Chapter 10: With Friends Like You
Harry, Hermione and Serena all turned around at once and stared at Parker's smiling face standing in the doorway they all spoke at once.
"You…I should've known!"
"Parker what are you doing here?"
"Parker, you sent the note."
Parker walked fully into the room and shut the door behind him. That pompous smile he was wearing never faltered. As he came and stood at the back of the settee he answered Serena and Hermione's questions.
"Yes I sent the note. I knew you fancied Potter, and I correctly surmised that you'd jump at the chance to be alone with him…and seeing that I was going to need proof of my claims to Hermione I used you. As to why I'm here its to set the two of you straight."
He pointed to Harry and Hermione. Harry bristled and ground out.
"Here to set us straight are you? I think you'll find that a bit hard to do once I've snapped your bleeding neck in half!!"
Parker grinned hugely as he held up a hand.
"You may want to save that violent energy until after you've heard what I have to say as I'm certain you'll want to channel it in…er…different directions."
Harry narrowed his eyes and bellowed.
"LIKE I GIVE A RAT'S ARSE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!!!"
Parker shrugged.
"Perchance you don't care about what I have to say but I'm sure Hermione wants some answers as to why her boyfriend was so eagerly kissing the lovely Ms. Chambers just a few moments ago."
"BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE WAS HERMIONE THANKS TO YOUR MEDDLING!!!"
Harry roared. Parker smiled indulgently as he clucked his tongue admonishingly and answered back.
"Shame on you Harry! How many girls do you go round kissing that you can't distinguish Hermione from the rest?"
Harry's face flamed with seething rage as he watched Parker's smirking face. He'd had enough of the prat's games and he told him so.
"I'M DONE LISTENING TO YOUR RUBBISH… YOU'RE AFTER HERMIONE…YOU JUST WANT TO CAUSE TROUBLE IS ALL!!!"
Parker shrugged again.
"I won't deny that I find Hermione very appealing…"
He paused as he gave Hermione an appraising look then continued.
"As do quite a few other wizards in this castle, yourself included…but unlike you my attraction to Ms. Granger is genuine…and not the sort produced from a potion."
Harry frowned and was about to knock Parker somewhere into the middle of the next millennia when Hermione spoke.
"Parker just spit it out…whatever it is you have to say, say it and be done!"
Parker raised an eyebrow and inclined his head courteously.
"Very well then. I orchestrated this little encounter between Harry and Serena because I knew you'd never take my word without proof…"
Harry cut in.
"Of course no one would take the word of a self-serving little shite like you…what were you trying to prove, eh…how big a bastard you are!?!"
Hermione replied in a terse annoyed fashion.
"Harry you're not helping…"
She then turned back to Parker and in the same voice asked.
"Exactly what would I need proof of?"
Parker intoned sanctimoniously.
"That Potter's feelings for you aren't genuine…and neither are yours for him…all this time the two of you have been carrying on it's been a farce from the very beginning."
Silence fell upon them and lasted a full minute. Harry looked at Parker in stunned disbelief. Hermione looked askance at him and queried.
"How do you know what's been going on between Harry and I and further to the point what makes you think you know anything about what either of us feels?"
"I've been following the pair of you for the last week…"
Harry yelled out "I KNEW IT" but Parker ignored him and continued on with his tale.
"I have seen you kissing during your late night patrols…ducking into empty classrooms groping one another…sneaking off to meet here…"
Hermione interposed.
"Why…what possible satisfaction could you gain from spying on Harry and I?"
Parker replied matter-of-factly.
"I needed to verify if the statements of your friends were true."
Hermione frowned.
"The statements of our friends…what statements?"
Parker continued.
"The week prior to my beginning my watching of the two of you I was doing some work in the library. While there I heard your friends and housemates…Ron and Ginny Weasley, Lavender Brown, Pavrati Patil, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom discussing what their next move should be in regards to the love potion that they'd been giving the two of you!"
Harry burst out laughing.
"What…a love potion…is that the best you can come up with Parker…a love potion…honestly!!"
Parker was non-pulsed by Harry's categorization of his declaration. He proceeded.
"I assure you that what I'm saying is true…they were sitting there…bold as brass laughing about getting the chance to see you two snogging in the Great Hall in front of everyone."
Hermione shook her head.
"Really Parker this is low even for you."
"I knew you wouldn't believe me…that's why I sent that note to Serena to prove to you that something was wrong with this whole thing. Surely Potter wouldn't kiss some other girl if he was in love with you?"
Hermione went rigid at those words. Harry could tell from the expression on her face that she was considering the validity of Parker's last statement. Quickly he spoke.
"Hermione I told you that I…"
Parker's voice drowned Harry's voice out.
"Think about it Hermione. How did all of this start…did you suddenly find him irresistible…did you look at him one day and just want to snog him senseless? Did you both start to feel this way around the same time? He hasn't been able to keep his hands off you has he and you've wondered why haven't you? Why just this morning you two were having a right nasty row weren't you…then right after breakfast you're holed up in an empty corridor nearly ripping each other's clothes off! You always seem to want him most after breakfast don't you!"
The last few weeks flashed through Hermione's mind as though they were on film set to play at top speed. She recalled the moment she'd looked at Harry and thought how handsome he was…it'd been at breakfast the morning of the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. Parker was right it had been extremely sudden that they'd developed this attraction to each other…and both she and Harry had admitted to wondering why things had changed so quickly. Hermione swallowed convulsively as her thoughts drifted to the events of that morning. She'd been livid with Harry and he had been furious with her as well, then they'd left the Great Hall and literally jumped each other's bones. Hermione's hand flew to her mouth as she whispered.
"Bloody hell!"
Harry who had been watching her intently said.
"Hermione you can't be taking this seriously…HE'S LYING!!"
Parker spoke again that smug smirk sneering at Harry as he said.
"No I'm not and Hermione knows it and deep down so do…"
Parker never finished his sentence because Harry had hurdled over the back of the settee and slammed his fist into Parker's mouth. Harry then tackled Parker to the floor pummeling him relentlessly. Harry was vaguely aware of a female voice screaming at him to stop but he didn't care the only thing he cared about was killing Parker…something he should have done ages ago. Harry tuned out all other sound he was only aware of the moans and grunts of pain his punches elicited from Parker. Suddenly Harry felt his body being thrown to the floor, he heard scrambling and Serena's face swam into view above him. She had her wand drawn, apparently she was responsible for halting his assault on Parker. Harry had forgotten Serena was even in the room he glanced around and saw Parker was crouched in a corner behind the open door, blood spurting from his nose and mouth, bruises beginning to show around his eyes and cheeks. Harry glanced about the room and realized that Hermione was no longer there. He clambered up from the floor and ran out the door without a backward glance.
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Ron was sitting on the couch in the Gryffindor common room idly watching Dean and Seamus playing a game of wizard's chest. Neville was sitting nearby pruning one of his charges from Professor Sprout. Ginny and Pavrati were talking and giggling about something that Ron was sure he'd rather not know the particulars of. Lavender was snuggled up next to him her head resting on his shoulder, reading the latest issue of Young Witch Weekly. Settling back against the couch Ron was about to ask Lavender what she was reading when the portrait hole burst open and Hermione strode through a murderous look on her face. She stared at them all in turn then shrieked.
"HOW LONG…HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT IT!!!!"
Several gasps and thuds could be heard around the room as the few Gryffindors not at dinner jerked about in surprise to see the cause of the commotion. Ron and Lavender sat up at the same time and Ron, running a hand through his flaming red hair responded.
"Pardon my asking but what are you talking about?"
Hermione narrowed her gaze and wailed.
"HOW LONG HAVE THE LOT OF YOU BEEN FEEDING HARRY AND I YOUR BLOODY LOVE POTION!!!!"
Dean and Seamus stared uneasily about the room. Ginny averted her eyes and Pavrati covered her open mouth with her hand. Neville trembled and whimpered audibly while Ron opened and closed his mouth uselessly. Lavender was the only one who seemed to remain composed. She got to her feet and went to stand by Hermione. She placed a hand on her arm and asked.
"Herms are you all right…"
Hermione snatched away and practically spat her words out.
"Don't touch me and don't you dare pretend you don't know what I'm talking about…I know that the lot of you cooked up a love potion and have been feeding it to Harry and I every morning since the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw…what I don't know is why!!!"
Seamus expelled an awe-struck breath and said.
"Bloody Nora she's even sussed out the day we started…OUCH!!!"
Pavrati whacked Seamus in the back of the head with Neville's Herbology text and hissed.
"She hadn't sussed out a bloody thing for certain until you opened your fat, stupid mouth!"
Ron scrubbed his face with his open palm and rose to his feet he took a tentative step towards Hermione and said.
"Hermione I don't know how you found out but it technically wasn't a love potion…we didn't alter your emotions or anything we just got you to act on them…"
"You what?"
Eight heads swiveled around at the sound of Harry's quiet voice as he stepped through the portrait hole into the common room. Ron gulped, he much preferred angry bellowing Harry to angry quiet Harry, you stood a much better chance of survival with the former as he generally tired himself out with all the ranting and raving he did. Harry continued in that maddeningly calm tone.
"You've actually been giving us a love potion…why?"
Ginny scrambled to her feet and jumped in.
"It was not a love potion…"
Ron cut across his sister and said.
"We could look at you two and see that you cared for each other as more than friends but for whatever reason you were too scared to act on your feelings. So we made a potion to get you together…it was the Scintillatus Solution…it only made you do what you already wanted to do!"
Hermione shook her head forcefully.
"Rubbish…whatever you've been giving us was no Scintillatus Solution…it can't have been…if it had been Harry certainly wouldn't have been snogging Serena Chambers just now!!"
At those words Lavender gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Ron looked at her and immediately recognized the expression on her face as one of guilt. Gritting his teeth he asked.
"Lavender Camille Brown, what did you do?"
Lavender flinched at the sound of her full given name. She bit her lip and replied in a small voice.
"I changed the recipe a bit…I…I added some other things to the potion."
"What other things?"
"Just some other plants to heighten the senses…so they'd be more aware of each other and…and…an aphrodisiac."
"An aphro-what?"
"An aphrodisiac."
Ron frowned.
"What's an aphrodisiac?!"
Hermione supplied the answer.
"An additive to get someone all hot and bothered!!"
Ron stared incredulously at Lavender.
"You mean to say that all this time we've actually been giving them a love potion!!"
Lavender nodded weakly. Ron flew into a rage.
"AFTER WE EXPRESSLY SAID WE WOULDN'T MESS WITH THEIR EMOTIONS YOU WENT AND DID IT ANYWAY!!!!"
Lavender bowed her head and whimpered.
"I only wanted to push them along a little!"
Ron bellowed.
"OH REALLY…A LITTLE PUSH WAS IT…"
Hermione gulped in huge breaths of air and stumbled blindly into a chair as she backed away from Ron and Lavender. Harry rushed to her side and attempted to steady her but she batted his hands away and said.
"No…Harry…don't…"
Her mind reeled as she accepted the truth of what had really gone on between she and Harry…it hadn't been real…none of it. An image of she and Harry together in the throes of passion exploded across her brain…it hadn't been real…he never would have wanted her if it hadn't been for that damned potion. A quivering sob erupted from Hermione, Harry reached for her again softly calling her name but she shook her head adamantly as she turned on her heal and dashed up the stairs tears coursing down her cheeks. Ron and Lavender had fallen silent. They all watched as Hermione fled the room leaving Harry standing in the middle of the common room with his head bowed and his fists clinched. Ron called to him.
"Harry I'm sorry…I never meant for this to happen…I never agreed to adding those things…I never agreed to making any out and out love potion…"
Harry interjected coldly.
"Oh you never agreed to making an out and out love potion but you had no trouble feeding us some solution that was designed to push us into doing something we didn't want! Never lost a moment of sleep over that did you!!"
Ron who was still attempting to explain went quiet and hung his head. Harry glared at the others and ground out.
"With friends like you lot around to ruin my bloody life who the hell needs Voldemort!!"
In the ringing silence that greeted his words Harry turned and stalked out the portrait hole.
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Ron and Lavender were sitting in the common room talking quietly and waiting for Harry when the portrait hole opened. It was just after midnight when Harry returned carrying what looked like one of the doomed serving platters that covered the house tables in the Great Hall; a large basket was dangling beneath the platter. Upon seeing Ron and Lavender lying in wait by the fire Harry quickened his pace and lengthened his stride. Lavender jumped up from her seat and hurried over to stand in front of the boy's staircase effectively blocking Harry's means of escape. She looked up into his emerald eyes pleadingly and said.
"Harry…please…I know you're upset…you have every right to be…and if you never speak to us again you'd be more than justified…but could you at least let us explain."
Harry shifted on his feet as if considering what Lavender had just said. After several moments of tense silence he replied.
"I really don't see what more there is to explain. The lot of you thought it'd be great fun to watch Hermione and me run round like a pair of love struck twits. What more is there to it than that?"
Ron had gotten to his feet and joined them at some point, though when Harry wasn't sure.
"It wasn't like that mate…we weren't trying to take the mickey…we were trying the help."
Harry shifted his gaze to Ron and inquired.
"Help, you were trying to help. Tell me how does drugging us and altering our perceptions of reality help us…hmmm…exactly how does that work?"
Ron answered quickly.
"It wasn't supposed to alter your perception, that's not how the potion works. It only makes you more open to things you normally wouldn't want to do…"
Harry cut in angrily.
"How the hell is making me susceptible to doing something I don't want to do not messing with my perception of reality?!"
Ron opened his mouth but failed to produce a reasonable answer to Harry's question. Harry continued ranting.
"I mean you all had no idea what effect that potion could have had on us and you still gave it to us without one bit of concern for our safety or our sanity!!"
Ron shook his head and said.
"That's not true we checked and double checked everything before we made it."
Lavender reinserted himself into the conversation.
"Harry we really did think we were helping you two. We never meant to hurt anyone."
Harry sighed and spoke in a soft wounded voice.
"Well you didn't and you did."
Harry brushed past Lavender and disappeared up the stairs leading to the dormitory.
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Harry strode through the portrait hole and drew up short at the sight that greeted him. Hermione was sitting on the couch before the blazing fire wrapped in a scarlet and gold Gryffindor afghan, a scroll of parchment perched on her lap. Hermione looked up from the letter she'd been reading and softly said.
"Hello."
Her voice was low and croaky and sounded as though she'd done a good bit of crying he reckoned all the yelling she'd done earlier had contributed to it as well. Harry replied awkwardly.
"Ummm…hi…how…how're you feeling?"
"All right I guess."
Harry nodded.
"You didn't come down for dinner. I thought you might be hungry so I brought you something up. I wasn't sure what you wanted so I brought a little of everything…Sheperd's pie, stew and rolls, roast chicken and potatoes and parsnips, apple pie and…"
Harry was rambling mindlessly about the food he'd brought…a sure sign that he was nervous. If his hands weren't full he'd be running his fingers through the thick untidy locks of raven hair that adorned his head. As Hermione watched him a sudden vision of she and Harry locked in a passionate embrace greedily lapping up the tastes of each other's mouths; their hands tangled in each other's hair rose to the surface of her mind unbidden. She quickly shook herself to clear her head of the lurid thoughts parading around in her psyche and said.
"Thank you that was very thoughtful of you."
Harry halted his recitation of the food items he'd brought and nodded again. He set the platter and basket down on the coffee table and lifting the tops of each he went about placing the items he'd brought for Hermione onto the table. When he finished he straightened himself up and heaving a cross between a sigh and a grunt said.
"Well I'll leave you to it then."
Hermione stared at the food on the table and took note of the fact that there was far too much food for her to eat alone. She took a deep breath and called out to him.
"Harry, have you eaten?"
He stopped and answered without turning around.
"No."
Hermione closed her eyes and took another deep breath and said.
"You're welcome to join me."
She paused then quickly added.
"I'd appreciate the company."
Harry turned around then and with his third nod of the night slowly walked back into the small common room they shared and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. Hermione busied herself by loading two plates with a bit of everything on the table before her. She handed one of the plates to Harry and they sat in silence eating their way through the delicious meal that Harry had undoubtedly procured from the house elves in the kitchens below. After they had eaten the last of the apple pie and washed it all down with a butterbeer each Hermione cleared away the dishes while Harry produced a bottle of meade and poured two glasses of the amber colored liquid handing one to Hermione. She accepted and took a generous sip; Harry did the same. As Hermione raised her glass to her lips a second time Harry said.
"I'm sorry."
Hermione stared at him perplexedly.
"What are you sorry for?"
Harry sipped his drink and responded.
"For this afternoon. That whole thing with Serena and Parker…and…and for what Ron and Lavender and the rest of that lot dragged you into."
Hermione set down her glass and said.
"Harry you have no need to apologize. You were just as much a victim in all of this as I was. You couldn't help what happened. You didn't even know it was happening!"
"Still I feel like its my fault you've been put through all this and I…I…I just don't know how you feel about what we've done or if we're still friends or not…"
Hermione cut across him.
"Of course we're still friends. As for what we've done…th…that was the potion…so…"
Her voice trailed off and Harry nodded to show he understood. Following a few moments quiet he asked.
"Its hard for you being around me now isn't it."
Hermione nodded.
"Yes, I imagine it's a bit awkward for you too."
Harry took another swallow of meade.
"Yeah…I keep wanting to…to…to touch you…"
"That'll be the after affects of the potion. It'll take some time for it to run out of our systems considering how long they plied us with the stuff."
Harry nodded absently as he stared into the fire.
"So long as we're alright."
"We are. And don't worry Harry, things will get back to normal soon enough."
Harry nodded again as he refilled both their glasses of meade and resumed his staring at the fire. Hermione studied his profile for a moment before turning her gaze to the letter on her lap and staring blankly at the words looping and swirling across the parchment.
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The days following the revelation that their amorous behavior of the past month and a half had been the result of a potion-induced haze were difficult for Harry and Hermione. True to Hogwarts fashion by breakfast the next morning the entire castle knew about what had happened in the Room of Requirement and that Harry and Hermione were said to have been given some sort of a potion by their friends. Hermione had expected to endure a great deal of questioning stares and whispered accusations but that was not the case. Draco Malfoy had made the grievous error of shouting out something unflattering about Hermione and had landed himself in hospital in a bed next to Parker Wesley after Harry hexed him viciously. Harry went on to make it abundantly clear that anyone…male or female who so much as gave the impression of discussing the subject would have to answer to him. With two people already in hospital after broaching the subject no one else brought it up within earshot of Harry or Hermione.
Quite naturally Harry and Hermione were not speaking to Ron, Ginny or any of their other friends. They were both still extremely angry over what'd they done. However that didn't stop the seven from trying to make amends. Ginny, Pavrati and Lavender had cornered Hermione in the loo the morning after and explained in detail what they'd done. They told her how they'd done it and how sorry they were for having done it. Hermione stopped listening after she found out that she had been the one to sort the daft bunch of twits out on which potion to use and why. She'd been so angry that she had unhinged the stall door and blasted it across the room with wandless magic. Despite nearly being involuntarily hexed the girls continued their attempts to make peace.
Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville were not as lucky. They too had cornered Harry in the main common room and attempted to talk with him. Harry however never let them start. He magically sealed their lips and stuck them to the ceiling with a sticking charm before heading off to breakfast. They'd been stuck there until Ginny, Lavender and Pavrati had come downstairs and freed them. Following that debacle Neville, Seamus and Dean had steered clear of Harry but Ron had continued to try and get through to both he and Hermione with no luck. Hermione and Harry stopped spending time in the main common room and they refused to sit with Ron and the others during mealtimes and in lessons. They even refused to speak to them. To ensure that she needn't speak to Ron and Ginny when assigning prefect duties Hermione had resorted to handing out memos; whereas during Quidditch practices Harry referred to them in surly tones as "the keeper" and "the chaser".
Outwardly the duo seemed to be carrying on as usual. They still patrolled together, sat together in lessons and generally behaved as they always had though without the familiar touching that had once been a regular occurrence between them. There was a distinct air of uneasiness in their relationship now. Besides their inability to touch one another there was also a clear strain between them as well. Their conversations were few and when they did happen they consisted of monosyllabic responses and long awkward pauses. They rarely looked each other in the eye and spent most of their free time cloistered in the bedrooms of their shared dormitory.
Apparently the after affects of the potion hadn't fully worn off as they often found themselves gazing longingly at each other. On one occasion Hermione had walked out her bedroom door and run right into Harry, who had just come from Quidditch practice. He was shirtless and drenched in sweat, wearing those rather form fitting Quidditch trousers that hugged his bum perfectly. She apologized then ran off to take a cold shower to rid her body of the intense reaction of finding itself once again wrapped in Harry's arms and pressed against his well-sculpted body. Harry was having similar difficulties. He was finding it difficult to live in such close quarters with Hermione nowadays. He wondered if she'd walked around since the start of term exposing so much skin. And if she had how in the name of Merlin, Circe and Morganna had he stood it? Most nights Harry found himself lying in bed thinking of how he'd much rather be across the hall curled up next to a certain witch than sleeping all alone in his own bed.
Harry was drawn from his thoughts by the sound of the bell signaling the change of classes. Harry collected his things and stowing them in his bag headed for Potions. More out of habit than a desire to do so Harry ambled into the Ancient Runes corridor and took up his usual spot besides the door and waited for Hermione to appear. Harry allowed his mind to drift again as he waited and was shocked to find Serena Chambers tugging gently on the sleeve of his robes.
"Hi Harry."
Harry inclined his head and said quietly.
"Hello."
"I haven't seen you much this past week."
Harry shrugged.
"Been busy."
Serena nodded.
"I'm sorry about hexing you the other day but I was afraid you might kill Parker if you went on and I didn't want you to get into trouble."
Harry grunted in reply. Serena took that as a good enough sign to continue and kept speaking.
"I'm also sorry about causing problems with you and Hermione…I just thought that the note was from you and…"
Harry cut in.
"Don't worry about it you didn't know."
Serena nodded.
"Good. I'm glad you're not angry with me."
Harry grunted again and Serena took a deep breath and asked.
"There's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up soon. I thought that maybe if you're not busy we could go together?"
At that precise moment Hermione walked up and there was an anxious moment as her eyes connected with Harry's. Serena turned around and upon seeing Hermione barely concealed her displeasure. Hermione smiled weakly and said.
"Hello Serena."
Serena replied in a falsely sweet voice.
"Hello Hermione."
Hermione turned her eyes to Harry again and said.
"I'll save you a seat in Potions."
With that said she turned and rushed down the corridor towards the dungeons. Serena smiled in earnest as Hermione departed and turning back to Harry asked.
"So what do you think about going into Hogsmeade with me?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair then responded.
"Ummm…look…Serena you're a nice girl. You're smart and really pretty…and any bloke would be lucky to have you on his arm…"
Serena's smile brightened.
"But you're wasting your time where I'm concerned…"
Serena's face fell.
"I'm just not interested…sorry."
Harry inclined his head as a farewell then strode off down the corridor after Hermione. He caught up with her about halfway along. He called out her name and she turned around. When he was standing right in front of her he asked.
"Are you all right?"
Hermione nodded shakily and said.
"Of course why wouldn't I be?"
"Well you seemed a bit off kilter back there."
"Oh…I just thought you and Serena might fancy a bit of privacy."
Harry nodded.
"Oh that…you didn't have to leave it was no big deal."
It was Hermione's turn to nod.
"I just thought…it was a bit awkward…so I thought it best to leave…"
Hermione paused then asked.
"So are you going to go with her to Hogsmeade?"
Harry shook his head.
"Told her I wasn't interested."
Hermione quirked an eyebrow and asked.
"You were nice weren't you…you kept her feelings in mind."
Harry chuckled.
"I told her she was smart and pretty…in that order…and that any bloke would be lucky to have but that bloke wasn't me…nice enough for you?"
Hermione chewed her lip and answered back.
"I suppose."
Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and linking his fingers through hers said.
"Come on otherwise we'll be late for Potions."
And with that said they ran pell-mell down the corridor to Snape's dungeon hand in hand.
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After Harry declined Serena's invitation to Hogsmeade things seemed to really return to normal between he and Hermione. They got over their awkwardness with one another and silently agreed to put their actions of the last six weeks out of their minds. By the end of that first week it was almost as though nothing had happened at all. They had even made the first attempts at reconciliation with their friends. While they weren't quite ready to forgive and forget they were speaking to them in civil enough tones and they had refrained for exiting any room they entered. Ron and the others took this behavior as a very hopeful sign and where careful not to do anything that may create a regression. Midway through the second week Harry and Hermione was seated at a back table in the library working on their latest Transfiguration essay when Ron and Lavender appeared. Ron cleared his throat and spoke.
"Hi…ummm…we don't want to disturb you two or anything but we need someplace to sit and work on our essays and everywhere else is full."
Neither Harry or Hermione looked up. Harry lazily raised his wand; Ron flinched, and summoned his and Hermione's schoolbags from the chairs across from them and resumed his writing. Lavender hastily sat down and gestured for Ron to do the same. There was a moment when the sound of Hermione and Harry's scratching quills was overshadowed by the sound of scraping chairs, texts thudding on tables and the soft unfurling of rolls of parchment. Ron was fumbling around in his schoolbag a harassed expression covering his face, he muttered under his breath.
"Where's my bleeding quill?"
Hermione reached into her bag without looking up from the page she was reading and tossed him one of the extra quills she always carried in her bag. Ron looked up and picked up the quill lying atop his essay and said.
"Thanks."
Hermione replied easily.
"You're welcome."
Lavender eyed both Harry and Hermione intensely then asked.
"Why are you two being so nice to us?"
Harry replied with a question of his own.
"Would you rather we hexed you?"
Lavender responded quickly.
"No! I just thought that you weren't ready to forgive just yet."
Hermione looked up and said.
"There isn't much point in holding out is there. What's done is done. However misguided you were, we honestly believe you thought you were helping. And as being angry isn't doing any of us any good we've decided to forgive you."
Ron piped up.
"Really?!"
Harry nodded.
"Yes really, but if you ever do something stupid like that again I'll kill you."
Ron grinned hugely and replied.
"Don't worry I'm done with matchmaking and I'll see to it that Ms. Brown stays shut of it as well!"
Hermione smiled.
"Good."
Ron smiled in return then picked up his essay and Transfiguration book and shoved them towards Hermione and said.
"Now that we've properly made up could you please explain to me what the bloody hell all this rubbish McGonagall's been going on about means!!"
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