Rivals Ch. 4
a/n: alright I know the students walk to Hogsmeade, but I had forgotten at the time I started writing this chapter, and I'm too lazy too start over, so bear with me, ok? And once again, J.K. Rowling owns the characters, I just own the plot.
The Next Day:
*************************************************************************************
Cho, Hermione, Harry, and Ron all boarded the Hogwarts Express for a day of hanging out in Hogsmeade. With a little bit of searching, they found a compartment all to themselves towards the back.
Ron sat next to Harry, and Hermione and Cho took the one opposite them.
Minutes later, after the train exited the school's station, the snack-dispensing witch came through their compartment. Harry got a bag of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Ron purchased 3 packs of Chocolate Frogs, Hermione bought a pack of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, and Cho settled for some Fizzing Whizzbees, and everyone got pumpkin juice flagons. Everyone shared with everyone else, but the always mysterious jellybeans provided genuine entertainment. Out of all the ones he got, Harry exclaimed about one ,that according to him 'tasted like crap'. When queried by Ron and Cho by how would he exactly know this, he and Hermione had to explain this Muggle saying to their puzzled friends. Ron got a peach flavored one, a booger flavored one (much to his dismay) and something so terrible he had to run to the onboard restroom and stay for a few minutes; when he returned he muttered something about 'tree bark'. Cho on the other hand, encountered no horrid flavors, much to Hermione's relief. Hermione got lucky also, the only nasty one she received was a spit flavored one (it wouldn't be nasty if it tasted the way Cho's did last night, she thought)
After all that, nothing really eventful occurred. Fred and George came by, revealing a plan to convince Ginny to eat one of their new experimental candies, that turns a person entirely blue.
"You shouldn't do that to your little sister. She might choose your nursing home someday." Cho cautioned after hearing of their plan.
"We know, We know!" Fred said. "Its just that its so much fun to annoy her!"
"Yeah, you should see what they do when they aren't in school." Hermione added in.
" Now Hermione, you know that we're perfectly angelic while we're not at school. We just act this way here to keep up appearances!" George lied. "Isn't that right, Ron?"
Ron scoffed.
"Oh, I see how it is." George stated, looking pained. "Our own brother saying we're not complete saints. Well, me and Fred will just go somewhere where we're more wanted.", he said walking off in a overly dramatic huff, that Fred also left in.
Following an conversation about the twins antics, both home and away, the conversation turned to Quidditch. The topic not really being her cup of tea, Hermione leaned against the window and dozed off.
When she awoke, she noticed that both Harry and Ron had fallen asleep, their heads resting against each other; Ron's mouth was hanging ajar. Feeling an unaccustomed weight on her left shoulder, she glanced over to see Cho's head resting on her shoulder. Disturbed by Hermione's movement, she turned and snuggled her face even closer into the crook of Hermione's neck.
Looking at Cho's face, Hermione thought she looked like an angel, with the way the sun was glinting off her hair; her lips full, almost pouty. Sighing, as if wondering if she truly deserved such a vision of beauty as this, she put an arm around Cho, leaned back against the window, and fell asleep again after a few minutes of listening to the steady rumble of the train's movement.
About 30 minutes later she was rudely awakened (from a very nice dream, I might add) by the shaking of her shoulders by an unknown assailant. Opening her eyes, she saw Cho smiling impishly down at her. Looking around the compartment she noticed Harry and Ron weren't there.
" 'Bout time you woke up, sleepyhead!" Cho said affectionately. Everyone else is off the train now. Don't want to get left now do you?"
"No. Thanks for getting me up." Hermione said sleepily, standing up and stretching.
"You seemed to be having a pretty good dream." Cho said, eyeing the other girl carefully. "What was it about?"
Smiling slyly, Hermione answered. "Well, I can't exactly describe it. I'd have to show you. Want me to?", she said edging closer to Cho.
Cho appeared ready to take her up on her offer, pulling her in for a quick kiss. But after that, she drew away, determination not to start kissing Hermione again shining in her eyes.
"As much as I don't want to, I'm afraid I'll have to take a raincheck on that, since unfortunately, the guys are waiting on us. Care to show me when we back to school?" She appeared delighted when Hermione nodded in the affirmative.
Hurrying off the train, they met up with Ron and Harry. Walking into the more commercial area of the small village, they stopped.
"Anyone want to go anywhere before we all head to The Three Broomsticks?" Harry asked looking around at the group.
"I want to go to Flourish and Blott's." Hermione said excitedly. "I hear there's a revised version of Hogwarts: A History!" Cho, standing slightly behind Hermione, rolled her eyes skyward to show exactly how she felt about the book. Ron and Harry sniggered. Hermione turned around, only to see an innocent-acting Cho. Not catching what was going on (thankfully for the others), she turned back to Ron and Harry. "Where're you going?"
"To get stocked up on ammo for school." Ron replied casually. The 'ammunition' he spoke of was the usual dung bombs and other practical jokes, that so often wreaked havoc in the Gryffindor common room.
Hermione sighed, deciding to think of an appropriate punishment ahead of time on the train ride back.
**********
Entering Flourish and Blott's , Hermione ran over to the table that had the revised versions of
Hogwarts: A History. Cho walked over also, glancing uninterestedly at the brand new books, which were already covered with a fine coating of dust. Snickering playfully at Hermione's horror towards this.
"Why aren't people buying this?!?" she said, almost frantically.
"Now, Hermione, don't you think if people already have an original copy of the book," Cho said, casually brushing dust off the cover of the leather-bound book that Hermione was holding in her hand. "that they don't really want to pay for a new version just because it has some new additions to it?"
Due to the stare Hermione gave her, Cho decided to browse elsewhere, walking into a room whose door veiled with a thick blue velvet curtain.
Hermione, having paid for her books (she saw several more she had to have, including one about the minute details of Transfiguration) , she looked around the medium sized store for Cho, with no luck. Seeing the sectioned-off room, Hermione started to enter, but had second thoughts after thinking back to what that generally meant in shops in the Muggle world. But hearing Cho's unmistakable giggling (albeit muffled) beyond the curtain made her go in.
Cho was reading a book in the far corner of the room. The sound of her foot steps alerted Cho to her presence. Cho looked up to meet Hermione's curious face.
"I got bored, waiting for you and all.." Cho said sheepishly. "But look what I found.", she added, smiling uncontrollably as she held the book up for Hermione to read the cover.
"1001 Stunningly Sensuous Spells for the Lesbian Witch Couple...Wha..?" Hermione read the title of the book aloud, her voice trailing off in shock. She looked back up at Cho who was practically laughing her ass off at the expression on poor Hermione's face.
After regaining her composure, Cho wiped the tears out of her eyes and said "You know, I think this would be much more interesting to read than 'History Of Hogwarts' don't you?" A sly grin was on her face as she said that, her eyes sparkling.
"I don't think we're supposed to even be back here, much less buying something like that. How do you expect to buy that?" Hermione asked, the redness starting to gradually fade from her cheeks.
"Don't sweat it. My cousin works here. And, lucky me, he happens to be on shift today."
Walking out of the room, Hermione noticed a young clerk she hadn't noticed when she first came in.
Now that she saw him, the similarities were unmistakable. He was tall and lanky with short ,spiky dark brown hair, and mischievous brown eyes, sparkling even behind the glasses he wore , just like his younger cousin. His grinned when he saw them approach the counter.
"Cho!" he came over from behind the counter and gave her one of those big pick-you-up bear hugs. Cho almost fell over once he put her back on the ground. Hermione secretly hoped that he wouldn't give a total stranger a giant hug, but instead settle for a "Hello" and a handshake.
Regaining her composure, Cho gave her cousin a mock angry look.
"Damn, go and knock, my back out of place why don't you?"
Her cousin laughed.
"Anyway. Hermione, this is my dim-witted cousin Cris. Cris, this is my friend Hermione."
Cris spoke. " Hi Hermione. I'm so sorry you've come into the friendship of Cho. Is she bribing you to walk around with her for today?"
Cho kicked Cris in the shin, giving an innocent smile to him before he started to protest.
' They act a lot like Fred and George do.' , Hermione thought.
"Just let me pay for this. We have to meet up with some friends."
Cris took the book from Cho. He read the cover, and looked at Cho, the goofy smile gone from his face, replaced by a look of utter seriousness.
"...Um, Cho.. call it a hunch, but I really, really don't think you two are just friends anymore."
"No, really?" The look of annoyance, as if she couldn't believe anyone could be so dense, passed and she looked almost scared. "Um, Cris, could you do me a favor and not tell anyone? Nobody can know just yet, you know?"
Hermione felt really awkward being here, in the middle of such an important family discussion. She hoped Cho's cousin wouldn't be cross about his little cousin being gay or anything. She eyed the door, wondering if she could casually sneak out the door. while they weren't looking.
"Cho.." He gave her another hug, one of those 'everything-will-be-okay' hugs. "I'm so proud of you.. well, not for being like me, and trying to suppress your emotions, like I did. So, of course, I'll keep your secret until you're ready for everyone to know, because you kept mine for so long."
Hermione, seeing everything was alright in the cousin's relationship, silently walked out of the door to wait for her girlfriend.
A few minutes later, Cho walked out, her book (now wrapped in thick-looking brown paper), in one hand, looking happy.
"You ready? They're going to wonder where we are if we don't show at up at the pub soon."
Hermione nodded, and the started walking to the outskirts of town where the merry, popular pub stood.
After a few minutes of silent walking, Hermione decided to speak up.
"So, uh.. you and your cousin o.k.?", she asked not wanting to sound nosy or anything.
"Yeah. He was so glad I wasn't like him, trying to suppress my feelings for so long." Seeing the shocked expression on Hermione's face, Cho decided to clarify. "He's bi. He told me, oh about 3 years ago, because I was his closest confidant really and he knew he could trust me. Until he was ready to come out, I didn't tell anyone about it. I don't see why he was so worried, his friends and family were cool with it - most of them anyway.."
"Most of it?"
"Yeah, my parents weren't part of the majority. They're really big hardasses. They don't really talk to him much anymore. That's why I can't really tell them yet. I don't want to destroy my relationship with them." She looked sad at the fact that her parents were so backwards.
"Come on, it'll be o.k. , they'll be alright with it. Maybe we can tell our parents together.", Hermione said, hoping to bring Cho back to her previously happy mood. It worked.
"Yeah, you're right. It'll be o.k. , just like this whole thing with that ass Draco will be sorted out in a couple of hours."
As that sentence ended, they finally reached the Three Broomsticks. Entering the tavern, they were hit with a blast of varied conversations. Searching the pub they found Harry and Ron in a back booth of the tavern. They walked over and took the seats across the booth's table from Harry and Ron.
"'Bout time you two showed up." Ron noted.
"Yeah, we thought, Hermione may have tried to buy a copy of every book in the store." Harry quipped.
Hermione kicked him playfully in the shins under the table. "Oh, shut up.", she joked.
Cho laughed at the three's antics. "You guys are hilarious."
"So, how about some Butterbeer?" Ron asked, standing to head to the counter. Everyone nodded in the affirmative, and handed him some money. Poor Ron had to get up and get rounds for everyone three more times.
Now, maybe it was the butterbeer somehow getting to her, but Hermione swore that she kept seeing Ron and Harry giving each other sidelong looks, and smiling, as if they shared a secret. And then, not too long afterwards, she noticed Harry brushing Ron's errant ginger locks out of his eyes. (quite tenderly too, she noted.) Apparently Cho detected it too, because she raised her bottle to check the expiration date on it, to make sure she wasn't drinking a fermented drink.
"Um, you guys, I think we need to talk about some stuff." Hermione said, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.
" 'Bout what, 'Mione?" Ron asked.
"Er.. well, we probably shouldn't talk about it here. Is there anywhere else we could go?" Cho asked.
"Oh, sure thing." Harry said.
Leaving the homey tavern, they walked a short distance to a deserted field, not too far from the rocky outcrop where they visited Sirius and Buckbeak last year.
"So, what is it?" Ron asked. The quickly fading sunlight cast mad his hair look even more like a wave of flame.
Cho and Hermione looked at each other, both hesitating to get on with it. Finally, Hermione gulped and spoke up.
"Listen, Harry, Ron. I have to tell you something. Um, me and Cho are.. um together. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier. I just didn't want to lose your friendship."
"No, its o.k. , Hermione.." Hermione looked puzzled. "The truth is, we've been keeping something from you, too. Me and Ron, you see, er.. we've been together since the beginning of school last year."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked.
"The same reason you didn't tell us-," Ron replied. "..we didn't know how you'd take it. Although , I would think you'd of suspected already, with Harry having to save me during the Triwizard Tournament. And the way he been acting today." Ron shot a mock angry look at Harry, which didn't really work because he couldn't help grinning at his best/boy friend.
"I'm sorry, Ron. You're just too cute to resist!", he laughed.
"But I thought you liked Cho." Hermione said.
"Yeah, I do. As a friend, though. I guess everybody assumed I liked you like that , Cho, after I asked you to the dance last year, but all I wanted was to be friends." Cho nodded understandingly.
"You guys the real reason we wanted to talk to you was because.." The whole incident with Draco and the blackmail was revealed, along with the plan to tell Dumbledore tomorrow, before the match.
Ron turned as read as his hair, the legendary Weasley temper emerging. "That bloody bastard! I'll-" Harry quickly placed both hands over the enraged Weasley boy's mouth, before he alerted people from the still-nearby tavern to their location, removing them once he had stop struggling to free himself and cuss Draco out.
"Malfoy is a jerk, true but, I didn't think he would stoop that low just to get at me..." Harry said quietly, shaking his head sadly.
The train's whistle pierced through the night, and Hagrid's magically amplified voice carried on the soft breeze blowing, informing all students the train was about to depart.
"Well, at least all of this will be over tomorrow." Cho said.
All of them headed back to the train, with lighter hearts now that the truth had been told, and the fact that they could now all be honest with each other.
a/n: alright I know the students walk to Hogsmeade, but I had forgotten at the time I started writing this chapter, and I'm too lazy too start over, so bear with me, ok? And once again, J.K. Rowling owns the characters, I just own the plot.
The Next Day:
*************************************************************************************
Cho, Hermione, Harry, and Ron all boarded the Hogwarts Express for a day of hanging out in Hogsmeade. With a little bit of searching, they found a compartment all to themselves towards the back.
Ron sat next to Harry, and Hermione and Cho took the one opposite them.
Minutes later, after the train exited the school's station, the snack-dispensing witch came through their compartment. Harry got a bag of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Ron purchased 3 packs of Chocolate Frogs, Hermione bought a pack of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, and Cho settled for some Fizzing Whizzbees, and everyone got pumpkin juice flagons. Everyone shared with everyone else, but the always mysterious jellybeans provided genuine entertainment. Out of all the ones he got, Harry exclaimed about one ,that according to him 'tasted like crap'. When queried by Ron and Cho by how would he exactly know this, he and Hermione had to explain this Muggle saying to their puzzled friends. Ron got a peach flavored one, a booger flavored one (much to his dismay) and something so terrible he had to run to the onboard restroom and stay for a few minutes; when he returned he muttered something about 'tree bark'. Cho on the other hand, encountered no horrid flavors, much to Hermione's relief. Hermione got lucky also, the only nasty one she received was a spit flavored one (it wouldn't be nasty if it tasted the way Cho's did last night, she thought)
After all that, nothing really eventful occurred. Fred and George came by, revealing a plan to convince Ginny to eat one of their new experimental candies, that turns a person entirely blue.
"You shouldn't do that to your little sister. She might choose your nursing home someday." Cho cautioned after hearing of their plan.
"We know, We know!" Fred said. "Its just that its so much fun to annoy her!"
"Yeah, you should see what they do when they aren't in school." Hermione added in.
" Now Hermione, you know that we're perfectly angelic while we're not at school. We just act this way here to keep up appearances!" George lied. "Isn't that right, Ron?"
Ron scoffed.
"Oh, I see how it is." George stated, looking pained. "Our own brother saying we're not complete saints. Well, me and Fred will just go somewhere where we're more wanted.", he said walking off in a overly dramatic huff, that Fred also left in.
Following an conversation about the twins antics, both home and away, the conversation turned to Quidditch. The topic not really being her cup of tea, Hermione leaned against the window and dozed off.
When she awoke, she noticed that both Harry and Ron had fallen asleep, their heads resting against each other; Ron's mouth was hanging ajar. Feeling an unaccustomed weight on her left shoulder, she glanced over to see Cho's head resting on her shoulder. Disturbed by Hermione's movement, she turned and snuggled her face even closer into the crook of Hermione's neck.
Looking at Cho's face, Hermione thought she looked like an angel, with the way the sun was glinting off her hair; her lips full, almost pouty. Sighing, as if wondering if she truly deserved such a vision of beauty as this, she put an arm around Cho, leaned back against the window, and fell asleep again after a few minutes of listening to the steady rumble of the train's movement.
About 30 minutes later she was rudely awakened (from a very nice dream, I might add) by the shaking of her shoulders by an unknown assailant. Opening her eyes, she saw Cho smiling impishly down at her. Looking around the compartment she noticed Harry and Ron weren't there.
" 'Bout time you woke up, sleepyhead!" Cho said affectionately. Everyone else is off the train now. Don't want to get left now do you?"
"No. Thanks for getting me up." Hermione said sleepily, standing up and stretching.
"You seemed to be having a pretty good dream." Cho said, eyeing the other girl carefully. "What was it about?"
Smiling slyly, Hermione answered. "Well, I can't exactly describe it. I'd have to show you. Want me to?", she said edging closer to Cho.
Cho appeared ready to take her up on her offer, pulling her in for a quick kiss. But after that, she drew away, determination not to start kissing Hermione again shining in her eyes.
"As much as I don't want to, I'm afraid I'll have to take a raincheck on that, since unfortunately, the guys are waiting on us. Care to show me when we back to school?" She appeared delighted when Hermione nodded in the affirmative.
Hurrying off the train, they met up with Ron and Harry. Walking into the more commercial area of the small village, they stopped.
"Anyone want to go anywhere before we all head to The Three Broomsticks?" Harry asked looking around at the group.
"I want to go to Flourish and Blott's." Hermione said excitedly. "I hear there's a revised version of Hogwarts: A History!" Cho, standing slightly behind Hermione, rolled her eyes skyward to show exactly how she felt about the book. Ron and Harry sniggered. Hermione turned around, only to see an innocent-acting Cho. Not catching what was going on (thankfully for the others), she turned back to Ron and Harry. "Where're you going?"
"To get stocked up on ammo for school." Ron replied casually. The 'ammunition' he spoke of was the usual dung bombs and other practical jokes, that so often wreaked havoc in the Gryffindor common room.
Hermione sighed, deciding to think of an appropriate punishment ahead of time on the train ride back.
**********
Entering Flourish and Blott's , Hermione ran over to the table that had the revised versions of
Hogwarts: A History. Cho walked over also, glancing uninterestedly at the brand new books, which were already covered with a fine coating of dust. Snickering playfully at Hermione's horror towards this.
"Why aren't people buying this?!?" she said, almost frantically.
"Now, Hermione, don't you think if people already have an original copy of the book," Cho said, casually brushing dust off the cover of the leather-bound book that Hermione was holding in her hand. "that they don't really want to pay for a new version just because it has some new additions to it?"
Due to the stare Hermione gave her, Cho decided to browse elsewhere, walking into a room whose door veiled with a thick blue velvet curtain.
Hermione, having paid for her books (she saw several more she had to have, including one about the minute details of Transfiguration) , she looked around the medium sized store for Cho, with no luck. Seeing the sectioned-off room, Hermione started to enter, but had second thoughts after thinking back to what that generally meant in shops in the Muggle world. But hearing Cho's unmistakable giggling (albeit muffled) beyond the curtain made her go in.
Cho was reading a book in the far corner of the room. The sound of her foot steps alerted Cho to her presence. Cho looked up to meet Hermione's curious face.
"I got bored, waiting for you and all.." Cho said sheepishly. "But look what I found.", she added, smiling uncontrollably as she held the book up for Hermione to read the cover.
"1001 Stunningly Sensuous Spells for the Lesbian Witch Couple...Wha..?" Hermione read the title of the book aloud, her voice trailing off in shock. She looked back up at Cho who was practically laughing her ass off at the expression on poor Hermione's face.
After regaining her composure, Cho wiped the tears out of her eyes and said "You know, I think this would be much more interesting to read than 'History Of Hogwarts' don't you?" A sly grin was on her face as she said that, her eyes sparkling.
"I don't think we're supposed to even be back here, much less buying something like that. How do you expect to buy that?" Hermione asked, the redness starting to gradually fade from her cheeks.
"Don't sweat it. My cousin works here. And, lucky me, he happens to be on shift today."
Walking out of the room, Hermione noticed a young clerk she hadn't noticed when she first came in.
Now that she saw him, the similarities were unmistakable. He was tall and lanky with short ,spiky dark brown hair, and mischievous brown eyes, sparkling even behind the glasses he wore , just like his younger cousin. His grinned when he saw them approach the counter.
"Cho!" he came over from behind the counter and gave her one of those big pick-you-up bear hugs. Cho almost fell over once he put her back on the ground. Hermione secretly hoped that he wouldn't give a total stranger a giant hug, but instead settle for a "Hello" and a handshake.
Regaining her composure, Cho gave her cousin a mock angry look.
"Damn, go and knock, my back out of place why don't you?"
Her cousin laughed.
"Anyway. Hermione, this is my dim-witted cousin Cris. Cris, this is my friend Hermione."
Cris spoke. " Hi Hermione. I'm so sorry you've come into the friendship of Cho. Is she bribing you to walk around with her for today?"
Cho kicked Cris in the shin, giving an innocent smile to him before he started to protest.
' They act a lot like Fred and George do.' , Hermione thought.
"Just let me pay for this. We have to meet up with some friends."
Cris took the book from Cho. He read the cover, and looked at Cho, the goofy smile gone from his face, replaced by a look of utter seriousness.
"...Um, Cho.. call it a hunch, but I really, really don't think you two are just friends anymore."
"No, really?" The look of annoyance, as if she couldn't believe anyone could be so dense, passed and she looked almost scared. "Um, Cris, could you do me a favor and not tell anyone? Nobody can know just yet, you know?"
Hermione felt really awkward being here, in the middle of such an important family discussion. She hoped Cho's cousin wouldn't be cross about his little cousin being gay or anything. She eyed the door, wondering if she could casually sneak out the door. while they weren't looking.
"Cho.." He gave her another hug, one of those 'everything-will-be-okay' hugs. "I'm so proud of you.. well, not for being like me, and trying to suppress your emotions, like I did. So, of course, I'll keep your secret until you're ready for everyone to know, because you kept mine for so long."
Hermione, seeing everything was alright in the cousin's relationship, silently walked out of the door to wait for her girlfriend.
A few minutes later, Cho walked out, her book (now wrapped in thick-looking brown paper), in one hand, looking happy.
"You ready? They're going to wonder where we are if we don't show at up at the pub soon."
Hermione nodded, and the started walking to the outskirts of town where the merry, popular pub stood.
After a few minutes of silent walking, Hermione decided to speak up.
"So, uh.. you and your cousin o.k.?", she asked not wanting to sound nosy or anything.
"Yeah. He was so glad I wasn't like him, trying to suppress my feelings for so long." Seeing the shocked expression on Hermione's face, Cho decided to clarify. "He's bi. He told me, oh about 3 years ago, because I was his closest confidant really and he knew he could trust me. Until he was ready to come out, I didn't tell anyone about it. I don't see why he was so worried, his friends and family were cool with it - most of them anyway.."
"Most of it?"
"Yeah, my parents weren't part of the majority. They're really big hardasses. They don't really talk to him much anymore. That's why I can't really tell them yet. I don't want to destroy my relationship with them." She looked sad at the fact that her parents were so backwards.
"Come on, it'll be o.k. , they'll be alright with it. Maybe we can tell our parents together.", Hermione said, hoping to bring Cho back to her previously happy mood. It worked.
"Yeah, you're right. It'll be o.k. , just like this whole thing with that ass Draco will be sorted out in a couple of hours."
As that sentence ended, they finally reached the Three Broomsticks. Entering the tavern, they were hit with a blast of varied conversations. Searching the pub they found Harry and Ron in a back booth of the tavern. They walked over and took the seats across the booth's table from Harry and Ron.
"'Bout time you two showed up." Ron noted.
"Yeah, we thought, Hermione may have tried to buy a copy of every book in the store." Harry quipped.
Hermione kicked him playfully in the shins under the table. "Oh, shut up.", she joked.
Cho laughed at the three's antics. "You guys are hilarious."
"So, how about some Butterbeer?" Ron asked, standing to head to the counter. Everyone nodded in the affirmative, and handed him some money. Poor Ron had to get up and get rounds for everyone three more times.
Now, maybe it was the butterbeer somehow getting to her, but Hermione swore that she kept seeing Ron and Harry giving each other sidelong looks, and smiling, as if they shared a secret. And then, not too long afterwards, she noticed Harry brushing Ron's errant ginger locks out of his eyes. (quite tenderly too, she noted.) Apparently Cho detected it too, because she raised her bottle to check the expiration date on it, to make sure she wasn't drinking a fermented drink.
"Um, you guys, I think we need to talk about some stuff." Hermione said, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.
" 'Bout what, 'Mione?" Ron asked.
"Er.. well, we probably shouldn't talk about it here. Is there anywhere else we could go?" Cho asked.
"Oh, sure thing." Harry said.
Leaving the homey tavern, they walked a short distance to a deserted field, not too far from the rocky outcrop where they visited Sirius and Buckbeak last year.
"So, what is it?" Ron asked. The quickly fading sunlight cast mad his hair look even more like a wave of flame.
Cho and Hermione looked at each other, both hesitating to get on with it. Finally, Hermione gulped and spoke up.
"Listen, Harry, Ron. I have to tell you something. Um, me and Cho are.. um together. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier. I just didn't want to lose your friendship."
"No, its o.k. , Hermione.." Hermione looked puzzled. "The truth is, we've been keeping something from you, too. Me and Ron, you see, er.. we've been together since the beginning of school last year."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked.
"The same reason you didn't tell us-," Ron replied. "..we didn't know how you'd take it. Although , I would think you'd of suspected already, with Harry having to save me during the Triwizard Tournament. And the way he been acting today." Ron shot a mock angry look at Harry, which didn't really work because he couldn't help grinning at his best/boy friend.
"I'm sorry, Ron. You're just too cute to resist!", he laughed.
"But I thought you liked Cho." Hermione said.
"Yeah, I do. As a friend, though. I guess everybody assumed I liked you like that , Cho, after I asked you to the dance last year, but all I wanted was to be friends." Cho nodded understandingly.
"You guys the real reason we wanted to talk to you was because.." The whole incident with Draco and the blackmail was revealed, along with the plan to tell Dumbledore tomorrow, before the match.
Ron turned as read as his hair, the legendary Weasley temper emerging. "That bloody bastard! I'll-" Harry quickly placed both hands over the enraged Weasley boy's mouth, before he alerted people from the still-nearby tavern to their location, removing them once he had stop struggling to free himself and cuss Draco out.
"Malfoy is a jerk, true but, I didn't think he would stoop that low just to get at me..." Harry said quietly, shaking his head sadly.
The train's whistle pierced through the night, and Hagrid's magically amplified voice carried on the soft breeze blowing, informing all students the train was about to depart.
"Well, at least all of this will be over tomorrow." Cho said.
All of them headed back to the train, with lighter hearts now that the truth had been told, and the fact that they could now all be honest with each other.