CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: A Night Out
"I think you and Harry should do something together."
Ron defended easily against Hermione's blow aimed at his head. Swinging back around and kicking out he said, "I thought you said we should leave him alone – wait for him to come to us."
It was Monday morning, and they were having their first practical lesson on hand-to-hand combat. The week before Professor Lupin had made them take notes and read several chapters about it before even letting them try it out on a partner. He had carefully instructed each of them before they began that their intent was not to injure or catch their opponent off guard. He simply wanted them to test each other's skills and they would go from there. So far, all was going well. There had been no accidents aside from the occasional bloody nose from a student who forgot to block in time.
"It's not healthy, him brooding over Ginny like this," said Hermione, slightly out of breath from the exertion. "He barely left the dorm all weekend and he's not in class this morning."
"I don't think Harry's interested in doing anything."
"You just have to be more persuasive."
Ron knew that tone in her voice all to well. "It sounds like you already have something in mind."
They chose that moment to break off and take a breather.
"Why don't you take him into Hogsmeade?"
Ron nearly had a heart attack – and it had nothing to do with the physical strain from the workout. "Is Miss Head Girl actually suggesting that I sneak out of the castle, breaking about a dozen school rules in the process – not the least of them being that Hogsmeade is off limits – just to cheer Harry up?"
"I think given the circumstances it's more than okay."
"You never cease to amaze me, Hermione," said Ron, grinning at her and shaking his head. "Every year you've become more and more comfortable with rule breaking. Maybe it's time Harry and I did an intervention."
Hermione placed her hands on her hips, looking offended. "I never said I enjoyed breaking rules. I just think that sometimes certain allowances need to be made."
He could tell by her tone that she did indeed enjoy the occasional rule breaking, and that's why he pressed the matter, hoping to goad her into admitting it. "You can say whatever you like, but deep down you like all the trouble we get you into. As much as I know how you love the endless cycle of homework and learning, you'd be bored out of your mind without Harry and me, " he said, winking at her.
She regained her fighting stance, saying, "I'd have a lot less to worry about without you two around."
"But you worry so well," he continued to tease. "It's one of the many qualities I love about you."
She blushed not just because of what he said, but because anyone nearby could easily overhear their conversation. They normally weren't so open with their affection for each other in public.
"You should come with us to Hogsmeade. It's not like you haven't snuck out there with us before," said Ron, waggling his eyebrows at her.
He was enjoying teasing her far too much. "That was one time," she said, her voice taking on a snippy tone. "Besides, I think you should go alone with Harry. It would do you both some good to get out and bond a little."
It sounded like a perfect plan to Ron. The only obstacle was getting Harry to agree to it – but Ron didn't plan on giving his friend a choice in the matter.
It was after eleven when Ginny ventured down to the common room. You wouldn't have been able to tell it was a school night with the amount of students still up. It consisted of sixth and seventh years mainly, writing furiously on parchment to finish homework, or those with their faces buried in textbooks studying for the upcoming end of term finals.
It came as no surprise when she saw the trio was still up. Harry and Ron – especially Ron – would usually be in bed by now, leaving Hermione alone with her work. But the grueling workload was forcing all three of them to stay up late.
Ron was starting to nod off in his chair, and Hermione, who could usually out study them all, was resting her head against Ron's shoulder, trying to read through her assortment of notes. Only Harry seemed wide-awake. His eyes were quickly scanning the passages in front of him, before he flipping the page.
Unable to sleep, she had the foolish idea that if she came down to the common room and found Harry still awake that maybe she would have a chance of talking with him – of making him understand. Understand what, she hadn't thought that far ahead, but she couldn't take looking at him anymore, seeing the constant anguish in his eyes – directed solely at her.
She was barely seated at their table when Harry stood up and announced he was going to bed. He hurriedly packed up his school things and proceeded to take the staircase up to his dorm. Hermione moved her head off Ron's shoulder to give a sympathetic look, and even her brother, who she was barely speaking to her these days, glanced at her in a way that showed he truly did feel sorry for her.
Even armed with the knowledge that it would likely turn out to be one, gigantic mistake, she went after Harry.
He made it up to the first landing when she called out to him – but he kept walking.
"Harry, please wait."
He stopped walking but kept his back to her. "Didn't you hear me down there? I said I was going to bed."
The coldness in his voice chilled her. "I'm sorry I hurt you." She didn't know what else to say to him. She knew it wasn't much, but it had never been easy figuring out things to say to Harry.
"The only thing that hurts," he started, turning around, his eyes cold as ice, "is that I thought I meant something to you, which I obviously don't."
This was becoming a lot harder for her to handle. He thought she didn't care, when that couldn't be farther from the truth. "How can you think that? I never wanted things to end up like this."
"Then tell me why you broke up with me," he demanded. "You never gave me any explanations."
"I did it because we both needed it."
"That's not an answer."
"Contrary to popular belief, the universe does not revolve around the Great Harry Potter. Not every girl around here wants to go out with The Boy Who Lived."
Fighting with him was the absolutely last thing she had wanted to happen. But with the way their relationship had ended, it was hard for Harry not to harbor some resentment towards her, and for Ginny in turn to lash back out at him.
"This whole relationship was a mistake," said Harry, his tone harsh. "I don't I know how I ever thought it would work. You're just some silly little girl who's been infatuated with the Great Harry Potter her entire life."
He turned and stormed up the reminder of the stairs, and not caring if some of his dorm mates were already asleep, slammed the door behind him.
Harry rubbed his eyes and blinked several times, trying to get the page in front of him to come into focus – for all the good it did. The Quick Wizard's Guide to First Aid didn't appear to be much more than a jumble of incoherent words to him, but he forced himself to keep reading. He was almost certain he had not done too well on his last Defense Against the Dark Arts test, so he needed a decent mark on the simple healing spells assignment. Not to mention he still had some last minute revising he needed to do for his Astronomy test in the morning.
Reading was made impossible though, when his black cloak was thrown over top of his open text.
Irritated, he looked up to see Ron standing there with his own cloak fastened over his shoulders, griining down at him.
"What are you waiting for an invitation? Put it on."
"I don't know what you have in mind," said Harry, tossing the cloak aside, "but I've got a ton of reading to do."
"You can skip it tonight because we're going out."
Before Harry could yell at him to get out, Ron grabbed his text and put it over on the dresser.
"Hey!" Harry protested. He went to grab for it but Ron was faster and shoved his cloak into his arms.
"I'm not giving you a choice. You can either come with me peacefully or we can do this the hard way."
"Where are we going anyways?"
"Hogsmeade,"
"Ron, Hogsmeade's off limits. Besides, it's after dark, we'll get in trouble if anyone catches us sneaking out."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Since when did you turn into Hermione?"
Harry made a face. "I don't want to go."
"Too bad."
Ignoring the rest of Harry's protests, Ron pushed him into the hallway.
They got some suspicious looks on their way to the portrait hole wearing their heavy winter cloaks, but no one said a word. Even Hermione barely acknowledged them as they passed, and as hard as it was for Harry to believe she would ever agree to them sneaking off into the night, he had the nagging suspicion she had been in on this.
They made it through the castle's halls without running into any teachers doing after curfew patrols. Peeves the Poltergeist almost caught them when they were at the front doors, but they had quickly hid behind a suit of armor until he was gone.
Once they were outside, Harry stopped completely and turned on Ron. "I'm not going a step further until you tell me what's going on."
"Nothing's going on. We're just going to have some fun, is all."
Harry wasn't buying that for a second. "And Hermione saw us walk by with our cloaks on and didn't bat an eyelash?"
"We both thought you've been moping around long enough and could do with a change of scenery," he admitted finally.
"Hermione agreed to us sneaking into Hogsmeade?"
Ron grinned broadly. "Our Head Girl is just full of surprises."
Harry wasn't entirely sure he liked the idea of his two best friends plotting together without his knowledge, but he had been looking for an excuse to get away from Hogwarts for some time now, so he might as well take advantage of this opportunity. Without any further protests, he followed after Ron and the two of them made the trek to Hogsmeade.
Hogsmeade certainly wasn't the sight it used to be. Since the Death Eater attack a lot of the shops had closed up and moved their businesses elsewhere, or had restricted their hours of service to during the day. One of the few establishments still willing to accommodate visitors until the early hours of the morning was the Three Broomsticks.
Ron pulled the refurbished wooden door open and they walked inside. Immediately the aroma of smoke, alcohol, and a variety of other things Harry couldn't quite identify attacked his senses. It was an entirely different place from the one they were used to seeing during their daytime Hogsmeade visits. Besides Ron and himself, no one looked to be under twenty-five. Patrons were shouting at each other and music from some band that Harry didn't recognize seemed to be blaring from every corner.
Ron had to shout to be heard over the rowdy customers. "Come on," he yelled to Harry, indicating towards the bar.
They squeezed themselves through the pack of people at the front of the bar. The crowd seemed to consist of mostly wizards ordering concoctions that Harry couldn't even fathom a guess as to what was in them.
Ron waved down the shabby looking wizard tending the bar. "Two butterbeers – "
"Just one. I'll have a shot of Firewhiskey," Harry cut in.
While the bartender left to get their order, Ron turned an eyebrow up at Harry.
Harry interpreted the look, saying, "hey, you're the one who said I needed to get out. I'm just making the most of it."
When the wizard returned with their drinks a minute later, Ron watched Harry down his shot in one go, and a single thought entered his mind: Hermione's going to kill me.
Seven shots of fire whiskey later, that thought was even more pressing in Ron's mind while he dragged Harry out of the Three Broomsticks, who kept stumbling every few steps.
Ron knew it probably wasn't fair to take advantage of his friend's current state, but he needed to know what had happened between him and his sister. So far, Harry had refused the few attempts made to get him to open up on the matter. He probably wouldn't remember much – if any – of what he said in the morning.
"Harry, what happened with you and Ginny?"
Harry whirled around, his footing faltering slightly before he recovered. "Why is everyone so desperate to find that out?"
"She's my sister and you're my best friend, is that enough of a reason?"
"I can't be the person she needs me to be. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
He started walking again and Ron jogged to catch up with him. There was still one more thing he had to ask. "That day before the match, when I saw you and Ginny like that, what would you have done if I hadn't showed up?" He held his breath, anxiously awaiting Harry's response. One of the answers would result in Ron having to drag his bloody corpse back to Hogwarts.
Harry's expression was blank as he tried to remember what Ron was talking about. When it looked like he figured it out, he turned away from Ron. "I never meant to take things that far. I couldn't help myself – but I would have stopped. Ron, I would never do that to her."
Ron felt relief at Harry's words. Harry's response was good enough for him. Shame filled him for thinking even for a second that Harry's intentions would be otherwise.
Harry was suddenly clutching his arm saying, "Ginny's this amazing person. She makes me feel like I'm better then I really am. She always wants to help and the only thing she ever asked for in return I couldn't give her. I need her. I need her so bad it hurts."
"Er, um, that – that's more then I needed to know, Harry," Ron stammered. It was great that Harry was opening up to him, but there was no need to get so detailed. Ginny was his sister after all.
"I was such a prat," Harry went on, not hearing Ron's words at all. "She gave me so many chances and I blew them all! It took me six bloody years to open my eyes and notice her, and now look how I've screwed everything up. I tried staying away from her, Ron, I really did, but Ginny, she's so – so –"
"Amazing, I know," said Ron, feeling himself growing rather nauseous.
Somehow in his drunken state, Harry realized he had revealed too much and clamped his mouth shut. Something Ron was extremely grateful for. If he had to listen to Harry use any more gushing adjectives to describe his sister he was going to be sick right there.
In silence, Ron helped him stagger back to the school, which in itself was difficult because every so often Harry would lose his balance completely and Ron would have to grab the back of his shirt to keep him from falling.
From the time they entered the castle to when they were walking down the hallway leading to Gryffindor Tower, Ron silently promised to spend the remainder of the term studying vigilantly and stop teasing Hermione about her never ending quest to achieve a perfect grade in every subject if no one caught them.
Someone seemed to hear his request because he muttered the password to the Fat Lady (who was shaking her head disapprovingly at them) and he and Harry entered the common room, safe at last.
"Ron?" He heard a sleepy voice say.
He jumped at the sound of his name, and noticed Hermione curled up on the sofa by the fire. She was in her dressing gown and looked to have been dozing, but instantly became alert upon seeing Harry stumble over and all but fall on the sofa beside her.
She shot Ron her steeliest gaze. "You got him drunk?"
"Hey, it wasn't my idea," he said in his defense. "Harry was acting of his own free will."
"I was," Harry chimed in. "I only had - " He tried to remember how many shots of whatever it was he had, but his brain was numb and wouldn't function properly. "I don't really remember how much I drank," he said laughing.
"I think it's safe to say you passed your limit, Harry," Hermione said, still glaring daggers at Ron.
"You should have come with us," Harry slurred, patting her leg. "You could have worn that skirt. You know, the blue one that shows of your legs."
She couldn't believe she was sitting there, listening to Harry hit on her with Ron standing a few feet away – who was struggling not to laugh! Harry was definitely more than a little drunk. He would never say those things to her otherwise.
Extracting Harry's hand from her leg, she stood up and announced she was going to bed. She refused to look at Ron, until he ran in front and blocked her path to the staircase.
"You're not mad, are you? You have to admit it's funny listening to Harry talk to you like that."
"Ron, Harry's having enough trouble coping and drowning his sorrows isn't going to make everything better. I thought as his best friend you'd be looking out for him."
"Oh, come off it, Hermione. Give the guy a break. There's nothing wrong with Harry going out and enjoying himself. If you ask me it's better then him sitting up in that room like a hermit."
"Well, I'm glad you and Harry had such a great time bonding," she bit out sarcastically. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to bed."
Ron allowed himself to be pushed aside. He didn't see a point to pushing the matter. Anything else that came out of his mouth would probably just make her angrier.
"I think she's a little mad," said Harry, watching her disappear up the stairs. "Is it because of the skirt thing?"
Ron wanted to say he thought she was mad in general, but didn't incase she was still listening at the top of the stairs – she'd done that to him on more than one occasion, and there had always been hell to pay afterwards.
He made his mind up then that he wasn't going to grovel for her forgiveness because he had nothing to be sorry for. He took his best friend out for a good time like the original plan, and there was no way he was going to apologize for getting Harry's mind off his sister for a little while.
There was nothing more Harry wanted to do then keep his eyes shut and sleep forever. But the insistent shaking and calling of his name would not allow that to happen.
"Harry, you've got to get up."
More shaking.
"We've got our Astronomy test in less than an hour."
"Let me know how it goes," Harry mumbled, keeping his eyes closed.
When he felt the covers being hauled off of him, he finally dared to open his eyes. Ron was standing over him, looking apologetic.
"Sorry, mate, but you've got to get up."
With much difficulty, Harry swung his legs over the bed and grabbed his head with his hands, trying to make the pounding stop. He noticed he was still dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. "Why?"
"Because this is the last test before the midterm and if you don't write it you'll screw yourself for next semester."
At the moment, Harry could care less about the next semester. He was thinking it wasn't going to do him much good anyways if he couldn't even hold a quill, but his head hurt too much to argue, so he said, "you sound like Hermione – except for the profanity."
"Speaking of our favourite Head Girl, you gave her quite a shock last night. I can't remember the last time I saw her blush like that."
Harry stared at him blankly. "What are you talking about?"
"You really don't remember?"
Harry shook his head before he could stop himself. He had to grab the sides of his head to stop the room from spinning.
"Let's just say she knows how much you like that little blue skirt of hers. Should I be worried that you think my girlfriend has nice legs?"
Harry buried his face in his hands, groaning inwardly. "I really said those things?"
Ron was laughing now, much to Harry's annoyance. He found nothing humorous in the fact that he had made a complete drunken ass of himself in front of Hermione.
"Did I say or do anything else I should be aware of?"
Ron suddenly went very quiet.
"It can't possibly be any worse then what happened with Hermione, so just tell me already."
"You talked a bit about Ginny."
By now Harry was starting to recall pieces of the night before, and he felt his face grow warm as he remembered just exactly what he had revealed to Ron. Wishing to avoid any further embarrassment he quickly changed the subject. "Have you talked to Hermione this morning?"
"Tried to, but she refuses to speak to me." Ron gave an indifferent shrug. "It's Hermione. She'll get over it in a couple of days."
Harry thought as much, but that didn't make him feel any better about the two of them getting into a fight over him. "I'm going to have a shower and I'll meet you downstairs," Harry told him.
Ron regarded him skeptically. "You sure you're not going to go back to sleep?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Now, go."
After Ron had disappeared, and Harry somehow found the strength to get to his feet, he wobbled on two unsteady legs to the bathroom. He wasn't sure how he managed to undress and get into the shower stall, being as sick as he felt, but he managed. This time he was in the shower for an unmentionable amount of time because he didn't have the energy to drag himself out. When he finally got out, he stumbled back to his dorm and threw on his school clothes. He didn't even attempt to do up his tie, leaving it hanging around his neck. When he found both shoes and had them on the right feet, he left the dormitory.
Only a few students still lingered in the common room. Most were already at breakfast or in the process of hurrying to get ready. He found Hermione sitting alone at a table with her Astronomy text open in front of her, no doubt trying to cram some last bit of knowledge into her brain. The disapproving look on her face when she saw him didn't stop Harry from going over and sitting with her.
"I hope you've studied," she said, keeping her face buried in her book. "Professor Sinistra said it would be very challenging."
He put his elbows on the table and held his face up with his hands. "Even if I had I don't think I'd remember anything of what I'd studied,"
She frowned into her book but stayed quiet.
"I'm sorry about the skirt thing," he said, feeling rather awkward. "I wasn't exactly in the right frame of mind last night."
He watched a light shade of pink creep into her cheeks, but she still wouldn't speak.
"If you want to be angry with me, that's fine. But don't take it out on Ron."
"You're right, why should I stay mad at him just because he took you out to get smashed?" She said, finally tearing her gaze away from the book.
"It wasn't like that. I needed to blow off some steam so I had a few drinks."
She huffed at the 'few drinks' part. "If you have to drink to forget about Ginny – "
Harry moaned. Not everything he did was because of Ginny Weasley. "Hermione, please, I don't need a lecture. I feel like shit and every time I move my head I feel like I'm going to throw up."
She bit her lip, contemplating whether or not to reveal that she could provide relief from his hangover. In the end, the side of her that hated seeing him suffering won out. After all, she had used the potion once before to cure Ron of his hangover courtesy of the twins taking him out to celebrate his seventeenth birthday. "I could help."
She had his undivided attention. "Really? How?"
"There's a potion you can take that will get rid of the nausea and headache."
"How do I get it?"
"I have everything I need up in my room. It'll take about ten minutes to make."
Then she was gone, returning almost exactly ten minutes later, a small beaker filled with a dark green liquid in one of her hands. Harry almost felt better just by looking at it. He reached for it but Hermione wasn't so quick to hand it over.
"Harry, this is a one time thing, remember that. I told Ron the same thing after Fred and George got him completely smashed on his birthday. And he knows better then to ever ask me to make it again." She didn't bother adding that he could easily look up sobering spells in almost any book on cures for magical and muggle illnesses.
After giving her his word at least a dozen times that he would never ask her to make it again and be a bit more responsible the next time, she handed the beaker over to him. He swallowed every disgusting last drop of it, vaguely aware of how every potion Hermione had made him drink of the years always ended up tasting revolting.
"It takes a few minutes to start working," she told him.
As she said it, he could already feel his stomach rumbling at the strange liquid he had put in it, but he didn't feel nauseous anymore. Maybe now he wouldn't fail his Astronomy test – he would just do really poorly. Regardless, he silently promised himself that it would be a long time before he even looked at another alcoholic drink.
I finally have a homework free weekend!!! So, everyone keep your fingers crossed that I'll have Chapter 19 ready to go in the next couple of days.