Crushes and Crushes
When Harry woke up, he saw the familiar white, clean surroundings of the hospital wing. He reached for his spectacles and tried sitting up, but his body felt as though someone was sleeping on it. After a while, he gave up and looked down. He felt blood rushing to his face as he saw Alex sleeping beside him, her hand on his. He stared involuntarily at her face, her long raven black hair falling past her cheeks and the touch of her fingers on his left hand. He felt his cheeks flush. He had known Alex was as beautiful, if not more, than Cho since he met her, but seeing her up close, and at such a serene place, her beauty was further enhanced. He looked around, and saw wilting flowers next to his table.
"Harry?" Alex stirred, and she looked up. Harry's left hand felt strangely cool when Alex moved her hand away.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, her eyes boring deeply into his as she helped him to sit up. Harry caught a whiff of her shampoo as her hair dropped past her shoulders and in front of Harry's nose. It smelled heavenly. Harry hoped that his face didn't look as hot as he felt.
"Fine, just a bit heavy, and light headed." Harry paused as he considered what he just said. "If being heavy and light at the same time is possible. How long have I been asleep anyway?"
Alex smiled, and Harry felt his heart pounding harder. "Five days. It's Saturday today. You would feel heavy, as that was the side effects of the Amber Poison. You had quite a lot. The cobras hadn't been merciful. They injected all their venom into your body the moment they bit you. My own supply of neutraliser wasn't enough for you. I have to use some ordinary neutraliser just so the poison wouldn't attack your organs until Professor Snape had finished preparing another round of neutraliser for the poison. It took three days."
"Harry!" Hermione's voice echoed as she ran into the room, and gave Harry a bone-crushing hug. Harry choked slightly and Hermione loosened her grip.
"Okay. you've definitely put some feelings into my bones." Harry took a long swig of pumpkin juice that Hermione brought. "Where's Ron?"
"He went to get something for you," Hermione replied, taking out a few sandwiches full of Harry's favourite, ham and cheese. He accepted hungrily.
"What happened after I pass out?" Harry asked.
"When you went unconscious, we took the six snakes you killed and continued blasting more while Alex fed you with the neutraliser. Your arm was bleeding like crazy, and Alex applied the green lotion on your wounds. But it didn't stop, so she ripped off her shirt and bandaged your arm while Ron and I were knocking out snakes, he well. he. anyway, Alex summoned your Firebolt and hers, and Ron and me shared one, while Alex and you shared one. The Firebolts went so fast that everything else was a blur. We flew up here, and Madam Pomfrey almost had a heart attack when she saw the blood and gave you some potion. Alex emptied her own supply of neutraliser but you remained as cold and stiff as ever. We thought you were dead!"
"But it turns out that the poison had started to take effect. Alex and Madam Pomfrey fed you with all the snake venom neutraliser the castle have, and it was after a few hours before you regained normal skin colour. Madam Pomfrey had a hard time trying to stop the blood, but couldn't. Until Alex took out her pocket knife and made a slit across all the wounds. We almost had a heart attack. But Alex poured some Elixir of Chance directly into the cuts and it was another ten minutes when you finally stopped bleeding. By then, you probably lost about one and a half pint of blood. We wanted to donate some of our blood, but Madam Pomfrey was worried that the poison may enter our body while doing so, so she asked us to leave you to rest. You were asleep for five days! You got us so worried!"
Harry was touched by his friends' actions. "Thanks. By the way, Hermione. Happy birthday. Your present is in my trunk. Erm. I'll give it to you when I'm discharged."
"It's okay. Take your time. Alex gave me a great present by saving you." Hermione grinned.
"Thanks for saving my life," Harry said to Alex.
"You saved mine too. If you hadn't stepped in, the cobra would have injected its venom in my neck veins. I would have died instantly." She squatted down and gazed intensely into Harry's eyes. Harry felt his face flushed again. "Thank you."
"What are friends for?"
"Harry!" Ron ran and stopped at the entrance. "Guess who's here?"
A large black dog strolled in, followed by Professor Dumbledore. A large white owl was perched on the elderly wizard's shoulder. Alex raised an eyebrow at the large dog, but did not question. She only knelt and whispered into Harry's ear.
"You should not have told the snakes your name. You better not tell any snakes your name, now that Voldemort had risen."
Harry stared at her in surprise. "You."
The dimple appeared again. "Yes, I'm a Parselmouth."
Before Harry could say anything else, she left the hospital wing, saying that she needed to get some sleep. Harry stared after her. But there was something else that brought Harry's mind back to the hospital wing. The large snowy owl had landed next to Harry's elbow and was nipping his fingers gently. Harry stroked the owl absentmindedly.
"Sirius! What are you doing here?" Harry asked. His godfather transformed in front of him, and he knelt down beside Harry's bed, tears shining slightly in his eyes.
"Dumbledore told me what happened to you. I got here as fast as I could. Are you alright?" Harry nodded and grinned.
"I'm fine."
Ron grinned and patted Harry on the back. "You almost gave us all a heart attack when your blood covered half the area of this bed."
Sirius' face paled. "What?!"
Harry narrowed his eyes at Ron. "I'm alright, seriously. Just abit weak. Or maybe it's because I'm too comfortable here to do anything else."
"I want the both of you to feed this boy up! Here. Twenty Galleons should be enough." Sirius handed a pouch to Ron. "I got Mrs Weasley to take the money out."
"Sirius!" Harry protested. Sirius shook his head and glared sternly at Harry.
"Mom was almost crying when she heard about you. In fact, all of Gryffindor house was queuing up outside here to see you, until Professor McGonagall threatened to take a hundred points off the house," Ron said, pocketing the money.
"We were the only ones that were allowed to visit you. Alex even slept here last night. She said she wants to thank you personally."
Professor Dumbledore smiled at Harry. "I'll leave Sirius and Hedwig here with you. Ron, Hermione, you better bring some chocolate back from Hogsmeade for this boy."
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"Just one thing. How many other people knows about my wound?" Harry asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Let's see, my family, Sirius, Lupin, the teachers, all the students, and Firenze, according to Hagrid. Hagrid too," Hermione ticked off her fingers. Harry sighed in exasperation.
"Oh! And Firenze told us that by his judgement, a few cobras refer to a few hundred cobras," Ron said, and pulled Hermione out of the hospital wing.
"Professor? How's the Elixir coming along?"
Professor Dumbledore smiled. "Fine, very well. In fact, the Elixir is going to be stronger thanks to the extra snakes you four brought in."
Harry relaxed. Sirius turned back to a dog and climbed on Harry's knees. Harry felt the comforting warmth of the large dog, and patted it slightly. A wave of sleepiness spun his vision slightly. At the dog's licking, and the owl's soft hooting, Harry fell into a deep sleep again.
* * *
During the next two days, Fred and George had brought the entire Quidditch team to visit him. The Creevey brothers visited him with tonnes of fruits, and returned with an equal amount of photos. His roommates, Seamus, Dean and Neville visited him with updates of the school. Ginny gave him a card and a box of chocolate that she and Dobby made. Dobby greeted him with a neck-crushing hug and had to be pried away to keep Harry from suffocating. Even people from other houses came to visit him. The Ravenclaws praised him so many times that Harry felt a stage beyond embarrassment. The Hufflepuffs also visited him, but not as many as those from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Slytherin, not surprisingly, did not even went anywhere close to the hospital wing, according to Ron and Hermione. Hagrid brought him a box of mini cakes that he made himself, which Harry had almost lost his teeth in. But on the third day, someone unexpected turns up.
"Harry?" a soft feminine voice called out. Harry looked up from his textbook and saw Cho standing alone by the doorway.
"Cho? Come in!" Harry gestured. Cho entered somewhat awkwardly and gave Harry a beautiful bouquet of flower. Harry felt his heart pound, but somewhat lighter than before. He muttered a word of thanks and put it in the vase on the table.
"Are you alright now?" she asked. Harry nodded and flexed his arm. Cho giggled and Harry felt his face warming up. An awkward silence hung over the air.
"Erm Harry, can I ask you something?"
"Go on."
"It's about Cedric." Cho's voice was so soft that it was barely audible. Harry fell silence. He had wanted to talk to Cho about Cedric, but never seem to have found the time.
"Yes?"
Cho twisted her fingers. "How did he die?"
"A Death-Eater used Voldemort's wand and did the killing curse on him." Harry trailed off, the memory vivid in his mind. A jet of green light, and Cedric lay before him, dead.
"Did he suffer?" Cho asked again.
"No. The curse was quick, unlike the Crucio curse. Thank goodness for that," Harry said. Now even he was twisting his fingers. He had this crazy urge to confess, but he didn't really want to hear her reply. Cho stayed on for a little while, answering Harry's questions about the O.W.Ls. An hour after she arrived, she turned to leave.
"Cho!"
"Yes?"
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I like you."
Cho widened her eyes and flushed. Harry felt about as hot as an oven. "I mean. I... I..."
Cho smiled faintly. Harry's face felt like fire. "Thank you, Harry, but. I was engaged to Cedric."
Harry's world came crashing down. "What?"
"We were engaged. We were planning to get married after we leave Hogwarts, but."
Harry felt numb. It was as though the Amber Poison had re-entered his body again. "I'm sorry." was all he could mutter. Cho leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"You'll always be my friend, Harry, always."
Harry could only muster enough strength for a nod. Cho turned and left, but not before she burst into tears. Harry felt a strange stinging sensation in his eyes. Then, he felt water trickling down his cheeks.
"Harry?" Alex walked into the hospital wing and Harry hurriedly tried to wipe his tears away.
"Hi Alex. how was class today?" Harry heard a high and slightly choked voice asked. It took him a while to realize that that voice was his.
Alex ignored the question. She held Harry's hand, and he felt another fresh burst of tears at the back of his eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I heard everything. Don't hold back your emotions. It's not good," Alex whispered softly. "Ron and Hermione wouldn't be here for a while. They are in the library. I've placed a Repelling Spell. No one will be here at all. Just cry, alright?"
Alex stood up to leave, but Harry pulled her robes. "Don't go. please?"
Alex smiled and sat down on the bed again. Harry closed his eyes and tears trickled down his cheeks like waterfalls. Alex placed her hands around Harry, and held him closer. It was a long half an hour before Harry stopped.
"It's funny, isn't it, for a boy to cry like that," Harry muttered.
"No."
"I'm supposed to be mature now, yet I'm still crying like a baby."
"A mature man will cry when it's needed to. I bet even Dumbledore cries when he couldn't help it. For your case, it's perfectly normal."
Harry looked up at the emerald eyes. He muttered his thanks. Alex asked him questions about his life, and Harry soon found himself telling his entire life. Alex was a good listener, and Harry was grateful for that. That night, Alex stayed behind with Harry, and the both of them started talking about anything under the sun and moon.
"Harry, mind if I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"How would you feel, if one of your best friends was actually an enemy?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?'
Alex looked slightly lost for words. "Erm."
Harry sighed. "I would feel very betrayed."
"Would you hate the person?"
Harry shrugged. "Depends. I mean, Professor Moody was supposed to be my friend, but he turns out to be Voldemort's greatest helper. I didn't hate him, but I did feel betrayed. Why the sudden question?"
Alex shook her head. She suddenly smiled. "You know, I think Ron had a crush on Hermione!"
Harry considered. He did sense some form of jealousy from Ron when Hermione was dancing with Viktor Krum, a well-known Quidditch Seeker, last year at the Yule Ball. "Yeah." Harry then told Alex about the Yule Ball.
"I was going to invite." Harry trailed off. Alex smiled.
"I understand, go on."
"In the end we didn't get the girls we wanted, so we asked Parvatil and her twin. But Ron spend half the time staring at Krum and Hermione."
Alex grinned mischievously. "Do you know what he did at the forest?"
"What?" Harry inched closer.
"There was this instant when about two dozen snakes were charging at them from about ten inches. Ron gave up trying to blast them away, and pushed Hermione to the ground, with him covering her entire body. I blasted the snakes away before they struck Ron, and the two of them looked a lot like Ron's hair after that."
Harry laughed. He could picture Hermione and Ron blushing at each other. He and Alex exchanged their own analysis of Ron and Hermione. At the same, loud sneezing could be heard from the girls' and boys' dormitories. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~ Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment!
When Harry woke up, he saw the familiar white, clean surroundings of the hospital wing. He reached for his spectacles and tried sitting up, but his body felt as though someone was sleeping on it. After a while, he gave up and looked down. He felt blood rushing to his face as he saw Alex sleeping beside him, her hand on his. He stared involuntarily at her face, her long raven black hair falling past her cheeks and the touch of her fingers on his left hand. He felt his cheeks flush. He had known Alex was as beautiful, if not more, than Cho since he met her, but seeing her up close, and at such a serene place, her beauty was further enhanced. He looked around, and saw wilting flowers next to his table.
"Harry?" Alex stirred, and she looked up. Harry's left hand felt strangely cool when Alex moved her hand away.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, her eyes boring deeply into his as she helped him to sit up. Harry caught a whiff of her shampoo as her hair dropped past her shoulders and in front of Harry's nose. It smelled heavenly. Harry hoped that his face didn't look as hot as he felt.
"Fine, just a bit heavy, and light headed." Harry paused as he considered what he just said. "If being heavy and light at the same time is possible. How long have I been asleep anyway?"
Alex smiled, and Harry felt his heart pounding harder. "Five days. It's Saturday today. You would feel heavy, as that was the side effects of the Amber Poison. You had quite a lot. The cobras hadn't been merciful. They injected all their venom into your body the moment they bit you. My own supply of neutraliser wasn't enough for you. I have to use some ordinary neutraliser just so the poison wouldn't attack your organs until Professor Snape had finished preparing another round of neutraliser for the poison. It took three days."
"Harry!" Hermione's voice echoed as she ran into the room, and gave Harry a bone-crushing hug. Harry choked slightly and Hermione loosened her grip.
"Okay. you've definitely put some feelings into my bones." Harry took a long swig of pumpkin juice that Hermione brought. "Where's Ron?"
"He went to get something for you," Hermione replied, taking out a few sandwiches full of Harry's favourite, ham and cheese. He accepted hungrily.
"What happened after I pass out?" Harry asked.
"When you went unconscious, we took the six snakes you killed and continued blasting more while Alex fed you with the neutraliser. Your arm was bleeding like crazy, and Alex applied the green lotion on your wounds. But it didn't stop, so she ripped off her shirt and bandaged your arm while Ron and I were knocking out snakes, he well. he. anyway, Alex summoned your Firebolt and hers, and Ron and me shared one, while Alex and you shared one. The Firebolts went so fast that everything else was a blur. We flew up here, and Madam Pomfrey almost had a heart attack when she saw the blood and gave you some potion. Alex emptied her own supply of neutraliser but you remained as cold and stiff as ever. We thought you were dead!"
"But it turns out that the poison had started to take effect. Alex and Madam Pomfrey fed you with all the snake venom neutraliser the castle have, and it was after a few hours before you regained normal skin colour. Madam Pomfrey had a hard time trying to stop the blood, but couldn't. Until Alex took out her pocket knife and made a slit across all the wounds. We almost had a heart attack. But Alex poured some Elixir of Chance directly into the cuts and it was another ten minutes when you finally stopped bleeding. By then, you probably lost about one and a half pint of blood. We wanted to donate some of our blood, but Madam Pomfrey was worried that the poison may enter our body while doing so, so she asked us to leave you to rest. You were asleep for five days! You got us so worried!"
Harry was touched by his friends' actions. "Thanks. By the way, Hermione. Happy birthday. Your present is in my trunk. Erm. I'll give it to you when I'm discharged."
"It's okay. Take your time. Alex gave me a great present by saving you." Hermione grinned.
"Thanks for saving my life," Harry said to Alex.
"You saved mine too. If you hadn't stepped in, the cobra would have injected its venom in my neck veins. I would have died instantly." She squatted down and gazed intensely into Harry's eyes. Harry felt his face flushed again. "Thank you."
"What are friends for?"
"Harry!" Ron ran and stopped at the entrance. "Guess who's here?"
A large black dog strolled in, followed by Professor Dumbledore. A large white owl was perched on the elderly wizard's shoulder. Alex raised an eyebrow at the large dog, but did not question. She only knelt and whispered into Harry's ear.
"You should not have told the snakes your name. You better not tell any snakes your name, now that Voldemort had risen."
Harry stared at her in surprise. "You."
The dimple appeared again. "Yes, I'm a Parselmouth."
Before Harry could say anything else, she left the hospital wing, saying that she needed to get some sleep. Harry stared after her. But there was something else that brought Harry's mind back to the hospital wing. The large snowy owl had landed next to Harry's elbow and was nipping his fingers gently. Harry stroked the owl absentmindedly.
"Sirius! What are you doing here?" Harry asked. His godfather transformed in front of him, and he knelt down beside Harry's bed, tears shining slightly in his eyes.
"Dumbledore told me what happened to you. I got here as fast as I could. Are you alright?" Harry nodded and grinned.
"I'm fine."
Ron grinned and patted Harry on the back. "You almost gave us all a heart attack when your blood covered half the area of this bed."
Sirius' face paled. "What?!"
Harry narrowed his eyes at Ron. "I'm alright, seriously. Just abit weak. Or maybe it's because I'm too comfortable here to do anything else."
"I want the both of you to feed this boy up! Here. Twenty Galleons should be enough." Sirius handed a pouch to Ron. "I got Mrs Weasley to take the money out."
"Sirius!" Harry protested. Sirius shook his head and glared sternly at Harry.
"Mom was almost crying when she heard about you. In fact, all of Gryffindor house was queuing up outside here to see you, until Professor McGonagall threatened to take a hundred points off the house," Ron said, pocketing the money.
"We were the only ones that were allowed to visit you. Alex even slept here last night. She said she wants to thank you personally."
Professor Dumbledore smiled at Harry. "I'll leave Sirius and Hedwig here with you. Ron, Hermione, you better bring some chocolate back from Hogsmeade for this boy."
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"Just one thing. How many other people knows about my wound?" Harry asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Let's see, my family, Sirius, Lupin, the teachers, all the students, and Firenze, according to Hagrid. Hagrid too," Hermione ticked off her fingers. Harry sighed in exasperation.
"Oh! And Firenze told us that by his judgement, a few cobras refer to a few hundred cobras," Ron said, and pulled Hermione out of the hospital wing.
"Professor? How's the Elixir coming along?"
Professor Dumbledore smiled. "Fine, very well. In fact, the Elixir is going to be stronger thanks to the extra snakes you four brought in."
Harry relaxed. Sirius turned back to a dog and climbed on Harry's knees. Harry felt the comforting warmth of the large dog, and patted it slightly. A wave of sleepiness spun his vision slightly. At the dog's licking, and the owl's soft hooting, Harry fell into a deep sleep again.
* * *
During the next two days, Fred and George had brought the entire Quidditch team to visit him. The Creevey brothers visited him with tonnes of fruits, and returned with an equal amount of photos. His roommates, Seamus, Dean and Neville visited him with updates of the school. Ginny gave him a card and a box of chocolate that she and Dobby made. Dobby greeted him with a neck-crushing hug and had to be pried away to keep Harry from suffocating. Even people from other houses came to visit him. The Ravenclaws praised him so many times that Harry felt a stage beyond embarrassment. The Hufflepuffs also visited him, but not as many as those from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Slytherin, not surprisingly, did not even went anywhere close to the hospital wing, according to Ron and Hermione. Hagrid brought him a box of mini cakes that he made himself, which Harry had almost lost his teeth in. But on the third day, someone unexpected turns up.
"Harry?" a soft feminine voice called out. Harry looked up from his textbook and saw Cho standing alone by the doorway.
"Cho? Come in!" Harry gestured. Cho entered somewhat awkwardly and gave Harry a beautiful bouquet of flower. Harry felt his heart pound, but somewhat lighter than before. He muttered a word of thanks and put it in the vase on the table.
"Are you alright now?" she asked. Harry nodded and flexed his arm. Cho giggled and Harry felt his face warming up. An awkward silence hung over the air.
"Erm Harry, can I ask you something?"
"Go on."
"It's about Cedric." Cho's voice was so soft that it was barely audible. Harry fell silence. He had wanted to talk to Cho about Cedric, but never seem to have found the time.
"Yes?"
Cho twisted her fingers. "How did he die?"
"A Death-Eater used Voldemort's wand and did the killing curse on him." Harry trailed off, the memory vivid in his mind. A jet of green light, and Cedric lay before him, dead.
"Did he suffer?" Cho asked again.
"No. The curse was quick, unlike the Crucio curse. Thank goodness for that," Harry said. Now even he was twisting his fingers. He had this crazy urge to confess, but he didn't really want to hear her reply. Cho stayed on for a little while, answering Harry's questions about the O.W.Ls. An hour after she arrived, she turned to leave.
"Cho!"
"Yes?"
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I like you."
Cho widened her eyes and flushed. Harry felt about as hot as an oven. "I mean. I... I..."
Cho smiled faintly. Harry's face felt like fire. "Thank you, Harry, but. I was engaged to Cedric."
Harry's world came crashing down. "What?"
"We were engaged. We were planning to get married after we leave Hogwarts, but."
Harry felt numb. It was as though the Amber Poison had re-entered his body again. "I'm sorry." was all he could mutter. Cho leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"You'll always be my friend, Harry, always."
Harry could only muster enough strength for a nod. Cho turned and left, but not before she burst into tears. Harry felt a strange stinging sensation in his eyes. Then, he felt water trickling down his cheeks.
"Harry?" Alex walked into the hospital wing and Harry hurriedly tried to wipe his tears away.
"Hi Alex. how was class today?" Harry heard a high and slightly choked voice asked. It took him a while to realize that that voice was his.
Alex ignored the question. She held Harry's hand, and he felt another fresh burst of tears at the back of his eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I heard everything. Don't hold back your emotions. It's not good," Alex whispered softly. "Ron and Hermione wouldn't be here for a while. They are in the library. I've placed a Repelling Spell. No one will be here at all. Just cry, alright?"
Alex stood up to leave, but Harry pulled her robes. "Don't go. please?"
Alex smiled and sat down on the bed again. Harry closed his eyes and tears trickled down his cheeks like waterfalls. Alex placed her hands around Harry, and held him closer. It was a long half an hour before Harry stopped.
"It's funny, isn't it, for a boy to cry like that," Harry muttered.
"No."
"I'm supposed to be mature now, yet I'm still crying like a baby."
"A mature man will cry when it's needed to. I bet even Dumbledore cries when he couldn't help it. For your case, it's perfectly normal."
Harry looked up at the emerald eyes. He muttered his thanks. Alex asked him questions about his life, and Harry soon found himself telling his entire life. Alex was a good listener, and Harry was grateful for that. That night, Alex stayed behind with Harry, and the both of them started talking about anything under the sun and moon.
"Harry, mind if I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"How would you feel, if one of your best friends was actually an enemy?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?'
Alex looked slightly lost for words. "Erm."
Harry sighed. "I would feel very betrayed."
"Would you hate the person?"
Harry shrugged. "Depends. I mean, Professor Moody was supposed to be my friend, but he turns out to be Voldemort's greatest helper. I didn't hate him, but I did feel betrayed. Why the sudden question?"
Alex shook her head. She suddenly smiled. "You know, I think Ron had a crush on Hermione!"
Harry considered. He did sense some form of jealousy from Ron when Hermione was dancing with Viktor Krum, a well-known Quidditch Seeker, last year at the Yule Ball. "Yeah." Harry then told Alex about the Yule Ball.
"I was going to invite." Harry trailed off. Alex smiled.
"I understand, go on."
"In the end we didn't get the girls we wanted, so we asked Parvatil and her twin. But Ron spend half the time staring at Krum and Hermione."
Alex grinned mischievously. "Do you know what he did at the forest?"
"What?" Harry inched closer.
"There was this instant when about two dozen snakes were charging at them from about ten inches. Ron gave up trying to blast them away, and pushed Hermione to the ground, with him covering her entire body. I blasted the snakes away before they struck Ron, and the two of them looked a lot like Ron's hair after that."
Harry laughed. He could picture Hermione and Ron blushing at each other. He and Alex exchanged their own analysis of Ron and Hermione. At the same, loud sneezing could be heard from the girls' and boys' dormitories. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~ Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment! Please comment!