The next day was Sunday, and a trip to Hogsmeade was scheduled. It was Ron's plan that he and Parvati should spend the day together. Though they had been in the same house for the past five years, and had just about every class together, there were things Ron just basically didn't know about Parvati. On the surface she appeared to be a very bubbly, pleasant person with a penchant for getting into trouble during class for giggling with Lavender. Ron had no objections to getting to know her- but he was nervous all the same. This was because he was fairly sure Parvati didn't know much about him either. Would she shy away from him once she found out what he was like? Ron was quite aware of his failings- hell, Hermione reminded him of them at least once a day- and he had been wondering, lately, whether people in love were able to put up with their partner's irritating character traits. Obviously they could in most cases, otherwise no one would get married.
"Does that make sense to you?" Ron asked Harry, after he had expressed this theory to his friend. They were standing at the bottom of the girl's staircase, waiting for Hermione and George so that they could go and see Professor McGonagall together.
Harry shrugged, running his hand along the banister. "I guess so," he said. "You've got to learn to live with people's faults, because most people don't change."
"Unless they want to."
"Unless they want to," Harry agreed. Hermione appeared at the top of the staircase and began to descend. There were bags under her eyes and an irritable expression on her face.
"Ready?' said Harry. "You look tired."
"Where's George?" she said.
"Right here," George said, jogging down the boys' staircase with Fred close behind. "Into the dragon's den we go."
Fred followed them down to the marble staircase, sniggering all the way, and then they parted. Ron had never been in professor McGonagall's office before, so he followed the other three- George, who considered it a waste of week if he wasn't sent to McGonagall's at least six times, knew the way by heart. George and Harry were talking about yesterday's Quidditch match, but Hermione remained grumpily silent, and Ron hadn't the heart to join in. Normally he would have loved a good banter about Quidditch to take his mind off the impending prospect of his date with Parvati- but Hermione looked so tired and grumpy- and he knew talking about Parvati might only set her off again like she did last night. Her unexplainable anger after Ron had announced he was now dating Parvati puzzled him. The only fathomable reason he could come up with for her sudden rise in temper was that she didn't like Parvati. That would make anyone grumpy. Ron certainly remembered feeling a rush of anger every time Hermione was with Viktor Krum. (Ron hated Viktor Krum.)
It must be some sort of instinctive friendship thing, he told himself.
"Well, here we are," said George cheerfully, stopping in front of McGonagall's office door.
"What're you so happy about?" Ron said, raising his eyebrows, "We're really about to get in trouble here."
"Correction," said George, pointing to Ron and Hermione "You two are about to get in trouble here." He grinned at them cheekily. "Harry and I weren't the ones on top of each other."
"So why are we here?" asked Harry, as Ron felt a sinking sense of doom in his stomach.
"To watch, of course. Sit back and enjoy it," said George, as he rapped smartly on the door. He turned back to Hermione with a slight look of concern on his face. "You okay Herm? Did you have a late night?" Just then, the door swung open of its own accord, and Professor McGonagall bade them enter.
It took a little while before Hermione and Ron were able to explain themselves- Professor McGonagall's disapproval was quelling in its entirety. However, after hearing the full explanation, she let them off with a stern lecture, ten house points from each of them and a warning to Hermione about practising curses in the common room.
"See kids?" said George chirpily as they headed out to the Great Hall, "Nothing to it. McGonagall's a softie, really."
"Yeah, and she just loves us," said Harry sarcastically.
"What teacher doesn't?" said Ron with a grin. "See Hermione? That wasn't so ba-"
Hermione had already started stalking towards the Gryffindor table ahead of them. Ron and Harry exchanged a glance and hurried after her.
"What's the matter?" said Ron, giving her a gentle nudge in the arm as they caught up to her.
"Nothing!" she snapped. "I just wish everyone would stop asking me that!"
"Well, then tell us what's wrong," Harry said, grabbing her arm. "Slow down!"
Unfortunately at that moment Parvati Patil, already sat at the Gryffindor table, stood up and waved at them. Hermione wrenched her arm free of Harry's grip and stalked away from them.
'Where're you going?" Ron called after her.
"The library," Hermione threw over her shoulder, and stomped off. Harry and Ron stared after her in bewilderment.
"What've we done now?" Harry said incredulously.
"I wouldn't worry about it, boys," George said, giving Harry a too-hearty slap on the back, which sent him stumbling into Ron, "Probably just her time of the month."
"Errgh!" said Ron wrinkling his nose, but he was bothered by it. It wasn't unusual for Hermione to get in a bad mood with him and Harry for no reason, but it still annoyed him. He couldn't remember doing anything to Hermione, unless she was still annoyed at him for falling on her last night- but that couldn't be it because they hadn't gotten into trouble…
"Should we go after her?" Ron said dubiously. At this, George grabbed Ron by the back of the head and twisted it so that he was facing the Gryffindor table, where Parvati was standing with her hands on her hips. That, and the smell of breakfast, pushed Hermione out of Ron's mind for a while.
When it was time to go to Hogsmeade, and Hermione still hadn't reappeared, Harry went to go and fetch her from the library and told Ron to go ahead with Parvati. Being early October, it was windy and overcast, but the prospect of rain seemed improbable, and the younger students enjoyed kicking up the piles of leaves that spread all over the lawn.
Ron had been worried that conversation between them would be awkward, but surprisingly, it was Parvati who started talking to him.
"This was such a good idea, Ron," she said happily, taking his arm, "I mean, Hogsmeade is just the most romantic place, don't you think?"
"Romantic?' said Ron, "Um…yes."
"So how come Harry's allowed to go there, now? He wasn't in third year, was he?"
"Oh, he convinced his uncle to sign it," Ron lied quickly.
"Really? Are the Muggles he lives with really that terrible? I've heard they are but I didn't believe it…"
And so conversation continued in that vein all the way to Hogsmeade. Ron was quite happy to talk about Harry- he was his best friend after all, and if that was a common talking point for them, then so be it. In Hogsmeade, they walked around the different shops and strolled up to the shrieking shack. Parvati was very interested to know all about the different adventures he, Harry and Hermione had had over the years, and Ron was only too obliged to tell her. Parvati was also very eager to tell Ron about herself, and, over lunch at the three broomsticks, Ron learnt more about Parvati in half an hour than he had in the five years he'd been at school with her.
Parvati, as it turned out, was pure blood like himself, and had an older brother as well as an identical twin sister. Her mother and father had moved to England from India when Parvati and Padma were only a year old. She liked going for romantic strolls along the beach, dinner by candlelight, holding hands and eating ice cream. Her favourite subject was Divination and her least favourite was Transfiguration. She dreamed of owning her very own unicorn one day, but hoped never to see another Blast-ended Skrewt in her life. France was the most romantic country in the world and she hoped to live there one day, and the best time she'd had at Hogwarts had been at the Yule Ball.
"I can't just go out with any boy," she said earnestly. "It has to be someone really special. That's why I'm so glad that you understand how I feel. You're very special, Ron."
"Oh," said Ron, going pink, "um…thanks." He searched for a compliment. "And you're…um, very pretty."
She beamed at him- obviously Ron had said the right thing. "Come on," she said, taking his hand, "Let's go back to Hogwarts. We can go for a walk around the lake!"
Ron obediently followed her out of the Three Broomsticks. Fred, who was sitting with George at the counter, caught his eye and winked. Ron grinned at his brother as Parvati dragged him out of the pub. They almost smashed into Harry and Hermione, who were just walking in.
"Hi," said Harry, grinning at them both, "how's it going?"
"Hi Harry!" Parvati said, beaming at him. Harry raised his eyebrows. Parvati's friendly greeting was extremely out of character- since the Yule Ball last year, Parvati had hated the sight of Harry. "Oh, hi Hermione," she said, with less enthusiasm. "What's the matter? You don't look very happy."
Hermione was indeed still looking grumpy. She was obviously there against her will- Harry had probably had to drag her to Hogsmeade from the school library. Ron saw Hermione glance at Parvati's hand, entwined with his own. She raised her eyebrows and looked away. "Hi Parvati, hi Ron." she said quietly. "Er, where are you guys off to?" Harry said, looking at Ron.
Parvati smiled and slipped her arm around Ron's waist. "Well, we were just off to walk around the lake- isn't he romantic?" she giggled. Ron felt his cheeks go red.
The corners of Harry's mouth twitched. "Yeah, he sure is."
"And where are you two off to?" Parvati said, raising her eyebrows.
"Just going to have a butterbeer," Harry said, gesturing into the pub.
"Well, how about we join them?" Parvati said, smiling up into Ron's face.
"Uh…sure," said Ron.
"What about your romantic walk around the lake?" said Hermione quickly, giving Ron an unreadable look.
"Oh, we can do that another time, can't we, Ron?" Parvati said giving him a squeeze.
"Sure," said Ron obediently. Harry shrugged and they all went inside. Ron felt relieved actually- he wasn't sure what people were supposed to do on romantic walks around lakes. Hermione looked like this as the last place she wanted to be, but she sat down at one of the small circular tables anyway, while Parvati continued to chatter about something.
"…And I just love Madame Rosmerta's shoes, don't you Ron? They're so stylish! What do you think, Hermione?"
Hermione looked at Parvati blankly. "About what?"
"Rosmerta's shoes!"
"Oh…I hadn't noticed them actually."
Parvati made an exasperated noise in her throat. "How can you not?"
Ron didn't understand Parvati's fascination with shoes, but didn't say so. He looked to Hermione with a puzzled expression on his face for some explanation, but she was studying the tablecloth as though she wished it were a book. Harry came back with four butterbeers, and Parvati quickly struck up a conversation with him about his amazing performance in yesterday's Quidditch match. Hermione remained silent and sulky. Probably because she was sitting at the table with Parvati, Ron surmised.
If it were true that Hermione really didn't like Parvati, then how was this going to work? He wanted his friends to like the person he liked. Parvati and Harry certainly seemed to get along well- in fact, Ron couldn't remember a time when Parvati was so friendly towards Harry. It was good that she was making an effort, and forgetting her grudge that she'd held against Harry since the Yule Ball.
But if Hermione hated Parvati so much, well, then, they'd have a hard time getting along all together.
Come to think of it, though Ron couldn't really see Parvati joining in with some of their activities- giggling in Divination, visiting Hagrid and helping him with his garden, sneaking around the school after hours under the invisibility cloak, or taking it in turns to zoom around the stadium on Harry's Firebolt. Parvati was too much of a…girl.
"That's what Ron thinks- right Ron?" Harry was saying.
"Sorry, what?" Ron shook himself out of his reverie.
"Remember how you were saying that the new defence Against the Dark Arts Professor seemed a bit on the suspicious side?"
"Hmm? Oh- yeah, yeah, she's definitely a bit off," Ron said.
"What do you think, Harry?" said Parvati.
"I think I agree with Ron," Harry said.
"Well, yes, me too," said Parvati eagerly. Hermione's eyes left the tablecloth to study Parvati's face momentarily, but then immediately returned to their former fascination.
Ron caught Harry's eye and nodded to Hermione. "What's wrong with her?" he mouthed.
Harry shrugged. Ron sighed. "Look, Hermione, I know you're sick of us asking, but really- what's the matter?"
Hermione looked up sharply, went through a moment's indecision, and assumed a surprised expression. "What makes you think something is wrong?"
Ron rolled his eyes at her. "Don't be stupid. You've been moping around all day, and you've hardly spoken to us at all."
Out of the corner of his eye, Ron could see Parvati watching the scene with interest.
"Oh," said Hermione, noticing Parvati's stare as well, "I'm just thinking about…my Charms essay, because I…need to finish it. In fact, I need some fresh air."
She pushed back her chair and hurried out of the pub.
"Well!" said Parvati after the boys exchanged another glance. "What on earth is her problem?"
*
Hermione ran out of the pub and down the main street, realising she'd just made it worse, realising that Parvati was probably making some snide comment to Ron at this moment, and realising that tonight in the common room she'd probably be pestered by Ron and Harry until she told them what was wrong. But she couldn't tell them what was wrong, and there was a reason for that: basically, she didn't know what was wrong herself.
The sight of Parvati cuddling up to Ron, holding his hand like that, giggling into his face- it drove her crazy. But that wasn't the real problem- the real problem was that she didn't know exactly why she felt like that. She sat down under a tree and massaged her temples. She had to figure out why or she was going to drive herself insane.
Okay. Think laterally, she told herself. That's the only way to figure this out logically.
Firstly, what's the problem?
The problem is I don't know why Ron and Parvati together makes me so angry.
All right: why is that a problem?
Because I should be happy for him.
And why should you be happy for him?
Because he's my friend, and he deserves someone to make him feel special, and now he's found someone. Though I don't know why Harry and I weren't good enough for him. Why he had to go running to the stuck up snob I don't know-
Stop right there. There's the problem.
Where?
You "don't know why you and Harry weren't good enough for him."
So?
Don't you get it? You're jealous.
No I'm not!
Yes you are. You want to be the one to make Ron happy.
Hermione sat bolt upright. What on earth was she telling herself? This was ridiculous- she didn't want to be the one to make Ron happy! It wasn't as though she fancied him or anything. How could she? He was her friend. And he had succumbed to the flirtatious ways of that stuck up snob-
There you go again. Ooher, you are sooooo jealous, Hermione.
I am NOT jealous of Ron Weasley, she told herself sternly. OR Parvati Patil. If Ron is shallow enough to actually believe that she'll accept him, with his bad temper and lack of focus, well, then, they deserve each other!
Jealous.
"Rrrgh!" Hermione made a frustrated noise in her throat. She had to stop telling herself that, or she'd actually start believing that she was jealous. And that was truly ridiculous. What she had to do was lay out the facts calmly and one by one.
"All right," she said aloud, pulling a quill and a piece of paper out of her pocket. "Fact number one."
Fact Number 1: Ron is my friend.
Fact number 2:I am NOT jealous.
Fact number 3:I should be happy for him
Fact number 4:I am not, as yet, happy for him, and I don't know why
Fact number 5:It is NOT because I am jealous
Fact number 6:Parvati is shallow
Fact number 7:So is Ron, but-
Fact number 8:He deserves someone with more depth than Parvati
Fact number 9:I don't want to see him get hurt
She stopped and looked incredulously at the sentence she'd just written. I don't want to see him get hurt.
"Well of course I don't!" she said aloud. "He's my friend. No one wants to see their friends get hurt."
But if you don't accept his new girlfriend, then you will hurt him.
Hermione sighed. "Dead right," she said gloomily, returning the parchment and quill to her pocket.
This was ridiculous. What she had to do was get over it and attempt to accept Parvati Patil, otherwise she'd hurt Ron's feelings. Which was the last thing she wanted to do. He was being so lovely lately- it would hardly be sporting to throw his good nature back in his face.
