DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter and his world. But I wonder if JK
would let me own Ron Weasly if I asked her nicely. Hmmm...
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Chapter 3 - Dumbledore's Speech
"Oh come ON!" Ron snarled; "What's taking McGonagall that long?! I'm starving!"
Harry snorted. "Really?! Now THAT'S weird!" He laughed and ducked as Ron threw a Chocolate-Frog at him. "Shut up Harry!" It was now Ron's turn to dive and avoid the Chocolate-Frog. Ginny laughed and caught it, throwing it back at Harry.
Hermione frowned. "If you'll STOP behaving like three babies, you might be able to notice that there's someone we know sitting at the staff table, talking to Dumbledore!" She said impatiently, over Harry Ron and Ginny's laughter.
They ceased laughing and looked at the staff table. Harry's mouth fell open. Ginny gaped at Dumbledore, who was chattering lively with -
"Tonks?!?!" Ron's cry probably reached the other side of the hall. A few Ravenclaws who were just passing stared at him suspiciously.
"Shhh!!!" Snapped Hermione. "You're not supposed to know her, remember?!"
"What the bloody hell's Tonks doing in Hogwarts?!" Whispered Ron, staring at Tonks and then glancing at Hermione sheepishly.
"Isn't it obvious?!" Said Ginny. Hermione nodded in agreement. "She's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher!!"
"Well, she'll be a lot better than that old hag, Umbridge , that's for sure." Said Hermione viciously. "That foul, evil, disgusting - "
"There's McGonagall and the First-Years!" Said Harry loudly, hoping to cut Hermione's gush of Umbridge's descriptions.
Hermione stopped talking and they all watched silently as Professor McGonagall led the frightened-looking First-Years towards a stool on which laid a ragged old hat - Hogwarts' Sorting-Hat.
~~~~~
After the Sorting Ceremony ended, they all shifted their looks to the staff table, to see Dumbledore standing there, a warm smile on his face.
"I am indeed pleased to welcome you all to Hogwarts, old students and new ones!" He said brightly. His voice echoed around in the hall.
Ron laid back and smiled. Dumbledore's voice always relaxed him. His voice meant peace, quiet. Safety. He glanced at Hermione. Her eyes were fixed at Dumbledore, and glimmered brightly in the candlelight. He smiled.
Dumbledore looked around at the hundreds of faces and eyes shining at him. He smiled fondly. "Well! Tuck in!"
And as always, all kinds of delicious food appeared on the tables.
"Finally!" Moaned Ron, and loaded his plate with hot sausages and mash potatoes. "Ahhhhhhh."
Hermione glared at him.
"So, what d'you think Tonks and Dumbledore are up to?" Asked Ginny, after fifteen minutes or so of eating in silence. She took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"I don't know." said Hermione thoughtfully. "After all, Voldemort - Oh would you RELAX, Ron?! - Voldemort is gone. I mean. we saw him die, didn't we?" she glanced around at them, pausing for a brief second to look in Harry's eyes.
He smiled softly at her, and then shifted his gaze to look at Tonks. "I think," He said quietly, "That Dumbledore knows that what happened last year -" He paused and swallowed the lump that threatened to go up his throat. "Wasn't the end."
Ginny looked puzzled. Ron's hand, holding a fork loaded with mash potatoes, froze in mid-air. Hermione's face looked like a combination of horror and confusion.
"Wasn't the end?" Ron repeated blankly. "What do you mean, Harry?"
"I mean," he said slowly, as if considering each and every word. "That nothing ended yet. Sure, Voldemort's gone," He ignored Ron's wince; "But his Death-Eaters would probably want revenge. They'll try to get inside Hogwarts."
"But - but all of those Death-Eaters are in Azkaban!" splattered Ron. "Sure, some of them fled, right, but they can't show themselves in public! They cannot just waltz inside the Great Hall and start cursing everyone in sight!" He sounded panicked.
"Ron has a point, Harry." Said Hermione. "But on the other hand, I'm quite sure Tonks isn't here just because she's a good teacher or something. No, Tonks is in the Order, and Dumbledore brought her to Hogwarts because he needs her... I just don't know why."
"Wait." Harry said suddenly. "I've got it."
They all looked at him in expectation, but just then Dumbledore stood up again and their conversation broke off.
"Well," Said Dumbledore festively, his eyes glittering; "Now that we're not hungry anymore, I intend on taking only a few minutes of your time and then you'll all be able to go to your dormitories instead of listening to me! So, as usual, Mr. Filch the Caretaker asked me yet again to remind you that doing magic in corridors between lessons is forbidden to you all, so I beg of you, do not attempt to curse your fellow students, EVEN if they provoke you." and at that, Harry and Ron were sure the Headmaster winked at them.
"Also, I must remind you again that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to ALL students. Don't attempt to get in there, or you might end up like Dolores Umbridge."
The entire hall - not including the Slytherins - broke into hysterical laughs, as everyone knew why Umbridge was now in a weird state at St. Mungo's Hospital.
Dumbledore waited patiently until the laughter died down, and continued.
"And of course, another Hogwarts' tradition - may I introduce to you your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher - Professor Tonks!"
Everyone applauded, and Tonks (wearing her hair curly and bright-red, making a few boys drool) waved cheerfully.
"Well I guess that's it." Whispered Hermione. She stretched her arms and yawned widely. "I'm so tired!"
"And last but not least, a very important notice." Dumbledore's announcement made the sleepy audience all of a sudden very much awake.
"As you all probably know by now, Lord Voldemort was defeated - and to our very knowledge even killed." Dumbledore's tone was now quiet and serious.
A buzz of excited whispers filled the hall. Many heads turned to look at Harry, who turned red. Nevertheless, as the Headmaster continued talking everyone went quiet.
"And as you all know - or not know - Lord Voldemort was defeated by a group of Hogwarts' students. A group of young wizards and witches who worked together, as a team, and defeated one of the most powerful wizards of all time. However, their splendid victory is not the subject tonight. I am quite sure you will have plenty of time discussing it among yourselves.
"In the last two years, our world was in grave danger. Voldemort and his followers killed, cursed, tortured and destroyed everything and everyone in sight. Every family in our community suffered losses and damages in different levels. However, Voldemort's main goal was not to kill ALL wizards, no. Voldemort's desire was to kill and destroy all witches and wizards who are Muggle-Born." He paused for a second, mainly because of the new burst of whispers.
Hermione sat still, her face expressionless, her eyes fixed at Dumbledore.
"Voldemort's plan did not come out just as planned. A group of witches and wizards, which was combined from Purebloods and Muggle-Borns united, ruined him. He watched how some of his most powerful Death-Eaters died upon a curse cast on them by a witch or a wizard whose parents are muggles. His horrible plan died along with him.
"Naturally, the Wizarding Community wishes to obliterate opinions and prejudices such as Voldemort's. Our community believes Muggle-Borns to be equal to Purebloods in every way. As such, there have been meetings and conferences as to how to prevent anyone who thinks Muggle-Borns should be killed from doing so, ever since Voldemort's downfall last June. And that's how the new Educational Decree - " A burst of giggles interrupted him, as he referred yet again to Professor Umbridge - "Came in order."
Ron, Hermione and Harry exchanged puzzled looks. "What on Earth is that all about?!" Asked Hermione. "A new Educational Decree?!"
Ron shrugged. "No idea. And what's with all that Muggle-Talk? Sure Malfoy's having a great time, that git."
Harry smiled but said nothing. This entire thing is way too weird, he thought.
Dumbledore waited once again for the talking to cease. His eyes were fixed on the enchanted ceiling - It was dotted with millions of sparkling stars. When the hall was quiet again, he continued.
"This year, according to the new Educational Decree, you will learn once a week in every one of your lesson, an aspect of the learnt subject from the Muggles point of view."
The hall was yet again filled with talking.
Hermione watched Dumbledore with eyes wide as saucers. "What?" she whispered.
"Bloody Hell!!" Ron stared at Dumbledore too. "What's that for?!"
Ginny laughed. "Look at Malfoy!"
The three of them turned to look at Malfoy. Harry could not stop himself from laughing.
Malfoy's face was pearl-white from rage. His hands shook and he looked at Dumbledore with loathing and disgust reflecting in his glare. He said something to Crabbe and Goyle who were sitting next to him, and they nodded stupidly.
"I still don't understand what's that all about." Said Harry, shifting his gaze from Malfoy to his Headmaster, who was standing still, waiting for everyone to stop talking.
After a few minutes, when no one seemed willing to be quiet, Professor McGonagall stood up in her seat next to Dumbledore. Her dangerous glare made everyone shut up almost immediately.
"Thank you, Minerva." Said Dumbledore kindly, and Professor McGonagall sat down, her lips pursed together tightly.
"I believe you all wonder why that Decree was made. Well, after consulting with seniors at the Ministry of Magic, the School's staff agreed upon that decision to be the best one to help preventing Muggle-hatred.
"I wish you all a good night. Off you go."
And with that, one of Dumbledore's most weird speeches ended. He sat down, put the tips of his fingers together and again gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling.
After a few seconds of a shocked silence, the hall was filled with the sound of chairs moving and feet walking, as hundreds of students all rose up from their seats and headed towards the exit, murmuring and chattering quietly.
"Why - what - how -" Ron was speechless.
"Exactly." Said Hermione sarcastically.
Ginny giggled.
"That's just... Weird." Said Harry, glancing at Dumbledore and getting up from his seat. "What's he trying to achieve by teaching us Muggle-stuff?"
"He thinks that if people like Malfoy will learn the Muggle-World, they'll stop hating Muggle-Borns! He just said that, didn't you listen?" Hermione scolded. They started walking in the Gryffindor Common Room's direction.
"That'll never work!" Said Ron. "Malfoy hates Muggles and Muggle-Borns just like that father of his does. He'll never stop hating them, and neither would his friends on Slytherin!"
"And Dumbledore knows that." Said Harry, looking at Malfoy, who still looked raged. "So why would he even try when he know it's hopeless?"
"Well, I guess he has his reasons." said Hermione doubtfully. "Golden Phoenix" she said to the Fat Lady's portrait, and they entered the common room, which was packed with talking Gryffindors.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" Dean Thomas called and waved at them when they entered. He was talking to Seamus Finnigan and Paravati Patil. "How about that, Studying Muggles?!" Harry noticed he was avoiding Ginny's eyes. Guess they broke up, he said to himself. Ginny quickly hurried to find her friends.
The three of them spent the next ten minutes talking to Seamus, Dean and Paravati, and then Hermione announced she was going to her dormitory.
"Yeah, me too!" Said Harry quickly. He turned around and walked after Hermione.
Ron watched him hurry after her, and his stomach clenched.
"Hermione, wait a sec!" Harry called as he saw she was at the door to her dormitory. He looked behind him and when he saw no one was there and no one could see them, he came closer.
Hermione's heart stopped. She was afraid to hear what he had to say.
He smiled at her and stood a few inches from her. "I missed you all summer, Hermione." He said.
She smiled and said nothing. Harry came closer.
"I really, really missed you." He said quietly, and moved a curl from her forehead. He touched her chin gently and kissed her softly on her lips.
Hermione shivered and broke away. "Good night." She blurted and entered quickly to her dormitory.
Harry stood there for a minute or so, and then turned and walked slowly to his dormitory.
~~~~~
After another ten minutes, Ron finally managed to sneak towards his dormitory. He passed Hermione's door very slowly, hoping she will hear him and come out to talk to him. He wanted to see her so badly...
She did not come out. He crept quietly into his room, not wanting to wake Harry up; He was not in the mood for conversation.
But Harry was wide-awake when Ron came in. He was sitting by the window in his pajamas, stroking Hedwig. He had a weird look on his face.
"You all right, mate?" Asked Ron.
"Huh? Oh, yeah... I think."
"Did something happen?"
"It's just... Well..." Harry flushed a bit. "I- I kissed Hermione."
Ron felt he was losing balance. He sat quickly on his bed. "You... You did what?!"
"I kissed Hermione."
"You kissed Hermione..." Ron repeated in disbelief. "Did she.. Did she kiss you back?" He asked.
He was afraid to hear the answer.
Harry sighed. "It was very short... just a touch on the lips. She broke off after a second and fled into her dormitory." He sounded miserable.
Ron breathed slowly, relieved. "So, umm... I guess you still fancy her." He said, only half-joking.
Harry looked, if possible, even more miserable. "Yeah. I mean, I really do. You have no idea how I missed her all summer."
Oh yeah mate, I do know, Ron thought sullenly. Yup. I know how it is like to miss Hermione. And to kiss her.
"I think I'm in love with her, Ron." Harry said quietly.
"WHAT?!"
Harry chuckled. "Dumb, isn't it? Falling in love with Hermione Granger, my best friend since I was eleven. Say it, I'm an idiot."
"You're an idiot." Said Ron in a hollow voice, again only half-joking.
"Yup." Harry stood up and walked towards his bed. "Idiot."
And at that, he disappeared behind the bed's curtains.
Ron just stood there for a second and than crashed on his bed, still in a state of shock.
He's in love with her... He thought, trying to understand those words. IN LOVE WITH HER!! With Hermione!! And... And he kissed her!! He felt a sudden wild desire to just go there and punch Harry with all his strength. Then he felt miserable. How did things come to that?! Me and Harry, fancying the same girl... and not just any girl - Hermione!!! Bloody hell... That's just - - weird. He didn't like that situation at all.
Harry lay awake and stared at the top of his four-poster. He thought about his and Hermione's kiss. He shivered as he remembered how soft her lips were against his. He wanted to kiss her again. But... He wasn't sure she wanted to kiss him again. He was really lousy in reading girls' mind, he had to admit it. That's just hopeless, trying to figure Hermione out, he thought. Her behavior could mean anything! Maybe she fled like that because she didn't want us to be seen...? Yeah, that's it! She just didn't want us to be seen... Hermione was always hysterical when it came to breaking the rules, he thought fondly. He ignored the other side of him, which reminded him that kissing is not considered as breaking the school's rules. He rolled around and closed his eyes. I need to talk to her... he thought sleepily. To... talk to her... tomorrow...
He fell asleep.
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A/N: So! That one took me like three days to write, I hope its any good :] Please R&R and try to ignore my mistakes! *Dumbledore's speech was a very difficult thing to write in English, so I'm quite sure it's filled with grammar mistakes* Love ya all xxxxxx Alice
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Chapter 3 - Dumbledore's Speech
"Oh come ON!" Ron snarled; "What's taking McGonagall that long?! I'm starving!"
Harry snorted. "Really?! Now THAT'S weird!" He laughed and ducked as Ron threw a Chocolate-Frog at him. "Shut up Harry!" It was now Ron's turn to dive and avoid the Chocolate-Frog. Ginny laughed and caught it, throwing it back at Harry.
Hermione frowned. "If you'll STOP behaving like three babies, you might be able to notice that there's someone we know sitting at the staff table, talking to Dumbledore!" She said impatiently, over Harry Ron and Ginny's laughter.
They ceased laughing and looked at the staff table. Harry's mouth fell open. Ginny gaped at Dumbledore, who was chattering lively with -
"Tonks?!?!" Ron's cry probably reached the other side of the hall. A few Ravenclaws who were just passing stared at him suspiciously.
"Shhh!!!" Snapped Hermione. "You're not supposed to know her, remember?!"
"What the bloody hell's Tonks doing in Hogwarts?!" Whispered Ron, staring at Tonks and then glancing at Hermione sheepishly.
"Isn't it obvious?!" Said Ginny. Hermione nodded in agreement. "She's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher!!"
"Well, she'll be a lot better than that old hag, Umbridge , that's for sure." Said Hermione viciously. "That foul, evil, disgusting - "
"There's McGonagall and the First-Years!" Said Harry loudly, hoping to cut Hermione's gush of Umbridge's descriptions.
Hermione stopped talking and they all watched silently as Professor McGonagall led the frightened-looking First-Years towards a stool on which laid a ragged old hat - Hogwarts' Sorting-Hat.
~~~~~
After the Sorting Ceremony ended, they all shifted their looks to the staff table, to see Dumbledore standing there, a warm smile on his face.
"I am indeed pleased to welcome you all to Hogwarts, old students and new ones!" He said brightly. His voice echoed around in the hall.
Ron laid back and smiled. Dumbledore's voice always relaxed him. His voice meant peace, quiet. Safety. He glanced at Hermione. Her eyes were fixed at Dumbledore, and glimmered brightly in the candlelight. He smiled.
Dumbledore looked around at the hundreds of faces and eyes shining at him. He smiled fondly. "Well! Tuck in!"
And as always, all kinds of delicious food appeared on the tables.
"Finally!" Moaned Ron, and loaded his plate with hot sausages and mash potatoes. "Ahhhhhhh."
Hermione glared at him.
"So, what d'you think Tonks and Dumbledore are up to?" Asked Ginny, after fifteen minutes or so of eating in silence. She took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"I don't know." said Hermione thoughtfully. "After all, Voldemort - Oh would you RELAX, Ron?! - Voldemort is gone. I mean. we saw him die, didn't we?" she glanced around at them, pausing for a brief second to look in Harry's eyes.
He smiled softly at her, and then shifted his gaze to look at Tonks. "I think," He said quietly, "That Dumbledore knows that what happened last year -" He paused and swallowed the lump that threatened to go up his throat. "Wasn't the end."
Ginny looked puzzled. Ron's hand, holding a fork loaded with mash potatoes, froze in mid-air. Hermione's face looked like a combination of horror and confusion.
"Wasn't the end?" Ron repeated blankly. "What do you mean, Harry?"
"I mean," he said slowly, as if considering each and every word. "That nothing ended yet. Sure, Voldemort's gone," He ignored Ron's wince; "But his Death-Eaters would probably want revenge. They'll try to get inside Hogwarts."
"But - but all of those Death-Eaters are in Azkaban!" splattered Ron. "Sure, some of them fled, right, but they can't show themselves in public! They cannot just waltz inside the Great Hall and start cursing everyone in sight!" He sounded panicked.
"Ron has a point, Harry." Said Hermione. "But on the other hand, I'm quite sure Tonks isn't here just because she's a good teacher or something. No, Tonks is in the Order, and Dumbledore brought her to Hogwarts because he needs her... I just don't know why."
"Wait." Harry said suddenly. "I've got it."
They all looked at him in expectation, but just then Dumbledore stood up again and their conversation broke off.
"Well," Said Dumbledore festively, his eyes glittering; "Now that we're not hungry anymore, I intend on taking only a few minutes of your time and then you'll all be able to go to your dormitories instead of listening to me! So, as usual, Mr. Filch the Caretaker asked me yet again to remind you that doing magic in corridors between lessons is forbidden to you all, so I beg of you, do not attempt to curse your fellow students, EVEN if they provoke you." and at that, Harry and Ron were sure the Headmaster winked at them.
"Also, I must remind you again that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to ALL students. Don't attempt to get in there, or you might end up like Dolores Umbridge."
The entire hall - not including the Slytherins - broke into hysterical laughs, as everyone knew why Umbridge was now in a weird state at St. Mungo's Hospital.
Dumbledore waited patiently until the laughter died down, and continued.
"And of course, another Hogwarts' tradition - may I introduce to you your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher - Professor Tonks!"
Everyone applauded, and Tonks (wearing her hair curly and bright-red, making a few boys drool) waved cheerfully.
"Well I guess that's it." Whispered Hermione. She stretched her arms and yawned widely. "I'm so tired!"
"And last but not least, a very important notice." Dumbledore's announcement made the sleepy audience all of a sudden very much awake.
"As you all probably know by now, Lord Voldemort was defeated - and to our very knowledge even killed." Dumbledore's tone was now quiet and serious.
A buzz of excited whispers filled the hall. Many heads turned to look at Harry, who turned red. Nevertheless, as the Headmaster continued talking everyone went quiet.
"And as you all know - or not know - Lord Voldemort was defeated by a group of Hogwarts' students. A group of young wizards and witches who worked together, as a team, and defeated one of the most powerful wizards of all time. However, their splendid victory is not the subject tonight. I am quite sure you will have plenty of time discussing it among yourselves.
"In the last two years, our world was in grave danger. Voldemort and his followers killed, cursed, tortured and destroyed everything and everyone in sight. Every family in our community suffered losses and damages in different levels. However, Voldemort's main goal was not to kill ALL wizards, no. Voldemort's desire was to kill and destroy all witches and wizards who are Muggle-Born." He paused for a second, mainly because of the new burst of whispers.
Hermione sat still, her face expressionless, her eyes fixed at Dumbledore.
"Voldemort's plan did not come out just as planned. A group of witches and wizards, which was combined from Purebloods and Muggle-Borns united, ruined him. He watched how some of his most powerful Death-Eaters died upon a curse cast on them by a witch or a wizard whose parents are muggles. His horrible plan died along with him.
"Naturally, the Wizarding Community wishes to obliterate opinions and prejudices such as Voldemort's. Our community believes Muggle-Borns to be equal to Purebloods in every way. As such, there have been meetings and conferences as to how to prevent anyone who thinks Muggle-Borns should be killed from doing so, ever since Voldemort's downfall last June. And that's how the new Educational Decree - " A burst of giggles interrupted him, as he referred yet again to Professor Umbridge - "Came in order."
Ron, Hermione and Harry exchanged puzzled looks. "What on Earth is that all about?!" Asked Hermione. "A new Educational Decree?!"
Ron shrugged. "No idea. And what's with all that Muggle-Talk? Sure Malfoy's having a great time, that git."
Harry smiled but said nothing. This entire thing is way too weird, he thought.
Dumbledore waited once again for the talking to cease. His eyes were fixed on the enchanted ceiling - It was dotted with millions of sparkling stars. When the hall was quiet again, he continued.
"This year, according to the new Educational Decree, you will learn once a week in every one of your lesson, an aspect of the learnt subject from the Muggles point of view."
The hall was yet again filled with talking.
Hermione watched Dumbledore with eyes wide as saucers. "What?" she whispered.
"Bloody Hell!!" Ron stared at Dumbledore too. "What's that for?!"
Ginny laughed. "Look at Malfoy!"
The three of them turned to look at Malfoy. Harry could not stop himself from laughing.
Malfoy's face was pearl-white from rage. His hands shook and he looked at Dumbledore with loathing and disgust reflecting in his glare. He said something to Crabbe and Goyle who were sitting next to him, and they nodded stupidly.
"I still don't understand what's that all about." Said Harry, shifting his gaze from Malfoy to his Headmaster, who was standing still, waiting for everyone to stop talking.
After a few minutes, when no one seemed willing to be quiet, Professor McGonagall stood up in her seat next to Dumbledore. Her dangerous glare made everyone shut up almost immediately.
"Thank you, Minerva." Said Dumbledore kindly, and Professor McGonagall sat down, her lips pursed together tightly.
"I believe you all wonder why that Decree was made. Well, after consulting with seniors at the Ministry of Magic, the School's staff agreed upon that decision to be the best one to help preventing Muggle-hatred.
"I wish you all a good night. Off you go."
And with that, one of Dumbledore's most weird speeches ended. He sat down, put the tips of his fingers together and again gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling.
After a few seconds of a shocked silence, the hall was filled with the sound of chairs moving and feet walking, as hundreds of students all rose up from their seats and headed towards the exit, murmuring and chattering quietly.
"Why - what - how -" Ron was speechless.
"Exactly." Said Hermione sarcastically.
Ginny giggled.
"That's just... Weird." Said Harry, glancing at Dumbledore and getting up from his seat. "What's he trying to achieve by teaching us Muggle-stuff?"
"He thinks that if people like Malfoy will learn the Muggle-World, they'll stop hating Muggle-Borns! He just said that, didn't you listen?" Hermione scolded. They started walking in the Gryffindor Common Room's direction.
"That'll never work!" Said Ron. "Malfoy hates Muggles and Muggle-Borns just like that father of his does. He'll never stop hating them, and neither would his friends on Slytherin!"
"And Dumbledore knows that." Said Harry, looking at Malfoy, who still looked raged. "So why would he even try when he know it's hopeless?"
"Well, I guess he has his reasons." said Hermione doubtfully. "Golden Phoenix" she said to the Fat Lady's portrait, and they entered the common room, which was packed with talking Gryffindors.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" Dean Thomas called and waved at them when they entered. He was talking to Seamus Finnigan and Paravati Patil. "How about that, Studying Muggles?!" Harry noticed he was avoiding Ginny's eyes. Guess they broke up, he said to himself. Ginny quickly hurried to find her friends.
The three of them spent the next ten minutes talking to Seamus, Dean and Paravati, and then Hermione announced she was going to her dormitory.
"Yeah, me too!" Said Harry quickly. He turned around and walked after Hermione.
Ron watched him hurry after her, and his stomach clenched.
"Hermione, wait a sec!" Harry called as he saw she was at the door to her dormitory. He looked behind him and when he saw no one was there and no one could see them, he came closer.
Hermione's heart stopped. She was afraid to hear what he had to say.
He smiled at her and stood a few inches from her. "I missed you all summer, Hermione." He said.
She smiled and said nothing. Harry came closer.
"I really, really missed you." He said quietly, and moved a curl from her forehead. He touched her chin gently and kissed her softly on her lips.
Hermione shivered and broke away. "Good night." She blurted and entered quickly to her dormitory.
Harry stood there for a minute or so, and then turned and walked slowly to his dormitory.
~~~~~
After another ten minutes, Ron finally managed to sneak towards his dormitory. He passed Hermione's door very slowly, hoping she will hear him and come out to talk to him. He wanted to see her so badly...
She did not come out. He crept quietly into his room, not wanting to wake Harry up; He was not in the mood for conversation.
But Harry was wide-awake when Ron came in. He was sitting by the window in his pajamas, stroking Hedwig. He had a weird look on his face.
"You all right, mate?" Asked Ron.
"Huh? Oh, yeah... I think."
"Did something happen?"
"It's just... Well..." Harry flushed a bit. "I- I kissed Hermione."
Ron felt he was losing balance. He sat quickly on his bed. "You... You did what?!"
"I kissed Hermione."
"You kissed Hermione..." Ron repeated in disbelief. "Did she.. Did she kiss you back?" He asked.
He was afraid to hear the answer.
Harry sighed. "It was very short... just a touch on the lips. She broke off after a second and fled into her dormitory." He sounded miserable.
Ron breathed slowly, relieved. "So, umm... I guess you still fancy her." He said, only half-joking.
Harry looked, if possible, even more miserable. "Yeah. I mean, I really do. You have no idea how I missed her all summer."
Oh yeah mate, I do know, Ron thought sullenly. Yup. I know how it is like to miss Hermione. And to kiss her.
"I think I'm in love with her, Ron." Harry said quietly.
"WHAT?!"
Harry chuckled. "Dumb, isn't it? Falling in love with Hermione Granger, my best friend since I was eleven. Say it, I'm an idiot."
"You're an idiot." Said Ron in a hollow voice, again only half-joking.
"Yup." Harry stood up and walked towards his bed. "Idiot."
And at that, he disappeared behind the bed's curtains.
Ron just stood there for a second and than crashed on his bed, still in a state of shock.
He's in love with her... He thought, trying to understand those words. IN LOVE WITH HER!! With Hermione!! And... And he kissed her!! He felt a sudden wild desire to just go there and punch Harry with all his strength. Then he felt miserable. How did things come to that?! Me and Harry, fancying the same girl... and not just any girl - Hermione!!! Bloody hell... That's just - - weird. He didn't like that situation at all.
Harry lay awake and stared at the top of his four-poster. He thought about his and Hermione's kiss. He shivered as he remembered how soft her lips were against his. He wanted to kiss her again. But... He wasn't sure she wanted to kiss him again. He was really lousy in reading girls' mind, he had to admit it. That's just hopeless, trying to figure Hermione out, he thought. Her behavior could mean anything! Maybe she fled like that because she didn't want us to be seen...? Yeah, that's it! She just didn't want us to be seen... Hermione was always hysterical when it came to breaking the rules, he thought fondly. He ignored the other side of him, which reminded him that kissing is not considered as breaking the school's rules. He rolled around and closed his eyes. I need to talk to her... he thought sleepily. To... talk to her... tomorrow...
He fell asleep.
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A/N: So! That one took me like three days to write, I hope its any good :] Please R&R and try to ignore my mistakes! *Dumbledore's speech was a very difficult thing to write in English, so I'm quite sure it's filled with grammar mistakes* Love ya all xxxxxx Alice