Title: Winds of Change
Author: Kary Starr
Ship: Harry/Hermione
Rating: PG-13/R
Summary: After the Great War, things have changed. Hermione learns to deal with what life is really about, and how to deal it-realizing that not everything can be handled on her own.
Genre: Angst, Romance, Humour
Story Canon: 1-5
AN: The terrors of being a teenager. I'm a senior in high school, as I have already mentioned, but you know what else makes it even better? Searching for job. I have applied to so many places, I think my social security number will fly out my nose. Randomly. In the middle of the store, even. I have applied to over 10 places in the last week. And still have yet to find a job. It's driving me nuts, because it's not like I'm stupid or anything. Urgh. People suck.
But you know who doesn't suck? David Wenham, who I like to describe as "the Young Alan Rickman" from Lord of the Rings. Doesn't he look just a little like Hans Fucking Gruber from Die Hard? I mean, come on, longer hair, what's the difference? He looks like Alan Rickman. PS: To those crazied fans out there, there is a new picture of him as HIMSELF on DarkMark.Org in the movie files section, under "Promotional." Cool eh?
And, as always, have a great time reading this. Please, if there are any mistakes, email me, because it has been a while since I have looked at this.
Love you. Read and review.
Peace.
* * *
Chapter Six: Purple
* * *
Hermione's teeth chattered as she descended the stairs, she was so nervous. "G-Ginny, I look good, don't I?"
"You look fabulous, darling," she replied, grinning at her. "You can't have cold feet, can you?" The voices downstairs in the Common Room were rather loud. She could hear Ron's voice among the rest of them, and the two other Weasleys', George and Fred. Her stomach lunged. Cho's thin, high laugh was heard too.
"N-no, Gin, I'm just a little...not used to having so much make-up on," she replied. They entered the Common Room, which was decorated for Christmas in ivy and berries up and down the staircase, with tinsel everywhere, and a tree in the corner.
"Hey, Ginny, Hermione!" Ron called out, Luna waving at her too. Hermione smiled anxiously.
Luna and Ron were standing there, looking quite warm together, Ron in dark red robes and Luna in...well...an interesting outfit. It was an off-the- shoulders dressrobe, but it had priest-like heavy cloth draped down the front with symbols on it, and it did indeed bellow; Hermione quite sure there were at least seven layers of netting under it.
"Hi, Ron. Luna," Ginny and Hermione chimed. Dean ran up to Ginny, gave her a kiss ("I've got lipstick on, you idiot. Wait until everyone sees me first!"). Hermione felt very alone, and she stood there awkwardly, feeling quite left out.
"Hi, Hermione," a deep voice said behind her. Hermione turned her head, and saw Harry, looking rather guilty. "You look great."
"What, you don't think I can turn out pretty?" Hermione answered, grinning. Harry was wearing robes of deep green, high collared, and belled sleeves. "You look handsome yourself." And he did, with his hair combed and his contacts in, which he rarely wore, because he only had one pair he'd gotten for himself at the end of fifth year's summer.
"Hello, Hermione," a rather cheery Cho said, wrapping her arms around Harry's own arm, as she slithered to his side. "My, that dress did fit you...er, rather well." Her own, however, was a Chinese silk dress that had a high collar but a low, very low cut out in the middle, hugging her more adult curves.
"So it would seem," Hermione replied, stiffening. Once again, that horrible feeling of loss settled into her stomach, and she forced herself to smile at them. Forget it. He's better off with Cho anyway.
The bountiful Weasley twins hopped over to them, grinning madly. Angelina looked gorgeous in her long, red dress, and braids pulled into a curly bun atop her head. "Hey," she said, smiling at Hermione. Hermione did not know her that well, just that she and Fred had been dating throughout most of their sixth and seventh year, and beyond, apparently. The twins wore matching robes of dark blue, designed similarly to Harry's, and their hair was cut short and spiked. They looked happy, anyway.
"Hermione!" George said, giving her a hug and a peck on the cheek. "Haven't seen you in a while. Not since you waved that Prefect badge at us along with your finger, telling us to not use poor, innocent first years as our testers."
"And I'm sure you are glad you didn't continue doing such a thing," Hermione replied, smiling warmly at him.
"Mum asks after you four everyday, honestly, the woman is at our store more than we are!" Fred chimed in, pointing to Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny. "And Mum says you come home pregnant, best not to come home at all."
Ginny stuck out her tongue at Fred and Dean blushed.
"She's just, oh so happy we're doing well at something she forbade us to do not even two years ago," George added. "We're raking in the Galleons, 'spect we might have to move abroad."
"To Hogsmeade, perhaps. That's what Lee's thinking, anyway," said Fred, almost wearing out his cheek muscles from grinning so hard.
"Oh, you guys, that would be great!" said Ginny, putting her hand to her mouth and squealing. "One of you would be here, helping to cause havoc!"
"Well, I hear you didn't so such a bad job last year, Gin," Fred replied, winking at her. "What was the 'Dungbomb Incident From Hell' I heard Ron mumbling about last year? Sounds like something we'd do."
"I didn't get caught either," Ginny said with pride. Ron laughed.
"Shall we go?" Luna asked, slipping her hand inside Ron's.
Fred eyed them. "Ickle Ronnie-kins have a girlfriend now?"
"Saves us a sigh of relief," George augmented. Luna only smiled dreamily.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Ginny added, leading Dean to the entrance way. Luna and Ron followed, with Fred and Angelina, and Harry and Cho. George was left alone with Hermione.
"Ready to go?" George said, extending his elbow. Hermione grinned at him.
"Of course, Mr. Weasley," she replied, slipping her hand around. They stepped out of the Gryffindor Common Room, the door sweeping shut behind them gracefully.
* * *
"Oh, these decorations are so pretty," Hermione heard as she walked into the Great Hall. She felt like Cinderella, knowing that she had only four hours before the magic wore away and she'd be left as that plain girl in Gryffindor again.
No one seemed to recognize her, but that didn't surprise her; after all, at the Yule Ball in their fourth year, people kept asking who she was. It annoyed her so much, and again, the pang of annoyance tapped her nerves again.
George was very friendly and very gentlemanly the way there, and to Hermione, it felt a little like old times. She saw various couples that she wanted to talk to, and George and Fred went to chat with the teachers, so everyone eventually split up. Well, everyone except for the three couples that seemed glued to each other.
Hermione wandered around, talking to Neville and Susan, then to Padma Patil, and Hannah Abbott. However, it only took her an half and hour to make her rounds, so she went to the drinks and took a sip of some of the butterbeer served there. What she really wanted to do was dance.
Harry met her up at the drinks. "Hey," he said, getting two glasses. "Having fun? Doesn't it look great? I've heard so many nice things about the decorations...especially the entrance," he added, pouring.
"Oh, really?" Hermione replied. "I've heard only tidbits, from people I've talked to. You know, Padma, and Hannah. And Neville."
"Cho says it looks really great," said Harry, smiling. Then it faded a little. "I wish she'd stop complaining about work, though."
"Oh, well, you know," Hermione answered, shrugging. "Change the subject. You two seem to have an endless font of topics to discuss, pick one."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Tried it. Twice. Keeps coming back to this one guy, some guy who makes this evil eye at her. Anyway, I'll catch you up later?"
"Make sure you dance with her," Hermione advised.
"Why, you think she'll have a line-up?" She didn't answer right away.
"Her dress does drop a little low, Harry. She's probably got a gaggle of boys around her."
He flushed. "I didn't think it was that low."
"You wouldn't, Harry," she replied, smiling. "You are male after all."
"Ha, ha," Harry said dryly. "You have a line-up? A queue of boys after you yet? Because you do look very stunning." His face flushed a little deeper.
"The day I have boys after me is the day I strike gold," said Hermione without emotion. "No boys after little old me, sadly."
"Just wait. And save a dance for me, will you?" he said, pulling out the drinks and walking away.
Hermione, a little stunned, stood there for a bit. George tapped her arm suddenly.
"Yeah?" she replied, not looking at him.
"Set the stupid drink down and come over here," he said, now tugging on her arm. She sat the drink down and George whirled her out onto the dance floor. "Ordered this song special," he added, putting her hands into his. Hermione cocked her head sideways.
"What do you mean by that, George Weasley?"
"Ah, nothing too important," he said, stepping away. Then the beat picked up. It was the Electric Slide, for goodness' sakes.
"George, it's that...Muggle...thing," she ended lamely, as he showed her how to move.
"Isn't it great? Found it in Dad's old records. I think he only saved it for the 'electric' part," he said, as the music started. Left one-two- three clap, right one-two-three clap, step forward, step back, tap, tap, tap, and to the side, repeat.
The only people who even had the remotest idea of what was going on was the Muggle borns, and even then, as they tried to get their dance partners onto the floor, it wasn't working.
George was laughing so hard tears were running down his face. "I love it, those poor, uncoordinated people," he bawled, clapping.
Hermione had gotten the steps down, after traveling to America for a summer when she was much, much younger, and having to experience the evil that was country-line dancing. "Curious, how did you figure out the steps?"
"Some old bloke that works in the shop had a son living in the States, you know," he replied, stepping to the right. "When I showed him the record, thought the man was going to die from laughing." He paused. "Really wouldn't be such a bad way to go."
Hermione frowned. "George, that isn't nice."
"Well?" he retorted, as the song ended. His tears were subsiding, and Fred, across the room, flashing him a thumbs up. "That was fun, right?"
"You're insane," Hermione replied, throwing her arms up, as a slow song came on. Not to keen on being left on the dance floor, Hermione wound her way around the advancing couples.
Sigh.
Suddenly, there was a resounding slap emitted from the other side of the room. Everyone turned to see Cho walk away, while Harry, obviously bewildered, sat there, red creeping into his cheeks, before he escaped himself. He and Cho were standing against the wall, but now neither of them were in the room.
"Oi," George said, coming up from behind her. "That didn't look good."
"No, it didn't," Hermione replied. Her heart leapt for joy before returning abysmally down to earth. A spat, nothing more. They would be done, and get back together. Like always.
Sigh.
"Suppose someone should check on Harry," Hermione said dully. Playing the Peace-maker would be a lot more fun if she didn't like Harry so much. She, not for the first time, or last, wished she didn't encourage Harry and Cho in his fifth year. Hermione was so stupid then....
She walked out of the Great Hall into the Entrance Corridor and saw Harry sitting on the steps. Hermione did not know where Cho went, or cared, but she walked over and sat down next to him.
"'Spect you saw that," Harry mumbled, his head in his hands, leaning on his knees.
Hermione shrugged, though he couldn't see. "I think everyone did, Harry."
He let out a long, trapped sigh. "Well, she's gone. Left."
"Wha-?" Hermione said, confused. "Gone?"
"Yeah," said Harry thickly. "Walked right out that door-" He pointed out the Entrance Hall's vast oak doors. "-and didn't look back. She rightly angry with me all right."
Hermione was silent for a few minutes. "Do you want to talk about it?" she said quietly, putting her hand on his knee friendly-like.
Harry lifted his head and rubbed his eyes, muttering swear words under his breath. "God, all I said was, 'Did you like this guy or something?'"
"Oh, Harry," said Hermione tentatively, "you never ask a girl that."
He looked at her disdainfully. "Thanks for the heads up, Hermione."
"Sorry," she mumbled. "Anyway, why did you say that?"
"Because," Harry huffed, "Cho wouldn't shut up about him. I tried to follow your advice, and change the subject and all, but she continued, all angry-like, because I wanted to change the conversation. 'You never want to talk about what I want to talk about.' God, she does whine all lot, though I'd take that any day to the Human Hosepipe she was two years ago."
Hermione remained silent. Was this truly the end? She'd never heard Harry talk about Cho this way before.
"So, I asked her, 'What do you have on this guy? Do you like him or something?' She gets all offended, because it's okay for her to berate and bother me about girls here, but I can't do the same thing, and I told her that-"
She sucked in her breath. Oi, Harry...
"-yeah, stupid comment, I know. That's when she whacked me one across the face," said Harry, pointing to his left cheek, which was imprinted with a pink hand. "Then she muttered all low, 'It's over.' No, more like a hiss. And, as you saw, she stormed out, and I got left there. Lucky the pain stunned me a bit, because it didn't come to me that I was embarrassed until I left the Great Hall." He paused. "I can't believe it either. It's right before Christmas. Now I'm stuck all by myself."
"I'm...I'm sorry," Hermione whispered. "It really is horrible to be alone on Christmas."
He looked up at her, his hair framing his soft face. "I-I didn't realize...."
"Nevermind," she said quietly, looking down, removing her hand from his knee and cupping her hands in her lap. "But, you know, if you're all right and all-I mean, no, of course you're not, but I eyed a ring on her hand, thought she might've used that-" Hermione babbled. "Anyway-oh, I'm just sorry about what happened, Harry."
"S'okay," Harry replied dully. "Suppose I can get on all right without her. I do miss her, even now, though."
As he said that, Hermione imagined a brick wall piling slowly higher between her and Harry on the staircase, spelling out the words, "Rebound: Do Not Enter." She stood.
"Well, might as well enjoy the rest of your time," she said, offering her hand to him. Hermione smiled weakly.
"Yeah," said Harry, taking her hand. "You still owe me a dance."
"I suppose I do." Hermione followed Harry back into the dance floor, where a slow song was in session. She hesitated awkwardly.
The song ended quickly, however, and a waltz started. "Come on, Harry," she said, grinning, tugging on his sleeve. "Put Cho out of your mind for an hour, at most. Have some fun with your friends...then think about it in the morning. Tomorrow's Saturday," she added. "You can sleep away the morning, lounge around, and be glad that it's the holidays."
He pondered her statement for a moment. "You're right, Hermione. What would I do without you?"
"Nothing," she replied, leading him onto the dance floor. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and one in his hand. "You know how to waltz, right?"
"Yeah," he said slowly. "I think." Harry put an arm around her small waist and thought for a moment, concentrating on the beat. "Three moves, right?"
Hermione nodded, and started to lead him, until he remembered, and then he took over. She felt like she was in heaven...the room started to melt away, and Harry was talking happily in the background, about anything but Cho, determined to have a good time. She responded occasionally with "Yes," and "Uh huh." She was oddly aware of where her body was, and how Harry pulled her closer to him as they danced and talked; it was almost an out-of-body experience.
Cut it out, how insensitive are you to enjoy this when he just broke up with his girlfriend?
Too bad, she replied to the rational side of herself, and inwardly grinned a bit more.
When the song ended, Hermione sensed that Harry was almost reluctant to pull away, and they met up with the other seven of their party. Luna and Ron were drinking butterbeer with Ginny and Dean, while Fred, George and Angelina were chatting easily with McGonagall, who, for the first time in nearly three years, finally looked happy and looked like she was enjoying herself.
They pulled two seats over to the Luna-Ron table and joined in on the conversation. Alternating between dancing (mostly Ginny and Dean; Luna and Ron felt much too awkward on the dance floor, and Hermione did not get asked again to dance by Harry, which put her in an unhappy disposition), eating and talking, the evening passed quickly.
At quarter to twelve, people started to leave, some having to be slumped out. Finally it was their group left; Fred, George and Angelina said a hearty good-bye to everyone, and left the Great Hall to exit Hogwarts (they would walk to the end of the street and Disapparate home). Ginny and Dean bid their goodnights, and Luna and Ron finally gave their final farewells. It was finally Harry and Hermione left in the room alone, decorations falling down pointedly.
"We probably should get this cleaned up, huh?" Hermione remarked, surveying the mess.
"Yeah..." replied Harry, not keen on cleaning. He stifled a yawn. Hermione gave him a slightly disapproving look and Summoned some work clothes from her room, Harry following suit, and went into the bathroom to change. When she emerged from her beautiful dress into a shirt and leggings, Hermione left very much like her carriage turned into a pumpkin and white mice were scurrying about her.
She pulled out her wand and started moving things around. She had set it all up, of course, but that was the easy part. Hermione went about vanishing things, when Harry returned to the Great Hall.
"Hey, don't you be having all the fun without me," he said, brandishing his wand.
Hermione looked up. "Oh, right, I'm having a baleful of fun," she replied sarcastically.
They worked for a straight hour, not talking much, but Hermione enjoyed the company. When the Great Hall looked like itself again, they sat at a corner, and Hermione produced two butterbeers she'd saved from the dance.
"Here," she said, holding out the cold bottle.
Harry wiped his brow. "What?" he asked, and she shook the bottle before him. "Oh, thanks," said Harry, taking the bottle and popping it open, swigging heavily. "I needed that."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "It's nearly two in the morning, Harry," she said. "And we still have the Entrance Hall to clean up. We should probably get started." But Harry had stood up and cantered off to the middle of the empty room.
"Christmas is in four days," said Harry thickly, walking around the middle, almost pacing. "Our Hogsmeade trip is on Sunday-" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. How could she have forgotten that? Last minute shopping-trip. She gazed up at him. He'd stopped talking and was looking intently at her. "What are you going to do at Hogsmeade?"
Hermione shrugged. "Shop a bit. I don't have that much money with me; Christmas with you two nearly wiped me clean," she replied, thinking of the Chudley Cannon Quidditch robes for Ron and the very, very expensive Gryffindor Lion brooch (for his good cloak) she'd gotten for Harry, with gold on the outside and ruby stones for eyes. "I thought I'd pick up a drink or two with everyone in The Three Broomsticks, though, you know, around lunchtime."
"Oh," said Harry, pondering a moment. Hermione took a drink from her bottle and set it down, pulling out her wand and getting ready to finish the job-she was feeling a bit drowsy, and if she did not continue, she would probably fall asleep.
"Come on, Harry-just a bit more Vanishing, then we're done," said Hermione cheerily, and Harry walked over to her, more awake than he'd been all night. Quite frankly, Hermione thought he was disturbed by something, though she didn't inquire after what. He had a look of deep thought pasted onto his face.
"Evanesco," she said, pointing to the ivy and berries. They flew away with a pop. Hermione heard Harry doing the same thing on the other side of the room, and within the next half an hour, they were done.
Hermione stood back and looked at their handiwork. She'd used a Gleaming Charm on the railings, so they sparkled in the light from the chandelier above. A nearby clock chimed three in the morning.
"We're finished!" Hermione said triumphantly. She looked at Harry, who was staring at her. She shook her head at him. "We can go to sleep now," added Hermione, thinking Harry might've missed a crucial point.
"You forgot something," he said, pointing up. Mistletoe hung above her head, looking sly, as it hovered delicately above her curls.
"How could I have missed that?" wondered Hermione, pointing her wand into the air. "No matter."
Harry started to chuckle, though it was an odd sort of noise, much like a cough. She lowered her wand and looked at him. His head had turned away, and his shoulders were shaking.
"Harry?" asked Hermione tentatively.
"That's when we first kissed," Harry said, looking up, though distinctly not at her. "You know, in the Room of Requirement? Right before holidays, fifth year. She...what did you say?...cornered me."
Hermione swallowed thickly. "I remember you saying something about that," she said quietly.
He sighed loudly. "She was crying about Cedric. Always about Cedric. Sometimes I wondered why she kept bringing him up."
Hermione was silent. Personally, if she were Cho then, no matter what she was feeling at the time, she thought it was rude to talk about another boy like that in front of Harry. But they all were a little confused in fifth year.
"Nargles," he whispered, bringing his chin down at her. "That's what Luna said was in those. Nargles."
She suppressed a snort. "Luna's a little...dotty sometimes, Harry."
"I suppose," said Harry airily. However, without warning, Harry walked up to her, and gave her a peck on the cheek. It was quick and friendly, but Hermione still felt her face grow warm.
"Harry?" she asked, surprised her voice did not break.
Harry looked at her. "Thank you, Hermione. You're always there. You have that aura of calmness Ron is, quite frankly, lacking."
Hermione tried to laugh a little, putting her hand to her cheek. "Well, you know, after what happened tonight, it was the only thing I could do. Did you expect me to leave you to wallow in your sorrows, to escape having a good times despite your spat?"
"Er-no, not really," he replied, smiling.
"Besides," said Hermione loftily. Oh, you're gonna regret saying this.... Shut up before- "This is a spat. You've gotten over much worse than this."
He looked at her. "You're right, Hermione." Harry turned his attention at the staircase. "I hope that's how it's going to be, anyway. Um, wanna kip to bed?"
"Yeah," said Hermione, almost sullenly. The elated feeling from the kiss on the cheek was slowly deflating as she realized it was nothing more than a thank you. How could she be so stupid to read into things like that?
They walked up the stairs in silence, and broke away when Hermione moved to enter her own room. Harry waved her goodnight, and went along himself.
It felt like Harry was waving her much, much more than goodnight.
It felt like he was waving her goodbye.
Author: Kary Starr
Ship: Harry/Hermione
Rating: PG-13/R
Summary: After the Great War, things have changed. Hermione learns to deal with what life is really about, and how to deal it-realizing that not everything can be handled on her own.
Genre: Angst, Romance, Humour
Story Canon: 1-5
AN: The terrors of being a teenager. I'm a senior in high school, as I have already mentioned, but you know what else makes it even better? Searching for job. I have applied to so many places, I think my social security number will fly out my nose. Randomly. In the middle of the store, even. I have applied to over 10 places in the last week. And still have yet to find a job. It's driving me nuts, because it's not like I'm stupid or anything. Urgh. People suck.
But you know who doesn't suck? David Wenham, who I like to describe as "the Young Alan Rickman" from Lord of the Rings. Doesn't he look just a little like Hans Fucking Gruber from Die Hard? I mean, come on, longer hair, what's the difference? He looks like Alan Rickman. PS: To those crazied fans out there, there is a new picture of him as HIMSELF on DarkMark.Org in the movie files section, under "Promotional." Cool eh?
And, as always, have a great time reading this. Please, if there are any mistakes, email me, because it has been a while since I have looked at this.
Love you. Read and review.
Peace.
* * *
Chapter Six: Purple
* * *
Hermione's teeth chattered as she descended the stairs, she was so nervous. "G-Ginny, I look good, don't I?"
"You look fabulous, darling," she replied, grinning at her. "You can't have cold feet, can you?" The voices downstairs in the Common Room were rather loud. She could hear Ron's voice among the rest of them, and the two other Weasleys', George and Fred. Her stomach lunged. Cho's thin, high laugh was heard too.
"N-no, Gin, I'm just a little...not used to having so much make-up on," she replied. They entered the Common Room, which was decorated for Christmas in ivy and berries up and down the staircase, with tinsel everywhere, and a tree in the corner.
"Hey, Ginny, Hermione!" Ron called out, Luna waving at her too. Hermione smiled anxiously.
Luna and Ron were standing there, looking quite warm together, Ron in dark red robes and Luna in...well...an interesting outfit. It was an off-the- shoulders dressrobe, but it had priest-like heavy cloth draped down the front with symbols on it, and it did indeed bellow; Hermione quite sure there were at least seven layers of netting under it.
"Hi, Ron. Luna," Ginny and Hermione chimed. Dean ran up to Ginny, gave her a kiss ("I've got lipstick on, you idiot. Wait until everyone sees me first!"). Hermione felt very alone, and she stood there awkwardly, feeling quite left out.
"Hi, Hermione," a deep voice said behind her. Hermione turned her head, and saw Harry, looking rather guilty. "You look great."
"What, you don't think I can turn out pretty?" Hermione answered, grinning. Harry was wearing robes of deep green, high collared, and belled sleeves. "You look handsome yourself." And he did, with his hair combed and his contacts in, which he rarely wore, because he only had one pair he'd gotten for himself at the end of fifth year's summer.
"Hello, Hermione," a rather cheery Cho said, wrapping her arms around Harry's own arm, as she slithered to his side. "My, that dress did fit you...er, rather well." Her own, however, was a Chinese silk dress that had a high collar but a low, very low cut out in the middle, hugging her more adult curves.
"So it would seem," Hermione replied, stiffening. Once again, that horrible feeling of loss settled into her stomach, and she forced herself to smile at them. Forget it. He's better off with Cho anyway.
The bountiful Weasley twins hopped over to them, grinning madly. Angelina looked gorgeous in her long, red dress, and braids pulled into a curly bun atop her head. "Hey," she said, smiling at Hermione. Hermione did not know her that well, just that she and Fred had been dating throughout most of their sixth and seventh year, and beyond, apparently. The twins wore matching robes of dark blue, designed similarly to Harry's, and their hair was cut short and spiked. They looked happy, anyway.
"Hermione!" George said, giving her a hug and a peck on the cheek. "Haven't seen you in a while. Not since you waved that Prefect badge at us along with your finger, telling us to not use poor, innocent first years as our testers."
"And I'm sure you are glad you didn't continue doing such a thing," Hermione replied, smiling warmly at him.
"Mum asks after you four everyday, honestly, the woman is at our store more than we are!" Fred chimed in, pointing to Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny. "And Mum says you come home pregnant, best not to come home at all."
Ginny stuck out her tongue at Fred and Dean blushed.
"She's just, oh so happy we're doing well at something she forbade us to do not even two years ago," George added. "We're raking in the Galleons, 'spect we might have to move abroad."
"To Hogsmeade, perhaps. That's what Lee's thinking, anyway," said Fred, almost wearing out his cheek muscles from grinning so hard.
"Oh, you guys, that would be great!" said Ginny, putting her hand to her mouth and squealing. "One of you would be here, helping to cause havoc!"
"Well, I hear you didn't so such a bad job last year, Gin," Fred replied, winking at her. "What was the 'Dungbomb Incident From Hell' I heard Ron mumbling about last year? Sounds like something we'd do."
"I didn't get caught either," Ginny said with pride. Ron laughed.
"Shall we go?" Luna asked, slipping her hand inside Ron's.
Fred eyed them. "Ickle Ronnie-kins have a girlfriend now?"
"Saves us a sigh of relief," George augmented. Luna only smiled dreamily.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Ginny added, leading Dean to the entrance way. Luna and Ron followed, with Fred and Angelina, and Harry and Cho. George was left alone with Hermione.
"Ready to go?" George said, extending his elbow. Hermione grinned at him.
"Of course, Mr. Weasley," she replied, slipping her hand around. They stepped out of the Gryffindor Common Room, the door sweeping shut behind them gracefully.
* * *
"Oh, these decorations are so pretty," Hermione heard as she walked into the Great Hall. She felt like Cinderella, knowing that she had only four hours before the magic wore away and she'd be left as that plain girl in Gryffindor again.
No one seemed to recognize her, but that didn't surprise her; after all, at the Yule Ball in their fourth year, people kept asking who she was. It annoyed her so much, and again, the pang of annoyance tapped her nerves again.
George was very friendly and very gentlemanly the way there, and to Hermione, it felt a little like old times. She saw various couples that she wanted to talk to, and George and Fred went to chat with the teachers, so everyone eventually split up. Well, everyone except for the three couples that seemed glued to each other.
Hermione wandered around, talking to Neville and Susan, then to Padma Patil, and Hannah Abbott. However, it only took her an half and hour to make her rounds, so she went to the drinks and took a sip of some of the butterbeer served there. What she really wanted to do was dance.
Harry met her up at the drinks. "Hey," he said, getting two glasses. "Having fun? Doesn't it look great? I've heard so many nice things about the decorations...especially the entrance," he added, pouring.
"Oh, really?" Hermione replied. "I've heard only tidbits, from people I've talked to. You know, Padma, and Hannah. And Neville."
"Cho says it looks really great," said Harry, smiling. Then it faded a little. "I wish she'd stop complaining about work, though."
"Oh, well, you know," Hermione answered, shrugging. "Change the subject. You two seem to have an endless font of topics to discuss, pick one."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Tried it. Twice. Keeps coming back to this one guy, some guy who makes this evil eye at her. Anyway, I'll catch you up later?"
"Make sure you dance with her," Hermione advised.
"Why, you think she'll have a line-up?" She didn't answer right away.
"Her dress does drop a little low, Harry. She's probably got a gaggle of boys around her."
He flushed. "I didn't think it was that low."
"You wouldn't, Harry," she replied, smiling. "You are male after all."
"Ha, ha," Harry said dryly. "You have a line-up? A queue of boys after you yet? Because you do look very stunning." His face flushed a little deeper.
"The day I have boys after me is the day I strike gold," said Hermione without emotion. "No boys after little old me, sadly."
"Just wait. And save a dance for me, will you?" he said, pulling out the drinks and walking away.
Hermione, a little stunned, stood there for a bit. George tapped her arm suddenly.
"Yeah?" she replied, not looking at him.
"Set the stupid drink down and come over here," he said, now tugging on her arm. She sat the drink down and George whirled her out onto the dance floor. "Ordered this song special," he added, putting her hands into his. Hermione cocked her head sideways.
"What do you mean by that, George Weasley?"
"Ah, nothing too important," he said, stepping away. Then the beat picked up. It was the Electric Slide, for goodness' sakes.
"George, it's that...Muggle...thing," she ended lamely, as he showed her how to move.
"Isn't it great? Found it in Dad's old records. I think he only saved it for the 'electric' part," he said, as the music started. Left one-two- three clap, right one-two-three clap, step forward, step back, tap, tap, tap, and to the side, repeat.
The only people who even had the remotest idea of what was going on was the Muggle borns, and even then, as they tried to get their dance partners onto the floor, it wasn't working.
George was laughing so hard tears were running down his face. "I love it, those poor, uncoordinated people," he bawled, clapping.
Hermione had gotten the steps down, after traveling to America for a summer when she was much, much younger, and having to experience the evil that was country-line dancing. "Curious, how did you figure out the steps?"
"Some old bloke that works in the shop had a son living in the States, you know," he replied, stepping to the right. "When I showed him the record, thought the man was going to die from laughing." He paused. "Really wouldn't be such a bad way to go."
Hermione frowned. "George, that isn't nice."
"Well?" he retorted, as the song ended. His tears were subsiding, and Fred, across the room, flashing him a thumbs up. "That was fun, right?"
"You're insane," Hermione replied, throwing her arms up, as a slow song came on. Not to keen on being left on the dance floor, Hermione wound her way around the advancing couples.
Sigh.
Suddenly, there was a resounding slap emitted from the other side of the room. Everyone turned to see Cho walk away, while Harry, obviously bewildered, sat there, red creeping into his cheeks, before he escaped himself. He and Cho were standing against the wall, but now neither of them were in the room.
"Oi," George said, coming up from behind her. "That didn't look good."
"No, it didn't," Hermione replied. Her heart leapt for joy before returning abysmally down to earth. A spat, nothing more. They would be done, and get back together. Like always.
Sigh.
"Suppose someone should check on Harry," Hermione said dully. Playing the Peace-maker would be a lot more fun if she didn't like Harry so much. She, not for the first time, or last, wished she didn't encourage Harry and Cho in his fifth year. Hermione was so stupid then....
She walked out of the Great Hall into the Entrance Corridor and saw Harry sitting on the steps. Hermione did not know where Cho went, or cared, but she walked over and sat down next to him.
"'Spect you saw that," Harry mumbled, his head in his hands, leaning on his knees.
Hermione shrugged, though he couldn't see. "I think everyone did, Harry."
He let out a long, trapped sigh. "Well, she's gone. Left."
"Wha-?" Hermione said, confused. "Gone?"
"Yeah," said Harry thickly. "Walked right out that door-" He pointed out the Entrance Hall's vast oak doors. "-and didn't look back. She rightly angry with me all right."
Hermione was silent for a few minutes. "Do you want to talk about it?" she said quietly, putting her hand on his knee friendly-like.
Harry lifted his head and rubbed his eyes, muttering swear words under his breath. "God, all I said was, 'Did you like this guy or something?'"
"Oh, Harry," said Hermione tentatively, "you never ask a girl that."
He looked at her disdainfully. "Thanks for the heads up, Hermione."
"Sorry," she mumbled. "Anyway, why did you say that?"
"Because," Harry huffed, "Cho wouldn't shut up about him. I tried to follow your advice, and change the subject and all, but she continued, all angry-like, because I wanted to change the conversation. 'You never want to talk about what I want to talk about.' God, she does whine all lot, though I'd take that any day to the Human Hosepipe she was two years ago."
Hermione remained silent. Was this truly the end? She'd never heard Harry talk about Cho this way before.
"So, I asked her, 'What do you have on this guy? Do you like him or something?' She gets all offended, because it's okay for her to berate and bother me about girls here, but I can't do the same thing, and I told her that-"
She sucked in her breath. Oi, Harry...
"-yeah, stupid comment, I know. That's when she whacked me one across the face," said Harry, pointing to his left cheek, which was imprinted with a pink hand. "Then she muttered all low, 'It's over.' No, more like a hiss. And, as you saw, she stormed out, and I got left there. Lucky the pain stunned me a bit, because it didn't come to me that I was embarrassed until I left the Great Hall." He paused. "I can't believe it either. It's right before Christmas. Now I'm stuck all by myself."
"I'm...I'm sorry," Hermione whispered. "It really is horrible to be alone on Christmas."
He looked up at her, his hair framing his soft face. "I-I didn't realize...."
"Nevermind," she said quietly, looking down, removing her hand from his knee and cupping her hands in her lap. "But, you know, if you're all right and all-I mean, no, of course you're not, but I eyed a ring on her hand, thought she might've used that-" Hermione babbled. "Anyway-oh, I'm just sorry about what happened, Harry."
"S'okay," Harry replied dully. "Suppose I can get on all right without her. I do miss her, even now, though."
As he said that, Hermione imagined a brick wall piling slowly higher between her and Harry on the staircase, spelling out the words, "Rebound: Do Not Enter." She stood.
"Well, might as well enjoy the rest of your time," she said, offering her hand to him. Hermione smiled weakly.
"Yeah," said Harry, taking her hand. "You still owe me a dance."
"I suppose I do." Hermione followed Harry back into the dance floor, where a slow song was in session. She hesitated awkwardly.
The song ended quickly, however, and a waltz started. "Come on, Harry," she said, grinning, tugging on his sleeve. "Put Cho out of your mind for an hour, at most. Have some fun with your friends...then think about it in the morning. Tomorrow's Saturday," she added. "You can sleep away the morning, lounge around, and be glad that it's the holidays."
He pondered her statement for a moment. "You're right, Hermione. What would I do without you?"
"Nothing," she replied, leading him onto the dance floor. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and one in his hand. "You know how to waltz, right?"
"Yeah," he said slowly. "I think." Harry put an arm around her small waist and thought for a moment, concentrating on the beat. "Three moves, right?"
Hermione nodded, and started to lead him, until he remembered, and then he took over. She felt like she was in heaven...the room started to melt away, and Harry was talking happily in the background, about anything but Cho, determined to have a good time. She responded occasionally with "Yes," and "Uh huh." She was oddly aware of where her body was, and how Harry pulled her closer to him as they danced and talked; it was almost an out-of-body experience.
Cut it out, how insensitive are you to enjoy this when he just broke up with his girlfriend?
Too bad, she replied to the rational side of herself, and inwardly grinned a bit more.
When the song ended, Hermione sensed that Harry was almost reluctant to pull away, and they met up with the other seven of their party. Luna and Ron were drinking butterbeer with Ginny and Dean, while Fred, George and Angelina were chatting easily with McGonagall, who, for the first time in nearly three years, finally looked happy and looked like she was enjoying herself.
They pulled two seats over to the Luna-Ron table and joined in on the conversation. Alternating between dancing (mostly Ginny and Dean; Luna and Ron felt much too awkward on the dance floor, and Hermione did not get asked again to dance by Harry, which put her in an unhappy disposition), eating and talking, the evening passed quickly.
At quarter to twelve, people started to leave, some having to be slumped out. Finally it was their group left; Fred, George and Angelina said a hearty good-bye to everyone, and left the Great Hall to exit Hogwarts (they would walk to the end of the street and Disapparate home). Ginny and Dean bid their goodnights, and Luna and Ron finally gave their final farewells. It was finally Harry and Hermione left in the room alone, decorations falling down pointedly.
"We probably should get this cleaned up, huh?" Hermione remarked, surveying the mess.
"Yeah..." replied Harry, not keen on cleaning. He stifled a yawn. Hermione gave him a slightly disapproving look and Summoned some work clothes from her room, Harry following suit, and went into the bathroom to change. When she emerged from her beautiful dress into a shirt and leggings, Hermione left very much like her carriage turned into a pumpkin and white mice were scurrying about her.
She pulled out her wand and started moving things around. She had set it all up, of course, but that was the easy part. Hermione went about vanishing things, when Harry returned to the Great Hall.
"Hey, don't you be having all the fun without me," he said, brandishing his wand.
Hermione looked up. "Oh, right, I'm having a baleful of fun," she replied sarcastically.
They worked for a straight hour, not talking much, but Hermione enjoyed the company. When the Great Hall looked like itself again, they sat at a corner, and Hermione produced two butterbeers she'd saved from the dance.
"Here," she said, holding out the cold bottle.
Harry wiped his brow. "What?" he asked, and she shook the bottle before him. "Oh, thanks," said Harry, taking the bottle and popping it open, swigging heavily. "I needed that."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "It's nearly two in the morning, Harry," she said. "And we still have the Entrance Hall to clean up. We should probably get started." But Harry had stood up and cantered off to the middle of the empty room.
"Christmas is in four days," said Harry thickly, walking around the middle, almost pacing. "Our Hogsmeade trip is on Sunday-" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. How could she have forgotten that? Last minute shopping-trip. She gazed up at him. He'd stopped talking and was looking intently at her. "What are you going to do at Hogsmeade?"
Hermione shrugged. "Shop a bit. I don't have that much money with me; Christmas with you two nearly wiped me clean," she replied, thinking of the Chudley Cannon Quidditch robes for Ron and the very, very expensive Gryffindor Lion brooch (for his good cloak) she'd gotten for Harry, with gold on the outside and ruby stones for eyes. "I thought I'd pick up a drink or two with everyone in The Three Broomsticks, though, you know, around lunchtime."
"Oh," said Harry, pondering a moment. Hermione took a drink from her bottle and set it down, pulling out her wand and getting ready to finish the job-she was feeling a bit drowsy, and if she did not continue, she would probably fall asleep.
"Come on, Harry-just a bit more Vanishing, then we're done," said Hermione cheerily, and Harry walked over to her, more awake than he'd been all night. Quite frankly, Hermione thought he was disturbed by something, though she didn't inquire after what. He had a look of deep thought pasted onto his face.
"Evanesco," she said, pointing to the ivy and berries. They flew away with a pop. Hermione heard Harry doing the same thing on the other side of the room, and within the next half an hour, they were done.
Hermione stood back and looked at their handiwork. She'd used a Gleaming Charm on the railings, so they sparkled in the light from the chandelier above. A nearby clock chimed three in the morning.
"We're finished!" Hermione said triumphantly. She looked at Harry, who was staring at her. She shook her head at him. "We can go to sleep now," added Hermione, thinking Harry might've missed a crucial point.
"You forgot something," he said, pointing up. Mistletoe hung above her head, looking sly, as it hovered delicately above her curls.
"How could I have missed that?" wondered Hermione, pointing her wand into the air. "No matter."
Harry started to chuckle, though it was an odd sort of noise, much like a cough. She lowered her wand and looked at him. His head had turned away, and his shoulders were shaking.
"Harry?" asked Hermione tentatively.
"That's when we first kissed," Harry said, looking up, though distinctly not at her. "You know, in the Room of Requirement? Right before holidays, fifth year. She...what did you say?...cornered me."
Hermione swallowed thickly. "I remember you saying something about that," she said quietly.
He sighed loudly. "She was crying about Cedric. Always about Cedric. Sometimes I wondered why she kept bringing him up."
Hermione was silent. Personally, if she were Cho then, no matter what she was feeling at the time, she thought it was rude to talk about another boy like that in front of Harry. But they all were a little confused in fifth year.
"Nargles," he whispered, bringing his chin down at her. "That's what Luna said was in those. Nargles."
She suppressed a snort. "Luna's a little...dotty sometimes, Harry."
"I suppose," said Harry airily. However, without warning, Harry walked up to her, and gave her a peck on the cheek. It was quick and friendly, but Hermione still felt her face grow warm.
"Harry?" she asked, surprised her voice did not break.
Harry looked at her. "Thank you, Hermione. You're always there. You have that aura of calmness Ron is, quite frankly, lacking."
Hermione tried to laugh a little, putting her hand to her cheek. "Well, you know, after what happened tonight, it was the only thing I could do. Did you expect me to leave you to wallow in your sorrows, to escape having a good times despite your spat?"
"Er-no, not really," he replied, smiling.
"Besides," said Hermione loftily. Oh, you're gonna regret saying this.... Shut up before- "This is a spat. You've gotten over much worse than this."
He looked at her. "You're right, Hermione." Harry turned his attention at the staircase. "I hope that's how it's going to be, anyway. Um, wanna kip to bed?"
"Yeah," said Hermione, almost sullenly. The elated feeling from the kiss on the cheek was slowly deflating as she realized it was nothing more than a thank you. How could she be so stupid to read into things like that?
They walked up the stairs in silence, and broke away when Hermione moved to enter her own room. Harry waved her goodnight, and went along himself.
It felt like Harry was waving her much, much more than goodnight.
It felt like he was waving her goodbye.
