Chapter Fourteen
Harry and Hermione had chatted for hours throughout the night, and Hermione had even been able to laugh about her situation (after several full strength butter beers). Harry awoke with a start as he heard the distinct sound of someone apparating within the apartment. He sat up and looked around in confusion until he realised he must have fallen asleep on Hermione's bed. She was still fast asleep.
Harry got up quietly and went to help Laurie get Ron sorted in the living room.
"Hey you two. How's the invalid?" Harry asked with a grin.
"Looking better than you! What's up Harry? You look like hell." Ron said bluntly.
"Ah, Hermione and Jack broke up, and I was on chick flick and ice cream duty most of the night." Harry said with a yawn.
"Is she ok?" Laurie asked in concern as she and Harry manoeuvred Ron's bandaged form to the sofa, and propped his leg on a cushion.
"I think so. She was a complete state at first, but I managed to get a few weak laughs out of her. She's still sleeping, that reminds me, I'm just going to let the Ministry know she won't be in today…" Harry said walking towards the fireplace.
"Ah Harry, you seriously might want to do something about your hair first. You don't want to think Hermione's not going in because she's hung-over." Laurie said with a smirk, and Harry self-consciously flattened his unruly hair down a bit and stuck his tongue out at the pair on the sofa.
By the time Hermione woke up hours later, Harry, Ron and Laurie were loudly playing card games in the living room and eating pizza from large cardboard boxes. She smiled as she heard their voices, though her smile faded slightly when she remembered why she's slept so late, and why her room was a complete mess, and there were cookie crumbs in her bed. She sighed and stumbled her way to her bathroom, climbing into the shower and then she grinned with delight when she remembered the sound proofing charm she'd placed on the shower cubicle. She reached out of the shower and slipped a cd into the portable cd player and soon she was singing to her hearts content, belting out `I will survive' and giggling to herself as she danced in her shower, singing into a shampoo bottle.
Hermione dragged herself out of the shower and back to the real world when the skin on her fingers began to wrinkle. With a sigh she returned t her bedroom and pulled on her favourite old worn and frayed jeans, with holes at the knee, and her favourite fleecy zip-up top. Not bothering to dry her hair she simply piled it up on top of her head and walked out into the living room to join the others.
Harry watched as Hermione entered the room and sat down on the floor next to Ron, checking on his ankle. She looked adorable in her battered jeans, her hair a mess of damp curls. Harry sat down next to Ron, behind Hermione who leant back against his legs as she tightened the bandage around his ankle. Laurie retrieved the rest of the pizza and with a flick of her wand reheated it and placed it on the table in front of Hermione who grinned at Laurie gratefully, grabbing a piece.
"So, Harry told you both?" She asked after eating a slice of pizza.
"Yep. I'm so sorry `Mione. I know he wasn't my favourite person, but I really wanted you to be happy." Ron said sincerely.
"Thanks Ron." She said softly, turning to smile up at her friend from her spot on the floor.
"So, what are we doing for the rest of the day while we're all here?" Laurie asked, lightening the mood.
"I think it's time for the next round of racing…" Ron said happily. Hermione groaned, but she smiled as Harry summoned the computer game controls from across the room. She loved playing racing games as much as the others, but it was tradition for her to moan, and for Ron to coerce her into playing, then being upset when she beat him.
Laurie and Hermione played the first round while Ron and Harry cheered them on, Harry absentmindedly removing the clip from Hermione's hair and gently running his fingers through her hair as they played.