Chapter 11:  Under the Heavens

Two nights later, Hermione lay peacefully in her bed, hair fanned out her soft pillow and the thick sheets resting on her shoulders. Ron stroked some hair out of face and twisted it behind her ears. "Hermione?" he tapped on her shoulder. "Wake up." She stirred a little and Ron shook her a bit harder. She blinked and whimpered. "Hermione, wake up," he said again. She opened her eyes slowly and focused on the blurry figure standing over her.

"R – Ron?"

Ron smiled. "Yea. Hi."

Hermione rolled onto her side, yawned and murmured "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"Took me a while to climb up that damn slope," he chuckled quietly.

Hermione smiled weakly and sat up rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?" she whispered.

"2 o' clock. Come on, get out of bed, I've got a surprise for you."

"What?" she asked as she wrapped her covers closer to her body.

"You'll see. Come on. Here's your dressing gown, it's really cold." Ron handed her the gown and offered his other hand to help her out of bed.

They tiptoed through the common room, Ron stumbled on a chair leg in the dark and they shut the portrait hole quietly.

Ron led Hermione by her hand all the way through the castle with her constantly asking where they were going. He led her through the Entrance Hall and pulled open the doors with a long creak. A gust of freezing wind blew onto them and Hermione's teeth started chattering.

He closed the door behind them and Hermione stood shivering on the stone porch, staring out into the darkness confused. "Ron, what-"

He smiled, "Shhh. Come," he took her by hand again and the pair walked along the lawns, the moon gleaming across the black grasses. They walked along in the dark, guided by the white light glistening off everything around them.

They reached the lake, gleaming silver in the night and Ron pulled off his cape and laid it down on the ground beside it.

He took Hermione into his arms and hugged her. "Are you cold?"

She nodded, teeth still chattering. He rubbed her arms and kissed her cheek lightly. "Lay down here with me. I want you to see something."

Her head was rested on Ron's chest and his arms were around her waist. It was completely silent and the pair of them could hear nothing but eachother's slow breathing and steady heartbeats. They were looking up the stars. Tiny white sparkles embedded in a never-ending black cushion. Hermione stared up at them smiling, rubbing her head affectionately on Ron's chest. It felt so perfect. She had never thought Ron could be so romantic. She couldn't think of another boy who would surprise their girlfriend to night of admiring the glittering beauty of the skies.

"They're so amazing, Ron," she whispered.

"I know. Competition for you, eh? But don't worry, you're the prettiest star in the sky as far as I'm concerned."

Hermione's stomach fluttered and she lifted her head up to face Ron. "You're so cute." She propped her hands up either side of Ron's body and leant down on him.

She closed her eyes and he connected his lips with hers. As the kissed deepened, Ron clung to Hermione's head. He massaged her tongue passionately and she groaned.

They were both glad for the warmth of each-other and a few minutes later Hermione and Ron were lying flat on the cloak again, simply enjoying each-other's company as the heavens twinkled and winked down at them.

17 flights of stairs above them, Harry was fast asleep.

"Hey Harry."

Harry continued with his homework, putting extra effort into every inky letter.

"Harry..."

He pressed harder on his quill forming the next word determinedly. He'd been trying to ignore this person for the last 5 minutes, when would they give up?

"Harry... It's me."

The nib of the quill snapped and an ink blot formed on the parchment. Harry picked up another, knocked the broken one of the table and continued where he left off, pretending he couldn't hear them.

"Why aren't you talking to me?"

This new quill was making annoying scratchy noises.

The person leant closer. "Harry? Do you know who I am?"

Harry knew who it was alright. He knew exactly who it was. As if he couldn't recognise that husky voice and that distinct smell. Oh yes, he knew who they were – he just didn't want to give in. He wasn't sure why – but talking to them would be like giving over. He hesitated slightly on the 'fullstop' and blinked a bit, surprised to find his nose tingling – a sure sign of tears on their way.

"Harry? Harry what's the matter?"

Nothing was the matter. Nothing at all. He just had to get this finished before the morning. The person sat down next to him and said nothing. Harry could feel their eyes on him. He pretended he couldn't, and faked a slight frown as though he was concentrating on his work.

He wished he would just go away. He was disturbing him. And besides, what was he doing in here anyway? This was the Gryffindor Common Room. The person stayed for a little while longer, watching Harry write line after line as if there was no-one else in the room.

Eventually they got up and started walking away. As they passed Harry, they bent down and whispered, "I still love you."

His nib snapped again. He didn't turn around until he heard the portrait hole door swing shut and click. Harry was suddenly filled with a suffocating feeling of loss and regret. He stared longingly at the bare wall and crunched his quill in his hands.

He opened his eyes slowly and felt tears sticking his eyelashes together. He remembered his dream and had to bite hard on the duvet to stop more tears flowing. There was a terrible dull feeling in his chest which he couldn't describe. Harry lay awake, all the time fighting to keep certain thoughts from his mind. He heard Ron return, get changed, get into bed, and fall asleep. He let himself wonder where Ron had been and what the time was... until eventually the darkness won him over too. He slowly fell asleep again, the pain within him building up until it felt like his ribs and throat were fit to burst.