Chapter 7: Friends That Kiss

—

The third window paused and the fourth window began to play. Seventeen year-old Harry felt he finally had a good grasp on why the same simulation was playing out in multiple windows. Each window featured a different girl he was interested in.

The first window had shown him snippets of dating Hermione. The second had shown him several scenes of dating Susan. The third had shown him a wonderful evening with Luna.

Harry wondered briefly who the fourth girl would be. Ginny seemed the obvious answer. Destiny had said that he'd married Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Susan in past lives after all.

—

"Nev!" Harry asked, catching up to Neville, Hannah, and Susan who had been on their way down to the lake to observe the second task.

"Hey, Harry," Neville smiled. "Excited for the second task? I wonder what they'll be doing."

"Nev, have you seen Mione?" Harry asked. "Lavender and Parvati said she never came to bed last night! So by my count she's been missing for over ten hours. Ron is acting like it's not a big deal. The prefects all ignored me. I can't find any professors this morning. I'm freaking out."

"Have you checked the hospital wing?" Neville asked.

"I… shit, no," Harry said, turning on his heels to run back up to the castle.

Susan grabbed him by the wrist. "Harry, maybe she's down at the task. And if she's not, I'm sure all the professors are already down by the lake. That's why you couldn't find them. Let's go down and find professor Sprout or professor McGonagall. If we need to make a search party, McGonagall should be the one to lead it."

"I, uh… yeah, okay," Harry said, calming down.

Harry joined the others and continued down to the lake. Upon arrival they spotted McGonagall immediately and Harry rushed over to her. McGonagall assured him that she did indeed know where Hermione was and that she was perfectly safe. Dejected at the lack of details, his group found a spot in the stands with Ron, Ginny, and Luna.

Once Dumbledore explained the task, everyone immediately knew that Hermione must be the thing that Krum would miss most and Harry grew very anxious. Luna sensed this shift in his anxiety and took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "There, there, Harry," she said. "Everything will be alright." She tiptoes up and kissed him on the jaw.

"She'll be okay, Harry," Susan said, comforting him from the other side by taking his other hand and kissing him on the opposite cheek.

The three ended up cuddling together for protection against the February cold as they observed the task below. Harry had an arm around each of their waists. Neville and Hannah copied them while Ron put a brotherly arm around Ginny.

Extrasensory charms had been placed on each champion and a portal of sorts floated above the lake, one for each champion. The portal allowed anyone looking into it to see the world through the eyes of the champion in question. Thus, the audience could view everything happening under the lake.

Harry grew even more anxious when Fleur Delecour nearly drowned. Everyone saw as she was attacked by grindylows. They popped her bubble and the orb containing her vision went dark as she passed out. Dumbledore cast a spell and a moment later, Fleur was soaring up out of the lake, limp and lifeless. After a second spell, the water was dispelled from her lungs and she came to.

Dumbledore then explained that she was eliminated from the task but that her hostage was in no danger, as he himself had taken steps to ensure any hostages who are not rescued would be safely returned.

A while later Cedric and Krum returned with Cho and Hermione. A mermaid appeared a moment later and delivered a young blonde girl to safety, but Harry hardly cared. He was rushing down to the dock to Hermione. He bowled over his brother Percy and enveloped Hermione in a hug.

"Harry, you can't be here," Percy complained, getting to his feet.

"Oh, my god, Mione, I was so worried!" he cried out, ignoring his brother entirely.

"I'm fine, Harry, honestly, I'm fine!" Hermione protested as she hugged him back strongly.

Krum scowled at him but didn't say anything.

—

Harry sat on the couch in the Gryffindor common room across from Ron and Neville who were in chairs. They were all reading their Charm's assignment. Hermione came into the common room and sat next to Harry. She dropped her book on the couch, let out a sigh, and then leaned on Harry. "I'm so stupid," she said matter-of-factly as she buried her head into his shoulder. She also wrapped her arms around his arm closest to her in an awkward arm-hug of sorts.

Ron raised an eyebrow at Hermione's statement. "Yeah, and I'm the Minister of Magic," he said jokingly. This was his way of telling her she was being silly.

"What's wrong, Mione?" Neville asked, closing his book and setting it down.

"I got in over my head with Victor," she said. "That's all."

"What's he done?" Ron growled, dropping his book to the floor.

"He threatened Harry earlier,' Hermione responded. "It was kind of funny actually. He didn't like him hugging me after the second task the other day I guess."

"If he's threatened either of you, I'll kill him," Ron said dramatically.

"Oh, stop it Ronald, I'm perfectly capable of killing him myself if the need should arise," Hermione replied.

"Er… yeah Ron, we can handle ourselves," Harry said hesitantly as he played along with Hermione's quip. He was always caught off guard when Hermione was blase about life and death. She usually kept herself well composed, but when she lost composure, her jokes got a little darker than one might expect. In other words, if Hermione was joking about killing someone, she was out of sorts.

"You won't need to kill him, Harry," Hermione said. "Just now he demanded that I choose between you and him. That seemed like an odd request since he never asked me to be his girlfriend… not that I'd have agreed to that. I chose you of course and just walked out on him. I've no idea what he was thinking."

"Mione, that makes it sound like Harry needs to be on his guard for Krum now," Neville postulated. "You, better not go anywhere alone, Harry."

"That shouldn't be a problem since he's always got a girl on his arm," Ron chuckled.

Hermione blushed and sat up. "Yes, I've been meaning to talk to you about that, Harry," Hermione said nervously as she let him go.

"Susan, Luna, and I are all just friends," Harry said. "I mean sure, I've kissed both of them… but I've kissed you, haven't I? And we're just friends."

"Yes, but last I checked you're still kissing them both." Hermione replied, getting a little agitated. "I… I saw you with Luna on Friday… and with Susan on Sunday," she added.

"Oh, so do you miss me? You and I can kiss as well if you like," Harry smirked. Hermione slapped him in the arm.

"That's not funny, Harry." Hermione complained. "I can't believe you're stringing them both along."

"Hermione, it's fine," Harry said. "Luna and Susan have been really good friends since I introduced them at the ball weeks ago. They both know I kiss them both. I mean, hell, they kiss each other… oh, shit, nobody repeat that. I'm not supposed to tell anyone. They said to keep that secret. Anyway, we're all just friends that kiss. It's not a big deal."

"I… well…" Hermione hesitated as she processed this new information. "I guess if you're all friends… and everyone knows what's going on…"

"You're jealous!" Ron said a little too loudly. "I can see it written on your face. You miss dating Harry."

"Well why do they get to kiss him as just friends and I don't?" Hermione huffed.

Harry turned in his seat to face her. With a hand on her cheek he turned her head to look at him and then put his finger underneath her chin. His eyes locked with hers. "I said you and I can kiss as well if you like," Harry repeated.

"I… Harry, I…" Hermione stuttered as she subconsciously leaned forward. Harry took notice and decided to pull another move he'd heard from Seamus during boy talks. Harry nudged her chin up towards him slightly and then leaned down to her. When Hermione's eyes fluttered closed he came very close to her but (and this was Seamus's 'move') he stopped just short of making contact. A moment later she opened her eyes to him smirking at her. He then tilted his own head into a better kissing position but still did not kiss her. He just stared into her eyes and chewed his lip, waiting on her to act.

Hermione took in a sharp breath before diving in. She kissed him fully and passionately and one hand found its way onto Harry's chest. Harry briefly wondered if she'd learned anything kissing Krum and quickly decided that it wasn't his business and he also didn't care. He knew he'd definitely learned a thing or two about kissing since their last kiss however.

Seamus had said if the guy initiates a kiss, the girl can overthink things… but she had kissed him. In theory, she now couldn't blame him for a kiss she didn't want since she'd been the one to do it. In general, Harry thought Seamus was full of shit and that he didn't actually kiss as many girls as he claimed he did… but in this case, he felt the boy might be onto something.

"Blimey," Ron muttered as he rolled his eyes and retrieved his Charms book from the floor. A moment later, Hermione's book tumbled to the floor off the couch as Harry pulled her closer to him. The thud of the book to the ground startled Hermione enough that she pulled away. She sheepishly looked around at a dumbstruck Ron and Neville.

"Can… we talk about that… later, Harry?" Hermione said, straightening out her robes, retrieving her book, and catching her breath. "I… think I need some time to think about what just happened before I'm ready to talk about it."

"We can talk whenever you're ready," Harry said, smiling to himself.

"Right," Hermione said. "I… I'm going to read now."

She opened her book and all four of them began to read. After a few minutes of reading, Hermione relaxed a bit and leaned on Harry once more.

—

Several students travel home each year for the Easter holiday and this year the Weasleys were some of those students. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George all had a bag over their shoulder carrying clothes and a few other things they'd need at home for their week away from the castle. (It didn't make sense to take their whole trunk home for just a week away after all.)

Harry and the Weasleys all gathered in the courtyard. A horseless carriage would take them to the train which would take them to King's Cross so Molly and Arthur could meet them and take them all home.

Neville, Hannah, Susan, Luna, and Hermione were among the students who were staying at the school. They all came to the courtyard, however, to say goodbye to Harry and the others.

Fred and George were busy saying goodbye to Angelina, Alicia, Katie, and Lee while Ron and Ginny were finishing a conversation they'd been having with Neville and Hannah. Luna approached Harry.

"Goodbye, Harry Potter," Luna smiled, getting on her tiptoes to give him a hug and plant a kiss on his jawbone. She was so short that she never could quite reach his cheek… or maybe that was just where she liked her kisses to land. Harry laughed at her calling him by his full name. When the joke of calling him 'Just Harry' had gotten old, she'd switched to calling him 'Harry' only briefly before deciding to go back to calling him 'Harry Potter'. He knew she liked the way his full name sounded, so he'd stopped correcting her long ago. It was just one of her quirks.

"Goodbye, Luna, dear," Harry smiled, returning the kiss by kissing her forehead. "It's only a week but I'm going to miss you."

"I will miss you too," Luna smiled, "but I think Susan will miss you even more. She's grown quite fond of you, you know."

"Er, yeah, I've noticed," Harry laughed.

"I'll keep her company while you're gone," Luna promised. "And I'll keep Hermione company as well," she added with a smile.

Susan approached Harry now and Luna stepped out of the way to go say goodbye to Ginny.

"I'm going to miss you, Harry," Susan smiled. "My life is so much better with you in it. You always know how to make me smile."

"It's only a week," Harry echoed.

"Sometimes I think I'm stupid for not letting you call me your girlfriend," she sighed. "Maybe one day I'll be ready for that honor.

"Have you thought any more about Luna's idea?" Harry asked.

"Of course I have," Susan smiled. "I care about her very much as well… but a three way relationship? I've never heard of that before. I mean, I know we're basically already in a three-way relationship… I'm just afraid of labels I guess."

"Well, do me a favor and kiss her every time you miss me this week, okay?" Harry said. "I know how much you two like each other but I feel lille you both focus a lot of your attention on me. Maybe it will be good for all of us if I'm away for a week. The two of you can focus on just each other for a bit. If a three-way relationship is going to work, I want you two to feel just as strongly for each other as you feel for me."

The carriage arrived and Fred and George climbed in. Ron and Ginny were now quickly making their way to the carriage as well. Hermione cleared her throat.

"Oops," Susan blushed, realizing she'd kept Harry a while now. "Bye, sweety," she added before getting on her tiptoes and planting a quick kiss on his lips.

"He's all yours, Hermione," Susan blushed, stepping over to Hannah and Neville.

"Stay safe," Hermione smiled.

"I don't go looking for trouble… trouble finds me," Harry replied. Hermione laughed.

"Do you think that by the time I get back you'll be ready to talk about that kiss the other day?" Harry asked. "Only it's been a few days… I mean, if you just don't want to address it, then that's fine…"

Hermione grinned and stepped forward. She placed both hands on his face and pulled him into a firm kiss, their first one since that night in the common room. This time she even included a bit of tongue. Harry was caught off guard by responding enthusiastically none-the-less.

"When you get back, I want to talk about you and Luna and Susan and how I fit into all of that. We all care about you, Harry. I don't want to hurt you and I don't want to fight them for you."

"Spend some time with them while I'm away," Harry said. "Get to know them better. I'd prefer to continue to be close with all of you. But if you need me to choose… I'd choose you."

Hermione nodded. "I know, Harry," she sighed. "But I'd hate to do that to you. Like I said… we'll talk about it when you get back.."

Before she could say anything else, Ron called out. "Harry, come on!" he hollered. Harry turned and saw that the carriage was pulling away without him.

Harry pulled her into one more quick hug before running to the carriage and hopping on. Ron grabbed his arm and pulled him into the slowly moving vehicle.

He looked back out the window and saw three of the most important people in his life waving back at him.