Chapter 5: Denial



Harry walked slowly down the hall to Charms, with Ron and Hermione, his
joints softly clicking. They were late again. All of Harry's teachers
except Snape allowed for Harry's often tardiness, and all but Professor
McGonagal forgave Ron and Hermione's lateness as well. In a painting
of a medieval town, peasants giggled and pointed at Harry, but a priest
shushed him.

Not one of them could think of what to say. Harry had walked in on
Ron and Hermione kissing the other day and he hadn't said much to them
since.

As they entered the classroom, Professor Flitwick was explaining the
Assembling Charm, while handing out wooden blocks. "Make a figure
eight very rapidly with your wand, and softly shout, 'Genecio'! Ah,
hello, boys, and Hermione. Please take your seats. Seamus will
explain this to you." He bustled off to help Neville, who had not
failed to set himself on fire in the first five minutes of class.

"Genecio!" Hermione softly shouted, and that it was possible to softly
shout amazed Harry, and he worked all class trying to figure out how
she did it. A perfect model of the Eiffel Tower stood before Hermione.
Ron and Seamus fooled around all class, racing each other to build the
tallest tower, then knocking them over, wands abandoned. Harry worked
diligently and finally got his blocks to clump in a shapeless pile.

As they strolled out of Charms and down the staircase to Potions, a red
headed blur whooshed up it. It shot past them, rocketing up and up.
Harry heard several screams and saw books dropping.

Fred Weasley, panting heavily, jumped up the stairs after it, laughing.
"Hi! George gave himself WingFeet and I've gotta catch him or Filch
will have a fit. What's the counterjinx, Hermione?" and he
disappeared.

"Decelera!" she shouted.

"Ron, why are they still here? What happened to Weasley's Wizard
Wheezes?" asked Harry, looking ahead.

"Oh -- like the food too much, I think. Didn't want to leave after
your match against Ravenclaw. Yeah, that's right, Mum sent Ginny an
owl, telling her to look after them. They're taking a Halloween
vacation."

Harry's lip trembled a little. He hated being reminded of that match,
and flying even. "Need -- to use -- the bathroom," and limped off.

"Ron!" "What did I say?"

~ * ~ * ~

Harry avoided them all day: he skipped Potions and sat far away from
his friends in all of his other classes. He spent all evening in the
library and kitchens, and got his breakfast to eat cold tomorrow
morning. He wanted nothing to do with anybody. He shoved Colin
Creevey to the ground when he "Hi, Harry"ed him for the seventh time,
and ran off as fast as he could. For the next week, all the
Gryffindors stopped talking and walked quickly when they heard the
giveaway creaking. Finally Hermione decided to do something.

"Ron, we've GOT to get Harry back. He's been moping for the past two
weeks!"

Ron wasn't too jubilant himself. He and Hermione had seemed to stop
dating, and Harry had really started to annoy him. "Why? His problem,
his life! What about you and me? It's always Harry, Harry, Harry!
Ever since he was born!"

Hermione slapped him. "You jerk! Harry's your best friend. Don't you
care?" and stalked off.

Ron sat and fumed. Then he sat and thought. Finally he dashed down
the stairs, and found his girlfriend sitting in the common room,
watching the fire. "Hermy, I'm sorry. You're right. And I do care.
Let's find Harry, and talk to him, okay?"

She started to cry a little. But then she gasped and left the
fireside. When Ron cried out, "Where are you going?!" she was already
out the portrait hole.

"Hermione!"

"Bill's wedding! It's *GASP* next Sunday! *GASP* Harry doesn't know, or
he *GASP* forgot!"