Chapter 12-New Attitude
To Harry and Hermione their relationship had gotten off to a rocky start. They had never imagined having to deal with the things that had befallen them over the past three days. Wednesday evening had passed with no great difficulty. The pair had finally been able to spend enough time together to finish the first step in the planning of the Yule Ball. On Friday they delivered their recommendations to Professor McGonagall. It was on Friday that they realized that this was to have been the first Hogsmeade weekend. Since no one had said they could go because of the on-going investigation into Crabbe's murder, neither of them had focused on it. When Professor McGonagall called them in on Friday afternoon, they were curious about the reason.
Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk reading over some notes when they arrived. "Please, please come in Harry and Hermione. Had I known I was going to be speaking to you this afternoon, I would have waited for your proposals on the Yule Ball until now." Harry and Hermione looked at each other with slightly surprised and confused faces.
Professor McGonagall continued, "Professor Dumbledore and I had a visitor this morning from the Ministry who brought news that there was no need to keep you two inside the castle. Therefore, if you would care to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow, you are free to do so."
Harry and Hermione were exceedingly happy at this turn of events. Harry asked, "Does this mean that we are both completely cleared of all suspicion?"
Professor McGonagall did not look sure about how to answer the question. The pause before answering was an answer in itself, but she tried to explain. "Harry, no one at the school has been ruled out. This course of action is being taken because Professor Dumbledore, Minister Fudge and Inspector McDougall of Scotland Yard agreed that it was not in the your best interests to keep you locked up here when there are no prime suspects." She paused again.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore was hesitant to let you go because of the incident between you and Dean Thomas. Quite frankly so was I. However, since no further outbreak of violence or anger on your part has occurred since then, we decided to err on the side of letting you enjoy yourself and get away from here for a day. Mind you, one incident would be very costly indeed."
"May I ask why the Ministry feels there is no danger to the students to leave school grounds after such a deplorable act as the murder?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, the question you are asking was the same one I asked. The feeling is that posting aurors at strategic locations in Hogsmeade and its approaches as well as the deployment of the investigators from Scotland Yard will be sufficient. The thought is that with a relaxing day this weekend there may be a new attitude for everyone. Maybe some insight maybe gained from suspicious visitors who appear in Hogsmeade as well as the unbridled tongues of youngsters having fun outside of school."
"Couldn't that be quite dangerous?" asked Hermione.
"I cannot comment further on their decision, because I am not privy to the information they have. But, yes, it seems it could be quite dangerous. I assume they know what they're doing and the fact that it will be broad daylight seems to lessen the risk."
"Will Hermione and I be able to go without escorts?" asked Harry.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, you two will not be chaperoned to Hogsmeade. That, by the way, was also against my better judgment after Sunday night's little display of rule breaking. Unless there is anything further, I must return to my work." She said this with a slight look of consternation. The message was clear: Behave yourselves.
Harry and Hermione couldn't believe it. They had maintained straight faces for long enough. They each broke into a wide grin as they turned to leave. Still shocked that they were going to be allowed to go, they just continued silently until they had left the classroom. Professor McGonagall had caught their smiling faces out of the corner of her eye. She was happy for them, even if she couldn't show it.
Hermione was excited. She and Harry could go out where there was sunshine and proper fresh air. She had thought of this weekend briefly as they sat on the roof Sunday night, but those thoughts quickly faded the next morning. Harry was excited too. He could finally buy Hermione some of the things she's always hinted at when they went before. Harry had so much money in Gringott's that he was sure it wouldn't hurt to splurge a little. They would have fun.
The rest of the day was a joyous one. They laughed and joked about what they would do tomorrow. They found Ron and Luna to ask them to meet for lunch and a couple of butter beers. Their joy was apparent to everyone. Ginny, Parvati, and Lavender were just a little jealous to not have escorts. But Ginny had been seeing Dean last year and she hadn't really found it all that great if you didn't really like the guy you were with.
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The Hogsmeade trip was a smashing success for everyone. There was no sign of the tension from Hogwarts here. No one seemed to notice the wary eyes of their protectors in every corner of the little village. The Three Broomsticks was buzzing with excitement and the chatter of young wizards and witches talking about everything from classes, the events of the last week and what they were doing for the holidays.
Amazingly enough it seemed just like it had the previous year. In Madam Puddifoot's tea room sappy couples sat staring longingly in each others eyes or engaged in public displays of snogging that would make the weak-hearted blush. The rush to Honeydukes and Zonkos was to be expected. All the kids from the school liked to have their sweets and assorted tricks to play on their classmates.
Harry and Hermione decided to spend their time in Hogsmeade wondering around watching their classmates and sitting in front of the railway station undisturbed. They could chat about anything without being overheard. And most of all, they didn't have to share each other with anyone. They would meet Ron and Luna later a Madam Puddifoot's.
"Hermione, do you ever wonder what it would be like to have just been a muggle with no magical powers?" asked Harry.
"I guess I do sometimes." She paused to think for a minute and then said, "I was just thinking of my Mum and Dad. They seem to get on just fine without all the intrigue of magic. That seems to be true for most of my family. I am glad that I am a witch though Harry. Otherwise I would never have met you."
He looked in her eyes and then traced her lips with his finger. He had always lived in a little bit of fear for what would happen next. But over the past five days that trend seemed to slow to a stop. Harry thought, 'What ever happens, happens. It all works out.' He didn't mean this about Hermione though. He remembered back to the days on Privet Drive where it was obvious that his uncle and aunt took each other for granted. They pampered their son, but didn't do anything to enhance their lives but buy things. They were emotionally dead. Harry wanted so much more with Hermione.
"Hermione." Harry paused thinking of how to say this. "I know we are just finishing our first week together as a couple, but I want you to know that words 'I love you' took on new meaning to me when I said them to you." He paused and looked at her for a reaction. She looked at him with a warm smile, but didn't say anything. "I couldn't just say I liked you and would you go out with me. I spent the summer daydreaming of kissing you or holding your hand. I must have wasted an entire notebook of paper writing your name or letters to you I knew I'd never send. I don't think I have ever really said those words to anyone else. Maybe I said them to Hagrid once, but that was different."
Hermione slowly moved toward Harry. He put his arm around her as she put her head in his shoulder. Their fall jackets were a little bulky but the comfort of being together was just the same. They weren't in a relationship like many of the others their age, she thought. They had the same urges to kiss the hours away and succumb to the new sexual feelings they each felt. They hadn't talked about them really. They had just played around the edges of them. Hermione felt so comfortable that she and Harry would make this a lifetime commitment that she didn't want to regret moving too fast; she wanted to concentrate on enjoying their friendship. They would become lovers soon enough.
Harry sat holding Hermione with many of the same thoughts. He was excited every time she touched him. She had been right when she said they had agreed that they wouldn't practice any "magic" together for the time being. He wondered what sex was like. He had never even contemplated being so in-tune with someone. He knew that it would be right one day and it would be great--both physically and emotionally. He was naïve and didn't want to show Hermione how naïve he was. He was sure she knew, but he was equally as sure that she was naïve as well.
They sat speechless for an hour just thinking and holding one another. Harry didn't mind not talking, but was sad he couldn't hear Hermione's lively chatter. It soothed him. He finally said, "Hermione, let's go find Ron and Luna."
Hermione was a little disappointed because they had cuddled so comfortably that she didn't want to leave. She stood up with Harry. As they stood, they looked in each others eyes with such kindness that each felt the emotion of the other in that moment. They kissed. It wasn't their most passionate effort, but it was the most meaningful. They had spent an hour happy where nothing in life had touched them but one another. Now as their lips met, a warmth and gratitude for friendship and love passed between them. They had to do this more often each of them thought.
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As they journeyed across town to Madam Puddifoot's, Harry bought them both two huge bags of sweets including massive blocks of chocolate. Harry had been introduced to the calming powers of chocolate during the past few years. Harry coaxed Hermione into Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop to buy matching quills for Hermione and him. He bought both identical to the one Hermione had bought some time before: a black-and-gold pheasant-feather quill. He said he planned to write his love letters to her with this quill. She smiled and said, "When would that be? Will I need glasses to read them by then?" She loved giving Harry a hard time, because he took it so well and because she knew that it would inspire him to do what he said. Harry smiled back with a "what have I gotten myself into?" look.
As they arrived at Madam Puddifoot's, they saw Ron and Luna crossing the road behind them. They waited for them at the door. The little tea room was crowed but soon they found a couple of tables next to one another and sat. They laughed and joked away the afternoon. They made fun of the other young couples when they sat in a lip-lock for more than a couple of minutes. Ron would occasionally say, "Get a room" to no one in particular, sparking laughter from everyone in the room. It was truly a remarkable afternoon. Harry had his best friends with him and the anxiety of the past week seemed to fade away.
As the hour grew long-toward 4:30 PM-darkness would soon be upon them so they left for Hogwarts. The strangest thing that happened all day happened on the way home. Ginny, Parvati and Lavender were chatting with Dean and Seamus along the way. It just seemed strange to everyone that Dean and Ginny were speaking again after falling out the year before. Ron saw no harm in it, because he knew that Ginny had genuinely liked Dean but had just tired of him. Maybe, he thought, it would do both Ginny and Dean to see each other again, even as friends. They said, "Hi" as they passed, but not much else. Ron did say to the other three, "Maybe, Dean, will mellow out if he gets himself a girlfriend." He didn't let on he meant a reconciliation between Ginny and Dean.
An uneventful evening followed and Sunday was very little different. Life seemed to be settling into a comfortable rut for Ron, Luna, Harry and Hermione. They spent hours together-the four of them over those two days studying and talking about life in general. None of them was aware of the impending crisis that would put Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and the rest of the wizarding world into a torrent of turmoil not seen since the last days of Voldemort 15 years earlier.