Chapter Thirty-Four

Much Ado

A couple of days after New Years, the scooby gang returned to Hogwarts well rested and ready to face the second half of the school year. The others had returned the day before.

Once everyone had unpacked, Buffy called a meeting to inform Dumbledore and the others of what they had learned from Druscilla. The entire group, plus professors Snape and McGonagall gathered in the headmaster's office.

After Buffy had told them all they had learned, Snape asked, "Why didn't you come back as soon as you killed her?"

"Because there was no need," Spike said evenly.

"No need? You learned that he's gathering demons to kill the boy!"

"There was no evidence to prove they knew where Harry was," Giles explained patiently.

"Then how did Druscilla find you then?" Snape asked with a sneer.

Giles eyes flashed as the Ripper in him fought to escape. "Do you know nothing about vampires?"

"They're demons and they survive by draining their victims of blood. What else is there to know?"

"You stupid pillock. No wonder you aren't teaching defense."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Druscilla is Spike's sire; therefore they share a blood bond. Couple that with the fact that she is a seer. All she had to do was use those abilities to find her childe."

"I believe that is enough, Rupert," Albus said.

Giles turned his gaze away from Snape and slowed his breathing in effort to calm himself.

Snape made a move to say more but he was stopped by the headmaster raising a hand to silence him.

"They were quite justified in their decision. I probably would have made the same one if I were in their position. What concerns me is the sand she mentioned."
"We've been researching both spells and demons," Willow informed him.

"I must say that I have never heard of a spell that could do what she described," Minerva said.

"Nor have I heard of a demon fitting the description," Giles said.

"I suggest we continue the research then," Albus said. He turned to Spike and Anya. "Perhaps the two of you could try your demon contacts."
"Angel is also doing research in L.A.," Buffy supplied. "He promised to owl as soon as he learned anything."

"Very well. If there is nothing else you are excused." Everyone but Buffy and Spike rose and filed out of the room. "I take it there is something else you wish to discuss."

"Yeah. We didn't want to say this in front of the kids, but we're worried he's going to attack the school," Spike said.

"If we can narrow down the time frame we'd like to invite some friends to come help us," Buffy added.

"We can have a cover story that they're here for show and tell for the classes."

"That's acceptable. We could also station some aurors about the castle," Dumbledore said.

"I suggest that we not breath a word of this to any of the students. The less who know the better," Spike told him.

"Why?"

"Kids have a tendency to spout off at the mouth without paying attention to their environment. Plus, the off chance any of them are his supporters or their parents are."

"I agree."
"There's something else," Buffy said delicately.

"Yes?"

"We'd like to make some changes to our training sessions."

********

"Tell me again, why am I visiting him?" Draco grumbled to Dawn as he followed the five Gryffindors across school grounds.

"Because we haven't seen him since before we left," Dawn said.

They quickly reached the hut at the edge of the forest. They knocked on the door and they were soon greeted by the half giant.

"A merry Christmas to all of you," he said as all but Draco rushed in to hug him. "Come on in, I jus' put water on for tea."
They got seated and shared the events that happened over Christmas. While everyone talked, Draco sat quietly in the corner, looking out the window.

"Whas' the matter with 'im?" Hagrid asked.

"He's just mourning the loss of television, vcrs, dvds, and cds," Harry said with a shrug.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Draco became very attached to several muggle inventions," Harry explained.

Ron and Hermione just stared at Harry.

"What?"

"You just called him Draco," Ron said with wide eyes.

"Despite popular opinion, Weasley. I do have a first name. Harry has just learned to use it."

They turned to stare at Draco.

"When did you two become chummy?" Ron asked.

"Tends to happen when you're forced to share a room for several weeks. Not to mention shopping trips."
Harry couldn't help but laugh. "That was fun."

Their friends could just stare at them in amazement.

********

Before dinner, Dawn pulled Hermione off to the side. "'Mione, I just wanted to thank you for the book. Where did you find it?"

"I always shop at rare book stores. It was stuck in a corner covered with dust. The owner didn't even know it was there. It was really just luck that I found it," she said simply. As she headed to the Great Hall she said, "I'm glad you liked it."

Dawn watched her with a sly smile. She had a feeling that luck had nothing to do with it. The handwriting in the book looked suspiciously like Galadriel's.

********

The next day was the last day before classes started again. Dawn, Harry, and Draco were able to pull Ginny away from everyone to discuss their plans for Ron and Hermione.

"Are you sure they like each other?" Ginny asked.

"Ron told me he does. He's just afraid that if he says anything to her and she doesn't feel that way then things will get weird."
"Which is totally understandable," Dawn said.

"But what about Hermione?"

"Oh come on Gin. Don't tell me you haven't noticed. She'll sit next to him before others, she leans in when they talk, she's always watching him. It's obvious."

"I don't know," she said hesitantly.

"Come on. It'll be fun." Draco said.

"Where did you get this idea again?"
"From a movie," Dawn answered.

"You sure they won't get mad at us if it doesn't work?"

"Gin, they won't even realize that we had a hand in it. Trust me, it'll work. After all, my last plan worked."
"What plan?" Harry asked.

"Nothing," Ginny said with a blush. "Alright, I'm in."

********

Hermione was walking back to her room after she had checked some books out of the library the next day. As she approached the room she shared with Ginny she noticed the door was slightly ajar. She could hear voices drifting out and she stopped when she heard Dawn's voice.

"Are you sure he likes Hermione?"
"Yes," came Ginny's voice.

Hermione wasn't one who liked to eavesdrop, but since they were talking about her she saw little problem with it. Plus, she had the feeling that if she went in they would stop talking and she wouldn't know who liked her.

"How do you know?" Dawn was saying.

"Harry told me that Ron liked Hermione."

Hermione gasped, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Could it really be possible that he liked her?

"What's he going to do about it?" Dawn asked.

"Nothing," Ginny said with a big sigh.

"Why?"

"Because he believes that he's not good enough for her."

"What do you mean?"

"You know Ron," Ginny said. "He's always felt inferior next to Harry and Hermione. Harry because of how famous he is, and Hermione because of how smart she is. He thinks she deserves someone better than a, and I quote, 'dumb guy with nothing to offer her'."

"Well it's not like Hermione sees him that way," Dawn pointed out.

"True. All she ever does is argue with him."
"What did Harry tell him to do?"
"To get over her cause she'll never see him like that."

"You're probably right. Are you hungry?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah. Let's go get a snack."

Hermione scrambled to hide herself in another hallway until Dawn and Ginny had walked past her. She numbly walked back to her room and dropped her bag on the floor. She sat on her bed with a soft plop.

Ron saw her as more than a friend? Could it really be true? She felt her heart start beating faster at the thought. If he did, then he was not alone in his affections.

But how was she to let him know that she cared for him back. She would have to figure out a ways to show him that he was just as smart as she was. He would never believe that she liked him until he believed that first.

A smile suddenly broke out on her face. He found her attractive! She wasn't quite the misfit that she always thought of herself as.

Meanwhile, Dawn and Ginny were quietly congratulating themselves as they headed to the common room. As they walked by Harry and Draco who were playing chess they gave them a discreet thumbs up. As the two girls made their way down the hall, they past Ron on his way to the Tower.

~He's on the way.~ Dawn said.

~We're ready.~

~Have fun!~

Ron walked into the Gryffindor common room to see a strange sight. Harry and Draco were calmly playing chess in a corner of the room. The redhead never thought he'd see the day in which the two of them would actually get along.

Too tired to cause trouble, he tried to quietly walk by them. Since neither looked up to note his passing, he headed up the stairs that they were sitting near.

"Are you going to tell Ron?" Draco asked.

Ron stopped when he heard his name.

"What? That Hermione fancies him?" Harry asked.

The redhead's breath stopped as he heard the words exit his friend's mouth.

"Yeah."
"No."
"Why not?" Draco asked.

"Because I think he's gotten over his little crush on her. Besides, you've seen how they argue now. Can you imagine what it would be like if they were dating?"

"But Dawn told me that her fighting with him was just a way to hide her feelings."

"Ginny told me the same thing. Still...."

"Think Granger will say anything to him about it?"

"No, she's way too shy about those things. The only way they'd get together was if Ron made the first move. And I know he won't do that."

"Can you believe the potions homework Snape gave us?" Draco asked, changing the subject.

Their talk faded into the background as Ron began to fully comprehend what he had just heard. He was finding it hard to believe that she would want him. But if Dawn and Ginny told them, then it must be true.

He began to think back on all of the arguments they had over the school year. They had been over childish and petty things. It seemed they argued just for the sake of arguing. And if the number of times she got upset with him was any indication, then she must like him a lot.

But what was Harry talking about when he said that he had gotten over his crush? True, he hadn't said anything to Harry about it since school started, but that didn't mean his feelings had changed. This was no schoolboy crush. He was quite sure that this was love.

Since Hermione wouldn't do or say anything about her feelings then that meant it was up to him to do something. But what? The only other girl he had been remotely attracted to was Fleur Delacour during his fourth year.

He was going to have to do something though. There was no way he was going to let her slip away from him without a fight.