__________
Harry woke up the next day feeling very glad to be back at Hogwarts. He got dressed top-speed and waited while Ron got dressed as well so they could go get some breakfast together.
"So. Ron. are you gonna talk to Hermione about that thing we talked about last night?" he asked as soon as they were alone in the dormitory, Ron still putting his shirt on. Harry was sitting on his bed with his elbows rested on his tights. Ron shifted uncomfortably and his face reddened.
"I don't even know if I am gonna ask her, mate." He said turning to Harry. Harry was going to answer him, when somebody entered the dormitory without knocking the door.
"Are you guys ever gonna go down for breakfa-" Hermione stopped talking abruptly. Harry looked over at Ron and saw that he was still shirtless. He looked back at Hermione's scarlet face (which was now staring at Ron's bare chest) and covered his mouth, trying to contain the laughter.
"You know what, Hermione? Maybe next time you should knock. you never know when you might face yourself with Ronniekins here. I don't know, lets say. naked?" Harry said as a matter-of-fact. Hermione looked completely terrified at the simple thought. She backed away, her hand still on the door.
"So-sorry. I'll just wait down there. at the chest hall-" she blushed even more "I mean great hall" she left, laughing nervously. Ron was still clutching his shirt with his left hand, staring after Hermione with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment plastered across his red face.
Harry shook his head while laughing. "Hurry up and get dressed, Ron. Or you might as well go like that. I see Hermione doesn't mind at all." he trailed off and burst out laughing again.
"Oh, do shut up!" Ron said hitting Harry with his shirt. Harry kept laughing and Ron finally got dressed. Together -yes, Hermione was waiting at the chest hall- went to get some breakfast before their morning classes.
Hermione buried her face behind the Daily Prophet she had just received, as soon as Harry and Ron entered the great hall. Harry figured she was still embarrassed because of seen Ron half-naked back in the dormitory; then again, Harry didn't really help matters much, did he?
"Hello again 'Mione!" he said when he sat at the table across from Hermione, Ron sitting by his side. She let out a nervous 'Hello' but did not come out of behind the newspaper.
"I see the great hall is pretty full this morning." he said looking around. He started laughing but stopped abruptly when Hermione's foot made painful contact with his shin and Ron's elbow stroke his side. He let out a muffled 'Ow!' but thought better about making any other comments regarding the "chest hall" incident, thinking it was better for his health that way.
"So," Harry attempted to start a new and less painful conversation "what's in the 'Prophet' today?" he said buttering his toast after helping himself with a rather large amount of scrambled eggs (Ron hadn't 'attacked' that plate yet).
"The same rubbish it has everyday." she said, her voice adopting a more normal tone.
"Oh, no more news of Voldemort?" Ron cringed at the sound of the name. "Oh, Ron, for Merlin's sake! You'll have to get used to that name someday! Voldemort, Voldemort! Volde-"
"What is it you want to do, Potter? Scare off the rest of the school?" came the voice of Minerva McGonagall, interrupting Ron's cringing.
"Sorry, Professor." Harry responded in a small voice. "but, he should get used to the name." he defended himself.
"I understand your position Potter, but most of the students here are terrified of the name." She said, not as curtly as she normally would have.
"Irrational fear I must add, Professor." said Hermione, finally putting the paper down.
"As 'irrational' as it may be, please refrain of yelling the name in public, Ms. Granger and Mr. Potter. You might as well yell 'bloody murder' to each other in other places and times for all I care," she waved her hand in a careless manner "but please, not in the great hall during breakfast." She finished more curtly.
"Sorry." Hermione said, embarrassed once again.
"Okay, Ms. Granger." She handed them a paper each. " Here are your schedules. Good Day." She walked away and continued handing out the schedules to the other Gryffindors.
"Oh, bloody hell!" Ron said putting down the bagel he was eating while staring at the paper in front of him.
"What is it?" asked Harry.
"We got that flying class with Krum today." He made a face which could have only meant disgust, earning a disapproving look from Hermione which he ignored.
"We do?" asked Hermione, looking down at her own paper.
"Well, only if you signed up for the class, which I doubt you could have done overnight." He said, suspicion evident on his eyes.
"Oh, I meant 'you do'. Heh, where's my head today?" she laughed nervously. Ron raised his eyebrow.
"What about your foot? Seems to be stuck in your mouth today." said Harry but quickly regretted as Hermione gave him a look that meant 'shut up or next time it wont be you shin I'll be kicking!'
"Anyway," Harry continued, driving away from the dangerous paths. "I got that class on my schedule too. maybe I'm really still on the team." he said with a hopeful note on his voice.
"Oh, Potter, almost forgot to tell you," said McGonagall walking over again to where the trio was sitting at. "you can go by my office after school and pick up your broom."
"My-my broom? I can really have it back?" he said wondering yet again if he was imagining things.
"Well if you don't want it, I'm sure there might be a Slytherin that would be more than interested in receiving it." McGonagall said, a small smile peeking from the side of her mouth.
"NO!" McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "I mean, no, its okay. I'll go by your office later and pick it up. Thanks for giving it back. Wait. those this mean I'm still on the Quidditch team? Because my schedule has that new flying class and I didn't sign up for it-" his rambled was cut off by McGonagall's raised hand.
"Of course you're on the team, Potter! You thought I could leave that Umbridge woman take away the best seeker we've had in years?!" she looked a bit angry at the mention of Umbridge but continued " I guess you will find the Award Ceremony very. rewarding." She smiled genuinely. " I'll be off now, Potter. don't forget your broom!" She left towards the Staff table leaving an ecstatic Harry behind.
"Like I could ever forget it!" he said beaming.
