Author's Note: Well this is it… the last chapter before my writers blocked kicked in. I wrote this so long ago now… feels like forever. You will be please to know, however, that I'm over the writer's block and have written half of the next chapter… it will take awhile though… this next week at work looks like hell. Thank to all my great reviewers and Jamie (TzAmZ, Tz) my darlink beta.
Reality TV is still evil.
Parvati's POV
I look up as Harry and Hermione slide into seats across from me. They nod hello to me before turning back to the conversation they had both seemed so wrapped in, leaving me to my thoughts and my food.
This mornings Transfiguration class had been mostly uneventful. Half of the class had been late for various reasons leaving Professor McGonagall with a rather sour disposition for the rest of the class. No punishments were given but no one dared put a foot out of line. McGonagall had drilled us all relentlessly on questions, which may come up on our NEWTs. I don't think I've ever left a lesson so exhausted.
I spent most of the lesson curiously watching the interaction of Harry and Hermione. Everyone had expected them to become a couple for so long and now that they were, I think we were all curious to see if it was as perfect as we thought it would be. I studied them for the entire lesson just looking for some sign that they were a couple but it appeared nothing had changed.
I don't know what I expected. They knew each other so well and were so close strangers often mistook it couple-age. Maybe I expected hands all over each other. Something definite that there was no question that they were a couple. I needed a sign that they were going to work. If they couldn't what was the point for the rest of us?
I bitterly stab at a piece of pasta on my plate, still lost in my thoughts.
"I don't think the pasta deserved that," a voice next to me chuckles. I look up to see Colin Creevy smirking at me mockingly, Ginny at his side. Ginny gives me a concerned look but doesn't say anything before they both take a seat.
"What is with everyone?" Colin questions in a cheery voice. It seemed strange to hear given the current mood of the castle. "It's like someone died or something."
Everyone around me stops and stares at Colin. I can't believe he just said that. I chance a glance at Hermione, checking to see if she heard. Unfortunately she did. I see her biting down desperately on her bottom lip. She's not going to cry, not if she can help it.
I look back to Colin and I see his eyes wide, a mixture of disbelief at himself and fear. I follow his sight line to see that he was staring at Harry. His jaw was tight and the icy glare that he was sending Colin was bone chilling.
"Excuse us," Harry announces stiffly. He stands and Hermione follows, Harry taking her hand lightly as they do so.
As soon as they are out of earshot I turn my attention back to Colin.
"Colin!" Ginny admonishes. "I can't believe you at times. Do you have two brain cells to rub together or are you just doing a good impersonation?"
"Hey," Colin defends himself, although he doesn't really have the right. "I didn't mean it. I just haven't mastered the art of thinking before I speak."
"Well master it already!" Ginny snaps back. He's really hit a sore spot with Ginny. I don't think I've seen her this riled up since Fred and George tried to string her underwear up on one of the statues… in fact I don't think I've seen Ginny this riled up.
"Oh yeah, and since when were you the mistress of tact?"
"I don't need this. Not from you. If I wanted to be ridiculed I would go see Draco." Ginny roughly pushes her chair back before storming out of the Great Hall, slamming the door behind her.
I stare at the door in shock for a second. "What the hell was that all about?" I ask completely stunned.
"No idea," Colin shrugs his face a mask. I get the impression that he knew a lot more than he was telling. His cold and closed look was a spooky change from his usually cheerful disposition.
Silence settles again. It had been such a strange day. It had been a strange week in fact. I would be scared if things had suddenly gone normal again.
In what seems to be a freaky game of revolving chairs Lavender slides into Hermione vacated chair.
"What are Harry and Hermione doing at the Hufflepuff table?" she asks. I look up shocked. I had just assumed they had both left the hall. Turning I look over my shoulder to find them both laughing with Ernie MacMillian and Hannah Abbott.
I shrug lightly turning back to find Lavender scanning the room. She won't admit it but I know she is looking for Ron. I know she's telling herself that she doesn't love him and it was for the best of both of them but I can see right through that smoke screen.
She's scared.
Quickly running my eyes over the Great Hall I spot Ron and hope to hell that Lavender doesn't. He's talking to a group of Ravenclaw girls in our year that I don't know that well. I don't think anyone in Gryffindor does. I quickly advert my eyes, hoping Lavender doesn't catch me when I see the girls burst into a fit of giggles at something Ron has said.
It seems strange for the Trio to be talking to people they don't know very well. They usually just stuck to their little group only letting a select few in. I think that was mostly because of the danger they constantly found themselves in and Harry's celebrity status.
A burst of giggles attracts my attention and looking down the table I'm surprised to see Draco flirting shamelessly with a group of Gryffindor Sixth Year girls he usually never gave the time of day. It was a little known fact that Draco preferred the challenge and the thrill of the chase rather than the definite score and these girls were the definition of slut. It was no secret that their main agenda was to sleep with either Harry or Draco or quite possibly both. They were under the delusion that an action like that would give them some kind of social status.
"Freaky," Lavender commented and I looked up to see her watching Draco too.
I turn back to watch them for a second and get a crazy idea that this very scene could have been the source of irritation for Ginny. I quickly dismiss that thought. Ginny having a thing for Draco was entirely preposterous. They couldn't be in the same room as the other for five minutes without arguing.
A light smirk dancing across his features Draco stands, saying a quick goodbye before he leaves. On cue the girls all dissolve into giggles. Unconsciously my eyes follow Draco as he leaves the hall; there was something different about him today. Maybe it was the fact that it was lunch and he was yet to make anyone cry.
I quickly avert my eyes as Draco approaches us. God knows the boy's ego doesn't need any more massaging. Casual as you please Draco leans over and grabs a piece of bread as he passes.
"Eight o'clock. DADA classroom," he mutters before calmly continuing on his way.
Lavender turns to me and we exchange a surprised look. Suddenly things were going extremely fast. The urgency I found surprising considering how relatively relaxed everyone had seemed last night; like they had an age to talk about it. I thought last night only happened to ensure we definitely had enough time to prepare. I breathe in deeply as the realisation that whatever was going to happen was going to happen soon, hits me.
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It's not long before I suddenly find that it's eight. Abandoning our homework Lavender and I rush down toward the Defence Against the Darks Arts room, desperately not wanting to be late. Slowly we open the door to, not sure what to expect on the other side.
The sight that greets us is comforting. From opposite sides of the room Ginny and Draco are glaring daggers at each other; obviously just finished with their last round. Neville, Dean and Seamus are milling around in the middle of the room, unsure what to do with themselves. Meanwhile Harry, Hermione and Ron had been joking around in the front of the room, not even looking up as we entered.
The sight of the three of them relaxed calms me somewhat. If they were not on edge there was no reason I should be.
Lav and I both take a seat near the boys, unsure what to do we just settle down, watching everyone else.
"Please `Mione," Ron starts to beg, the look on his face completely desperate. "I'll never ask again."
Hermione shoots him back a sceptical look but remains unwavered. "That's what you said the last time… And don't call me `Mione." Trying to steer the conversation away from homework, or rather Ron's lack thereof, Hermione turns to Harry. "You sure he said eight?"
Unfortunately Ron doesn't give up that easily. "But Harry does." Ron protests only to be on the receiving end of two glares; Harry's more amused than angry. Sighing Ron changes tact. "Usually I would ask Harry, but…"
Harry's light grin immediately fades and his glare at Ron becomes slightly more serious. Hermione immediately turns her attentions to Harry.
"Let me guess, you haven't done it either."
From his seat on the Professor's desk Harry uses his feet to pull Hermione closer to him. A lazy grin slides onto his features making me wonder how Hermione can stand in such close proximity to him without publicly jumping his bones. His reply is nonchalant.
"It's not like the intention wasn't there. I did plan to do it last night but…" An eyebrow quirk up and its obvious that Harry thinks he can talk his way out of this one, his grin quickly growing into a smirk.
"Like hell," Hermione scoffs. I'm amazed that she can be so composed after that. If it were me, I would be a stuttering mess by now. The slight pink tinge to her ears is the only clue that she knows what Harry is alluding to or that she is even aware she is being sweet-talked. "Unfortunately my stomach isn't up for the round of over the top flattery to come either so we'll just skip that. You can both borrow my notes but that's it."
Ron's face immediately breaks into a wide grin. "Thanks `Mione. You're the best."
Hermione smiles as Harry wraps his arms around her waist, turning her around with her back facing him and pulls her close. "I told you not to call me that." Hermione immediately leans back into Harry, her shoulder just millimetres from his chin. They both seem perfectly content.
Ron immediately rolls his eyes. "What? Would you prefer `Herms'?"
"Sure thing, Ronnikins."
Ron immediately pales. "You wouldn't?" Smirking Hermione nods slowly. Ron visibly swallows. "Point taken."
I immediately avert my eyes as Harry bows his head trailing kisses up Hermione's shoulder. After being witness to some serious public raunchy displays, strange how such a simple act makes me most uncomfortable.
"Harry!" Hermione admonishes with a squeal, pulling back, giving Harry a slight push. "Public."
Harry shrugs his shoulders sheepishly, obviously thinking he was doing nothing wrong. He opens his mouth to retort but the words never cross his lips; cut off by the piercing scream coming from Ginny.