Chapter Eleven
Sadie Hawkins
Time passed at Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Daphne had eventually become part of their group again, but there was always tension whenever Snape was mentioned. Divination was also a touchy subject, as it seemed that Daphne didn't much care for it either. She went to Arithmancy with Hermione, and the two girls eventually worked out their differences and started doing coursework together. In fact, Hermione seemed to become the unusual one of the two. She was always asking Ron to meet her in the library, and when they would reappear, Hermione would have a hard time talking to Harry. Harry hoped that it wasn't what he thought it was.
As autumn approached, so too did the first Hogsmeade visit. It was announced by a posting on the wall of the common room one Saturday morning. As Harry and Ron came down the stairs for breakfast, they noticed a large group huddled around the post. Tapping a worried looking Seamus Finnigan on the shoulder, Ron asked, "What's everyone looking at?"
"Hogsmeade visit," stated Seamus.
"So, why do you sound glum about it?" Harry asked.
"There's to be a party in the village. It's a Sadie Hawkins dance."
"Sadie who?" Ron turned to Harry.
"Hawkins." Harry said with a sigh. "It means that the girls ask the boys." Ron looked at him in bewilderment. "It's…like a date." Ron rolled his eyes and fell into a seat. Harry sat down next to him. "I'm sure we can go even if nobody asks us."
"Someone will ask you, Harry, that's for certain." Ron shared Seamus' troubled look.
Harry thought about it and said, "Yeah, Ginny. But that would be strange going with my best friend's little sister." Harry was half hoping that Ron would say it wouldn't be strange.
But Ron didn't even look at him. "No, Harry, someone from our grade will ask you. You won't have to go with Ginny."
Half-heartedly, Harry said, "Oh, well that's nice."
Just then, Hermione came walking up to them. "Did you see the notice?" The glances she received from them told her that they had. "I know, it's kind of silly to have the girls ask the boys." There was an awkward glance between Ron and Hermione before they both looked to Harry. Hermione shook her head and her tone became rather cheerful. "Anyway, I've got to get going. Oh! I almost forgot." She slipped a piece of parchment in Harry's hand and ran off. Opening it, he read:
Meet me in the library in one hour. Don't bring Ron!
Hermione
"What is it?"
Saying the first thing that came to mind, Harry blurted out, "Nothing, just something I asked her to look up for me about…football." (that's what we call it in the UK, but we know what soccer is, too)
Ron wrinkled his nose. "Isn't that a muggle sport?"
"Yeah, you wouldn't be interested." Harry put the parchment in his pocket and the two boys went off to breakfast.
* * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *
"Harry! Ron!" It was Fred and George, and they were carrying a large box with odd-looking objects poking out from the top. "You've got to see these!"
Harry looked down at his watch. It was time he headed for the library. He would have rather stayed and eaten some Canary Creams, but he knew this meeting with Hermione couldn't be avoided.
"What is all this?" Ron pulled out a long strip of what appeared to be foam.
"That, my dear brother, is what we call a Buddy Binder. You can transfigure it into a belt or a scarf or anything and give it to a friend as a gift," Fred explained.
George continued the explanation by putting it around Ron's waist. "But look what it does when you put it on!" Ron's arms were instantly pulled to his sides and his torso went ridged. "See…you've bound your Buddy…and the only way he can get out is if he performs a task of your choice."
"Splendid." Ron said sarcastically, trying to free himself from the Binder.
"As much as I'm enjoying this, I have to go. Hermione wants to meet me in the library," Harry saw Ron's face go white with nervousness, and it wasn't from the object squeezing his abdomen. Harry suspected that Hermione had told Ron about it earlier, but he wasn't sure. But by judging from the look on Ron's face, Harry had more reason than ever to believe that Ron knew what was going on. Harry said good-bye, just as Ron tipped over, causing his brothers to laugh aloud.
What was he to do? He wasn't sure what he would say to her if she asked him to the party. He wasn't even sure if he…well…liked her in that way. He knew how it felt to have a crush on someone, because he had spent a whole year thinking about Cho Chang. But he just didn't feel that way towards Hermione. He knew he had feelings like that for someone else, though. Sure, Hermione was pretty…and a good friend…but she just wasn't…
"Daphne?"
Harry saw her down the hall talking to Mrs. Figg over a small wooden box. The two of them glanced over at Harry and closed the box in a hurry. As Harry approached, Mrs. Figg took the box and said, "We'll have to talk about it later, dear. How are you, Harry?"
"Fine, thanks." Harry looked at the box and saw that it was covered with peculiar writing he wasn't familiar with and couldn't read.
Mrs. Figg noticed Harry looking at the box and said, "Well, I have papers to grade. I'll see you two later in class." And she left.
Daphne turned to Harry and smiled that charming smile of hers at him. "Where were you headed?"
"To the library."
"Studying?"
"No." Suddenly, Harry had an idea. If he already had a date for the Hogsmeade party, then he wouldn't really have to say no to Hermione. "Say, Daphne, have you asked someone to the Hogsmeade Party?"
"No, I was just…" He eyes grew with understanding. "Harry Potter. Are you wanting me to ask you to the party?"
Harry bit his lip and scratched at his hair. "Er…I thought it might be nice to go…you know…with a friend. Then we wouldn't have to bother being nervous…and…you know…"
Daphne smiled. "Yes, I DO know. Well, how about it? Will you show me the sights of Hogsmeade? I've never been, so I'm anxious to see everything."
Harry grinned broadly. It had worked! "Sure. It will be fun."
They looked at each other in the constrained silence. All of a sudden, Daphne giggled. Then Harry laughed at her. Then they both laughed at each other. "I'll see you later, Harry." Daphne said as Harry headed on towards the library, quite sure that he had done the right thing.
* * * * * * * * * * * ** ** * * * *
"Pst! Over here."
Harry saw Hermione over in the far corner…alone. He took a deep breath and sat down next to her. She turned her chair so that she could look at him better and cleared her throat. "Harry, there's something I have to talk to you about." She voice was solid as she tried to cover up her nervousness.
Here it comes, Harry thought.
"But first, let me tell you that I think you're simply wonderful…and I would never want to loose you as a friend."
"I agree, Hermione. I wouldn't want to loose you as a friend either," Harry replied, now thoroughly perplexed.
"But…something's happened…" Her eyes fell to the floor. "I…well you see, I…"
" I know." Harry said quietly.
"You know?"
"I know that you…feel a certain way…about a friend…" He held his breath as she looked at him in wonder.
"How do you know? How long have you known?"
"I accidentally overheard you telling Ginny about it…at the start of term."
"So you've known all this time? Why didn't you say anything?" She sounded upset and almost angry.
"I didn't want to say anything because…I thought that you should say something first."
"And to think, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if you had said something at the start." She paused and looked into his eyes. "So, how do you …feel about it?"
Harry moaned. "I dunno…it's kind of…bizarre…I mean…you're my friend."
"I know, that's what Ron said." Harry frowned. Ron did know. "In fact, he didn't want to tell you at all. He thought you'd be very mad at him…on account of…me."
Harry was befuddled. "Why would I get mad at Ron?"
"Well, because he and I…you know…we're…"
It was as if he'd just been hit upside the head by a Bludger. "You mean…you like…Ron?"
"Yes. Who did you think I was talking about?"
Harry sat back in his chair and covered his face with his hands. "Oh my word! Potter, you are a git!"
"Harry…you seem surprised. I thought you said you knew…from the beginning of term."
"Hermione…you don't want to know what I thought." He started laughing at the idea.
"But you are…ok with this?"
"You know, you and Ron…together…that explains a whole bunch of arguments!"
A small smiled formed on Hermione's face. "Please tell me you're not upset."
"I am in no way, shape, or form upset about this. Trust me." He heaved a sigh of relief.
"Ron wanted you to know before the party…since we're going together. He was worried that you would be mad at us doubling up without you."
"No, I'll tell him it's fine. Besides, I'm going with Daphne."
It was Hermione's turn to be shocked. "Really? Didn't someone else ask you?"
"No." He shook his head. "Anyway, maybe the four of us can all go together…you know…during the day."
"Ron will be so glad that you're not angry. He's been worried for quite some time."
"So was I," thought Harry. "So, was I."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *
Harry walked to his bed in the dark. He looked over to Ron's bed to see if he was asleep. "Ron?"
Ron turned over slowly and peered up at Harry questioningly. "Did she tell you?"
Playing a trick on him, Harry made a face and nodded. "How could you keep a thing like this from me? I'm supposed to be your best friend." He let his whispering voice bite at the quiet.
"I'm sorry," he said, "Please don't be mad." Ron sat up in bed.
"Mad? MAD? Do you know what I think? I think that you…and Hermione…" Harry dropped the act and smiled broadly at his friend, "make a nice couple."
Ron blinked. "You do?"
Harry sat down on his bed. "Yeah. I've wondered what it was between you two. I reckon this explains it."
Ron laughed. "You could say that we 'kissed and made up'"
Harry hadn't thought of that. "Have you really?"
"What?"
"Er…kissed." He said it quickly.
Ron smirked. "Duh…why do you think I'm always at the library with her? You know I don't study."
Harry began undressing for bed, puzzled by the idea of Ron…kissing…Hermione. But, he supposed that if they did indeed fancy each other then that was what they were supposed to do. Ron lay back down and asked, "Did you get asked to the Hogsmeade Party?"
"Yeah, Daphne. And by the way, I thought you fancied her."
"Nah, I was just doing that to make Hermione mad. It worked, too."
****A shout out to Lin-z for the fab job of beta reading!
**** Daphne Affigo is an Alphie creation. Harry Potter and all other characters are property of J.K.Rowling and Warner Brothers.
