Another update....nice and long....
Chapter 22: Hermione's Best Birthday
Harry and Ron were up early the next morning.... for them at least. Eight o'clock saw them eating breakfast in the Great Hall. After they finished, they bolted upstairs to say hello to Hermione. They had agreed earlier that they would not even mention that it was her birthday. When they had spent awhile with her, they decided that they had best be off to plan and wrap their presents before their afternoon class. After a hug goodbye they left. They didn't see the disappointed face of the girl they had left behind.
***
As Hermione watched Harry and Ron go through the curtain, letting it swish shut behind them, a tear rolled down her cheek. 'I can't believe they didn't remember my birthday. I don't really expect Ron to, but I thought Harry was a little more sensitive.' She sat back against her pillows and sighed.
Then almost as suddenly as he had left, Harry stormed back in and put his arms around her. As shocked as she was, she put her arms around his neck and waited for him to explain himself. Even as astounded as she was, she was aware of her heart picking up speed. She inhaled deeply. 'Mmmmm... he smells good.' As soon as she began to be comfortable, he pulled away, a slight flush in his cheeks.
"What's upsetting you, Hermione?"he asked.
She gave a nervous laugh. "Why would I be upset, Harry?"
"Well I dunno. That's why I was asking you."
"Why would you think that?"
"Well for one thing the ring around your picture is glowing in my necklace," he said, reaching down and opening the trifold locket. Hermione silently cursed herself for having given it to him.
"I guess I am. I should have listened to you when you told me not to eat that stuff and now.... well......and.....now I have all this makeup work," she finished hastily.
"Hermione, you only have about two days to make up...how hard could it be?" Harry asked.
"I don't know......you know me, I guess."
"Okay well, as long as you're okay now.... do you need anything?" Harry asked.
'You to kiss me!' her head screamed. 'Kiss me? He's my best friend! No that's too weird...' "Just a hug," she said aloud. He grinned. She leaned forward and he gave her a tight squeeze. As he pulled away, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.... a bit closer to his mouth than she intended. 'Oops,' she thought.
His face looked shocked, but he leaned back over and kissed as she had him, right next to her mouth. He pulled back a red flush creeping up his cheeks.
"See you later," he said, and left with a smile. Hermione beamed. Then her smile faded as she remembered that it was her birthday....and that no one would remember.
***
The first thing Ron noticed when Harry walked back out to the hall was the dreamy expression on his face.He decided not to say anything until they got back to their rooms to wrap their presents.
"So Harry, does she feel better?" Ron said slyly.
"Well I tried, but my amulet is still glowing. She thinks we've forgotten her birthday," Harry replied glumly.
"So why didn't you tell her that you're madly in love with her? That would have perked her right up-- been the best birthday present she ever got, don't you think?"
"RON!!! I am not 'madly in love' with Hermione!" Harry retorted.
"But you like her a bit, don't you?" Ron replied with a grin.
"She's my best friend!"
"It keeps coming back to that doesn't it? I'm almost positive she feels the same way!" Ron said, exasperated.
"Ron, will you please let it rest?" Harry countered, just as exasperated. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the key to his trunk.
"Fine," Ron said. "But I'm telling you--"
"RON!!!" Harry proceeded to unlock his trunk and find its most secret pocket, and produce a small velvet covered box.
"Oh so you aren't just going to tell her you like her, but you're going to propose?" Ron remarked sarcastically.
"Shut up. Look." He opened the box. Inside, on the plush, inky black velvet lay a perfectly cut green stone.
"You BOUGHT her an EMERALD?" Ron yelled.
"No you prat! It's like those....what d'you call them..... mood rings that Muggles have. Except this one works. See look."
He slipped it onto the end of his finger and waited. It was much too small to fit on his larger, rougher hand, but it still worked for him. It turned a sort of murky brownish-blue.
"Well that's a wonky cross now isn't it? What mood are you in, because it looks sort of like you're ill or something..." Ron said.
"You idiot. I'll show you." Harry picked up his wand, tapped the ring once and said, " Ringum technimortellus!" Out of the tip of his wand flew the murky brownish blue color of the ring, whose stone had turned white at the tap of his wand. It wove itself into the word, 'Excited' then vanished and wrote out, 'Confused'.
'Well not that we needed to ask that ring what mood you're in, but I'd say it works fairly well. Let's get a move on planning this thing eh?" Ron clapped Harry on the back, and they set off to work on the party.
***
"All right now, she's asleep, Ron... let's work fast. Everyone wait here. And be QUIET!" Harry said, while he ran out of the hospital wing. "Oh and I just wanted to tell you... don't say anything about her skin. It's still a bit green from that stuff so don't be weird when you see it? Alright?"
Everyone nodded. Harry nodded to Ron and they slipped quietly into Hermione's area. Soon streamers were flying out of the tip of Harry's wand and balloons were filling with air out of Ron's wand. Soon it was decorated and Ron ran out to get their friends while Harry turned round to wake Hermione as the boys and girls crowded around her bed.
They had not had many people come to their side when they announced in the common room that they were having a party, but they had everyone who mattered. Harry and Ron, of course, and then also, Neville, Ginny, Dean, Seamus, and even Lavender came. There were also a few of Hermione's roommates there, as well as a girl with long auburn hair and green eyes... one of Ginny's friends from Ravenclaw.
As they assembled, Harry barely touched Hermione before she woke up. He looked straight in her eyes and said, "Surprise!"
She looked around and gasped. The friends standing around her bed held out the bottles of butterbeer and pumpkin juice, candy and tarts. Ron appeared at the foot with a large chocolate baked by Dobby. Blue and yellow frosting socks danced across the top and down the sides. They cheered and the party began. Presents poured down from all sides. And soon her bed was littered with torn paper and gifts.
They celebrated for hours. Dumbledore even popped by for a moment to give her a gift-- a book of spells for healing all sorts of magical ailments. Lavender and Ginny, draped her in the jewelry they had given her and soon Ginny's friend, Rachel, spun her wand around and around to form a beautifully intricate tiara, and placed it on Hermione's head. At Hermione's questioning look, she said, "Don't worry, it'll disappear in a few hours." She smiled. Hermione smiled back.
"Like Cinderella,"Harry said. She turned and grinned at him instead. Their eyes locked.
"Cake time!" Ron called, breaking their gaze. Everyone had seen that look, then turned to their friends and smirked. They pushed Harry in next to her as Ron set the cake on her lap. Harry reached out to steady it.
"Make a wish," Dean said. She squeezed her eyes tight, then opened them and blew out the candles in one breath. Everyone cheered again. As Ron handed out cake to everyone, Harry turned to Hermione and said, "Now it will definitely come true...you blew them out in one breath." She giggled....nervously... he was so close to her again.
"Want some cake?" he asked with a smile.
"Sure," she replied. He left.
***
Soon after, everyone left. After the boys tidied up, Ron held up the remains of the enormous cake.
"I think Dobby and Winky would enjoy this, what do you think?"
"I agree," Harry and Hermione said at the same time. They laughed and then Ron left after saying goodbye to Hermione.
"Ro said this was all your idea Harry. Thank you so much.... I thought you both had forgotten my birthday!"
"Never," said Harry, smoothing her hair down. Hermione twiddled the tiara, which hadn't disappeared yet in her hands. Then she reached up and placed it on Harry's head. She giggled again.
"It looks good, Harry. Leave it," she said, still laughing as he reached up to take it off. He stopped, then adjusted it and posed for her.
"Do you really think so? I always thought Quidditch was for me but I guess maybe I could be a model." She laughed.
"Look Hermione... I didn't give you a present at the party...here it is." He produced the box and held it out. "For you."
She opened it and gasped. "Oh Harry! It's so pretty!" She slipped it on. He smiled and explained how it worked. She threw her arms around him.
"Thank you for the best birthday ever, Harry!" He flushed.
"Oh!" she said, startled.
"What?" he said.
"The tiara's gone."
"I guess that's my cue to leave then..." Harry stood.
"No, don't go!" Hermione said pleadingly. "Just stay until I fall asleep, okay? It's so lonely in here. Even the smallest shadows can become your worst nightmare in here." She stopped and they looked at each other. Then they burst out laughing.
"That was really corny Hermione!"
"I know," she giggled. As she came to a stop, she finished, "But it's true."
"Alright," Harry said, rather pleased that she didn't want him to go. She scooted over and he sat on her bed. In a daring moment, he put his arm around her and to his surprise she huddled right into his embrace.
"Hermione? What did you wish for?"
She looked up at him. "I can't tell. Then it won't come true."
He grinned. "Fine. Be that way."
"Don't worry. I will." Soon after when her breathing became even and she stopped moving, he gently moved her over. He tucked the blankets gently around her, and leaned in close.
"Happy birthday, Hermione," he whispered, then he leaned in, kissed her cheek softly and left silently.
The only patient in the hospital wing was still awake however, pondering how her birthday wish could ever come true unless she told her best friend what it was.