The subject of Hogwarts' newest couple spread like wildfire throughout the school; apparently the news that Harry Potter was no longer single had dented the hopes of many 6th year girls. Harry, of course was amazed at this, and wasn't until Hermione assured him that he was the hottest guy in Hogwarts that he actually started to believe it. However, it seemed that Hermione had become the subject of many girls hatred, and had to live with insults thrown at her out of jealousy, but she maintained that it was all worth it.
"I get to go out with the cutest guy in school," she said, making Harry grin. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."
The news of their new relationship seemed to have reached even the staff, who all seemed to be thrilled, as Harry realised to his surprise one morning as he walked into the Great Hall hand in hand with Hermione. As he caught eyes with Hagrid to say 'Good Morning', he was greeted with a line of Professors, even McGonagall, all sticking their thumbs up at him and grinning broadly, Hagrid booming loudly "Knew it would 'appen, Harry! On'y a matter of time!" Harry grinned broadly and looked past Hagrid to Dumbledore, who was not sticking this thumbs up like the others, but wearing a calm, knowing smile, his blue eyes twinkling. Silently, he raised his glass and nodded to Harry, who grinned and nodded back.
Eventually sitting down at the Gryffindor table, they were accompanied by Ginny, who, like the rest of the Hall, had noticed the Staff display of approval. She was also grinning broadly, and took the seat opposite them, munching on a bit of toast.
"So, how's Hogwarts newest couple?"
Hermione laughed softly and helped herself to toast.
"You know, all this attention really isn't necessary…" she said, buttering her toast, though Harry could tell she didn't fully mean it. She enjoyed the attention really.
"I know, I know, but you know…" Ginny grinned and swallowed the last of her toast, leaning forwards to grab a new piece. "Harry Potter and all that, and people probably had bets on you as well…"
"What?" Harry dropped his piece of toast.
"Yeah," she continued, grabbing the butter. "We all knew it would happen eventually. Only people who couldn't see it was you two, and Ron, it seems. Though I think he's wised up a little now. Whatever you said to him, Harry, it seems to have done the trick…"
After a few more slices of toast, Ginny left them to it and strode over to the Ravenclaw table, where she joined Luna in a cup of tea. Hermione turned to Harry.
"What did you say to Ron, Harry? I haven't seen him since he yelled at me…"
"I… um…" Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely proud of what he said to Ron, whether it was true or not. However, there was also the pressing issue of having to tell Hermione too. Now that he had told Ron, in uncertain terms, he was sure that he would have to explain to Hermione too.
"Well, it's… kind of difficult. I can't really explain it here… I'll tell you later. Okay?"
"Okay…" she replied uncertainly, and finished her slice of toast. Turning back to him, she suddenly laid her head on his shoulder, smiling flirtingly, and before he could realise, she had snatched the last piece of toast right from under his nose, and stuck her tongue out at him.
The days lessons were spent happily holding hands under the tables and smiling at each other, and although they realised they were probably not being very discreet about it, the teachers didn't seem to mind at all. What surprised Harry the most was when he spotted Professor McGonagall blatantly seeing them looking at each other and holding hands under the table instead of listening, she did not reprimand them at all. She merely showed the faintest trace of a smile, and continued on with the lesson. Harry couldn't believe their luck.
The only downside to the day was the sight of Ron, sitting either behind them or in front in every lesson, on his own. It pained Harry to see Ron so dejected and lonely, but he was also still angry with him, and his anger still stretched further than his sympathy. Hermione, however merely ignored him. She too, was still upset with him.
At the end of the day, they finished their dinner in the Great Hall, ignoring the whispers and stares they were half-used to seeing by now, and made their way lazily through the corridors, hands linked. The weather outside was still summery and warm, and the sun had set a little to cast a warm pinkish glow over the castle. The light filtered in through the windows and over them both, as they slowly sauntered back to the common room, in no rush.
Hermione laughed softly as she looked out of the window at the setting sun, then turned to Harry, stopping them walking and taking both his hands.
"Sunset again." She said simply.
Harry smiled. Leaning forwards, he placed his lips over hers in a kiss that was more familiar now and less chaste. It wasn't an mind-numbing, overblown kiss; they didn't need to constantly kiss the living daylights out of each other to assert their relationship, though of course the idea was tempting. It was another sweet kiss, little more than the one Hermione had first given him on their date, but the feeling and intensity still remained.
Eventually they made it back to the common room, and climbing through the portrait hole, they were surprised to find it empty. Surely they hadn't been that long? They had stopped off a couple more times to resume kissing, but Harry was sure they hadn't taken this long to get back to the common room.
His thought were broken as Hermione led him over to the sofa, a cheeky, flirty grin firmly in place.
"Well, since no one's in here… we may as well take advantage of- EEP!"
She had made to pull him down onto the sofa, but found that the common room was not as empty as they originally thought. Ron was sitting adamantly on the scarlet coloured sofa, wearing a sour look and red ears.
Harry sighed, realising why the common room was so empty. Ron was almost equally as famous in the Gryffindor house as Harry was for their tempers. Obviously seeing Ron in a mood, which by the look on his face he was clearly in one, they would have naturally retreated as far away from him as possible. He didn't think that Ron's temper would have the power to clear a room though.
He didn't particularly want yet another fight with Ron, not after the great day he had spent. He was feeling far too relaxed and happy to let anything bring him down. Pulling Hermione away, he muttered; "Let's just go somewhere else, we can go for another walk."
"No."
They both looked down at Ron, surprised. His ears were still red and his face still sour. He looked as though he hadn't said anything at all.
"I want you to stay here," he said, still wearing the same look and staring straight ahead into nothing. "I want to talk to you, whether you want to talk to me or not."
Harry looked at Hermione. Her hazel eyes clearly said that she did not want to listen to Ron, and if he was honest, he also had misgivings. However, thinking that it was about time they gave Ron a chance to explain himself, he communicated this to Hermione with a look, and she sighed and flopped down on the opposite chair, Harry sitting gently down beside her, their hands still linked.
Ron sighed, ruffled. Obviously he hadn't expected them to stay. Harry felt a little annoyed.
"Well… uh…" He started, his cheeks growing red. Hermione gave an impatient huff. "I just… I wanted to say sorry, I guess."
Hermione looked slightly taken aback, and Harry looked on, surprised. He would have given Ron longer than this to see sense. Maybe what he said to Ron the other night had shocked him more than he thought…
"I know what I said wasn't right, Hermione, you know I don't think that way about you. Well, I hope you know…" he said, running his hands through his hair distractedly. Hermione's expression remained the same, yet her eyes narrowed slightly. "I was just jealous, I guess. Like I said, once again, Harry gets what I don't get. It's always been like that, and, well… with five brothers… you can see my point, can't you?"
He looked at them desperately, and Harry felt his anger ebb slightly. He looked at Hermione. Her expression had softened slightly, though her back still remained rigid and tense.
"So uh… I'm sorry, Hermione. I hope you can forgive me."
Hermione sighed.
"Of course I can forgive you, Ron. You forget how many years we've all been friends. You forget how well I know you and Harry. But you have to understand how much you hurt me, and at the moment, it still hurts. I know you didn't mean them, but they were still words, Ron, they still had meaning."
He nodded silently.
Harry relaxed a little, happy now that Ron had apologised. He felt better now that the air was somewhat clearer between the two of them. He snaked his arm around Hermione's back gently, and gave her a little squeeze, and felt her relax.
"So, yeah… that's… well…" Ron continued, obviously wanting to talk more but not really knowing how. Harry couldn't help but suppress a grin. Typical Ron. "I uh.. I wanted to say sorry to you too, Harry. After what you said… well, it scared me, I guess."
Hermione looked confused and opened her mouth to speak before Ron interrupted her.
"Please, let me get this out. I know how much danger you're in, Harry, don't think that I don't, I've been living in the Order's headquarters, I know how serious this is. I've almost lost my dad because of it, and my stupid, stuck-up prat of a brother. But, you scared me when you said those things… I am still your best mate… I hope…" he added, uncertainly. Harry nodded softly, and he continued. "Last term when we were in the Department of Mysteries, I know I wasn't much help, but I wanted to be. I wanted to be there fighting with you, because well… it was important to you, I guess… and as weird as this may sound… I care about you, you're like a brother to me. The thought of you dying… well… it's… not nice." he finished lamely, his cheeks blushing a faint red.
Hermione gave a gasp and Ron looked noiselessly at her. Harry also glanced at her with guilty eyes. Her pretty eyes were wide and shocked, and he felt her back go rigid. Ron was staring between the two of them uncertainly.
"Should… should I just go?"
"No, Ron."
Harry released Hermione, bringing his arm from around her to run a hand through his hair. They were both sitting silently, staring at him with expectant eyes, waiting. Inside, his stomach was squirming.
"I think you both ought to know this… it's only fair. But, please bear in mind that I've only just gotten over the idea myself."
He let out a resigned breath, and began to explain, his voice steady and determined.
"You know when we were at the Department of Mysteries? Lucius Malfoy kept going on about that Prophecy? Well, it was about me-"
"It might not have been, Harry, no one knew what it said." interrupted Hermione. "It had a question mark next to your name, it might not have been about you."
He gave her a wan smile, and continued.
"Well, there was one person who knew what it said; Dumbledore. He told me what it said."
He looked up at them, reading their expressions. Ron was merely sitting, his face expressionless, appearing as though he wanted to just listen and take it all in before judging how he should feel. Hermione however was on the edge of her seat, looking at him in expectation, her eyes urging him to carry on.
"It said… well… it's easier if I just say the whole of it. I have it memorised. It said: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And the Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives."
He glanced at them reluctantly, and his heart sank. Their reactions were exactly how he'd imagined.
Ron was motionless. His blue eyes held a heavy sort of sadness, and he was looking at Harry as if he'd never seen him before. His expression was one of complete disbelief. Harry felt even worse for making Ron feel this way again, when he'd done nothing wrong. However he felt even worse when he looked at Hermione.
Tears were streaking silently down her face, leaving trails along her cheeks, and her expression tugged at Harry's heartstrings and brought a lump to his throat. Her deep brown eyes filled with tears and were full of such sadness and pity that he had to look away.
Rising to his feet, he avoided both their eyes, a burning, prickling feeling growing in the corners of his own.
"I'm… going to go to bed. I'm sorry…"
He made to turn towards the stairs when Ron rose too. Still avoiding his eyes, Harry paused.
"Harry."
Finally, Harry looked up at Ron, and was shocked to see Ron's eyes filling with tears too. At that moment, he fully appreciated how much Ron meant to him, and he let the tears fall from his own eyes too.
With no trace of a blush, Ron took a step closer to him and pulled him into a hug. Surprised, Harry blinked, before forcefully wrapping his own arms around Ron, and they hugged tightly, both sniffling. After a moment or two, he felt two more arms around his back, and glanced over his shoulder to find Hermione crying silently into his jumper, her arms wrapped around his waist. He realised with small amusement how odd this must look; Him, Ron and Hermione all standing in the middle of the common room, hugging each other for dear life, all crying.
"We'll… We'll do this together, Harry," Hermione began, her voice breaking slightly. He felt Ron nod into his shoulder and gave a watery smile. "You won't have to do this alone… me and Ron… we'll be there with you."
"All the way," Ron added, with a squeeze, his voice muffled. "We're not going to let you do this alone, Harry."
Harry couldn't speak. A lump had formed in his throat at their words, but he felt sure they understood.