Chapter 3 - Almost There
Dinner was very subdued. Ron could actually feel some tension in the air but did not mention it, as he looked from Harry and Hermione who were sitting right across each other at the dining table. Harry steals a glance when he thinks that Hermione is not looking at him, while Hermione does the same when he's not looking. What's wrong with these two? Ron's baffled thought asked. He just shrugged it off and continued with his third serving of pasta.
"You never did change, Ron," Hermione observed as Ron continued to eat his third serving.
"Chur' kukin' `s great `Ermyoni'," Ron attempted to say with his mouth full. (In English, "Your cooking is great, Hermione.)
Hermione just rolled her eyes at the exact same time that Harry did. Finally, their gazes landed on each other and upon realizing that, both stifled their giggles.
"Right, you're still the great eating-monster-Ron," Harry joked, his gaze still fixed on Hermione.
She's really pretty when she's smiling. Harry's gaze never wavering from Hermione. Wait! What in Merlin's world am I thinking? She is Hermione, Harry. Hermione Granger. Best Friend. Have you forgotten that?
Harry slightly shook his head and returned to his food. This is getting really weird. I shouldn't be feeling this.
CRACK!
"I think someone's here to see you, Ron," Hermione said. Then their front door opens.
"Hey, guys! Anyone home? Ronald? Are you here?"
"Luna! We're here at the kitchen!" Ron called. Luna, being Ron's girlfriend has access to the house anytime and has her own set of keys.
"Hi!" Luna greeted the Trio upon entering the kitchen. Luna changed a lot over the years as well; with her long dirty-blond hair and big, blue eyes, Luna has grown into a very lovely young woman, still the bright and intellectual Ravenclaw that she is. A bit "eccentric" but she wouldn't be Luna if not for her, well - unique ways.
"Hey, Luna. Join us for dinner," Hermione said while motioning for the empty chair across Ron. "So, how's the Quibbler going?"
A dreamy look came over Luna's face, as she sat down, "It's going brilliant, I say. I'm going on an excursion next weekend to the outskirts of Ireland for a first-hand look of the Horned Snorkacks. They're supposed to be endangered magical species, you know… I'm going to write about them next after proving that Nargles do exist…"
"Uh, yeah. Right. That's… that's great, Luna! Good luck on your… er… excursion," Hermione said, a bit baffled by what Luna said.
Ron, his head down, continued on wolfing down his dinner, the end of his ears a bit red. Harry continued on eating his dinner as well so as not to snort at what Luna just told them.
"Come on, Luna. Don't just sit there. Please, do eat. The pasta's not that bad. It's edible," Harry said, after a few minutes of silence lapsed.
SLAP!
"Oww! What'd you do that for?" he asked, looking at Hermione while rubbing his arm.
"You deserve that for insulting my well-made dinner! Hmph!" a smug look crossed Hermione's face.
This time, Ron snorted into his dinner.
SLAP!
"'Mione!"
"And that goes for you, too, Mr. Weasley!"
Luna giggled. "All right. I think I'm going to have a taste of this pasta that you made, Hermione. I don't want to be at the end of your… hand." She then helped herself to a helping of Hermione's pasta and, "Hmmm… It's good. Really good. I can't believe you guys just insulted this," she ogled Harry and Ron.
"Why, thank you, Luna. That's sweet of you," Hermione said smilingly.
A comfortable silence came over the quartet as they finished their dinner. After a while, Ron stood and stretched. "That was fantastic, `Mione. Sorry about a while ago. I was only joking. And like I said, you really cook great"
Hermione smiled as Ron went over to Luna, "I know, Ron. I know."
"Well, we're off for some coffee and a bit of nighttime stroll," Ron said, taking Luna's hand. "You guys wanna come?"
"Nah, I think I'll pass. I'll go sleep. Haven't had a decent one in a couple of days, you know," Harry said.
"I'll pass too. Seeing as I have to do a bit of cleaning here," Hermione said.
"All right, you two," Ron said heading for the door.
"Bye!" Luna called.
"Bye!" Hermione and Harry said in unison.
"Enjoy yourselves!" Hermione called.
"And you two, better behave yourselves!" Ron called. And then the sound of a door closing and two people apparating was heard.
Harry looked down while Hermione blushed. Harry noticed this though. Why would she blush?
Hermione started to clear off the table, avoiding looking at Harry. Why did I even blush at the thought of being left alone here with Harry? It's Harry, you moron. Harry Potter. Best friend. Get it? Best. Friend. Nothing more. She thought.
"You're not supposed to clean after dinner, you know," Harry spoke in a low voice then held Hermione's arm softly, to not let her carry on with what she's doing.
"And why is that?" Hermione snatched her arm away from Harry's grasp and walked over towards the counter to place in some of the dishes she already holds.
"Because…" She then turns towards Harry. "…you cooked dinner. When you do that, I, or Ron, should be the ones cleaning up," Harry said, looking straight at Hermione.
With a wave of his hand, the table was cleared and all the dishes were at the sink. With another wave of his hand, the dishes were sparkling clean and back in their cabinets. All the while Harry did this, his eyes never wavered from Hermione's.
Hermione sighed, finally breaking their eye contact. "I wish I could do that as well. Just wave my hand and everything's clean already."
"I could teach you. If you like…" Harry started walking slowly to where Hermione was.
"Yeah? But I read that it takes ages to learn wandless magic…" she said softly.
"It might. But not with you I suppose, you're a brilliant witch," Harry closed the gap between them. He's now standing right in front of Hermione.
"Really?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"Yeah, really…" he murmurs then leans his head forward.
Oh my God! Is he going to kiss me? Oh my God! Oh my God! He is! He's going to kiss me! He's really going to kiss me! Hermione's ramblings persist as Harry continues to lean in more.
Then…
CRACK!
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(A/N - I know, I know. There are probably some verb tenses that you might find here that are wrong. So if someone would offer to be my beta, then by all means - please email me. I'd love to have "help." For the meantime though, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! More to come! ;p)
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