Chapter 22

Preparing

She'd set out the drinks on the table and read for a while with Jamie, she'd tidied a few things in the kitchen and then taken herself to the bathroom to throw up. With this accomplished, Hermione returned to the living room and sat on the couch next to Jamie, waiting for the inevitable.

"Not nervous are you 'Mione?" Harry said.

"Course not." But please stop calling me that this is hard enough.

"They'll be fine."

"I know." But please let me crawl into a hole and die.

Harry surveyed her silently, trying to read her thoughts, but she was still so guarded he couldn't even tell if she was happy to be back.

"I'm gonna feed Buckbeak before everyone gets here ok?"

"Ok" Hermione replied vaguely, but she barely heard Harry leave the room.

A rush of noise from the fireplace brought Hermione out of her reverie. She looked over and was more than pleased to see a beaming Ron Weasley. She got up from the couch and was enveloped in a huge hug.

"Geez Hermione – its good to see you. I'm so glad you're back."

"Thanks Ron." Oh please don't start crying, you won't stop.

"No need to ask who you are." Ron said to Jamie. Jamie was still so engrossed in his book that he'd not even noticed Ron arrive. Ron smiled down at him-"Just like his mother" he said fondly.

She smiled. Thank God for Ron.

"Jamie" she said softly.

"Yeah Mum-oh." Jamie said realising there was another person in the room, who was looking at him funny.

"Jamie – this is my friend Ron. Ron- well this is Jamie."

"Wouldn't of guessed." Ron said to her-"Hi Jamie – its really great to meet you."

"Its nice to meet you too." Said Jamie, moving to stand by his Mother.

"I got you a present – well, sorta to say welcome."

"Ron you didn't have to do that." Said Hermione.

"Oh ignore her mate- go on open it." Jamie obliged.

"WOW! Mum-it's a real flying broomstick. WOW!"

"It's just a model but when you're older we'll get you a real full sized one-"

"When you're a lot older Jamie, right Uncle Ron?" Hermione said with meaning.

"Course yeah."

"Thanks Uncle Ron – it's brilliant."

"What's brilliant?" Said Harry walking into the room. "Hey Ron."

"Hey mate – just given the little man a gift. Firebolt like yours-"

"Daddy you have a firebolt – a real one? Can I see it? Can I have a go?" Hermione looked sick, Harry noticed and he'd already figured he wouldn't make the day worse for her so-

"Well I do have a firebolt, yes you can see it but not today, and you can only have a go on it when you're older – that do?"

"Ok – can I go play with this in the garden?"

"Sure – go ahead."

"Thanks!" Jamie replied and ran off to play.

"Garden?" said Hermione.

"Yeah we added it last week – pretty cool actually" said Ron.

"Where's Luna ad Arthur?" Harry asked Ron.

"Following on – Arthur decided to throw up everywhere so Luna said I should come on first."

There was a bit of an awkward silence that consisted mainly of Hermione looking at their own feet, and Ron looking between them. It reminded them all of when Harry and Hermione had told Ron that they were dating; no body knew quite what to say.

"Er-just in case anyone asks... erm- are you too..."

"What?" Harry said.

"Well you know- together" Ron said shrugging.

"No" they both said in unison.

"Oh-right." Harry and Hermione both breathed a silent sigh of relief- "Why not?" Ron added.

Harry didn't quite know how to answer Ron and Hermione seemed to have lost the power of speech.

"It's just- well- you know, everyone's gonna wanna know why you guys aren't together, especially since you have Jamie now and well-you know..."

"Know what?" Harry said dimly.

"Well you know-still have feelings for each other" Ron said uncomfortably, perhaps realising that he was actually speaking his thoughts as well as thinking them.

I hate you Ronald Weasley. "We're just friends Ron." Hermione said quietly.

"Right. Ok... Food all ready or do you need a hand with anything." Good-food-safe topic – now don't look at Harry and everything will be fine.

Fortunately Harry seemed to thinking along the same lines and dragged Ron into the kitchen under the pretence of sorting out more food.

It took Hermione quite a while to compose herself, particularly with the thought of Dumbledore, McGonagall and Molly Weasley arriving soon. She couldn't quite believe Ron and his questioning; she knew he'd not asked to make her or Harry feel awkward, that he was just being a friend, but the fact that he'd waded into a difficult situation and made it worse was just typical. She didn't really blame him, she supposed they'd all want to know why her and Harry weren't together, but she herself did not want to analyse and speculate and deal with any of it. It was easier to just leave it, she'd told herself, and that was that. You just have to get over it. Get over him.

And then they all arrived.