17: Settling into January

The first few weeks of the new term started out normal enough. Everyone kept to themselves just trying to learn and fit into their normal routine. It was the last week of January though, and the group was very much settled in. Still they spent very little time together as a whole.

A huge part of this was the tension between Harry and Draco. They never got to finish their argument that was started late in the winter holiday. Although neither of them brought up the subject again it was clear that this unresolved issue put a stopper in their friendship. Unlucky for Ron, Hermione and Eliza they were caught it the middle. It was an unspoken rule that if Draco was eating lunch with Eliza then Harry, Ron and Hermione were off visiting Hagrid. Or if Ron and Draco decided to have a go on the broom then Harry, Eliza and Hermione were in the library. These days you never saw the five in a room together. They had yet to start their training so it was nothing making them come together.

There was something else keeping the quintet from being together as well.

Ron and Hermione seldom were seen together these days. In fact the only time they were together was when Harry was around. Again no one said anything about the mutual tension between the two, but everyone knew it was there. Even other fellow Gryffindor began to worry that the golden trio and friends were slowly falling apart.

It was the last Friday in January and Eliza was pondering this very thought while she ignored professor Binns and his sermon on the Vampire revolts of 1886. Finally the lesson was over; Eliza grabbed her things and wondered obliviously out of the chamber. Her thoughts were too focused on Ron and Hermione to pay attention to her surroundings. She thought back to her and Hermione's last sleepover.

-Start Flashback:

Hermione lay across Eliza's bed reading a Muggle magazine. Eliza for her part laid on the floor painting her toenails an awful green color.

"So this article says that your ideal mate is a Pisces. Obviously Harry isn't a Pisces." Hermione thought truthfully

"Well, that's all rubbish! Harry is more than ideal for me. Trust me I don't need a stupid book to verify that. Harry pleases me just fine." Eliza said

"Is that so? How does Mr. Potter please you?" Hermione pressed

"Come on Hermione, that's private." Eliza laughed

"Private! Yea sure, don't you think Harry tells his mates just exactly how you please him!" Hermione continued

"No I don't, because there is nothing to tell." Eliza responded more seriously "Besides I don't know what you want me to say. I told you most of what Harry and I do. Kiss and make out.

"You mean to tell me you haven't had sex with Harry?" Hermione gasped. "I mean its Harry… you are so lucky Eliza. Harry's so strong and sweet and…" She was interrupted

"And what Hermione! Exactly why are you so interested in Harry! Is there something you want to tell me!" Eliza yelled now facing Hermione

Hermione was taken aback, why was Eliza so upset. After all they were just having girl talk.

"Eliza what's up, I mean we always talk about your escapades with Harry?" Hermione asked honestly

"This I know Hermione, but you are getting way too personal. I mean its starting to sound like you fancy Harry." Eliza shot back

Hermione didn't say anything else for a while. She didn't realize that she could have said something that Eliza thought was inappropriate.

"I'm sorry Eliza." Hermione whispered sadly

"If you fancy Harry Hermione…" Eliza started

"Its not that! Im…I'm…well I guess I'm jealous."

"Of me?" Eliza questioned

"No. Of Harry…and you. Well I guess I'm jealous of what u guys have together. I mean he loves you so much and you he. Its just I haven't had a boyfriend since I have been her, not even Victor really. So I guess I was just trying to live through you" Hermione said weakly

"Hermione, Why on Earth are you doing this to yourself. You are a beauty! If you wanted a man you could surely get one." Eliza gasped

"You think?" Hermione said sarcastically "Nobody here wants me and those who do are too afraid of Harry and Ron to do something about it"

"Well we can fix that too." Eliza responded "I'll talk to them."

"No that's ok, Harry's just being a big brother. And Ron…" Hermione started

"Ron's what?" Eliza urged

"Oh I don't know what Ron is. Or what he wants." Hermione said dramatically flopping across the bed

"Does it matter Hermione…I mean are you hoping Ron likes you?" Eliza asked

"I…I …oh nevermind. Why are we wasting this night talking about boys?" Hermione avoided the question

"Because that's what we do." Eliza smiled

"Well I'm sick of it. Is our little misunderstanding cleared up" Hermione smiled

"Of course."

"Wonderful, now lets start our movie-athon." Hermione said quickly

Eliza knew that Hermione was avoiding the Ron issue however she decided not to press…not yet anyway. Once she had a plan though Eliza knew she would not be stopped

-End flashback.

Eliza was thrown out of her memory by the touch of Neville as he crashed into her from behind. Although Neville was nowhere near the disaster he once was, every now and then the old klutz of a boy shown through.

"Sorry there Eliza." He said with red cheeks.

"It's ok Neville." Eliza responded still preoccupied with her own thoughts.

Eliza thought to herself as she watched Neville truck down the hall that she had no idea how she would rectify this situation with Ron and Hermione but she had to try. And she knew just where to start.

Three floors down from where Eliza stood contemplating, her boyfriend was doing the very same thing. Although about a very different situation.

Harry Potter was outside Draco Malfoy's sleeping quarters pacing in front of the door. Really he had no idea what he was doing here. He had originally snuck into Slytherin to see if he could have a quick snog with his girlfriend. Before he knew it he was in front of Draco's door instead. Harry didn't want to be here and if he could he would just walk away, but something was keeping him here. Something Harry didn't want to face.

Inside Draco Malfoy propped himself up on his oversized bed reading some book Eliza had let him borrow by some bloke named Mark Twain. He was delighted that none of his roommates were in the room to bother his alone time. These days all Draco craved was time alone with a good book. He was a whole three weeks ahead in all his school work, so he had plenty of time for fiction novels. The fact was that Draco was pretty close to a genius, but was determined to not let anyone know this. He was sure his new crop of friends wouldn't care either way. Considering each of them had "dark" secrets of their own. Still Draco was fine with everyone underestimating him. He always got a good chuckle when he surprised them with his knowledge.

There was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in." Draco spoke sure it was Eliza, Hermione or the annoying red headed Weasley.

The door slowly crept open to reveal the last person on Earth Draco thought it would be.

"Potter! What do you want?" Draco yelled

"Malfoy I came to talk." Harry stated

"Talk? Yeah sure you did. Look Eliza's not here. Or do you not believe me? You are free to check under the bed if you like." Draco joked cruelly

"Shut up Malfoy, I didn't come to fight."

"Then why did you come here Potter?"

"To…to apologize. Look you were right. I had no idea to blow up at you the way I did over winter holiday. You have never given me any reason to think that you were after Eliza. And even more importantly I trust Eliza

And I know she wouldn't do anything like that to me." Harry finished

Draco didn't speak for a long time. Finally he replied

"So you don't want me to answer the question then? Do I fancy Eliza?" Draco questioned

"No." Harry said simply. He knew that was a lie, but what good would the truth do either way. Besides he was telling the truth when he said he trusted Eliza

"So Potter has come to his senses then? Finally." Draco smiled "Not that I care though. I just think it was beginning to take a toll on the rest of the group." He added quickly

"Yeah." Harry smiled

"So I guess I should apologize too. I can be sort of an taunting little bastard when I want to, can't I"

"No arguments here." Harry smiled

"Now that that's done, do you fancy dinner?" Draco said as he hopped of the bed and gave a long stretch.

"Yuppers." Harry said

There was a brief silence and the two reacquainted friends looked at each other. Once the sentimental moment was over they awkwardly made their way out of Draco's room.

Ron fumbled through the messy stack of papers that decorated his reading desk. He was trying miserably to find the potions essay he had to turn into Snape tomorrow.

"Great! The one bloody time I actually do a damn assignment I can't bloody find it! Snape's gonna have my arse." Ron cursed

"Your right he will." A voice said from behind

Ron whipped around to see a grinning Eliza.

"How long have you been standing there?" He grumbled

"Long enough to see you losing your mind." She joked

"Shush it isn't funny."

"No it wouldn't be…normally. But considering the fact that it looks like your essay has found its way under Dean's bed." Eliza pointed quickly

Ron followed her finger to the spot under Dean's bed. His eyes got wide and his grin even bigger when he recognized it was the essay he was looking for.

"Bloody hell Eliza. If Harry wasn't such a powerful wizard I would kiss you. Speaking of Harry he isn't in.?" Ron said

"Good, cause it isn't him I want."

"Oh well what can I do for you." Ron beamed

Eliza started to speak but something stopped her. Her whole point of coming up to Ron's room was to finally confront him about his feelings or possible lack there of for Hermione. But in that brief moment Eliza got a better more complicated idea. Finally she had a plan.

"I'm not here for you either Ronald." She lied flawlessly

"Oh, well then who do you want?"

"Seamus." She replied simply

"Seamus? What for?" Ron pried

"None of your business."

"Does Harry know about this…er meeting? Ron pressed

"No."

"Then as Harry's best mate I think I ought to know."

"Ron, what are you trying to say? Do you think I'm doing something behind Harry's back?"

"Didn't say that did I? I just think I should know."

"Fine. But you have to promise not to tell anyone especially Seamus."

"Promise." Ron spoke

"I mean it Ron!" Eliza said louder

"I know, I know."

"Well…well…Seamus needs my help." She Started

"With?"

"With a girl Ron geeze!" Eliza said overdramatically as she flopped on Harry's bed.

"What, a girl? Ha I would have thought Seamus would be a Gilderoy Lockhart with the ladies. Well who's the lucky girl?" Ron asked

"Now that's really none of your business."

"Oh come on Eliza. For all I know this could be Seamus's way of seducing you alone." Ron said grasping at straws

"You know that isn't true. Seamus wouldn't do that to Harry. Neither would I. But since you cant keep your red hair out of peoples business if you must know…its…its…oh I cant tell you Ron." She stalled

"Oh come on!" Ron whined

"Oh ok…but you can't say anything."

"Got it."

"Fine…Seamus wants my help with Hermione." She whispered

"HER-MI-ON-E! What the bloody hell is he playing at?" Ron said looking murderous

"What do you mean? Is it unfathomable that someone would be interested in Hermione? She's beautiful Ron."

"Er…no…I mean yes…I mean. Why now, Seamus has known Hermione just as long as I have and has never said anything about it." Ron asked as he took a seat next to Eliza on Harry's bed

"Feelings can change over time Ron. Besides noone wants to have to put up with you or Harry's big brother routine. I think its brave and adorable of Seamus." Eliza said

"Well I don't." Ron mumbled

"Well you should Ron. Don't you think Hermione has a right to be loved…to be happy?"

"Of course. I just always assumed…"

"Assumed what?" Eliza pressed

"Nothing."

There was as long pause before either one spoke again.

"When are you meeting Seamus?"

Ron broke the silence

"Tonight. My dad cancelled dinner with me so I came by to see if I could catch him early." She lied

"Eliza…don't say anything to Hermione until tomorrow." Ron said

"What? Why" Do you know something?" She asked

"Maybe but I don't want to say. Just give me til tomorrow ok"

"Fine Ron. I'm still gonna see Seamus tonight but I wont talk to Hermione until tomorrow ok?" she said, this was going better then she had planned

"Great." He said

Ron had no idea what he was going to do between now and tomorrow. And in fact he wasn't sure why he had stopped Eliza from talking to Hermione. Well that was a lie he knew exactly why he had stopped her. This was all wrong; Hermione wasn't supposed to be with Seamus. She was supposed to be with him. Ron realized it was finally time to come clean with Hermione, no matter what. Just how he was supposed to do that? He had no idea.

"Well seeing how I can't fine Seamus Ron, would you like to go down to dinner." Eliza said interrupting Ron's thoughts.

"Sure." Ron said relived, food always helped him think.

Ron and Eliza came down to the Great Hall to find that only Hermione occupied their usual space at the Gryffindor table. Ron had to catch his breath at the site of her. She looked so sad, but beautiful all at once. Her brown hair was extra wavy today and shaped her pale face perfectly. He watched enchanted as she played idly with the food on her plate. After letting him stare for just a while longer, Eliza finally nudged him to take his seat at the table. He chose to sit right beside Hermione. Which was probably a bad idea. Now not only was he engulfed with her strawberry aroma, he also had to deal with occasional accidental touches of her bare skin.

Eliza elected to sit across from the two. She could see the toll that this unspoken love had taken on Hermione. She could also see the nervous sweat that gathered at Ron's brow. Maybe finally Ron will get up the courage to confess his feelings for Hermione.

"Alright there Hermione? You are very quiet." Eliza said

"Yes, it's just been a long day." Hermione lied

"Maybe you should turn in early." Ron said as normally as he could. Truth be told, Ron was hoping that Hermione would turn in to avoid a possible run in with Seamus.

"That would be lovely, but I can't Ronald. I have a ton of reading to catch up on." She brightened up finally talking about her favorite subject.

"Catch up on?" Eliza smirked "Hermione you are weeks ahead in all your studies."

"That may be, but I would like to keep it that way. And besides I have more then school work to worry about now don't I, with all this "special training" and all. I want to be prepared. And not to mention the Medori Watch. I mean it's January and we are no closer to an answer then we were when Harry first told us about the watch…" she trailed off seeing the look on Eliza's face. "Oh Eliza I'm sorry, here I am going on about that stupid watch like it's for a class project. And in reality it's your life

"That's ok. I mean at least someone is worried about the damn thing. Harry and I haven't been doing such a good job of dealing with it." She said with a forced smile

"Awe, come on now Eliza, you and Harry have been through enough. Its ok to have a little fun, Merlin knows Harry deserves it." Ron added helpfully

"Thanks Ron, but Hermione is right. We have to find out what that watch has in store for us." Eliza said with a deep frown.

"Well do you have any theories Mione?" Ron said now just as serious

"No. Well except one." She paused to ponder.

"One what Granger?" A sharp voice asked

Draco and Harry hovered over the table staring down at their friends. Harry didn't know what they had interrupted and he wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

"None of your business Malfoy." Ron snapped annoyed that Draco had interrupted the conversation

"What's got your knickers in a bunch Weasble?" Draco taunted as he took a seat to the left of Eliza. Harry took the seat on the right.

"Actually Draco we were discussing the Medori before you and Harry showed up…" Hermione started before she was interrupted.

"Hang on…you and Harry? Harry and you not fighting? Harry and you together." Ron gasped realizing that the two had come in together

"Geeze when you say it like that Ron, it sounds dirty." Harry joked

"You made up!" Eliza shouted happily

"If you call Potter tracking me down and throwing himself at my feet. Well then yes I suppose we made up." Draco smirked

Before Harry could respond to the insult, Eliza wrapped her arms firmly around his neck and enveloped Harry into a long wet kiss.

"What was that for?" He said with red cheeks after she released him

"For being so sweet." She said and turned back to the rest of her friend.

"You guys really have to stop doing that. It isn't appropriate for the younger students to see you behaving like this. Too much public displays of affection." Hermione said sternly

"Besides I'm sure the professor doesn't want to see you deflowering his child on top of the kidney pie." Ron joked

The whole gang bust out in myrth. Well all except Hermione who now had her arms folded tightly around her chest.

"So what were you guys talking about before we interrupted you." Harry said once the laughter died down.

"The watch Harry. Hermione has a theory." Eliza said.

"Really lets here it then." He said as he took Eliza's hand and gently stroked it.

"Well not so much a theory as a revelation. I think we are all thinking that whatever the watch has in store for you guys is going to be some epic battle between good and evil. And that is simply not true. The watch doesn't necessarily have to bring death. It can be anything that will ruin the love between the owner and its true love." She said simple

"Hermione, I'm not sure I know what you are getting at." Harry said

"What I'm saying Harry is we are thinking to big. Maybe the wrath of the Medori is going to be in the form of a disagreement between the two of you." Hermione responded

"We have argued before, and turned out all right." Eliza said worried

"Or maybe one of you will do something so unthinkable, that the other cant forgive." Hermione continued

"I don't believe that! Your way off with this one Hermione." Harry said too unevenly

"Calm down Harry, she is only trying to help." Eliza said

"Well…" he grumbled back "I don't like it." He continued glaring at Hermione

Eliza didn't say another word, instead she began to stoke gently at Harry's calm spot. The nape of his neck of course. With in seconds Eliza got the effect she was looking for. He had quickly forgotten he was mad at Hermione and focused all his attention on his girlfriend.

"Well Hermione are you sure you don't want them making out in public anymore?" Draco smirked "I think it may have just saved your life."

Hermione gave a loud annoyed but relieved sigh. Draco and Ron for their part did the very adult thing of bursting out in roaring cackles.

When the two love birds finally broke apart Harry began to speak.

"Want to hang out after dinner. You know to continue this." Harry said with a wide mischievous grin.

"Sorry baby I wish I could, but I have plans with Seamus." Eliza said making awkward eye contact with Ron

"Seamus! What do you want with him?" Harry asked loudly

Eliza wanted to tell Harry her plan of course, but she couldn't with Ron around.

"None of your business Harry." She joked

"Dammed if it isn't!" He protested

"Oh hush Harry. Hey Hermione did you hear about the Duelers? Their lead singer had a major meltdown and the band broke up." She said completely ignoring Harry.

This made Harry very angry. But before he could press the matter further, the object off all his annoyance had appeared.

"Eliza see you after dinner then?" Seamus said smiling

Neither Ron or Harry smiled back

"Yup." She said simply.

"Hang on? What are you and Eliza up to?" Harry asked Seamus

"Don't say a word Seamus Finnegan!" Eliza told him sternly

"Sorry Harry mate, but what I've learned from me mom, never take a side against a woman." He said finally. "Well see you in a bit." He continued before moving on.

"I have to go and freshen up." Eliza said quickly before Harry could ask more questions. With a quick peck on cheek to Harry she was gone

"Well swell, the rest of us can go do some work in the common room." Hermione said, not really worried about the exchange that had just taken place.

"Sorry love but I have a date with a book….er..with Book…Bookyria from Hufflepuff." Draco lied.

"Bookyria, I've never heard of her." Hermione pressed

"Well you don't know everyone do you Granger?" Draco smiled as he hoped up gracefully from the table. He too was gone in seconds.

"Well that just leaves us Gryffindor." Hermione said happily.

Ron just nodded weakly. Harry for his part did nothing.

"Harry, are you joining us?" Hermione asked too sweetly.

"Whatever Hermione." He whispered