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Chapter 29

The drone of hundreds of voices met Hermione's ears as she entered the Great Hall for the start of term feast. The ceiling was filled with replicas of the millions of twinkling stars of the night sky. Glancing to the left on her way to the Gryffindor table, she saw that Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were already seated at the Slytherin table. She also noticed a young girl at the Ravenclaw table crying and being comforted by Michael Corner. Hermione wasn't sure who the girl was, but she wondered if she had just been told of Terry Boot's death. Hermione did know Michael Corner to be one of Terry's good friends.

Once she reached the Gryffindor house table, Hermione took her seat beside Harry, facing Ron and Ginny, who were seated across from them. She could see the other three house tables from where she sat, and she noticed that now Malfoy was laughing heartily and pointing something out to Crabbe and Pansy Parkinson. Following the direction of Malfoy's pale, thin finger, she saw the object of their laughter.

"Idiots." Harry murmured low beside her. He had seen too. Dean was bent down among the crowd of students entering the doors, picking up the contents of his satchel, which had mysteriously split open. Ron and Ginny turned in their seats to look, as well.

"You know what Malfoy needs?" Ginny said vehemently. Ron nodded at her.

"Yeah," He said through gritted teeth, "He needs a swift kick in the a-…" Ron caught Hermione's eye and cleared his throat, "…in the abdomen."

Hermione couldn't contain a small smile, and Harry chuckled slightly. To her surprise, she suddenly felt two feet clamp on either side of hers. She then had to cough to cover up a giggle that was threatening to burst forth. It was so silly how the slightest contact from Ron could make her feel better. Hermione wondered if Ginny were the same way with Harry.

"Harry." Hermione whispered, with a sudden thought. She motioned for him to lean closer, and he did before she continued. "I was just thinking, just because you and Ginny can't hold hands at mealtimes, it doesn't mean you can't hold…feet." She leaned back to judge his response, which was a small smile. As Harry continued to look at her, Hermione saw Ginny jerk slightly from across the table. Hermione then smiled brightly. It was humorous to her that none of the hundreds of students in the Great Hall were aware that there were two secret couples at the Gryffindor table holding feet.

"Good evening and welcome!"

The buzz of students' voices faded quickly as Dumbledore's booming voice filled the Hall. There was a collective rustling of robes as everyone turned to face the Headmaster at the staff table. "Welcome to the second half of your school year. I hope everyone had a most fantastic Christmas holiday filled with gluttony and excessive cheerfulness."

"Now," He continued, "Before I give the start-of-term notices, I believe you are entitled to one more bout of voracious feasting. So, without further ado…"

Dumbledore clapped his hands twice and then with a wave, all four house tables were filled with a beautiful arrangement of food and glittering, golden plates and goblets. There was roast beef, lamb chops, chicken, steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, and many other delicacies. Everyone immediately resumed their chatter and began filling their plates. Hermione chose lamb chops as her main course.

"I wonder where Professor Whitman is." Hermione said, glancing up at the staff table. There were definitely no new teachers sitting among the staff.

"Maybe he doesn't like large crowds." Ginny said before taking a bite of a stewed carrot.

"Maybe he doesn't like food." Harry said shrugging.

"Everyone likes food, mate." Ron said before taking a large bite of steak, "I bet he hasn't arrived yet."

"I hope he hasn't backed out or anything." Hermione replied before reaching for Ron's crescent roll. She tore off a pinch for herself before returning the rest to his plate. She suddenly had a disturbing image of Snape or Trewlawney as possible desperate choices for Defense Against the Dark Art teacher.

"Well," Harry began, "I've actually wondered what a newly certified Auror would be doing teaching sixteen-year-olds at Hogwarts. I mean, don't you think they could use him in the field?"

"We'll find out tomorrow, won't we?" Ron said nonchalantly, splitting his crescent roll in half and placing one half on Hermione's plate, "These potatoes are excellent." He added before spearing another roasted potato onto his fork.

"Harry," Ginny said suddenly, "Could you pass me a treacle tart?" Hermione then noticed that the desserts had appeared on the table.

Harry reached for the treat only to receive a dissatisfied grunt from Ginny. He twisted his mouth to hold back a smile as he handed it to her. "Ginny, I'm not going to show off for the whole table."

She rolled her eyes and pouted. "Fine." And then handing the tart to Harry she added, "Here. I didn't really want it to begin with."

Harry smiled at her briefly before looking down at his plate. The four continued to eat and chat until they were eventually very full, probably too full. At which time, Dumbledore stood once more from his seat to address the Hall.

"Now that everyone is sleepy from the weight of food, and is most likely only pretending to be listening to me, I would like to make some announcements." Dumbledore then turned to his right and gestured toward the staff, "I would first like to congratulate our Professor of Magical law, Ms. Amelia Bones, who is now the new Minster of Magic." Everyone in the hall including Dumbledore gave a smiling Madam Bones a hearty round of applause.

"Secondly," Dumbledore continued, turning back to face the students as the applause died away, "I would like to introduce the new Defense Against the Darks Arts teacher…but I can't. Unfortunately, Professor Whitman will not be arriving until tomorrow morning. Nonetheless, I think he deserves a round of applause, as well." Dumbledore then began clapping energetically. It took everyone, including the staff, a moment to join in, but after a sufficient round of unnecessary applause, Dumbledore continued, "Also, I regret to inform you that all Hogsmeade visits for this term have been cancelled. Violent attacks have only increased over the holiday, and the faculty and I think it best to keep everyone inside the walls of the castle. No students will be allowed outside after four PM, unless given permission by a faculty member. Although, the Quidditch season will continue, and should any of the games last until after four PM, the game will be allowed to continue unless otherwise noted. And lastly, may each of you have a restful night's sleep and an overabundance of splendid dreams. Goodnight."

As soon as this last word came forth from Dumbledore's mouth, there was an immediate scraping of benches and a crescendo of voices. Hermione and Harry made their way down the walkway between the Gryffindor table and the wall as Ron and Ginny made their way to the end of the table on the other side. The four of them met at the end and walked out of the Great Hall together.

As soon as they entered the Entrance Hall, Hermione saw Harry veer off to the left to the corner in front of a door to a broomcloset. Ron and Ginny had noticed his detour as well, so they all followed after him. Hermione then saw that Luna was standing in the corner alone.

"Were you motioning for me, Luna?" Harry asked. She nodded slowly. "Oh, well…" Harry glanced around at Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.

Luna said simply, "Them too."

"There is something I should like to tell you." Luna said, her grey eyes appearing even larger than normal. Ron had no clue what this could be about, but Luna seemed to be nervously twisting her hands in front of her.

There were only a few stragglers left in the Entrance Hall, seeing as the Gryffindors were always the last out of the Great Hall. Yet, Luna was still speaking in a very low voice.

"What is it Luna?"Ginny asked curiously.

"Well," Luna began, her wispy voice shaking slightly, "I have a question." She swallowed hard before continuing, "Do you remember when I took Dennis Creevey to the hospital wing last term after he fell from a tree?"

"Yes." Harry replied.

"Okay." Luna said wistfully before looking off to stare at the suits of armor beside the huge, oak front doors. "Do you remember when I told Ronald that he should have said, 'no,' to Susan Bones?"

"Yeah." Ron replied slowly. Where in the world was this going? So far her train of thought did not contain any coherent cargo for Ron.

"Alright." Luna said, now looking at Ron, "Do you remember when I asked how long Harry had been dating Ginny?"

"Yeah." Ginny replied with a furrowed brow.

"Well," Luna began more quietly now while looking off to the marble staircase, "I knew that all of those things were going to happen…before they happened…I also know that Hermione forgot her pet at the Burrow, although he truly did enjoy himself."

Hermione's mouth dropped open slightly, "How could you know that?"

Ignoring this question, Luna continued, still keeping her eyes fixed on the marble staircase, "I also knew that Dean Thomas would kill that Death Eater, and that…"

Her eyes suddenly became very glossy as she abruptly stopped talking. All of them had been hanging on her every word, utterly entranced and confused by this strange conversation.

"And what, Luna?" Hermione prompted quietly. Luna looked at Hermione and a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"I knew Terry Boot would die…at the hand of Lucius Malfoy. There were other Death Eaters at the Boot family home, but I didn't see their faces. The others killed his family, but Mr. Malfoy killed Terry." She whispered, another single tear falling from her other eye. Ron felt a rush of anger course through his veins. So, Malfoy was the Death Eater that had killed a Hogwart's Muggle-born. But…wait…how could Luna know this? She couldn't have been there, could she?

"What do you mean you…saw…it?" Ginny asked quietly. Luna looked down at her feet then.

"My mother died when I was nine." She began; Ron was holding his breath as she continued, "I saw her dying in an explosion on…" She stopped and looked up at the ceiling, "…April third of 1990. It was only in my head that I saw it, but I told my mother and my father about my vision. It was my first vision. My parents began experimenting with anti-explosive charms to place on the house after I told them. It was one of these charms that my mother was experimenting with when something went rather badly wrong…"

Luna looked back down at her feet. "I saw her die on April twenty-fifth of that same year. This time it was not in my head, but it was identical to my vision. Father then explained to me that Seeing was a form of dark magic. He had never told me this before, but after my mother died, he became very adamant in this belief. He told me that should I ever have another vision, to keep it hidden away from everyone, and to try and forget it myself."

"Oh, Luna…" Ginny breathed as her eyes began to tear up. Hermione looked teary-eyed as well. However, Luna's eyes were no longer glossy. They were simply wide and sad.

"I never questioned my father's judgment. And, as I grew older, I continued to receive more and more visions, but I never told anyone. I began to believe that there was something wrong with me. I didn't understand why I had this dark magical ability."

"Luna," Harry began quietly, "I don't think that-…"

"But now," Luna continued as if she hadn't even heard Harry, and Ron actually doubted that she had, "I am beginning to question my father's judgment. The vision I had of Terry Boot's murder could have saved his life, but I didn't tell anyone. So, it is my fault that-…"

"No it's not, Luna." Ginny said quietly, but firmly. "Your father has taught you that nothing good can come from your visions, but he's wrong."

"You were just afraid that if you revealed your vision to anyone, something might go…rather badly wrong." Hermione replied, to Ron's surprise. Luna nodded at Hermione. Although Ron believed Luna's story, he had thought that Hermione would question whether or not she truly were a Seer. Of course, Hermione's words could have been merely spoken in comfort, but from her teary eyes, Ron felt that she too believed everything Luna had said.

"The only people to fault are the Death Eaters and Voldemort." Harry added then. Suddenly, Luna looked from Harry to Ron, and he realized that he was the only one that hadn't said anything reassuring.

Swallowing rather hard, Ron said, "Um…yeah. There's nothing dark about Seeing. I think it's a cool gift."

Ron felt a bit like an idiot after his simple words, but Luna actually gave him a tiny smile.

"Luna," Harry began, "The next time you have one of these visions, you can tell me…you can tell any of us…even if you want to keep it from your father." Luna nodded at him.

"So," Ginny began, "Can you see these visions whenever you want?"

Ron's heart began beating a bit faster. Of course! If Luna could conjure a vision of what Voldemort or Malfoy were planning, Hermione and Harry's safety could be ensured!

"No." Luna answered softly, and Ron's hopeful feeling died instantly, "I never know when I might have another vision. I could have one in a few minutes or the next one could not be for a few months."

They were all quiet for a moment. No one really knew what to say, but then Luna looked at Harry and smiled. "Well, I am rather glad that I decided to tell all of you. I do feel a bit better. Thank you. Although, I think it is time to go to my common room. It's quite late."

"Goodnight, Luna." Ginny said sweetly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed her lead with their own, 'goodnights.' And with one last smile at them all, she turned toward the stairs. They followed behind her up the marble staircase until she veered off for the West Tower. Then they walked the rest of the way to the Gryffindor common room. No one spoke. Ron wasn't exactly sure why no one else was speaking, but he knew why he was silent.

His brain was still trying to take everything in. He felt immense sadness for everything Luna had been through. Since she was nine, she believed herself to be receiving visions through dark magic, and she must blame herself for her mother's death. Ron also felt sick at the idea of Malfoy's father killing a sixteen-year-old. Boot was Draco's age! Did the man have no conscience? Ron now felt even more confident of the fact that Lucius had been one of the Death Eaters to attack the Granger's. A very unwelcome vision flashed into Ron's mind…Hermione cornered by three Death Eaters. He truly hoped that Hermione kept the promise that she had made to him on the train. 'I will try my hardest.'

There were a few people still scattered about the common room, so Harry and Ginny hardly looked at one another before ascending the stairs to their respective dormitories. Ron hung back a bit from Harry because he noticed Hermione doing the same by the girls' staircase. She hurried over to him after Harry had disappeared from view.

"Ron," She began, whispering urgently, "Tomorrow morning. I'll come to the boys' dormitory after Seamus, Dean, and Neville leave for breakfast, and we can tell Harry then…before classes."

Ron smiled down at her. "A bit eager, aren't you?"

"Aren't you?" She asked with apprehension. He almost laughed at her.

"Of course I am." He said; she gave him a small smile, "Tomorrow morning. I'll call you."

"Call me?" Hermione said, sounding utterly confused.

"Yes. The mirrors." He stated plainly. Had she already forgotten? She covered her mouth to hold back a giggle.

"Oh…call me." She said with a smile. "You're too adorable."

Ron was a bit confused, but he enjoyed the compliment. "Thanks. So are you."

They smiled at each other before she gave him a half-wave, half-hair twiddle. She then turned quickly and left for her staircase. He was tempted to watch her leave, but he decided to ascend the stairs before they looked too suspicious to Seamus or Dean, who were sitting in the corner playing Exploding Snap.

Once Ron entered the dormitory, he saw that Neville was already in bed asleep…his rapidly growing Mimbulus mimbletonia was sitting on his bedside cabinet, which was now at least three feet tall. Harry was sitting on his bed examining the sheathed dagger that he had found behind Mrs. Black's portrait. Ron remembered what he had told Hermione he would say to Harry about that mysterious item. He really dreaded it; he already knew what Harry would say. 'It's just a dagger. I thought you said it was cool? You sound like Hermione.'

As Ron began changing into his pajamas, he continued to ponder over whether or not to bring up the dagger warning. However, before he could come to a decision, Harry asked him something that made him jerk and bump his knee on one of his bed's four posters.

"Is there something going on between you and Hermione?" Harry asked casually, keeping his eyes on the dagger. This was when Ron jumped and kneed his bed.

"Ow!" He hissed, grabbing his knee and looking over to see if he'd woken Neville. He hadn't. Harry had looked up at him though, and he was actually smiling slightly.

"Should I take that as a yes?" He asked.

Ron sat down on the edge of his bed and simply stared at Harry for a moment. He honestly had no idea what to do. Hermione wanted to be with him when Harry found out, right? So, should he lie? Or would Hermione be relieved tomorrow if Ron told her that Harry found out on his own?

Harry kind of shrugged at Ron's silence and placed his dagger in his bedside cabinet. Ron cleared his throat and whispered, "What do you mean by…something?"

Harry shrugged again. "You know. Something-something." Ron was again silent, and Harry continued, "I've just been noticing lately…I don't know. You two don't row near as often."

"Well," Ron began, deciding that he should wait until tomorrow morning when Hermione was with him, "Hermione's been through a lot this holiday. I guess I sort of thought that I should take it easy on her, you know?"

"You gave her half of your crescent roll." Harry stated plainly.

"What?" Ron asked perplexed. "Half of my…what?"

Harry chuckled slightly, "You love crescent rolls. It was the last one at our end of the table, and you gave her half."

Ron couldn't contain a smile, "I…I didn't notice that I-…"

"She fixed your collar…on the train." Harry continued. He was now leaning back against his headboard with a smug smile on his face.

"Well, you know," Ron began, feeling his cheeks growing warmer by the second; "Hermione's a perfectionist when it comes to-…"

"Ginny's always straightening my shirts for me. Your mum does it for your dad too." He replied casually. Ron was now just staring at Harry with his mouth hanging open slightly. He was at a complete loss for words. He was sure that there was something really cunning that he should say at the moment that would prove to Harry that his suspicions were unfounded…but he was too much of a prat to know what that cunning something was!

"I…I…I…" Ron began; he was sure that he looked like a fish out of water the way his mouth was moving.

"Are you attracted to her?" Harry asked with another smug grin.

"Harry, mate, what kind of question-…" Ron began with slight exasperation.

"Hey, it's okay." Harry said with a wave of his hand, "If you don't think she's attractive-…"

"She's gorgeous!" Ron exclaimed impatiently before clearing his throat and dropping his gaze to his knees.

"Ha!" Harry cried suddenly, standing up from his bed and pointing at Ron. Ron glanced over at Neville again, who was somehow still asleep.

"Harry, could you be a little less…noisy…I mean-…"

"Ha!" Harry cried again, his mouth wide with a toothy smile. He was still pointing his finger at him as if Ron were a celebrity that Harry had just recognized, but was too stunned over to say anything more than, 'ha.' Suddenly, however, Harry seemed to overcome his shock.

"You see, I sometimes wondered, but then I would think…no." Harry began in an eager whisper, "I mean the way you and Hermione are always rowing with one another…it's always sort of…well…sort of reminded me of your parents. Oh, and you're cursing less, too! You think Malfoy needs a kick to his abdomen? Yeah, right. And then there was the way Krum went from being your idol to your enemy in no time at all. Plus the way you acted at the Yule Ball, you know? I mean, dancing's not really my bag either, but then you and Hermione at the Christmas Bash…well…Ha!" Harry was now back to pointing at him.

Ron swallowed hard and took a deep breath, "So…um…you sound kind of…happy…about the idea of me and Hermione...I mean! I'm not saying that I'm agreeing to what you're…saying…but I-…"

"Oh, come off it!" Harry whispered excitedly. "What are you denying it for?"

"Well," Ron began nervously, "I'm not really…denying…" Ron suddenly sighed heavily, "Ah hell! We were going to tell you tomorrow morning, Harry…together."

"Tell me?" Harry asked with wide eyes. "Tell me what exactly?"

"Well, that we'd like to start dating, you know?" Ron began; Harry said, 'Ha!' again, but Ron ignored him and continued, "But…we wanted to make sure that it was alright with you and everything."

Harry made a series of sounds in quick succession that came out sounding like, 'Pachufka!' He then continued in English, "Alright with me?" He asked incredulously, "Alright with me…" He shook his head and said, 'Pachufka,' again.

"Do you realize what this means?" Harry began animatedly. Ron shook his head, his heart beating rapidly. He thought Harry seemed to be happy, but happy could sometimes be confused with mental, couldn't it? Harry continued, "I've always wondered what would happen to the three of us when we all graduate. You know? Like, you and I plan to be Aurors for the Ministry, but what about Hermione? She could go off to…Switzerland…or…France! But if you two are together…well, I won't have to worry now will I?"

Ron found himself smiling broadly all of a sudden, which Harry returned with a bright smile of his own. Ron felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders and for some reason…he began to laugh. Harry then began to laugh, as well. Why, Ron didn't rightly know. Nor did Seamus or Dean know when they entered a couple of minutes later. They entered to see Harry and Ron on their beds, holding their stomachs as they stifled their laughter the best they could. It resulted in strange wheezing noises.

They calmed down shortly after Seamus and Dean entered, and they each got into their beds. When their dorm mates asked them what was so funny, Ron just told a random joke that he had heard from Fred and George at one time. This worked well. Seamus and Dean both laughed heartily at this, which gave Harry and Ron another excuse to laugh some more. Although, Ron wasn't laughing at his brothers' joke, and he was pretty sure Harry wasn't either. No…they were laughing for some unknown reason. Ron thought it had something to do with joy and stress relief. Maybe it also had something to do with the irony of Ron dating their mutual, female best friend, whom Ron had rowed more with than a dog and cat.

Whatever the reason for their laughing fit, Ron now knew something. He knew that tomorrow when he called Hermione to their room with the mirror, she wouldn't mind too terribly bad that Ron hadn't been able to conceal the truth for one more night. She wouldn't be too terribly upset that Harry knew because Harry did not care. He actually seemed…thrilled.

It didn't take Ron long to drift off to sleep that night. And…the last thing he remembered thinking before a peaceful slumber found him was, The next time someone asks me if Hermione and I are dating, I will reply with a simple, yet powerful…Yes.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Yay! Harry finally knows! I wonder what Hermione will think about Harry's reaction? And, what's their first day of school going to have in store for them? It should be interesting... Thank you reviewers! Thank you readers! Stay tuned! I hope to post again tomorrow night, but it will most likelybe very late...or early, depending how you look at it. Well, the big Chapter 3-0 is on its way!

In regards to the question over when I wrote this story: I am actually writing it as I go, but I came up with the whole story idea and summary in June while I impatiently awaited HBP. I decided to start writing it out when my brother told me about which I had never heard of before. All of the plot ideas thus far have been mine except for the Tonks/Lupin 'relationship.' I never saw that coming in HBP, but some of the reviewers requested it so I included the idea of a romantic involvement between the two. J