"I'll make us something hot," he said, taking in my drowned rat look. "You go clean up. There are some clothes in the bedroom, I haven't had time to really move in but there's something at least…"
I nodded, melting at the concerned look in his face. I went to the bathroom and wrung out my clothing and hair, washing off my running make-up and gel from my hair. Hanging my clothes up, I went into the bedroom wrapped in a towel looking for something to wear.
I came back into the kitchen in a pair of his boxers and a shirt to see him pouring tea for the both of us. His sopping jacket dripped off a chair, discarded along with his tie. "Thanks."
He nodded. "Sit and drink your tea. I'll be right back." Grabbing his jacket and tie, he went off towards the bathroom.
"Okay." I looked around while he changed, taking in his new flat. On the way over, he'd told me that he'd acquired a flat in London to have in the off-season and for downtime.
It was quite a barren flat but very cozy. It looked like your average college type flat except the array of Quidditch posters that adorned the walls, their players flying in and out of the scenes.
"So we should get you back to Hogwarts then," Oliver said, muffled through the shirt he was pulling over his head as he returned.
"Oliver," I replied, laughing, "It's one o'clock in the morning… There aren't any trains going at this hour…"
He looked distraught. "Well, I'll go make up the bed for you then." And disappeared back into the bedroom.
I followed. "Where are you going to sleep then?"
"The couch," he replied, not turning around as he spread a sheet over the bed and tucked it in.
"I'm not kicking you out of your own bed to sleep on a couch." I eyed the bed. "It's big enough for the both of us…"
He turned and looked at me scandalously. "I don't think so, Hermione."
"Why not? We're not going to do anything."
"Because, if Dumbledor finds out then he'll never let you out again and he will find out. He's like that… And besides, you don't know what could happen and I refuse to let anything happen because it's just not right…"
I bit my lip. He was right and I knew it. Dumbledor would kill us, well, would be very stern on us… I sighed. "You're right."
He smiled wistfully. "Goodnight, Hermione." He cupped my face with one hand and kissed me gently. "See you in the morning."
"Goodnight." I watched him go back into the living room then turned back to the bed and fell into it thankfully. I hugged his pillow to me and breathed in the smell of Oliver's cologne.
¤ ¤ ¤
As soon as I walked into Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall swept down on me. "I would like to see you in my office, Miss Granger."
I swallowed hard and followed her up to her office. She went around to her desk and sat to look at me. I stood and looked down, feeling more and more nervous with every passing minute.
"That was a very dangerous thing you did last night, Miss Granger," she said reproachfully.
"I know, professor, but it wasn't planned… I didn't mean to end up at Oliver's. I was scared by Draco and then I ran away from the opera and Oliver showed up because he knew that I was going to be there and he just wanted to say hello and-"
She held up her hand. "I realize that, Miss Granger… But you should have come back to Hogwarts last night. What if something had happened to you?"
I blinked. "I'm sorry, professor. I just… nothing happened… It was one o'clock in the morning when we realized that I had to get back and there aren't any buses or trains at that time and so I figured I'd stay…"
She nodded. "Yes, I know. I'm not going to punish you. I just wanted to know you were safe but I think that your relationship with Oliver Wood should not take prominence in your life… you may go." She turned to her books, signaling that we were finished.
I left, feeling miserable. But how was it my fault?
¤ ¤ ¤
"I didn't do anything wrong! Draco was the one who came onto me and forced me to leave and then McGonagall blames me? That's not fair!"
Harry nodded. "She was just worried, Hermione. We all were… You just disappeared…"
We were sitting in the library trying to finish some homework. I just couldn't get the conversation with McGonagall out of my head. It was bothering me.
"But I didn't mean to go to London in order to see Oliver. I didn't even know he was there!"
"Well, it didn't look good… I even went to her to tell her that I'd told Oliver but she didn't really listen to me…" He shrugged. "At least you didn't get into trouble for it…"
I was about to reply when Ron ran in and threw himself at me, hugging me hard. I stiffened. "Ron, what are you doing?"
He pulled back. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but as soon as I heard you'd gone missing I flipped. I thought Draco had murdered you or something! I'm sorry for being an ass!"
I stared at him for a moment, shocked, then burst into laughter. "It was only for a night, Ron."
"I know but we were afraid that something had happened to you and then it started me thinking because I'd been such a prat to you and the last thing we'd said to each other was horrible. So I'm sorry."
"And what about Oliver?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Well, that's going to take some time to get used to but alright… there are worse ones…"
I laughed again. "Oh, Ron..."
Harry, who had been watching us with baited breath the whole time, sighed happily. "Finally you two have made up…"
Author's note: Alright, sorry that it's so short but I've got writer's block… so if anyone has any ideas, let me know… I think it's winding down… well, soon anyway…