hurting you, Gin!" Harry said. Nor you, Ron. Nor Hermione, either!"
"It's ridiculous to even think I would betray you, Ginny, and cheat on you, Ron, to date Harry!" Hermione wept.
"Okay, let's do this. I have an idea." Violet Hunt spoke. "Ginny, why don't we start with you? Why don't you tell us what you think of your best friend and your boyfriend?"
"That's a good idea. After Ginny, Harry can do the same." Neville picked up.
"Ron won't be behind on this either." Seamus said.
"I know you can, Hermione. We know what you all mean to each other." Parvati encouraged.
Wiping her eyes and clearing her throat, Ginny said, "I grew up with six older brothers and have always wondered what it'd be like to have a sister. Hermione fills that role. At the Burrow, we share a room. We share a lot of things, especially things we don't discuss with boys. It's true that Hermione advised me to be more myself and maybe start dating so Harry can see the real me."
Then, looking at Harry as her eyes filled up, she said, "I have had a crush on Harry for a long time. But when I was ten and eleven, I started getting to know the real Harry, not the Boy-Who-Lived, but just Harry. Since then, my feelings have only gotten stronger and stronger. But I've always accepted that there's a possibility that Harry might never notice me! I-I was willing to accept..." She buried her face in her hands and shook with emotion. At that moment, Harry had the sudden strong urge to rush to her and comfort her. But he stayed put.
The whole group was now looking at Harry, so he spoke, "Ron and Hermione are my first ever friends in life. They're my best friends, and I wish only the best for them. Ron, Hermione is like my sister, and there's no way I'm going to start seeing Hermione. Ginny, you're the only one I've ever loved and will love! I'd never think of breaking your heart, and your brothers can have that guarantee." He looked at Ron and fell silent as he began staring at the fire.
"Harry, you're my best friend. What's more? You're the only one I would ever trust Ginny with. And it fits since you both love each other. Just... Don't hurt her. As for you, Hermione, you don't know how much I love you! Y-You don't...!" Ron grabbed his bright red hair with his hands and began glaring at the floor.
Finally revealing her tear-stained face, Hermione spoke, "As an only child, I had always imagined having a younger sibling, a sister perhaps. And you fill that role for me, Ginny. You're the first I ever told about my feelings for Ron. I would never dream of betraying you. H-Harry is like my brother. I told you just now - I've wanted a younger sibling. Harry fills the role of a younger brother. One that I feel protective of. I'd never think of... of...!"
Wiping her eyes, she continued before anyone interrupted, "I would never cheat on you, Ron! NEVER! You're The King! MY PRINCE! I've always loved you, you must know...!" Then, she seemed at a loss for words.
Parvati spoke after a few moments of silence, "Okay, now, everybody. I mean, imagine it. Magical Braille! Blind witches and wizards can take Hogwarts courses through Braille!"
"Yeah, sounds cool!" Seamus piped in.
"Hermione comes up with the best ideas. That House Elf rights movement first, and now this." Neville said brightly.
"Count me in!" Violet Hunt said cheerfully. However, Ginny, Hermione, Harry, and Ron did not show the slightest indication that they heard or wanted to say anything.
"Oh, come on!" Parvati said exasperatedly. "Hermione, why don't you go with Ron? Take a stroll. Talk it out." She looked expectedly at Ron, who got up and exited the Common Room. Hermione followed him.
Seeing her brother leave, Ginny abruptly got up and dashed out of the portrait hole.
"GINNY! WAIT!" Harry tore off after her.
Ron and Hermione
"Take a stroll. Talk it out." Parvati Patil was saying. Ron looked up and met Hermione's eyes. Those chocolatey brown eyes were watery and pleading. It reminded him of melted chocolate frogs. Try as he might, he couldn't be angry at Hermione - or Harry - for longer periods. In truth, he wasn't unwilling to forgive or anything. It was just that Harry's and Hermione's actions had particularly hurt him and Ginny. He didn't mind much when people insulted him. But should anyone dare point fingers at those he deeply cared about, he would be mad with fury. He couldn't take it that someone would hurt Ginny. His beloved sister! He would hex anyone to the moon and the stars who dared hurt Ginny. But in this case, that was Harry. His best friend, Harry. Another person he equally cared about! What would you do if the two people you cared so deeply for turned against each other - or, more specifically, one of them hurt the other?
He hadn't realized he had stood up and was walking out of the portrait hole.
"Ron, please wait." It was Hermione's voice, and he turned around. To his surprise, he found Hermione wasn't alone. Ginny was exiting the Common Room after her. A split second later, he heard Harry's hoarse voice imploring Ginny to wait. In a moment, an awkward silence stood as four people stood in front of the Fat Lady, who was staring at them.
"Well? What's going on?" She asked curiously. "What's with the four of you? You've been acting weird since that night before the Christmas break."
Harry was the first to speak. Ron watched as Harry took Ron's hand, "I mean it, Ron, when I say you're my best friend, Hermione is my sister, and..." He turned to Ginny, "I'd never hurt Ginny. Please, Ginny, let's talk." Harry looked extremely muffled
Ron felt so sorry for Harry at that moment that he turned to Ginny, "It wouldn't hurt to listen to what he has to say, Ginny."
Ginny looked at him with her eyes filling up. Ron smiled at his sister affectionately, while his heart broke seeing his sister in so much hurt.
"Ginny, you should know that Harry is like my brother," Hermione said. Ron had forgotten how beautiful Hermione looked or how divine her voice sounded. "You know very well about my feelings for Ron."
Ron cleared his throat, and Ginny said, "Okay.".
Ginny went away, and Ron could see Harry give him and Hermione grateful looks as he went after her.
In comfortable silence, the pair walked. The bushy-haired girl tried to jog to keep in pace with the lanky boy, who seemed intent on a brisk walk. When, however, the girl with brown hair tripped, the boy with red hair turned and caught her in a flash. She remembered falling but didn't remember hitting the ground.
"You okay?" His words sent a chill down her spine. She nodded.
"Take my hand." He said. She felt the warmth of his hand as she took it and looked at him. The two of them walked on, silently forgiving each other and themselves for the last few weeks.
"Your-your idea. That 'rail' one. For blind people. That was ingenious, Hermione." Ron said.
"Thanks, Ron. But it doesn't matter now," Hermione blushed.
"Why not? The idea is so good! It could help blind wizards and witches!" Ron said in surprise.
"True, Ron. But first of all, that requires studying in certain fields that aren't aligned with my interests. Secondly," she looked at him, "we are living through a war, Ronald, and nothing matters to me more than being with people I love. What if we die in this war without having ever told each other how we feel?"
"Don't say such things, Hermione!" Ron chided her. "We will stick by each other until the very end! That's a promise!"
"I promise that too, Ron!" Hermione said. "I would never cheat on you."
"Nor would I; you can be assured of that." Ron smiled.
"By the way, Hermione, wait till you hear news about Percy!" Ron said.
"Percy? What's up?" Hermione asked as Ron began telling her.
They had reached the top of the Astronomy Tower. A light breeze of fresh air was flowing. For Ron, Hermione's bushy hair was flying as though invisible people were fanning her. It fits, Ron thought, Hermione was a queen. Then, he remembered that he was called 'The King'. 'Queen and King' - Hermione and Ron. Ron Weasley's face flushed as red as his vivid red hair. For Hermione, Ron's hair flew up in a graceful arc as a thin strand of his flaming red hair fell on his forehead. The two of them slowly approached the balcony, still immersed in one another.
Hermione looked over and gasped. Ron followed her gaze and watched two figures in the dark exiting the castle and settling by the lake. The shorter figure rested its head on the tall figure's shoulder as they sat leaning against a tree. Ron and Hermione immediately knew who they were.
Harry and Ginny
Harry had waited with bated breath while he met Ron, Ginny, and Hermione outside the portrait hole. Ron still looked a little unsure but seemed to give in. When Hermione spoke, Ginny was convinced. Looking at Harry, she wiped her eyes and left. Harry beamed with gratitude at his two best friends and tore after her. He had quite forgotten Ginny's blazing beauty and her divine voice. All he felt was a happy balloon swelling inside of him. If he could just get Ginny to talk to him...
Around the corner, Harry spotted Ginny's vivid red hair climbing down the stairs. He immediately took her side and held her hand. She made no attempt to take it back, nor did she slow down. Harry walked to keep up and stole glances at Ginny.
"You can take a full look at me, Harry, once we have stopped walking." Ginny said as they reached the fourth-floor landing.
"I can?" Harry said. He was amazed.
Ginny nodded. "Harry, I hate those corridors." They were now on the second floor, near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"I know." Harry said softly. They had stopped.
"Percy once told me that he found you, Ron, and Hermione coming out of that bathroom once that year." Ginny said.
"Yeah, crazy, right?" Harry laughed. Ginny looked at him and laughed too.
"Perfect Percy, with his prude prattiness!" Ginny laughed. Harry found it really amusing.
"Percy's a right old prat. A git." Ginny said, tearing up again.
Harry thought she was still mad at him until she said, "What does Percy think will happen if he doesn't follow his stupid rules for once? For all he knows, we could've lost him!"
Harry was shocked! "Wait, what?"
"Oh, nothing, a regular night at the Ministry. Except Percy thought he needed to add one line at the bottom of a file, he's been working on. Guess when he thinks of that? 2 in the morning! Little did he know that Travers the Death Eater was in his office. When Percy opened the door and took out his file, Travers shot him with multiple curses that's rendered him unconscious! He's lost his job at the ministry now since it's unclear how long Percy will be unable to work! If only he had waited till morning to write that damned line - not that that line was more important than his safety! And now, Mum and Dad are taking care of him."
"Merlin's Pants!" Harry breathed, "When did all this happen? Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked fine that day, and I didn't see Percy there."
"The git got into trouble on the twenty-second of December, long after you had left. Where did you go, now that we're on the topic?"
Harry explained in brief how he went to the Grangers and how he met Dudley. "And he's got a girlfriend too! Her name is Catherine!" Harry said as the fresh breeze from outside hit their faces. They were now walking across the dark Hogwarts Grounds.
"I hope that cousin of yours didn't trouble you." Ginny said darkly. Harry laughed it off. "No, he... He told me he wanted to celebrate Christmas with his girlfriend this time."
The moon was pearly white, and the stars winked playfully at the couple. They settled by the lake.
"Look at the Astronomy Tower!" Ginny pointed out as Harry sat against the tree. Harry grinned, "Looks like Ron and Hermione."
"Their silhouettes are shining!" Ginny said.
"Isn't it?" Harry said, opening his arms wide for Ginny.
Severus Snape
Severus had many enemies in life - some he was unfairly forced to face, some others he made willingly. In between the two spectrums, he wasn't sure where 'sleep' and 'wakefulness' stood. Especially that year!
The Hogwarts choir had been practicing a song that sounded something like, "Carry my soul into the light!" Severus' heart skipped a beat whenever the chorus sang, "LIVED WITHOUT REGRET!"
But he couldn't go and stop the choir, could he? After all, it was part of the school tradition. Even Evans - Mrs. Potter - had been in the choir. Severus couldn't remember which year, but he remembered Lily's sweet singing voice. Whenever Lily sang, it sounded to him as though Lily dedicated the song to one Severus Snape.
Lily was a nightingale, a cuckoo, a sweet bird that made people's faces bloom with joy. Severus, on the other hand, made people's lives miserable. Notably that Potter's son! No, no! Lily's son!
Dark circles forming under his eyes, he took out his secret stash of Firewhisky that Luna Lovegood somehow knew about (was she involved with Potter and his friends' shenanigans? How does the Lovegood girl know where he kept his Firewhisky?) and finished the last of it.
His feet did not need telling. It was like they knew where he wanted to go. For two decades, Severus had been going up that route in the evenings - sometimes even during the day. That image was so fixated on his mind that he couldn't help but see it all the time on his mind. Thankfully, for the last several weeks, that image hadn't formed in his mind. All he had been able to see was the calm waters in the lake.
He turned around the corner, and his heart stopped. Was it the effect of the Firewhisky, or had he suddenly traveled back in time?
There were two shadows by the lake, just like twenty years ago!
One of the shadows was taller, had messed up hair, and had his hands around the other shadow, whose red hair was reflecting from the various oil lamps lit across the castle to prevent the castle from being completely dark, just like twenty years ago!
The shorter shadow buried her head into the taller shadow's shoulder as the two roared with laughter, just like twenty years ago!
The sleepy form of Hagrid emerged at his window, glanced at the couple, gave a wide grin, and drew the curtains shaking his head, just like twenty years ago!
The brief light from Hagrid's cabin had lit up the pair, and Severus Snape saw the glorious forms of Lily Evans and James Potter! James with a scar. Lily with orange hair rather than her dark red hair. Wait, what?
He rubbed his eyes. He had been looking at Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter all this while!
His eyes narrowed with intense fury and jealousy. Why do redheads like Potter boys so much? Then, he heard some sweet nothings fly in the air and looked up. The Astronomy Tower wasn't empty - Potter's best friends were standing by the balcony. Weasley and Granger seemed to have seen him, too, for they immediately retreated, and Severus couldn't see them. But he knew it was Granger and Weasley. Once again, he looked down.
Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley suddenly looked away. It seemed like they, too, had seen him! But now, they were busy in each other's company. To Severus, their genuine likeness and playful banter brought back to life the image of James Potter and Lily Evans.
Severus remembered his mission, the word he had given Albus Dumbledore, and most of all, Lily Ev- Potter!
Looking at Harry, and then at Ginny, he vowed, "Weasley, you mean so much to Potter. I promise I'll keep an eye on you while I look out for Potter."
Knowing that his fate - and the fate of the Wizarding World - was going to change in a few months, Severus made peace with his past. Lily loved James, and the couple doted on Harry. That wasn't going to change. Just like Harry would never stop loving Ginny.
"You think Professor Snape will give us detention?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Or he could take points," Harry said thoughtfully.
Both Ron and Ginny chuckled.
It seemed like Ron and Hermione, and Harry and Ginny were having the same conversation, but away and unaware that each other was discussing the same.
Snape turned just as the first rays of sunlight came. He missed the scene of two beautiful couples kissing in the backdrop of the sunrise in glory.