Catching Up
The days that the Grangers managed to take off as holiday soon ended, much, much too soon. By the time the 27th came, they were packed and ready to leave the Everstar suite in The Three Broomsticks. The fairytale Christmas at Hogsmeade had come to an end.
Saying 'Goodbye' to Harry in front of the emerald flames of an active Floo connection left Hermione struggling to keep back tears. She felt so silly. In only six days, she would be heading back to Hogwarts on the Express along with everyone else. Six days of separation was hardly worth crying about.
Was it?
All that morning, when Harry joined them for breakfast, his hand often found itself seeking hers. She caught him staring at her in the corner of his eye, wearing a sad, lost look that he covered up whenever her gaze turned to him. Harry was far better at hiding his emotions, giving her sweet smiles the moment their eyes met. He didn't want her to go either, of course, but they both knew that her parents had their lives to get back to - and Hermione felt obligated to spend time with her parents while she could. Back in a setting that they were a lot more comfortable with.
Her parents tried their utmost to take everything in without making their discomfort clear. Their curiosity and enthusiasm around seeing Hogwarts for the first time and visiting the school that they'd heard so much about had been genuine. When they glimpsed the castle on the carriage ride from Hogsmeade, they gasped in wonder. Their faces bright with awe towards the winter spectacle with its snowy mountains, wintery forest backdrop and the frozen lake.
Inside the castle was a different matter. That was when wonderment was tainted with fear and uncertainty. It wasn't as if Hermione could stop the centre of magical education in wizarding Britain for being magical. When Nearly Headless Nick showed up to wish them a Merry Christmas, her mum couldn't stop herself from letting out a scream. Both of them looked queasy when they used the grand staircase, heights being a common fear between the three of them. Using stairs that had a habit of moving and swinging out didn't help that phobia. And neither enjoyed the commentary they received from the many magical portraits, questioning the presence of the muggle parents in the castle.
It took Hermione all her self-control to stop herself from kissing Harry again in front of her parents when he took steps to avoid any uncomfortable exchanges between the residents of the castle and her parents. They met him in the Common Room where a table and chairs had been set up so they could eat there instead of in the Great Hall with the professors and a small number of students.
They had a surprise introduction to Remus who had shown up to visit Harry. Her mum appeared impressed with the older wizard who greeted them with respect and even conversed casually about matters in the muggle world, showing an understanding of things that she hadn't expected him to have - muggle literature in particular. She supposed that, as a werewolf, he was treated with suspicion and animosity among wizards. Blending in with muggles likely made him feel more accepted as a normal person.
Once he made his farewells after spending a private moment with Harry, a conversation that lasted a fair while, Remus went to The Burrow. Her mum had expressed fears that he left on their account, but Harry helped assure her that it wasn't the case.
The rest of the day went by in a blur. They dined on Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, delivered instantly to the Common Room. They pulled crackers which her dad particularly enjoyed, especially the ridiculous hats they all sported. Hermione couldn't stop giggling at how uncomfortable Harry looked when made to put on the sombrero that was in his own cracker. It all made Hermione wish that they had a camera to capture the festivities.
By the time it was getting dark, they exchanged gifts. Harry expressed a lot of embarrassment and flustered when her parents gave him presents. He quietly thanked them, turning pensive and reflective for a while until he rather shyly took out a gift from his magically expanded pocket in his robe to give to Hermione. He explained that the present he'd already given her, which he gave her before she left for the holidays, had been bought before he figured out his feelings for her. He didn't feel like his gift was good enough so he got her something else.
It was that gift which Hermione stared at as she sat on her bed, back in her bedroom. Pride of place upon her bedside table, next to her lamp, was a hand-crafted picture frame.
Having finished packing her trunk, ready for the journey back to Hogwarts, Hermione settled on her bed and reminisced over the Christmas that she shared with her parents and with her boyfriend. In particular, she recalled how nervously Harry had passed the beautifully wrapped gift. Fierce curiosity bloomed inside her, wondering about the level of effort put into the presentation of the gift alone.
At first, she felt immensely guilty. The gifts she'd given Harry, which she'd also got for him before they became official at the Christmas Party, felt suddenly inadequate. Though Harry had been very genuinely happy about the wand holster she'd gotten for him, she wondered why she hadn't thought to get him something else too.
Hermione leaned forwards from the edge of her bed, mattress creaking at the movement. Taking the picture frame into her hands, she settled back down and took in every detail of the gift, thinking of Harry's story to go with it. Just like she had when she opened the present, her fingers went over the designs hand carved out of wood.
"I wanted something special… something that's about us, not just a standard frame with pretty decorations. " Harry had said when she'd fallen silent, taking in the details that he'd asked the craftsman in Hogsmeade to add into the design. "So I asked for a stag and an otter."
"Our Patronuses…" Hermione had murmured.
She ran her finger over the stag in the bottom right corner, the antlers delicate and beautifully moulded from a dark, earthen coloured wood. Then she studied the otter in the top left, opposite the stag, the tail curving down the corner where it looked like it was in mid swim. Then she looked at the picture, the characters captured in the photograph in motion. The colours were brilliant and bright, the glitter and splendour shimmering as the scene played out. The people in the background were almost colourful blurs, out of focus as the centre characters twirl slowly, robes of rich purple rippling around them.
It was the photograph that had been taken when they embraced on the dancefloor at Slughorn's party. It captured perfectly the moment when Hermione rested her head against Harry's chest and then he brought his down on top of hers. A personal, tender moment that had ended up plastered over the front page of The Daily Prophet.
"I know it's a bit of a weird gift - seeing that the bloke who took it was a complete arse and sold it to the papers. But I wanted it to be… our moment, you know? So… I'm giving you that moment back." Harry then frustratedly kneaded at his head. "It all sounded a lot better in my head when I had the idea. "
Hermione didn't give him any further chance to doubt himself for his gesture. She practically threw herself over the table to kiss him.
Back in her bedroom, without him there to kiss and hold, she put her arms around the picture frame and held it close to her chest. She closed her eyes, imagining that he was there, filling her mind with the feel of his arms around her, the warmth of his smiles, the soft caress of his lips on hers. She wished he was there so she could tell him again that he's a romantic fool and that his present was perfect. Down to the execution, the thought behind it… everything was just as perfect to her as he was.
She held the picture frame for a few minutes before reminding herself that she actually had to be ready on time, else be late for the train that would take her back to Harry. Placing the picture frame with care in her trunk, using her robes to keep it wrapped up and protected, she then closed her truck, securing the lock.
Before long, her dad was carrying her trunk out of the front door to the car parked on the drive. She'd already said her goodbyes to her mum who left for work earlier that morning. Her dad's job gave him a bit more freedom with his days off and was there to drive her back to the station. He shut the car boot, turning to where she was waiting, doing up her coat as the chilly winter weather nipped at them both.
"Got everything?" He asked her.
Hermione double-checked that her wand was definitely in her pocket before nodding. They both got into the car once her dad locked up the house. A lot went unspoken as Hermione looked away from the house, doing her best to not think about how long it would be until they would all be reunited again. The long periods apart were a sore topic among the Grangers and one that was never spoken about.
Conversation ran dry during the drive in the car and her dad switched the radio station to music rather than the football coverage on BBC Radio Four. Hermione's thoughts remained focused on the train journey and the destination, not dwelling on the fact that she needed to have an Auror escort now that she was even more of a target for the Death Eaters. When they arrived at the Kings Cross carpark, Hermione sagged visibly with relief when Kingsley met them - an Auror she at least knew. Her dad just got her trunk out of the back when the tall Auror approached them. Unlike most wizards, he had shown up dressed in muggle attire, a business suit in fact. He didn't stand out at all among the London commuters that bustled around about them, looking just like he was on a business trip. He smiled warmly at Hermione before introducing himself to her dad.
She hugged her dad farewell at the car, promising to write more. He planted kisses on her cheeks and made hints about Easter, which she pushed aside for now. She would worry about plans for the next holiday later.
Despite Kingsley being a lot more approachable than the dour Aurors who Harry had as escorts when leaving for Hogwarts in September, it was still awkward. He took her trunk, his dark gaze scanning the crowds as Hermione kept close to him. Nerves jittered as she too looked for any potential threats. She spied a few familiar faces making their way to platforms nine and ten. No family groups of red-hair, however.
Kingsley took her arm as they went through the barrier, but she didn't mind. On the other side, he let go and gestured for her to lead. The scarlet engine was pumping out steam as usual, the platform busy with students and their families. She spotted Arthur and Molly Weasley easily enough. They immediately saw Kingsley and came over before she could avoid the awkward reunion.
"Hello Hermione!" Mr Weasley greeted cheerfully before shaking Kingsley's hand. "Kingsley. Good to see you both." If either of them were curious about Kingsley's presence, they didn't show it. Hermione expelled a breath of relief when she caught Ron with Lavender through the crowd behind them. She searched for Ginny, finding her with her arms wrapped around Dean.
To her surprise, she soon found herself being gathered up in a hug as Mrs Wealsey turned her attention to her.
"There you are, Hermione dear. Lovely to see you."
Hermione's eyes stung a little at the genuine warm greeting. She blinked quickly to clear any threatening tears and she drew on a smile.
"You too, Mrs Weasley. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas."
"It was rather quiet," Mrs Weasley said in a slightly stiff tone. Hermione glanced back to where Ron was, then winced.
"The last thing we wanted was for our… conflict to involve anyone else. It should just be between the three of us." Hermione said, hands wringing together. "I'm sorry if it ruined your Christmas." Molly sighed sadly, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"We're only upset that this has come between you. I'm hopeful that there can be some resolution. You have had fallings out before and patched them up after talking it through. It just takes talking… and communicating."
Hermione looked down at her wringing hands, unable to suppress the stab of guilt at the words. In the bigger picture, her hurt feelings were rather unimportant.
"That aside, I heard you had an interesting Christmas," Mr Weasley said, moving the subject on as he turned to Hermione. She smiled, grateful for the subject change. "We were relieved when we heard from Remus that you and your parents were spending Christmas with Harry. We didn't like the idea of him alone."
"No," Mrs Weasley firmly agreed, shooting a stern look into the crowd which Hermiong knew was directed towards her son. "Especially not after that article came out. That poor boy has too much on his shoulders without the added publicity."
On the subject of publicity, Hermione glanced around the crowd on the platform. A lot of eyes were fixed on her, not just stares from students who were already gossiping before getting onboard the train. Parents were leaning together, whispering, looking at her with avid interest. She swallowed tightly. It was expected, being recognised as Harry Potter's girlfriend, but it did make her feel extremely uncomfortable to be the topic of conversation outside the gossip bubble of the school.
"Sorry to cut this short, but I think it's best if everyone gets onto the train." Kingsley interrupted. Hermione caught Kingsley's eye and he gave her a nod. She smiled gratefully, now very eager to get in a compartment away from the attention.
Giving Mr and Mrs Weasley a hurried goodbye, she joined Kingsley who helped her get her trunk on the train. Neville showed up with his trunk, grinning at her and saying hello. Hermione looked over, spotting Neville's gran making her exit.
"Good move," Neville remarked as he pulled his trunk up the step. "I figured you might want to grab a compartment quickly."
She nodded eagerly, then turned to thank Kingsley.
"Find a compartment, you two," Kingsley told her, now wielding his wand. "I'll have to check the train, but will be up front with the driver if there are any concerns."
"You're staying on the train?" Hermione asked, surprised. Their last trip hadn't required an Auror onboard.
"A precaution, nothing more." He assured her, then nodded at them both before sweeping down the walk way. Hermione shared a look with Neville and they both went to find an empty compartment.
"I know him - Kingsley. He came to the Department of Mysteries, didn't he? I saw him fighting the Death Eaters." Neville said as they picked out a place for them to use for the journey.
"Yes. He's in the Order and also an Auror."
"Gran mentioned him to me before. I know he worked with my mum and dad." Neville said, subdued as he pulled the door back for Hermione to go in. A chill went through Hermione at the mention of his parents, both permanent residents of the closed ward at St Mungo's.
"Is he here on behalf of the Order or the Ministry?" He then asked as he stowed his trunk under the bench before flopping himself on the padded seat.
"Both I think. Though I expect it's on orders from the Ministry - for their public image."
"Ha, yeah. Figures that when they look competent, it's political." He remarked, just as Ginny appeared outside their compartment door. "Ginny! In here!"
She and Dean entered, looking flustered, but when Ginny saw Hermione, she rushed at her, giving her a fierce hug.
"I saw you with mum and dad. I hope mum didn't give you a grilling," Ginny said as her way of greeting. She released Hermione from her arms and looked her up and down, as if searching for something. "Well, you seem no worse for wear."
Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and brought her to the seat opposite the boys. Hermione chose to sit next to her, still feeling on edge and uncomfortable. Luna then meekly pushed her way into the compartment, asking if she could join. Ginny rolled her eyes, waving her in. Luna smiled softly at them as Neville leapt up to help her with her trunk. Hermione caught Ginny's eye at Neville's reaction as he eagerly stashed her trunk, going so far as to heave up the heavy chest to store on the upper shelves. Ginny covered her smile.
Luna joined Ginny on her other side as the train lurched into motion. They wrenched the window back so they could wave out the window.
Once clear of the station, they settled back down and got around to catching up.
"Alright Nev? Good Christmas?" Dean asked Neville when he sat back down.
"I know this'll sound a bit cold, but I sort of wish I spent Christmas at Hogwarts," Neville said, soberly looking out the window as they rattled through London. "I thought it would be good for Gran, but she didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. She's convinced that I'm next on the Death Eaters' list or something."
"Surely you've got security set up?" Dean asked him, looking stunned.
"Yeah - Scrimgeour personally arranged it, but it doesn't stop Gran from being paranoid. In fact, she appeared to be happy I was going back to school because I'd at least be safer there."
"Not a lot of parents agree that it's safer," Dean said, leaning forwards, eyes darting between them. "I was surprised that Parvati and Padma got on the train. I thought their folks really don't want them back at the school." He sighed, looking out the window too. "I have to say… I'm pretty grateful that my mum has no clue really about what's going on. She knows bits - but I'd rather not worry her." His eyes found Hermione. "I guess you'd have to tell your parents a bit more… what with Harry and all."
All eyes were on Hermione. Dean hadn't implicitly said why her situation would be different because of her friendship with Harry or because of their new relationship status.
"They know everything," she confirmed, "and they're not happy that I'm in danger, of course, but they accept that Hogwarts is the safest place."
"And dating someone with his own personal security can't hurt," Ginny supplied helpfully. Hermione scowled at her.
"Dating?" Neville repeated, looking between Ginny and Hermione. Then he blinked. "Wait… that article about the party with you and Harry? Are you both…?"
Hermione found herself smiling at Neville's reaction. Dean grinned, leaning back, sharing a look with Ginny. Luna then stared at Hermione.
"Of course they're together." She said as her smile bloomed, warm and rich with sincerity. To Hermione's surprise, Luna got up and reached for Hermione's hands. She gazed deeply in her eyes, her smile infectious as Hermione's own broadened. Her cheeks warmed at the kind, genuine happiness directed towards her. "I'm very happy for you, Hermione. And Harry too. You are perfect for each other."
"Th-thank you, Luna," Hermione's voice caught as she was truly touched by Luna's honest, heart-felt joy. Luna remained standing for a moment before a slight lurch of the train made her stumble for balance. Neville's hand snapped out to steady her, but Luna was already on her way back to her seat. It fell quiet in the compartment. Hermione found herself apprehensive glancing at Ginny, worried that she'd been visibly unhappy at the news, but then she reminded herself of how Ginny assured her that her feelings towards Harry were platonic.
Even so - there had been a time when they weren't.
Instead, she found Ginny grinning, her eyes glinting with that same dangerously mischievous look she caught earlier on the platform.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. We decided to keep it quiet until the start of term but then the paper printed it." She said apologetically to Ginny.
"So The Daily Prophet got something right for a change, then? You're officially together?" Neville asked. "When did that happen?" Hermione blinked before her cheeks burned a little hotter. Ginny let out an oddly maniacal giggle.
"Harry asked me out before we showed up at the Party," Hermione told them.
"So you were actually on a date?" Ginny asked her, turning sharply in her seat. Hermione's face was still hot. "It wasn't pretend?"
Why am I so embarrassed? She asked herself, baffled at her reaction.
"It was our first date, I guess."
"When you both slipped out for 'some air'...?" Ginny marked invisible marks around the two words with her fingers. She tutted, shaking her head dramatically. "Such behaviour from a prefect no less! Disgraceful."
"Ha!" Dean burst out, grinning. "And he came back with his tie undone."
Hermione rolled her eyes, smiling despite her pink face. "Yes, alright, we kissed."
"And then you both suddenly changed your Christmas plans and spent it together." Ginny said with a wicked grin. "Moving rather fast, aren't you? Making Harry meet the parents?"
Neville frowned, confused. "Hang on, how were you with Harry for Christmas? Did he visit you and your parents? I… I'm surprised that would be allowed."
"We visited him, not the other way around," Hermione explained. Neville looked even more surprised and awkwardly glanced around the compartment.
"How did you manage that? I've not heard of parents ever being allowed to stay at the school for the holidays and… well… it would be a bit difficult if they're muggles." Neville looked embarrassed at bringing that up. "Not that I think matters but-."
"It's okay, Neville," Hermione said before he got more flustered. "I - well - I wrote to Dumbledore and asked him if it was possible for me and my parents to stay at The Three Broomsticks. He allowed it and even let us spend Christmas Day with Harry at Hogwarts. We had the Common Room to ourselves as Harry's the only one in Gryffindor who stayed behind."
She smiled softly to herself, thinking of the dinner they had in the homely communal space, memories warm and comforting. Ginny then leaned in, wearing a concerned look.
"How did it go? I know your mum and dad didn't have the best introduction to our world. I remember that day pretty vividly."
Hermione sighed, all too aware that the day in question wasn't a fond memory for Ginny either. It had been that day when Lucius Malfoy slipped her the diary of Tom Riddle, starting Ginny's traumatic first year at Hogwarts.
"Honestly, I'm surprised it went as well as it did. I was really nervous about mum and dad being around so much magic," she admitted, "but Harry helped make them feel comfortable. It was so weird hearing him talk about muggle life. It's too easy to forget sometimes that Harry spent most of his life around muggles himself. Though I think pretty much everything he knows about football came from you, Dean. Enough to handle himself in a conversation with my dad, at least."
Dean grinned, leaning back in his seat. "I'm happy to take full credit."
"They weren't very comfortable when we showed them around the castle, but I think they came away feeling happier that they've seen everything for themselves. It is a challenge to describe magic without witnessing it and experiencing it… and like you said, their first introduction was pretty miserable."
Ginny nodded in response, but then sighed, glancing over to the door out of the compartment. Her brow knitted and she gave Hermione a pointed look.
"It sounds a lot better than what it was like at home," Ginny then admitted in a heavy voice, "Ron was downright unpleasant the whole time… whenever he graced us with his presence, that was. He spent pretty much the whole holiday either shut up in his room or flying in the garden."
Hermione stiffly turned to look at Ginny. She had a very good guess behind the reason for Ron's behaviour. The front page news about Harry's apparent 'debut' sporting pictures of them both together would be cause enough, added on top of his already bruised pride.
Across from them, Neville and Dean started up a conversation on their own to give them privacy. Luna had already taken out a copy of the latest edition of The Quibbler and was content in her silence.
"Harry told me that your dad sent a letter to him," Hermione shared with Ginny, lowering her voice even though she knew the others could hear her plainly. "It sounded like he's not impressed with Ron."
"That's putting it very lightly," Ginny said grimly, looking over to the glass door again. "The last time dad shouted like that, it was at Percy. He was furious. Me, Fred and George tried to listen in, but dad put up impenetrable charms."
Hermione waved at Ginny to continue, listening intently, her heart starting to race. For Mr Weasley to be that angry, he would need a very good reason. Something a lot worse than Ron being insensitive towards Hermione's feelings. She had a good idea. She'd seen Harry after his row with Ron in the Common Room, how despondent and hurt he'd been while trying to hide it from her.
"It was after The Daily Prophet printed that story about Slughorn's party." Ginny went to explain. "We were all glad that they said something nice about Harry for a change, but Ron… he went completely ballistic. He ranted about how no one can see that Harry's playing everyone to get what he wants." Ginny's eyes hardened with anger as she spoke. She looked at Hermione. "He even said that Harry turned everyone against him - not just including you but me too."
Hermione's hands clenched into tight fists as anger burned in her gut. Ginny then puffed out her cheeks, blowing out air in a huff.
"His little outburst didn't get him the sympathy he was after - let's just say that." Ginny growled, then continued in a more level tone. "Then while dad was having a chat with dear Ronald, he started to shout. We got a hint of ' How could you-' before mum was there, casting privacy charms."
Neville and Dean had given up pretending to not listen. Both looked shocked across from them.
"Mum and dad both already knew that you three had a big falling out, but they just saw it as a misunderstanding that you'd sort out on your own. I mean… the three of you… this was bound to happen, right? Getting feelings for each other. Friendships getting awkward - that sort of thing." Ginny waved a dismissive hand. "They weren't pleased that Ron just disregarded your feelings for him when I told them about what happened, but it's the normal sort of teenage drama."
Hermione drew each breath with measured control, doing her best to listen and not explode. Ginny's eyes then burned with anger.
"But I guess dad found out that Ron's not just been nasty to you, but to Harry too. Likely what was said when he and Harry had that fight. You likely know a lot more about it than I do. You checked on Harry afterwards, right?" Ginny looked up at Hermione who sighed.
"Harry wouldn't tell me what it was about - just that he didn't want to antagonise Ron anymore."
"It must have been bad if he didn't want you to know. "Ginny said, crestfallen. "Anyway, after dad gave him a talking to, Ron went up to his room. He barely said anything during Christmas and then there was the fact Harry sent Ron his Christmas present…" Ginny trailed off, shaking her head. "I think he's feeling guilty about it all but doesn't know how to figure out what to do about it."
"Apologising is a good start!"
"If he tried, would you and Harry hear him out?" Ginny asked. Hermione shot her a hard look and Ginny put up her hands. "I'm just saying. If there's even a chance that you can resolve this, come to some sort of truce at the least, you're going to have to be civil towards each other… and listen to each other. Let's be honest… neither of you are good at keeping your tempers."
Hermione begrudgingly accepted that Ginny had a point.
"Look, I know he really messed up, but he is still my brother even though he's a massive idiot. If he does manage to get his head out from his arse, will you at least let him talk before pelting him with conjured canaries?"
Heaving out a huge sigh, Hermione wearily sat back, looking away from Ginny and the sincerity in her eyes. She felt a stirring of guilt at Ginny's words. Despite it all, despite the hurt Ron caused and the friction between them, she still cared about him. She didn't want to hurt him, not really, and she did hope that he could go through some personal growth on his own. Admit his mistakes, apologise, and grow up. She had doubts about him accepting that her and Harry were together. If they did reconcile, their friendship wouldn't be the same. But they could adapt and compromise - wasn't that what friends did? Support each other in any way that they could?
"If he wants to apologise, I promise, I'll hear him out." Hermione said sincerely to Ginny, meaning every word. "But what I can't promise is if I forgive him. And you're forgetting that he will have to come to terms with the fact that me and Harry are dating now. He overreacted about you and Dean. How do you think he's going to react when he finds out the rumours are true?"
Ginny sighed, thinking it through, the look in her eyes saying enough. The uncertain flicker in her gaze, the flattening of her mouth. She wasn't hopeful that Ron would react well at all.
"Well… he will just have to deal with it, won't he?"
The answer came from behind Ginny as Luna looked up from the edition of The Quibbler. Ginny snorted, then grinned at Luna.
"Yeah, exactly that. He's got to accept it. After all, It was his fault you both ended up together in the first place," Ginny said lightly. She then got up, stretching out her arms dramatically and looked around the compartment.
"Exploding snap, anyone?"
Taking off at a brisker pace than what was wise down the Grand Staircase, Harry hurriedly made his way to the Entrance Hall. He paused on the landing of the third floor to quickly check the Marauders' Map, seeing the many dots and names coming closer as the carriages brought the students back to the castle. They started appearing just as Harry left Professor McGonagall's office, making their approach from the station. He grinned to himself as his keen eye caught Hermione's name, attention jumping to it as if magnetised.
Practically vaulting over the trick step, he set off again, stuffing the map back into his pocket. His emotions were still in a complex tangle, trying to not dwell on what he'd just been discussing with his Head of House. Minerva McGonagall had a lot to say to him and not a lot of it was easy to hear. Though being told that he wouldn't have to be escorted around the school by various teachers had come as a relief.
He flushed again, thinking back on the hour-long meeting he'd just escaped from. One that ended only when Professor McGonagall took note of the time and that the Hogwarts' Express would have arrived. He'd never been more eager to be dismissed. He had gone into the meeting with Professor McGonagall blind, expecting her to want to ask him about Quidditch practice for the term and maybe even advise him to resolve the conflict between him and Ron. Both things came up briefly, but that wasn't why he had been summoned up to her office.
She'd just given him 'The Talk'.
Harry almost stumbled on the last step as he reached the Entrance Hall. A couple of wayward ghosts disappeared through the walls, paying him no attention. He went to catch his breath, then paused as Filch and Mrs Norris caught his eye at the door. The rattling keys explained the caretaker's appearance.
As the doors creaked open, the first arrivals burst into the hall. Thankfully, they were too engrossed in their conversations and catching up with their friends to notice Harry awkwardly waiting in the shadow of the House hourglasses. Harry rose up on his tiptoes to look over the sea of heads to find Hermione among them. Too impatient to wait for her to appear, he went to find her instead at the carriages. He stepped into the throng, ignoring the gasps as he went against the crowd, bringing attention to himself. He had to weave his way through where the crowd was thickest at the door.
He hastily responded to the few greetings he received, smiling at those who were actually friends. Stepping outside, he scanned the crowd and then he caught sight of Hermione's head of golden brown curls still at the carriages. He picked up his pace, almost jogging, completely blanking those around him. Then the crowd parted enough for him to see Hermione properly. He didn't even notice when he passed Ron, Lavender, Parvati and Seamus.
"Hermione!" Harry called out.
Her head whipped around and he saw her face lit up as their eyes met across the distance. She didn't wait a single second before she was pushing past the students between them. Harry rushed forwards, not wanting to delay a second longer.
His arms wrapped around her before she could get a purchase. Before he knew what he was doing, heart feeling the lightest it had been over the last few days, he lifted her upwards. She let out a surprised squeak as he laughed playfully. Almost in homage to the dances they shared on the dancefloor in Professor Slughorn's office, he spun her around in a circle, holding on tight.
"Harry!"
Her voice was coloured with surprise, glee and also a hint of embarrassment. Suddenly aware that they had a very captive audience around them, Harry put her back down, her shoes crunching in the gravel.
Looking down, Harry's heart gave a flutter as he took in her face. He drank in every detail: the rising pink flush across her cheeks, the rich brown eyes shining with raw emotion as they latched onto his, and her parting lips that drew him in.
Around them, it was as if time had resumed. He was very sharply aware of his name being mentioned, snapping him back into focus. He looked around, seeing that a crowd formed at his back. One by one, the curious bystanders went back to their own business now that the show had ended. Harry took a step back from Hermione, feeling lightheaded.
"Sorry, forgot myself a bit there," Harry said, not just for Hermione's benefit but for Ginny, Dean, Neville and Luna who were rather awkwardly standing there. His face was heating up again. "Er… so… I guess the cat's out of the bag."
"We already know. Hermione told us on the train," Luna said, recovering first. She smiled at Harry. "You look a little pink."
Ginny then burst out laughing and staggered up to Harry, slapping him on the back. It broke the shocked spell on the group. Dean then joined, grinning, gifting him with a punch on the arm.
"Smooth moves, Harry," he said. Ginny softly snorted, rolling her eyes as she threaded her arm through Dean's.
"Well I'm glad that you didn't just snog each other senseless… but then, you do have an audience." She said, shooting Hermione a conspiratorial grin.
Neville just gave Harry something half-way between a salute and a wave before rushing to join Luna who had already left.
"Move along." Filch's voice could be heard over the din of the crowd of students in the Entrance Hall. Glancing away from Hermione, Harry saw that there were a lot of people purposefully dawdling, still watching him and Hermione with avid interest. Not just any people either. Harry knew the faces of the girls that were part of his unofficial fan club. Romilda Vane was notably absent. Some part of him had hoped that their interest in him would subside now that he had a girlfriend. But whether he was single or not, apparently they fancied him regardless.
"I need to talk to you before we join with the others," Hermione told him. "Before we go into the Common Room…"
"Yeah, okay," Harry said, then stuck his free hand into his pocket, fishing for the Marauder's Map. His fingers brushed over another folded piece of parchment he'd stuck in there. An envelope.
"I need to go to the owlery and send a letter. How about we talk there? No chance of being overheard."
Ginny rolled her eyes at them. "I'm sure you both have some catching up to do." She then smiled at Harry. "See you in the Common Room later." She then tucked her arm through Dean's and left them, not before giving them a wink. Harry met Hermione's gaze but said nothing, seeing the light flush over Hermione's cheeks.
"Um, shall we?" Harry asked her. Hermione nodded, joining him at his side as they followed behind Ginny and Dean. They cut through into the Entrance hall, taking the corridor that led to the Kitchens, splitting from the group. They passed a group of Hufflepuffs making their way to their Common Room, all of which stopped to watch them. They turned a corner, freed from the stares. Guilt squirmed in Harry's insides. It was because of him that she was being gawked at. While the attention wasn't hostile, unlike the level of abuse Hermione received after Rita Skeeter's article about her in their fourth year, it was still intrusive.
They soon reached the door that led outside to the path up to the owlery. Harry pushed it open and a chilly gust of wind blasted at them both. Hermione's hair swept around her face as she stepped outside first, looking back at him as he followed and shut the door behind him. Thankfully, the path had already been cleared of ice and snow. He shivered a little, not dressed for the outdoors, but they wouldn't be out in the wind for long.
Reaching the owlery, he pushed the door open, greeted at once with the din of the said audience of owls hooting and rustling their wings. He stepped inside to get out of the chill, rubbing at his arms to get some warmth. Hermione followed him, shutting the door with a snap. Harry was swiftly greeted with a flurry of white wings as Hedwig swept down from her perch.
"Oh, bloody hell," he puffed out as a downy feather caught him on the lips. Hedwig settled on his shoulder, nipping his ear. Hermione's peal of laughter was just audible over the ambient noise of many owls.
"It looks like I'm not the only one who missed you," she remarked and came over. Her fingers brushed through his hair, making him still at once. He stared at her as she plucked feathers from his messy hair.
"She does this on purpose," Harry said, glancing over to his right shoulder where a pair of yellow eyes blinked innocently at him. "Don't give me that look."
He stuck his hand into his pocket, taking out the letter. Hermione curiously looked down at it.
"I thought Remus was going back undercover… at least that's what you said," she said as she read who it was addressed to. Harry looked up at her and gave a small shrug.
"I know. I was just as confused when he wrote to me after Christmas. He just said that things have changed and he'll stay in touch."
Remus's letter had been short and to the point, delivered on the leg of the most bedraggled owl Harry had ever seen. It explained only that he felt that he better served the Order as a wizard than as a werewolf and was planning to rent a room. Harry wasn't fooled. He knew that he was the cause of the change. As experienced with guilt, regret and grief as Harry was, he recognised it in other people.
He tied the letter he'd written in response to Remus's to Hedwig's leg.
"I've asked what his plans are," Harry explained to Hermione as he tested the knots, causing Hedwig to nip at his ear again. "He told me at Christmas, before you and your parents arrived, about how he lived in Hogsmeade for a few years before travelling. He might choose to rent a room there again."
"He wants to be closer to you," Hermione softly said. Harry met her eyes and gave a nod.
"He hasn't said as much but… yeah, I think that's the reason." He scratched Hedwig at her favourite spot under her beak. "You've not sent a letter to this one before, girl, but he's staying at The Burrow. You'll find him there."
Hedwig pushed off his shoulder, releasing her claws before she hurt him, and set off to deliver his letter. They watched her take off through one of the many open windows. Harry stuck his hands into his pockets, shivering a little in the cold. It was always bitterly cold in the owlery during the winter.
"Now that's done… was everything alright on the train?" Harry asked, looking up at Hermione expectantly. He didn't need to ask her about the week she spent at home with her parents. She wrote to him for every day they were apart, keeping him informed on absolutely everything. Just as he had written back, reporting his daily activities - as unexciting as they were.
In response to his question, Hermione's face fell a little and she turned from him, pacing away, her hair disturbed in the cold, frigid wind.
"You can stop worrying. Ron completely avoided me and I noticed he was quick to get into the castle when he saw you."
Harry blinked. He hadn't even noticed Ron when he made his beeline for Hermione through the crowd of arriving students.
"I heard a lot from Ginny. Apparently Ron was pretty vocal about you when he read the article about you in The Daily Prophet. It… explains why you got that letter from Mr Weasley. That must be what got him to question Ron about your falling out."
"Ah," Harry then started to pace as well, needing the motion to keep warm, "yeah that would make sense if he started running his mouth off about me in front of them."
"Ginny said that Ron accused you of turning the family against him. Almost like he sees you as a cuckoo - forcing him out of the nest." Hermione's voice hardened, matching the furious glint in her eyes. "Was what he said to you when you had that fight along the same lines?"
He didn't need to ask her what fight she meant. There could only be one.
"Worse," he admitted. "It was a lot more personal."
Hermione sighed, crossing her arms as she regarded him across the chilly space. The owls around them let out the occasional hoot but were otherwise a well-behaved audience to their conversation.
"Whatever was said to him by his dad, it sounds like he got through that thick-head of his. Ginny seems to think Ron wants to make amends."
Harry let out a doubtful snort.
"She was serious," she told him, "even asked me to hear him out if he did try to make up with us."
While he suspected, maybe even hoped, that Ron would come to his senses eventually, Harry had already made up his mind. He'd accept an apology - if it was genuine enough. He'd listen to Ron admitting he was wrong about how he treated Hermione, maybe he'd even apologise for playing on Ron's insecurities maliciously.
But their friendship was shattered. Like a broken mirror, they could put together all the pieces, but it would never be whole again. The reflection would forever be distorted.
"Harry… I think we need to sort this out. You were right about us not antagonising him, but I think we need to go a step further. We need to resolve this."
He ran his hand through his hair, looking upwards at the watching owls. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation, but resolving the tension was the right thing to do. Not just for his own sanity. Underneath Ron's vitriol was a lot of insecurity and low self-esteem. He hadn't known that Ron's self-doubt wasn't limited to the Quidditch pitch, or realised how bad it really was. He had no idea just how insecure Ron was about him, believing that he was threatening his position in his family. Did he really feel that way? That his parents, his own family, liked Harry more than him?
The thought made his chest feel uncomfortably tight. He could see how Ron would make that assumption, especially with how Mr Weasley had even taken Harry's side in their dispute against his son - apologising for his behaviour.
Was that normal?
Harry groaned, putting his hands on either side of his head. Hermione shot over to him alarmed.
"Why am I feeling sorry for him?" He asked her wildly when she reached him. "He bloody called me a leech to my face and here I am, thinking I'm the one who messed up."
Hermione's eyes widened, going so round he could see the perfect brown rings of her irises.
"He called you what?"
Before him, Hermione transformed. As she worked out the context for the word, how it had been used to hurt him, her shock morphed. Her eyes remained wide, only now they appeared to bulge with rage, the warm depths turning red hot as she glared at him. Though he wasn't the real recipient of her wrath, warning bells still rang out as she advanced on him. Her hair appeared to grow more voluminous, as if there was a static charge in the air. Harry found himself backing up, very alarmed, because he knew this version of Hermione Granger. He'd been a witness to it, but never on the receiving end - unlike Malfoy who came away with a slap and Ron who came away covered in scratches from multiple canaries.
"This is why I didn't want to tell you," Harry said as calmly as he could. "He wasn't in his right mind. When I showed up at the Common Room, he was gearing up for a fight. Came right at me, saying I was a snake, all sorts of hateful crap… and I tried to keep my cool, but he just kept making it more and more personal."
As he spoke, Hermione calmed down a little, listening intently. He sighed, resigning himself to telling her the full story. He'd told her so much, there was no need to hold it back.
"He said that I was only friends with you so no one would see that I'm actually a pathetic loner," he said, able to recall the hurtful moments in perfect clarity, "and… well…it's true. You and Ron… without you, I'd have no one. I said as much and he…"
To his horror, his eyes started to burn. He blinked furiously, looking away.
"He said people only tolerate me because they feel sorry for me… and that I use it to my advantage. Th-that-."
Hermione's arms were around him, her warmth enveloping him.
"Stop. You don't need to tell me anymore." She whispered to him as her hands rubbed comforting circles at his back.
Her head dropped to his shoulder. Harry brought his arms up, bringing them around Hermione and drawing her closer. Her warmth and her comfort soothed the hurt away. Her very presence in her arms was proof that he wasn't a loner. That she chose to be with him, chose to have Christmas with him and was still right there, out of her own free will, was proof that he didn't manipulate her.
But it clung to him like a parasite itself, being called a 'leech'. He couldn't deny it - not really. He did depend on the relationships in his life like they sustained his very life-force. While he was a lot more independent because of his circumstances, it wasn't out of choice. What few tethers he had, he did cling to.
"It's so stupid. He really hurt me, Hermione," he breathed out her name into the curls that now blanketed his face, "and I'm worrying about his feelings."
"Because you have a heart," Hermione sighed.
"A stupid heart." Harry corrected. "The same heart even feels a bit sorry for Voldemort. Do you think it's too late to ask for a refund?"
Hermione didn't chide him for his bleak sense of humour for a change. Instead, she just hugged him all the more tighter.
"No, because it isn't stupid. You have the most wonderful heart of anyone I know."
He drew back from Hermione so he could look at her. The ferocious rage that had been there only a moment ago was gone, her brow now smoothed over, face relaxed. She had her eyes closed and peeked them open when he moved back. The way she looked at him, the wide eyes rimmed with silvery tears, was so much more complex and deep than the looks of fondness she'd given him in the past.
"I think that's what threatens Ron the most. It's not that you're the centre of attention because of your fame. It's not even that you're more skilled as a wizard or better looking. It's because you're a better person."
Harry couldn't stop the flash of heat he felt at the compliments - especially the one about his looks.
"You're not a leech. You don't take, you give. You give so much and so often, you don't even notice that you're doing it. You're so remarkably selfless and that is the biggest difference between the two of you. That's what makes Ron so incredibly insecure. Being good person is in your very nature. You don't need to be told to be compassionate... it's instinctive to you."
Drawing his wind-numbed fingers up from where they were resting against Hermione's back, Harry lifted them up to Hermione's face. His mouth parted as he gazed at her. She blinked when his cold fingertips touched her cheeks and he gently tilted her head back. Her curls dropped around her face and her eyes widened a little.
"It's my weakness though," he said quietly, "I care too much… think with my heart and not my head and make poor choices because of it."
"It's not a weakness, it's a strength."
When he heard it from Dumbledore that his greatest strength was his heart, the heart in question had been broken. He'd been too breathless with pain, in too much agony over his guilt and grief to comprehend the things being said to him. He'd been traumatised and overwhelmed, unable to process that the thing that made him so special was the thing that made him hurt so much.
It wasn't hurting him now.
"I've been hurt because of it."
He pushed his fingers up from Hermione's cheeks, finding the warmth of her curls.
"That's why I'm here," she told him, "to protect you from those that wish to exploit you… and hurt you."
Leaning closer, Harry's nose brushed lightly against Hermione's. Both were cold and pink. Their breaths were clouds of mist between them.
"My hero." Harry called her, his supposedly wonderful heart thumping with renewed vigour. Hermione's gaze dipped down to his mouth.
Her restraint broke first. Her arms tensed around him, pulling him that hair's breadth of a distance. Harry half-groaned as her lips meshed against his. Owls took flight around them, but they didn't part. A storm could be crashing around them, spellfire streaming over their heads, but neither of them would have noticed. Passions collided and ignited in them both, six days of waiting amounting to that moment.
All lessons of appropriate conduct were up in the air as Harry shamelessly ran his tongue over Hermione's, the taste and texture sparking his desire into overdrive. The instruction to 'mind where he puts his hands' was dismissed as he dropped his hands from where they cradled Hermione's face and went to her waist, finding the layers of her clothes blocking the almost primitive instinct to touch her all over.
But then Hermione pushed into him, forcing him backwards, making him step back to not lose his balance. His back met the stone arch of the door. Her ferocity outmatched his as she clutched his robes in her fists, diving into the kiss with all her spirit. Her desire had him pinned against the wall and his own was ramping up in response. None of the secret kisses they stole during Christmas when her parents weren't around came close.
Like all creatures, they needed to breathe. Hermione's mouth parted from his with a wet sound and they both heaved in air. Harry struggled to see, partly because his glasses had been pushed up to his forehead. Dazed, he rested his head against the stone. Hermione's face filled his vision, her pupils shrinking from where they'd been dilated.
"Th- that was worth the wait." Harry croaked out then cleared his throat. He became very aware that his mouth was wet as the cold breeze lashed his hot face.
"Definitely." Hermione breathed out, her voice low and oddly husky. She released his robes and reached up for his glasses. "Though we're going to have to exercise some restraint. If we're caught, it's a-."
"Detention, yeah." Harry finished for her. "Before you arrived, I was being grilled about the rules around public displays of affection… and rules about conduct while courting someone."
"What?" Hermione gasped as she carefully restored his glasses in the right place for him.
"McGonagall," he explained, "she, um, gave me the talk."
Hermione just stared back. "Talk?"
"Yeah, you know, the talk. About… do I have to say it?" He tilted his head to one side and saw the moment Hermione figured it out. Her eyes went wide and then she burst out laughing.
"Oh no! " She groaned between laughs. "She didn't?"
"Oh yes she did. I could have happily gone through the rest of my life without hearing Professor McGonagall mention my 'manhood'."
Hermione's laugh pitched up and she dropped her head on his chest, giggling. He started to join in. With the embarrassment wearing off, he could see the funny side. In fact, it was hilarious. He soon found himself with tears in his eyes as they both laughed.
"McGonagall warned me if I'm caught doing anything 'unbecoming of a young respectable wizard', I'll be scrubbing the bedpans in the Hospital Wing." Harry said as he caught his breath back. "I think... this might qualify."
Hermione heaved in a deep breath and extracted herself from where she was still pinning Harry against the wall.
"In that case, we should leave before someone sees us out here together," she said, "but it's a shame to join the others so soon though." She angled her gaze pointedly to his mouth. Harry swallowed and reached into his pocket, his fingers finding the edges of the Marauder's Map. As he pulled it out, Hermione's eyes widened. He grinned at her, all too aware that while she'd neatened his glasses, his appearance was a mess. It was very obvious that they'd been making out.
He stepped up to her, planting a short kiss on her lips.
"Then I guess it's a good thing that I know how to avoid getting caught."