Chapter 12: A Hogsmeade Saturday
Harry and Hermione's out in the open row during Magical Theory was the talk of the castle for several days. This was mainly because of the fact that it confirmed the rumor that had been buzzing round the castle that Harry and Hermione had in fact been a couple of some sorts. As a result of this Parker Wesley and Serena Chambers, who it was rumored were at the heart of the apparent break-up between Harry and Hermione, had become somewhat of minor celebrities round the castle as people were curious to find out what had gone on among the improbable foursome. However, Parker and Serena were unusually tight-lipped about the entire affair choosing to keep mum about their roles in the Harry/Hermione saga. They kept themselves quite distanced from the pair as well as any talk about them. Ron suspected Parker's quiet was fueled by a strong desire not to end up in hospital again. Clearly Hermione's hexing and Harry's poundings were taking a toll on him. As for Serena's reason for remaining quiet Ron had no idea. Although Pavrati had heard from her twin sister Padma who was in Ravenclaw that a week or so before the incident between Harry and Hermione in Magical Theory Serena had come back to the dorm in tears and that for days afterward the mere mention of the name Harry would send her into floods.
Professor McGonagall had been beside herself with rage when Professor Thompkins had traipsed into her office with the Head Boy and Girl in tow and recounted how they had behaved in the middle of the lesson. While McGonagall tactfully refrained from mentioning the rumors bandying about the turreted fortress that was Hogwarts she made it clear to both Hermione and Harry that the Head Boy and Girl were expected to set better examples for the rest of the student body than what they were presently doing. She also informed them that any further such behavior on either of their parts would result in the unprecedented stripping of badges. McGonagall hinted that if this were to occur the badges would be given over to Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy. This proved to be a highly distressing thought to Hermione and Harry who would rather shag Filch and Madam Pince respectively than allow the Slytherins to gain the heads positions.
As punishment for what she termed their `outlandishly unacceptable behavior' McGonagall set them extra patrols after midnight to be carried out together. She reckoned they needed to learn how to get along whatever their differences. To make sure there was no repeats of their previous screaming performance they had to conduct the patrols along with Filch. McGonagall also required them to make themselves available to any teacher or staff member who needed their assistance during their unoccupied time. Snape was particularly nasty about calling on Harry during his breaks between lessons. He'd call him down to the dungeons and make him muck out cauldrons and pickle slugs and whatever other slimy task he could think of. On several occasions Filch had even summoned Harry to assist him in cleaning up the disarray caused by Fred and George's latest creation Mischief Maker's Marvelous Magical Mess…which unfortunately for Harry did exactly what it promised…made a spectacular mess that could only be removed by thoroughly muggle means i.e. no magic, the latter only served to spread the mess around. As a result of this Harry had threatened anyone caught using Magical Mess with a private consultation between he and his wand in the Room of Requirement (a move that pleased Filch to no end). Needless to say the use of the stuff plummeted immediately.
Hermione faired much better than Harry in the detention department, most of the staff seemed to think McGonagall's treatment of her was a bit harsh (they all saw Hermione as the perfect student, they knew nothing of her exceedingly explosive temper). The most unpleasant task she received were the added patrols with Harry and Filch. The most she was ever asked to do by a teacher was to help out a little with essays and such. Professor Vector the Arithmancy witch had her to help prepare lessons for the lower level Arithmancy classes and Professor Flitwick sought her assistance in reading over essays for errors. To be honest it seemed more like she was just sitting in the teachers offices on her own and asking questions about things from class to add to her already voluminous collection of study notes she'd been compiling for NEWTS since first year as she got in a lot of questions about the goings on in her NEWT level lessons. By the end of the week when the detention was lifted it appeared as though Harry was the one who'd been punished most severely whereas Hermione appeared not to have suffered very much at all. Needless to say this put Harry in a tremendously dark and surly mood. Dean and Seamus constantly made jokes about now being the perfect time for Harry to meet up with You-Know-Who as in his current state he'd finish him off in no time. They made sure however, to say these things when Harry was well out of earshot.
Harry and Hermione were not speaking to each other any more than necessary. During classes and patrols they were polite to the point of insanity…you'd have thought they were casual acquaintances and not two people who'd been friends for seven years and had very intimate knowledge of one another. The pair had also taken to using their shared dormitory as a place to shower and change. They'd both taken to sleeping downstairs in their old rooms with their friends. But the subject of their current relationship was strictly out of bounds. Ron had now taken up the mantle that Harry had once had and sat between the two during classes and mealtimes making forced conversation. Their behavior was making Ron nutters and as it was seriously cutting into his spending his free time leisurely with his two best friends he decided to do something to put a stop to it. As he and Harry were leaving the pitch following their Quidditch practice before the next day's game Ron asked.
"Why don't you just apologize?"
Harry eyed Ron but said nothing. Taking that as a sign that he was open to suggestions Ron continued on.
"I mean it's obvious you're miserable without her and from what Lav says she's just as unhappy not talking to you…if you just apologized for yelling at her in Magical Theory you two could get back on track."
Harry shook his head.
"Its not that simple Ron."
"Why not?"
"Because she's narked about more than our row in Magical Theory."
Ron scratched his chin and taking a deep breath asked.
"Is it something to do with you two snogging down by the lake the night before?"
Harry laughed humorlessly and replied.
"So you did see us."
Ron nodded.
"I wasn't spying or anything. I was just trying to catch up to you after Lav and Pavrati told us what happened. I was halfway across the lawn and saw you two going on and I just turned around and left…I didn't want to intrude."
Harry nodded his head.
"Yeah well…maybe you should've intruded…then I never would have made such a prat of myself!"
Ron queried.
"She wasn't too chuffed about the kiss then eh."
Harry grunted and replied.
"She was fine with it at first then she went all wonky about it. Seems she thinks it's just the potion that's got me going on about her."
"But you haven't had any of that stuff for a few weeks now…you can't have kissed her from it."
Harry sighed.
"That's the same thing I said. But Hermione reckons I'm only keen about her because of some of the…ummm…er…side affects of the potion."
Harry averted his eyes and flushed a telltale shade of red that clearly implied that he and Hermione had done a bit more than just snogging. Ron digested this new bit of information and asked.
"Er…exactly what do you mean by side affects?"
Harry replied.
"Well Hermione's got it in her head that my present attraction to her is because of my…intimate knowledge of her."
Ron frowned and asked.
"Is it?"
Harry looked at Ron in wonder and demanded.
"You really think I'm that shallow?"
Ron shook his head hastily.
"No…no…of course not! I just wondered if your…er…intimate knowledge of Hermione was egging you on a bit."
Harry sighed again.
"Not that my new knowledge of her isn't helping the matter along but its not the reason why. Truth is I've been having feelings for Hermione for a while now I just didn't think she felt the same way."
"Well sure she does its you innit…famous Harry Potter and all that…"
Ron paused and waited for Harry's response, which turned out to be just a shrug, before continuing on.
"Still I don't suppose it'd hurt to apologize…she might change her mind if you do."
Harry ran a hand through his hair tousling it even more and changed the subject.
"So what's up with you and Lavender?"
Ron quirked an eyebrow.
"What do you mean…what's up with me and Lav?"
"I mean are you two a couple now?"
Ron scratched his head.
"A couple what makes you think we are a couple?"
Harry chuckled to himself and replied.
"Well beyond your use of the pronoun we to describe the pair of you…there's your calling her Lav all the time instead of Lav-en-der. And there's the studying with your heads together and all the kissing and snuggling on the couch in the common room. That's what makes me think you two are a couple."
Ron answered.
"Oh you think all that is because we fancy each other. You've got it all wrong…we only ever did all of that to try and get you and Hermione together."
"Really…"
"Yep…Lav reckoned that if we were a couple you two might let your guard down and have a go at each other."
Harry stroked his chin.
"So all that kissing has been for Hermione's and my benefit."
Ron nodded as Harry continued.
"Then why are you two still at it?"
Ron stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Harry as if he'd never seen him before as he realized that Harry was absolutely right. He and Lavender had still been carrying on as if the ruse they were perpetrating had never been discovered. Harry smiled and said.
"Its clear that you fancy each other. So why not make it official and stop all the foolish pretending."
"You really think she'd go out with me?"
Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Of course she would you dolt…she has been for two months now hasn't she!"
Ron grinned sheepishly and nodded as he said.
"You're right! I'm gonna ask her out."
Harry patted Ron on the back and nodded as he said "Namby-pamby" the Fat Lady inclined her head before swinging open the portrait hole and admitting them to the Gryffindor common room. As they passed through the portrait hole Harry caught sight of Lavender sitting at a table with Ginny, Pavrati and Hermione. Grabbing Ron by the arm he steered him in the direction of the girls.
"No time like the present."
"What now?"
"Yes now."
"But I haven't sussed out what to say!"
"It'll come to you."
With that said Harry shoved Ron into the end of the table closest to where Lavender was sitting. As the table jostled slightly Lavender looked up to see a red faced Ron glaring over his shoulder at Harry who seemed to be mouthing the words "Go on". Lavender was about to ask what was wrong when Ron spoke.
"Lavender I've been thinking…"
Pavrati cut in cheekily.
"Oooooh…taking up a new past time Ron."
Ginny snidely added.
"A dangerous past time more like."
Dean and Seamus snorted loudly as they attempted to hide their laughing faces behind the tower of cards they were constructing. Ginny and Pavrati giggled openly at their little joke. Ron glared at the four of them and was about to say something decidedly unflattering when Lavender gently patted his forearm and said.
"What was it you were thinking about sweetie?"
Ron directed his attention back to Lavender and said.
"What…oh right…I've been thinking about us and this pretending we've been doing…"
Lavender interjected.
"Pretending…"
Ron cut across her sentence.
"Yeah…all this pretending to fancy each other to get Harry and Hermione together…well its got to stop…"
Lavender's face fell and her eyes seemed to curiously fill up with water as Ron continued though he for his part did not notice.
"I mean those two aren't any closer to being a couple than they were before so I reckon we can quit pretending and just get on with things."
Ron paused and waited for Lavender to say something. Lavender's reply was soft and there seemed to be the slightest tremor to her voice, which again seemed to go unnoticed by Ron.
"Well if you feel that's best I…I suppose that's what we should do."
Ron beamed and looked over his shoulder at Harry who mouthed the words "Ask her out". Ron's mouth formed a huge "O" as he nodded and turning back to Lavender asked.
"So are you busy right now?"
Lavender nodded her head and said.
"I've got this Divination essay to finish."
Ron sighed as his face took on a crestfallen look.
"Oh…I was going to ask if you fancied a snog but I guess I should leave you to it…can't have my girl falling behind in her stu…"
Ron never finished his sentence as Lavender had launched herself into his arms and was apparently divining for some heretofore-unknown substance that could only be found down Ron's throat. After several minutes of furious snogging Lavender unglued herself from Ron and grinning like idiots the pair disappeared out the portrait hole to a litany of catcalls and whistles by the occupants of the common room. Feeling optimistically buoyed by Ron's strangely successful conversation with Lavender Harry dropped into the chair that Lavender had just vacated as it happened to be right next to the chair Hermione was occupying. Ginny and Pavrati suddenly ceased their giggly discussion of the things Ron and Lavender were probably doing at the moment and unconvincingly turned their eyes to the latest edition of the Quibbler that was lying on the table before them. Harry took a deep breath and allowed Hermione's name to pass over his lips.
"Hermione…"
She neither looked at him nor answered verbally but the scratching of her quill ceased so Harry knew she was listening.
"About the other day…I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said those things…"
He reached over and placed his hand atop hers.
"I was a prat…can you ever forgive me?"
Hermione glanced at Harry's hand covering her own and with a sigh and a much less rueful smile than he'd seen in the past few days replied.
"Yes you were a prat but as I wasn't much better…I forgive you…"
She paused and looked directly into his enchanting emerald green orbs and said.
"Oh Harry I'm so sorry …I was horrible to you…and I had no right to be…am I forgiven as well."
Harry flashed her his handsomest smile, she felt her stomach take a rather dizzying flip, and said.
"If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times I can never stay mad at you…of course you're forgiven."
Hermione smiled brightly and squeezed Harry's hand. His stomach swooped and jolted pleasantly. Emboldened by the sudden show of affection Harry swiveled in his seat and raised his hand from atop Hermione's hand and placed it on her cheek. He then pulled her gently forward and kissed her forehead sweetly. As he drew back he stared into the depths of her warm chocolate brown eyes and murmured.
"Gods you are so beautiful."
He stroked the pad of his thumb across her cheek softly muttering how stunning she was as he leaned in a second time and kissed her cheek lovingly. Instead of pulling back as he'd done before he nuzzled her cheek and whispered breathlessly.
"I've missed you, you know…I miss us…"
Hermione stiffened and drew away from him; the look in her eyes pleading with him not to say anything more.
"Harry…please don't…we've been through this…"
Harry interjected.
"No we haven't…we haven't been through anything because you won't listen to me. You've made up your mind without even considering the other possibilities."
"What other possibilities?"
Ginny and Pavrati were no longer feigning preoccupation; they were out and out staring at Harry and Hermione intently listening to every whispered word. They were not the only ones listening either. Dean and Seamus were quite attentive as well having left off their game of exploding snap to see what was going on. As a matter of fact a good two thirds of the common room was now raptly staring at the pair listening and waiting to see what transpired. Harry oblivious to the audience he and Hermione had garnered responded to her query.
"The possibility of us being together."
Hermione chewed her lip momentarily and asked.
"Is that what you want?"
Harry sighed.
"I'd thought that was fairly noticeable but yeah its what I want?"
Hermione's heart gave a joyous leap in her chest. Was this really happening? Did Harry really have feelings for her? Mentally she shook herself and fought off the urge to imitate Lavender and throw herself into Harry arms…that could wait right now she needed to be sure this was real that she was not imagining it. Her voice was tentative when she spoke.
"You're sure?"
Harry withdrew his hand from her cheek and taking his free hand clutched both her hands in his own as he said.
"You said it yourself…this tension has been between us for ages…and even though it was that damned potion that brought us to the realization of what we want I don't see any reason for us not to pick up where we left off and just carry on from there…"
Hermione's brow knitted together in a frown and her back suddenly went ramrod straight. She quickly withdrew her hands from Harry's and began to shake her head. Harry noticed the abrupt change and was about to ask what was wrong when Hermione calmly asked.
"You want to pick up things were we left off?"
Falsely relieved by the steady calmness of her voice Harry nodded.
"Of course I do."
Shaking her head harder Hermione replied.
"I knew it was too good to be true."
Harry gazed at Hermione in surprise.
"What?"
Hermione replied in a louder more heated tone.
"I knew something was wrong…I knew it was too easy…"
Harry cut in the exasperation in his voice evident.
"What…Hermione…what…what's wrong…what's too easy?"
Hermione slammed her open palm on the table and shouted.
"THIS…US TOGETHER…THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG…THAT'S WHAT'S TOO EASY!!"
Harry glared at Hermione completely and utterly at a lost and retorted angrily.
"WHY…WHY ARE WE SO WRONG…WHAT REASON COULD YOU HAVE POSSIBLY COME UP WITH NOW?!"
"ITS ALWAYS THE SAME WITH YOU HARRY…YOU JUST DON'T SEE…YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND…EVEN AFTER I'VE TOLD YOU WHAT I WANT…"
Harry cut across her.
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT AS IF I HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING TO YOU…YOU JUST ASKED ME PLAIN AS DAY WAS I SURE AND I'M BLOODY WELL POSITIVE MY ANSWER WAS CLEAR ENOUGH EVEN FOR YOU!!!!"
Hermione fired back.
"OH YOUR ANSWER WAS CLEAR ENOUGH ALL RIGHT…BUT APPARENTLY I'M THE ONE WHO ISN'T BEING CLEAR SO LET ME SORT IT OUT FOR YOU SHALL I, I…DON'T…WANT…TO…PICK…UP…WHERE…WE…LEFT…OFF…"
Harry cut in for the third time.
"YOU DON'T WANT TO…WELL THAT'S FINE BY ME GRANGER…JUST FINE!!!"
Harry turned and stormed to the portrait hole; it flew open of its own accord without him so much as touching it, with such a thunderous resounding crash that the Fat Lady squealed in startled shock. Two other voices also cried out in shock as Harry brushed past them in a rage and shouted.
"GET OUT OF IT YOU TWO!!"
Ginny got to her feet and started around the table towards Hermione but before she'd barely made three steps in her direction Hermione had disappeared up the stairs her eyes full of unshed tears. Ron and Lavender stepped into the noiseless common room and looked at the astonished faces staring out the portrait hole and up the staircase. Ron looked at Ginny and asked.
"What happened?"
However, it was Seamus who responded in a sort of dazed tone, as Ginny appeared to stunned to speak.
"I think its over mate…I think its over."
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Seamus' words seemed to be prophetic. Any thoughts that anyone had harbored about Harry and Hermione being a couple were now irrevocably shot to hell. Truth be told it would be considered quite a stretch to even salvage their once solid friendship considering how horribly things stood at this point. Ron sat morosely at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall along with Lavender, Ginny, Pavrati, Neville, Dean and Seamus. Ron was staring blankly at the contents of his cereal bowl that had not been touched. Lavender wrapped her arm around Ron's and implored.
"You really should try and get something down sweetie…you're going to need something in your stomach before the match."
Ron sighed and shook his head.
"Its no good…I couldn't keep anything down if I tried."
Lavender affected her sweetest voice and snuggling closer to Ron said.
"Just a little juice and a bite or two of toast…please sweetie…for me."
Ron rolled his eyes but took the piece of buttered toast Lavender slid towards him. Seamus snorted mirthlessly and said.
"Well at least our little foray into matchmaking produce one couple!"
Neville chimed in.
"Yeah but it's the wrong couple."
Dean added in.
"How's that for luck eh…we brew up a love potion and the people we give it to end up hating each other while their mates get together."
Pavrati laid down her fork and said.
"I just don't know what happened. I mean they seemed so perfect together. I can't believe Harry was so cruel to Hermione last night!"
Seamus stared at Pavrati.
"Harry was cruel to Hermione…you've got that all wrong you have…Hermione was the one who was bang out of order not Harry!"
Pavrati put down the goblet of juice she'd just picked up.
"What?! You can't be serious Seamus…Hermione wasn't out of order in the least! Harry was the one not listening and raging at poor Herms like she was wrong to say what she said…"
Dean cut in.
"Poor Hermione…more like poor Harry…there he was apologizing and trying to express his feelings and Hermione just throws it back in his face telling him she doesn't want him!"
Ginny's mouth flew open and her eyes widened appreciably.
"She did no such thing! She was only trying to get him to see her side of things…but oh no Harry just had to have everything his own way…"
Seamus interposed.
"Come off it Gin…Hermione…"
Neville spoke up.
"Is coming this way!"
Lavender looked towards the entrance to the Great Hall and there was Hermione making her way to the Gryffindor table. Lavender turned to the group and hissed.
"Shut it the lot of you! Herms has been through a horrible ordeal…so no matter who you think was right or wrong be mindful that she's sure to be upset so be careful what you say. On second thought keep your mouths shut all of you!"
No sooner than the words had left Lavender's mouth was Hermione slipping into the empty seat between Ginny and Pavrati. With a subdued voice she greeted her friends and tipping eggs and bacon onto her plate began to eat in silence. Lavender nudged Ron and nodding her head in Hermione's direction indicated that he should say something to her just as Ron was opening his mouth to say whatever happened to tumble out Harry strode up to the table and said.
"Ron, Ginny…as soon as you and the rest of the team are done with breakfast head on down to the pitch…I want to go over some last minute tactics before we play."
Harry turned and made for the door. Lavender called out after him.
"Harry don't you want some breakfast?"
Turning back he glanced at Hermione briefly before focusing on Lavender and replying.
"No thanks…I haven't got much of an appetite."
He turned again and strode purposefully out the door. Following Harry's departure Hermione gave up her fruitless attempts at eating and rose from her seat. As she did she mumbled.
"Ron…Ginny…good luck out there today."
Ron looked at her inquiringly.
"Aren't you coming?"
She shook her head.
"I've got a lot of studying to do…"
Ginny cut in.
"But you've never missed any of our matches before!"
Hermione replied as if she hadn't heard Ginny's statement.
"I'll see you all later…"
She paused then added with a sad little smile.
"At the victory party."
Hermione turned and walked out of the Great Hall before anyone could say anything else. Ron threw his napkin down onto the table and rising from his seat said.
"Well this is a right fine mess this is!"
He turned and looking down the table at the rest of the Gryffindor team yelled.
"Oy…you lot…Harry wants us at the pitch…NOW!!"
Ron turned again and brushed a kiss across Lavender's cheek before stomping off out of the Great Hall with Ginny and the rest of the team following in his wake apparently unaware of Lavender's calls of "Good luck".
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Harry opened his eyes blearily and was greeted by the stark white walls and blinding bright light of the hospital wing. He knew instantly upon opening his eyes where he was having spent a significant amount of time on his back staring up at the ceiling of this same room. In the seven years he'd been a student at Hogwarts there had not been a single year in which he had not graced the hospital wing with his presence. He winced as a shooting pain shot through his head when he'd tried to raise it from the pillows he was lying on. A groan slipped past his lips and Madam Pomfrey came bustling over saying.
"Good, you've finally come round! I was beginning to think you were seriously hurt this time…drink this."
She shoved a cupful of something purple and foul smelling under his nose and against his lips before he had a chance to say anything. Knowing the futility in refusing Harry grabbed the cup and drank its contents down in one swallow. He pulled a face and coughed violently for a few seconds before asking.
"What happened?"
Madam Pomfrey looked into his eyes, ears and down his throat; she then prodded his abdomen and extremities with her wand. She was apparently checking him for previously unseen injuries, she then replied by saying.
"Took a bludger to the face resulting in a broken nose. It knocked you unconscious and you fell from your broom about ten feet or so from the ground. Do you have any memory of the event?"
Harry frowned as his mind drifted back to the match against Slytherin. They'd been up by two hundred and fifty points when he'd seen the snitch. He hadn't seen the bludger though. It caught him square on the nose just as his fingers had closed around the snitch. Harry looked up at Madam Pomfrey, the frown still marring his countenance and asked.
"Did I hang on to the snitch? Did Gryffindor win the match?"
Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes as she turned away and answered.
"Yes you hung on to that infernal snitch. And you'll be pleased to know that your skull and its contents are intact! I'll be back in an hour to check on you and don't even ask about any victory celebrations."
Madam Pomfrey marched down the halls towards her office mumbling something about "Dangerous sports and delicate constitutions". Harry smiled and let the remark pass. They'd won the match soundly nothing else mattered. His smile grew even brighter when he imagined what the expression on Malfoy's face must have looked like as sleep claimed him.
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Harry strolled down the main corridor leading from the hospital wing and headed towards the Great Hall in the best mood he'd been in for several weeks. When Madam Pomfrey had come back to check on him she'd pronounced him fit as a fiddle and dismissed him from hospital. He'd been shocked to say the least but he didn't wait around to give her the chance to come to her senses and change her mind. He'd set out for the Great Hall and dinner straightaway. No doubt the Gryffindors had thrown a corking do over their obliteration of Slytherin and Harry reckoned that seeing him out of hospital so soon would get them carrying on again. Fred and George had sent he and Ron a case of Prescott's Smoldering Atomic Ale and they'd been looking for a reason to crack it open, he reckoned this was as good a reason as any.
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Lavender looked up from her half eaten bowl of stew and spoke to the table though her query was directed at Ron.
"Sweetie have you been to see Harry?"
Ron bit back a chuckle at how heavily his girlfriend emphasized his best mate's name. She'd done it for Hermione's benefit of course. Obviously she wanted Hermione to worry over Harry being hit in the face by that bludger enough to rush up to hospital and see him. Ron nodded his head and heartily chewed the chunk of fillet steak he'd stuffed into his mouth and deciding it was as good a plan as any to get the two speaking again replied.
"Yeah I went up to see him but he was still out cold. Madame Pomfrey wouldn't let me stay long though said he needs rest to mend."
Lavender shook her head and answered back.
"Oh my…I do hope he's going to be all right…it was so horrible his getting hit like that…he fell from so high up I was certain he'd broken every bone in his body!"
Ginny and Pavrati who were sitting nearby cottoned on to what Lavender was doing and decided to egg the situation on. Pavrati added in.
"What was really horrible was the way blood was spurting everywhere and the way he careened to the ground in a lifeless heap…oooooh it gives me chills just thinking about it!"
Ginny offered her two cents.
"You think seeing it was bad…imagine if you'd been close enough to hear it. That sickening crunching sound as the bludger connected with his face and the grunt of surprise that came out of his mouth when he went soaring off his broom…and the even more stomach-turning sound of him hitting the cold hard ground below…"
Ginny broke off her vivid description of Harry's fall when she caught sight of Hermione's face, which was deathly white and clearly horrified. Hermione rose from her seat and scurried across the Great Hall and out the door and made a hard right towards the main staircase and the hospital wing. Lavender smiled and turned her attentions back to her plate of stew.
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Harry was one floor above the Great Hall when he turned the corner and ran smack dab into Hermione. She seemed to have been in as great a hurry as he was; the combined impact of their running headlong into one another sent them both crashing to the floor. Instinctively Harry had wrapped his arms around Hermione and turned so that his body and not hers absorbed the brunt of the impact from the fall. Harry groaned loudly as his head connected with the floor. Hermione emitted a squeak and scrambled off of Harry and kneeling at his side cried out.
"Oh Harry are you all right…I'm so sorry…I didn't see you…oh goodness your head…"
Harry shook himself and rose to a sitting position and said.
"I'm all right…head's still a little sore from that bludger but other than that I'm fine."
Hermione sat back on her legs and asked if Harry was sure when he assured her that he was indeed fine she seemed to fully recognize the fact that Harry was out of hospital. Looking at him queerly she asked.
"What are you doing out of hospital?"
Harry got to his feet and reached down to help Hermione up as she took his extended hand he replied.
"Madam Pomfrey discharged me."
Hermione gazed at him in astonishment.
"She did what…why?!"
Harry scratched his head and said.
"Because there's nothing wrong with me."
"But there has to be."
"Why does something have to be wrong with me?"
"They all said how horrible it was…the sound of your bones breaking…blood gushing everywhere…you falling from such a dangerous height…"
Harry cut in.
"What…bones breaking…gushing blood…falling from a dangerous height…all right I did break my nose so of course there was blood but it certainly wasn't gushing…a little spurting maybe but not gushing. And what's this about a great height I fell from…I was barely ten feet above the ground."
Hermione shook her head and said.
"But they were going on about how terrible it was…"
Harry queried.
"They who?"
Hermione kept on having not heard his question.
"And Ron said you were unconscious when he came to see you…"
Her voice died away as she realized that her so-called friends had set her up once again. They'd made Harry's accident sound ten times worse than it was in hopes that she would be frightened and go running off to see him. And damn them it'd worked. Harry came to the exact same conclusion at the same moment.
"That lot made it sound as if I were near death to get you to come and see me."
Hermione nodded.
"Seems they're smarter than I give them credit for…that or I'm getting a bit dimwitted."
Harry smiled and said
"You're not anywhere near being dimwitted."
Hermione just looked at him and asked, concern evident in her tone.
"So you're really all right then?"
Harry nodded.
"As I said head's a bit sore but other than that I'm perfectly fit."
Hermione nodded and silence fell between them. They stood there awkwardly avoiding each other's eyes until Harry unable to stand the silence anymore asked.
"Were you really worried about me?"
Hermione's eyes widened as she looked up at him and answered without hesitation.
"Of course I was worried. I would never want anything horrible to happen to you."
Harry nodded.
"I know you wouldn't wish me or anybody else any harm, except maybe Malfoy and Wesley…but…well considering the way we left things I didn't think you'd much care that I got my face caved in."
"No matter how badly we row I'd never want your face caved in. Look at all the times I've rowed with Ron, I've never been happy that he was hurt. Why would I feel any differently about you, regardless of what's happened?"
Harry nodded again and once more silence blanketed them. This time it was Hermione who broke the silence.
"You should be getting on if you plan on making dinner."
Harry responded mechanically.
"Yeah I suppose I should."
Hermione turned towards the corridor leading to Gryffindor Tower as Harry turned towards the Great Hall; Hermione had began to walk away when Harry whirled around and said.
"You were coming to see me just now…"
Hermione stopped and turned around.
Harry quizzed her.
"What were you going to say to me?"
Hermione looked away and whispered.
"I just wanted to hold your hand and let you know that I was there."
Harry closed the distance between them and cupping her face in his hands tilted her head back slightly so that their eyes met and asked.
"Why…after everything that's happened…why would you do that…why would you even care?"
Hermione smiled faintly and answered.
"Because its you Harry, because its you."
Harry stared at Hermione as if he was seeing her for the first time. At last he understood why she'd behaved the way she had since finding out about the potion. He suddenly became aware that he needed to tell Hermione what he'd been feeling. He needed her to know just how much he cared for her. Without giving the matter anymore thought Harry opened his mouth and spoke what he felt in his heart.
"Hermione I know the past few weeks have been confusing and painful and I know I've been the world's greatest prat and I'm truly sorry for that. And if I had a time turner I would go back and change all the awful things that have happened with one exception…and that exception would be our being together…that I wouldn't change. I wouldn't change that because potion or no potion…that's what I want… to be with you. I know you think I just miss being with you…and I do but not in the way you think. I don't miss making love to you anywhere near as much as I miss just being close to you. Seeing you smile that beautiful smile of yours just for me…feeling your hand in mine…holding you in my arms and never wanting to let you go…that's the us I miss. I want to be with you Hermione…I always have… and if you'll let me I'll prove it to you…"
Harry paused and took a deep breath before continuing on.
"Next Saturday's a Hogsmeade Saturday and if you don't already have other plans I'd like you to go…with me."
Hermione spoke for the first time since Harry made his declaration.
"You mean on a date?"
Harry nodded.
"Yes I mean on a date. Just you and me…no Ron and Lavender or anyone else…just us…will…will you go out with me?"
Hermione smiled through the curtain of tears that were falling down her cheeks and said.
"Yes, Harry…I'd like to go with you to Hogsmeade on Saturday…I'd like that very much!"
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