A/N - This is where I apologize profusely for getting late to update. I have written until Chapter 40, and once I reach that, I'll have to stop again since there are a few other challenges that need my attention right now. (Two of them are H/Hr multi-chapters, so you really can't blame me ;D)

I'm sorry that this has been neglected due to these challenges. But signing up for these is an addiction I'm still working on curing.

Chapter 37 - Fate and When?

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It wasn't at all unexpected when Hermione and Ron cornered him just after dinner while they huddled together near the sink under the pretence of washing dishes.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked in a low voice as he looked over his shoulder to make sure that no one was listening.

Harry couldn't help but make sure that no one was close enough to hear their conversation as well. "Kingsley is coming to Grimmauld Place."

Ron looked at him in confusion. "When? Tonight?"

Harry glanced at the Muggle clock as he wiped the last dish that was handed to him. "He'll be there in fifteen minutes, actually. We should hurry."

Hermione frowned. "Why did you tell everyone that he wanted to meet you tomorrow?"

"It was the only thing I could think of. He said to tell no one."

"And we're the exception to that rule?"

He looked at her seriously. "Of course."

Hermione held his gaze for a moment before looking away. "It sounds urgent. Maybe they have news about the attack."

"I hope they do. And I hope they know who's responsible," Ron mumbled, his voice taking on a dark tone. "That really worried Mum."

Hermione looked at Ron, her expression concerned. "She did seem out of it tonight."

The grateful smile Ron gave her felt like a punch against Harry's gut. "After she saw all of us safe, she got less barmy."

"Right," Harry said quickly, clearing his throat when he realized that he might have spoken a bit harshly. "We should get going." He then proceeded to ignore Hermione's scrutinizing look as Ron towelled his hands dry and tossed the towel aside.

"Give me a minute. I'll go tell Mum." Ron then looked at Hermione, stuttering, "Not that I need her permission or anything, but she'll worry, you know."

Hermione's smile was a mix of affection and amusement. "We know, Ron."

Looking between them one last time, almost in caution, Ron turned on his heel and left them both alone. Ron watched his best mate leave before his eyes fell on the one other person who was in the room. Following her gaze, his eyes fell on the painfully tight grip he had on the sink. He let go instantly, choosing to duck his head and turn away from her. It wouldn't do any good for him if she knew that any friendly interaction between Ron and her caused him to see red. It seemed that the older he got, the harder it was to tame the anger that spouted out at the most inconvenient times.

Finally alone in the same room only made the awkwardness between them that much more palpable.

"Dinner was nice," Hermione said softly, her tone thoughtful as she leaned against the sink.

Harry took the three steps away from her and took a seat at the table. "It was."

Another moment of silence followed.

"I didn't much care for the pie, afterwards."

Harry hesitated before he snuck a glance at her. "Ginny made that."

As he suspected, Hermione seemed flustered when he mentioned Ginny's name. "Oh, I...I didn't know that." She let out a nervous laugh. "Actually, now that I think about it, I probably didn't enjoy it because I was so full from the chicken."

"The chicken was quite good."

"Delicious."

Harry paused. "A bit bland."

Hermione snorted, a genuine laugh escaping her. "It was, wasn't it? I thought I was the only one who thought that."

Smiling, Harry shook his head. "Arthur has problems with spicy food now, remember?"

"I remember him saying something like that."

Again, they fell into silence. It was a bit more comfortable, and a lot less awkward, though with every passing second that seemed to change. Harry lost track of how many long seconds he sat there and stared at his hands.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione let out a small sigh. "I should go check on Ron. We don't want to be late."

Harry watched her as she straightened her top and passed right by him, hardly noticing when he blurted out her name. He was just as surprised as she was when she turned towards him.

"We're good, right?"

He tried to control his rapidly beating heart as he waited for her to answer. He wanted her to say yes. And he wanted her to say no. He couldn't tell what he wanted more, though.

"Yeah," Hermione said softly, effectively helping him to exhale in relief and tighten in dread at the same time. "We're good."

She left then, leaving Harry to groan out loud before dropping his head onto the table in frustration. Why did fate hate him?

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TBC