All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts
Shakespeare
"What in all that is magic is going on?" I wondered as I slowly came awake. What am I doing on the sofa? Why am I not in my bed? How did I manage to not fall off the sofa? At this point my senses finish waking up and I realize that I am firmly held around my stomach by a very strong arm and my head is not resting on a stationary pillow but rather on someone's chest which is slowly moving with each breath. At that, I finally remember last night's events. With that thought a broad smile crosses my face and a sigh escapes.
"I hope that was a contented sigh," Harry said. "I must say I love waking up this way."
"Mmmm…me too," I say with the grin still in place.
Harry kisses my neck and manages to hold me a bit tighter. I oblige him and snuggle into his arms even further.
"Those years of Quidditch paid off. If you kept me from tossing myself off this little sofa last night, you must have kept a death grip on me," I say.
Harry just laughed. "So what are we going to do with our unexpected day off?"
"As much as I want to stay just like this for, oh, just about forever, I thought of a plan that the son of a Marauder might like to partake in. After all, our honor is at stake."
"When you put it like that, how can a boy refuse?"
I proceeded to outline my idea and the steps we need to take today. They really should know better than to give us a whole day with no obligations. "Oh, Harry, all this could be foiled by that dratted Map those 'imps' have!"
"Actually, I solved that problem without even realizing how fortuitous my action was. Last night, before I came here I used that spell we created to remove ourselves from the Map. Remember when we didn't want others to find us seventh year we created that little charm? Well, I managed to think in the midst of all that last night before I came to your room and also realized that I did not want those children or Minerva to know where I was. I went so far as to charm you off the Map too. Given our current situation, I am quite glad those first years have no idea where I spent the night. Hardly a good example to set for them," he grinned.
"Well done, Harry," I twist my head around and kiss his nose. "That does make today much simpler. So…" I continue with the day's plans.
"Alright, you go and get your cloak and put on some Muggle clothes. I'll go get ready. Come back in half an hour and make sure no one sees you." Harry got up from the sofa and after a kiss went to his own chambers. Even in the rumpled clothes he was wearing after sleeping on the sofa, he was still the most handsome man.
Precisely thirty minutes later he was back in my rooms wearing jeans and a button down shirt. I was ready in jeans and a jumper. We then proceeded to sneak out of the castle, just like when we were children, under the cover of Harry's cloak. Once we were free of the grounds we came out from under the cloak.
"Okay, so you will talk to Ron about his side of the plan. I'll go to the twin's shop and get them in on this. Convincing them to make a return visit should not be too hard." I smirk here, as if the twins would pass up the chance for one of the biggest practical jokes ever to be played in the halls of Hogwarts. "Then let's meet at Ginny's to have our final planning session. Everything will have to go smoothly if this will be believable. In fact, if our past wasn't as dramatic as it is, I don't think anyone would fall for this."
"Mione, the plan is brilliant and with those three involved it will be a performance as such has never been seen!" Harry kissed me again before apparating back to our London flat; from there he would be able to find Ron. I apparated to the twin's shop.
"Fred! George! Where are you? Is this anyway to run a shop? Ignoring your customers!" I yell from the doorway.
"Why Professor Granger, to what do we owe this surprise? I did not realize that today was a Hogsmeade day," Fred says as he steps from the store room.
"My dear boy, it most assuredly is not a Hogsmeade day. It seems that we have finally rubbed off on our favorite bookworm," George replied as he came up behind me carrying what I would assume is their lunch.
"What could possibly cause Professor Granger to leave her classes and grace us with her presence?" Fred asked.
"How would you like to participate in the practical joke that will never be forgotten in the entire history of Hogwarts?" I ask with a coy smile and all the assurance that these two will not say no.
I am not disappointed.
"Oi! Ron! You here?" Harry hollers about the same time I am calling the twins.
"Harry! What are you doing here? What's going on? Is Hermione okay?" he grills Harry as he steps out from his bedroom.
"Mione is fine. The short of it is that we worked out a few things and well, mate, I hope you're fine with this, but she and I are sort of together now," Harry spit out quite quickly.
"Took you two long enough. And they all said I was dense!"
"How would you like to get back a bit of that reputation?" Harry raised his eyebrow.
Ron grinned, "I'm in."
The four of us appeared within a few moments of each other at Ginny's home. Luckily she was there and the five of us were able to draw up the plans for the next few weeks. The timing was going to be tricky, but luckily our three conspirators were very flexible. The twins were willing to shut down their shops at a moment's notice and Ginny worked from home making her a perfect ally. After tea Harry and I returned to Hogwarts. The first act of our little drama was set to unfold this evening at dinner.
We entered the castle without detection. Bless that cloak! Each of us returned to our rooms and changed into our robes. I returned to my older robes, the ones most often compared to Minerva's. This costume change was quite necessary.
My entrance in the Great Hall for the evening meal acquired only slightly more notice than usual. Namely the Headmistress and three young Gryffindors noted my arrival alone and my wardrobe choice. The three students quickly began a whispered conversation of which I seemingly took no notice. As Minerva was in conversation with a few other professors, I simply nodded and took my seat.
Harry entered and got the same notice, well, I must be honest, a bit more notice. Even I saw many of the female students look up with hero worship in their eyes. I inwardly grinned knowing their daydreams would soon be crushed, but outwardly I took absolutely no notice of Harry's presence. He sat down six chairs from me as I did not save him his customary seat next to mine. We each sat eating our meals in slight, superficial conversation with our peers sitting around us. Neither acknowledged the other's presence during the entire course of the meal.
Just before I finished, Minerva sought me. "Professor Granger, I was hoping we could speak in my office this evening. I have to resolve one small remaining problem first, but I would like to meet in half an hour's time. Is this acceptable?"
"Of course, I will see you in thirty minutes," I replied.
Harry observed this just before he left. I finished my conversation with the professors I was speaking with before leaving. For the first meal since Harry began teaching, we did not speak. This behavior was noted by many of the staff and a few students. Our farce was proceeding as planned, it was as if the orchestra had just finished tuning and begun the overture.
Instead of waiting to go to the Headmistress's office, I went immediately after the meal. If I could get one last accomplice in on our little plot, everything would go much more smoothly and provide a bit of reconnaissance for us.
Knowing the password, I was granted access. I am now quite grateful that I know all the previous headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts and their portraits. However, there was only one I needed to speak with this evening.
"Headmaster Dumbledore are you awake?" I ask the seemingly sleeping figure in the portrait I am facing.
"Miss Granger, I was merely resting my eyes," my former headmaster replies with that famous twinkle.
"Sir, I was wondering if you were interested in helping Harry and me with a bit of a situation." I ask him.
The portrait gives me a childlike smile in return. I take this as a yes and outline our situation and plans. The twinkle in the portrait's eyes simply grows.
"Should my involvement become known to our current Headmistress, I believe I shall be quite glad I am merely a portrait," he laughs.
With that acceptance, the last actor has their part and the play is about to begin. Let the curtain rise on Act I.
