Chapter Three
Hermione didn't get a chance to meet Harry all week. Training was busy, and she just went straight to bed when she got home. Ron was away, back in Ireland, and the thought of Harry alone with Ginny in their apartment bothered Hermione beyond words. She expected the announcement of their reunion any day now. She could just imagine them reminiscing of old times, drinking firewhiskey, laughing and touching…. Those thoughts helped her quite a bit during her physical training, giving her extra adrenaline.
When she got home late Friday evening Hedwig was waiting impatiently at her window. She took the scroll and read:
Hey stranger,
It's been hard getting in contact with you this week. I've stopped by a few times, but no luck. Anyway, Ron and Ginny are throwing me a welcome home party tomorrow at their apartment. Everyone is coming! See you tomorrow.
Harry
Hermione smiled after reading the letter. She needed to relax a bit, and she knew Harry would enjoy meeting all of his old friends. She decided she should arrive a bit later then the rest, though; she wouldn't get a chance to speak to Harry, anyway, since everyone would have a million questions for him.
---
Hermione hadn't been to a party in ages, always having to decline because of her being tired after training. She looked through her wardrobe - she wanted something different. She wanted to show Harry that she had changed as well, that she had grown up. Not that he had ever doubted it; but it felt important somehow. She wore a black strapless dress; it ended just below the knee. She wore high heels and a nice necklace her mother had given her and she straightened her hair. She felt a bit uncomfortable in her outfit, it was not her usual style, but she decided that it would prove to Harry how mature she was now.
When she arrived the party had started, the music was loud, and all of her friends were there. She greeted everyone and looked around the flat for Harry and her closest friends. She couldn't see them so she grabbed George, who pointed them out. They were sitting at the kitchen table. She turned to walk towards them and Harry spotted her. She smiled at him, and he gave her a smile that made her feel intoxicated. She joined Ginny, Ron, Harry, Fred, and Seamus at the kitchen table. She couldn't help but notice that Harry had watched her from the moment she entered until she reached their table.
"Hi," she said and sat down next to Ron.
"You look like - well, good," Ron mumbled at her.
"What was that?" Fred asked loudly.
"Shove off," Ron shot back and threw a fork at him.
Hermione looked at Ginny, she was sitting very close to Harry.
So that's that… They're back together. I should be happy for them.
People from Ron's Quidditch team were there as well and they were entertaining Lavender and Luna with stories. Hermione was rather surprised to see Luna listening so intently at a Quidditch story, but she figured she had uncovered some hidden story for The Quibbler in it.
"You need a drink!" Harry stated.
"Yes, indeed," Hermione agreed.
"I'll make you one," Harry offered and started to rise.
"No, no, I'll make one," Ron said and hurried over to the counter. He returned quickly with elderflower wine for her. She smiled gratefully at him.
"So how did the match go in Ireland?" she asked.
"Lost." He shook his head gloomily.
"Don't worry, next time will be better," she said and patted his back. Harry watched them and then turned away.
The party turned out to be a lot of fun. Everyone was so happy to see Harry that they all let loose. After a few more glasses of elderflower wine Hermione found herself on the sofa with Luna. They talked about The Quibbler, but Luna's eyes were constantly fixed on Ron. Hermione quickly lost patience and sat in silence. She watched the people dancing.
"Come on, join us," Ron yelled over to her. She felt tempted and laughed slightly at Ron's dance moves. She joined the others on the dance floor and even danced a bit with Seamus. As a slow song started Ron was quickly by her side.
"Sorry, I asked her first," Seamus announced and Ron tried to look like he didn't care.
Hermione put her head against Seamus's shoulder and they started dancing to the slow song. Hermione looked over at Harry - he was sitting between Ginny and Lavender, rapidly turning his head between the two as they were competing for his attention. He looked rather bored with the conversation. Suddenly he looked up and their eyes met. He shot her a smile and she smiled back. Ginny followed his line of sight and when she saw that he was looking at Hermione she grabbed his chin and turned him back to her. As the song came to an end, Harry rose and it looked like he was walking towards her. She let go of Seamus and she and Harry locked eyes as he approached. Suddenly she felt someone grab her hand and spin her around. Ron quickly put his arms around her and as they spun around she saw that Harry had turned again and was now walking towards the restroom.
Ron held on to her tightly and she dreaded how the evening might turn out. As the dance finally ended, Hermione walked off the dance floor and sat back down in the sofa. By now, Fred and Angelina were standing in a corner snogging as though their lives depended on it. She couldn't help but stare at them, feeling slightly envious. She would love to kiss someone like that, well a certain someone. Her mind raced back to her and Harry's kiss outside The Three Broomsticks. It sent goose bumps up her spine and she became slightly excited.
"What are you thinking about?" Ginny said as she threw herself in the sofa next to Hermione.
"Hmm?"
"You had a very guilty look on your face," Ginny teased and pushed her gently.
Hermione ignored the question. She looked at Fred and Angelina again.
"Yeah, I know," Ginny agreed as she saw what Hermione was looking at. "Hopefully I'll be in that position in a few hours!"
Hermione snapped her head around and stared at Ginny. "So you and Harry are back together, then?"
"No not yet, but if I get my way we will be as soon as possible."
Hermione excused herself shortly after and went out on the large balcony. She looked up at the black starry sky.
I'm such a bloody fool. I wish more than anything that I could have fallen for someone else. It's just…well Harry and I have such a special bond. It's like… sometimes we don't even have to speak, we just understand each other.
She turned around and looked at the scene inside. Neville was dancing like a pro with one of the girls from Ron's team, and Lavender was dancing with one of the guys from the team. Harry was talking to Seamus and George whilst Ginny was lurking somewhere behind Harry, it looked like she was ready to pounce. The balcony door opened and Hermione spun around.
"Hello, there," Ron said, announcing his presence.
"Hi, Ron."
He walked over and stood next to her. "Sorry, I forgot to invite Jonathan."
"Don't worry about it," she answered and started picking at some of the old paint from the railing.
"So you don't mind, then?"
She shook her head and Ron smiled at her. He took a sideway step closer to her. "Hermione, I - "
"I'm cold, I have to go back inside," she answered quickly and turned around. Ron stayed out there for a while longer.
As Hermione entered she walked over to the gang surrounding Harry. "I'm going home," she told them.
"Why?" Harry turned his attention towards her.
"Well, I had a great time, but I think I had a bit too much to drink. I just want to go home and have some of the left over pizza in my fridge."
"Sounds nice, wish I could join you but I can't very well leave my own party," he joked. A hand came
around his waist and Ginny appeared from behind him. He laughed at her and then turned back to Hermione but she was
already gone.
---
Three hours later Hermione woke up by the sound of someone knocking at her door.
It annoyed her gravely - it had happened far too often the past week. She didn't want a drunken Ron in her living room tonight. She yanked the door opened and found Harry there with all his bags.
"Wha - what's happened?" she said and moved quickly out of the way.
"Do you mind if I stay over tonight?"
"Of course not."
She followed him into the living room. She gestured for him to sit down while she walked to the kitchen counter. She put on a kettle and reached inside for the pizza. She put it down in front of him.
"Wow, look at the service at this place," he joked.
"Yeah, well I'm used to Ron demanding food. Now tell me what happened!" she demanded. Harry sighed heavily.
"Well, I didn't think it was such a good idea if I stayed over there anymore." It was obvious that he didn't want to talk about it, but as Hermione looked at him he continued. "Ginny and I had a small disagreement you see."
"About…?"
"Us."
"You and me?" Hermione looked startled.
"What? No. About her and I."
"Right, of course!" Hermione laughed nervously. Harry shoved a large piece of pizza in his mouth.
"This is really good," he mumbled.
"Harry." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Continue."
"Right. Well Ginny apparently thought we'd get back together for some reason. And that isn't my plan. She wasn't so happy about that, said she'd waited for me for years, and when I told her that I never asked her to, her face turned as red as her hair."
"Oh, boy."
"Yeah, so here I am." Hermione started laughing. "Glad my misery is making you happy, at least," Harry smiled at her.
"No, it's not that. It's just - you haven't even been back two weeks and you're already getting in trouble. I don't know how you do it."
"I really don't know, either."
She got up and walked over to her closet. She pulled out the pillow and blanket Ron usually used and she put it on the sofa next to him. "I have to get some sleep, is there anything else you need?" she asked and he shook his head.
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