CurlsofGold, once again, you're the best. I think I'm falling in love with you. Not only do you read my crap, you compliment me on it! Unbelievable. Anyway, I hoped you all liked the last chapter. I'm not all that serious about Harry and Parvati. I was just trying to show how Harry doesn't mind having an attractive girl on his arm. Sometimes he portrayed as an all noble, superhuman. I think that's stupid. He might not really like Parvati as a person, but he's sixteen! I think he'd go through the same adolescent, hormonal feelings we all had to.
When 1:30 rolled around, Magonagall stuck her head inside the girls room and told them all to go to bed. Harry and Ron went to their room, while Seamus Dean and Neville went to theirs. As they left, Hermione gave Harry and Ron a mischievous smile. She was obviously excited about sneaking out.
When Harry and Ron went into their room, Harry immediately went to his trunk. He opened it and pulled out its contents. Besides having weeks worth of Muggle clothing, he had brought his wand, his Firebolt and his Invisibility Cloak. He put everything back but the Invisibility Cloak and stood up.
Harry got changed quietly. He threw on some khaki shorts and a black T-shirt that said. 'Got Quidditch?' on it. He knew that no Muggles would know what it meant, but it was the only short sleeved shirt he had brought.
When Ron noticed Harry changing, he look down at his own clothes. His shirt was OK. It was a little tight, but it would serve its necessary purpose. What he was really worried about were his jeans. They were three years old and, unfortunately, hadn't grown with its owner. Ron's pale ankles stuck out of the bottom, and he felt that if hem made any sudden movements they would rip.
Harry noticed the object of Ron's concern and reopened his trunk. Towards the bottom he found a pair of Dudley's old jeans. Dudley had never been as tall as Ron, but Aunt Petunia had always had to buy long jeans for him. The manufactures simply didn't make jeans for people whose stomach was twice as large around as their legs were long.
Harry threw the jeans to Ron. He caught them and his face lit up. "Thanks, Harry!"
"Don't thank me. Thank Dudley for getting too fat to fit in them. You'll need this too." He said as he flipped the belt he had always used to hold up all of his hand-me-downs.
Ron changed quickly. Dudley's pants ended up fitting surprisingly well once Ron put the belt on. Over all, he looked pretty good. Harry wondered what kind of stir Ron would start amongst the girls at Hogwarts if he ever got some clothes that fit.
Harry bent over and picked his cloak up.
Ron was waiting by the door and when he saw the cloak in Harry's hands, he opened it a crack and looked into the hallway.
"Weasley, get to bed, NOW!" Magonagall's screams echoed up and down the hallway. Ron brought his head back in the room and turned around.
"Magonagall's on patrol. How are we going to sneak out. Even with the cloak, she'll still see our door open." Ron seemed frantic. He really wanted to go out.
"Relax, Ron. Just give me a minute. I've gotta think." Harry said, rubbing his temples. His eyes went to the door that connected their room with Seamus, Dean and...
"Neville!" Harry said. "I've got it Ron. Get under the cloak."
Ron brought the cloak over his head and held up a side for Harry. Once they were both under, Harry led them to the connecting door. He quietly opened the door and they slipped inside. Though it was completely dark in the room, it wasn't hard for them to find Neville. Sleeping in the same room with a guy for five years gave you ample opportunity to learn his snoring patterns.
Harry and Ron slid up to the bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Even after five years, Seamus and Dean didn't know about Harry's cloak. Neville had found it one day last year when Harry had stupidly left it on his bed. Well, Harry thought, as long as he knew...
Harry slipped out from under the cloak and put a hand over Neville's mouth. Neville woke immediately and would have screamed if Harry's hand hadn't been there. When Neville saw who it was, he relaxed and Harry removed his hand.
"What are you guys doing in here?" he whispered nervously.
"Quiet. We're sneaking out." Harry whispered. "But Magonagall's on patrol an we don't know how long she'll be at it. We need your help."
Normally, Neville was a stickler for the rules. He figured he got into enough trouble just in classes. But since the request came from Harry, Neville was willing. Harry had always been a hero in Neville's eyes. Not for the downfall of Voldemort, but for the way he stood up to Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy at school. Neville always wished he could be a little more like Harry.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
Harry was relieved. "Nothing big. We just need you to go down the hall and get some ice. But make sure you keep the door open until you get back. We'll sneak out when the door is open and no one will get in trouble. That sound good?"
"Yeah, I guess. Magonagall's going to yell at me isn't she? For being out of bed." Neville said.
"Maybe a little, Neville, but it will be your finest hour. Just ignore her and keep walking. We'll be gone before anything bad happens."
"O.K. Lets do it." Neville said resolutely.
" 'atta boy." Harry said as he slipped back under the cloak.
Neville went to the door and opened it quickly.
"Longbottom, return to bed at once!" Magonagall yelled.
Neville completely ignored her. He didn't even offer her the "ice" excuse. He just kept walking down the hall.
Harry would have laughed if he wasn't trying to slip by Magonagall at the time. Neville the Rebel. Who would have thought it?
Harry and Ron slipped by and quietly walked to the stairs. They couldn't take the elevator; Magonagall would have noticed.
As soon as they got in to the stair well, they both burst out laughing.
"Did you see the look on Magonagall's face? She was livid!" Ron shrieked.
"I hope Neville doesn't get into too much trouble." Harry said.
Ron laughed "Oh I wouldn't worry. Magonagall's probably too shocked to stay angry."
"Yeah, let's go." Harry said.
They began walking down the steps. They were already in the hotel lobby when Ron screamed, "Wait! What about Hermione?"
Harry had forgotten all about Hermione. He had been too worried about them getting caught. "There's no way we can get her out. We should just go without her. She'll understand."
"She'll be so pissed!" Ron said. He stood their looking at his shoes, thinking. "Wait here. I think I have an idea."
"Where are you going?" Harry called after him.
"The courtyard!" Ron yelled back over his shoulder.
***
Ron sprinted down the stairs at full speed. He knew the pool level was below the lobby, but he didn't know which level it was. He stopped when a familiar smell assaulted his nose. He remember back to the summer where he and Harry had gone and visited Hermione. She had a pool, and it always reeked of chlorine. Ron knew he was in the right place.
He tore open the door that led to the pool and stepped inside. Since it was 1:30, there were only two other people in the pool room. They were in the Jacuzzi making out. Ron had a feeling he had seen the guy before, but he couldn't place him. When they saw him run by, they separated and looked slightly embarrassed. Ron laughed as he ran.
He reached the door that led to the outside pool and opened it. Panting, he walked quickly across the courtyard. Since the hotel wrapped completely around the courtyard, it was hard to know which room was which was Hermione's.
He bent over and picked up a small rock from a nearby garden. He looked back up at the dark windows. He knew Hermione's room was on the third floor, but he didn't want to get Magonagall's room on accident.
Oh what the hell?, he thought as he whipped the pebble at a likely window.
***
By 2:00, Hermione was worried. What if the boys couldn't get out of their room. She had heard Magonagall scream at Ron, and then later, at Neville and was worried they had gotten caught.
Parvati and Lavender had stayed up, chatting quietly about pointless things, and Hermione had waited for them to fall asleep to get changed. She knew she would never be pretty, but she was confident that she looked her best. She had even put on make-up! Damn all boys!, she thought as she paced quietly in her dark room.
She had just about given up all hope when she heard a slight click coming from her window. She looked over, but dismissed it as the wind.
Click.
Something was hitting her window. She walked over and looked out. Unfortunately, the balcony covered most of her view of the courtyard. She glanced over at Parvati and Lavender to reassure herself that they were sleeping soundly, and slowly slid open the balcony door.
***
Ron saw the balcony door slide open, and was relieved to see Hermione there instead of Magonagall. Ron was about to call out her name but his breath caught at the sight of her.
Besides the summers she had spent at his house, Ron had rarely ever seen Hermione out of school robes, and to see what she was wearing now was enough to make his knees weak. She was so beautiful.
She wore sandals with thick heels that made her taller than she really was. She was wearing pocketless khaki pants that hugged every curve and left very little to the imagination. Her shirt was also very tight. It was long sleeved and dark blue. It had a very high neck, but it only enhanced her beauty. While her bathing suit had revealed twice as much skin as this outfit, Ron didn't think he had ever seen anything so sexy. Ron tried to remember when he started thinking of Hermione as sexy.
When Ron cleared his head, he noticed Hermione had walked to the railing of the balcony. "Who's there?" she called.
Ron realized she couldn't see him. Because of the night lights in the pool, he probably looked like a black blur to her. He had to swallow before he could speak.
"It's me, Hermione." he said quietly.
"Ron? How'd you guys get out? Magonagall's acting like some hallway Nazi."
"I tell you in a minute. We have to get you down from there first."
"How? There's now way down." she said
Ron searched around for anything that would help. Too bad their isn't a drain pipe I could climb, he thought. Just like in a Muggle romance novel.
Why God? Why do I have to like my best friend?, he thought miserably.
"Ron, I don't think I can get down. You and Harry should go without me." She whispered.
"Screw that idea!" Ron muttered viciously. "You're coming whether you like it or not."
Ron reached up his sleeve and pulled out his wand. He had brought it with him because he thought he might need it. Now he did. He pointed it at Hermione, ready to do a little magic.
***
When Hermione saw Ron point his wand at her, she flinched involuntarily. She trusted Ron with her life, but she knew that he tended to get carried away sometimes.
"Ron, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Just relax Hermione. Trust me."
"Wait think about what you're-"
"Wingarduim Leviosa." Ron whispered.
Hermione felt a violent tug at her waist. Before she knew it, she was floating through the air. He was levitating her belt buckle! If he lived through this, she was going to kill him.
She floated over him, parallel to the ground. She felt like she was dangling on a large string, What Ron seemed to have forgotten was that spell only helped lift things. It had nothing to do with bringing things back down. So now she was floating thirty feet in the air with no way to get back down.
"Ron, you idiot! How am I supposed to get down, now." she screamed; not caring if half the hotel woke.
"Quiet, Hermione. You're breaking my concentration." Ron mumbled.
His concentration! She was about to give him the longest lecture of his life when he spoke again.
"All right, this is what I'm going to do. I'll slowly break the spell. That way, you'll fall slowly and I'll catch you."
Not seeing anything else to do, Hermione mumbled, "All right. But be careful."
"I'm always careful." he said.
Hermione was going to say that was the most untrue statement she had ever heard, when she slowly began floating toward the ground. After falling smoothly for about ten feet, she lurched horribly. She thought she was going to fall, but she felt the hold on her belt hold.
"Hermione, I'm losing it. Get ready to fall."
"Get ready? How the hell do I get ready?" she screamed.
It felt like the string that was holding her snapped. She began to plummet. Her screamed caught in her throat, so she fell in stunned silence. She saw the ground rush up to meet her and braced herself for the horrible impact.
***
When Ron felt his spell fail and saw Hermione fall, he had froze with fear. Hermione, his best friend, was falling twenty feet to the hard concrete pavement. Luckily, his body reacted quicker than his brain did.
Without thinking, he took two steps forward and caught her. He grunted with the impact but kept a tight grip on her. Once he had his legs under him, he realized that Hermione was trembling. He had really scared her. He felt like a real jerk.
As he held her in his arms, Ron was reminded of how small she really was. It was easy to forget when she fought like she was fifty feet tall. She felt like a child in his long arms.
She had her face buried in his shoulder, and she was gripping his shirt like she never meant to let go. Ron didn't mind.
"Are you OK, Hermione?" he asked.
It took her a moment to answer. "That was one of the most frightening things that's ever happened to me." she mumbled into his shoulder.
This certainly didn't make Ron feel any better.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry. I didn't think. Like always."
Hermione didn't look up.
"It was a good catch though, right?" Ron said, trying to lighten the mood.
Hermione laughed. It was such a good laugh, Ron thought.
When she finally looked up, she was smiling. "Just promise me one thing, Ron."
"Anything."
"Promise me you'll always be there to catch me." she said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Ron smiled. "I'll always be there, Hermione. I promise."
A tear slid down her cheek, but she was smiling radiantly. She was staring into his eyes. Smiling, Ron stared right back.
***
Harry stood in the lobby for ten minutes before he ran after Ron. He wasn't used to not being part of the action, so he decided he would help.
He jogged down the hallway and over to the indoor pool. He was just about to go into the pool room when the door flew open. A girl, covered in a towel, ran past him.
"Libby, wait!" called a voice from inside the room.
Libby tore on down the hall, and after a moment, the voice from inside the room yelled, "Damn!"
Harry pushed the door open and walked through quickly. A guy was drying himself with one of the hotel towels. He looked slightly familiar, but Harry didn't think about it. He walked through the room and to the door leading into the courtyard.
He opened the door and walked out. What he saw was shocking. Ron was holding Hermione. Not just hugging her, but holding her like someone would hold a child. He arms were under her legs and back.
They were smiling and staring into each other's eyes. Harry didn't want to interrupt, but he was curious as to what happened.
"What happened, guys?" he asked.
Ron and Hermione didn't notice him. They were too busy with each other. Harry couldn't help but smile.
"What happened, guys?" he asked again, a little louder.
Both of their faces whipped to his. They seemed confused, but once they realized what they looked like, they began blushing. Even in hi embarrassment, Ron didn't put Hermione down. He held her like he was protecting her from something.
Hermione finally answered Harry. "Nothing happened, Harry. Nothing but me almost dying because of this idiot." she screamed and punched Ron in the arm.
That seemed to break the spell that had settled over the two of them. Ron had flinched when Hermione had called him an idiot, and was now slowly put her back on her own feet.
"Come on, guys. What happened." Harry asked impatiently.
"Not now, Harry" Hermione said. "Let's just get out of here before we're caught."
With that the three of them went back in to the pool room. The guy who Harry had seen earlier was fully dressed and was tying his shoes. He looked even more familiar now that he had clothes on, but Harry couldn't place him.
His question was answered when Hermione sprinted in his direction. "Kyle!" she screamed.
Kyle looked up and smiled when he saw Hermione. He held his arms open and Hermione flung herself into them. They were both laughing.
That's no good, Harry thought as he spared a glance at Ron.
If looks could kill, both Hermione and Kyle would have dropped dead where they stood.
I know I promised the night on the town, but I figured it would be pretty hard to sneak out of a hotel with a wizard outside your door. Time had to be devoted to their escape. I just got a little carried away, that's all. I promise the next chapter will be them going out. No, really.
When 1:30 rolled around, Magonagall stuck her head inside the girls room and told them all to go to bed. Harry and Ron went to their room, while Seamus Dean and Neville went to theirs. As they left, Hermione gave Harry and Ron a mischievous smile. She was obviously excited about sneaking out.
When Harry and Ron went into their room, Harry immediately went to his trunk. He opened it and pulled out its contents. Besides having weeks worth of Muggle clothing, he had brought his wand, his Firebolt and his Invisibility Cloak. He put everything back but the Invisibility Cloak and stood up.
Harry got changed quietly. He threw on some khaki shorts and a black T-shirt that said. 'Got Quidditch?' on it. He knew that no Muggles would know what it meant, but it was the only short sleeved shirt he had brought.
When Ron noticed Harry changing, he look down at his own clothes. His shirt was OK. It was a little tight, but it would serve its necessary purpose. What he was really worried about were his jeans. They were three years old and, unfortunately, hadn't grown with its owner. Ron's pale ankles stuck out of the bottom, and he felt that if hem made any sudden movements they would rip.
Harry noticed the object of Ron's concern and reopened his trunk. Towards the bottom he found a pair of Dudley's old jeans. Dudley had never been as tall as Ron, but Aunt Petunia had always had to buy long jeans for him. The manufactures simply didn't make jeans for people whose stomach was twice as large around as their legs were long.
Harry threw the jeans to Ron. He caught them and his face lit up. "Thanks, Harry!"
"Don't thank me. Thank Dudley for getting too fat to fit in them. You'll need this too." He said as he flipped the belt he had always used to hold up all of his hand-me-downs.
Ron changed quickly. Dudley's pants ended up fitting surprisingly well once Ron put the belt on. Over all, he looked pretty good. Harry wondered what kind of stir Ron would start amongst the girls at Hogwarts if he ever got some clothes that fit.
Harry bent over and picked his cloak up.
Ron was waiting by the door and when he saw the cloak in Harry's hands, he opened it a crack and looked into the hallway.
"Weasley, get to bed, NOW!" Magonagall's screams echoed up and down the hallway. Ron brought his head back in the room and turned around.
"Magonagall's on patrol. How are we going to sneak out. Even with the cloak, she'll still see our door open." Ron seemed frantic. He really wanted to go out.
"Relax, Ron. Just give me a minute. I've gotta think." Harry said, rubbing his temples. His eyes went to the door that connected their room with Seamus, Dean and...
"Neville!" Harry said. "I've got it Ron. Get under the cloak."
Ron brought the cloak over his head and held up a side for Harry. Once they were both under, Harry led them to the connecting door. He quietly opened the door and they slipped inside. Though it was completely dark in the room, it wasn't hard for them to find Neville. Sleeping in the same room with a guy for five years gave you ample opportunity to learn his snoring patterns.
Harry and Ron slid up to the bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Even after five years, Seamus and Dean didn't know about Harry's cloak. Neville had found it one day last year when Harry had stupidly left it on his bed. Well, Harry thought, as long as he knew...
Harry slipped out from under the cloak and put a hand over Neville's mouth. Neville woke immediately and would have screamed if Harry's hand hadn't been there. When Neville saw who it was, he relaxed and Harry removed his hand.
"What are you guys doing in here?" he whispered nervously.
"Quiet. We're sneaking out." Harry whispered. "But Magonagall's on patrol an we don't know how long she'll be at it. We need your help."
Normally, Neville was a stickler for the rules. He figured he got into enough trouble just in classes. But since the request came from Harry, Neville was willing. Harry had always been a hero in Neville's eyes. Not for the downfall of Voldemort, but for the way he stood up to Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy at school. Neville always wished he could be a little more like Harry.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
Harry was relieved. "Nothing big. We just need you to go down the hall and get some ice. But make sure you keep the door open until you get back. We'll sneak out when the door is open and no one will get in trouble. That sound good?"
"Yeah, I guess. Magonagall's going to yell at me isn't she? For being out of bed." Neville said.
"Maybe a little, Neville, but it will be your finest hour. Just ignore her and keep walking. We'll be gone before anything bad happens."
"O.K. Lets do it." Neville said resolutely.
" 'atta boy." Harry said as he slipped back under the cloak.
Neville went to the door and opened it quickly.
"Longbottom, return to bed at once!" Magonagall yelled.
Neville completely ignored her. He didn't even offer her the "ice" excuse. He just kept walking down the hall.
Harry would have laughed if he wasn't trying to slip by Magonagall at the time. Neville the Rebel. Who would have thought it?
Harry and Ron slipped by and quietly walked to the stairs. They couldn't take the elevator; Magonagall would have noticed.
As soon as they got in to the stair well, they both burst out laughing.
"Did you see the look on Magonagall's face? She was livid!" Ron shrieked.
"I hope Neville doesn't get into too much trouble." Harry said.
Ron laughed "Oh I wouldn't worry. Magonagall's probably too shocked to stay angry."
"Yeah, let's go." Harry said.
They began walking down the steps. They were already in the hotel lobby when Ron screamed, "Wait! What about Hermione?"
Harry had forgotten all about Hermione. He had been too worried about them getting caught. "There's no way we can get her out. We should just go without her. She'll understand."
"She'll be so pissed!" Ron said. He stood their looking at his shoes, thinking. "Wait here. I think I have an idea."
"Where are you going?" Harry called after him.
"The courtyard!" Ron yelled back over his shoulder.
***
Ron sprinted down the stairs at full speed. He knew the pool level was below the lobby, but he didn't know which level it was. He stopped when a familiar smell assaulted his nose. He remember back to the summer where he and Harry had gone and visited Hermione. She had a pool, and it always reeked of chlorine. Ron knew he was in the right place.
He tore open the door that led to the pool and stepped inside. Since it was 1:30, there were only two other people in the pool room. They were in the Jacuzzi making out. Ron had a feeling he had seen the guy before, but he couldn't place him. When they saw him run by, they separated and looked slightly embarrassed. Ron laughed as he ran.
He reached the door that led to the outside pool and opened it. Panting, he walked quickly across the courtyard. Since the hotel wrapped completely around the courtyard, it was hard to know which room was which was Hermione's.
He bent over and picked up a small rock from a nearby garden. He looked back up at the dark windows. He knew Hermione's room was on the third floor, but he didn't want to get Magonagall's room on accident.
Oh what the hell?, he thought as he whipped the pebble at a likely window.
***
By 2:00, Hermione was worried. What if the boys couldn't get out of their room. She had heard Magonagall scream at Ron, and then later, at Neville and was worried they had gotten caught.
Parvati and Lavender had stayed up, chatting quietly about pointless things, and Hermione had waited for them to fall asleep to get changed. She knew she would never be pretty, but she was confident that she looked her best. She had even put on make-up! Damn all boys!, she thought as she paced quietly in her dark room.
She had just about given up all hope when she heard a slight click coming from her window. She looked over, but dismissed it as the wind.
Click.
Something was hitting her window. She walked over and looked out. Unfortunately, the balcony covered most of her view of the courtyard. She glanced over at Parvati and Lavender to reassure herself that they were sleeping soundly, and slowly slid open the balcony door.
***
Ron saw the balcony door slide open, and was relieved to see Hermione there instead of Magonagall. Ron was about to call out her name but his breath caught at the sight of her.
Besides the summers she had spent at his house, Ron had rarely ever seen Hermione out of school robes, and to see what she was wearing now was enough to make his knees weak. She was so beautiful.
She wore sandals with thick heels that made her taller than she really was. She was wearing pocketless khaki pants that hugged every curve and left very little to the imagination. Her shirt was also very tight. It was long sleeved and dark blue. It had a very high neck, but it only enhanced her beauty. While her bathing suit had revealed twice as much skin as this outfit, Ron didn't think he had ever seen anything so sexy. Ron tried to remember when he started thinking of Hermione as sexy.
When Ron cleared his head, he noticed Hermione had walked to the railing of the balcony. "Who's there?" she called.
Ron realized she couldn't see him. Because of the night lights in the pool, he probably looked like a black blur to her. He had to swallow before he could speak.
"It's me, Hermione." he said quietly.
"Ron? How'd you guys get out? Magonagall's acting like some hallway Nazi."
"I tell you in a minute. We have to get you down from there first."
"How? There's now way down." she said
Ron searched around for anything that would help. Too bad their isn't a drain pipe I could climb, he thought. Just like in a Muggle romance novel.
Why God? Why do I have to like my best friend?, he thought miserably.
"Ron, I don't think I can get down. You and Harry should go without me." She whispered.
"Screw that idea!" Ron muttered viciously. "You're coming whether you like it or not."
Ron reached up his sleeve and pulled out his wand. He had brought it with him because he thought he might need it. Now he did. He pointed it at Hermione, ready to do a little magic.
***
When Hermione saw Ron point his wand at her, she flinched involuntarily. She trusted Ron with her life, but she knew that he tended to get carried away sometimes.
"Ron, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Just relax Hermione. Trust me."
"Wait think about what you're-"
"Wingarduim Leviosa." Ron whispered.
Hermione felt a violent tug at her waist. Before she knew it, she was floating through the air. He was levitating her belt buckle! If he lived through this, she was going to kill him.
She floated over him, parallel to the ground. She felt like she was dangling on a large string, What Ron seemed to have forgotten was that spell only helped lift things. It had nothing to do with bringing things back down. So now she was floating thirty feet in the air with no way to get back down.
"Ron, you idiot! How am I supposed to get down, now." she screamed; not caring if half the hotel woke.
"Quiet, Hermione. You're breaking my concentration." Ron mumbled.
His concentration! She was about to give him the longest lecture of his life when he spoke again.
"All right, this is what I'm going to do. I'll slowly break the spell. That way, you'll fall slowly and I'll catch you."
Not seeing anything else to do, Hermione mumbled, "All right. But be careful."
"I'm always careful." he said.
Hermione was going to say that was the most untrue statement she had ever heard, when she slowly began floating toward the ground. After falling smoothly for about ten feet, she lurched horribly. She thought she was going to fall, but she felt the hold on her belt hold.
"Hermione, I'm losing it. Get ready to fall."
"Get ready? How the hell do I get ready?" she screamed.
It felt like the string that was holding her snapped. She began to plummet. Her screamed caught in her throat, so she fell in stunned silence. She saw the ground rush up to meet her and braced herself for the horrible impact.
***
When Ron felt his spell fail and saw Hermione fall, he had froze with fear. Hermione, his best friend, was falling twenty feet to the hard concrete pavement. Luckily, his body reacted quicker than his brain did.
Without thinking, he took two steps forward and caught her. He grunted with the impact but kept a tight grip on her. Once he had his legs under him, he realized that Hermione was trembling. He had really scared her. He felt like a real jerk.
As he held her in his arms, Ron was reminded of how small she really was. It was easy to forget when she fought like she was fifty feet tall. She felt like a child in his long arms.
She had her face buried in his shoulder, and she was gripping his shirt like she never meant to let go. Ron didn't mind.
"Are you OK, Hermione?" he asked.
It took her a moment to answer. "That was one of the most frightening things that's ever happened to me." she mumbled into his shoulder.
This certainly didn't make Ron feel any better.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry. I didn't think. Like always."
Hermione didn't look up.
"It was a good catch though, right?" Ron said, trying to lighten the mood.
Hermione laughed. It was such a good laugh, Ron thought.
When she finally looked up, she was smiling. "Just promise me one thing, Ron."
"Anything."
"Promise me you'll always be there to catch me." she said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Ron smiled. "I'll always be there, Hermione. I promise."
A tear slid down her cheek, but she was smiling radiantly. She was staring into his eyes. Smiling, Ron stared right back.
***
Harry stood in the lobby for ten minutes before he ran after Ron. He wasn't used to not being part of the action, so he decided he would help.
He jogged down the hallway and over to the indoor pool. He was just about to go into the pool room when the door flew open. A girl, covered in a towel, ran past him.
"Libby, wait!" called a voice from inside the room.
Libby tore on down the hall, and after a moment, the voice from inside the room yelled, "Damn!"
Harry pushed the door open and walked through quickly. A guy was drying himself with one of the hotel towels. He looked slightly familiar, but Harry didn't think about it. He walked through the room and to the door leading into the courtyard.
He opened the door and walked out. What he saw was shocking. Ron was holding Hermione. Not just hugging her, but holding her like someone would hold a child. He arms were under her legs and back.
They were smiling and staring into each other's eyes. Harry didn't want to interrupt, but he was curious as to what happened.
"What happened, guys?" he asked.
Ron and Hermione didn't notice him. They were too busy with each other. Harry couldn't help but smile.
"What happened, guys?" he asked again, a little louder.
Both of their faces whipped to his. They seemed confused, but once they realized what they looked like, they began blushing. Even in hi embarrassment, Ron didn't put Hermione down. He held her like he was protecting her from something.
Hermione finally answered Harry. "Nothing happened, Harry. Nothing but me almost dying because of this idiot." she screamed and punched Ron in the arm.
That seemed to break the spell that had settled over the two of them. Ron had flinched when Hermione had called him an idiot, and was now slowly put her back on her own feet.
"Come on, guys. What happened." Harry asked impatiently.
"Not now, Harry" Hermione said. "Let's just get out of here before we're caught."
With that the three of them went back in to the pool room. The guy who Harry had seen earlier was fully dressed and was tying his shoes. He looked even more familiar now that he had clothes on, but Harry couldn't place him.
His question was answered when Hermione sprinted in his direction. "Kyle!" she screamed.
Kyle looked up and smiled when he saw Hermione. He held his arms open and Hermione flung herself into them. They were both laughing.
That's no good, Harry thought as he spared a glance at Ron.
If looks could kill, both Hermione and Kyle would have dropped dead where they stood.
I know I promised the night on the town, but I figured it would be pretty hard to sneak out of a hotel with a wizard outside your door. Time had to be devoted to their escape. I just got a little carried away, that's all. I promise the next chapter will be them going out. No, really.