Chapter 9, The Great Feast

Harry woke up the next day feeling groggy and unsure of himself. He was able to avoid Ron who was snoring away in the bed next to him. He looked over at Ginny and Hermione who were sleeping peacefully across from him. 'What have I done?' he thought to himself remembering the kiss he had given Hermione. Harry decided to do the one thing he loved more than the two women across from him, fly.

He got out of bed, being very careful not to make a sound and grabbed his broom. He wrote a note telling the Wesley's where he was going when he ran into Cedric in the hall.

"Why did you run from Dumbledore's office last night!" The angered teenage ghost growled.

"What do you care? You don't have to worry about anything any more right?"

"Harry wait! I didn't mean to come off so bitter!" Cedric chased Harry with a concerned glow.

"Sod off and leave me alone!" Harry shouted from over his shoulder.

The shout could be herd through the castle's empty hallways. If only he could escape to Hermione's kiss again. The tranquility and peacefulness he felt there. It was then he turned around the corner and ran into Ginny.

"Ginny!" Harry said startled, "What are you doing out of bed?"

"I came looking for you when I read your letter and I thought you needed some company." Ginny retorted.

"We-ell I was just about to launch off. So maybe…" Harry stammered.

Ginny finished Harry's thoughts, "So maybe I can come with you then? You looked upset Harry and Hermione doesn't look too good either. Did you two fight or something?" Harry was shocked. She had noticed his odd behavior. He had thought no one would know, but apparently the only one he didn't want to notice, noticed.

After what seemed like eternity to Harry said nonchalantly, "Nah no fight. I just, well we just had a lot to discuss and well, I've been busy."

"Oh," Ginny replied skeptically. "Well. I guess you know the news then.

Harry's curiosity got the better of him as he turned to Ginny and sneered, "What news?"

"Ron and Hermione…" Ginny's voice lingered. Harry's stomach pulled into knots as he herd her name spoken. "…Their prefects. H-e-el-l-ll-oo, where have you been for the last 24 hours?"

Harry felt a sudden sense of guilt. Moinie was coming to find him last night due to her being selected as a prefect. Now he had hopelessly complicated things beyond his wildest dreams. The urge to find Hermione and set things straight was compelling Harry to leave.

"So you want to go for that ride now or what?" Ginny sprang over and now was bouncing up next to Harry.

A real distant Harry didn't even look at Ginny as he began to wander away and go down the hall towards breakfast, "Nah, I think I need to eat first."

Ginny pouted and simply yelled out after him, "Well fine then! Suit your self!"

Harry came up to the main door and entered the dining hall and instantly cast his eyes on Hermione. She saw Harry also and looked away right away from him and concentrated on her food. Ron saw Harry and yelled out with a mouthful of food, "Ofhoy Maafte! You got to have some of this food." Ron took another mouthful of eggs and ham.

Hermione easily captivated Harry. He knew in his heart that she felt the same way as he did. He felt it last night when they touched. During their first kiss. He was the right man for her and she knew it. But Ron what was he to do with Ron. As Harry came over to the table he sat down next to Remus and Sirius.

"Harry how are you?" Remus asked.

Harry had no response; it was as if he was stuck in an endless daydream gazing at Hermione.

Sirius waved his hand in front of Harry's eyes, "Earth to Harry, come in Harry…"

"What oh so sorry." Harry jerked his head back. "What did you want to know?" Harry replied.

"Well, Harry I was going to ask how you are, but it is obvious to me." Remus stated matter of factly.

Harry felt a sudden chill across his back as he felt like the world around him was about to cave in, "What was it you do you know Remus?"

"Well, other than your captain of the Gryffindor team, I would guess you would be planning strategies already."

"Oh yeah right, what did you say?" Harry interjected.

"Harry are you feeling alright?" Sirius interjected and now the entire side conversation stopped all around him as he felt the world tighten in on his thoughts.

Harry sensed the sudden shift in the conversation and stood up and said, "Why does everyone have to check up on me! I'm FINE!" And at that moment he turned and ran out of the Dining Hall.

Shocked and bewildered the table looked to each other for an answer to his sudden behavior.

Ron turned to Hermione with his mouth full of food again, "Wonder what's gotten into him?"

"Can't he just be a moody guy! Leave him alone!" Hermione roared at Ron. She got up at that moment and raced out of the hall after Harry.

"What? What id I say?" Ron asked.

Harry was blazing a path to the Quidditch field with a full head of steam. He was bound and determined to sort things out for himself and wasn't going to let anyone stand or stop him.

Harry punched the ornate wooden door with his fist as he felt his insides well up with anger. "Why did I kiss her? She only wanted to talk to me. She is my friend and now I have trashed that friendship forever." Harry thought.

As he pulled himself together he wiped his moistened eyes and kicked off on his broom. "Peace at last." Harry thought to himself. The Firebolt was the fastest racing broom on the market to date and it was one of Harry's most prized possessions.

The broom carried Harry up to the clouds and back down to the earth with grace and ease as he flowed thru his practice moves. Harry pulled his broom thru the tightest of maneuvers with ease as he felt his confidence soar above the pitch way down below. Harry knew he was up there for a long time because the sun had begun to cast to the other side of the field. Harry thought, "I had better pull off and get cleaned up before the other students arrive." Confident and feeling 100 times better, Harry Potter made his way to the field house for a quick shower.

…………………………………………………………..
Alone with a book in her hand, Hermione Granger was not in the mood to take anything lying down. Swiftly moving down the long corridors, Hermione made her way after a visibly distraught Harry. She was so troubled herself inside. She was going to get some answers as to why last night had happened. The more she thought about the moment, the more distraught she had become. "How dare he kiss me." The thoughts rang thru her head like electricity roaming thru a cloud. Then as if the storm had suddenly lost its muster striking land, the resentment passed over her, she saw something she never thought she would see. The boy who lived was standing a good distance in-front her so visibly shaken that he punched a solid wooden door. It was at that moment Hermione realized what had happened. She noticed the tear Harry wiped from his eye as he kicked off from the ground soaring into the clouds with ease. The sun beat down on Hermione's head for a while as she watched him gracefully climb and soar with the birds around him. Hermione to had felt his pain as she wiped her eyes and turned towards the field house to seek some mental solitude from this trying day.

The soiled clothing Harry was wearing was starting to peal off of him as he was almost at the point of exhaustion. His body glistened in the light like a developing teenager. He opened his locker to pull out some clean robes and toiletries. Harry her a sound from behind him wand at he ready only to find Hermione crying hysterically in front of him.

"Harry…?" Hermione sobbed, "Why?" Her cries intensened when he looked at her.

Harry lowered his wand and walked toward Hermione and pulled her close. He knew he should not kiss her again. His love he felt for her was taboo but his heart told him otherwise. "Moinie, I have always cared for you and I could never Ron's heart by not letting him be with you." Harry whispered. "I care for you so much it kills me to see you like this." Hermione's eyes wet both of them now as they both looked deep into each other. "I just… just…" their gaze met as the momentum of the moment had them both glued to each other with intent.

Hermione felt as if her heart would break if she didn't seize this moment. With tears flowing freely she kissed Harry with the passion and intensity of a fire that had burned forever. Hermione pulled back from Harry only to see now he was the one crying.

"Now what are we going to do about Ron and Ginny?" Hermione made her decision with her heart without thinking of the ramifications of her actions.

"I don't know. What should we do?" Harry asked back. "Ron is my best friend and I cannot destroy him. You are his friend as well as his girl. You would destroy him also if you told him to go away."

"I know Harry, The same goes for Ginny. What will we do?"

Harry stared into Hermione's eyes for a moment before looking at his father's ring for solitude, "Well, we can keep this a secret if you want… Only for a while, until we can figure out what our next plan is.."

Hermione came over to Harry and sat beside him and kissed him long and hard again, "Yes," she whispered to his ear, "That sounds good to me."

Their embrace lasted until the stirring of the evening shadow came thru the field house windows.

"Well, let's go eat." Harry lifted his head and said.

Harry and Hermione came into the great hall to find all the Weasley's looking at them with intent.

"Well did you both work things out?" Fred asked.

Ron looked at Harry intently as he noticed Harry gazing at Hermione almost looking for answers. Ginny noticed Hermione looking oddly at Harry as well.

"What,… oh so sorry. My mind was preoccupied with those dreams I had been having. Yeah we worked things out, right Moinie?" Harry addressed.

"Yeah. Things are much better now."

Ron and Ginny relaxed as they realized Harry's dreams must have been the sore spot of conversation. But one other person realized that Harry and Hermione had a moment of hesitation there that could only mean trouble for both of them. The only man who could know more about a best friend's love, the intensity of that love, to loose that love, and how it drove him into madness, Sirius Black.