Chapter Four
Girls Night
Hermione sat cross-legged sipping her hot chocolate listening as Lavender and the Patil twins giggled on about who knows what. She appreciated their gesture of inviting her but she couldn't say she was completely into it. Most of the time she had been there was spent glancing at the clock or off in her own world.
" I still can't get over that Weasley is marrying Luna! I mean she was always so....spacey" Padma giggled, resting her drink down onto the coffee table. This suddenly jerked Hermione away from her daydreams and back into reality. " Oh, I am sorry Hermione, is this a bad subject?"
" No, it's OK, really" she lied...sipping her drink. Parvati, who was seated on the sofa across from Hermione got up and sat beside her.
" We are sorry Hermione, we know you two were really close," she said in a sympathetic way. Lavender nodded in agreement.
" I always kind of thought that you two would end up together...that's what most people thought anyway..." she smiled.
This comment did nothing to cheer her up. Were they trying on purpose to make her feel lousy? Because if they were, they were doing a mighty fine job.
" Well...things happen" she mumbled, turning her head and staring into the fire that burned in the fireplace in front of her. Looking at her watch she noticed that it was already nine PM.
" I probably should get going" Hermione said, standing up and un-wrinkling her top.
" Are you sure?" Lavender said, " It is really dark out there."
" Yea, Hermione. Why don't you spend the night with us?" Parvati piped in.
Hermione laughed inwardly to herself. There was no way she wanted to spend the night with the three gossip queen's of England, seven years sleeping in the same room with them was enough for her.
" Er- no, sorry. I have to be up-er-early tomorrow" she lied, thinking up the best excuse she could think of off the top of her head. Getting up, she hugged her old roommates goodbye and thanked them inviting her over.
" I guess we'll see you at the wedding then?" Padma asked. Hermione plastered on a smile and nodded.
" Uh, yea...see you there." she replied, heading over to the coat rack and grabbing her light zip up sweater.
As she stepped out the front door she was met with a nice warm breeze. Taking a deep breath she made her way down the stone steps and headed towards the Burrow, which wasn't that far of a walk. Besides, she liked to walk. It gave her time to herself and to her thoughts.
Walking down the bare street she couldn't help but think back to Lavender's comment.
" I always kind of thought that you two would end up together...that's what most people thought anyway..."
Hermione let out a small sarcastic laugh as she thought of the way things turned out. Out of all people he was engaged to Luna...she couldn't get her mind away from that. This is a girl who believed in such rubbish. Her mind went back to sixth year when Ron would joke about her and think she was off her rocker. And now...he loved her and was marrying her.
Stepping into the Burrow she saw Ron sitting at the kitchen table alone and sipping a drink.
" What are you still doing up?" Hermione questioned, flipping on the kitchen light.
" I couldn't sleep," he admitted. " Where did you go today?"
Hermione shrugged and took a seat across from him. " Just did abit of shopping and went over to Lavender's...."
Ron's started to laugh at once.
" What?" she asked.
" Since when did you hang out with Lavender?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
" Oh...I ran into her in Hogsmeade and she invited me over to her place..That's about it. What about you? What did you do today?"
" Had quidditch practice then went out to dinner with Luna."
Hermione nodded her head and scanned the quiet room. There was that name again....Luna. It seemed like she was hearing it too much lately.
Silence then filled the room as niether of them knew what to say. Conversation certainly didn't flow as easily as it had before.
" So... have you heard from Harry today?"
" Not today, no. He probably got tied up at work...he mentioned he had an early meeting, why?."
" You know...it's been awhile since we have all hung out...you know, the three of us..."
Hermione nodded in agreement. " It has been awhile hasn't it?"
" Well, I was thinking...." Ron trailed off.
" Uh oh...not a good sign, Ron" Hermione teased, resting her head on her hand. Ron sent her a glare and continued on.
" I was thinking that maybe tomorrow we can just hang out....you know, like we use to."
Hermione's spirits instantly lifted. " I'd like that" she smiled.
" Great! I have Quidditch practice tomorrow but maybe we can all get together afterwards? I heard Hogsmeade is having a carnival tomorrow night, maybe we could all go check it out?"
" Sounds great. Ill try and get a hold of Harry tomorrow" she replied. Ron grinned and nodded, getting up out of the seat.
" Well, I should get to bed. I guess I'll see you tomorrow.," he said.
Hermione watched as he left the room. Tomorrow was going to be a good day...the three of them hanging out,just like old times...
Stepping into Hogsmeade the next night Hermione was overwhelmed with bright lights, big rides, and people everywhere. Never having been to a wizard carnival before she was quite amazed at how similar it looked to a muggle one. Coloured lights illuminated the village setting of a rainbow glow while in the centre stood what looked to be a ferris wheel, but instead of seats the passengers sat glass domes that were floating in the air by themselves, raising at least fifty feet.
" Hey, Hermy!"
" I wish you wouldn't call me that..." Hermione glared, watching as Harry approached her.
" But then I couldn't torture you with it" he replied. Leaning against entrance stand and casually stuffing his hands in his pockets, scanning his surroundings. " So, uh when is Ron suppose to be here?" he questioned, glancing back at Hermione, who was also searching the crowd.
" He said he'd meet us at the entrance..."
" Maybe he is running late?" Harry suggested.
Staying silent Hermione continued to scan the entrance way for any sign of their friend. Only thing she thought was that he'd better show up. It wasn't everyday that she got to hang out with just her two best friends like she use to. She had been looking forward to this ever since lastnight when Ron brought the idea up.
" Hey guys...sorry we're late. Practice ran longer than I expected.
Hermione was about to question what he meant by the word 'we're' when another familiar voice was heard.
" Ron, you need to buy me one of those everlasting cottan candy sticks!"
Pushing through the crowd Luna Lovegood came strolling up behind Ron, her usual dreamy look covering her face as she gazed around.
" Oh, hello" she smiled, looking at Harry and Hermione.
Hermione couldn't believe she was here! Wasn't it suppose to be just the three of them tonight?
"Luna...hi" she mumbled with little enthusiasm. This was going to be a long night.