Chapter 13: The School Arrives
The next day, when Harry reappeared in the Great Hall, after finally persuading Madam Pomfrey that he was fine, he saw Hermione absentmindedly eating her breakfast at one end of the table all alone. He stood there, looking at her, not really knowing why but doing it anyways. And he wondered why oin the world she said that crazy thing last night about Lavender Brown. All of a sudden she caught his eye and waved. He waved back and began walking towards her.
At that moment, Dean stepped into stride with him, muttering, "Harry, just tell her that you like her and be done with it!"
Embarrassed, Harry said, " Who?"
"Hermione, you prat! I saw you gawking at her!" Dean replied.
"I don't. Hermione and I have been friends since first year." Harry said.
"I'm sure it would make her happy that you said it first! Everyone knows you like each other! Anyone who has eyes anyways!"
At that moment, Hermione ran up to them.
"Harry, I need to talk to you," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him away.
"Have fun, lover-boy!" Dean whispered. Harry glared at him, but that didn't stop Hermione from turning around and asking Harry what Dean said. Harry flushed and waved it off as something crazy.
"Now what is so important, Hermione?" Harry inquired.
"While I was tracing my family, I found out that I was related to Circe and the Lady of the Lake! Isn't that awesome?"
"Is that it? That's cool and all, but it sounded so important I thought you might have invented a self-spelling wand!"
"Yeah that's it. But I did one for you too and you're related to Hengist of Woodcroft and even a Muggle, Queen Elizabeth the First! I bet that's where you mum got her red hair! Oh and yes we are related to Merlin and Gryffindor," she replied.
"Were you in doubt? Why would Dumbledore tell us we were if we weren't?. I wonder what we're supposed to do now for the Order.
"Just sit and wait I guess," Hermione said.
The next week or so carried on much the same... putting barriers on the grounds... Dean and Seamus trying to convince Harry to tell Hermione, and Lavender (who had filled Parvati in) and Parvati trying to get Hermione to tell Harry, although both adamantly insisted that nothing was going on. Although Lavender and Parvati protested at the very thought when Hermione expressed her impression that Harry liked Lavender, Hermione still had thoughts that he might. Dumbledore didn't mention the Order again, so the two friends were still left in the dark. And then, they were all caught up in a rush when the rest of the school arrived. The Head Boy and Girl were in a frenzy, trying to organize passwords to all the House dormitories, Prefect rooms and offices. Then came the day when they all arrived.
***
This was the third Sorting that Harry had been to in his five years. He and Hermione anxiously awaited Ron's arrival, and then along with the other stream of fifth years they saw his red head, bobbing above everyone else's.
"Ron!" they both cried. They waved furiously and finally his long arm reached up and waved back. If possible, it seemed as though he had grown even taller, if possible over the summer. Although a flicker of a frown passed across his face when he saw them sitting so close together, it melted away when Hermione and Harry jumped up to greet him. Hermione hugged him and he grinned happily. They pulled apart and Harry shook hands with him. Harry and Hermione took their seats again, and looking disappointed that he wasn't sitting next to Hermione he crossed to the other side and plunked down in the seat there.
"Did you have fun in Romania, Ron?" Harry asked.
"Yeah! Did you learn a lot?" Hermione asked.
"Well, actually I did about that Chinese Fireball drag--" Ron started, but he was cut off by the line of first years filing in to be Sorted.
***
After the Sorting was complete, Ron and Harry became too engrossed in the food on their plates than discussing educational things. When the plates were cleared and the new teachers announced to the rest of the school, they began filing off to their respective dorms. Waving to Ron, Harry and Hermione headed to the front of the crowd to lead the first years to the common room. After most of the Gryffindors were settled, the other two prefects besides Harry and Hermione looked very tired, so the two friends offered to stay up to direct any stragglers to the correct dorm rooms. When they finally agreed, Harry and Hermione settled on the couch. Hermione looked tired as well, but she wouldn't leave Harry there by himself. They sat on the couch side by side as Harry listened to Hermione chatter on and on about her study schedule for O.W.L.s and the ones she had drawn up for them. She waved her wand to illustrate them into the air for him. He felt a little nauseous just looking at it. After a while, when the lecture came to an end, Hermione settled back on the couch with a pleased look on her face.They sat in a comfortable silence and after about thirty minutes of no one coming in (Hermione had fallen asleep about ten minutes before that), Harry decided to wake her and the could go to bed.
"Hermione?" he whispered. He touched her shoulder and immediately he saw her chocolate brown orbs open and glow spectacularly.
"Yes?" she said.
"It's time to go to bed."
"Okay, thanks." As he pulled her to her feet, and they stood there for a moment.
"Good night," he said, breaking the awkward gaze, and slowly walked up the stairs.
Hermione looked up after him and slowly walked to her own dormitory.
A/N: This definitely isn't my favorite chapter, but please bear with me, I'm revising my old one as I go.