Harry Potter and the Levitating Ch'iyun: Part One

By infinitykat

"It's not the pale moon that excites me
That thrills and delights me, oh no
It's just the nearness of you…

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'd only grant me the right
To hold you ever so tight
And feel in the night the nearness of you"

Norah Jones, "The Nearness Of You"

Chapter Five: The Nearness Of You

A/N: Dedicated to the one I wish I were near to.

Although Ron felt that something had finally happened in his favor, his victory was somehow tainted. He had done it; he had asked Lizzy out and amazingly, she had said yes. But, as the week drew to a close, Ron was feeling bitter resentment. It was towards none other than his best friend and natural winner, Harry Potter.

He knew that Harry and Lizzy's regular disappearances that week were probably mere coincidence. He also realized Harry's obvious adoration of Hermione, but that didn't stop his hypotheses either. So on Friday night, feelings of pre-date jitters and suspiciousness-induced unease had come to a head and Ron made his way over to Harry who was doing homework with Hermione. Ron should have noticed Harry's frequent glances over at their mutual best friend and the nervous hand shake he had developed. But Ron's building temper kept him from seeing these signs as he placed his hands on the table in front of Harry and leaned towards him.

"Harry," he said, as quietly as he could manage, "Could I have a word? In private?" Harry looked up at Ron in confusion at his angry visage. He nodded and followed Ron up to their dormitory.

"All right," Ron said once they were alone, "I know what's been going on." Harry gave Ron his best innocently confused face, but inside he was panicked. Had Ron figured out Harry's feelings for Hermione? Or worse, his private occlumency lessons with Lizzy? Damn. He knew he'd have to confess sooner or later.

"What do you mean?" Harry said evenly. Ron folded his arms and glared.

"When were you going to tell me you and Lizzy have been going around together behind my back?" Ron shot out, unable to control himself any longer. Harry bit back a laugh.

"What-do you think we're having an…affair or something?" Harry asked incredulously. Ron deflated a little.

"Do you mean- you're not?" Ron squeaked. Harry let out his laugh now and shook his head.

"Of course not. Where'd you get that idea?" Ron scratched his head, feeling entirely relieved and embarrassed now.

"Well, you've both been absent from the common room every night this week, and I just thought…well, what else would I think?" Ron finished weakly. Harry sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. He sighed and looked up at Ron with weariness in his eyes.

"You better sit down," Harry said quietly. Ron did so, ears burning up again. "I was supposed to keep this a secret, but I should have known I couldn't keep the truth from you, mate." Harry sighed again. "I've been getting occlumency lessons from Lizzy. That's why she transferred here." Ron's mouth fell open.

"Seriously? She's teaching you occlumency? She's…she's brilliant!" Ron gazed fondly off into space for a moment; then shook his head to bring himself back to the conversation. "But why d'you have to keep quiet?" Harry shrugged.

"I dunno. Dumbledore's orders," Harry replied honestly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Ron. But you have to promise not to tell anyone, especially not Hermione." Ron knitted his brow together.

"Why not?" he asked, confused.

"It's bad enough that I told you; Hermione would flip out. She's been suspicious of Lizzy from the start and I know she'd forbid me to go. I think I'll wait until after everything's said and done so it won't be so bad," Harry replied glumly. Ron scratched his head, apparently thinking.

"Just answer me one more question: Why have you been having lessons every night this week? Didn't you only have your lessons with Snape once a week last year?"

"Yeah," Harry said, starting to look embarrassed, "I did. But…there were special circumstances this week."

"Like what?" Ron asked at length.

"We made a deal…If I worked really hard on occlumency this week, I'd ask…Hermione to Hogsmeade," Harry managed to say. Ron gasped.

"I knew it!" he exclaimed, standing up. Harry looked as though Ron had slapped him. "You fancy Hermione, don't you?" Harry nodded, his face completely red now.

"I don't know what to do, mate," he said uncomfortably. "I don't want her to get hurt if Voldemort…you know." Ron lowered himself slowly back to his seat, looking horrified.

"I didn't think of that…" Ron mumbled.

"Yeah, well, I have. And I've decided not to do it."

"But you've got to!" Ron said with conviction. "You can't wait around to tell her how you feel! Then it'll be too late. I know, mate. I've been there." Harry looked up at Ron quickly. He'd always suspected that Ron had fancied Hermione, but he never admitted it like this. Ron looked slightly sad as he whispered, "She's special. Don't let her get away."

---- --- -- -

Nothing was keeping Harry from asking Hermione now, except for…himself. Even Ron, whom Harry had been afraid would be resentful of him for going out with Hermione, was cheering him on. But as Harry returned to the common room after that revealing conversation with his best friend, he just knew he couldn't do it. Hermione was still bent over her homework were Harry had left her, curly hair falling into her face. Every once in a while she sat up a little, brow knitted in concentration, stroking the end of her quill against her chin. She had to be so wonderfully and intimidatingly beautiful in that moment.

Hermione noticed Harry looking at her and smiled curiously at him. Harry smiled weakly in return and made his way back to his seat at the table.

"So," Hermione said when Harry had quill in hand and was ready to get to work, "what did Ron want to talk to you about?"

"Nothing important," Harry lied. "He was just having pre-date jitters." Okay, he told himself, Only a half-lie. Nice going. Hermione sighed dramatically.

"Our little Ronnikins is finally growing up, isn't he?" she said with a smirk. Harry snorted.

"Hardly," he replied and Hermione giggled. Was it a nervous giggle? Harry's heart skipped a beat at the sound. "So," he continued, clearing his throat to rid the strangle his nerves had on it, "What are we going to do tomorrow now that we don't have Ron tagging along?" Hermione blushed, cursing her feelings. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up. Although, Harry had been inexplicably extra-dashing all week. Hermione's rational side told her that it was just her imagination, but her heart was swooning.

"Well, we do have our recruitment meeting, right?" she replied, knowing that's probably what he meant. She had learned her lesson on Monday.

"Oh- oh right. I suppose so," Harry said, looking a little disappointed. He looked around pathetically at all his homework, and started gathering it up. "I'm not going to finish this now. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Harry hurried towards the boys' staircase, his nerve completely lost.

"Wait!" Hermione called, and Harry stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around slowly to see Hermione standing before him, clutching her books to her chest protectively. She moved a step closer and smiled timidly. "Good night," she murmured, and in a swift motion kissed Harry softly on the cheek and disappeared up the girls' staircase.

"G'night," Harry called in delayed reaction, knowing she wouldn't hear him. He walked up the boys' staircase in daze.

Hermione stood against the first curve of wall in the girls' staircase, biting her lip and smiling in secret triumph.

---- --- -- -

"Oh God," Lizzy moaned, gazing pitifully at her reflection in the mirror. Apparently her "secret product" had worn off and her hair proudly presented itself as a lion's mane. Lizzy's comb was caught in the fray, stuck in above her crown. Lavender and Parvarti were biting back giggles as they coordinated their outfits.

"I guess you weren't lying then," Hermione said, feeling very grateful for her own shrub of hair this morning. Lizzy shook her head as she went to dig around in her trunk for something.

"Where is it?" Lizzy asked urgently. "Oh- here it is." She produced a petite pink bottle of potion and sat back down at her vanity. Hermione picked up the potion and examined the label as Lizzy attempted to rescue her comb.

"Tyler's Travel-Size Temporary Tress Savior," Hermione read, "For The Girl Who Needs Serious Follicle Faith." She laughed. "So this is your secret, I'm guessing?" Lizzy grinned and nodded.

"This guy is a hair genius," Lizzy said as she took the bottle from Hermione. "It's funny 'cause the Muggles think he's just a folk singer with really good Elvis hair." Hermione giggled, but Lavender and Parvarti continued their fluffing, apparently unaware that there was such thing as The King of Rock n' Roll.

"How does it work?" Hermione asked. Instead of answering, Lizzy carefully poured a nickel-sized drop of potion onto her palm and rubbed it between her hands. Then, with an air of a magician performing his greatest illusion, Lizzy raised her hands to her hair and started working the potion through. Instantly, her hair began to calm down and shrink into loose ringlets. Lizzy judged the effect in the mirror and, obviously deciding that it wasn't enough, ran her hands through her hair once more so that it was softly wavy. "Wow," Hermione whispered. "That stuff puts Sleekeazy's to shame."

"And it lasts for about two weeks," Lizzy said cheerfully, then looked at her hands that were still slick with product. She looked up at Hermione, down at her hands, and back up at Hermione with a sly face. Hermione's eyes widened in horror.

"No way, Lizzy. Don't even think about it. It's too much bother," Hermione pleaded firmly, backing away from her friend who was starting to look maniacal.

"You know you want to. I'll only use a little. You know, soften out some of that frizz-" Lizzy was just getting up, but Lavender and Parvarti, whose dream was to see Hermione tortured with beauty products, had tackled Hermione.

"What are you--for heaven's sake--gerroff me Lavender--Parvarti, really!"

"C'mon guys, let her go," Lizzy said reasonably, and Lavender and Parvarti backed off reluctantly. "Hermione, I swear I'll only use a little bit. And if you don't like it, I have some antidote in my makeup case." Hermione narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Lizzy while she sat up and straightened out her blouse. Lizzy stared back with a straight face, saying silently that she would not let this go. Hermione sighed.

"Fine," she said, defeated. "But only a little bit." Lavender and Parvarti squealed with glee and plopped onto Hermione's bed to get a good view. Lizzy carefully kneeled behind Hermione and smoothed out her hair once and paused to admire the effect. She ran her hands through Hermione's hair once more and gasped.

"It's perfect, Hermione," she declared. The patient nervously approached the vanity and studied her reflection in the mirror. What she saw was completely unexpected.

---- --- -- -

"I'm starving," Ron moaned, rubbing his hand over his belly. He and Harry were slouching on the sofa in the common room, longing to go to breakfast. "What in the bleeding hell is taking them so long?" Harry shrugged.

"Search me," he replied. "I'd ask Hermione, but she's up there as well." One of the many things Harry loved about Hermione is that she was very frank with him about the mysteries of women. He could tell that Ron desperately needed her advice at the moment; he sighed exasperatedly and glanced at his watch. What he saw must have nettled him because he sighed again as he slapped his wrist down on the couch.

"Well," Harry said, fearing the food would be gone if he didn't leave now, "I'm off. See you-" Harry froze in mid-sentence, seeing feet appear just under the door frame to the stairs. Lavender and Parvarti descended the stairs and giggled at the looks on Ron and Harry's faces.

"They're just coming down, you two," Lavender said, winking. Ron swallowed audibly while Harry forced his eyes to look anywhere but the girls' staircase. He tried to mentally shake himself, thinking that this was absurd; there was no date for him. But, there he was, dreadfully apprehensive for some unknown reason. That tiny little insignificant kiss had him reeling and he had no idea how to act around Hermione now.

There was no time to contemplate it any longer, though, because just then Lizzy and Hermione descended the stairs, causing Ron to leap up from the couch. Lizzy smiled as Ron held out his arm in a surprisingly calm manner. She took it and they climbed out the portrait hole, leaving Harry and Hermione awkwardly looking at each other in the common room.

"Hmm," Harry said, studying Hermione's hair.

"What?" she replied quickly. Harry shook his head.

"Sleekeazy's?" he asked knowingly. Hermione touched her hair and smiled weakly.

"Oh no- it's something Lizzy has. Works well doesn't it?" Harry nodded, smirking profoundly. Hermione bit her lip. "It looks stupid, doesn't it?" He shook his head quickly, eyeing her shimmering ringlets.

"No- it's just…different, that's all," Harry said reassuringly. "So…shall we?"

---- --- -- -

Harry and Hermione stewed in a kind of awkward silence that had becoming increasingly common this term as they ambled towards the Great Hall and breakfast. Hermione searched desperately for something to say; she tried to remember what they used to talk so easily about and came up with nothing. Harry cleared his throat and glanced out the window, avoiding Hermione's gaze. The sound made Hermione's mind jump to something she never talked about: Quidditch. Before she could stop herself, Hermione said, "How's Quidditch practice going?"

Harry looked quickly over at her, stammering, "Oh- it's..it's going good."

"That's good," she replied swiftly, nodding. There was a prolonged pause. "And Katie?" Hermione asked at length. "How is she doing as captain?"

"Rather good," Harry said, shrugging. "She's good the maniacal Wood attitude down pat. I don't know how it happens, but his spirit is being passed down through the captains." Hermione smiled, feeling too awkward to laugh. She was trying her best to control her expressions for sanity's sake.

"How's Ron holding up?" Hermione continued to prod, amazed that this subject was the one to break the ice. Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and grinned ironically.

"Better. The Slytherins haven't been coming round as often as they used to. You know, once he gets rid of his nerves, he's rather pro." Hermione smiled again.

"That's good," she said again, and meant it. "At least he'll have that if he bombs today." Harry's eyes widened incredulously.

"Hermione!" he scolded, shocked. "I happen to have complete faith in him."

"Really?" Hermione replied, curiously gazing at him. Harry nodded, but broke into laughter under her stare.

"Well, maybe we should trail them just in case." They stopped at the Great Hall's doors, and looked along the Gryffindor table for their charges. Ron and Lizzy were sitting toward the center of the table, talking together and laughing. Hermione smiled softly at the couple while Harry watched her. "You know," he confessed quietly, maybe hoping she wouldn't hear. "You look beautiful, but I think I like the way your hair usually is."

Hermione looked down and had the grace to blush at his admission.

---- --- -- -

Ron mentally smacked himself in the forehead. Repeatedly. He had been told before that he was a clumsy thick moron of a git who couldn't get a girl to save his life, but he didn't think it was this serious. Suffice it to say, his date wasn't going the way he had hoped.

It took a spectacular trip and tumble down the sloping lawns, a misplaced sample of cockroach clusters, and several Malfoy "encounters" to convince Ron that his first date was to be his last. As he and Lizzy strolled down the main hub of Hogsmeade, he chanced a glance over at her. Lizzy was looking around at shop windows with a slightly amused look on her face, which Ron took as a sign that she was enjoyed his mistrials very much and would probably retell them to a horrified group of the girls Ron would have to face everyday for the rest of the school year.

Lizzy caught Ron looking at her and flashed a grin. It was indeed amusing to watch this awkward boy stumble through their date, which she did realize was his first without being told. But, the effort was there, and that's what mattered to her. It was also very interesting exploring the village with such a seasoned expert. They'd been to every decent shop in town -Zonko's twice- and his tour guide skills were impeccable, even if his walking skills weren't. She laughed to herself, remember his early fumble before they had even reached the Hogwarts gates.

Ron noticed her mirth and his ears shot up in a vibrant crimson. "What?" he asked, unnerved. Lizzy chuckled and shook her head.

"Nothing. I…" she trailed off at the discouraged look on Ron's face. "Nevermind." She sighed and looked awkwardly around for some kind of subject change. Her eyes fell on a store they hadn't been too. It was strange too because there was quite a crowd of students trying to enter. "Hey," Lizzy said, pointing, "Let's go in there."

Ron looked where she was pointing and paled. It couldn't be- it was. Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, Hogsmeade Branch. Fred and George has been joking over the summer that they had enough profit to expand to two shops, but Ron didn't think they'd actually do it. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse…

Lizzy tugged on Ron's sweater sleeve, attempting to pull him out of his daze. "C'mon," she said with a look of confusion on her face, "Let's go."

"Um-" Ron said suddenly, "Let's not. We could go to the Three Broomsticks instead…" Lizzy pouted at him, a look he had discovered she tuck safely away for desperate situations like this.

"C'mon," she said again, "What's so-" Lizzy looked back and now noticed the name of the shop. "Wait- does- does someone in your family own this shop?" Ron nodded slowly, trying not to wince.

"My brothers…" Ron mumbled, reluctantly letting Lizzy pull him towards the shop.

"You have brothers?" she said, surprised.

"Yeah…five…"

"Five?" Lizzy exclaimed, her brows raised. "They don't all own this shop, do they?" She smirked slightly at Ron's crimson face.

"No, no," he replied hastily, "Only two of them. They're twins…and you know, you don't have to meet them now…if you don't want-"

"What are you blathering about, Ronnikins? No one in their right mind wouldn't want to meet us!" came a familiar voice. Ron turned wearily to see Fred, standing in the doorway of his shop and grinning at him. Fred caught sight of Lizzy and let out a low whistle. "And who do we have here?" he asked, offering his hand.

Lizzy laughed and said, "I'm Lizzy." Fred took her out-stretched hand and bent down to kiss it with a flourish, only to be roughly pushed aside by someone who looked surprisingly like him.

"'Allo, love," he said smoothly, "George Weasley at your service." He kissed her hand slowly and Fred cleared his throat. "Oh, and this is Fred," he added offhandedly.

"Nice way to treat your business partner, George," Fred reprimanded, crossing his arms over his chest. Ron became very interested in a spot of dried mud on the steps of the Weasley establishment, sensing a Fred-and-George routine coming on.

"Only trying to protect my self interest, Fred. Not every girl likes the twin act, you know."

"But we play it well, don't we, George?"

"Yes we do and- hold on, are you on a date with our dear younger brother?" Ron studied the mud spot more intently, half-heartedly scraping at it with his sneaker. Lizzy gave an embarrassed chuckle.

"Yeah, I am," she said, putting her hand on Ron's arm and causing him to look at her in horror. Fred and George's faces broke into identical evil grins.

"Well, well," George said with obvious satisfaction, folding his arms also, "Little Ronnikins is on his first date?" Ron flushed harder, gently trying to pry Lizzy's hand off his arm.

"Yes," Lizzy replied, unwavering, "He's giving me a tour of Hogsmeade."

"But no tour is complete without a little stroll around Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes!" Fred said, ushering her inside. "So what's the deal, are you a prankster? Or are you just looking for some Skiving Snackboxes to get you out of class?"

"There's Pucking Pastels and Nose-bleed Nougats, Fever Fudge and Fainting Fancies…" George added, pointing, "Whatever you need, we've got it."

"Thanks," Ron said, finally finding his voice. "I think we'll just look around if you don't mind."

"Oh sure," Fred said, "It's your date."

"Can't wait to tell mum, Ronny-poo." George added and they disappeared into the crowd, guffawing.

"Kill 'em," Ron muttered, and not for the first time that year.

"Is this really your first date?" Lizzy asked incredulously. Ron nodded miserably. Lizzy flashed him a small smile. "It's mine too," she said softly, turning to a display of Skiving Snackboxes. Ron blushed, pleasantly surprised. A small hope blossomed in his chest.

Maybe his first date wasn't going to turn out as bad as he had thought.

…to be continued.

Post note/credits: This chapter took me effing forever! A date with Ron is hard to write…I need to develop Lizzy…bah.

Harry and the Potters are awesome. And so is their song, "Fred And George." go here: http/ It's wizarding rock at its best. And Fred and George were rocking their own song during the last scene.

If you got the joke, or maybe not, Tyler of Tyler's Travel-Size Temporary Tress Savior is Tyler Hilton! Yay! His hair is REALLY big!