Chapter Four
After an awkward and silent breakfast, they group went back to their rooms to dress.
Ron and Hermione walked back to their room with more silence. Ron opened the door for her and she headed in, nodding in thanks. They stood for a couple minutes staring into space, as if they did not remember what they were back in the room to do. Ron shifted in place, his ripped shirt in hand. Hermione sighed and broke the silence, "So are we going to change?" Ron came out of his trance; "In front of each other?" his voice cracked as he surfaced back to his old self. Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, we can turn around! Here, I'll close the curtains." The curtains closed and Hermione grabbed her clothes and turned the other way to start dressing. Ron turned around and did the same. He couldn't help but think about what Hermione looked like behind him; undressing. Hermione thought the same thoughts of him. But in the back of both of their minds anger was still boiling.
Harry was a wreck. Cho was not modest in the least. She, literally, threw off her clothes and got dressed as slow as she possibly could. Or at least Harry thought so. He turned around and tried to dress, pushing thoughts of Cho out of his mind. He closed his eyes and started to change. When he was halfway through (pants on no shirt) he decided to open his eyes. He jumped back finding Cho an amazing 3 inches from his face. "Harry, darling, don't bother with the shirt…" she whispered slowly. Harry gulped, "Why not?" he asked pulling a Ron; his voice cracking for the first time in years. Cho giggled quietly, "Because, silly, I'm just going to take it off again…" Harry wished he could to vanish anywhere else in the world right then. He backed up falling on his bed. Cho pounced.
Draco and Pansy were holding hands on the way back to change, when they bumped into Crabbe and Goyle. Draco was pulled aside by them. "So have you…done anything?" Goyle asked like one of those 12 year olds going through puberty. Draco rolled his eyes, "No…" Goyle interrupted, "Why not? You aren't going soft are you?" Draco raised his head in a superior way, "I am the one who asks the questions around here you idiots!" he said in a yelling sort of whisper. He strutted off, his arm around Pansy's shoulders. "What was that about?" Pansy asked curiously. Draco had to think fast, "They were just wondering-I mean, they wanted to know when we were going to scare Weasley out of his pants tonight. It's all planned out though. I told them to stop asking me and that I would inform them later." Pansy seemed convinced. They got back to their room and started dressing with no delays. Unlike others, they weren't awkward in front of each other. They'd never…done anything, but it didn't make them uncomfortable dressing in front of each other. Pansy couldn't stop thinking about what Draco said the night before. Before she could say anything a loud voice filled the train:
"Hogwarts students, seeing as we are on a train there will be no classes for the next couple days. Please feel free to mingle." The speaker, obviously Dumbledore, paused and there was a bright flash of light. "Students, that flash was your belongings arriving in your compartments. School rules still apply. I hope you enjoy your ride. Teachers will not be available at all times. I apologize. "
Pansy and Draco both turned around to see their trunks by the window. Draco smiled at the thought of no classes, and at the fun he'd have making fun with Weasley for the next couple days. Pansy saw a half smile creeping its way up Draco's face. She rolled her eyes, "Boys…" she mumbled.
Back to Ron and Hermione:
Both had finished dressing and they weren't sure what to do. Hermione moaned at the thought of no classes, while Ron jumped for joy. "This is so bloody awesome!" Hermione frowned and was about to say a clever comment when she remembered what happened at breakfast. Ron saw her struggle and stopped his little dance of joy. "Something wrong Hermione?"
"No, I mean- , yes. I'm sorry about what I said Ron, really I am. I hope you could forgive me. I don't know what possessed me into saying such nonsense…" Hermione kept babbling and Ron lost himself in her words. He couldn't help but stare at her lips. Oh how he longed to- No! , Ron thought to himself. But the action was so tempting. It was perfect timing. Hermione was still deep in her apology when Ron dove in and kissed her full on the lips. The kiss lasted about three seconds but to both of them it seemed like an eternity. When they stopped there was an awkward silence. The most awkward of them all. No other awkward silence would ever beat it.
So after about 10 minutes of standing, shifting, scuffing feet, looking and the ground and starting out the window, they both silently agreed to get Harry and take a long walk around the train. The walk to his room seemed longer than it really was. The two kept meeting each other's gaze and quickly turning back. Hermione smiled to herself, I can't believe he did that! While Ron raised his eyebrows at his own actions, I can't believe I did that!
When they got to the door, it was very loud inside, behind the door. Hermione raised her eyebrows and Ron gulped. They looked at each other, both with the same expressions, reading: "What the hell?" Ron finally spoke up, "So you open the door and I charge in?" he was being both sarcastic and serious, if possible. Hermione nodded, taking it seriously. She put her hand on the door knob and nodded again, Ron nodded to say he was ready. On three Hermione threw open the door and Ron barged in. Neither of them was prepared for what they saw.
Cho, currently on top of a shirtless Harry, was struggling to keep him down and kiss him at the same time. Harry, poor Harry, was also struggling. But unlike Cho he wasn't willing to cooperate. He was trying with all his might to get away. Both of them took no notice of Ron and Hermione standing in awe in the doorway. "Come Harry, you know you've dreamt many times of such a situation!" Harry's eyes widen in horror, "How thick are you? Clearly I am not enjoying this!" Suddenly both of them stopped and turned toward Ron and Hermione. Ron's and Hermione's facial expressions were indescribable. Somewhere between shocked, disgusted, and amused. Slowly the two backed out of the room and closed the door behind them. After a couple seconds of staring at the door they both walked away as if nothing happened.