Author's Note: I am tired of schoolwork already! Nine more weeks until summer vacation! I count the days… all belongs to J. K. Rowling. Thank [Random Deity of Choice] for Ron, comic relief in a tight situation.

Chapter Eight

Good Communication

" Harry!"

Harry turned and saw a good redheaded friend bounding after him while clutching his rather bloated stomach. Harry paused and stared at Ron in a good-mannered way, " What is it?"

" You wouldn't believe how long I had to search for you," Ron panted out, " You're harder to locate than a patch of snow in hell!" He stopped and took a deep breath before continuing, " I have to talk to you. A nice, long, uninterrupted talk."

" I was just about to go get lunch," Harry replied politely, " So let's talk in the dining hall."

They walked down the corridor and stopped in the doorway of the dining hall. Harry looked at Ron again and said, " You look awful, by the way. What's going on?"

" Me. Candy shop. All You Can Eat For Free promotion sale." Ron replied, " Put it all together and what do you get?"

" Oh, man…" Harry rolled his eyes and laughed.

" Go in first. I'm scared I'll get lodged in the doorframe," Ron said, laughing.

Harry strolled into to the lunchroom and then turned to watch Ron come in as well. Ron followed him and they sat down at the Gryffindor table, which was filling up with students already, " Now, tell me what this is all about," Harry said impatiently, " I can tell it's serious by the look on your face."

" That look comes with the indigestion," Ron joked, and continued after burping twice, " I have to tell you something. You listen to it good and well, and don't interrupt, for God's sakes, because I can only release so much gas out of my body at one time before catching on fire."

Harry grinned, "Alright."

So Ron began to explain everything, pausing from time to time to groan miserably.

It was a rather long speech, and it is fair to give some credit to Harry for listening through it all without touching the delicious honey-glazed bun and the slices of ham that appeared on his plate by now. Once the speech had been given, Harry stared at his dinner glass and said, " How am I supposed to know that she didn't put a spell on you?"

" Don't you hear what you're saying?" Ron moaned, putting his head down on the table, " How many times has Hermione bothered with risky spells?"

" Many!" Harry exclaimed.

" Alright, well, how many times directed towards us?" Ron demanded.

" None, I guess," Harry answered.

" Then it's a little silly to doubt her," Ron said, " Especially now that she depends on us so much!"

Harry swirled a spoon through the hot cocoa that was standing beside his plate. He took it out and ate the marshmallow hanging from the tip before saying anything else. When he spoke, though, you could tell his voice was saturated with relief, " So I guess it all makes sense. Everything."

" Yes," Ron said, " It all makes sense. Now you and Hermione can kiss and makeup."

Harry's ears reddened, " I'll find her."

" Go quickly over yonder hill," Ron moaned out, " But you go on without me. I… I can't go on!" He put his head down on the table, his forehead smashing his bagel flat.

Harry laughed under his breath because Ron's misery was pretty funny, but he didn't laugh audibly because a friend's misery was not supposed to be taken for kicks and giggles. Harry left the room and hoped to find Hermione. If Hermione had told him all this, it would have been a bit harder to understand. Hearing everything come out logically, and hearing a Hermione in Ron's story that was in character was especially endearing.

Back in the dining hall, Ron had lifted his head and caught sight of the tower of brownie slices before him. And suddenly, all stomach problems had been put aside to make room for more sugary invasion. Mind over matter at its best.

*

Once Ron had gone to find Harry, Hermione settled into a slumber again. She could sleep easily now, the taste of Draco's lips gone from her memory and heart. Thinking of it still brought some nausea, especially since she had felt offended seeing Ginny's headrest on Harry's shoulder! How does that compare to having the mortal enemy of her beloved lock lips with her?

An hour later, just past breakfast, she had descended down set after set of staircases and found the library, where she intended to finish all the essays that had been assigned in advance. Settling down in a chair and pulling out a book and scroll, Hermione dipped her quill in some ink and began to write.

An Introspective View On –

Her quill trailed off the sentence and began to draw loopy-loops on the paper. She was nervous, after all. Harry might not even accept her apology! Harry could have, in fact, found out the truth by now and he could have quite easily stormed off to the Gryffindor common room, his head ready to explode from the inferno of anger incited in it.

I don't know what he'd have to be mad about, Hermione thought, unless he believes it's all lies. And if he thinks it was all a lie, then I'm in serious trouble.

" Hermione," A sultry voice whispered in her ear.

Her fingers prickled and she raised her hand and slapped wildly at the gnat whispering in her ear – and then the sharp sound of her plat palm hitting flesh. Hermione turned and saw Draco, doubled over, clutching his cheek where her handprint left a burning mark.

" You surprised me," She said coolly, " By just whispering like that!"

" Oh, like that didn't surprise me?" Draco demanded.

" What do you want from me?" Hermione wanted to know.

" I wanted to propose something to you," Draco said, flustered, and then added, " Seems you are a different person than I thought."

" Trust me, I'm not," Hermione replied, " And for your information, I've already explained everything to Ron and Harry. I'm forgiven and we're all friends again. Beat it."

Draco's face reddened, " But that's stupid! Think of the power you could have had, if you joined the Dark Side!"

" Dark SIDE?" Hermione shouted, " I never said anything about the Dark Side! So that's what this was all about, then? Some big ally you are."

" Fine, Mudblood, if you want to take it personally, I'm not stopping you," Draco huffed and stormed from the library, just as Harry came in.

Hermione looked up and saw him and her heart fluttered.

" Harry…" She whispered nervously.

He replied, " No, Hermione, I have to tell you something first."

*

Author's Note: Review please, and I'll add more; I gotta stop here because I'm scared I might not access the computer later this week.