Chapter 3: The Scintillatus Solution
As Harry and Hermione had spent most of the night working on Harry's potions essay they slept through breakfast and would have missed their morning classes altogether if Ron hadn't come and roused them. The pair plodded to their classes that morning with red-rimmed eyes, stifling yawns, barely able to concentrate on the simplest of tasks. For the second time during his years at Hogwarts Ron had been forced to take notes in History of Magic because Hermione had taken a seat in the rear of the class propped her text open in front of her and promptly gone to sleep. Harry was no better Ron had spent most of Charms elbowing him in the ribs to keep him awake. Then during their mid-morning study break Harry found a quiet corner in the back of the library and fell off to sleep as soon as his bum touched the seat.
As Ron shook him awake so that they could make their way to the Ancient Runes corridor to collect Hermione before heading off to Potions he felt a pang of guilt over what he was doing to his best mates. While Ron was certain that Harry's feelings for Hermione were deeper than mere friendship and yes he was equally certain that Hermione cared far more for Harry than she was willing to admit, he was beginning to question the wisdom in trying to get the two of them together. Maybe the reasons they had for not perusing a relationship with each other were valid…or…maybe they really were just closer than the average friends.
They had been through an awful lot together that Ron knew for certain as he had been there for most of it. And in those times when he wasn't there; Ron's thoughts drifted briefly to the time in fourth year when he and Harry had stopped speaking, Hermione had been the one who had stood by Harry believing in him when no one else would. Even when they were narked with one another they found a way to be supportive of each other. And while for most that seemed to be the perfect reason to pair the two off Ron knew that those same rules applied to his friendship with Hermione as well and he certainly didn't have any feelings that ran deeper for her than friendship. But Ron also accepted that there was a difference…something that made Harry and Hermione's friendship deeper and far more intimate than the one he shared with them. What was it that made Harry and Hermione so close? And was that something strong enough to build a romantic relationship on? Ron was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of an opening door. Somehow they had made it to Hermione's class without his being aware of it. Ron looked up just as Serena Chambers walked up to Harry; there was a slight edge to her voice as she spoke.
"Harry where were you last night? I waited for nearly an hour but you never came"!
Harry rubbed his eyes as if to focus and spoke in a sleep tinged rasp.
"Serena…I'm sorry…I got landed with extra patrols after some of the prefects came down with some flu or something and wound up in hospital. I tried to come by and let you know what happened but Filch was in a mood and I had to deal with him as well. It was late by the time I was done and I had Newt level Potions to finish".
Upon hearing the low rasp edging the normally velvety smooth baritone that was Harry's voice several young witches in the environs looked as though they were near to dissolving into puddles right then and there at his feet. Ron suspected from her shifting posture that Serna was doing a bit of melting herself. Serena took in his red eyes, slumped shoulders, his untidier than usual hair and the palpable air of exhaustion about him and arranged her face into a sympathetic pout and said.
"Oh you poor thing…you look absolutely knackered…of course it's alright that you missed our date…"
Ron's ears perked up at the word date Harry however seemed not to notice as Serena continued cooing at him.
"We'll just reschedule. I know you have your extra studies this evening…so how about we try tomorrow evening? Same time same place"?
Harry seemed to be mulling the time over in his head when Ron jumped in.
"Ummm…er…ummm…tomorrow's no good mate. We've booked the pitch for practice to get caught up on those new moves you wanted us to learn…first match is next Saturday we've gotta be sharp".
Harry scratched his head, he didn't remember booking the pitch for practice but then again he was so worn out he barely remembered what day it was. Harry nodded and said.
"Yeah…thanks mate…I'd forgotten all about that…sorry tomorrow's no good…"
Ron made a mental note to book the pitch for a Gryffindor practice session and to tell the rest of the team as soon as he saw them. Harry thought for a moment then continued.
"Saturday and Sunday are no good either…hang on let me think…we set the new patrols schedule on Sundays. Once that's done I'll have a better idea of how my week is going to look. What's say I let you know then what day will be good for us to get together next week"?
Serena beamed and replied.
"Alright then".
Serena sauntered up to Harry and hugged him close as she whispered a thank you and once again kissed him, this time full on the lips. Hermione who had been having a chat with the Ancient Runes teacher, Professor Kilkenny, walked out the door just in time to see Serena wrapping herself around Harry like a second skin and kissing him. She knitted her brow together in consternation but before she could muster the energy to be further annoyed by this latest exhibition of Serena's a voice sounded in her ear and Hermione whirled around to see Parker Wesley standing just behind her.
"Well…well…well…looks like Potter has a new plaything…"
Hermione gritted her teeth and glared at Parker as he persisted.
"I dare say they make a smashing couple don't you. Well now…seeing that Potter has other things to occupy his…ummm…er…time…what do you say about you and I finally getting to know each other a bit better…hmmm…"
Parker paused and leered at Hermione momentarily as he skimmed his hand up her side, making certain to nudge her breast in the process before he finished off his sentence.
"I assure you…I can do things with that delicious little body of yours that Potter never dreamed of".
Hermione trembled with rage at Parker's disgusting insinuations and his blatant groping of her in the center of the hallway. She spat out angrily.
"PARKER WESLEY YOU ARE A DEPRAVED, OVERSEXED TOSSER. AND REST ASSURED IF YOU EVER COME ANYWHERE NEAR ME AGAIN I'LL BLOODY WELL SEE YOU DISEMBOWELED…PERSONALLY"!!
Ron and Harry's heads snapped up simultaneously at the sound of Hermione's shrieking voice. They saw her as she turned and flew off down the hall. Harry disentangled himself from Serena's grasp and moved towards Parker who slunk back against the wall. Ron put a steadying hand on Harry's shoulder and whispered.
"Hermione needs you. I'll see to this one".
Harry nodded slightly and glared venomously at Parker before striding down the hall in the direction that Hermione had disappeared. Ron walked up to Parker, leaned close and said menacingly.
"Up until now we've only threatened you but you crossed the line here today. So consider this a promise…you stay away from my friend or your mum and dad will be scraping what's left of your slimy arse off the bloody walls"!
Ron turned and stalked off down the hall after Harry and Hermione.
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Harry caught up with Hermione halfway down a side corridor that led to Gryffindor tower. Harry could see her shaking in fury as he approached her; he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. Harry's intent was to ask her what had happened back there in the hallway with Parker but as his hand touched her shoulder Hermione whirled around and bellowed "Expelliarmus". Harry was lifted into the air and thrown through the door of a deserted classroom with a resounding crash. Realizing that she had hit Harry Hermione rushed inside the room to find Harry lying spread eagle among a pile of broken old desks and chairs. Hermione chewed her lip in horror as she rushed over to Harry's side.
"Oh God Harry…I'm so sorry…I didn't know it was you…I thought you were…oh goodness are you all right…"
Hermione knelt down beside Harry and he opened his eyes as a pained groan escaped his lips. Hermione's wand clattered to the floor and she reached out to help Harry into a sitting position. She mopped his now sooty black tresses out of and away from his eyes and hastily asked in a rush.
"Can you sit…here let me help…oh Harry…"
In his dazed state of mind Harry allowed Hermione to tug his limp prostrate form into a half sitting position in which part of his upper body was supported by Hermione's lap while his head and shoulders were cradled against her chest. Hermione was incoherently speaking to him in a panicky sort of voice that alternated between concerns for his well being, asking if he were hurt and profuse apologies for having hit him with the spell in the first place. Her hands were roaming over his head, face, chest, arms and shoulders in an attempt to determine if he was injured. Harry was swiftly brought back to his senses by the jolt of feeling one of Hermione's slender hands gliding down his abdomen and lightly brushing across his upper left thigh; curiously at that precise moment he became acutely aware of the soft round curves that were supporting his shoulders. With the reflexes born of his talents as a seeker Harry caught Hermione's fingers deftly in his own; he'd prefer her roving hands not to drift any lower at that precise moment, and squeezing gently answered the query of her hands by saying.
"I'm alright".
Hermione squeaked out the words.
"Are you…really"?
Harry pulled himself up into a full sitting stance and massaged the back of his head, hissing in pain when his fingers touched the lump that was forming there. Harry nodded slowly and said.
"Remind me never to get you pissed off…bloody hell…I reckon I know how Snape felt when we hit him with that disarming spell eh".
Hermione's voice was quiet as she spoke.
"It only had that affect because you weren't armed and because I was so angry when I said it…you know the more emotional you are when you perform a spell the more powerful it is…"
Harry grunted and replied.
"Yeah well try and contain your emotional outbursts when I'm around from now on would you".
Harry had meant the comment teasingly but Hermione somehow missed his intent a fact that Harry became conscious of as soon as Hermione's trembling voice filled the empty room.
"Oh Harry I'm sorry…I didn't know it was you…I would never ever hurt you…you know that…it was just that you grabbed me…and…and…I thought it was Parker…"
Harry's head snapped up as he processed the meaning of the words that had just come out of Hermione's mouth…she'd tried to hex him when he grasped her shoulder because she thought he was Parker…which could only mean that…he'd touched her…that git Parker had touched Hermione after Harry had cautioned him not to. Parker Wesley was a dead man. Harry was livid, he was about to leap to his feet and go and give Parker Wesley the walloping he so richly deserved but in the midst of his rising to his feet he caught sight of Hermione and froze. Her beautiful chocolate brown eyes were brimming with a waterfall of tears that were cascading steadily down her cheeks, her lower lip trembled uncontrollably as she continued to apologize for hurting him. Her hands shook as she wound them in the fabric of her robes. Parker Wesley's imminent demise would have to wait Harry had more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. Harry gently pulled Hermione into his arms and stroking her back he whispered to her soothingly.
"Shhh…its alright love…its alright…I'm here…I've got you…everything is alright now".
Hermione buried her face in the crook of Harry's neck and sobbed. Harry held her close to him and continued stroking her back and whispering softly to her until her tears were spent and she was calm enough to speak. She asked him quietly.
"Are you sure that you're alright…I really didn't hurt you"?
Harry replied quietly.
"I'm fine honestly…you're the one I'm worried about…I've never seen you like this before…want to tell me what happened".
Hermione hiccupped as she took in a deep breath and replied.
"It's nothing Harry…really…I'm just knackered is all…and I guess I just let Parker get to me more than usual…"
Hermione quickly broke off. Harry knew she was trying to keep him from finding about what Parker had done to her and for the moment he'd let it go as his main concern just now was making sure she was alright. Harry wrapped his arms about Hermione's waist and gently rose to his feet pulling Hermione along with him.
"Come on…let's get you back to the common room".
Hermione stared at him in amazement and replied in a small voice.
"But we've got Potions…Snape will have our hides if we skive off and don't turn in our essays".
No sooner than Harry had opened his mouth to respond to Hermione's statement Ron rushed into the room and drew up short at the sight that greeted him. Harry and Hermione were covered in dust and dirt; Harry's hair stood about his head in more disarray than it had when he'd seen him just a few minutes before and Hermione looked as though she'd been crying. Ron opened his mouth to speak but clamped it shut when the words he'd formed in his mind came out in Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger…what on earth is going on here"?
Ron turned his gaze away from Harry and Hermione to Professor McGonagall and back again. Harry quickly spoke up.
"Hermione isn't feeling well Professor…think she might be catching that flu or whatever is going around…I was just trying to coax her back up to the common room at least as she won't go to hospital".
Professor McGonagall took one look at Hermione's disheveled appearance and her flushed tear streaked face and said.
"Ms. Granger perhaps you should see Madam Pomfrey".
Hermione still spent from her bout of weeping replied in a croaky tone.
"I'm fine Professor honestly and we really should be getting to Potions".
Hermione let go of Harry and attempted to make a step but her tiredness combined with her run in with Parker and her exasperation over having been reduced to a sobbing wreck on Harry's shoulder had left her more than a little disoriented. Her foot caught the hem of her robe and had it not of been for Harry and his quick hands she would have wound up on the floor again. Professor McGonagall spoke crisply.
"Mr. Potter you will escort Ms. Granger to see Madam Pomfrey straight away…"
Hermione interjected.
"Oh no that's not necessary really I'm fine ".
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes and began again.
"I repeat…Mr. Potter you are to escort Ms. Granger to see Madam Pomfrey straight away…Mr. Weasley will inform Professor Snape of your whereabouts and hand in any class work that is due. I'll write a note explaining your tardiness Mr. Weasley".
That said Professor McGonagall waved her wand and produced a quill and parchment that immediately set to writing. Harry summoned both his and Hermione's essays from their bags and handed them to Ron who took them and the note Professor McGonagall had written and headed for the dungeons. Harry then grabbed his and Hermione's schoolbags and swung them onto his right shoulder as he slipped his left arm about Hermione's waist and under the watchful eye of Professor McGonagall set off for the hospital wing.
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Ron, Ginny, Lavender, Pavrati, Neville, Dean and Seamus were once again ensconced in the study room adjoining the library. Their frequent use of the area in recent days had given it the distinction of being the "Gryffindor" study room a situation for which Ron was thankful at the moment. He had been filling the others in on the events of the morning and hadn't wanted to be overheard. Ron told the group about Serena's brazen attempts to seduce Harry and Parker's lecherous advances towards Hermione. He also informed them about Hermione's having nearly hexed Harry and her having cried over whatever Parker had done and/or said to her…that bit had Harry presently planning how he was going kill Parker Wesley without Hermione knowing what he'd done.
Ron had gotten the rest of the story of what had gone on that morning when he had zipped up to Gryffindor Tower right after Potions. Harry had told him about Hermione hitting him with the disarming spell and her slip that Parker had groped her during her crying spell. After McGonagall had seen them off Harry had convinced Hermione to see Madam Pomfrey who'd fixed his bruised head up quickly enough and given Hermione a Calming Draught to settle her jangled nerves. Harry had then taken her back to the Heads dormitory and put her straight to bed. Dean and Seamus had laughed at the idea of Harry and Hermione in bed together; their behavior earned them each a reproachful stare from Lavender and Pavrati. As Ron finished his story Ginny spoke up.
"We're really going to have to work double time to keep Serena from getting her hooks into Harry".
Lavender nodded in agreement. Ron snapped his fingers and spoke directly to Ginny.
"That reminds me…we've got Quidditch practice tomorrow".
Ginny frowned and asked.
"Quidditch practice…when did that happen"?
Ron replied.
"Well I had to do something to keep Harry from seeing Serena tomorrow night didn't I"!
Ginny frowned but Lavender beamed at him and said.
"Well done Ron…very quick thinking on your part".
Ron grinned at the praise being heaped on him for his mental responsiveness and said.
"Thanks Lavender".
Dean spoke up.
"What about the next time…Serena isn't going to give up you know".
Pavrati smiled and responded happily.
"I think Parker is going to help us with that little problem".
Seamus stared at Pavrati as if she'd gone mad and said.
"Make some bloody sense woman"!
Pavrati eyed Seamus evilly as Neville and Dean nodded in agreement to his pronouncement. Ron spoke.
"I think what Seamus is trying to ask is how and why would Parker help us keep Harry away from Serena".
Pavrati turned her gaze from Seamus to Ron and answered.
"I didn't mean that Parker was actually going to give us a hand…what I meant was that his conduct may have given us a way of keeping Harry and Serena away from each other".
Neville cut in.
"How"?
Pavrati continued.
"What happened between Parker and Hermione this morning must have really upset Hermione to make her angry enough to cry…that's not something she normally does…"
Pavrati paused as six heads nodded and six voices mumbled their agreement. She went on.
"I'm guessing that the only reason Harry hasn't used Parker as practice for some of the nastier defensive spells he knows is his concern for Hermione…"
Again Pavrati paused and watched as her associates agreed before pressing on.
"So all we have to do is make sure that Harry stays worried about Hermione".
Ginny chimed in.
"Its simple but brilliant…as long as Harry is worried about Hermione he'll stay close and that won't leave any time for Serena to get her claws in him".
Seamus asked.
"But how are we supposed to keep him worried about her…all Hermione has to do is say she's fine and Harry'll back off".
Ginny answered.
"Parker's advances got out of hand today and he managed to get away without having the stuffing beaten out of him…I'm guessing his ego is so big he'll try again…"
Dean finished off Ginny's thought.
"And when he does Hermione'll do her nut and Harry'll go charging after Parker".
Pavrati smiled again.
"Exactly".
Ron added in.
"Still we should keep to our plan to have Harry too busy to spend time with Serena just in case Parker backs off for a while…Ginny I think we should get some of the prefects to help us muck up the patrols schedule and I'll tell Harry we need to cover some new moves in Quidditch practice to stay on top of things".
Ginny nodded and replied.
"Good idea…I'll call in a few favors. Now then where are we with brewing this potion"?
Lavender spoke again.
"Let's see…we've got all the powdered ingredients and about half of the fresh plants we need. I'm still waiting for the owl order ingredients but the apothecary I ordered from assured me they'd be here by Saturday at the latest. Neville how soon can you get us the rest of the plants we'll need"?
Neville dug into his bag consulted his list and responded.
"I can have the rest by Monday".
Pavrati nodded.
"Excellent…Lav and I have everything set up to brew the potion in our room. Once we have all the ingredients it'll take three days to brew and another two to simmer. So we should be able to give them the potion next Saturday".
Ron frowned and exclaimed.
"Hang on…next Saturday is our first Quidditch match…we can't have our seeker acting all wonky on account of some bloody love potion"!
Ginny jumped in.
"The Scintillatus Solution won't affect his normal abilities or thought patterns Ron…all it'll do is make him more open to the idea of dating Hermione…he'll still be able to catch the snitch".
Ron responded gruffly.
"So long as you're sure it won't ruin our chances".
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Hermione rolled over in her bed and collided with something warm and solid. Blinking furiously she opened her eyes and found Harry lying beside her. Slowly the events of the morning wound their way through her psyche and Hermione groaned and smacked her hand to her forehead as images of Parker Wesley fondling her breast invaded her mind. The memory was so vivid she shivered as she ground her teeth together and whispered the words.
"Bloody arsehole"!
"I assume that comment is directed towards Parker and not me".
Hermione's eyes shot up at the sound of Harry's voice.
"I thought you were sleeping".
He shook his head.
"I woke up a while ago but I didn't want to disturb you".
"Oh".
The room went silent then and Harry tried to figure out the best way to get Hermione to open up to him. Finding no gentle or tactful way of asking what he wanted to know he decided to just ask.
"Hermione what happened"?
Hermione attempted to compose her face into an expression of perplexed innocence and said.
"What do you mean"?
Harry sighed.
"What happened between you and Parker"?
Her reply was a rush of words.
"Harry I told you earlier that I was just knackered and I let Parker get to me more than I should have".
Harry clenched his jaw and asked in a quiet voice.
"Where did he touch you"?
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wh…ummm…er…what makes you think that…that…that Parker touched me"?
Harry reached out and stroked her cheek and replied.
"When you were explaining why you hit me with that disarming spell you said you'd done it because when I touched your shoulder you thought I was Parker…you wouldn't have done if he hadn't touched you at some point before".
Hermione smiled faintly at Harry's use of deduction.
"Well spotted Mr. Potter…you've finally mastered the art of deductive reasoning".
Harry nodded and grinned a bit.
"I did learn from the best".
Hermione smiled in earnest then and Harry couldn't help smiling as well. Hermione spoke.
"Harry its sweet of you to be so concerned it really is but this is something I need to deal with on my own".
Harry nodded and breathed out his reply.
"Alright…I'll let you handle things on your own…but please remember I'm here if you need me".
Hermione smiled brightly and brushed a kiss across the corner of Harry's mouth and said.
"I know Harry, I know".
Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around his friend of seven years, though he wished she would trust him enough to tell him what Parker had done he'd allow her to handle things her own way for now and he'd be there when and if she needed him. He'd also be watching Parker Wesley's every bloody move. As Harry held Hermione close to him something inside of him seemed to shift and he realized that so long as he drew breath nothing and no one would cause her a moment's pain ever again. Harry was yanked from his musings by Hermione's voice.
"If we hurry we can just make dinner".
Harry shook his head.
"I'm not really all that hungry just now…I think I'll lay here a bit longer if that's alright with you".
Hermione stared at him with a worried expression and asked.
"Aren't you feeling well"?
"I'm fine…just tired and I want to get in a little more rest before we start our patrols".
Hermione responded with.
"If you are sure"?
"I am".
"Alright then…we'll skip dinner…we can always stop by the kitchens and ask the house elves for something later ".
Hermione summoned up her Advanced Transfiguration book, flipped to the chapter they where currently reviewing and laying her head on Harry's chest began to read. She was so involved in her reading that she missed the smile that turned the corners of Harry's mouth as he closed his eyes and sleep claimed him.
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Lavender and Pavrati stood looking at the bubbling and swirling orangey concoction that was simmering in the cauldron before them. Lavender exhaled and said.
"Well this is it…all that's left to do is to add the Lotusroot, the Betony, the Lovage, the Gingerheart Root, the Flaxseed Yarrow and the powdered Essence of Mussel and the potion will be ready".
Lavender looked down at the dish in her hands and slowly began to tilt it towards the cauldron. Pavrati's hand shot out and stilled the movement of the dish.
"Lav are you sure about this…adding these extra ingredients? I mean we're sure that Harry and Hermione fancy each other…maybe if we just give the Scintillatus Solution a chance to work on its own things will work out".
Lavender pinned her best friend with the sternest stare she could muster and replied.
"Pavrati we've been through this…Harry and Hermione are not your typical witch and wizard, they have much stronger constitutions than most…adding these ingredients to heighten the senses will increase the chances that Harry and Hermione admit how they feel about each other".
Pavrati nodded.
"I know you're right. I guess I'm just a bit nervous about it that's all. I mean honestly if those ingredients work like we hope they will we really will have made a love potion"!
Pavrati paused then spoke again.
"And you're sure we shouldn't tell the others"?
Lavender shook her head.
"There's no point really…Ron would have a conniption, Neville would start stammering some nonsense about us getting into trouble over what we've done, and Dean and Seamus would only gape at us and make idiotic comments like they always do…Ginny's probably the only one who'd see the sense in it but she wasn't to keen on the idea when I asked her about it hypothetically; she thought it was too risky…"
Pavrati cut in
"And you don't think it's risky"?
Lavender sighed and said.
"No I don't…the Lotusroot, the Betony, the Lovage, the Gingerheart Root, and the Flaxseed Yarrow are only going to heighten their senses. And as the senses are affected when a person is in love, adding these plants will only make Harry and Hermione more aware of each other and therefore more likely to be susceptible to their hidden feelings".
"But the powdered Essence of Mussel is an aphrodisiac".
Lavender giggled.
"Well…a little snogging is always a good thing don't you think".
Pavrati joined in the giggling momentarily before Lavender said.
"If you're seriously having second thoughts we can stop right now".
Pavrati smiled and replied.
"We've come this far may as well go all out".
Lavender nodded and without another word tipped the contents of the dish into the cauldron. She then stirred the potion counter clockwise then clockwise three times each as the recipe instructed before stepping back and standing beside Pavrati to watch the mixture simmer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Okay let's go over the plan once more".
Ron groaned and retorted with.
"Merlin Lavender…we've got it already…give it a rest"!
Lavender rolled her eyes and replied.
"We have to make certain we are all on the same page…we can't leave any room for errors here…now…once more"!
Ron sighed a second time and said.
"Once they come down to breakfast the rest of us will distract them while you slip the potion into their morning juice…then Ginny will make some remark to Hermione about Harry and I will make some remark to Harry about Hermione".
Lavender nodded in reply. Dean piped up and asked.
"I still don't get this bit about saying something about one of them to the other…what's the point"?
Pavrati supplied the answer with a barely repressed sigh.
"The whole point of the Scintillatus Solution is that it works on the desires a person has but does not want to admit to…you have to say something about whatever they're repressing in this case it's a person…"
Seamus interposed.
"Shut it you two here they come"!
Everyone quieted down until Harry and Hermione took seats alongside Ginny and Ron. The group exchanged good mornings and engaged in a few obligatory minutes of random small talk before everyone seemingly drifted into their prior conversations. Ginny and Ron then drew Hermione and Harry into separate conversations. Ron started in on Gryffindor's chances against Ravenclaw with Harry while Ginny filled Hermione in on the latest gossip about her present crush. Once she was certain they were too involved in their discussions to notice her actions Lavender poured a generous dollop of the Scintillatus Solution into both Harry's and Hermione's morning goblet of pumpkin juice. She then alerted Ron and Ginny to the completion of her task by clearing her throat and coughing loudly. Hermione looked up and asked.
"Lavender are you alright"?
Pavrati came to the rescue.
"She's fine…something went down the wrong way…here Lav…have a sip of juice".
Lavender nodded and took a sip of her own pumpkin juice. Satisfied that Lavender was fine Hermione returned to her breakfast. Pavrati motioned for Ginny and Ron to move ahead with the plan. Ginny nodded in return and picked up her conversation with Hermione; Ron merely sat there as Harry ate his chipolatas and eggs. Lavender, Pavrati, Dean, Seamus and Neville spent the intervening minutes collectively holding their breaths and stealing sidelong glances in an attempt to see what was happening. Suddenly, Harry and Hermione both reached for their goblets…it was now or never. The group watched as Hermione gracefully sipped from her goblet. Ginny leaned close and waited until she'd set her goblet down and asked.
"So…how are things with Harry…is he still asking about what went on with you and Parker"?
Hermione shook her head and replied.
"He's let it go for the moment".
That said she dove back into her bacon and waffles. Meanwhile further down the table Ron watched as Harry took a long swallow of his pumpkin juice and whispered to Harry.
"Hermione still keeping mum about that git Parker feeling her up"?
Harry grimaced as Parker's name floated past Ron's lips and touched his ears. His response was a terse "Yes". Harry then drained the remainder of his juice before rising from his seat and calling to his team.
"Alright you lot…let's go".
Ron and Ginny rose from their seats and shuffled off after Harry and the rest of their teammates shooting confused glances back at Lavender and Pavrati. Seamus whispered quietly to Pavrati and asked.
"Wasn't something supposed to happen"?
Before Pavrati could respond Lavender jumped up and said.
"We should be getting down to the pitch as well, otherwise all the good seats will be gone"!
The rest of the group rose from their seats and made to follow the Gryffindor Quidditch team, as Hermione rose from her seat the barrette she'd used to hold her hair in place came undone and slipped down towards the floor at the exact moment that Harry was walking past her. Hermione muttered "Bugger" as her long chestnut tresses cascaded down around her shoulders. Harry stooped to retrieve the barrette at the same time as Hermione. Her hand scraped the back of his as his fingers closed around it. They laughed briefly at the situation before Harry hooked a hand under Hermione's elbow as they both rose from the floor. Harry handed the barrette back to Hermione.
"Here you go".
Hermione looked up at him and smiled and Harry was temporarily stunned into muteness by how radiantly beautiful Hermione looked with her long hair hanging freely about her shoulders. Hermione spoke.
"Thank you".
Instead of replying with the customary `You're welcome' Harry said.
"You look very pretty with your hair like that".
Hermione furrowed her brow and smiled faintly.
"What"?
Harry answered.
"You look really pretty with your hair like that…you should wear it loose more often".
Hermione blushed. It was then that Harry noticed she was carrying her schoolbag. Pointing to it he asked.
"You are coming to the match aren't you"?
Hermione had to force herself to stop staring at Harry's lips and process what he had just said…something about a bloody match. It dawned on her that he had to be referring to the day's Quidditch match she then saw that he was pointing at her schoolbag and replied.
"Of course…this is for after the match…I wanted to study up on that new charm Flitwick gave us and I have some Transfiguration to look over as well".
Harry nodded.
"I could stand to do a bit of studying myself…would you mind if I joined you"?
Hermione smiled vibrantly.
"That would be lovely".
Harry was about to say something else when his beater Christopher Askew called out.
"Oy Potter…get a move on or we're gonna be late for the match"!
Harry threw an annoyed glance at Askew for interrupting him as Hermione interjected softly.
"You had better go. I'll meet you outside the changing rooms after the match".
Harry smiled and said.
"It's a date".
He then turned and strode out of the Great Hall grinning broadly. Hermione stood there smiling to herself at the prospect of spending time alone with Harry. She was so lost in her thoughts that Neville had to prod her with his shoulder to get her attention.
"Hermione…we're going to the pitch now…are you coming"?
Hermione nodded and running a hand through her hair slipped the barrette that Harry had picked up off the floor into her bag as she headed out the door. Lavender and Pavrati exchanged delighted glances at the fact that their plan was working before they too headed for the pitch.
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