What I Learned in 7th Year

Disclaimer: Wow these things are annoying aren't they? Oh well as you all know and aren't reading I don't own these characters

Chapter 8: Happenings at Hogwarts

Back at Hogwarts midterms were drawing to close for Ron and Harry's liking.

"Come on mate we've got to study!" Ron groaned trying to get Harry's attention. "I know you miss Mione and frankly I do to but I really cant fail or mum will kill me!" He said pulling Harry away from the window seat where he was watching the rain come down in sheets.

"Yeah I know," Harry groaned getting off and following Ron to their table. "It's just hard to focus since she's been gone and this weather sure isn't helping my mood. Lets grab our stuff and head up to the library."

As they walked through the empty corridors it was painfully silent with an exception of the sound of the pounding rain.

"Come on mate, you've been way to quiet lately." Ron groaned, finally fed up with the constant silence. "I'm starting to think hanging out with ferret-face would be more interesting! What's up?"

"You know Ron," Harry said and stopped walking. "I just miss Hermione. It seems like it has been ages since she left." He finished quietly with a shoulder shrug.

"I know mate, I know." Ron sighed. "But I don't think she would really want us to mop around about her being gone. Do you?"

"Look Ron, she didn't want to go! It's our 7th and last year here at Hogwarts and I want to spend it with her!" Harry retorted getting frustrated that Ron wasn't on his side.

"Of course she didn't want to go, but she did! Moping won't bring her back! It will just make the damned time go slower!"

"I can't help it Ron! I'm lonely!"

By now they were both all but yelling at each other and both equally annoyed and frustrated with the other.

"You shouldn't be lonely! You have me here! You have plenty of friends! You are just choosing to mop around and ignore us!"

"God Ron you're so dense sometimes!"

"I'm dense? You're the one who hasn't paid attention in class lately! You're the on always spacing out, even in Quidditch! You're the one who is ignoring all their friends and everyone's concerns! And you call me dense!" Ron bellowed angrily.

"You don't get it do you Ron?"

"I don't know, what don't I get?" Ron growled.

"Love! You don't get it! You've never loved someone and then had them leave you! You just don't understand!"

"I get love just fine Harry. It's you that I don't get!"

"Oh really? Well let me explain it to you. I love Hermione Ron! I love her! And now she's gone and it sucks. And now I'm standing here fighting with you! Damn it! This isn't what I want! There, did you get that?" Harry roared. Ron just stood and stared at Harry. He just gave a sigh at his flabbergasted friend, and in a tired voice that wasn't to off from the tired voice that Remus had often used in their third year. "I'm sorry Ron, I'm sorry. I'm just so stressed and worried."

"It's okay mate, and I'm sorry to. I know how you're feeling. But we've got to stick together and not get in these fights or this time will seem so much longer." Ron said and once again they stood in silence. Except this silence was not quite so awkward or annoying as the past silences had been. In fact this one was welcome. As they began to head back up to the library they were once again stopped when a sleek, black owl flew in through the hallway and stopped in front of them. It dropped a note at their feet then with out waiting for a reply or treat flew out through a nearby window.

"What the heck?" Ron said as he watch the owl fly away then bent down to pick up the letter at his feet. He looked over the envelope for a return but found nothing but their names written in handwriting that he couldn't recognize.

"Who do you think it's from?" Harry asked as he walked over to his friend and looked over his shoulder at the note.

"Only one way to find out," Ron said and then raced down the hall to the corridor with Harry running after him. They soon arrived at the library since a teacher had not stopped them.

As they arrived panting and tired in the library the quickly headed to the back of the library and Hermione's usual table.

"Open it mate!" Harry said excitedly as they slid into chairs.

"Okay, Okay," Ron said with a laugh at his mate's anxiousness. He quickly opened the letter and read through it. With each word read, Ron's eyes grew wider and wider and Harry's curiosity grew to.

"Bloody hell, it's from Lupin Harry!" Ron said after what felt like ages but had really only been a few minutes.

"Really? Well read it out loud!" Harry said in a mix of excitement, curiosity, and anxiousness.

"Ron and Harry,

I know a letter from me is probably the last thing that you were expecting to get. It's regarding Hermione. Yes you two she's perfectly fine, but I'm trying to arrange with Dumbledore a visit from the two of you. I have already talked to him, but after you both read this letter you need to talk to him together. It will be risky if you guys are allowed to visit but I think that this is a chance we are all willing to take.

Remember that this is a secret no matter what the out come is. If you are allowed to come than that truly is wonderfully, but she can't know about. I want to keep it a surprise. Yet if you aren't allowed for some reason, I especially do not wan ther to know because I do not want her to be upset over it.

My best wishes on your midterms and for the both of us here I hope to see you soon. I promise Hermione is doing just fine and I will keep her safe and I also hope that we will be seeing you two soon! The best, R. J. Lupin."

"Well you heard the man Ron! Let's go talk to Dumbledore!" Harry said as he grabbed his school bag a rushed out of the library, receiving a glare from Madam Pince.

As Ron rushed after him he gave a quick, "Sorry."

As they skidded to a stop outside of the stone gargoyle that guarded the way to Dumbledore's office the saw Professor McGonagall waiting outside to meet them.

"I thought we'd be seeing you as soon as you got that letter," she said as soon and led them up to the headmaster's office.

"Ah, Mr. Potter and Mr. Wealsey. I do believe that I know why you're here, and I will be kind and not hold you in to much suspense." He said with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

"Well can we go see her or not?" Harry asked impatiently. "sir," he added quickly and slightly embarrassed.

"Calm, down Mr. Potter. Yes you may go and visit Miss Granger." He said letting out a chuckle at the big smiles on their faces. "But not until Christmas Eve," the headmaster added. The smiles on their faces drooped a little but still held.

"But sir, that's almost a month away!" Harry protested.

"Yes it is Mr. Potter, but I do believe that after all this time another month of waiting will not kill either of you boys." McGonagall added. "Now hurry on to dinner, it's getting late."

"Thank you sir." Harry said as they headed towards the door.

"Yeah thanks a bunch professor," Ron agreed as he followed his mate out the and down to dinner.

"This is brilliant Harry!" Ron said as they walked down to dinner. "In a month we'll get to see Hermione again!"

"I know! Isn't it great" Harry agreed happily. Then suddenly his smile faded off his face and a look of worry replaced it. "Hey Ron?"

"Yeah Harry? What's wrong now?"

"Well, I just thought," Harry said and after receiving a nod from Ron meaning he would laugh continued. "Well what if she's not as happy to see us as we are? I mean what if she doesn't like me anymore? For all we know she could be in love with Lupin."

"Come on mate lets just stay happy. I can't say anything for her just for the fact I don't want to be wrong about it but just wait until we get there to see and if that does happen then just try to stay happy while we're there. You'll never forgive yourself if you ruin this chance mate, I know it." Ron said trying to sound comforting as well as helpful.

"You're right. No matter what happens I wont ruin this visit! I promise you that I wont." Harry said sounding more confident than he was feeling about the matter.

"Good now lets go eat, I'm starved."

"Umm professor?" Hermione asked over dinner back at the cottage.

"Yes Hermione." Remus said looking up from an old Daily Prophet he was re-reading.

"Well I thought that maybe we should talk about what happened a few nights ago."

"Well Hermione my memory seems to be a little weak from that moment, but I do remember waking up in the morning the next day and finding some beautifully bandaged wounds. But I have a feeling that more happened that I need to know about." He lied. 'You liar! You know exactly what happened!' his conscience scolded. 'I know it is but it might be easier if she just talks about what's bothering her and I think this might help.' He argued back. 'O, God. Now I'm arguing my self.' He thought with an inward sigh. 'You need a girl mate,' his conscience told him. 'Shut up!' He thought getting frustrated.

"Well, sir." Hermione paused. "Well, yopu kind of came stumbling in and I helped bandage your well, rather disgusting cuts as you already mentioned."

At this Remus let out a chuckle. 'Yes they are rather gross aren't they.' He thought. "Is there anything else that happened Hermione?" He prompted, trying to get her to the part that was really bothering her.

"Well, yeah. One thing kind of led to another and we umm kissed once or twice," she finished turning a bright shade of red. "I think that it was more of a umm comfort thing though sire. We were both rather scared and it just umm kind of happened. You're not mad are you professor?" She asked seeing a small frown appear on his face.

"Oh no Hermione not at all. I do agree probably on your reasons as why it could've happened" He said with a small sigh. "Well its getting rather late. I do suggest that you head to bed because I have quite the lesson plan for the next few weeks."

"Of course. Good night Professor." She said and headed off to her bedroom.

As she left the room he headed over a started up a fire. As he sat and watched the flames he became lost once again in his thoughts.

'Of course it was just comfort you idiot! You also knew very well what happened that night. O Hermione I don't remember! Gosh you're stupid. But of course she thought it was comfort only. But oh what comfort it was. Woah, there Remus, she's just a 17 year old girl! Besides Harry's in love with her and after loosing Sirius this is the last thing he needs to happen to him!'

As Hermione went to her room she flopped down on her bed frustrated with herself. 'Nice cover up Mione! Not! O it was just comfort. Am I kidding myself or what? It was more than that to me! God I'm such an idiot!'

A/N: Sorry I took so long to get this up! I know its also short but I promise the next one will be up soon and it will be much longer and for all you fluff lovers out there: It will have fluff! NOW PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!