Chapter Fifteen
Hermione concentrated on work for the rest of the week, she was almost grateful for a Goblin Pay dispute in Gringotts Bank for the distraction it gave her, despite the enormous workload it resulted in. By Friday night, she was exhausted, not simply from working hard, but from strenuously avoiding the train of thought her mind had been drawn to for the last four days. Harry and Ron had been spoiling her rotten and taking care of her, the three of them talking and laughing together. At times she would lapse into thoughtful silence as they sat eating dinner, talking, watching a film, and a few times she noticed Harry and Ron exchanging worried glances and felt guilt flood through her.
Her best friends thought she was heart-broken over Jack, which she wasn't. Yes, she missed him, but she missed more the idea of her former fiancée than anything, and then she was back into her train of thought, which seemed not to feature images of the end of her relationship with Jack but the way Harry had cared for her during the relationship and since the break-up. She had realised in the car that night that she could live without Jack, but she was now understood that could even live an empty life without Ron. Obviously nothing would ever be the same and she would miss him every day, but the earth-shattering discovery that was causing her to stare off into space with a dazed expression a slice of pizza halfway to her mouth; was that without Harry she couldn't go on. She wouldn't just be miserable; it would be like a Dementor had sucked out her soul. She wouldn't even be able to force herself out of bed in the morning if she knew Harry was no longer in her life…She knew deep down just what this revelation meant, but she wasn't quite ready to verbalise it, or completely acknowledge it. It was just so monumentous. It would change everything, how she looked at everything, and how she interpreted every word he said. She had always been incredibly close to Harry, but now she couldn't help but notice that when he walked into a room she couldn't help but smile, and when he winked at her teasingly as he so often did, she just wanted to wrap her arms around him.
As a result of all her pondering on the subject of Harry Potter, she was desperately trying not to be alone with him for too long, and gratefully extending all their time together as a trio, and encouraging Ron and Laurie to spend the majority of the week at the apartment. But as Hermione apparated back to the apartment late Friday night she was tense, her shoulders felt tight and she knew exactly why: Ron and Laurie had gone away for the weekend. She knew she was being selfish begrudging them their time together, especially as Ron had arranged a romantic weekend in Cornwall for his girlfriend, but she was, for the first time in her life, dreading spending time with Harry Potter.
She was surprised to see Harry's overnight bag lying on the sofa, and suddenly, and extremely irrationally she was upset that he was going away for the weekend though she had been dreading seeing him. She shook her head gently and silently cursed herself for being the kind of girl she had also been infuriated with at school for wanting men to be able to read their minds.
"Harry?" She called out uncertainly.
"'Mione! I'm glad you're home. We're going on a little trip." He said appearing from her own room. She gave him a quizzical look and walked through to her room to find that Harry was packing a bag for her.
"What are you up to Prongs?" She asked him in a teasing tone, seeing the Marauding expression in his eyes.
"I got an OWL today from France, and you wont believe who's getting married without telling us?" He said, opening Hermione's wardrobe and after a moments pause pulling out her favourite dress and matching shoes.
"What? He's getting married! Why didn't he tell us?" Hermione shouted in excitement.
"He didn't want to impose or something. I have no idea really, but Fleur found out from Olympe and knew that we'd all want to be there to surprise him. I've let Albus know and he's arranging a series of port keys from the Leaky Cauldron. I was about to come and get you from work. The Weasley's, Remus, Neville and everyone are meeting us at the pub, but I can't get hold of Ron. The Bugger went and chose this weekend to be smart and put a block on him and Laurie, I can't trace them. You're much better at charms than me, can you give it a go, as you know he'll be crushed to miss Hagrid's wedding. I'll finish packing." At the suspicious look she gave him he rolled his eyes.
"Please Hermione. How many times have I seen you pack? I'll pack all your favourite and appropriate things! Now come on, we don't want to be late for the engagement party tonight, the weddings in the morning." He said ushering her from the room as he headed to her bathroom and gathered things together.
Twenty minutes later Hermione had finally managed to trace Ron and Laurie and thankfully hadn't found them in a compromising position as she let them know about the wedding. They looked disappointed to cut their weekend short, but Ron looked happy about the wedding. Just as Harry and Hermione prepared to apparate to the Leaky Cauldron, Harry put his hand on Hermione's arm.
"Are you going to be ok `Mione? Being at the wedding?"
"I hadn't even thought about it!" Hermione said shocked. "I think I'll be fine Harry. I really couldn't be happier for Hagrid, and I know it wasn't meant to be with Jack. Just promise me we'll have some fun this weekend. Stick together?" She asked him with the puppy-dog eyes she knew he could never resist. He smiled at her and slung an arm around her shoulder.
"Of course! You can be my date for the weekend." He said with a wink as they disapparated.