Author's note: Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. I really appreciate your comments and feedback. I hope you enjoy this chapter. You'll see some Ron/Luna interaction as well as some more Harry/Hermione. No D/G in this chapter, but Ginny and her odd behavior lately will be mentioned. The next chapter will be Harry/Hermione's night out.
Chapter Four
You Set Me Free
"When I was alone
You came around
When I was down
You pulled me through
And there's nothing that
I wouldn't do for you
'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see, yeah
And you set me free'
(Michelle Branch, "You Set Me Free")
The following Friday afternoon, Hermione and Ron were in the library studying. Well, to be honest, Hermione was the only one studying. Ron was leafing through a Quidditch magazine. Hermione would look up every now and then to roll her eyes at her friend, but if he noticed, he didn't even let on.
"You've been in here for two hours, Ron," Hermione said, not looking up as she scribbled some notes on her parchment. "And you've not accomplished a thing."
"I have so," Ron said indignantly. "I've learned all about how the Chudley Canons put together winning season after winning season."
"And that will help you on McGonagall's test tomorrow, how?" Hermione asked, looking up at her friend.
"I'm going to study," Ron said, shutting his magazine. "I'm pacing myself."
"Pacing yourself?" Hermione asked. "Procrastinating is more like it. Do you know if you put any of your energy into reading and studying as you do with Quidditch, you might make a fairly decent student?"
"Why bother?" Ron asked. "I mean, I'm going to be a professional Quidditch player. I'm not going to need to know any of this stuff."
"You will," Hermione said. "Besides, as my dad always says, it's always good to have something to fall back on in case your original plan doesn't pan out."
"I could work for Fred and George," Ron said. "They'd have to hire me…I'm family."
Hermione suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at her friend.
"Where's Harry?" she asked. "I thought he was going to meet us here after he met with Professor Dumbledore."
"He was," Ron said. "He said he might be a little late. He was going to help Ginny with some Quidditch plays that she was having trouble with."
At the mention of Ron's little sister, Hermione put her quill down.
"Ron," Hermione said. "About Ginny, I'm sort of worried about her. She hasn't been herself lately."
"She seems okay to me," Ron said, picking his magazine back up and quickly leafing through it again.
"Well, maybe it's female intuition, but something seems a bit off," Hermione said. "She seems a little withdrawn."
"Now that you mention it, she does seem a little spacey lately," Ron said. "And jumpy, too. I ran into her this morning in the halls and she nearly jumped out of her skin."
"You don't think she's gotten mixed up into something again?" Hermione asked, concern showing all over her face. "I mean, you remember how quiet she was during her first year here. None of us knew what was going on with her and that diary and Tom Riddle."
"I don't think it's anything like that," Ron said, reassuringly. "She's probably just stressed out. She's always saying she needs to go to the library."
Hermione looked taken aback by this last sentence. Hermione, who spent the majority of her free time in the library, knew for a fact that she hadn't seen Ginny in the library at any time in the past few weeks.
"Maybe," Hermione said softly. She went back to looking at her own book, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on with Ginny. She didn't want to pry, but maybe if she offered to listen if the younger girl needed to talk, that would help. Ginny was definitely hiding something.
At that moment, Harry came striding toward them and Hermione looked up and felt the butterflies in her stomach as he winked at her.
He sat down beside Ron and dropped his own books on the table.
"Did you get Ginny sorted out?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, she showed up 15 minutes late, though."
"That's not like her," Hermione said. "What was her excuse?"
"She said she stayed after class to help Professor Sprout clean up," Harry said, absently. He opened up his book and settled in to begin reading.
"Don't worry so much, Hermy," Ron said. "She's okay. She's just probably stressed like I said."
"Don't call me 'Hermy', Ron," Hermione snapped at him. "You know I can't stand that name."
"I think it's sweet," Ron said, trying not to laugh. "I think it's a term of endearment. I call you 'Hermy' because you're my friend."
"Oh?" Hermione asked. "Well, if we're following that line of thinking, surely you wouldn't mind if I called you 'Carrots' or 'Ickle Ronniekins'. Or, while I'm at it, I could start calling you 'Big Stupid Prat'."
Harry laughed. Ron looked affronted at his best friend.
"Harry," Ron said.
"Sorry, mate," Harry said. "But that was funny."
"Yeah, hilarious," he said. "I'm always happy to amuse you."
"We're always happy to be amused," Hermione said sweetly.
"Yeah," Harry said. "Thanks for that."
"Okay, okay," Ron said, defeated. "No more 'Hermy' from me."
"Thank you," she said.
"Well, I better get going," Ron said, putting his magazine away in his knapsack.
"Why?" Hermione asked him.
"I think I'm going to squeeze in a nap before dinner," Ron said.
"Did all this studying wear you down?" Hermione asked, sarcastically.
"Yeah, it did," Ron said, yawning. "I think I owe myself a nice, quick nap for all my hard work."
"Yeah," Hermione said. "You're studiousness inspires me, Ron. I hope to be just like you when I grow up."
"Work hard enough and you just might," Ron said, cheekily, getting to his feet.
"See you guys later," Ron said, walking away.
"He's a piece of work," Hermione said, watching as he walked away.
"Yeah, there's only one like him," Harry said.
Hermione and Harry looked at each other and said at the exact same time.
"Thank Merlin!"
They both snickered at this and shared a look before they both returned to their studying.
***********
"You aren't a very good student are you?" a dreamy voice said behind Ron.
He was nearing the staircase to Gryffindor Tower when he heard the female, dreamy voice coming from behind him. He
turned around expecting to see a beautiful girl behind him, but frowned when he saw it was just Luna Lovegood.
"What?" Ron asked, continuing to walk up the stairs.
"I was watching you in the library," Luna said softly. "You were reading a magazine and driving your friend Hermione Granger absolutely mad."
"You were watching me?" Ron asked, turning around to face her. "Do you follow me around, too?"
"Just a little every now and then," Luna said simply.
"Why?" Ron asked. "Surely, I can't be all that fascinating to watch."
"On the contrary," Luna said demurely. "I find you positively mesmerizing."
"Me?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes. "What could I possibly do that's 'mesmerizing?'"
"You have nice eyes," Luna said softly. "A girl could get lost in them."
What in the world was going on, Ron wanted to ask. All he wanted to do was head up to his bedroom for a quick nap and here he was face to face with Loony Lovegood, who was basically admitting to stalking him.
"You need your head examined," Ron said.
"Why?" Luna said. "Maybe it's you that needs your head examined."
"Me?" Ron asked.
"Don't be so close-minded, Ronald," Luna said. "You know, sometimes you can miss out on things because you just write them off as nothing. If you really give someone or something a chance, you might find out that they or it could be a worthwhile experience if you'd only let yourself be open to it."
"Are you speaking English?" Ron asked her, flustered.
"I think so," she said dreamily. "Think about what I said."
He watched as she smiled at him before turning to walk away. He stood there, frozen in place, not really sure what had just happened. That girl was absolutely off her rocker, Ron muttered to himself as he ascended the stairs to Gryffindor Tower.
*****************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
"So," Hermione asked, looking up at Harry. "What are you planning?"
"I can't tell you," Harry said. "It would spoil the surprise. You don't want to spoil the surprise."
"Well, can't I have a hint?" she asked, pouting.
"The puppy dog look isn't going to work, Granger," Harry said. "I'm not budging on this one."
"Oh, just tell me one thing," Hermione asked. "Tell me one hint and I'll keep quiet."
"That's such a sacrifice, Hermione," Harry said, still looking down at his book. "Being as we'll be doing this thing tomorrow evening."
"Ah-hah!" Hermione exclaimed. When a couple of students looked crossly at her, she cupped a hand over her mouth. "So, it's happening at night."
"Yes," Harry said. "There's your hint. Tomorrow night after lights out, you and I will be setting off for a pre-determined location."
"Are you sure we won't get caught?" Hermione asked, a touch of worry to her voice.
"You are giving the rule-benders of the world a bad name," Harry said, his eyes twinkling. He was enjoying knowing something that she didn't and holding it over her head.
"Okay," she said. "I won't worry about that. I'm sure that you have it all covered. I put all my faith and trust in you that we won't get caught."
"Good," Harry said.
Hermione smiled at him.
"Are we going to tell Ron about this?" Hermione asked him.
"No," Harry said. "It's just you and me. If that's alright."
Is that alright? Hermione asked herself silently. She had to stop herself from screaming out "That's bloody fantastic!"
"Sure," Hermione said. "If that's what you want. That sounds good to me."
She hoped that she sounded nonchalant.
"It is," Harry said, seriously. "It is what I want."
Harry's cheeks flushed red as the realization of what he said hit him.
"I mean, it's no reason to get Ron into trouble, too," Harry said quickly. "You know that if we were to get caught---purely hypothetical---we wouldn't want to get him into any trouble, as well, right?"
"Right!" Hermione said, nodding. "Of course. Great thinking, Harry."
Harry looked down at his watch. "We better go and get Ron for dinner."
"Yeah," Hermione said, putting her books, parchment and quill away.
"So what should I wear tomorrow night?" she asked, as she waited for Harry to put his own things away.
"Clothes," Harry said. "Clothes would be a good idea. I mean, if you wanted to go stark naked, I wouldn't have a problem with that, but where we're going, they might look down upon that."
Hermione opened her mouth in surprise. She gave her friend a look of indignation and punched him hard on the arm.
"Hey!" Harry said. "I said that I wouldn't have a problem with it."
"What am I going to do with you, Harry Potter?" she asked, as they walked out of the library.
"Put up with me like you always do," Harry said, his eyes twinkling at her.
"That sounds about right," she said, following him down the corridor. "That sounds about right."