Chapter 12- On a break

Harry was woken up early in the morning, to the sound of Ron's alarm clock.

'Why is your alarm going off?' Harry mumbled sleepily, covering his head with his pillow.

'To wake us up for lessons.' Ron mumbled back.

'But it's Saturday!' Harry exclaimed.

Ron rolled over to uncover his mouth.

'Crap.' He said simply, then grabbed his wand and levitated his clock out of the window, before letting it fall to the ground.

'Why'd you do that?' Harry questioned, rubbing his eyes. 'Now you don't have a clock.'

'It doesn't matter.' Ron yawned. 'I'm rich, remember. I can just get another one.'

After the boys were showered and dressed, they felt a lot more awake. They decided to take a walk before breakfast, as they were up so early.

The castle was practically empty. Harry knew the castle was never this empty in the other world. There were always people hanging around with sad faces, and bags under their eyes. There were people with letters they were too scared to open, incase they revealed that a loved one had been killed in the war, and there was always someone crying.

Harry quickly pushed these thoughts from his mind. In the corridor he walked down, there was a small group of Hufflepuff girls giggling, two sunny faced Ravenclaw first years, and Mrs Norris, who had an almost happy skip in her stride.

Once they had reached an empty corridor, which didn't take long, Ron spoke up.

'I think I'm actually looking forward to the ball this year.' Ron smiled, with his hands in his pocket. 'Now that I don't have to worry about getting a date.'

Harry had forgotten all about the ball.

'Oh yea.' Harry said. 'So I guess you've got over the initial shock of Hermione being your girlfriend.'

'More or less.' Ron said, shrugging his shoulders. 'It's no big deal.'

Harry smiled to himself. In the old world, if anyone had suggested him and Hermione as a couple, he would have gone barmy.

'I mean,' Ron said, noticing Harry's face. 'Lots of things are different in this world.'

'Yea.' Harry agreed, Ginny being the first thing that had popped into his mind.

'So, who are you going to ask to the ball?' Ron asked, casually. 'Got anyone in mind?'

The image Harry had seen in Divination, of him and Ginny dancing, suddenly appeared in his mind.

'No.' Harry lied, looking at his feet. 'Not yet.'

'Well you've got ages, I suppose.' Ron said. 'The ball isn't until the day before we leave for the holidays.'

The holidays. Harry's face lit up. He couldn't wait until the holidays. He'd be able to finally meet his parents.

Harry and Ron discussed the holidays, until they found themselves outside the portrait of the fat lady.

'Did we just walk round in a circle?' Ron asked, confused.

'Apparently.' Harry said, eyeing the portrait. 'Hippogriff.'

The portrait swung open, to reveal the entrance to the common room.

The boys climbed through, to find the common room the same as they had left it a few hours before: empty.

'Everyone's gone to breakfast.' Said Hermione's voice.

The boys strode over, and found Hermione curled up on a chair in front of the fire, with a book. She wore a short denim skirt, a white gypsy top and pretty sandals.

'Where have you two been?' Hermione asked, putting her book down.

'Just for a walk.' Ron said, sitting on the arm of her chair. 'So are you ready for breakfast?'

'Do you only think about your stomach, Ron?' Hermione growled.

'Stop it now.' Harry warned the pair. 'You two can't keep arguing. You've got to pretend you're a couple.'

'We weren't arguing.' Hermione said, in a perky voice.

'You really do jump to conclusions, Harry.' Ron said, shaking his head. 'Ready for breakfast?'

'Ready when you are.' Hermione said, jumping up from her chair, and the pair headed towards the exit.

Harry sighed, shaking his head, and followed them to the Great Hall.

They stopped outside for a moment, and Harry was unsure why, until Ron held out his hand to Hermione.

'Ready to be Hogwarts favorite couple?' Ron asked Hermione.

'Favorite?' Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

'So I've heard.' Ron said, shrugging his shoulders and going a little bit red.

'Sure.' She said, and took his hand in a friendly manor.

The trio walked into the Great Hall, and found all eyes on them. Girls gave Hermione the most jealous looks, and boys the same to Ron. Some girls started to whisper vigorously to their neighbors, and some smiled fondly at the couple.

The trio found seats with the Marauders, and were surprised that they asked no questions regarding Ron and Hermione's relationship. Lavender and Parvati, on the other hand, looked like they were about to explode. Hermione signaled to them that she would tell them later, and they left her alone after that.

As breakfast drew to a close, the post arrived. Ron received a letter from his parents, regarding Christmas arrangements, Hermione the same. Harry didn't expect a letter, so was surprised when a large brown owl, dropped a letter on his plate.

'Whose that from?' Ron asked, putting his letter to one side.

Harry opened up the letter, and read it to himself.

Harry,

Please meet me in my office at 1pm. I will explain then.

Lupin

'I've got to meet Lupin later.' Harry said.

'Why?' Dean asked. 'Have you got detention or something?'

'Have you been pranking without us?' Seamus asked, in a fake hurt voice.

'No.' Harry said, rolling his eyes. 'I don't know what he wants.'

'He probably just wants to have a chat.' Erin said. 'You forget that he likes to check up on us. I think Mum and Dad put him up to it.'

'But it says, 'I'll explain then.'' Harry said, putting the letter into his pocket.

'Don't worry.' Dean smiled, standing from the table. 'Come on then, my fellow Marauders, I say we go for a walk.'

'Good idea.' Harry said, standing with a grin on his face.

Erin stood up, and Dean looked her up and down.

'Are you a Marauder?' He said, with a raised eyebrow.

She sat down again, and poked her tongue out at him, playfully.

'Come on then.' Harry ordered. 'Lets go.'

As the Marauders left the Hall, Lavender and Parvati took their seats, and began questioning Hermione, giggling.

As it turned out, Ron wasn't going to escape questioning after all. As soon as the Marauders were outside, grins spread across Seamus and Dean's mouths.

'So?' Dean asked, punching Ron playfully in the shoulder. 'How did you two get back together?'

'You know,' Ron began, a smile flooding his face. 'We just talked things over. We didn't really break up, you see. We were just on a break.'

'So how did you get on a break in the first place?' Seamus asked. 'One minute you two were all over each other, the next you were barely speaking.'

'We were going to ask you before, but we know you hate it when we interfere.' Dean grinned. 'So what happened, Padfoot?'

'Ok, ok.' Ron said, sighing. 'We got on a break over some silly argument. I can't even remember what it was about. We just argued, and Hermione said 'I've had enough of you being stupid,' or something like that. Then I said, 'are you breaking up with me?' Well she said, 'no, but I think we need a break.''

Dean and Seamus made ohhhing sounds, and Harry had to hold his stomach, to stop himself from laughing. Ron, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the attention.

'So, how did you get back together?' Seamus asked.

'Oh, I just said I was sorry.' Ron said, putting his hands in his pocket. 'Then she went all soft on me, like girls do.'

Dean and Seamus nodded in agreement.

A few hours later, Dean and Seamus left Ron and Harry outside. They wanted to go and check out girls for the ball, but Harry and Ron bailed. Instead, they sat under their favorite tree, by the lake.

They were soon joined by Hermione, who slumped next to Ron, and laid her head tiredly on his shoulder. She was panting, and red in the face.

'Hey!' Ron said. 'Since when did fake girlfriends get leaning rights?'

Hermione lifted her head, and gave Ron an evil glare.

'So you finally got away?' Harry asked, laughing.

'Just about.' She said, wiping her forehead. 'They wanted details.'

'Details?'

'They?'

'Lav, Pav, Sav, Tav, Mav and the rest of the gang.' Hermione sighed. 'They crowded around me, and wouldn't let me go until they new everything! And Ginny and Erin were no help. They just sat and laughed, while the beasts pulled our break up to pieces!'

'Aw, you poor thing.' Ron said in fake sympathy. Harry just laughed.

Hermione tried to hit Ron on the arm, but missed and hit the tree, to both the boys amusement.

'Come here.' Ron said, putting his arm round Hermione, and pulling her towards him. Although she was rather shocked, Hermione lent her head tiredly on his shoulder again, and closed her eyes. 'So, details?'

Hermione growled, and lifted her head.

'They wanted to know what you were wearing, how you were standing...' Hermione said. 'How you wore your hair.'

Ron ran his fingers through his hair, defensively.

'And I told them all those things.' Hermione stated, flatly. 'But oh no, that wasn't enough. They wanted more. They wanted to know how we hold hands, and our pet names, and all sorts.'

'So you said?' Ron asked, slightly worried.

'I said we hold hands with our fingers laced.' Hermione said, twiddling her robe. 'And I made up some pet names.'

'Which were?' Harry grinned.

'Now you have to remember I was put on the spot...' Hermione said, defensively. Ron raised his eyebrows. 'I said our pet names were cuddly bear and hunny bunny.'

'What!' Ron exclaimed.

'I was put on the spot.' Hermione said, still fiddling with her robe.

'Cuddly bear and hunny bunny...' Harry laughed.

'You can shut up mate.' Ron warned, then turned to Hermione. 'But they didn't ask anything else?'

'Oh yes they did.' Hermione said, raising her eyebrows. 'And it's not pretty.'

'Tell me.' Ron said, in a low warning voice.

'Yea, please do.' Harry grinned.

'Well, they wanted to know about your kissing skills.' Hermione said, now fiddling with a button on Ron's robes.

Harry exploded with laughter, and Ron went bright red.

'And?' Ron asked, very stiffly.

'I said you were ok.' Hermione muttered.

'OK?' Ron said. 'That is so not fair!'

'Calm down!' Hermione said, not sounding too bothered. 'I didn't really. I made up some fluff about fireworks, and what not. They seemed quite impressed.'

Ron shook his head.

'If you weren't my fake girlfriend...' Ron said with a smile, and Hermione hit him humorously on the leg.

Ron and Hermione suddenly seemed to notice how close they were sitting. Ron had him arm around Hermione, and his hand was resting comfortably on her waist. Hermione was sitting close up to Ron, with her head resting on his shoulder, and her hands fiddling with his robe, on his leg.

Hermione sharply lifted her head, and Ron removed his arm.

'Well now we've got that sorted.' Hermione said, almost too cheerfully.

'Yea.' Ron muttered, before clearing his throat.

Harry just stared at his two best friends in amusement, before suggesting they head back in.

The trio made their way back to the castle, Ron and Hermione hand in hand. The pair were quite amusing to watch, as they kept forgetting they were holding hands, and kept slapping each other. Harry laughed along, but couldn't help feeling that it was a little weird. It was something which would take time to get used to.

As they reached the castle, Ron suggested they visit the house elves, to cheer Hermione up, but Harry had to leave to visit Lupin.

Once Ron and Hermione had left, it finally struck Harry that he didn't know where Lupin's office was. He wasn't the defense against the dark arts teacher in this world, so there was no point going to his old office. Harry was contemplating going to the staff room, when his questions were answered.

Harry heard Lupin's voice coming from one of the rooms, to his left. Harry stopped for a moment to listen, and decided it was definitely him. Harry checked his watch, before knocking and entering.

The room was large, and looked much like Lupin's office had in Harry's 3rd year. It was filled with similar things as before, except there were less dark detectors, and more strange animals. To Harry's left, was a cage of what looked like ugly flying twigs, and to his right, a tank of water with something dark swimming in it. At the front of the room, Lupin sat behind a large desk, with a small unicorn perched on the top, and Ginny Weasley sitting in front.

'Good day, Harry.' Lupin called to him, before adding to Ginny: 'We'll leave it here for today.'

Ginny rose gracefully from her chair. She patted the tiny unicorn affectionately on the head, before turning to leave.

'Bye.' She smiled to Harry, before exiting the room.

Harry watched her leave, and was suddenly aware that he hadn't moved, so he progressed to sit on the chair.

Harry couldn't help but stare at the small baby unicorn before him. It was no bigger than an average cat. Its fur was light gold and almost fluffy, and its mane and tail was the shiniest gold, as was its horn.

'It's sick.' Lupin said plainly. 'I had to bring it away from it's mother, to give it treatment. I'm hoping she'll take him back once he's better, but I can't be sure. You can stroke him if you like.'

Harry took his hand forward, towards the unicorn. It sniffed Harry's hand, and gave it an affectionate lick. Harry smiled at Lupin, who was looking at Harry almost proudly. Harry went on to stroke the unicorn a few times, before it hit Harry's hand away with its nose.

'Funny things, unicorns.' Lupin said, admiringly. 'They don't like men. Mind you, I'd say they aren't too keen on humans altogether. Very few people are gifted with the power of befriending a unicorn, but I think one of them might be Ginny. This little fellow seems quite fond of her.'

Lupin stroked the unicorns head, and it gave a little sneeze.

'Now down to business.' Lupin smiled, meeting Harry's eyes. 'We've discussed it before, and I spoke with Dumbledore, and he agrees with me. We aren't sure how it will work, as we've never done this at Hogwarts before, but we've decided to change things this year.'

Harry gave Lupin a confused look, though not intentionally. Lupin just laughed.

'Harry, we want you to train and become an Animagus.'