Chapter 4: At Last

As the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, Harry glanced out the window at the carriages waiting to take them to Hogwarts. He felt a slight shudder as he saw the thestrals harnessed to them, and then followed the others out of the compartment.

The Great Hall was as magnificent as ever. As Harry entered he looked up at the enchanted ceiling, which showed a clear night sky with hundreds of stars. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and smiled before he walked over to the Gryffindor table. It really was good to be back.

All the professors were seated at the staff table minus Hagrid and Professor McGonagall. Tonks was bubbling with excitement; she could barely keep still. As Harry scanned the table, Dumbledore caught his eye and gave him a supportive smile.

Professor McGonagall led the new first years in and, as they were being sorted, Hagrid slipped into the Hall and waved at Harry as he sat down. After all the new students were separated into their houses, the feast appeared on the tables and everyone ate.

After Harry finished his second helping of treacle tart, the plates were wiped clean and Dumbledore stood to say a few words. As always, the entire Hall immediately became silent to hear him.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore began. "Last year was eventful, to say the least. It was a year that, I am sure, many of us are glad to have behind us." ("Hear hear!" several students murmured.) "But now we are starting a new term, filled with new challenges and opportunities. I am certain that we will stand together and face them with courage.

"Mr. Filch would like to remind everyone that magic is not allowed in the hallways and the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Also, he would like to add that any merchandise purchased at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is forbidden in the hallways." As Dumbledore added this last bit, a humorous glint appeared in his eyes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione smirked. Memories of Fred and George's antics at the end of the last term must still leave Filch feeling sore.

Dumbledore finished his announcements, including introducing Tonks (who accidentally knocked over her chair standing up) and sent everyone to bed. Harry watched with a smile as Ron and Hermione rounded up the first years and herded them out of the Great Hall; then he headed of toward Gryffindor tower himself.

"Password?" the Fat Lady asked as he neared her portrait.

"Vita Nuova," Harry answered and climbed into the hole behind the portrait. He climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitories and sighed with satisfaction as he looked at the room he shared with Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean. As he dug through his trunk for his pajamas, something scratched against his finger. Harry pulled his clothes out and found Sirius' mirror lying broken in the bottom. He sighed and took out his wand.

"Reparo," Harry whispered and watched as the shards flew together. He took out the mirror, smiled, and set it on his nightstand. Yes, he thought, everything was going to be alright.

"Mr. Potter, a word with you," Professor McGonagall called at the end of Transfiguration. Harry weaved his way through the crowd of exiting students to make his way back to her desk.

"Yes Professor?"

"Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you in his office after dinner this evening." She leaned toward him so no one else could hear. "The password is 'Chocolate Frog.' "

Harry nodded absently and headed toward the exit. He was expecting this meeting sooner or later.

"Ah, Harry, come in; have a seat," Dumbledore said as Harry opened his office door. All the items in the office had once again been repaired since Harry had trashed it at the end of last term. Dumbledore sat down at his desk and looked at Harry with a fatherly smile. "How are you doing?" he asked.

Harry managed a smile. "I'm doing better," he answered.

"Good, that's good," Dumbledore said quietly. They both looked down in silence for a few moments. Then Dumbledore looked up, cleared his throat and continued. "It is probably better if I get straight to the point. I am sure you can guess that I called you here to do more than check on your well-being." Harry slowly lifted his head and nodded. "Now that you know about the prophecy, it is best that you begin extra training to better prepare you to fight Voldemort. You will come to my office every Monday at five o'clock to receive those lessons. On Tuesdays, you will go to Professor Snape's office to continue your Occlumency training."

Harry started. He was not expecting this. "I have to continue those lessons with Snape? Why not with you?" he exclaimed.

"Professor Snape Harry," Dumbledore corrected him. "If last year's events showed anything, it is that there must be more unity in our ranks. Professor Snape is an important member of the Order that should be given the trust and respect that he is due."

Harry opened his mouth to protest again, but Dumbledore raised his hand to stop him. "He is much more complex than you might think, Harry, and he has several issues that he must deal with if he is to be a more effective member of the Order. So do you. I feel that spending more time together will force you both to reconcile with each other." He leaned forward and fixed Harry with an intense stare. "I will also be checking your progress regularly, so I expect to see you improving."

Harry, aghast at the news that he still had to endure extra lessons with Snape, turned away in disgust. I don't believe it, he thought to himself, I just don't believe it.

When Harry returned to Gryffindor tower, he heard yelling coming from the common room.

"DON'T CALL HIM VICKY!"

"Bloody hell," Harry groaned. He did not need to deal with this right now.

Ron and Hermione were standing in front of a couch by the fire, yelling at each other in a heated argument and apparently oblivious of the fact that almost everyone in the common room was staring at them.

"Why do you keep writing to that bloke anyway?"

"What does it matter to you? Why should you even care?"

"YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?"

"YES I REALLY WANT TO KNOW!"

"FINE!"

Ron grabbed Hermione by her upper arms and, in one fluid motion, pulled her towards him and pressed his lips against hers in a long, hard kiss. Hermione let out a muffled scream and tried to pull away, but Ron had her arms pinned tightly to her sides. Then, slowly, she went limp in his hands.

As Hermione relaxed, Ron's grip on her arms relaxed too. After a moment they pulled out of the kiss and stared at each other. Then they seemed to whisper something as they wrapped their arms around each other and started kissing again. Slowly, their knees buckled and they fell onto the couch, still kissing.

Harry stood frozen with his eyes bulging and his jaw hanging open as he watched this entire scene. Then, his open mouth slowly turned into a grin as he watched his two best friends continue to make out on the couch.

"Harry! Oh Harry, I'm so sorry!" Harry turned to see Colin and Dennis Creevey running toward him with looks of concern.

"Huh? What? Why?" Harry asked distractedly.

Colin, who apparently thought the reason was obvious, gestured emphatically at the couple on the couch. "Isn't Hermione your girlfriend? And your best friend!"

Harry blinked for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? It's about time those two got together!" He stepped past the Creevey brothers and, still laughing, he ran upstairs to the dormitories.

When Harry woke up the next morning, he put on his glasses and glanced at Ron's bed, only to find that it was empty. Curious, he got up and washed and dressed, all the while looking around to see where Ron was. Then he headed down the stairs to the common room and jumped with surprise at what he found there.

There was Ron, still fully dressed and fast asleep on that same couch by the fireplace, his back leaning against the back of the couch. Hermione was lying next to him, her back pressed against his chest and his arm around her waist.

Harry grinned as he walked quietly toward them. He reached forward, grabbed his friends' shoulders, and gently shook them. "Come on now, wake up," he whispered.

Ron stirred. "Aww Mum, ten more minutes, please?" he mumbled as he pulled Hermione closer and buried his face in her hair. Hermione giggled as he did this and rolled over to face him.

Then they both opened their eyes.

They smiled dreamily at each other for a moment before they realized the compromised position they were in. The looks on their faces changed to panic as they both fell off the couch and then jumped up in a desperate attempt to disentangle themselves from each other.

Amused, Harry watched them for a few minutes before he cleared his throat. "Good morning," he said quietly.

Ron and Hermione whirled around. "Harry!" they both exclaimed. Their faces turned scarlet as they randomly looked and pointed at themselves, each other, and Harry. "Umm...well...we...er..." they muttered jerkily, apparently trying to explain themselves.

Harry stood there with his fist over his mouth, trying very hard not to laugh. "I hate to interrupt you, but we have class in--" he checked his watch "--about half an hour. I thought you might want to freshen up before breakfast."

Hermione looked at her own watch, yelped, and ran to the girls' dormitories. Ron however, still seemed to be in a state of shock. "I...we...er," he continued to mutter. Harry clucked his tongue sympathetically, grabbed Ron's elbow, and steered him toward the boys' rooms.

Ron went through his entire morning routine in a daze. When he finished getting ready, Harry led him back to the common room, just as Hermione was coming down. They saw each other, blushed, and looked away.

Harry looked apprehensively at each of them. Oh no, he thought as they stepped out of the portrait hole, don't tell me this is going to end before it even begins! He grabbed Ron's shoulder with one hand and Hermione's shoulder with his other hand and pulled them together as they walked to the Great Hall.

"So, my two best friends, together at last," he said jovially. Ron and Hermione turned to him looking very uncomfortable. Harry ignored them. "You know, I always knew this moment would come. I'm just surprised you took so long."

As they neared the entrance to the Great Hall, Harry pulled Ron and Hermione to the side and turned them to face each other. They were beginning to make eye contact again, although they still seemed a little uneasy. "You two are meant to be together; I've known it since the day we all met, and so have you," Harry said, looking meaningfully at each of them. "And I really wish that you two would stop playing this stupid game of yours and admit it before I lose my sanity."

Ron and Hermione glanced at him in surprise and then turned to each other. Harry took this as a sign of acknowledgement and walked away to give them some time alone.

Just as Harry sat down to breakfast, Ron and Hermione walked slowly by, throwing sidelong glances at each other. They went to the far, unoccupied end of the Gryffindor table and sat next to each other. Even though they were too far away for him to hear, Harry still tried to pay attention to what was happening.

They stared silently at each other for a few seconds, then started to talk. After a few minutes, relieved smiles broke out on both their faces. Ron reached up and tentatively put his hands on Hermione's cheeks. Then, he leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips.

Harry smiled when he saw this and turned back to his toast. It's about time, he thought. It's about time.