Breakfast With Luna
By six o'clock the next morning, Ron was fully dressed. He knew that it had been too early to go and get Luna, but after tossing in his bed for an hour, he allowed his nerves to get the best of him and went to shower. When he got back to the common room, with nothing to do for an hour, he resigned himself to starting a Charms assignment, which wasn't due for another week. He was halfway through his second paragraph when Hermione entered the room, clearly about to go and have a shower herself.
"Hello Ron." She paused almost a bit shocked to find him there at that hour of the morning, and doing homework no less. Had he examined her closely, she would have noticed that her eyes were puffy, and that there was a strange glint in them. But he was too preoccupied with his thoughts on his upcoming date with Luna to notice anything as she added, "Getting a head start on your assignments?"
Ron looked up from his work and nodded.
Hermione smiled, but the warmth did not reach her eyes. It was a sad smile, similar to the one that was usually found on the face of a mother when she realized that her children really could live their lives on their own, and so would no longer need to depend on her.
"Really? Well good for you."
Ron watched as she walked away knowing that only she could manage to get excited over getting a head start on an assignment. A part of him had wanted to tell her the real reason that he'd been up, but there was another part that told him not to. He decided to go with that side as he felt that this sort of thing would only be truly appreciated by Harry, who had gone through these same emotions the year before with Cho.
"If mum could see you now." Ginny stood before him shaking her head in blatant disbelief. She'd seemingly appeared out of the thin air as Hermione disappeared through the portrait hole.
"You're acting as if you've never seen me doing an assignment!" Ron said, rather offensively.
Ginny laughed. "I have; it's just that Hermione is always there to do it over for you."
With that, Ginny waved teasingly and began to walk away. Ron chose to ignore her comment and since it was obvious that he could no longer work in peace as the house was waking up, packed up his things and went to put them away. When he went over to his bed, he found that Harry had just woken up.
"Off to get Luna?" Harry asked, suddenly seeming to really awaken.
Ron placed his things in his trunks. "Depends. What time is it?" He'd lost his watch at the beginning of the summer, but hadn't wanted to pressure his parents by asking them to replace it.
"It's a quarter to seven." Harry glanced down at his watch. He stretched a little before reaching for his glasses and getting up out of the bed.
"You don't think that it's too early?" Ron asked while closing his trunk.
Harry shook his head. "The Great Hall will start filling up in another ten minutes or so; you'll be on schedule."
"Alright then." Ron said while retrieving his bag. "I think that I'll go now."
Harry gave his shoulder a slight pat. "Good luck, mate."
"Do you think that I'll need it?" Ron asked, beginning to get nervous.
Harry grimaced. "No date could possibly be more worse than the one that I had with Cho, and Luna's nothing like her."
Seamus, who'd been getting a few items out of his trunk, looked up. "Luna? You're going out with Looney Lovegood, Ron?"
Hearing Seamus call Luna that name got him upset, and he quickly came to her defense.
"Her name, Seamus, is Luna. How'd you like it if I were to start calling you Semen instead of Seamus?"
Seamus, nor Harry for that matter, had expected Ron to react that way, and so they both looked a bit shocked.
"Sorry mate; I didn't know that you really cared." Seamus apologized.
Ron said nothing in response as Seamus walked away because he realized that he hadn't known either. He said goodbye to Harry a few minutes later and set off to get Luna.
The walk to the Ravenclaw tower seemed like the longest of his life and the further that he went was the more nervous he became. He couldn't get the conversation with Luna from out of his head. She'd told him that she might love him and he didn't even know how to define love! Yes he liked her; there was no denying that (especially after the way that he'd stood up for her), but love?
"Hello Ronald."
Ron looked up shocked to see that he'd already arrived at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room. He was even more surprised by Luna's appearance. Her hair, which she'd been wearing in a bun ever since her arrival at Hogwarts, was now falling gracefully unto her shoulders in loose curls, and if Ron wasn't mistaken, she was wearing a bit of make up.
"You're beautiful."
Ron's ears immediately went red at the realization that he'd voice his thoughts, Luna titled her head slightly and blushed, and a group of third year girls giggled as they walked by. He'd really have to keep his tongue in check.
"S-So are you ready to go?" He nervously tugged on his robes.
"Oh yes." Luna smiled and took his hand. Ron looked down at their entwined fingers and smiled nervously knowing that he'd never have even thought of doing that. He did, however, like the way that their fingers felt entwined-quite right, as if that were what they'd been meant to do.
"Ronald, I need to clear something up about last night." Luna announced as they began to walk off.
"Last night? What about last night?" Ron hoped that she wouldn't mention the 'L' word. He didn't know if his nerves could take anymore before they collapsed.
"About my tattoo."
Ron swallowed as he felt the heat begin to once again rise up his neck. "W-What about your tattoo?"
"I hope that I didn't frighten you by my confession..." She looked up at him.
"No," Ron fidgeted with his collar, "you didn't frighten me." She'd just made him extremely nervous, which was exactly what she was doing once again.
"Good. Because to be quite honest, I don't think that I love you."
Ron was caught off guard by her statement and suddenly stopped walking. "You don't?"
"No Ronald." Luna shook her head. "At least not yet I don't. I just really like you; a lot."
"Oh." Ron replied. "Me too."
Luna smiled as they joined the crowd of students that were making their way into the Entrance Hall. He didn't know whether to be elated because the pressure was now gone, or a bit put down because he wasn't the one whom she loved. But then again, she had said that she hadn't loved him as yet; there was still the great possibility that love would eventually arise... Girls were so confusing!
As they entered the Great Hall, it felt to Ron as if all eyes were suddenly on them, like someone had made a public announcement of their date and everyone had been awaiting their arrival. He glanced over to the Gryffindor table almost out of habit, and sure enough, quite a few of his friends were watching to see just where he was going, especially his sister Ginny, who was currently smiling mischievously.
Ron had a sneaky feeling that she'd known about the date all along. He gave them all a nervous wave before following Luna over to the Ravenclaw table. He didn't dare look up at the High Table, as he knew that he couldn't take it if Hagrid gave him one of his wide-eyed smiles because he was holding Luna's hand.
"Everyone, this is Ronald, he's going to be sitting with us for breakfast." Luna announced as they sat at the table. Ron recognized a few of them from his classes and while the others gave curious stares before eventually going back to their conversations, they waved.
"So," Luna surveyed the table after they'd taken their seats, "What would you like to eat, Ronald?"
Ron shrugged. "I suppose that I'll have what I usually eat for breakfast."
Luna nodded and reached for the platter of eggs, and Ron watched somewhat incredulously as she shared him and herself some eggs as well as two slices of toast. He had no idea that she knew what he usually ate, but then again, who knew what Luna picked up as she stared off into space.
"Strawberry or raspberry?" Luna asked referring to the jam selections. "You usually have a different one each morning, so I don't quite know which one you'd like."
"Which one do you prefer?" Ron had no idea that those were the two jams that he always spread on his toast, usually he'd just have whatever Harry or Hermione had chosen.
"Strawberry."
"Well then I guess that I'll have that one." Ron decided.
Luna nodded, about to spread some on his toast when Ron spoke up. "No thanks, I'll do it myself."
Sharing out eggs was one thing; he didn't need another version of his mother making sure that his jam and toast were just right. He took a bite out of his toast after spreading a generous layer of strawberry jam, and it was only after he swallowed, did he find Luna watching as he ate with her usual dreamy expression.
"Luna," He said while placing his toast back unto his plate. "I don't know how this is going to sound..."
"Yes, Ronald?" She tilted her head slightly as she bit into her own toast.
"Could you please not... stare at me that way while I eat? It makes me, um ... nervous." Ron reached for his goblet and took a long gulp of the orange juice.
"I wasn't watching you eat, I was just watching you. But if you'd like me to stop, I will." Luna replied.
Ron nodded while taking some eggs into his mouth. A few seconds later however, he realized that Luna was staring everywhere except at him.
"Um, Luna?"
"Yes, Ronald?" She asked, still staring ahead.
"When I said that I was uncomfortable with you looking at me, I meant watching me chew. You can look my way occasionally, you know."
"Oh!" Luna turned to face him then, smiling as she did so. "I'd thought that you didn't want me to look at you at all."
Ron shook his head slightly, smiling as he did. Across the Hall at the Gryffindor table, Harry grinned at him.
The further that they got into the meal, was the more that Ron realized that he'd been wrong to judge her the year before. Once you got to know her, Luna Lovegood really wasn't as weird as she seemed to be, she was actually quite charming and Ron found that they had a lot in common.
Like him, she loved the Chuddley Cannons, and they'd all learned from the night before that she too loved Wizard Chess. All in all, Ron couldn't have asked for a better companion for the morning meal. After breakfast was finished however, instead of waiting on Luna to, Ron reached out for her hand and they made their way out of the Great Hall.
"Which class do you have first?" He asked her.
"Herbology." She made a face as she said so, which caused Ron to laugh.
"Well I've got Transfiguration, so I suppose that I can't walk you like I'd hoped." He replied. They'd reached the Entrance Hall, and it was now time to part ways.
Luna nodded clearly comfortable with just standing there holding Ron's hand, but as the students began to emerge from the Great Hall, he began to get antsy again, feeling the need to do something.
He didn't know if he should let go of her hand then and say goodbye, or if he should kiss her and then go off to class. And even if the right thing to do were to kiss her, he wasn't quite comfortable kissing her in front of the entire school. It wasn't as if he were ashamed to be seen with her, he was just nervous. Finally, Luna spoke up, which relieved him immensely.
"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me, Ronald?" She asked.
"You mean for a second date?"
Luna nodded. "But only if you want to..."
"Don't worry," Ron reassured her, "I want to."
"Good." Luna smiled and stood on her tiptoe to kiss him on his cheek. "Have fun at class, Ronald."
Ron watched as she watched over to Ginny and the two disappeared into the crowd.
That wasn't so bad...
"Ron!" Harry emerged out of the crowd with Hermione by his side.
"Did Luna Lovegood just kiss you on your cheek?" Hermione asked, somewhat accusingly, Ron noted.
Harry ignored what Hermione had said and asked another question. "How was it?"
"How was what?" Hermione asked, once again in her accusing tone of voice.
"It was great, actually... Except for the time when she literally tried to feed me." Ron admitted.
Harry grinned. "So you like her then?"
Ron nodded. "I think that I do."
"Will someone please fill me in?" Hermione demanded in a rather icy tone of voice. "I seem to be out of the loop lately on the affairs of my best friends."
"Ron had breakfast with Luna." Harry responded, clearly trying to ignore her rude mannerisms.
"I know that." Hermione snapped. "What I didn't know is that he liked her. When did this happen?"
Ron, who was suddenly tired of Hermione's bossy ways, spoke up. "It happened somewhere between your time spent being rude and your time spent in the library."
Hermione gasped and Ron could see that she was getting upset, he didn't care though. "See you at lunch, Harry."
With that, he turned and walked out of the Entrance Hall towards the Transfiguration classroom. He didn't care if Hermione stayed upset with him for the rest of the day as she tended to, nothing she did could dampen his happy mood.
*
Did you notice the way that she was staring at you this morning at breakfast?
-Who?
Hermione Granger.
-Oh. I get the feeling that she doesn't quite like me.
From the look that she's giving you, I get the feeling as well.
-Well if it's anything like the one that Pansy is currently giving you, then I really know that she hates me.
Parkinson? She's been upset with me from the moment that I walked over to the Slytherin table on our first day here. She's always making snide comments in the dorm room and has the other girls against me.
-Hermione hasn't gone that far...
Maybe it's because she knows that you like Harry. She probably thinks that you're after him because he's The Boy Who Lived.
-But I could care less if he was The Boy Who Lived!
I know this and you know this, but she doesn't.
-Well if she feels that way, then it's her problem and not mine. Besides, Harry doesn't like her that way; I asked.
I don't know what to tell you. I just ignore Pansy and the others; they're not worth my time.
-Being alone has never really bothered me, so it's not like I need her friendship or I'll simply die.
Same here with Pansy.
-Snape's on his way.
I know.
-Toodles.
Au Revoir.
*
Beau Megghross sat in his usual seat in the Arithmancy classroom and waited for his partner, Hermione, to arrive. As he did so, he stared at the picture that Colin Creevey had delivered to him that morning during breakfast. It was the one that he'd taken in the library of himself and Ginevra.
He hadn't really noticed it before in the library, but now that he stared at the picture, Ginevra looked as if she might have a bit of a crush on him. It wasn't something that he wasn't used to, all his life had been spent as the center of attention when it came to the opposite sex, and apparently Ginny wasn't to be excluded.
By barely glancing at the picture, most wouldn't see anything other than two people posing, but Beau saw more. It was the look in her eyes and the way that her head tilted slightly, almost touching his face, but not quite, almost as if she were afraid of getting too close for fear of what might happen.
He smiled; Ginevra really was a pretty girl, but she was Ron's younger sister. He didn't have to ask to know that despite the fact that Ron was being friendly with him that he would kill for his sister. Still, he couldn't help but notice how perfectly comfortable the two seemed together in the picture and even more so, how natural the pose looked. A loud thud as Hermione dropped unto her seat caused Beau to look up.
"Is something the matter?" He asked concerned.
Hermione crossed her arms and pursed her lips. "Apparently, something is the matter with me."
Beau looked at her quizzically; he wasn't sure that he understood.
"It's nothing really." Hermione sat up straighter and began to unload her books from her bag.
"It's just that I feel as if my friends are excluding me from their activities. I suppose I'm just overreacting."
Before Beau could comment however, Hermione's eyes drifted towards the picture of himself and Ginny in the library.
"Is that Ginny Weasley?" She reached over to pick up the picture and stared down at it with a slight frown on her face.
Beau nodded. "Colin took it when I was helping her with an assignment."
Hermione looked at him as if she were going to ask a question, then she shook her head and sighed. "It's a really lovely picture."
"Colin could have a copy done for if you like." Beau offered.
Hermione shook her head and opened her textbook. "No, that's quite alright."
Beau watched as she found the chapter that she was looking for and began to read. He knew that something was bothering her and that she was keeping it to herself. Not that he blamed her really, they'd only known each other for three days, hardly enough time for her to start trusting him with her most intimate thoughts.
"Did you have a best friend at Beauxbatons?" Hermione asked closing her book.
Beau shook his. "No."
"Well then I guess you wouldn't know what I was talking about." Hermione shook her head once more and re-opened the thick text. Beau watched as she frowned and knew that she wasn't frowning because of what she was reading, she was thinking about whatever was wrong with her and her best friends. It wasn't as if he and Hermione were close, but he did hope that whatever it was that was bugging her would soon be cleared up.
She was a rather nice person when she was happy and he didn't like to see her upset, nor anyone for that matter. Knowing that there was nothing that he could do to help her, he turned back to his picture of Ginevra.
The Ginevra in the picture beamed up at the camera and whenever she turned slightly to glance at him, he could see the hint of red on her cheeks and knew that she was blushing. He smiled at the sight knowing that Ginny really did like him.
"Good morning class, sorry to be late!" From the door to the classroom, Professor Vector made her way to the front.
Beau immediately put away the picture of Ginevra and focused his attention to the board. Beside him, Hermione placed her Muggle bookmark on the page that she was currently reading, and did the same. Both had things that were on their mind, but they weren't the kind to let that get in the way of their work. For now, they'd remain focused, afterwards, they could reflect.
*
Later that afternoon, Harry and Ron found themselves on the Quidditch pitch as they surveyed the group of hopefuls. However, that morning at breakfast, Katie Bell had approached Harry with a suggestion that would have surely knocked Oliver Wood off of his broom, had he been the captain at the moment. Harry still remembered how nervous she'd been as she'd waited silently at the entrance to the Great Hall for him to gather his books and leave for class.
"Ah, Harry." Harry looked up to find Katie shifting rather uncomfortably as she stood in the doorway of the Great Hall. "I, uh, need to speak with you about something."
Though he had Potions next with Professor Snape and knew that he really shouldn't be late, he had a feeling that Katie wouldn't be standing in the doorway looking so nervous if it wasn't something really important that she'd had to discuss with him. Obviously sensing this as well, Alexandria, who was supposed to be walking with him to class, said that she'd save him a seat and walked on ahead. Harry then turned back to face Katie wondering just what was on her mind.
"What is it?"
Nervously, Katie ran her tongue over her lips and swallowed. "You know how much I really love being a Chaser, right?"
Harry nodded while looking at her quite confused. "Yes. And you're a really good one at that. But what does that have to do with anything?"
This time however, Katie nervously ran her fingers through her hair; something that Harry had taken to doing whenever he was upset or as Katie currently was, nervous. Taking a deep breath, she continued.
"Well it's just that I've got my NEWTs coming up this year... and I really want to become a Medi-Witch..."
She was stopped abruptly by Harry's sudden gasp.
"Wait a minute," he said, not quite willing to believe what he thought that he was hearing. "You're not planning on quitting Quidditch, are you?"
Thankfully, as Harry could feel a heart attack coming on (Katie Bell leaving the Quidditch team? Never! It just simply wasn't right!), Katie shook her head with widened eyes.
"No," she quickly assured him. "I just wanted to know if it would be okay for you to get a reserve Chaser for me at this evenings try outs."
Harry, who was just getting over his shock, was now left quite confused. "But why? If you're not leaving the team, then why do you need one?"
"Like I said," Katie explained, somewhat more calmly than she'd been before, "I really want to become a Medi-Witch, which means that I'll have to get excellent NEWT results, or else no decent Medical School will take me. And so I'd like for you to get a reserve Chaser for me, and don't worry, I'll train him or her myself, because when we have the final Quidditch match, I'll have to be seriously concentrating on my NEWT studies..."
"And so you won't be able to play." Harry finished for her.
Katie nodded. "I thought about this a lot, Harry, and believe me, I would never ask you to do this unless I felt it absolutely necessary, which I do."
Harry waved her off as he digested the information. Getting a reserve Chaser so that Katie could concentrate on her NEWT studies was far better than getting a replacement for her because she was leaving the team. At least Katie was willing to train the player, so that when it came time for the final match, and Gryffindor would most definitely be in that match, the player would be more than ready to replace her. Besides, whoever he picked would have to be replacing Katie the following year anyway, so a year of advanced training would only do wonders for the team once she was gone.
"Don't worry about it." He finally said.
"Are you sure?" Katie asked. Clearly, she hadn't been expecting things to go over so smoothly with Harry.
Harry nodded. "I'm very sure."
Katie broke out into a smile, which was a relief to Harry, as he'd never seen her so nervous before in all his years at Hogwarts, and hoped to not have to see her that way again.
Harry nodded at her about to leave before the bell rang and he was really late for class, but Katie called his name and he stopped.
"Yes, Katie?" He turned expectantly.
"Well this is just a suggestion," Katie started, "But I was thinking that since we really don't want to just throw the player into the final game like that without experience, that perhaps we could let him/her have a chance at an actual game. Perhaps the one with Slytherin since we'll more than likely be meeting up with them in the final match."
Harry hadn't expected such a proposal, but now that he thought about it, Katie was right. Throwing in an amateur Chase-no matter how much training he or she had gotten from Katie-into the final match with the more than brutal Slytherins would be like handing over the trophy to Malfoy. There was no way that he was going to be doing that.
"That sounds like a good idea." Harry agreed with her. "But since this person will be replacing you, I think that it's only fitting that you be the person that does the selection at tonight's try out."
And so tonight, as promised, Katie was also down on the pitch, surveying the group of hopefuls, one who would become her reserve and eventually, her replacement.
Ginny and Dean were there, as were Beau and Alexandria Megghross and rather surprisingly, Colin Creevey.
"Do you reckon that he can fly his broom straight?" Ron leaned over and whispered, after spotting Colin in the crowd.
Harry grinned while shaking his head. "You heard what Dumbledore said during the announcements, I don't think that he would turn up if he couldn't."
Hermione arrived from the midst of the crowd with a list in her hand and handed it to Harry. He'd asked her to list the players in accordance to which position they'd hoped to fill and he was rather surprised to see that Alexandria had hoped to be one of the three Chasers. Despite the fact that he liked her, if she didn't live up to the reputation of Angelina, then he couldn't accept her on the team. He was the captain now, and as such, had to act in that manner.
"Okay," he began. "I need you all to line up in accordance to which position you wish to fill and then after you've done that, we'll play a game with each of you filling that position on either side so that I may see how good you are."
Hermione took the list from him and began to arrange the players into two groups. When she was finished, she retreated to her seat in the stands so that she could watch the upcoming game. Harry had noticed that she'd been acting a bit strangely since the beginning of the term, but at least she'd agree to help him, even if she were hesitant at first. At the sound of Harry's whistles, the teams mounted their brooms and took off towards the slightly overcast skies.
Ginny was the first of the five hopeful Chasers to get a Quaffle past Ron (who had improved immensely since his older brothers were no longer there to intimidate him) and Harry had to do a quick dive in order to avoid the Bludger that Dean had sent across the pitch to someone on the other side.
After he'd steadied himself on his broom, Harry soared above where Katie was currently circling the Chasers, deciding that it was safer to watch the game from a little above. It was a good move on his part, as one of the third years that had decided to try out, had accidentally sent the Bludger in his direction. Harry grimaced as the rather embarrassed girl lost grip of her broom and almost fell off. He didn't even want to imagine how she would deal with the anxiety that occurred before the beginning of matches.
A few seconds later, the Quaffle made it past Ron and this time, it was from none other than Colin Creevey. Harry grinned at the shocked expression on Ron's face, which Ginny took advantage of and scored another goal.
"Ron!" Harry shouted as he zoomed closer. "If you continue to allow your sister to score, I'll be replacing you next."
Despite the fact that Harry was joking, Ron's ears went red with embarrassment.
From out of nowhere, Beau appeared before a fourth year and sent the Bludger, which had been aimed at him, back across the pitch. It was, Harry had to admit, a rather excellent move.
The game went on for another forty minutes before Harry had made up his mind as to who would fill the various positions. At the sound of his whistle, the players landed and waited anxiously for the results.
Katie, who had already made her decision mid-air, as to who her reserve and eventual replacement should be, was one of the first to land. Harry had been surprised when she'd whispered the answer in his ear, but as he'd already had that person in mind, he'd spent an extra ten minutes trying to decide which of the other four would be best as a new Chaser.
"You all played well," Harry decided to ignore the fact that a majority of them had been nervous and so had played horribly. "But as I said, only five can actually make it unto the team, so..."
~
An hour later, the Gryffindor common room was filled with dancing students and laughter as they celebrated the addition of the five new players to their team. In the spirit of Fred and George, Harry and Ron had raided the kitchens (despite Hermione's protests) and had filled the common room with pastries and pumpkin juice. Lavender and Parvati had provided the music and after Katie had performed a Silencing Charm on the common room so that they wouldn't be disturbing anyone, a full-blown party began.
Dean Thomas and Beau Megghross had been named the new Beaters, which only served to heighten Beau's popularity as he was currently in a corner dancing with two girls. Katie's reserve, who had turned out to be Alexandria Megghross was currently shaking her head along with the other selected Chaser, Ginny Weasley, as they watched Colin Creevey, who was rather surprised to hear his name being called as well, write a letter that was even longer than Hermione's novels to Viktor, so that he could send it to his brother that night.
Ron, who'd made it past Harry and was allowed to stay on the team, was currently dancing with Luna Lovegood. It didn't take a genius to realize that the two had in fact liked each other, watching them, Harry guessed that Ron had gotten over his crush on Hermione and was moving on. Thinking of his other best friend, Harry surveyed the crowded common room in hopes of spotting her. A few seconds later, he found that despite the party atmosphere, she too had taken to a table over in the corner of the room and was writing up a storm.
"How can you possibly do homework in all of this noise?" Harry pulled out a chair and sat directly across from her.
Hermione, who clearly wasn't expecting anyone to come over, looked up with an expression of surprise on her face.
"I've already finished my assignments," rather snottily, she added, "I do after all, spend all of my time not spent being rude, in the library."
Harry grimaced as he remembered the scene in the Entrance Hall that morning. During lunch and dinner, he'd had to sit between the two, as they still weren't speaking to each other and during Defense Against the Dark Arts, she'd chosen to sit with Beau Megghross.
For a few moments into the class, Harry had found himself wondering if Hermione too had fallen for his charming smile, but shrugged it off after seeing the way that they had interacted. Clearly, the two were just friends.
"C'mon, Hermione," he pleaded. "Are you really going to spend another year being upset with Ron half of the time?"
"Me?" Hermione hissed, looking up from her parchment. "It takes two to have an argument, Harry. Why aren't you asking Ronald this question as well?!"
"Perhaps because he, unlike you, has decided to enjoy himself at the party, while you wallow over here." Harry pointed out.
Hermione's eyes went over to where Ron and Luna stood, dancing crazily, before returning her icy gaze to Harry. "I'm not wallowing, Harry, I'm writing a letter to Viktor."
"Krum?" Harry frowned. "You're still talking to him?"
"So what? You and Ron get to go off and find yourselves girl friends while I sit up in the library getting smarter?" Hermione snapped, her tone of voice getting more dangerous by the second. Harry could see that his current method of approach was in fact not getting him anywhere, and decided to use another to get Hermione to join in the celebration..
"I didn't mean it that way," he explained. "It's just that I haven't heard you talk about him since last year."
"That's because you ignored us all summer and didn't respond to our letters." Hermione went back to writing. "Had you read them, you would have known that Viktor and I had ran into each other over the summer while I was away with my parents."
"So does this mean that you two are together now?" Harry asked. If that were the case, then he definitely was out of the loop where Hermione was concerned.
"No," Hermione dipped her quill into the ink and signed her name at the end of the letter. "I suppose that I should just go and get myself a boy friend now that you two are going to be preoccupied otherwise, though."
"Ron and I are not preoccupied. If you need us, you know that we'll be there." Harry stood as Hermione did, watching as she rolled up the parchment.
"Listen, could I borrow Hedwig to send this letter?"
Harry noticed that she'd declined to respond to his statement, but knowing that there was really nothing that he could do, decided to go along with her diversion. "Sure."
"Thanks," Hermione placed the parchment in an envelope and he watched as she sealed it. "I'll just go off to the owlery now then."
Harry nodded and watched as she disappeared into the crowd of dancing teens. From where Ron and Luna stood near the fire, he could see Ron raise his eyebrow and look slightly in Hermione's direction.
Somewhat defeated, Harry shrugged his shoulders and watched as Ron's attention went back to Luna. Watching the two for a while, Harry wondered if what Hermione had said was correct. Would they really get themselves so preoccupied with other things that they'd no longer have time for each other?
Remembering all the things that the three had gone through since they'd become friends in their first year at Hogwarts, Harry sincerely hoped that they wouldn't. You didn't just go through five years of difficulty, only to come out triumphant by each others' side, to just turn your back on a friendship as sturdy as theirs.
"Dance with me." From out of the crowd, Ginny appeared, looking quite flushed, as if she'd just come from dancing with someone else.
"What happened to Beau?" Harry teased. He'd seen the two of them dancing with each other a few minutes before he'd gone over to Hermione.
Trying her hardest not to blush, Ginny replied. "Beau's dancing with Lavender right now Harry."
"Oh," Harry pretended to be hurt. "So what am I? Second best?"
Instead of commenting, Ginny just rolled her eyes and pulled him towards the crowd. They made their way into the center and as the song changed from a sultry to an up-tempo beat, began to dance. Getting lost into the music, Harry decided to just enjoy himself and to let things fall into place as they saw fit, because try as he might, there was nothing that he could really do but allow nature to take its course.
**-*-*-**-*-*-**
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