The morning of the Hogsmeade trip soon reared its head. Harry and Ron quickly get out of bed and get dressed before grabbing their moneybags and heading down to breakfast. They didn't see Hermione in the common room and could only assume that she was still in bed, or already down in the Great Hall. They hurry down the steps and soon descend the large marble staircase putting them right in front large oak doors.
"We have to find Hermione before she gets on the train with Lavender or somebody else. Otherwise, we'll have a hard time finding her later." Harry says.
"What about Laurel?" Ron asks.
"We'll find her too." Harry replies. "Do you spot either of them yet?"
Ron stands on his tip-toes and tries to scan the crowd. He was already tall enough to see above many of the other students' heads. "I think I see Laurel over there, by the staircase that goes to the North Tower."
Harry and Ron push their way through the mass of people and finally see Laurel standing by the staircase, but she wasn't alone. She was talking quietly to a boy a little taller than her with mahogany-brown, curly hair. It must not have been a very cheerful conversation, for Laurel was biting the fingernails of her right hand. The boy took a piece of paper out of his pocket, unfolded it, and showed it to her. She inched closer to his side so she could read it clearly.
"Wonder who he is." Ron ponders.
"Dunno." Harry responds.
"Should we call to her?" Ron asks. "I sort of feel like we're spying on her."
"Spying never bothered you before." Harry says.
Ron doesn't answer. "Laurel!"
Laurel and the boy turn to look at them.
"Nice going, Ron. Now she'll know we were spying on her." Harry says out of the side of his mouth.
"Sorry." Ron replies plainly.
Laurel slowly approached them. "Good Morning." Her voice was a little more solemn than usual.
"Morning." Says Ron.
Harry sighs. "We're sorry if we disturbed anything."
"That's alright." Laurel says quietly.
The boy advances on all three of them and waves his hand for a short hello. "Morning." Harry and Ron say their good mornings as well. He looks back at Laurel and hands her the piece of parchment that they were looking over earlier. "Here, you can keep it."
"Thank you." Laurel says.
"And, uh…" He tries to continue. "After you go to Hogsmeade, could you possible make it later this evening?"
Laurel sighs and closes her eyes and if she was trying to think. "Do you think we'll be able to get in?"
"They've been denying us so many times, they have to cave in sooner or later." The boy replies. "They can't keep us away for ever."
"Damn right they can't." Laurel forces a laugh for the boy's sake, since he had smiled after he said that. "I should get going."
"Yeah, me too." The boy says. "I need to go and pay a visit Professor Sinistra."
"I'll see you later, then." Laurel bids farewell.
"See you." The boy then smiles mischievously. "You two good fellows take care of her, you hear?"
Harry and Ron just look at him surprised.
"Adam!" Laurel slugs him in the arm.
Adam rubs his arm and laughs. "Just kidding, Lolly, I was just kidding! I'll see you tonight." He leaves.
Laurel pouts angrily to herself. "Sorry about him. He likes to joke around every once in a while."
"Who is he?" Harry asks.
Laurel's chest swells and eases from a sigh. "A friend of mine. Adam Baker."
"He's also in Ravenclaw?" Ron asks.
"Yes. He's in our year as well." Laurel replies.
"You two seem pretty close." Ron takes his elbow and taps her side.
Laurel turns around and goes into the Great Hall. "Enough about Adam, okay?" Her voice trailed off shakily.
"I don't think you should have said that." Harry says.
Ron exhales noisily. "Where did those good old days go, when you could tease a little and not get blamed for someone else's depression? Where, Harry? Where?" He adds a bit of airiness to his voice.
Harry laughs a little and goes into the Great Hall for breakfast.
*****
"Excuse me?"
Harry turns around in response to the tap on his shoulder. He sees Hermione standing behind him. "Hello, Hermione." He says happily.
"Yes, hello. About this afternoon's lesson, I believe we have to switch it to another date. I plan on going to Hogsmeade today." Hermione explains.
"Yes! Hogsmeade!" Harry smiles. "About that, could we; we being Ron, Laurel, and myself, have the nobility of you hanging out with us today at Hogsmeade?" The choice of words must have sounded completely corny, but it seemed to have got her attention.
Ron nods his head. "Yes, we would like that."
"Very much!" Harry adds.
Hermione stares blankly off into space of a moment. "I was going to go with Lavender and Parvarti, but all they ever talk about are rumors. I suppose I could go with you three today. Wouldn't hurt."
"Thank you." Harry says.
"I'll meet you after breakfast outside the door." Hermione replies and walks off to go sit further down the table.
"I'm surprised she agreed!" Ron takes a large bite of toast.
"I bet Laurel will be happy too." Harry grins.
"Not so sure about that." Ron replies.
He points with his fork over to the Ravenclaw table to were Laurel was sitting. She was alone and playing with her porridge absentmindedly. In front of her was that piece of parchment Adam had given her. Following her eyes, you could tell that she was reading it over and over. She sighs again and gets up from the table and leaves, without taking a single bite of breakfast.
"What's eating her?" Ron asks.
"Not sure." Harry replies. "But it has to do with something Adam told her. I've never seen her so distracted before."
"Or miserable." Ron adds. "Just a few days ago she was more chipper than Fred and George on April Fools Day."
Harry laughs. "I hope she cheers up though. And if not, we have to do something to help."
Ron groans at the task. "I suppose you're right. But you have to do most of it. I'm not good at helping people brighten up."
After they had finished eating, the two boys go outside the Great Hall and try to find Laurel. She wasn't in the main hall; so they went outside and sure enough, she was sitting on the grass, look at the lake. They go up to her and sit on either side of her. She looks at them and smiles.
"What's wrong?" Harry asks.
"It's nothing." She replies in her usual care-free tone. "I just worry too much."
"Care to tell us anyway?" Ron asks.
"Nope." She says flat out and laughs. "Anyways, did you two persuade Hermione to come to Hogsmeade with us?"
"Actually, we did." Replies Harry.
"Amazing!" Laurel gasps.
"We're supposed to meet her outside of the Great Hall after breakfast, but Harry said we had to find you first." Ron says.
"That's very sweet of him," Laurel gets up without looking at either of them. "Now, let's go and get Hermione before she leaves on her own. Can't mess up this opportunity."
The three went inside and waited outside the doors and soon enough, Hermione came out ready to go. They went down to the train station were they boarded and chose their own little cubicle to sit in. They talked all the way there and were amazed when Hermione talked and laughed with them. They arrived at Hogsmeade and strolled down the street. When Hermione was window shopping, Laurel had an opening to talk to Harry and Ron alone.
"This is astonishing!" She says. "I didn't know the potion was take affect this quickly. She's acting like you three only broke up for a couple of months and are trying to get back together."
"Odd assessment, but…" Ron mumbles. "I guess it's accurate."
"Maybe we won't need as much coaxing as the book said." Laurel continues. "At this rate, she might fall into your laps by lunch time." She sniggers.
The morning sustained wonderfully. The four had a good time looking through the book store, the Quidditch store, the magical creatures shop, as well as many others. When eleven o'clock came around, they were getting a little thirsty. They stopped in The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer.
"This has been more fun then I expected." Said Hermione as she sips her real butterbeer.
"It's nice to have another girl around for a change." Laurel says to Hermione.
"Then why hang around guys all the time?" Hermione asks.
"I have a few girlfriends." Laurel replies. "But they're more like acquaintances. We talk but we don't really like each other deep down. That's how it's always been for me. It's quite odd. I grew up with only my mother, and three sisters. You'd think I'd act extremely girlish."
"I wouldn't know. I'm an only child." Hermione says.
"You're one of the lucky people." Laurel lifts her butterbeer bottle in cheers.
"I'll drink to that." Ron lifts his as well.
Harry just shrugs and drinks too.
Hermione stands. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go to the restroom."
Once Hermione was out of earshot Laurel leans in to talk to Harry and Ron. "Okay. We have to turn up the juice. Who wants to volunteer and be the first person to have a go? We need something slow and easy. Just conversation, at the very least."
Ron looks at Harry. "I think both of us might slip beyond 'just conversation'."
"True." Harry agrees. "It's very hard not to bonk her on the head and ask her if she remembers yet."
"Okay," Laurel looks at the ceiling in though. "Harry, pick a number…1 through 50."
"34."
"Ron, you next."
"15."
Laurel pats Ron on the shoulder. "You're up buddy. The number was 13."
Ron groans. "I guess it won't be that bad. I just hope I don't freak her out by trying too hard."
"We'll take a walk so we're out of the market so we won't get any eavesdroppers." Laurel explains. "We'll try to get you two alone so you can have a lovely, chummy chat." Laurel swings her fist in front of her like a sailor. "Harry and I will just go feed the pigeons or something. I doubt there are pigeons, but what the hell, right?"
"I'm back." Hermione introduces herself.
"Well," Laurel leans back in her chair. "I'm finished. Anybody up for a walk?"
"Sounds fine to me." Says Harry.
"I suppose a walk would be okay." Hermione agrees. "Then we can go back to window shopping."
"Let's go then." Laurel stands and pushes in her chair. "We don't want to waste any time, do we?"
"Nope." Ron says nervously.
Once Harry and Hermione exited Laurel whispers to Ron, "Don't worry. You'll be fine."
"You say it so cheery." Ron sneers.
"It's what I do best!" Laurel smiles dollishly.
The four head down the street of Hogsmeade and towards the area where there weren't so many shops. Hermione was just looking side to side, completely clueless it seemed. Ron had his hands jammed down into his pockets and his eyes toward the sky, as if planning ever word he'd say. Harry looked over at Laurel who was smiling carelessly with the same old hop in her step. They finally reach a place that had a small abandoned shed that looked to have a few old gardening tools in it. They were in the 'park' after all.
"I wonder if people still use that." Hermione wondered.
"Why don't you go in and check? There must be something in there besides a rusting hoe." Laurel says.
Hermione peeks her head inside the door and walks in. Laurel eyes Ron and quickly motions her hand for him to follow her in. He grits his teeth at her and walks toward the door, which she was holding open. He just glares as he enters. Hermione's voice echoes from inside.
"Mostly just dust and cobwebs." She was saying.
Laurel then quickly closes the door on the two and takes the large wooden plank. She slides it between the handles so it couldn't be opened from the inside. "I feel horrible now. That was cruel. But…if that's what must be done, I'll do it."
Harry was just standing there, watching the whole thing. "Isn't this plan a little too risky."
"What's the worst that could happen?" Laurel asks.
"I have the scariest picture in my head of Hermione stabbing Ron to death with an old hedge clippers."
Laurel laughs. "You have one vivid imagination there, Harry. Come on, we'll sit outside under the window and see if we can hear anything interesting."
"I'm not sure, Laurel. I don't think I want to hear what they say." Harry says.
Laurel suddenly looked glum. "You're not the only person who's worried about this. But I'm sure that you're more worried than I am. I just was hoping that somehow we'd get information about the potions that Malfoy was dishing out."
"Why would you want to know that?" Harry asks.
"I don't feel like talking about it right now." Laurel says and gets on her hands and knees and crawls under the window. She puts her arms on either side of the sill so Hermione and Ron wouldn't see them from inside. She opens it a crack and their words were more understandable. "Come have a seat." She whispers.
Harry eventually gives in and crawls next to Laurel and sits down. "They're not saying anything."
"Shh." Laurel hushes. "They were a second ago. Just listen."
"Any luck?" Hermione asked.
"Nope. The door won't budge." Ron said. "It's probably just Harry and Laurel playing a joke."
"What about the windows?" Hermione wonders.
Laurel was crossing her fingers.
"It's pretty stuck." Ron said. He must have faked it. "I don't dare brake it. Looks like we might be stuck here for a while."
Hermione sighed. "May I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you believe that dreams tell you things?" Hermione asked surprisingly.
Ron hesitated with his answer. "Some, I suppose. Not all. Why?"
"You may find it stupid, but I had a very strange one last night. I was in a bathroom, and there was a troll there."
"A troll?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Yes. I was close to being killed when these two boys came. One jumped on it's back and the other used some charm. Then the troll fainted. That's all I remember." Hermione explained.
"Do you know who the boys were?" Ron asked.
"I don't know." Hermione laughed. "It's hard for me to remember dreams. But…" Hermione's voice had gone faint. "I want to remember."
"I can understand that." Said Ron.
"I must sound like some blubbering idiot." Hermione concluded. "But…you sort of look like one of the boys in my dream. The red hair stands out in my mind."
"You don't sound like a blubbering idiot." Ron replied. "Hermione…What would you think if I told you that one of the boys was me?" Hermione didn't answer, so Ron went on. "Maybe this will help bring the dream back," Ron put on a mocking voice. "It's Levi-o-sa! Not Leviosar! She's a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she hasn't got any friends."
Laurel whispers in Harry's ear, "What's he talking about?"
"That's why Hermione was in the bathroom in our first year." Harry replied quietly. "Ron was mocking her about Charm's Class. This was before we were friends. She went into the bathroom and was crying. It was Halloween…remember? The troll was let loose."
"Yeah, I remember now." Laurel says.
Hermione had started to cry from inside the shed. "I want to remember! I really do! I'm trying!"
"Whoa, it's getting emotional in there." Laurel shrugs. Harry bit his lip.
"Hermione…Who am I?" Ron asked.
Laurel and Harry couldn't take it anymore. They stood up slowly and stood on each side of the window. They gradually looked around the frame, inside the small cabin. Ron had Hermione facing him. He was grasping her by the shoulders. Hermione's face screwed up from all the tears and she got closer to Ron. She laid her head on his chest and continued to cry. Ron was very taken aback.
"Weasley." Hermione started to say.
"Yes! But what's my first name!" Ron said.
Laurel and Harry get anxious.
"I don't know. I can't remember." Hermione slowly shakes her head. She takes her head off of Ron's chest and looks up into his eyes. "I'm sorry."
It was then they got the biggest shock of the day. Hermione stood up on her tip-toes and kissed Ron. Though her eyes were closed, his were as wide as wide could get. Laurel, from outside the window, gasped. Harry takes his head away from the window and walks away from the shed. Laurel follows him.
"Harry, wait."
"That's the worst that could happen." Harry says when he stopped to face her.
Laurel looked morose. "I'm sorry, Harry. But I can tell you from experience, that's what happens in a guy-guy-girl relationship. You love them both to death, but one is more of a brotherly love. The other couldn't help but capture your heart."
"How could you have experience with this?" Harry asks hotly. "You said you didn't have any close friends ever."
"Haven't you ever heard of lying, Harry?" Laurel looks at him sincerely. "You remember when we were in The Three Broomsticks last and I said you two weren't the only two with this kind of problem?"
Harry tries to recall. "Yes."
"You've already met Adam, but you haven't met the other." Laurel turns her head away and crosses her arms over her chest, then continues with her story. "On the train to Hogwarts, my first year. I was sitting all alone in a compartment when two boys came in and sat down. They didn't pay any attention to me; they were too busy talking about trading Chocolate Frog Wizard Cards. I heard one say that they needed Madam Bagmett. I had that one in my pocket from the pack I bought from the trolley. I stood up and handed it too the one with dirty-blonde hair. 'Here' I said, 'You can have it. I don't collect them anyway'. He told me thank you and I sat down next to him and all three of us talked the rest of the way to Hogwarts. We instantly became the best of friends, and it was even better when we all got sorted into Ravenclaw."
"What happened to them?" Harry asks.
"It was late in September this year it happened. Joel, the one with dirty-blonde hair, suddenly came stumbling into the common room. Adam and I ran to him and helped him into a chair. He was holding his stomach and he couldn't open his eyes from the pain. The next thing we knew, he fainted. We brought him to the Hospital Wing and Madam Pomfrey said that he had been poisoned by a very rare potion and that all we could do was wait it out." Laurel says. She started to cry silently. Her cheeks shined. "I was so worried. I've been meaning to tell Joel how I truly felt about him. Over the years I grew to love him differently than Adam. I loved Adam like he was my twin brother. I loved Joel as if he were the other half of my heart. I didn't say anything for the longest time, because I didn't want to ruin the friendship we already had. Lately, Joel has been getting worse and Madam Pomfrey won't let us visit him. She doesn't know how to cure him and she doesn't know how long he can hold on." Laurel hides her face in her hands. "I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't talk about my problems when I'm supposed to be helping yours. I must sound so conceited."
Harry really couldn't say anything. She didn't sound at all conceited. Here she was, her best friend was on the brink of dying, and she was worrying about him and Ron and how they'd get Hermione back. Before he could say anything to Laurel, the shed door was being banged on.
"Harry! Open this door right now!!!" Ron was yelling from inside.
Laurel sniffs and tries to dry all her tears with her sleeve. "I better go get that. I'm the one who locked it in the first place." She hiccups from the tears. "It's my fault."
Harry was standing frozen on the spot and watched Laurel unlatch the door to the shed and Ron run out and gasp for air. Hermione comes out and just stood there with her arms crossed, expecting an apology. Laurel had her back turned to all three of them. She obviously didn't want them to see her tears. Harry still felt that hard hit of jealousy in his gut, but he didn't really know what to say to Laurel about her situation, or what to say to Ron when he finds out that they saw and heard everything that went on in that shed.