Hey everyone, I'm really sorry for not updating sooner, although people don't really seem interested in my story anymore…. Oh well I'll survive, I'm writing this for the fun of it anyway. Holds hand up to forehead in a dramatic way! Well, this chapter I am going to dedicate to: because they're great and loyal and review! Thanks you guys. Sorry everyone, this chapter doesn't have much Harry/Draco in it, it has a little but not much. You're lucky, it wasn't going to have any in it but then I put a little in. So, enjoy……

Chapter seven – Harry, Ron and Hermione

The Halloween weekend was upon them and being prefects they were all involved in organising the decorations for the Entrance Hall and the Great Hall. So this added an extra stress to Harry and his timetable, so he spent hours trying to design some original yet unique decorations for the Entrance Hall. Here, he, Malfoy, Hermione, Ron and two others were working. It didn't help that he had normal homework, work from his extra lessons and that his dreams of the summer had reappeared in his sleep. This meant he was being the quiet, snappy, moody Harry that he had promised himself not to be a few weeks previous, especially to Ron and Hermione.

'Harry?' Harry looked up from his book.

'Yes?' He whispered back, he had already been told off and chased by Madame Pince earlier on in that day for talking then screaming at a book for not giving him the information he required. He had been so worked up, he hadn't seen the bookcases shake and quiver, but Madame Pince and the other occupants had noticed this strange occurrence.

'We wondered if you were up to coming to Hogsmede this weekend on the Saturday……' Hermione and Ron looked hopefully at him.

'Yeah, of course that would be great!' Harry smiled, and thought, 'Anything to get me away from work and Hogwarts.'

'Right well we'll leave you to it,' Ron muttered.

'Alone again, they really can't seem to stand being in my presence for more than five minutes.' Harry thought, very discontented but he couldn't help and allow himself a small smile at the sight of Ron and Hermione walking away. When one bumped into the other, each of them both jumping about 2 metres apart as if electrocuted.

'I really must do something about those two, or it'll never come about.' Harry said to himself and returned silently to his work.

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It was Friday night they were all in the Entrance Hall putting up the last of the decorations, which all glowed an eerie orange colour due to the light. Harry was lighting the pumpkins with his wand and turned around to check with Hermione that he was doing it all right. Although when he turned around he found the Entrance Hall empty, with Hermione's checklist on the floor and her, Ron or anyone not in sight.

'Oh where the fuck have they all gone? Just leave me here then, bloody hell.' Harry muttered to himself. Harry then noticed a flicker of platinum blonde hair from a dark corner in the Entrance Hall.

'Oi Malfoy! You finished!' Harry called.

Malfoy turned around, 'What's it to you?'

'Well then can you pass Hermione's checklist as she seems to have buggered off.'

'Probably gone to fuck Weasley and no I can't.'

'It's right beside you, don't be such a bloody, stubborn idiot.'

'Fine.' Malfoy replied shortly. He snatched up the parchment and stomped over. Harry watched him, the way his eyes glistened with anger, how his hair swayed and caught the light and he heard Malfoy's footsteps almost as if they were setting his heart beat, making it beat steadily and in time. Malfoy reached out his arm to pass the list to Harry and quite unintentionally Harry brushed his hand against Malfoy's and a fire sparked in Harry's heart. His eyes leaped up to meet Malfoy's and he just stared into them for what seemed like eternity – those deep set, molten silver eyes.

Harry turned abruptly round and bowed his head towards the parchment and whispered, 'Thanks.' He heard Malfoy walk away and thought, 'I really can't do this anymore.' Harry shook his head and left the Entrance Hall not knowing the pair of deep set, molten silver eyes were watching him go from the door to the dungeons.

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'So where to first!' Asked an excited Ron, his face a gleam with happiness.

'Well I have to do Christmas shopping, yes, yes I know it's not even Halloween yet but, well… in the muggle world……' Hermione trailed off and looked up to see Harry smirking.

'Yes Hermione I know, don't worry.'

'Well I'll see you boys later,' she flashed them a smile and disappeared into the nearest shop.

'Perfect timing, I am going to do something about them.' Harry thought, smiling wickedly.

Ron shot a worried look at Harry, who didn't notice as the continued down the street. Harry was looking intently at some enchanted green pixies that went from red to green to gold and spelt out Merry Christmas every few seconds when Ron cleared his throat.

'Look……mate, about the other day.' Ron paused and Harry turned expecting him to continue but instead Ron's face went as red as his hair and he looked past Harry, so Harry shook his head and prompted Ron by saying, 'Shall we go get a butterbeer in The Three Broomsticks?'

'Sure.' Ron smiled, obviously grateful to Harry for what he'd done.

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Harry took a swig of his butterbeer and looked expectantly at Ron, when Ron saw this he nearly choked on his drink, so Harry reached and patted him on the back. Ron flinched, to which Harry clenched his teeth and rolled his eyes. Harry sighed and again prompted Ron again.

'I guess you wanted to talk to me about me being gay…?'

Ron looked astonished and shocked when Harry said it out loud in a public place.

'Well…yes…I did.' He coughed and placed his drink on the table. 'I wanted to say firstly I'm very sorry for the way I acted about you. I mean…well……I think……I hope I'm your best friend and I should have taken it better than I did,' Ron apologised.

Harry looked at Ron intently, so intently that Ron began to shuffle in his seat uncomfortably. 'It's fine, understandable. Anyway lets not talk about me – how about you and Hermione…? Ron choked again. 'Mate, you really have to stop this choking business it could kill you one day you know. So… what are you going to do?' Harry asked, completely in control of the situation.

'I don't know what the fuck you're on about,' Ron said innocently.

'Ha! Don't lie Ron, I know, I can tell and plus you might as well have written 'I love Hermione' across your face, it's that obvious.' Harry said bluntly.

'I…I……I don't know.'

'Well, if it's any consolation, it's written across her face too – pretty plainly.'

'Really!'

'Uh huh, so I think tonight or today will be the perfect time to do it. Don't you think?'

'What! Far too soon!' Ron shouted, causing people in The Three Broomsticks to turn their heads.

'I think it'll be just right and trust me she'll reciprocate the feelings, I'm pretty bloody sure, no, wait, bugger that, I'm bloody well certain.'

Ron looked unsure but nodded mutely in agreement. Harry observed his best friend for a short time, 'I do hope he does it – it'll get them off my back that's for sure especially if they're engrossed in each other. Oh shit, I have Defence Against The Dark Arts tomorrow and on Halloween as well, oh bugger.'

'We have to go and meet………meet…'

'Meet Hermione?' Harry asked.

'Yes, her, that's right, well, yeah, we better get going, you know her.' Ron stuttered.

They walked out of The Three Broomsticks and Hermione was standing, waiting, with a look of triumph on her face.

'Completed it then…' Harry questioned.

'Finally, yeah I did. Anyhow, how did I guess you'd be in there? Hmm? Good time then?' She directed her question to Ron but he just looked away, blushing. Hermione was taken a back but Harry stepped in, 'yes we had a great time thanks Mione.'

They continued to talk as they left Hogsmede and suddenly Hermione rolled up some snow and threw a snowball at Ron, who gasped in shock but then retaliated, causing the both of them to turn on Harry and pelt him with the snowballs in their hands. This then resulted in a full blown snowball fight.

Until Hermione shouted, 'Ok, ok, I give up!'

They all stood there in the clearing red faced, slightly sweaty and panting because of all the running they'd been doing. Hermione smiled, 'Just like the old times, no cares, we're all happy and it's just us three.' Silence fell on them as they all pondered these words, that had made them realise how much had changed.

Harry then gasped, 'Shit! I forgot to get something from Hogsmede, don't wait, I'll see you back at the castle.' And so Harry left with a parting smile to Hermione and a 'you know what to do' glare at Ron.

Harry walked away with a small smile on his face and round the corner where he paused and waited. He felt as if he was waiting for an age, when in fact it had only been 10 minutes. 'Oh fuck this,' he thought. Harry made his way back to Hogwarts, when he turned the corner into the clearing where the snowball fight had taken place minutes before to find Ron and Hermione still there. He arrived in time to see Hermione's face break out in a smile and fling her arms around Ron's neck.

'Well he's told her then,' he thought.

Ron then broke the contact between him and Hermione.

'No! Mate, what are you doing?' Harry wondered.

He then saw Ron snake his arms around Hermione's back and bring his face down so his lips met hers very gently.

'Nice one!' Harry smiled.

Then he watched them turn and with their arms wrapped around each other walk in the opposite direction, not noticing Harry. Harry's face deceased to smile, he felt a mixture of emotions – happiness and sadness, (almost desertion, which he knew he shouldn't feel because he set this up) for the events that had just happened.

'I wish I could be that happy, but I don't think that can ever be.'

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Well that's the next chapter, sorry that it's not got a lot of action in it but I needed to get Ron and Hermione together. I shall try and get the next chapter up soon, but I'm at school and work is annoying and there is lots of it, I hope you forgive me if I take a while. Please review, I really need to know what you all think... Love you all! Lelimo.