4.
Several weeks had passed since the day Ginny had broken up with Harriet and the pain had subsided. The cooler air and the bright leaves signaled that fall had arrived. The past few weeks had seen Harriet reconnecting with her friends Hermione and Ron as well as spending more time with Luna both as part of the group and individually. She has all but accepted the fact that there is no cure and she is going remain a girl. Therefore she has also spent the last few weeks learning what knowledge she was lacked about being a girl with the help of Hermione and Luna. The winter formal remains a few weeks away and it's the talk of the school and everyone is excited to go providing they pass their exams. The dance is taking place right before their winter break. The gang finds themselves sitting on a railing surprisingly alone in a courtyard.
"I'm not going and that's final," stated Harriet as Hermione was once again trying to convince her to go.
"But Ron and I are going," Hermione said as she carried on her attempts to get Harriet to go to the ball.
"And I don't need to be a third wheel while the two of you have fun and snog. You guys go! Have fun! Enjoy yourselves!"
"Snogging? Wait did she there was going to be snogging," Ron asked almost excitedly. He didn't even wait for an answer before turning to Hermione. "Did you say there was going to be snogging?"
"Can it Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed before taking a moment to compose herself, "First of all I didn't say anything about snogging and secondly we're talking about Harriet here, not us!"
"I told you I'm not ready for that. That's just…too much," replied Harriet, "I said no and I mean no."
"Does this have something to do with Luna," Hermione inquired, "Don't think I haven't noticed you two spending a lot of time together."
Harriet blushed and Ron's eyes widened, "Blimey! You and Luna? I mean you two HAVE been spending time together but…blimey…" His words trailed off as it looked like he was in his own little world. Hermione smacked him on the back of his head, "Stop it you." Now it was Ron's turn to look embarrassed.
"It's not like," Harriet interjected, "Luna and I are just friends. That's it."
"You almost sound disappointed," stated Hermione.
"Look Hermione! It's not a matter of being disappointed or not. Even if Luna and I….even if we did…that sort of thing doesn't happen very often around here and I've brought enough attention to myself this year. I don't need to draw that sort of attention and negativity to her," replied Harriet.
"Don't you think she should get an input on the whole thing? And another thing, in case you haven't noticed Luna draws her own attention as is."
"But still two girls? Even at Hogwarts it's unusual."
"Blimey….you and Luna…."Ron muttered back in his own world which got him a well-deserved punch on the arm from Hermione. "Ow! What did you do that for," Ron asked rubbing his arm. Hermione just glared at him before turning back to Harriet and stating, "That may be but you deserve happiness and so does she."
"Who is to say it will though? Besides it doesn't matters because I'm still not going. I told you it's too soon. I can't do all that yet"
"Too soon for what? You've been a girl for months now! You'll have to get used to it eventually."
"Maybe," Harriet replied, "but eventually isn't right now? Can we please drop it?"
"Fine but you haven't heard the last of this," stated Hermione. They sat there for a moment in contemplative silence. Harriet was thinking about how it was too soon for something so formal. She couldn't even picture herself getting all dressed up like the other girls. Hermione was busily thinking about how she could get Harriet to the dance. Ron was still in his own little world.
"Well, guess we can't sit around all day. We better get to the library and start studying, especially if you want to be allowed to go to the dance Ronald!"
Ron was shaken out of his thoughts by hearing his name. "What about me? What did I do?"
"I said we need to get to the library and start studying for the exams if you want to be allowed to go to the formal. You're welcome to join us Harriet. I'm sure you could use the extra studying as well."
Harriet thought about it for a moment. Hermione was right though. She could use the extra studying. She was still playing catch up from the accident. Ever since then she'd had a hard time focusing on schoolwork. Not that she was in any danger of failing but still she'd like to get her grades back up. She still dreamed of being an auror after all. "Might as well," replied Harriet and together the three of them headed off to the library for some review.