Harry awoke with a start, the throbbing in his right leg a reminder of the activities that had taken place only hours before. He had probably set the recovery of his leg back a few days with the exertion he had put it through but he couldn't have cared less. If it was possible for pain to feel good this was the time. It reminded him of the pain he felt waking up the morning after a particularly intense Quidditch practice. He would be stiff and sore but not really hurting…just worn out from pushing himself to the limit doing something he loved. And he had definitely been pushed to the limit doing something he loved, several times, the previous night. Hermione had been right. They had no idea where the evening was going to take them when they started but it had turned out perfectly. The only problem was he knew they would have to limit their activities in the immediate future somewhat if he ever wanted his leg to fully recover. But that was a problem for another day. There were two days remaining in his fabulous week and he was planning on living them to the fullest before coming back down to earth on Monday. He let out a groan as he slowly sat up, placed his feet on the floor and put on his shirt.
"Glad to see you finally decided to wake up," Hermione joked as she continued to get dressed. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Besides the fact that my leg feels like it's about to fall off I'm perfect," was all he could grunt out as he pulled himself up and hobbled across the floor to where she was standing. "How about you? How are you feeling?"
"Lovely. Different, but lovely," she softly replied.
Harry lightly grasped her shoulders from behind, looking at their reflection through the mirror she was using to get ready. "I know what you mean. I suppose last night changes everything."
She leaned back so she was resting against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "I certainly hope so." She glanced at the clock on her dresser and quickly stood back up. "Goodness Harry, look at the time. We need to hurry up if we want to get some breakfast."
"Right. I'll meet you in the common room in twenty minutes," he responded as he pulled the invisibility cloak over his head and walked toward the door so he could change clothes in his room. He was stopped by Hermione's voice.
"Harry, I thought you couldn't make it down the steps by yourself."
He'd been caught. His first request for Hermione's help last evening in Dumbledore's office was simply an excuse to hold her hand. Harry pulled the cloak off revealing a sheepish expression. "Umm would you believe I made a miraculous recovery?"
Hermione laughed as she realized what he had done. "You just wanted to hold my hand didn't you?"
"Well it worked didn't it?" was the only response he could come up with as he responded with a smile. "You didn't seem to mind either as I recall." The smile he received from Hermione spurred him to continue. "Besides, by the end of the day I'm fairly well worn out. I may need your help again tonight to go to bed."
Hermione walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't push your luck Potter. Now hurry up or we'll miss the food. I'm starving."
"Work up an appetite last night did you?"
She chuckled and bowed her head, slightly embarrassed. "I guess you could say that. Now get out of here. I'll see you in twenty minutes."
As he made his way up the steps to his room Harry wondered what he would find once he opened the door. Ron had looked as if he was becoming awfully friendly with Lavender and it appeared that anything was possible. He felt a tinge of disappointment as he reached the door and realized it was not locked. Harry feared that he would be teased mercilessly by Ron about where he had spent the night and was hoping to have some ammunition to fire back Ron's way. His hope was restored however as he saw the state of Ron's bed.
Ron had always been a very still sleeper. It was sometimes hard to tell that anyone had been sleeping in his bed after he got up in the morning because he moved so little while asleep. That was not the case this morning. Although Ron was alone in his bed it was quite clear that he had company earlier and they had been very active. One blanket had been thrown on the floor and the other blanket was crumpled in a corner of the bed, as if it were shoved out of the way quickly. And unlike the normal pajamas he wore this morning Ron was only wearing a pair of boxer shorts…backward. . "Looks like he made good use of the room last night," was all Harry could say as a smile overtook his face. Harry couldn't wait…he had to know what happened as soon as possible.
"Ronniekins," he murmured while nudging his roommate to wake him up.
Apparently Ron was in the middle of a dream most likely inspired by the events of last night. Instead of opening his eyes he responded to Harry's touch while still sleeping. "Mmmmm…that feels nice" was all Harry could make out of Ron's garbled response.
"This opportunity is too good to pass up," Harry thought as he continued the fun. "Ronnie can you hear me?" Harry whispered in his most feminine voice.
'Yes love," was Ron's reply as he turned over in his sleep.
Harry could hardly contain his laughter. "Do you love me Ronnie?"
"You know I do love now come back to bed."
"Before I do there's something I have to tell you."
Ron rolled over again, a sleepy smile on his face. "Mmmmm?"
"Ron I'm pregnant."
"That's wonderful love…now co-" was all that was said before Harry's last word broke through Ron's subconscious. His eyes snapped open and he bolted up in his bed, unsure of what had just happened. The sight of Harry now lying on the floor in hysterics did nothing to erase the confusion. As he became more awake the nocturnal conversation he had just had with Harry was replayed in his mind. "You bastard" was all he could say before he started laughing as well, launching a pillow at Harry.
Harry sat up and leaned his back against his own bed, somehow willing himself to stop laughing. "Now Ron is that any way to treat the mother of your child?"
Ron responded as he hurled his other pillow at Harry, connecting with his head. "I now have a horrid picture in my mind of you in a maternity dress, nine months pregnant with Ron Jr. I may never sleep again."
Ron's comment caused another wave of laughter in Harry before he was able to speak. "What happened in here last night Ron? Don't tell me you were alone because it is obvious you weren't."
Ron ran a hand through his hair and bowed his head. "I'll tell you but you probably won't believe it. Lavender seduced me Harry. She volunteered to help me up here last night and then attacked me. I woke up a couple of hours ago and she had already left. No note…nothing. She used me Harry. I was used."
A hesitant expression appeared on Harry's face as he spoke. "And how do you feel about that?"
The grin returned to Ron's face as he responded. "Bloody fantastic."
Harry buried his head in his hands. "You're a real romantic Ron. Sounds like you two were made for each other."
Ron pulled himself up from his bed and began getting dressed, grimacing slightly from the results of the summoning spell he had performed the previous night. "I think so too."
As he watched Ron pulling on his shirt Harry interjected. "Ron are you going to at least take a shower?"
Ron continued getting dressed and responded. "No time," he muttered as he walked in to the bathroom to brush his teeth. "I want to get down to breakfast and find Lavender."
After finishing in the bathroom Ron uttered a spell to tame his hair and began quickly walking toward the door. A thought struck him and he stopped. "I told you what happened up here last night. What exactly happened in Hermione's room?"
Harry's expression turned serious and he began speaking very quietly. "I'll tell you but you have to promise not to say anything to Hermione."
Harry thought Ron's neck was going to break from the furious nodding his head was now doing.
"We…"
Ron leaned forward, anticipating Harry's next words.
"We…"
A look of frustration grew as Ron waited for the payoff. "Well?"
"…studied Herbology."
"Right…if you're not going to tell me just say so Harry."
Harry began walking toward the bathroom and spoke. "I'm not going to tell you."
Ron chuckled and turned to leave. As he reached the doorway he stopped and spoke once more. "I'll see you at breakfast Harry. It really is good to have you back. We…I missed you."
Harry turned and smiled at his best friend. "I missed you to Ron. Now get out of here and go find your soul mate. I'll see you in a few minutes."
He wasn't sure how he did it but he managed to get showered and dressed in his remaining ten minutes and made it back to the common room on schedule. As expected Hermione had finished before him and was waiting for his arrival. He had worried that there would be a fair amount of awkwardness between them now that they had consummated their relationship…but there was absolutely none. Although it had never been acknowledged they had essentially been going out for a year. Neither had gone on a date with anyone else during that period and they spent virtually all of their free time together. They had just taken the next step last night. Her warm smile as she saw him coming down the steps and the equally warm feeling he felt in his chest as he saw her confirmed it. As he reached the bottom step he grabbed the hand that she held out for him and they began their quiet walk to the Great Hall.
Harry was glad they would be arriving late for breakfast. He had been treated like a celebrity for the last week and was hoping the Great Hall would be fairly deserted by the time they had arrived. Any time something had happened in the past that thrust him back into the spotlight their seemed to be an equal number praising and cursing him…but regardless of what side they were on they all had something to say. While getting dressed he had pondered sneaking down to the kitchens and eating in peace and quiet but thought better of it. "Best to get it over with," he thought. "Don't want people to think I'm avoiding them," although that's exactly what he wanted to do.
They had made it halfway to their destination when it occurred to Harry that they had not seen another student in the hallways. "Must be a Hogsmeade weekend," Harry thought as they continued their walk. As he started to ask Hermione he heard footsteps from behind.
"Excuse me," was all that was said as a student quickly brushed by, walking as fast as he could to get away from them. Harry recognized the voice and hair immediately. Malfoy. But it couldn't be. Malfoy had actually gone out of his way to avoid contact with Harry and seemed uncomfortable in his presence. No matter what had happened in the past Harry could count on Draco Malfoy to make a condescending remark…but not this morning.
"Wasn't that?" was all Harry could get out before he saw Hermione's sad nod answering his question.
"When you left the parents who had aligned themselves with Voldemort began calling their children to leave the school and come home. And it wasn't just Slytherins Harry. There were a fair amount from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw that left as well…even a few younger students from Gryffindor."
Her answer had only confused him more. "But what is he still doing here then?"
"He stayed Harry. Malfoy was the only one who was summoned that didn't go. He defied his parents and refused to leave. I've heard that he's been disowned by his father but I don't know if it's true."
She waited for her words to sink in and continued. "He hasn't spoken a word about it to anyone as far as I know. It's almost as if he's embarrassed."
They walked in silence as Harry turned the startling news around in his mind. He thought of how horrible it must feel to be ashamed of actually doing something so honorable. His mind drifted back to the past few days at the Ministry and the supposed pillars of society whose only real ambition was to gain more power and fame from Voldemort's defeat. Now he was confronted with the news that the person he thought had no redeeming qualities had sacrificed everything he had ever known to do what was right. Harry wondered if the surprises would ever end.
When they approached the doors to the Great Hall Hermione once again thought of Harry's hatred of all the attention he received and began to pull her hand away in an attempt to avoid further gossip. But she was stopped as Harry pulled her hand back with a gentle squeeze. "Not a chance," was all he said as he smiled and began to push the doors open.
Harry could feel his jaw drop as he realized that every student and faculty member was seated in the room. It appeared that everyone had remained so they could welcome him back. The hallways were empty because every student had arrived early at breakfast to make sure they didn't miss his arrival.
In the past when he had made one of these entrances, the chatter would increase immediately as everyone began talking about him. Whether it was negative or positive everyone had an opinion. But this morning was different. As he and Hermione walked through the doorway a silence fell over the room as all eyes turned his direction. The silence seemed to freeze him in place as his feet refused to move.
He wasn't sure whether it started at the Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw table but someone began to clap. Quickly everyone else joined in until the hall was alive with applause…and it wouldn't end. Eventually students started standing up as the noise seemed to invigorate the entire proceeding and soon everyone was on their feet. The sound seemed to feed on itself and grow in volume as all in attendance let go of the fears and anxieties they had held inside for so long. Harry turned to look at Hermione and realized that she had released her grip and stepped back so she could join in on the applause, stopping occasionally to wipe the tears that were now falling from her eyes.
Her tears weren't the only ones that were falling. He looked around the hall and found many students crying as they clapped. It was as if their emotions were trying to explode out of their bodies. His eyes turned to the Slytherin table to find that they were all standing and joining in the celebration as well. Malfoy was standing with the other students but his hands remained solemnly at his side. He seemed to be acknowledging Harry's feat while refusing to actively participate in the celebration. "He's lost too much to celebrate," Harry thought to himself as he felt Hermione's hand in his once again as she pulled him toward the Gryffindor table.
Dumbledore's earlier assessment had been correct. The gravity of what he had accomplished had not fully sunk in…until now. Harry was now surrounded by people whose lives were touched by his actions…and it wasn't just them. The people in that room had brothers, sisters, parents, friends…all profoundly affected by what he had done. "It's over," he thought to himself as he reached his seat across from Ron. "It's finally over."
Ron reached over and patted him on the shoulder, shouting so he could be heard above the noise. "You really know how to make an entrance Harry!"
A shrug of the shoulders and a smile was all Harry could manage as the raucous applause continued.
The applause didn't end until Dumbledore finally motioned for everyone to sit down. He surveyed the tables with his warm smile and began to speak. "More than a year ago I stood in front of many of you on a much more solemn occasion. One of our own had been lost and the future of our world was uncertain. I spoke that day of the need for all of us to remain united if we were to conquer the evil we faced. Everyone in this room today made a choice to stand against the darkness." His eyes turned toward the Slytherin table before continuing. "Some made this choice and have suffered greatly because of it. Today I wish to salute all of you for heeding my words that day. You chose to do what was right instead of what was easy and because of that we can celebrate this morning." Dumbledore's gaze then fell directly on Harry. "And finally I would like to thank Harry Potter. Mr. Potter's road in life has never been easy but the choices he has made along the way have always been right. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say thank you Harry. The gratitude in this room for your actions cannot be adequately put into words and I am wise enough to know I shouldn't try. Instead I will simply repeat those words one more time."
"Thank you."
After the applause had died down once again Albus Dumbledore's attention had returned back to his breakfast. His meal was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder by Minerva McGonagall.
"Albus," was all that was said as she pointed to the Gryffindor table. The scene that was being played out in front of his eyes brought a smile to the great wizard's face.
It was Harry, eating his breakfast with a smile and enjoying an animated conversation with Ron Weasley. His hand was being held by Hermione Granger who appeared to be sitting awfully close to Harry and grinning as she listened to her two best friends' discussion. He continued watching as Hermione rested her head on Harry's shoulder and he began gently rubbing her back.
"Have a good life Harry," Dumbledore spoke as he continued watching. "You've earned it."