A/N : It's only been a little over a month since I've written something and somehow it feels like a lifetime ago and I feel so rusty. So please bear with me. This was written for ImNotSpeakingToYou's birthday later this week ;-) It's short but I hope you'll like it.
24. Compliment
"That was a really good idea. To use the Felix Felicis so Harry can finally know more about Slughorn's memory," she says a bit dazed.
"You say that as if I never have good ideas," he replies accusingly.
"That's -that's not how I meant-"
"I know exactly what you meant," he sulks.
They walk the remaining distance to the meeting point for their Apparition test in awkward silence. Hermione feels suddenly flustered. She doesn't know if it's because she's anxious she won't pass, or if it's Ron's attitude towards her.
They wait for their names to be called in alphabetical order. She'll be before him, and she feels the need to clear things out with him.
"It was a compliment," she blurts out to him. His incredulous stare tells her he doesn't know what she's talking about. "When I said it was a good idea. I meant it as a compliment. You have good ideas." She doesn't know why it is so awkward to say it, maybe it's because she witnesses him turn a darker shade of red she's sure she's already spotting herself too. Or maybe because she wants him to realise she thinks highly of him. No matter what, he's still dumbfoundedly looking at her when they call her name.
She steps forward, turns around quickly to look at him one last time before taking her Apparition test. He smiles encouragingly and the butterflies invading her stomach are almost too much to bear.
She takes three deep breaths, closes her eyes and tries to focus.
Destination, Determination and Deliberation.
