Silence is text easy to misread.
A.A. Attanasio
Later that evening, Harry snuck to my rooms. After we both did some of the preparatory work for the coming day's classes, we settled on to the sofa.
"Mione, if this is going to become a routine for us, would you mind if I changed a few things about this sofa?" Harry asked.
"Well, what are you thinking?"
"Here, get up for a minute," Harry said. After I stood up and he got out his wand, he started to perform a few charms and transfiguration spells. When he was done, the sofa was significantly deeper, much plusher, and had a variety of comfortable cushions strewn about it.
"Perhaps you should go into interior design?" I suggest with just the right amount of sauciness to my voice.
He gave me a bit of a glare before pulling me into a kiss and then quite literally tossing me onto the sofa. It is my turn to glare.
"How did your meeting with Minerva go?" Harry asked.
"Oh, she just wanted to make sure that everything was going fine with the Gryffindors and so forth," I reply. "I tried to watch her for any telltale signs of interest in more than work related issues, but she is a difficult face to read. She never once asked about you or how my free day went."
"Well, three can play that game. We'll just follow her lead and pretend as if nothing did happen."
"Harry, this is going to be difficult. The level of subterfuge in this little plan is astronomical," Harry started to laugh as I spoke. "Harry, this isn't funny!"
"Mione, do you realize that the more worried you are, the larger the words you use?" Harry laughed. "Don't worry. We had to do much more difficult acting in the past. I seem to remember your first stellar acting performance in a certain incident involving a troll and several teachers about to put Ron and me in detention until we were thirty. You came out with a phenomenal act at that point and it was all extemporaneous. Now you have a partner in crime and a clue as to what to say in advance. Everything will be fine," Harry soothed me as he pulled me into his lap and began smoothing my hair.
The next morning as the sun rose, so did the curtain on our little comedy of errors. Act I was set to begin, of course for those who were our unwitting audience, the performance would appear one of drama and distress until somewhere near the end of Act III.
As Harry had left late the night before, this morning I found myself in my own bed. I got dressed in the older robes again and headed to my classroom. I usually get my day organized prior to breakfast. So few students are awake early that it is often the only quiet time I will find until after curfew. The space after breakfast before the first class is often consumed with individuals or small groups coming to me with questions.
Upon entering the Great Hall through the side door closest to my classroom, I took note of those already eating. I saw that the three Gryffindors were already there, attempting nonchalant glances around the room. Nicholas really is like Ron, when he saw me enter he elbowed Anthony so hard that the poor boy yelped and all hope of subtlety was lost. I feigned ignorance of the whole episode as I took a seat with the other professors. I sat in an empty seat between two colleagues. Over the next few minutes we chatted and I enjoyed a bit of toast and tea.
Harry entered repeated the same process as me, but selected a seat at the opposite end of the staff table. Without any acknowledgement of the other, this movement succeeded in attracting the attention of most of the professors, including Minerva, and enough of the observant students. The students who noticed this first scene in our play quickly began the ever dependable gossip chain at Hogwarts. Things were going perfectly to plan. I hate when Harry is right. The staff was much more subtle. A few cast glances at the two of us. Minerva avoided the issue entirely. Most of the staff, I believe, was unsure of what to do or say. Few themselves are married and even fewer know how to deal with the trials and tribulations of young adults.
When I was finished with my meal I walked directly past Harry without any acknowledgement again, and went to find the Gryffindor prefects. This move got the attention of just about everyone in the room. Normally I would curse how much attention Harry and I receive, and Ron when he is around, as a result of our past. Now everyone's fascination with the Golden Trio is working to our advantage.
Throughout the next several days Harry and I continue acting as if the other does not exist. No one says a word to us about this huge shift in our friendship. They just watch with rapt attention.
Finally we come to Friday evening. After a week of our charade, everyone knew something had occurred to drive a wedge between Harry and me. No one had an inkling what this something was. Ron will help with that little problem later. After curfew passed and even most professors were asleep, Harry came to my room as usual.
"Mione, love, you awake still?" Harry asks as he comes in and sees me curled on the sofa under a blanket.
"Mmhmm," I murmur. I am really only half awake and it is so delightfully cozy under this blanket. Knowing it could be even cozier, I pull back the edge of the blanket and smile at Harry all the while keeping my eyes closed. He can be a sharp lad and figures out what I am saying. He sits down and rearranges the blanket and me so that my new pillow is his chest and the blanket is keeping both of us warm now. I am quite ready to fall asleep. With the curtain rising on act one, scene two of our farce tomorrow morning will prove quite eventful. I think Harry wants to talk or some such nonsense, but I fall sound asleep before he has a chance.
Saturday morning dawned bright and cold. Such is the norm this time of year and creates a striking scene for the day. I wake first and wake Harry with a light kiss on his nose. He smiles before he fully wakes.
"Come, Harry, today is the day! Wake up! You have to go and get ready. And I have to don my costume," I really am becoming much too caught up in this theater analogy.
"Just a few more minutes Mione?" he mumbles.
I just get up, pull the blanket off him. As I am halfway finished in folding it he gets up and continues some inarticulate grumblings.
"My, my, aren't we chipper this morning?" I tease.
All I get in response is a low growl until he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. "Much better," I comment as he kisses my neck. "Now go and get ready!"
"Bossy know-it-all," he teases before one last kiss and his disappearing under the invisibility cloak.
I start humming to myself as I go to get ready for the day. My costume consists of the 'new' robes and well coiffed hair. Since I normally go to Hogsmeade with the students my presence is expected. However my presence in the fashionable robes and styled hair will be noted. Today is not my day to serve as a chaperone so I am able to amble in to the pub without any suspicious glances or qualms of shirking my duties.
The barkeep serves me a warm drink to thaw my fingers and I enjoy it slowly over the course of the next half hour. I was a bit early in arriving. Finally I see the telltale long red hair of my closest female friend.
"Mione, there you are!" Ginny waves from the entry way as she begins peeling off the layers of warmth she was bundled in to combat the chill day. "How are you? I haven't seen you in this past age!" She comes up and gives me a huge hug. She motions to the barkeep for another round and settles into the seat opposite mine. A brief wink is all that betrays this little play.
For another half hour or so we continue on with mindless chatter about the Weasleys, Ginny's life as an old married woman, the latest gossip from our Hogwarts friends, and other nonsense. Neither of us are particularly interested in the subject matter, but we keep up the façade. Finally, at the same moment we notice a man walk in and scan the crowd. He has dusty blonde hair, dark brown eyes, and is nearly as tall as Ron. Ginny raises her brow at me and smirks. I reply with my best impression of Minerva's condescending look.
The young man walks over to our table. "Hello ladies, its busy here today, isn't it?" he asks in a rich baritone voice. "It seems that there are no open chairs other than at your table, might I join you for a while to warm myself?" He is all that is gallant and polite.
"Of course," Ginny says. "It's always pleasant to make a new acquaintance. I'm Ginny and this is my friend Hermione."
"A pleasure ladies, I am James," he says as he greets each of us formally with a slight bow of the head. Really, it was much as one would expect from a regency novel. I found myself enjoying his attentions and his conversation was quite interesting.
Ginny got up from her seat soon after the handsome gentleman joined us and excused herself saying she needed to be returning home. We made arrangements to meet again the next Hogsmeade weekend; it really was our only chance to see each other during the academic year. I was now left alone with the charming James. For over two hours we sat and talked as we sipped our drinks. Often our chat was interspersed with laughter as we ever so gradually slid our chairs closer and closer. By the end of the two hours our seats were nearly touching at the corner of the table. Our elbows, arms, hands, shoulders constantly brushed as we gestured as we talked. Every so often as I looked around the room I saw more students filter in as they finished their shopping for sweets, treats, and practical joke materials. Many found interest in the goings on at my table. That was fine with me.
As the afternoon wore on I realized it was time for me to return to the school. I told James as much and he kissed my hand and wished me a fine week of class.
"Hermione, if it would not be too troublesome, might I write to you? I know you must be terribly busy with your students and House responsibilities, but I would like to stay in touch," he asked.
I found myself blushing and acquiescing. He draped my cloak over my shoulders and fastened the clasp. I ducked my head and left hoping that the winter wind would give my cheeks the needed excuse for their redness.
I slowly made my way to the castle. Many students were returning as well. Like every Hogsmeade weekend the walk was a time to gossip and share sightings. The acute hearing that any self respecting teacher needs to acquire allowed me to glean that my time in the pub was well documented and a new source of speculation for the students. Being so young and the only professor with an apparent life outside of the castle walls made me an anomaly and a fascinating one at that.
My rooms were warm thanks to the fire. I changed into the older robes again and readied myself for dinner. I went to the Great Hall wondering how scene three of our charade would play out.
Due to an incident involving three fourth years, a fish, two buckets of stink sap, and one bat bogey hex gone terribly awry, I was the last professor to reach the head tables. I took the empty seat next to Minerva. I wondered whether it was purposely reserved for me or just chance. I managed to see that Harry was at the far end of the table.
"Is everything satisfactory, Professor Granger?" asked Minerva.
"Quite. There was a small incident that needed some attention. After seeing Ginny wield the bat bogey hex so effectively, I forget how awful it can be if it goes wrong," I chuckled thinking of that unfortunate fourth year. At least he would reconsider hexing his friends in the future.
I began eating my meal with occasional conversation between Minerva and me. I noticed that the older students were sharing the day's Hogsmeade gossip with the younger children. Most noticeable were the three Gryffindor imps. As a sixth year pointed to me I gathered they were learning of my activities. The three children's eyes became quite wide and hurried harsh whispers flew between them. Next they were asking questions of the friendly sixth year. In turn the sixth year threw a look over to where Harry was and continued talking to the first years. I surmised his day's activities were being recounted.
While children and teenagers can be highly unpredictable many times, there are certain things you can expect from them. Our plan was unfolding thanks to the predictability of their nosiness, good natures, and wish for their plans on life to be the official plans of everyone else. After all, as every adolescent will tell any adult, they know everything and adults just don't get it.
After the meal I had patrols with Professor Flitwick. We chatted about some new theories of charms being developed. Once our rounds were completed, I returned to my chambers to find Harry sitting on the sofa.
"Evening," I said as I entered.
"How were the patrols?" he asked.
"Much less exciting than when we patrolled," I replied.
"I did my own wanderings through the halls this evening with the help of my dad's cloak. I discovered our plans went perfectly. The word spread quite quickly that I spent the day at the twins' shop chatting with them and Ron. All the girls were chatting about the handsome man you spent hours with and how utterly dreamy he is," Harry managed to flutter his eyelashes and pretend to faint on the sofa as he finished his report.
"Honestly, you are too much!"
"I may be, but you know you love it," he grins.
I throw a cushion at his head. "Hey! Careful! Watch the glasses!"
"Harry Potter if you don't know how to repair your own glasses at this point in your life than you are utterly hopeless," I sigh.
After a few minutes of chatting, Harry sneaks back to his rooms. I prepare myself for the coming day and work on a few extra credit essays.
The next day over breakfast, I receive my first owl from James. The rust colored owl swooped in after most of the students received their letters and packages. The timing ensured most everyone saw the owl carefully land next to me. As I read the letter I felt a blush creep up my cheeks and a small smile form on my lips.
Minerva was walking past me just as I finished the letter. "I hope that was a pleasant letter, Professor Granger."
"Yes, it was. Just a note from a new acquaintance I made," I answer as I get up from my seat to go to my office.
As today is Sunday, the halls are fairly quiet and my classroom free of chaos. My mind has free reign to enjoy the moment of satisfaction found in a well laid plan working out perfectly.
Over the next several weeks, the pattern continues. I am seen around Hogsmeade with James. Harry is seen on those same days at the joke shop or around the halls of Hogwarts. Blush causing notes find their way to me several mornings each week. A few small trinkets occasionally accompany them. Harry and I are never seen together within the halls of Hogwarts. The gossip flies so thick between students and even the faculty that you nearly choke on it as you walk the halls.
"Who is that man Professor Granger sees all the time?"
"Do you think they'll get married? Do professors ever get married?"
"Can you believe that it has been two months since anyone has seen Professor Granger and Professor Potter speak to each other?"
"I saw Ron Weasley and his sister Ginny sitting with Professor Granger and that man. They were all getting along really well. It was weird without seeing Professor Potter there. What could possibly split up the Golden Trio?"
As the curtain set on the end of Act One, the last days of February went by in cold and snow and March began with hints of spring. Our audience was intrigued and wild speculation flew. Our four busybodies and their house elf assistant were befuddled and worried. Harry and I were quite content and well poised to begin the second act of our pretense.
