Disclaimer: For the love of God, I don't own Harry Potter. I wish I did, but J.K. Rowling beat me to the chase.
CHAPTER V: AFTER THOUGHTS
Startled by the interruption, Ron and Hermione awkwardly broke away from each other, and stumbled away from each other. Ron was rather reluctant to do so, but he didn't want to take any chances with the person who had so rudely interrupted one of the most important moments of his life. Together they turned to face their intruder.
"Harry," they gasped at the blackhead leaning at the doorway, his arms folded, a mischievous grin splattered over his face and his emerald eyes twinkling.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Harry commented, continuing to grin.
Hermione avoided the statement by asking casually, "What are you doing here?" She backed away from Ron, who appeared to be as uncomfortable as she was, and walked towards her trunk.
"I came to say good morning. Anything wrong with that?" Harry replied eyeing Ron carefully, who was looking daggers at him.
Ron answered, "No Harry, nothing's wrong with that. A good morning to you too."
He shrugged his shoulders and addressed them carefully, "I hope I didn't ruin the kiss."
"What kiss?" the two friends shot back at him.
"Hey relax!" Harry laughed, holding up his hands in self-defense. "Just trying to make some conversation here. And besides I wasn't the one kissing my best friend."
"Well, excuse me for expressing my gratitude to a friend in need." Ron retorted, rolling his eyes at him. Hermione snorted, while Ron continued, "Now can you please excuse me, my stomach craves for some breakfast. It's been awhile since I've had something to eat." With that, he pushed Harry aside and started to descend the steps. Meanwhile, Harry turned to Hermione and stated sheepishly, "Sorry Hermione."
Hermione sighed inwardly as she slung her school satchel over her shoulders. "Harry, it's not your fault. I knew that moment wouldn't last, even though the kiss didn't mean anything. Ron was merely apologizing to me for the argument we had during the train."
"Ron apologized?" Harry repeated, apparently shocked. "I didn't think he knew what that word meant."
Hermione smiled at him as they started to walk down to the Great Hall. "I didn't know he did either, but he did, and I'm happy for that," Hermione remarked as they approached the Gryffindor table, where a disturbed Ron was nervously munching his food. Ginny was staring at him suspiciously while the rest of their fellow Gryffindors amused themselves with his actions.
"What happened?" Ginny mouthed to Harry, as he slipped in beside her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Hermione sat across them, while Ron unconsciously poured pumpkin juice into his bowl of cereal.
"Oh nothing," Harry responded calmly as he reached for a slice of French toast. "Just witnessed an intense kiss between the two raging bulls and they're upset about it."
"What?" Ginny, Lavendar and Parvati shrieked incredulously at the same time.
"Harry," Ron sputtered as he spat out his disgusting breakfast.
"Really Harry, you don't have to announce it to the entire school that Ron was saying sorry to me in that way," Hermione scolded him as Dean handed her the plate of bacon.
"Ron was kissing Hermione?" Dean stammered, receiving glares from the two of them.
"Give it a rest already," Ron complained as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.
"But why?" Ginny inquired.
Hermione groaned before replying and taking a forkful of food into her mouth, "You of all people, Ginny Weasley, should know why Ron would even bother apologizing to me."
"You guys had a fight" Seamaus asked, quite impressed.
"On the first day," Dean finished equally shocked.
"Please, can we talk about something else?" Ron added as his face turned a deep shade of red.
"Forget it Ron," Hermione spoke as she got up from the table. "They'll soon get tired of it anyway. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have to go to the library." With that she grabbed a juicy apple from the fruit bowl, swung her bag around, narrowly missing Lavender's head, and left for the library's direction. Harry did, however, yell after her, "But it's the first day!" but she ignored him completely.
Ron stood up slowly and put in, "I'm leaving too; I have to go to the bathroom." He clutched his stomach, and tore down the hallway.
Everyone laughed as they watched them in different pathways. Harry shook his head and turned towards the remaining people on the table. "Those two are so oblivious to each other."
"I know what you mean," Seamus remarked as he took a swing of milk.
"We have to make them realize their feelings," Parvati chimed in, eager to have her share in the discussion.
"But how?" Ginny questioned.
"And when?" Lavendar added curiously.
Harry sighed, realizing he would be the leader of their little matchmaking. He thought carefully before answering, "I guess we'll just have to wait for the right time to pair them together." They all agreed and left the table to start their final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
~*~*~*~*~
Time turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into at least two months of the school year, which had flown by. School continued to progress at its usual pace, which consisted of exciting Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons; loathing Snape's hideous lectures; amusing themselves with the Marauder's Map; occasionally visiting the kitchen and borrowing food from Dobby, and picking up numerous little fights with Malfoy and his goons. Voldemort was rising all over the wizarding world but Dumbledore thought it best for the trio to enjoy their last year at Hogwarts for awhile before troubling them with anything.
Unfortunately the time didn't indicate any change in Ron and Hermione's behavior towards one another. In fact, they handled their responsibilities well, respected one another, Hermione remained top of her class, while Ron continued to prove he was an unbeatable Chess player and an excellent Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. But, they remained polite and casual when conversing with one another. There didn't seem to be any surprises after the unexpected kiss, so Harry assumed they hadn't done anything outrageous. This, however, seemed to irritate him since he missed the constant bickering between the two of them. Luckily, there finally came a day when everything would change.
It was on a late October night that everything took a sudden turn. The Gryffindors were gathered in the common area, absorbed in their own business. The two oblivious kids were sitting together on the far side of the room, caught up in a little match in wizard's chess, which Ron had challenged Hermione to take. Hermione never missing a chance to somehow prove Ron a loser accepted the challenge willingly. So far, however, he had cornered all her pieces, which sent her remaining pieces pleading for mercy.
Meanwhile Harry and Ginny were snuggled up on the sofa, while Parvati and Dean were busy correcting their Potions assignment from Harry, who had in turn copied it off Hermione. Everyone seemed cheerful and content, since Halloween was approaching and they were discussing the upcoming feast. Harry, however, had other things on his mind.
"Argh, I can't take this anymore," he exclaimed loudly, causing some people to turn around and stare at him strangely. Ron had raised his eyebrow questioningly as if asking, "Are you okay?"
"Can't take what?" Ginny questioned softly, brushing his untidy mass of black hair away from his forehead.
"Why don't they realize they have feelings for each other?" Harry complained, lowering his voice a bit.
She sighed, knowing it was his two best friends he was talking about. She remarked gently, "Give them time, Harry. After all, Ron is the most stubborn old mule I've ever met."
"How much more time?" Dean inquired, voicing Harry's very own thoughts.
Parvati shook her head. "Boys," she muttered. "When will they ever learn that girls need to know how they feel?"
"It's not like Hermione's any good at it," Harry pointed out defensively.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "This is pointless. We should just let them handle this themselves, like the way they dealt with their previous fight."
"Yea, I guess you're right," Harry agreed rather reluctantly. He decided to drop the topic since Ron and Hermione were eyeing him suspiciously. Hoping to cover up for his previous outburst, Harry busied himself with a strand of his girlfriend's fiery hair. "The Weasley trademark," he mused to himself, as he absentmindedly twirled her hair, causing her to snuggle closer to him. He was just about to get ready to go up to bed, when Lavender and Seamus burst through the portrait hole.
"Guess what?" Lavender squealed as she plopped down next to Parvati.
"Give up," Dean commented lazily, while he put the finishing touches on his homework.
"We're having a Hogsmeade visit before Halloween," Seamus remarked excitedly.
"The perfect time to get Ron and Hermione together," Lavender chimed in.
"Excellent!" Harry proclaimed sitting up, his mind already reeling with ideas.
"But how, oh matchmaker one, do you plan on doing this?" Ginny inquired slowly, knowing too well that a plan was formulating in his mind.
He was thoughtful for a moment, unaware of all the people looking at him for instructions, before commenting, "Okay, here's what we'll do." Everyone leaned in closer to share his matchmaking arrangement.
***
CHAPTER V: AFTER THOUGHTS
Startled by the interruption, Ron and Hermione awkwardly broke away from each other, and stumbled away from each other. Ron was rather reluctant to do so, but he didn't want to take any chances with the person who had so rudely interrupted one of the most important moments of his life. Together they turned to face their intruder.
"Harry," they gasped at the blackhead leaning at the doorway, his arms folded, a mischievous grin splattered over his face and his emerald eyes twinkling.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Harry commented, continuing to grin.
Hermione avoided the statement by asking casually, "What are you doing here?" She backed away from Ron, who appeared to be as uncomfortable as she was, and walked towards her trunk.
"I came to say good morning. Anything wrong with that?" Harry replied eyeing Ron carefully, who was looking daggers at him.
Ron answered, "No Harry, nothing's wrong with that. A good morning to you too."
He shrugged his shoulders and addressed them carefully, "I hope I didn't ruin the kiss."
"What kiss?" the two friends shot back at him.
"Hey relax!" Harry laughed, holding up his hands in self-defense. "Just trying to make some conversation here. And besides I wasn't the one kissing my best friend."
"Well, excuse me for expressing my gratitude to a friend in need." Ron retorted, rolling his eyes at him. Hermione snorted, while Ron continued, "Now can you please excuse me, my stomach craves for some breakfast. It's been awhile since I've had something to eat." With that, he pushed Harry aside and started to descend the steps. Meanwhile, Harry turned to Hermione and stated sheepishly, "Sorry Hermione."
Hermione sighed inwardly as she slung her school satchel over her shoulders. "Harry, it's not your fault. I knew that moment wouldn't last, even though the kiss didn't mean anything. Ron was merely apologizing to me for the argument we had during the train."
"Ron apologized?" Harry repeated, apparently shocked. "I didn't think he knew what that word meant."
Hermione smiled at him as they started to walk down to the Great Hall. "I didn't know he did either, but he did, and I'm happy for that," Hermione remarked as they approached the Gryffindor table, where a disturbed Ron was nervously munching his food. Ginny was staring at him suspiciously while the rest of their fellow Gryffindors amused themselves with his actions.
"What happened?" Ginny mouthed to Harry, as he slipped in beside her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Hermione sat across them, while Ron unconsciously poured pumpkin juice into his bowl of cereal.
"Oh nothing," Harry responded calmly as he reached for a slice of French toast. "Just witnessed an intense kiss between the two raging bulls and they're upset about it."
"What?" Ginny, Lavendar and Parvati shrieked incredulously at the same time.
"Harry," Ron sputtered as he spat out his disgusting breakfast.
"Really Harry, you don't have to announce it to the entire school that Ron was saying sorry to me in that way," Hermione scolded him as Dean handed her the plate of bacon.
"Ron was kissing Hermione?" Dean stammered, receiving glares from the two of them.
"Give it a rest already," Ron complained as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.
"But why?" Ginny inquired.
Hermione groaned before replying and taking a forkful of food into her mouth, "You of all people, Ginny Weasley, should know why Ron would even bother apologizing to me."
"You guys had a fight" Seamaus asked, quite impressed.
"On the first day," Dean finished equally shocked.
"Please, can we talk about something else?" Ron added as his face turned a deep shade of red.
"Forget it Ron," Hermione spoke as she got up from the table. "They'll soon get tired of it anyway. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have to go to the library." With that she grabbed a juicy apple from the fruit bowl, swung her bag around, narrowly missing Lavender's head, and left for the library's direction. Harry did, however, yell after her, "But it's the first day!" but she ignored him completely.
Ron stood up slowly and put in, "I'm leaving too; I have to go to the bathroom." He clutched his stomach, and tore down the hallway.
Everyone laughed as they watched them in different pathways. Harry shook his head and turned towards the remaining people on the table. "Those two are so oblivious to each other."
"I know what you mean," Seamus remarked as he took a swing of milk.
"We have to make them realize their feelings," Parvati chimed in, eager to have her share in the discussion.
"But how?" Ginny questioned.
"And when?" Lavendar added curiously.
Harry sighed, realizing he would be the leader of their little matchmaking. He thought carefully before answering, "I guess we'll just have to wait for the right time to pair them together." They all agreed and left the table to start their final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
~*~*~*~*~
Time turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into at least two months of the school year, which had flown by. School continued to progress at its usual pace, which consisted of exciting Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons; loathing Snape's hideous lectures; amusing themselves with the Marauder's Map; occasionally visiting the kitchen and borrowing food from Dobby, and picking up numerous little fights with Malfoy and his goons. Voldemort was rising all over the wizarding world but Dumbledore thought it best for the trio to enjoy their last year at Hogwarts for awhile before troubling them with anything.
Unfortunately the time didn't indicate any change in Ron and Hermione's behavior towards one another. In fact, they handled their responsibilities well, respected one another, Hermione remained top of her class, while Ron continued to prove he was an unbeatable Chess player and an excellent Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. But, they remained polite and casual when conversing with one another. There didn't seem to be any surprises after the unexpected kiss, so Harry assumed they hadn't done anything outrageous. This, however, seemed to irritate him since he missed the constant bickering between the two of them. Luckily, there finally came a day when everything would change.
It was on a late October night that everything took a sudden turn. The Gryffindors were gathered in the common area, absorbed in their own business. The two oblivious kids were sitting together on the far side of the room, caught up in a little match in wizard's chess, which Ron had challenged Hermione to take. Hermione never missing a chance to somehow prove Ron a loser accepted the challenge willingly. So far, however, he had cornered all her pieces, which sent her remaining pieces pleading for mercy.
Meanwhile Harry and Ginny were snuggled up on the sofa, while Parvati and Dean were busy correcting their Potions assignment from Harry, who had in turn copied it off Hermione. Everyone seemed cheerful and content, since Halloween was approaching and they were discussing the upcoming feast. Harry, however, had other things on his mind.
"Argh, I can't take this anymore," he exclaimed loudly, causing some people to turn around and stare at him strangely. Ron had raised his eyebrow questioningly as if asking, "Are you okay?"
"Can't take what?" Ginny questioned softly, brushing his untidy mass of black hair away from his forehead.
"Why don't they realize they have feelings for each other?" Harry complained, lowering his voice a bit.
She sighed, knowing it was his two best friends he was talking about. She remarked gently, "Give them time, Harry. After all, Ron is the most stubborn old mule I've ever met."
"How much more time?" Dean inquired, voicing Harry's very own thoughts.
Parvati shook her head. "Boys," she muttered. "When will they ever learn that girls need to know how they feel?"
"It's not like Hermione's any good at it," Harry pointed out defensively.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "This is pointless. We should just let them handle this themselves, like the way they dealt with their previous fight."
"Yea, I guess you're right," Harry agreed rather reluctantly. He decided to drop the topic since Ron and Hermione were eyeing him suspiciously. Hoping to cover up for his previous outburst, Harry busied himself with a strand of his girlfriend's fiery hair. "The Weasley trademark," he mused to himself, as he absentmindedly twirled her hair, causing her to snuggle closer to him. He was just about to get ready to go up to bed, when Lavender and Seamus burst through the portrait hole.
"Guess what?" Lavender squealed as she plopped down next to Parvati.
"Give up," Dean commented lazily, while he put the finishing touches on his homework.
"We're having a Hogsmeade visit before Halloween," Seamus remarked excitedly.
"The perfect time to get Ron and Hermione together," Lavender chimed in.
"Excellent!" Harry proclaimed sitting up, his mind already reeling with ideas.
"But how, oh matchmaker one, do you plan on doing this?" Ginny inquired slowly, knowing too well that a plan was formulating in his mind.
He was thoughtful for a moment, unaware of all the people looking at him for instructions, before commenting, "Okay, here's what we'll do." Everyone leaned in closer to share his matchmaking arrangement.
***