Chapter fourteen
Need for a Niche
By the time Hermione and Ron returned to the common room, Harry and Ginny were fast asleep on the sofa. They were dead tired, and had just remembered about the potion ingredients. Ron laid Harry's cloak on a chair and went upstairs for a blanket. He draped it across the sleeping duo and watched Hermione as she walked sleepily over to the stairs. I can't believe I just spent an hour in a broom closet with Hermione…it was so unexpected of her. But wow, she's an amazing kisser…
He walked up to her and took her hand in his. He whispered 'goodnight' in her ear, kissed her softly on her lips, and watched her smile and head upstairs. He saw to it that Ginny and Harry were okay on the sofa, then headed up the stairs to his own dormitory. He got dressed for bed, and even though he was tired he couldn't fall asleep. All he could think about was Hermione and that last hour in the broom closet…He laid there, staring at the ceiling once again, for who knows how long. He finally felt his eyes getting heavy, so he turned over and began to fall asleep. He was almost there a few minutes later when he heard the door open. He didn't open his eyes, thinking it was Harry. But he got a bit of a surprise when he felt a breeze. He realized that his covers had been lifted, and suddenly there was someone in bed with him. He turned over and saw her, laying there, looking up at him. She closed her eyes and placed her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers, and within ten minutes they were fast asleep.
The next morning, Harry woke up next to Ginny. He watched her as she lay there, sleeping peacefully. He wanted to let her sleep, of course, but he couldn't help but wake her. He wanted to talk to her so badly, he couldn't contain himself. He gently tapped her arm and called out her name quietly. She turned over, and eventually she opened her eyes. She smiled as soon as she saw that it was Harry lying next to her.
"Hey there," he whispered.
"Good morning," she whispered back, grinning.
Before Harry could get another word in, she pecked him on the lips. He grinned and pecked her back. He started tickling her until she couldn't take it anymore and rolled onto the floor. Harry put his hand out to help her up, but she proved impressively strong and pulled him down instead. Once they were both on the floor, Ginny decided to plant a real kiss on him, and Harry didn't really object at all. It was right after their embrace when Ginny realized that they hadn't seen Ron and Hermione before they had fallen asleep.
"Harry, do you think Hermione and Ron are alright? I mean, we didn't see them at all last night after they left, what if they got caught?"
Harry was worried for only a second before he noticed his cloak hanging on one of the chairs.
"Ginny, they made it back, the cloak is on that chair…why don't you see how Hermione is? And ask her if they got the potion."
Ginny kissed Harry once more, then took herself up the stairs to the girls' dorm room to visit her. But she was a little surprised to find an empty bed. She went downstairs looking puzzled.
"Harry, she's not in there…"
The two of them went upstairs to the boys' dorm now to see Ron, and when they walked in, Harry heard Ginny swoon.
Ron and Hermione had spent the whole night in each other's arms, exactly as they had fallen asleep, with her head on his chest and his head resting on hers. Ginny thought they looked positively adorable. They watched them for a little while, then decided it was best to leave them be, as it would probably be quite embarrassing and most likely ruin the moment if they were to wake up with an audience.
Ron didn't wake up for another two hours. He was about to roll over like he usually did when he suddenly realized that someone was in his arms. He looked down and almost yelped. Hermione is in my bed? In my arms? With me? But he wasn't uncomfortable; in fact, he was probably the most comfortable he had ever been with anyone in his life. He rest his head back on hers and closed his eyes. This is so nice…And then it hit him like a ton of bricks—everything that had happened last night came flooding back into his mind. Suddenly he felt the urge to pull away. It got very awkward…okay, so they weren't dating, but they were snogging madly in the broom closet…what did that mean? Did she like him? He wasn't even sure if he liked her! No, he was pretty sure, there was no use in trying to lie to himself about it now…he looked at her and could feel his adoration as strongly as ever, but did she return the sentiments?
Ron refused to believe anything other than a simple no. What was there to like? She had everything going for her, and what did he have? Six siblings. A pet rat gone bad. An old senile owl who was practically helpless, and a young obnoxious owl who got on his nerves. A small house, little money, dumb garden gnomes…but worst of all, according to Ron anyway, he had no niche. Bill was a brilliant banker in Egypt, Charlie worked wonders with dragons in Romania, Percy was perfectly pompous with his job in the ministry, and Fred and George were prodigal pranksters with their own joke factory and several chain stores to boot. Even Ginny was better off than he was: she was a prefect! So what could he possibly do that Hermione could find remotely interesting or worthwhile? He decided right then and there that it was time he found his niche as well.