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Chapter 34
Lavender Brown was quite frankly a blabbering blatherskite! A gluttonous gossipmonger! A quick-tempered quidnunc!
It was Friday morning, and Hermione was viciously attacking her mass of untidy, wet hair with her comb. She'd just gotten out of the shower, dressed, and returned to her dormitory to finish her morning preparations. Hermione normally enjoyed these duties. What better way to start each day than by cleansing? However, on this particular morning, she was nearly shaking with agitation by the time Lavender left Hermione alone with Parvati in order to take her shower.
The nerve of some people! They had blabbed on about something they knew nothing about, insulted Ron's family, and then complimented Ron's appearance! Hermione actually wasn't completely sure why this last offense had bothered her, but it had made a vein in Hermione's temple pulse with agitation when Lavender had referred to Ron as 'the cute redhead.'
Hermione was very proud to be dating Ron Weasley, who was indeed a cute redhead. But, he was so much more than that, and Lavender really didn't know him from Merlin! It really bothered Hermione that Lavender had complimented Ron's appearance in the midst of defaming his name! What a hypocrite! But Hermione had truly meant what she'd said about not caring about the inevitable rumors…mostly.
She was a bit anxious of having to deal with whispers and stares, but she would survive. Harry had survived much worse rumors! So what if the school thought her to be copulating with the man she loved? At least they didn't think she was the heir of Slytherin!
Hermione could handle the rumors…what she couldn't handle was the remark that fifth-year girl had made on Ron's family, combined with Lavender's giggle. Parvati had looked very uncomfortable after this remark, which was why most of Hermione's anger was focused on the other two girls. That Ravenclaw girl didn't even know whom Ron was until they'd told her his hair color! Yet she had the gall to make that crude comment! It was this comment that had caused Hermione's self-restraint to break…And she had then been prompted to make her own awful comment about Lavender and Seamus.
She had felt immensely better after her vengeful remark, until she had been lying in her bed last night, and had thought over what she'd said. She had never said anything like that to anyone before. A feeling of guilt for her words had nested in her stomach, coupled with anger at not being able to properly enjoy the afterglow of revenge. By the time sleep had taken her, Hermione had actually decided to speak with Lavender this morning.
When the morning came, Hermione woke early and returned from the showers just as Lavender and Parvati were waking. Parvati had whispered a timid good morning, but Lavender had openly scowled at her and stalked past her toward the showers, her nose high in the air. This unnecessary behavior had simply enraged Hermione. Had the girl forgotten what she'd done to stimulate Hermione's insult? Was the girl not the least bit sorry for her gossiping?
Any guilt that remained in Hermione's stomach had quickly disappeared, to be replaced with anger. And it was this anger that had Hermione viciously combing through her tangles. It was quite painful when she caught a particularly stubborn tangle, but Hermione wanted to leave the room before Lavender returned.
Once the tangles were somewhat under control, she performed a strong Drying Charm on her wet locks, grabbed her satchel, and made for the door. However, just as she reached for the handle, she heard…
"Hermione?"
She turned around slowly to face Parvati, who was looking at a random spot on the floor.
"Um…," Parvati began, wringing her hands together, "I know that saying 'I'm sorry' can't take back what I said…but if I could take it back…I would."
Hermione nodded and swallowed the rising lump in her throat. She chose not to speak; she didn't want to let on that she was somewhat hurt by Parvati and Lavender's words.
"And Hermione…" She continued, "Lavvy's angry right now, but-…"
"She's no right to be angry with me!" Hermione said louder than she'd intended. Parvati looked quite anxious as she continued in a hurried voice.
"I know! I know! Um…it's just that, in a day or two…when her pride deflates a bit…she'll be sorry, too." She looked down at her feet after she'd finished.
Hermione remained silent, not quite certain what to say to this statement. She wasn't entirely sure that she agreed. The scowl Lavender gave Hermione that morning surely didn't look like it could go away in one or two days.
"If anyone asks me about…well…what me and Lavvy saw…I'll tell them that we were mistaken." Parvati said suddenly.
Hermione sighed slightly; she actually felt like laughing at this comment. "Parvati, thank you, but I think if there's to be any damage, it's already been done." She said blandly. Parvati's expectant face fell. Well, what did she expect that Ravenclaw girl did after she heard an interesting piece of gossip? Forget about it? Not likely… Plus, Hermione's comment to Lavender may have set her on a vengeful path to spread the rumor further…
"I'm really sorry, Hermione." Parvati whispered. Hermione nodded, but she didn't look at her dorm mate for fear that Parvati might start crying. Hermione was appreciative of Parvati's apology, but she didn't really know how to respond. After an attempted half-smile in Parvati's direction, Hermione turned to exit the dormitory. It was beginning to feel quite cramped. Besides, Lavender would be returning soon.
Hermione would just wait in the common room for the others. Since she was ready an hour earlier than usual, she would just meditate in front of the fire. She needed to stop thinking about Lavender and Parvati if she were to concentrate in her classes today.
Transfiguration! Hermione thought with a groan. She'd promised McGonagall that she would try to have better concentration! She really did need to clear her mind. But the only thing that could help her do that properly at the moment was the one thing that had messed with her concentration in the first place. The only thing that could help her clear her mind was…
"Ron?"
Hermione had just reached the bottom stair to see Ron's tall frame stretched out over the sofa. His eyes were closed and his brow furrowed. His head was lying at one end, with his long legs draped over one arm. It looked as though he had already showered and prepared for classes. His satchel was even sitting atop the coffee table.
He apparently hadn't heard her, so she approached him slowly and sat down on the lounge chair beside him. "Ron?" She tried again. He quickly sat up straight, swinging his legs off of the arm.
As he turned to look at her, she noticed that his eyes were a bit dark underneath, yet he was smiling. "What are you doing down here at this hour?" He whispered.
She smirked at him, as she whispered back, "I was about to inquire the same of you…but why are we whispering?"
He looked slightly confused for a moment before smiling at her again and whispering. "I don't know." She giggled at him as he stood from the sofa.
"Where are you-…" She began, but he quickly crossed to her and squeezed down beside her on the roomy lounge chair. He then slumped down and laid his head upon her shoulder with a tired groan.
"I slept like hell last night." He began. Hermione would've reprimanded his swear if his warm breath hadn't felt so pleasant on her neck. "I just decided to get up early and wait for you down here."
"Why didn't you use a Sleeping Potion?" She asked curiously. He popped his head up quickly and looked at her with his mouth partway open.
"I forgot all about the things…bloody hell…" He grumbled.
"Ron!" She reprimanded as she slapped him on the knee. "Now that's twice, and the morning's barely begun!"
He gave her a sultry smile that she guessed was merely intended to be playful…but no…it was sultry. He then placed his arm around her to rest his hand on her upper arm as he leaned in and nibbled softly on her earlobe, before kissing her neck and laying his head back down upon her shoulder.
"That's not a very fair way to get out of trouble." She whispered as chills washed over her. He looked up at her with another 'playful' smile.
"It worked though, didn't it?" He whispered back; their noses were touching. "Oh…and why are we whispering again?"
She squinted her eyes at him and pulled her head back slightly, "You're hopeless." He chuckled at her, but she continued, "Why couldn't you sleep, anyway?" The adorable smile he had been wearing faded.
He was silent a moment before he muttered, "I'm not sure…" Hermione opened her mouth to press him for a more believable answer, but she was interrupted.
"Hey you two?"
Hermione and Ron both looked up to see Dean Thomas approaching them from the boys' stairwell, "I don't mean to interrupt, but…well, Ron I saw you leave early this morning so I thought I'd take the opportunity to…um…ask you something." Dean said quietly.
"Um…sure…" Ron replied with a touch of apprehension in his voice. Hermione wondered if Ron were thinking the same thing as she; she had a feeling that she knew exactly what Dean meant to ask.
"I actually wanted to know if…well, if Harry fancied Ginny." He said quietly, glancing nervously toward the boys' stairwell. Even though Hermione had anticipated this question, her heart still jumped into her throat. Ron's hand tensed around her upper arm.
"Harry fancy Ginny?" Ron began in a tone that Hermione did not think worthy of a casual manner. "My…my sister, you mean?"
"No, Dean." Hermione answered quickly. "They're simply good friends."
"Well, I thought so!" Dean said brightly, his nervous expression fading instantly, "But you never can tell with friends, can you?" He asked wagging his eyebrows at them. He then took his wand from his pocket and waved it in the air to create confetti, just as Whitman had done in class that first day.
Hermione and Ron both attempted chuckles and Hermione actually wasn't that pleased with the intended nonchalance of her own. But, Dean seemed to be too relieved by her answer to notice.
"Well, thanks guys! Guess I better finish getting ready." He said as he turned for the stairs. "See you two in class!"
As soon as Dean had ascended the steps, Ron turned to look at her. "Hermione…" He whined.
"What?" She asked hastily.
"They're simply good friends?" He said with a frown, "Couldn't you have…I don't know…"
"Betrayed Harry's trust by telling Dean the truth?" Hermione spat heatedly.
"No…but-…"
"Made up something that made Ginny appear to be unavailable?" She prompted again.
"Yeah!" He replied with enthusiasm.
Hermione leaned back as far away from him as she could and crossed her arms. "Okay, Ronald. What could I have said? You seem to have a brilliant solution, so please share your knowledge!"
He stared at her with his brows furrowed for a moment before his eyes went wide and he breathed, "Krum!"
"What?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"Viktor Krum!" He exclaimed with wide eyes, "We can tell Dean that Ginny's talking with Krum and that they're dating via…owl."
"Oh, that's ridiculous!" Hermione said as she rolled her eyes at him. Although, there was a part of her that thought it might not sound all that ridiculous…it was just that the idea of someone dating Viktor through the post held a negative undertone with Hermione…
"Why is it ridiculous?" He asked suspiciously.
"Because," Hermione began haughtily, "…because…" She blew a curl out of her eyes and looked away from Ron. "No one dates via owl!"
"Charlie dated a girl from Hong Kong for over a year via owl!" Ron argued back.
"Charlie went to China?" Hermione asked surprised.
"Yeah." Ron replied with a shrug, "He was studying Chinese Fireballs and he…" He stopped abruptly and raised one suspicious eyebrow at her. "You're trying to change the subject."
Hermione's mouth dropped open as she scoffed. "Ron, that is so-…"
His eyes suddenly went wide as he interrupted, "Did you and Krum date through those letters?" Hermione's stomach began to ache.
"No!" She cried too quickly. Oh, why was she digging herself in this hole? She had nothing to hide! Even though…she had been hiding something… "Ron, we never dated. We just…well…I mean…"
"You kissed him didn't you!" He cried angrily.
"No!" Hermione cried back impatiently. "Ron, we never dated or kissed, but I…I asked him at one time if he would consider…dating me through the post. But he said no…" She finished in a near whisper, as she watched the color drain from Ron's face.
Hermione's words had taken the anger out of Ron instantly. But they had also made him feel intensely sick. She asked Krum to date her? She'd never told him that! A horrible sinking feeling came over him.
"So…am I like…" Ron began, his heart beating frantically, "Am I your second choice or something?"
A horrified look appeared on Hermione's face and she practically flung herself against him. He held her to him with her head on his shoulder and her arm around his waist. "No! Ron, please listen to me." She began desperately against his chest. "Viktor was my second choice…"
He was sure she could feel how much harder his heart had begun beating against his chest at these words. She lifted her head and looked up at him, "Ron…You have always been my first choice, but I spent a lot of time thinking that you didn't even know I was a girl. Our fourth year is when I started telling Ginny to move on from Harry and start dating other people. I guess I thought it was only fair to advise her to do that…if I did it too. So, I only asked him in an attempt to…to get over you. I never liked him in that way."
Ron released a breath that he'd just realized he'd been holding. "So…" He began slowly, looking down at her face. He felt the tension leave him slightly at the sincerity in her brown eyes. "So, why did he refuse your offer?"
"He wanted to be able to date other people while I was at Hogwarts…" Hermione said calmly before taking a breath and looking away from him, "But…well, he wanted me to come and live with him in Bulgaria after my seventh year…as an intern in some sort of post-graduate program."
"Live with him!" Ron exclaimed, his anger returning. "Live with-! Well you didn't consider it, did you?"
Hermione looked at him and began gnawing her bottom lip…not a good sign in Ron's opinion. "Hermione!" He began in disbelief, "How could you have considered something like that?"
"Ron, I…" Hermione began slowly, "I only considered it because of the opportunity of an internship in Bulgaria. Believe me, it had nothing to do with Viktor."
"It had nothing to do with the guy that you'd just asked to…to…?" Ron stopped mid-question as he realized that the word 'date' was giving him difficulty at the moment.
"I told you that I only asked him that to-…"
"To get over me. Yes, I know." Ron said harshly. He regretted it immediately at the saddened look that came over Hermione's face. He would've rather her looked angry.
"Hermione, I'm sorry…" He said softly. She looked away from him, but he gently took her chin and turned her to face him. "I believe you, alright?" He added before guiding her face to his.
"Alright." She whispered against his lips after their kiss.
"I just wish that you would have told me about you asking Krum to…to…" Ron sighed heavily. He still couldn't say that word! "…You know. And about him asking you to…to…" He couldn't say that either.
"I just knew how angry you'd be…" She said quietly, placing her head on his shoulder.
"Hermione…" Ron began, suddenly remembering something, "Last term you told me that Viktor would cross the line sometimes, but you'd always set him straight…"
With her head still resting on his shoulder she responded with a soft sigh, "I decided after the Department of Mysteries that I wouldn't be going to Bulgaria. After that night, I knew I couldn't leave you or Harry. I told Viktor, but he continued to ask me about it over the summer. When I continued to tell him no, he invited me to spend Christmas with him. He said that I would 'fall in love' with his country if I gave it a chance, but I wrote to him and told him that I couldn't because I'd already fallen in love with you."
Ron's heart turned over a few times, and skipped a few beats in the process. "You told him that you'd fallen in love with me?" He asked quietly. She lifted her head from his shoulder to look up at him.
"Yes." She answered, "At the time, I didn't think that you felt the same way, but it didn't matter to me. I knew I couldn't move off and leave you…unattended."
"Unattended?" He asked confused.
She smiled sheepishly before resting her head back down on his shoulder, "Well, I think I thought that if I stayed here with you, Harry and I could be such good friends to you that you wouldn't need anyone else, you know? And that maybe I wouldn't have to suffer through you falling in love with…with some other girl."
Ron felt a lump in his throat at these words. Hermione really had loved him as he'd loved her all that time. He pulled her tightly to him and he felt her hand move up his chest as she hugged him around the neck. He turned his head slightly toward her and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Let's not keep secrets from one another, alright Hermione?" He whispered, "Let's always be completely honest…I love y-…"
Her head shot up from his shoulder suddenly and she glared at him. Ron froze immediately, but he then actually looked over his shoulder to make sure that there was no one else standing there that might be receiving this horribly intimidating look. But no, it was definitely directed at him.
"Ron!" Hermione cried suddenly, leaning back away from him and lifting her chin with that look that always warned Ron to prepare himself for something unexpected and possibly dangerous.
"Ron, how can you ask me to not keep secrets from you?" She asked firmly.
"What?" Ron asked in exasperation. "How can I-…? Hermione, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"Ron…you, Harry, and Ginny are all keeping something from me as we speak!" She said with genuine hurt in her eyes.
"What are you talking about, Hermione?" Ron asked in total confusion, as he absently stroked her arm.
"I know why, too!" She said with a slight quaver to her voice, ignoring his question. Then in a whisper she began again, "He's doing something…illegal…or…or dangerous, and you all think I'll turn him in. Because Hermione's always so 'high and mighty' and wanting to do the right thing, but you never listen to me! Even though I'm almost always right! Like that dagger! Have you even told Harry what you said you would? I bet you haven't. You still think it's a 'cool' dagger, even though he found it at the Black's home!" She finished in a near hiss.
Ron's eyes had to have been the size of Snitch's when she'd finished this unexpected diatribe. He realized that Hermione had a bottomless memory for everything that Ron had ever told her. Anything he said to her could and would be held against him if he weren't careful. Were all women like this?
He shook his head at her, as he began, "Hermione, what in bl-…"
"And!" She interrupted, "I bet he's found some sort of illegal wand-enhancement polish or wax that has to be used in water! Don't look so shocked, Ronald. Did you think I'd forgotten? Well, I haven't! But don't worry. I won't tell anyone what he's doing. I won't tell anyone that he's been going into the shower every morning to try and illicitly enhance his-…"
Ron hurriedly covered Hermione's mouth with one hand to stifle her as he quickly glanced around the, luckily, empty common room. She was glaring at him with annoyed bewilderment and trying to take his hand from her mouth with both of her hands. He almost chuckled…almost.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered, "Hermione, promise not to say…what you were about to say…out loud, and I'll take my hand from your mouth. But believe me…you don't want anyone to overhear you saying that." She growled into his palm, and he decided to take that as her promise. He leaned back and slowly removed his hand.
"I can not believe you!" She exclaimed incredulously, "What in the world do you mean by covering my mouth like that! That is just the most-…"
"Hermione, Seamus wasn't talking about the kind of wand that you're thinking of." Ron said quickly, avoiding her eye.
Her brows furrowed briefly before she gasped, "So it's not illegal polish! He's gotten an illegal wand! It's not the one he was waving about earlier, is it?"
"Thank Merlin, no…" Ron said shaking his head at her. "Hermione, Seamus was just making a crude joke when he said…when he used the phrase…'buffing your wand."
"A crude joke?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Blimey, Hermione…" Ron sighed heavily as he leaned in close to whisper, "A crude sexual joke." She leaned away from him with her brows furrowed.
Suddenly, however, a look of comprehension washed over her. Her eyes went wide, and her hands moved to cover her now gaping mouth. Ron looked away as his face began to burn with embarrassment. Although there was a lot of relief mixed in with his embarrassment. He was immensely relieved that Hermione had comprehended the meaning of the euphemism without further explanation.
"Oh, I'm such…an…idiot!" She cried as she put her face completely in her hands and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees.
Ron kept his arm about her shoulders as he leaned over her. "You aren't an idiot, Hermione. You just didn't know."
Her hands dropped suddenly and she looked at him with wide eyes, "And Harry! Yesterday, I asked you about it in front of Harry! Oh no…" She groaned as she returned her face to her hands.
"Harry's probably already forgotten about that." Ron lied, rubbing a hand soothingly over her back.
"Forgotten about what?"
Ron and Hermione both looked up so quickly, Ron was surprised one of their necks didn't snap. Harry had just approached them and was now staring at them suspiciously. When neither of them answered, he simply rolled his eyes.
"Ron, if you're talking about what Cho said, I haven't forgotten. But Hermione, don't worry yourself over it, all right? Ginny and I talked last night."
"Cho?" Hermione said blandly, her brows furrowed. Ron nudged her knee with his and her eyes went wide, "Cho!" Hermione exclaimed in relief. Harry looked puzzled. "I mean…yes, I know that you haven't stopped thinking about what she said." She replied quickly. "And…um… I'm not going to worry about anything. Ginny loves you not Dean."
Harry nodded with a half-smile, just as Ginny entered from the girls' stairwell. Ron noticed that his sister didn't look too chipper this morning. She actually looked very tired as she walked slowly to them. Her hair seemed to be thrown up in some sort of messy bun with strands falling everywhere, and she wasn't wearing any make-up.
"So," Ron began, as his worried gaze left his sister to fall on Harry, "What did you two talk about, exactly? I mean, what do you two plan to do about…about him?"
Ginny scowled at Harry as she responded, "When confronted by DT, as we shall call him in code, be polite but not flirtatious. Avoid being alone with him. And if it gets out of hand, simply tell him that I'm not interested." She said in a singsong voice, "Does that sum up your latest list of guidelines for me, Harry?" She spat before abruptly turning for the portrait hole door. Ron stared after his sister as she marched out of the common room, her loose hair falling down even more from its bun.
Ron quickly stood from the chair and reached a hand down to help Hermione up, "I'm sorry, mate." He muttered to Harry, who was staring after Ginny with a deep frown. "I shouldn't have asked."
"No," Harry grumbled without taking his eyes off of the exit, "You shouldn't have." He then tightened his grip on his satchel and stalked off toward the door. Ron exchanged a look with Hermione before he gripped her hand tighter. They then set off in pursuit of their two quarreling friends.
The morning had already taken some unexpected twists, and it didn't seem to be getting any less interesting. On their way to the Great Hall they passed Colin and Dennis Creevey huddled in one corner of one of the landings. Their heads were together and Dennis was showing his brother some pictures. Harry didn't give them a second glance, but Ron craned his neck slightly to see if he could catch a glimpse of what they were looking at so suspiciously. Colin saw him, however, and grabbed the pictures from Dennis' hands, shoving them in a pocket of his robes.
"What's that about?" Hermione whispered beside him. Ron shrugged, as he watched the Creevey brothers hurriedly climb the stairs. For some reason their covertness had bothered him a bit.
Okay, Ron thought tiredly, I'm going to have to make it through the rest of this day with a mere hour of sleep behind me. I don't have time to worry about two titchy kids and their strange habits. Ron hadn't told Hermione the reason for his lack of sleep, but it was completely her doing!
Of course, not in a way that angered him…it just frustrated him. He had slept through Wednesday night with her in his arms, and he had slept better than he could ever remember sleeping. And then the next night he was supposed to just go back to sleeping with his pillow, which didn't have even one of Hermione's beautiful curves!
Well, he couldn't do it! And he couldn't tell her why he had insomnia either. Knowing Hermione, she would offer to sleep with him. And, Ron couldn't take the chance that he wouldn't be able to say no. It was his fault in the first place that the inevitable rumors would begin to spread. He'd invited Hermione into his bed, allowed himself to fall asleep, and allowed her to just walk right out of his dormitory in her pajamas!
He might not be able to reverse his blunder, but he could prevent it from growing. Although, Ron thought sadly as he looked at Harry's troubled expression, it looked as if someone had a growing blunder of their own…
Breakfast was awkward. Just awkward! That was the best word for it.
Ginny was pouting and barely eating anything. Harry was completely expressionless and silent. Ron was incredibly antsy, as if he wanted to say something. A few times he had even opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again. And as for Hermione, she felt as if she couldn't look Harry in the eye. So, she guessed it was good that he was entranced with his plate.
The more Hermione thought about her misunderstanding of Seamus' comment, the more she remembered snippets of yesterday morning's breakfast chat. She had just gone on and on about it! No wonder Harry had been extra quiet around her the whole day! Of course, now he was being quiet for a different reason. A reason that actually disturbed Hermione more than embarrassment between herself and Harry.
Obviously Ginny still wasn't happy with the fact that Harry wanted to keep their feelings hidden. Hermione had thought that she would grow accustomed to it, but it seemed as though she only grew more edgy with each passing day. And it was only a week into the term!
"I have an idea." Ron said suddenly, calling everyone's attention to him. Hermione nudged him under the table with her foot, but he trudged on. "Ginny, I know what you can tell people to get Dean to leave you alone."
"Ron…" Hermione began apprehensively. She really didn't think it was a good time for him to talk about this matter with Harry and Ginny. A better time might be when at least one of them regained the ability to smile.
"No, I want to hear this." Ginny said with slight interest. Harry looked doubtfully at Ron.
Rather eagerly, Ron explained his idea of creating a false relationship between Ginny and Viktor. The whole while Hermione was watching Harry and Ginny's expressions. After Ron had finished, Harry had his eyebrows raised slightly as if considering it, but Ginny's interested expression had faded to something that looked almost like boredom.
"It won't work." Ginny said plainly.
"Why not?" Ron and Harry asked in unison.
"Because everyone that reads Quidditch Today knows where Krum eats, how many showers he takes every day, and especially who he's currently dating." She replied.
"That's not true!" Ron said in exasperation. "I've been a subscriber since I could read, and I've not once read anything about Krum's girlfriends!"
"That's because you don't read the gossip columns in the back, Ron." Ginny said impatiently.
"Well, who does?" Ron asked testily, "No one cares about those rumors."
"Unfortunately, people do care about those rumors." Ginny said with a sigh. Hermione's stomach cramped slightly at the word 'rumors,' and she glanced down the table to see Lavender and Parvati eating with their usual crowd of friends.
"And," Ginny continued with a sigh, "Dean happens to be one of those people that care about that rubbish. He used to drive me mad always talking about-…"Ginny's voice trailed off at the uncomfortable look on Harry's face.
"Anyway…" Ginny said after clearing her throat. "It just won't work."
"What if…" Harry began quietly, "What if we just made up a person. You know, just some random Joe or John…"
"Yeah!" Ron breathed, "We'll tell him you're dating some prat that Fred and George met one day at their shop or something. We could make up a whole story about him and no one would ever know!"
Ginny looked miserable. "It won't work, you two." She said quietly. Ron sighed heavily and looked to Harry in disbelief at his sister's stubbornness.
"Why?" Harry asked calmly.
"Because…" She began, as she played nervously with her fingers. "Dean has always been able to tell whether or not I'm lying. He'll just know…and…and I don't want to lie to him. He's still my friend..."
Harry looked at her a moment before sighing and looking down at his plate.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, Harry." Ginny said sternly. "It's not my fault that-…"
"Hey guys!" Dean called merrily. Hermione looked up to see the one person that they all least wanted to see at the moment coming to stand directly behind Ginny, whose eyes had gone a bit wide.
Before any of them could properly return his greeting, Dean leaned over Ginny, placing his hands on the table top on either side of her. Hermione saw her tense as he leaned down to whisper something in her ear. Hermione's knees began bobbing up and down as she anxiously watched Dean and Ginny.
Hermione chanced a glance at Harry…and gasped. Harry didn't seem to notice, seeing as how he was burning a hole through the wooden table with his glare, but Ron grabbed her hand under the table and quickly leaned in to whisper urgently, "You saw it too!"
Hermione turned her head to look at him with wide eyes, "Yes!" She whispered back, "His eyes! You've seen it before?"
Ron nodded at her as he gnawed on the inside of his cheek. "Do you think he knows?" He asked under his breath.
Hermione shrugged, but she then leaned in a bit closer to whisper, "We've got to ask him about it." Ron nodded at her again, but as an afterthought Hermione added, "Let's wait until lunch, alright? Harry's got enough to worry about throughout today's classes." She then gave Ron a peck on his cheek and took a piece of his toast so they didn't look too suspicious.
When Hermione looked back up at Ginny, Dean was leaning back away from her. Ginny then gave him a small smile and nodded. He beamed at her before walking off to join Seamus, who was waiting for him at the double doors exiting the Great Hall.
After watching him leave, Ginny sighed and rested her head in one hand. "He's having trouble in Potions and he wants me to help him with an essay over the weekend."
"I didn't know he had trouble in Potions." Hermione stated absently, watching Harry to see if his eyes would glow again.
"I didn't know we had an essay for the weekend." Ron added with a scowl.
Harry rolled his eyes at them. "We don't." He stated darkly, before turning to Ginny, "So where's the date?"
Ginny turned to him with a glare. "Don't start, Harry." She said through gritted teeth.
"Well you know he doesn't want to study." Harry replied.
"We won't leave the common room." She spat, as she stood up to grab her satchel, "You're acting like I did something wrong, Harry. I would have loved to have told him no, but that would have upset you more!"
"Ginny, I told you that if it got out of hand to tell him flat out that you aren't interested." Harry said firmly, looking up at her, "I consider him asking you to join him in a private study session that we all know he doesn't need…to be out of hand."
Harry looked away from her then. Ginny reached up with one hand and took her hair down from a loose bun. She then slammed the golden, butterfly barrette Harry had given her for Christmas down on the table in front of him. He picked it up slowly and gazed back up at her.
"You can keep that until you decide to stop playing this game with me." She whispered with tears in her eyes. "I'm trying to play by your rules, but I can't do it anymore!" He started to reach for her, but he stopped himself and placed his head in his hand. She swallowed rather hard before turning on her heel and stalking hurriedly out of the Great Hall.
Harry stood to grab his satchel so Hermione and Ron followed. Hermione's heart was hurting for Harry and Ginny both. She understood why Harry would not publicly date Ginny, but she could also see how hard it was on Ginny. Hermione was beginning to question whether or not their secret relationship was for the best.
At the top of the stairs leading down into the dungeon, Hermione glanced over at Harry. His jaw was working, but Hermione's eyes then went to his hand, which was closed tightly about his satchel strap. She hastily grabbed his wrist.
"Harry!" She said, attempting to pry his hand out of a fist, from which a thin line of blood was trickling down.
Harry looked down and released his grip from his strap. Holding his bloodied palm up, Hermione saw Ginny's barrette lying in the middle of his shaking hand. Hermione took out her wand and uttered a healing spell on his palm and a cleaning spell on the bloodstained barrette.
"I can't see Snape right now." Harry muttered darkly as he placed the barrette in his pocket. "I'm skiving."
"Harry…" Hermione began quietly, but he turned and headed straight for the Grand Staircase.
Hermione felt a single tear roll down her cheek as she watched him go. Ron squeezed her hand gently as he urged her to follow him down the cold, stone stairs.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! I'm back, but unfortunately this chapter isn't as long as I'd like. It's 6000 words, but if I finished their day, it would have been like 12,000 and I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer for new material. So, I hope I've given you all a bit to chew on while I begin work on chapter 35! Which, I promise will be more juicy!
Maybe it won't take me too long to get back into the flow. Thanks everyone for being patient while I was on vacation. I had a good time in St. Louis and I went up in the arch for the first time! I'm afraid of heights... but luckily I made it back to solid ground without hyperventilating!
Lol...well, I'm off to write! Thank you readers and reviewers!