Disclaimer: (in a hushed whisper) Actually, I do own Harry Potter. JK Rowling just bought the rights from – (JKR pops out of nowhere) You were saying something?Ah, no, nothing! Who owns Harry Potter? Of course JKR does! Now that's a good girl! (I roll my eyes but JKR sees me and I smile fakely at her) )
Author's Notes: Hiya everyone! I updated again in so long… you know, it's our final exams and I've been studying really hard for the past days so I wasn't able to write the next chappie. Anyways, I have nothing really much to say so… let's get on with it!
Special Thanks To… SwishAndFlick31 (Always the first to review! Thanks a lot!), cutiecute (really? What's your nationality?), Readerfreak10 and StunningSpellRocks2345. (Come on, everyone can do better!)
Oh, and if you think my writing's bad just because I'm 13, review. If you like it, review. If you want it deleted from just don't tell anyone. Even myself or your teddy bear or your doggie, Sammy.
Important Note! Read! This chappie has quite some Remus/Tonks things so… if you hate this ship, then back off. Now. If you feel that you wanna read this chapter even if you loathe with every fiber this ship, then good luck. Remember this while reading. You have been warned.
Without Further Ado… Chapter Five! (Yay! We have gone this far!)
Chapter Five: Visiting Hours
"No, Marielle. We have to think of something."
"Girl, it's about time you did. That Granger flirt is starting to get really close to Harry."
"I agree. But Harry's mine. Okay? Get that? Mine. So she's never getting him 'cuz I am."
"Now that's the spirit!"
Cho and her friend Marielle were in the Ravenclaw Common Room, with Marielle sitting quietly and Cho walking to and fro, arms crossed. After the not-so-good scene (for Cho) she'd seen awhile ago, she immediately searched for her friend and asked for help.
Cho sat down beside Marielle. "Hey, girl. Why don't I get sick?"
Marielle looked up from her magazine, Witch Weekly. "Huh? But why?"
"Because, hun, if I get sick, Harry will be so concerned about me that he won't bother about that Granger girl." Cho said happily, tilting her head to see her hair from all angles in the window.
However, Marielle looked worried. "But sis, what if he still doesn't care about you… you know, getting sick?"
Cho's expression changed and she stopped looking at the mirror to glare at Marielle. "What did that mean? He won't care about me?"
"Well… Seeing that the Granger girl is his BFFL (Best Friend for Life), it's just natural that he'd be concerned about her, so don't feel insecure."
Cho stood up. "I am not insecure with Granger! I am not, I am not, and I am not! Never!"
"Whoa, easy there, girl."
"Easy?" Cho scoffed. "Do you think I can still feel easy with dear Hermione Granger snagging my Harry Potter?"
Marielle stood up and placed her hands on Cho's shoulders to let her sit down, which Cho obliged to. "Cho, listen. Harry's not stupid enough to get together with that Granger girl, so relax, okay?"
Cho just nodded happily after three seconds of frowning. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Okay. Here we go. So, what now…?"
Hermione turned to the right side of her bed and tried to shut her eyes. After an excellent lunch of Chicken Noodle Soup, she felt much better. Well, that wasn't the best part of it – oh no, Hermione. Don't think of that!
The only thing that was occupying her thoughts right now was him. Harry.
… Now ever since when was she concerned this way for no good reason? Wait. Then again, there's reason. Voldemort's out there. Death Eaters are everywhere… And Hermione sighed again. Not that she wasn't supposed to be concerned over these things. In fact, she should. But it just seemed totally out of topic.
"Miss Granger, Winky thinks Miss should go to sleep."
Hermione turned to her left and saw Winky standing there with her large, twinkling eyes (more evident than Dumbledore's) and a box of chocolates.
"What are you doing here, Winky?" Hermione asked. "Are you sick?"
Winky shook her head violently. "Oh, no, no! Winky isn't sick, Miss Granger, so do not be worried. Winky brings a gift from Mr. Harry Potter."
Hermione blinked. "A… a gift?"
Winky nodded and placed the chocolates in Hermione's bed. "He told me to bring it to you right away. So… until then, Miss." She apparated with a crack and she was gone.
"But wait! Winky-"
Winky appeared again with another crack. "Yes, Miss Granger? Do you need anything?"
Hermione thought about it for a second. "Well, Winky… will you wait for Harry to finish his classes and tell him thank you for the gift?"
"Yes, of course! Winky will do so right now, Miss Granger!" She squeaked happily.
"Thank you, Winky." Hermione said graciously. And with that, Winky disappeared.
Hermione smiled at the box of chocolates and opened it to get one. She took a bite and realized it was the one that she liked best. The one with strawberry filling in it. "But wait a minute." Hermione told herself, "Only Ginny knows I like this kind. So how come Harry knows when I told Ginny not to tell anybody…?"
"So," Ron started saying in between mouthfuls of mashed potato. "Do you think Winky wouldn't blow our cover?"
Ginny looked up at him and shook her head while eating chocolate cake. "Um… no, I don't think so. All we told her that it was from Harry. It wouldn't matter."
"Huh? Well, okay…" Ron said and they all continued to eat until Ginny said:
"By the way, what kind of chocolates did you buy?"
Ron looked up again and stared in space. Lavender narrowed her eyes at the sight. He finally spoke. "Um… Well, Hermione's favorite. The one with the strawberry filling in it."
Ginny coughed in her drink. "What? How'd you know she likes that?"
"Because I heard you girls talking about chocolates back there in Grimmauld Place, and I heard her say she liked that one, so I looked for it in Honeydukes." Ron reasoned out. He now started to gnaw on a Chicken Leg. Ginny obviously looked worried.
"Ron. Ron!" Ginny called her brother but he wouldn't listen. "RON!"
"What?" Ron said, annoyed. "Look, I'm really hungry. Will you wait for a minute? I'm still eating here!"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Will you stop thinking about your appetite at a time like this?!"
Ron arched an eyebrow. "At a time like what?"
"Don't you understand what's happening?" Ginny grabbed the Chicken Leg from Ron and placed it on her own plate. "I mean, think about it. Hermione told me not to tell any single one about her liking for that kind of chocolates, so I'm the only one who's supposed to know. Then you give her a box of chocolates and make her believe Harry gave it to her when he's not supposed to know she liked that!"
"So… what's the problem?"
Ginny scoffed. "Ron, hello?! Are you daft? She's going to think that it wasn't Harry after all!"
"Wasn't me after all what?" Said a voice behind Ginny. Ginny gasped and cupped her mouth before turning around to see Harry standing behind her.
Ginny didn't say a word anymore and Harry just had a curious look on. "Oh, h-hi. I, er, we didn't know you were there!"
Ron just waved and concentrated on his Chicken Leg which he retrieved secretly from Ginny's plate. Lavender began to fork her pasta in twirls to no avail, and Ginny continued finishing her Chocolate Cake. Harry sat down beside Ron and looked around with a curious look.
"Guys, really, what was it?" Harry asked. "I heard my name from Ginny awhile ago. 'She's going to think it wasn't Harry after all'?"
No one replied right away. Lavender thought of something quick. "Uh… How many times do I have to tell you? My cousin's name is not Harry! It's… it's…"
"Oh! Yes, Henry, I remember!" Ginny joined in. Ron nodded in acknowledgement. "Sorry, Harry. It wasn't you. Heh."
Harry looked somewhat embarrassed. "Oh. Right, sorry. By the way, have you seen Dobby or Winky lately? I was hoping they'd make Hermione Chicken Noodle Soup everyday while she's at the Hospital Wing instead of Porridge." He sat beside Ron, in front of Lavender.
Ron's eyes widened at Ginny who was just a wee bit too interested in her chocolate cake. "Huh?" Ginny said. "Er… No…"
Harry just nodded and he helped himself with Chicken, Mashed Potato and Pasta. Lunch was quiet after that, and Harry was in the middle of his dessert (ice cream) when…
"Harry Potter, sir!" they turned to see Winky smiling up at them with her large beady eyes. "I have a message for you from Miss Hermione Granger."
"Really?" Harry looked up from his ice cream. "What does she say?"
Ginny bit her lip and saw Winky open her mouth to talk from behind her when she interrupted. "Oh, she's just probably saying hi. Right, Winky?"
Winky shook her head. "No, Miss Weasley. Miss Granger says she wants to say 'Thank You' to Mr. Harry Potter for the-"
"For the terrific lunch, yes." Lavender continued. "Alright, that will be all Winky. Thank you." And with that Winky nodded in acknowledgement (though she looked quite hesitant) and she was gone.
Ginny sighed in relief and so did Lavender. Ron shot them a warning glare as he was back to his senses after a very satisfying lunch. Harry just looked up and narrowed his eyes. There's really something with them, I'm sure of it. They're acting all odd these days. He shook the thought aside first and continued finishing his ice cream.
Hermione spent the rest of the day sleeping, though she had a hard time doing so. She tossed and turned in her bed, but was prohibited to do so after Madam Pomfrey had a string of lectures as to why she 'shan't do so'.
So, quite unlike herself, Hermione just slumped off to the right side of her bed and, pretending to look pleased with what she's doing, closed her eyes and she drifted off to sleepy land.
Time was so quick that, when Hermione woke up, she realized it was 7:00 o' clock in the evening. She was expecting visitors any moment now, so she just lay down anxiously, waiting for the sound of her hyper friends or worried adults. And, soon enough, she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw Harry waving stupidly at her from the door, with Ron, Ginny and Professor Lupin.
Hermione let out a gasp of excitement and sat up. "What are you all doing here?" She asked happily.
The crowd advanced to her bedside and Ron spoke up. "Visiting you, of course. And waiting for our mother." He gestured towards Ginny and himself.
Harry shrugged. "Visiting you."
Hermione nodded. Then her eyes fell on Lupin who was waiting, looking extremely apprehensive. Harry noticed this and told Hermione in a hushed whisper, "Visiting you. And waiting for Tonks."
Hermione laughed. "Wow! Multitasking."
Harry just smiled at her and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ron do a 'thumbs-up' to Ginny. It didn't take long when she heard a familiar motherly voice from outside the Hospital Wing, walking hastily. "Oh dear, I wonder what's happened to Hermione."
Another young, vivacious familiar voice answered. "Molly, relax. It's not like Hermione fell into a coma or something." Lupin looked up at the sound of this voice and Ron and Ginny looked behind them. They all saw Molly walking in quickly followed shortly by Tonks.
"Oh, Hermione, dear!" Molly ran to the bedside of Hermione and hugged her, to which Hermione returned to the older woman. "We were so worried about you! Are you alright now?" She stroked Hermione's head.
Hermione nodded. "Much better now. Thanks for dropping by, Mrs. Weasley." Her eyes then shifted to Tonks who was engaged in deep conversation with Lupin. They were sitting on stools and Hermione noticed that their fingers were entwined. Mrs. Weasley scoffed.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Tonks!" She cried, "That can wait, can't it? Remus won't dump you if you ask how Hermione's doing, now, would he?"
Ginny and Hermione giggled at the comment and they exchanged looks. Lupin and Tonks both turned a deep shade of crimson. Snapping herself out of her lovesick reverie, Tonks put a more like herself look and greeted Hermione happily, "Wotcher, Hermione! How are you doing?"
"Very well, Tonks, thank you." Hermione said courteously. "You can go on with your conversation with Professor Lupin."
Ginny nodded in agreement. "Yeah, 'cuz we know how much you've missed him…" She added in a sly voice.
"Girls, that's just ridiculous, we're not even in a relationship." Tonks defended.
Ginny looked at Hermione in mock surprise. "Oh! We didn't say anything about that, did we, Hermione?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. Not a word."
Ron cleared his throat and joined in the fun. "But if you guys aren't in a relationship-"
"We aren't, Ron." Lupin interrupted. "And by the way, deadline of your essay is 11:59 this evening."
Molly glared at Ron but he didn't notice. "Changing topic… Oh, very interesting." Ron said in an uncanny tone.
"As Ron was saying," Harry pitched in (this earned him a glance from Hermione), "If the both of you aren't 'on' yet, then what's with the HHWS?"
Tonks arched an eyebrow. "HHWS?"
"Holding Hands While Sitting." Hermione helped. Harry smiled at her and Ron and Ginny did a high-five.
Tonks and Lupin looked at each other quizzically, at their entwined fingers, and then they broke apart. "We weren't! And, Hermione, don't bully me this way when there's nothing up with you as well."
Hermione looked at her curiously.
"The both of us figured it out." Tonks gesture to herself and Lupin. Ginny giggled at Tonks' preferred pronoun. "There's something fishy about the both of you and Harry."
Ron nodded at Harry and said, "Uh-huh. Is there something you wanted to share with the class, hm, Harry? What about you, Herms?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and, coincidentally, both of them said at the same time, "No! There's nothing going on!"
Molly just smiled. "Dears, you know, in our day, Arthur and I was like the both of you. Talking at the same time."
"Saying the same words," Ron added.
"And, surprisingly, they don't actually verbally communicate." Ginny finished happily.
Molly nodded. "That's right. Their father always tells me that there was something similar between Arthur and myself and you, Harry and Hermione."
Hermione's eyes grew wide and then she scoffed. "Oh, honestly, Mrs. Weasley, Harry and I are just friends, aren't we, Harry?"
"Oh, now she's confused about what her relationship with Harry is." Ron addressed Ginny but he said it out loud.
"Ron!" Hermione said playfully.
Ginny's eyes grew wide and gasped. Then she turned to Ron. "And she isn't even mad that you actually said that out loud!" The rest of them laughed, including Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Seriously! Harry, won't you help me defend ourselves?"
Harry shook his head. "Um… no. I don't wanna."
"Harry!"
"You look so cute when you're mad. I like it." Harry commented.
Hermione felt her cheeks burn. Of all places and times he could say it! Normally, Hermione would be flustered, but, honestly, this just wasn't the right time. Wait. Did she just think normally?
Ginny sighed happily. "Finally, Harry's letting it all out!"
Apparently, Harry has been talking recklessly, that he too had turned bright red on his cheeks. He didn't realize that other people were in the room, as well.
All of them have been in this fashion for about 2 hours, when Madam Pomfrey interrupted. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but visiting hours are over. Maybe you can come back tomorrow at 8 in the morning, after Miss Granger here has had a good night's sleep."
"But I just slept this afternoon!" Hermione wailed. She was having too much fun to stop it right now.
"Rules are rules, Miss Granger. You do certainly know about that as you are a school Prefect. I am so sorry again." And with that, Madam Pomfrey left them.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Seriously, she had to get in the height of the fun!"
"I know!" Ron said, annoyed. "We were this (he shows an 'inch' with his fingers) close to having Tonks spill about herself and Professor Lupin!"
Tonks, who was obviously having fun, but worried about what she might blurt out, said, "Madam Pomfrey's right. We better go so that you can go to bed."
"Ooh… You know what, Tonks, you just sounded like mum." Ginny commented. "And I think you're just saying that so that you won't be able to say anything about you and Professor Lupin. Too bad we're convinced."
"You're convinced?" Lupin asked.
Ron said in an en grand tone, "We're convinced that you're together! And you can't change that."
"Ron, seriously, you need to go to bed. Also you, Ginny." Tonks said sternly.
"We aren't, unless you 'fess up." Ginny mocked playfully.
Tonks looked uncertainly at Lupin who just nodded. "Okay, fine! We're together! Happy now? Get to bed!"
Ginny smiled and clapped her hands. "Yay!" She did a high-five with Ron. "And we aren't even done yet! Since when, Tonks?"
"Since a few months ago." Lupin answered for her. Tonks blushed and was looking down.
Ron did some sort of a 'Cabbage Patch' dance with Ginny which made them look odd. "Ron, Ginny, Harry. I think you should all sleep now." Mrs. Weasley said firmly.
Ginny moaned. "But, Mum! We aren't even done yet!"
"That's what you said awhile ago." Harry pointed out.
"Exactly." Ginny said. "Harry, are you and Hermione together?"
Mrs. Weasley scoffed. "Seriously, that can wait 'till tomorrow!" And sure enough, Madam Pomfrey came to shoo the six visitors away. They all walked dejectedly into the hallway and they parted: Mrs. Weasley outdoors, Tonks and Lupin somewhere else inside the castle, and Harry, Ron and Ginny to the Gryffindor Common Room.
On the way to the Common Room, Ginny kept on talking. "Harry, this is a serious question. Are you and Hermione together?"
"No, Ginny, okay? That's final."
Ginny just nodded in mock satisfaction, and asked Harry another question. "Okay, so, dish, Harry. Do you like Hermione?"
This made Harry stop in his tracks. "What?"
Ron arched an eyebrow at him. "You seem so surprised. She was just asking if you like Hermione."
"Er… Eh, No! Of course not! I mean, why would I like Hermione? She's been my best friend for about six years, and she's a bossy know-it-all, and she's quite impertinent at times and…" Harry was drabbling.
"Harry, look, we don't need an answer to rival Dumbledore's year-end speeches." Ginny explained, with a mischievous glint in her eye. "One question, one answer. Do you like Hermione?"
Harry just blinked.
Ron raised his eyebrow once more. "Well…?"
Harry shook his head. "N-no… I don't think so."
Ginny and Ron looked at each other. He doesn't think so? They started walking again and soon enough, the Gryffindor Common Room was in sight. The three of them climbed in and Ginny bade the two men goodbye as they went up the Boys' Dormitories.
Harry climbed up his four-poster bed and so did Ron. Harry said an audible 'Goodnight' to his best friend and all that Harry heard from him was a grunt in acknowledgement. Soon enough, the snores from all the boys became louder as Ron added up to the noise. Harry turned to his side.
He cannot sleep.
Harry was lying down awake in bed at around 10:00 p.m. when he felt a sudden impulse to get back to the Hospital Wing to see Hermione again. But wait, Harry thought, it's past visiting hours. His inner Marauder went to business and – ding! – There was a lightbulb in Harry's head. His invisibility cloak.
He stood up from bed and grabbed his invisibility cloak which was just lying around. He put it on and quietly, he went out of the Boys' Dormitory and out of the Common Room.
He was walking through the Hallways. His walk seemed like forever. Thankfully, just as he was getting impatient, Harry saw the Hospital Wing hovering in sight. He made a run for it and saw it was still open. Curious why the Hospital Wing was still open this late, Harry peeked in.
"Madam Pomfrey, ow – ow! That hurts!"
Harry had the feeling Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Miss Chang, we have to fix this up."
Marielle was standing there by Cho's bedside, and surprisingly, she looked pretty unconcerned. Usually, when Cho was just given a little snide remark, Marielle would react. But she just looked calm. Harry was confused. Instead, his eyes shifted to see the one he came to the Hospital Wing for.
Hermione was lying down on her bed, shifting from side to side. Harry decided to wait for Madam Pomfrey to go out of the wing before he goes in. So, Harry stood by the door for quite some time.
After 2 minutes, Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Okay, then, Miss Chang. You may go now."
Harry heard Cho scoff. "What? I have a broken arm and you won't let me stay?"
"Miss Chang, don't overreact. It's just a broken arm."
"But you let… you let…" Cho searched the Hospital Wing for a familiar face. "You let Hermione Granger stay here!"
Madam Pomfrey got annoyed. "That's because she fainted a few days ago! Now stop making such a fuss. Go now before I can even push you and your friend out myself."
Cho flipped her hair and glared at Madam Pomfrey, who went out of the Wing first. She and Marielle walked, stopped by Hermione's bed for 5 seconds, muttered something Harry cannot understand except for "…isn't the end of it…" and they left.
Slowly, Harry tiptoed inside the Hospital Wing and went to the end of the room where Hermione's bed was. He stood there at the bedside and watched her. Then he nudged her.
Hermione was surprised. Now who was that? Someone invisible was nudging her. Wait – invisible? Thinking for a few seconds, Hermione sat up and finally said, "I know you're there, Harry."
Harry groaned and took off his cloak. "How'd you know I was there?"
"Dunno. Just felt that it was you."
Harry grinned and Hermione giggled. "You know, you look pretty stupid that way."
"Really?" Harry asked. "If I looked stupid, then you looked idiotic."
Hermione slapped his arm playfully. "Harry!" Then there was a silent pause. "Why did you go here anyways? You should be sleeping by now."
Harry shrugged. "I have no idea. I just wanted to see you and check if you're alright."
Hermione's cheeks burned at his words. "Seriously, Harry, it's not like I'd die if I stay here."
"You're pretty lonely in here when we're not around."
Hermione nodded. "Well… yeah. It's fun to be with you."
This sentence made Harry grin. "What do you mean by 'you'? Ron, Ginny and I? Or Me, Ron, Ginny, Lupin, Tonks and Mrs. Weasley?"
"Hmm… You alone would do."
Author's Note: Yay! We are so done with Chapter Five! That really wasn't a cliffie (unless you consider it as one). I just had no idea how Harry would react to it. And I thought it'll be better left that way. So… since you read my story, I already love you! But if you review my story, I'll love you more. Review now!
(P.S. I told you so! There's quite a lot of Remus/Tonks here. And I assure you this isn't the last. Also, there are other ships that shall evolve. I'll tell you when it's there. The other ships will last till the end of the story. But main is, of course, H/Hr)