Chapter 6 is split into two parts for a number of reason: 1. I haven't written half of it yet. 2. This half is already longer than any other chapters, and I like uniformity. 3. The end of this seemed like a good stopping point, but not the sort of place to end a chapter.
For all of you Lavender haters: tough luck, she's going to be a good character here, or at least, outside of this scene, she's a good person. Um, I also got some queries as to why Ron asked about full moon, it's because I'm pretty sure DH says she had been attacked by a werewolf. and though it doesn't say whether she survived or not, my Lavender is, because the world could do with more Lavenders :p.
The next day Hermione said casually to Mrs Weasley "You wouldn't mind if an old friend of mine came for dinner?"
"Not at all dear. Lavender's coming as well." Harry was ready and waiting for an explosion of some kind. Hermione and Ron were still not speaking to each other, and he wondered how on earth the outcome of a chess game had escalated to such heights.
As Krum and Lavender were coming, Mrs. Weasley had suggested Luna and Neville come as well. The two of them wandered over the hill, oblivious of what was happening right under their noses. Event though the outcome of the evening could wreck Ron's and Hermione's lives, the four of them still laughed quite a bit about the situation.
Lavender was the first of the special guests to arrive. For all their prejudice against her. Harry had to admit that she looked the best she could have in the circumstances.
When she had been attacked at the battle of Hogwarts no one had known if she would survive. Greyback had certainly been vicious. But no one, not even the Healers, had expected what was to come next. She had woken up with a new purpose and love for life. She had decided not to repeat the last year in Hogwarts, but began campaigning for werewolf rights. Quite a few of Greyback's followers had come over to her way of thinking and were returning to civilization, not to mention those, who like Lupin had been trying to live amongst humans their whole lives. Lavender, fresh and young, became a rallying point for them. The Ministry had abolished Umbridge's legislation and many employers were now considering taking on werewolves, some of whom were also incredibly talented wizards. The Wolfsbane potion was becoming easier to find being sold commercially. There was even talk of getting rid of the Werewolf Registry and putting Lavender's new regime in its place.
And despite the hard work and long hours that she put in, she must have got a lot of job satisfaction, Harry had to hand it to her, despite the scars she had received that distorted her features, she looked radiant.
She came into the house and hugged them all in turn. Though Harry noticed that her hug for Ron was slightly longer and Hermione's slightly shorter than the ones given to the other four. They talked and laughed like they had never been apart and settled down outside on the grass in the same fashion they had done so many times in Hogwarts' grounds. Lavender was the life and soul of the party.
Then Krum came. Unlike Lavender, he had not changed at all. He was the same Krum that Harry remembered, the Krum that had not smiled in the Top Box at the end of the Quidditch World Cup, the same Krum that had transformed himself into a shark, the same Krum that had worried about what was between Harry and Hermione, the same Krum that had used Unforgivable curses in the maze, even the same Krum of two years before who had looked disgruntled as Ron and Hermione got up to dance. Krum, it seemed, was one of life's constants. The same gruff face and blunt expression.
He hugged Hermione and none of the others. He and Harry had never been particularly close, he had never really forgiven Ron, it seemed, for stealing away Hermione, and he barely knew the others.
"Now let the fun begin" whispered Ginny in Harry's ear.
Dinner was not as explosive as expected. Indeed, the guests were positively charming. Well, Lavender was. Krum just sort of grunted in a I'm-Here-To-Get-Back-Together-With-My-Ex-Girlfriend-Not-To-Listen-To-Her-Current-Boyfreind's-Parents-Useless-Blabberings sort of way.
And though she chatted quite happily, Lavender was shooting Ron covet You-Know-I'm-Only-Here-Because-I-Know-You're-Having-Romantic-Issues-And-I-Still-Think-You're-Hot-Or-At-Least-You-Will-Be-When-You-Grow-Your-Hair-Again sort of looks.
Hermione kept switching her gaze between Krum and Ron in a One-Of-You-Is-Really-Fit-And-I've-Been-Attracted-To-The-Other-For-Years-But-I'm-Going-To-Pretend-Neither-Of-You-Have-Realised-This sort of way.
Ginny kept looking away from Harry in a This-Shouldn't-Be-Funny-But-It-Really-Kind-Of-Is sort of way.
Mrs. Weasley kept smiling at her husband in a Aren't-You-Glad-Our-Children-Have-So-Many-Friends sort of way.
Luna kept frowning in a I-Know-There's-A-Wrackspurt-In-Here-And-I'm-Going-To-Catch-It sort of way.
Neville kept biting his lip in a Well-This-Is-Awkward-Whose-Up-For-A-Game-Of-Exploding-Snap sort of way.
Harry got amusement from watching them all giving secret messages above the conversation.
After an excellent chocolate pudding Neville yawned and Luna said "Daddy wants us back before dark and since we can't apparate we should probably go soon." Neville nodded his head vigorously.
"Well, I suppose Arthur and I may walk you home in a bit then." said Molly Weasley.
So after another half an hour the four of them got up to leave. As they did, Harry and Ginny moved their chairs back slightly, ready to run in the case of an emergency.
Then as Mr. Weasley shut the door, as suddenly as if her had flicked a switch, there was silence. Lavender stopped laughing. Ron stopped speaking. The four centred their gazes so they all met at the middle of the table. Harry and Ginny were almost glad that non of them noticed them.
"So." said Krum.
Crickets chirped from outside the window. Lavender gave Hermione a little smile that had the same effect that the words "Bring it on" would have. Ginny and Harry instinctively moved their chairs back a little further.
Krum made the first move. But it was unexpected. "Vill you two be setting a date soon, do you think?"
"Burn". whispered Ginny.
Hermione played along. "Whatever do you mean Viktor?"
"For a vedding. Or will you not be getting married?" Lavender perked up at this.
Hermione gave an odd little smile. "We shall just have to wait and see." Ron grimaced.
The crickets seemed louder this time.
Then all of a sudden, Ron was acting like nothing had happened. "Who's up for a game?" Beside Harry, Ginny frowned.
"What's he playing at?" she wondered.
"Of what?" asked Lavender.
Ron shot Hermione a dirty look.
"Chess." he said dryly.