Chapter 21: The end of the feast

Ron was still fuming as he went back with Hermione. He couldn't believe it. His best friend and his little sister. What were they thinking of? If his parents knew!!

"Ron, you're running into the wrong direction. This is the way we were coming from!" said Hermione.

"NO, it's the right way. I don't want to go through this maze anymore. Let's just go out again."

Without looking at her, he went all the way back. Hermione knew Ron's stubbornness and thought it better not to argue with him. She followed him in some distance, not speaking to him. She didn't know what to say. Why had Ron been so upset? What could she do to comfort him?

Ron and Hermione went on and on. They didn't seem to find a way back out of the maze, but suddenly, they saw a big wooden door in front of them. They opened it together and stopped.

"Welcome! Here is our first couple who actually passed through the maze and found the way out again! Congratulations!" said Dumbledore happily.

"What?" Hermione and Ron didn't understand. What was going on here? Nearly everyone was looking at them and all the Gryffindors were cheering.

"You are the only ones who have succeeded to pass all the tests and come out of the maze. You win each 100 points for Gryffindor!"

"We won? We WON! Oh Hermione, that's great!" Ron beamed at her and in his ecstasy, he gave her a passionate kiss.

After he realized what he had done, he turned bright red and so did Hermione.

"I'm sorry", he stumbled.

"Me too", said Hermione.

After that, they did as if nothing had happened and enjoyed the rest of the feast together with the other Gryffindors.

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Meanwhile, Harry and Ginny were looking for a way out. They had been running in circles for several minutes and they were exhausted.

"We'll never get out of here! Oh, I wish Ron hadn't seen us. He will be very mad...", sighed Ginny.

"Well, at least he knows about us, now...", said Harry.

"Yes, I only wished we could've told him before he caught us. Let's get out of here!"

They had tried a new way and saw Professor McGonagall, looking at them.

"Welcome. You will have to pass this test together if you want to go on or you can leave and you won't win any points for Gryffindor."

She looked threatingly at them as if she would jinx them if they dared not to try and win any points for their house.

"What you will have to do is, transfigurate these two stones into something that proves, that you really appreciate each other. Good luck!"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other. What would they have to do, and how?
They took out their wands and whispered together.

"What now? I don't have any idea what we're supposed to do!", said Harry.

"But I know. Just give me your hand and think about the reason why you love me, then we'll be able to transform these stones", answered Ginny.

Harry looked at his girlfriend in amazement and did as she told him. He thought about how much she helped him during the summer, about how they had became a couple and then –

The two large stones transformed into greenish and red vapour. They began to encircle each other and became mixed. This mixed vapour floated around Ginny and Harry and they suddenly felt an extreme powerful bond between each other.

"How did you know about this?", asked Harry.

"Ehm... I've read about it", admitted Ginny shyly.

Harry grinned at her. "You know, you sound just like Hermione. That was very clever."

"Good job", praised McGonagall was smiling at them and gave the way free.

After this test, they passed Madam Hooch's test where they had to catch as many winged hearts as possible on broomsticks. Easy play for the seeker of a Quidditch team and his girlfriend. They had caught most of them and decided to go straight on.

For about fifteen minutes they went on, laughing at the winged hearts who had tried to escape them.

"Oh no, not another test!", exclaimed Harry.

"Well Mr. Potter, I thought you would be happier, seeing me. As for me, I am very happy to see you. You are the only ones who managed to reach my test. I felt so lonely all evening. I am very glad you made it to my desk. I was anxious nobody would find out about my very excellent idea."

Tiny Professor Flitwick was sitting on a high chair, a pile of pillows lying next to him.

"You will have to levitate Miss Weasley over this abyss. If she believes in you, you will succeed. If she's too afraid, you will be disqualified."

Ginny looked anxiously down into the abyss. It seemed to be over hundred feet deep. She trembled a bit.

"Ginny, please trust me. I am not going to let you fall down. I can do levitation". Harry was trying to calm his girlfriend down, who was now very pale.

"I trust you Harry. I do not doubt that we will succeed", she said in a low voice. She had a very odd feeling in her stomach and thought she might faint.

She closed her eyes and stepped onto a platform, in front of the abyss.

Harry concentrated very hard. He didn't want his girlfriend to be lost in a deep pitch-black hole.

"Wingardium Leviosa", he bellowed and Ginny was flying over the abyss. As she landed on the other side, Harry ran over to her. The abyss had now vanished and Harry gave Ginny a big hug.

"Congratulations!", squeaked Flitwick. "As you will see, the abyss was a mere hallucination. We wouldn't risk any of our students dying in a simple game. You have to follow the pass and then you'll find your way out."

As they looked back, they saw a broad line of pillows lying on the floor and there was no abyss.

Hand in hand and happy, they walked on. Harry and Ginny were now both very excited what they would find behind the door.

The large wooden door opened and there were cries and shouts.

"Another pair has made it! Welcome. Ah... of course, our Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley. Come in! You two will win each a hundred points for Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindors broke out into new cheers. They had gained four hundred points today. They were now in full lead in the House Cup.

Harry and Ginny grinned at each other. They didn't hesitate anymore and kissed each other in front of the whole school. Now with Ron knowing, they felt free to show their love.

The rest of the feast, the Gryffindors celebrated with their four winners. Although Ron didn't talk to Ginny or Harry, they had a very good time.

"Now, the time has come to choose the best costumes. The winners are Neville Longbottom, who has disguised himself as me, very well indeed, and Luna Lovegood, who has disguised herself as Hippogriff! Come to me!"

Luna and Neville, both very red, went to the Headmaster and received each a small trophy with their names upon it.

"The feast is over now. Good night!"

Pupils were trying to get back to their dormitories as fast as possible. The only four people left behind were Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

They went up the marble staircases in silence. Suddenly Ron couldn't take it anymore.

"The whole school knows about you and my sister. Are you glad now?", he bluffed angrily.

Harry tried to explain: "Ron, we wanted to talk to you today. We didn't plan you to catch us."

"Luckily, I did. Or else I might never have found out. I thought you were my friend."

"I am your friend. But what is so bad if I go out with your sister?", asked Harry.

Ron stopped. He faced Harry and looked at him. Ron didn't know why he was so mad at Harry, but he felt as if Harry had betrayed him. All his anger was rising inside him and he couldn't control himself anymore.

He punched Harry with his fist, as hard as possible.

"AW! What's up with you?" Harry nose and lip were bleeding.

"Ginny is my little sister and if you do any harm to her, I swear I am going to kill you", spat Ron and ran away.

He hadn't wanted to punch Harry, but he had lost control of his feelings. Why was he so angry? Or was it jealousy? Jealousy that Harry had a girlfriend and that he, Ron, still hadn't dared talking to Hermione about his true feelings. Maybe. Ron didn't want to think anymore and went into the common room.

He sat down in an armchair and tried to relax. He didn't notice Harry and Ginny passing by. They went to their individual dormitories.

Suddenly, Ron felt a soft touch on his arm. As he looked up, he saw Hermione standing in front of him.

He got up and faced her.

"Ron, why are you so angry?", asked Hermione. She had been afraid of Ron's reaction when Harry told him all about his relationship with Ginny and she hadn't thought it would be as violent as this. She had never imagined, that Ron would be able to hit his best friends. She was afraid of this side, but also amazed.

"I don't know. On the one hand I regret what I did and on the other hand I think that Harry deserved it."

"There is something else. Is it about what happened when we got out of the maze? It was nothing to me. Something completely meaningless. Tell me about your problem...", said Hermione slowly.

"I can't Hermione. I really can't. It's not about that brief kiss between us. It really WAS meaningless. I don't have a problem, at least no one you can solve", he answered sadly.

"Come on. Let me try! I am your friend. Talk to me about your problem", begged Hermione. She really wanted to understand and help Ron.

He looked desperately at her. He wished he could tell her the truth, but it was impossible.

"I am sorry Hermione. But you are the last person I could talk to about my problem."

Hermione didn't understand what Ron meant by this. She wanted to comfort him.

"Ok. And don't be upset about Ginny and Harry. They wanted to tell you ages ago". Damn it! She had said too much!

Ron looked at her. "You knew? You knew about it and you didn't tell me? I must have the BEST friends in this whole school!! Thank you VERY much!!", he shouted and in a very bad mood, he went into his dormitory.

Hermione was ashamed of herself. She knew she should've told Ron, but she had promised Ginny and Harry not to tell anybody. Now Ron thought that she, Hermione had betrayed him.

This evening, she had been convinced that he would like her. To her, this kiss wasn't meaningless at all, but apparently it was to Ron. She didn't understand. Why was this whole love thing so complicated??