Times of Changes

Times of Changes

Chapter 3

In which Hermione Punched Harry

Ron Weasley was having a perfectly lovely dream, tucked up in his warm bed.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Hermione, would you go to the Yule Dance with me?” Ron asked nervously.

Hermione laughed and said, “Sure, why not?”

“Really?” Ron asked, unable to believe his ears. “What about Victor Krum, then?”

“Ah, who cares about him!” Hermione gave a dismissal wave of her hands.

“Oh, Hermione!” Ron breathed.

“Oh, Ron!” Hermione breathed back.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Screamed Harry.

Huh? Harry?

~~~~~~~~~~

Ron woke up, blinking and yawning. Wondering what had woke him up, Ron sat up and looked around his room. Nothing. Everything was where it was suppose to be. His walls filled with the moving wizard posters of his favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannon, the fishtank on the window-sill, the small cage containing Pig, still asleep, the empty mattress where Harry slept… Wait a minute…Empty mattress?

Ron’s blood ran cold as he suddenly recalled the scream in his dream. Harry’s scream. ‘Oh no, someone managed to kidnap Harry!’ Ron panicked, until he heard laughter from outside his window.

Ron rushed towards the window and threw them open. Looking out, He saw Harry spread out on the ground right on top of Hermione and Ginny. Apparently, the girls had tried to catch Harry, (who must have fallen from his broomstick, as his Firebolt is now flying towards Harry) but were unable to handle his weight. Ron grinned at the sight, then frowned when he noticed how close Harry was to Hermione. And Ginny, of course!

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry groaned. He had expected to break every bone in his body. One does not fall down from a five-storied building and come out of it unharmed, you know. Luckily for him, Harry seems to have fallen onto some bush or something. Whatever it is, it had broken the fall for Harry, allowing him to escape with only some minor aches on his body. Those he could handle, however. One does not play Quidditch without picking up some scraps now and then. It was his head that was hurting him now. Whatever that thing is, it did not stop him from knocking his head against the ground. Hard. And the impact had knocked off his glasses. And he could hear someone laughing at him from somewhere above him, which did nothing to improve his temper.

Harry tried to push himself up, one hand supporting his head to keep it from splitting open, unable to see clearly without his glasses, the other hand groping around for his glasses. Harry paused, his hands brushing against something. It did not feel like the ground, however. It’s soft, for one thing, and it seems to be covered in cloth, for other. Confused, Harry removed his hand from his head, and opened his eyes, which grew steadily bigger as he found two pair of eyes staring right back up at him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione stared at Harry’s green eyes, seemingly brighter without his glasses to dim the light, then down his arm to where his hand is currently rested on her… chest. Harry doesn’t seemed to be aware of where his hand is, however, as he made no move to remove them. Surprisingly, Hermione found that she doesn’t really mind that. Properties, however, must be maintained. Besides, Hermione could see Fred and George at the window of their room, laughing their heads off, and Ron, who had a frown on his face.

“Harry?” Hermione whispered, her face red.

“Ye…yes? Hermione?” Harry whispered back, his eyes still confused.

“Could you please move your hand, Harry?” Hermione whispered, her voice softer than before.

“Huh? Wha…” Harry eyes moved to his arm, following it down to where his hand is resting…

“Aaaahhhh!!!” Harry snatched his hand away like it was burned and moved backwards, tripping over Ginny’s legs. Knocking his head against his Firebolt that was hovering behind him, Harry fell to the ground again, sat on his glasses and cracked them, then started crawling backwards until his back hit the wall of the Burrow, leaving him nowhere to run to, his hands held high above his head, a look of fear on his face.

Hermione slowly and calmly got up and helped Ginny to her feet. She walked slowly towards Harry with Ginny beside her. The two girls stopped next to Harry, Hermione on his left, Ginny on his right. They took hold of Harry’s arms, one on each arm, pulled Harry to his feet, and gave Harry a great, threeway hug!

“Huh?” By this time, Harry was very confused.

“This is for frightening us out of our wits,” Hermione said, still locked in the hug. “And this…” She pulled back, eyes suddenly blazing, balled up her fist, and punched Harry in the stomach! “Is for taking advantage of me!”

Harry doubled over, hands holding the place where Hermione punched him, and sank to his knees in pain. Ginny supported him, looping his arm across her shoulder, and lifted him to his feet again.

“Are you alright? I didn’t hurt you too badly, did I?” Hermione asked, her face filled with concern.

Harry shook his head, trying to get rid of the pain in his head, and leaning weakly in Ginny’s arms, answered Hermione. “Oh, no. I’m alright. Falling from five storeys, banging my head on the ground, being punched by you… Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You deserve being punched though.” Ginny said, grinning.

“I’m so sorry, Harry” Hermione apologized. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, I’m the one who’s suppose to apologize. I should have moved my hand when I realized where my hands were.” Harry said, a small smile on his face as he remembers the feeling of… Let’s just leave it here, shall we.

“We better get you inside. Mum’ll take care of your wounds.” Ginny said, moving towards the kitchen door.

“Right. C’mon, lets get you in.” Hermione said, picking up Harry’s shattered glasses, tapping it with her wand and murmuring, “Reparo” She handed the repaired glasses to Harry.

“Thanks, Hermione” Harry said, taking the glasses and fixing it on his nose.

“Glad to see you smiling again.” Hermione said, thinking how much more handsome he looked when he smiled.

“I had reasons to, now. Thanks to you.” Harry replied with a grin.

“Oh, you…” Hermione smacked the back of Harry’s head, laughing.

“What about me?” Ginny asked, her head bowed, straining under the weight of Harry.

“You too. I mean, it’s not everyday I get to lean on a pretty girl like you.” Harry joked.

“You… find me… pretty?” Ginny asked, her face turning red.

“Yeah, Who wouldn’t?” Harry replied, smiling.

The three of them reached the kitchen door. Hermione pulled open the door, and they staggered into the kitchen. Harry sank into one of the chairs at the table.

“Oh my God. What happen to you, Harry?” Mrs. Weasley hurried up to Harry.

“Oh, nothing much, just fell of the roof. That’s all.” Harry said calmly.

“WHAT!!! FELL OFF THE ROOF?!?” Mrs. Weasley screamed.

“It’s ok, really. I’m just winded from the impact.” Harry’s eyes turned to Ginny and Hermione for help. However, the look they send back said plainly, “You’re on your own.” Harry groaned. Now nothing would save him from being mothered by Mrs. Weasley.

Luckily for Harry, Fred, George and Ron chose this moment to burst into the kitchen.

“Wow, Harry. What a dive.” Fred cried out excitedly the moment he entered the kitchen.

“Yeah. We were watching from our window. It was awesome!” This was from George, coming in after Fred.

“I know Ginny and Hermione are pretty, but you don’t really need to jump them, do you?” Ron said, entering the kitchen. He was not smiling.

“I did not jump at them!” Harry said, alarmed at this accusation.

“Yeah, Harry wouldn’t dare jump at our little sister, would he?” Fred and George said at the same time, looking at Harry.

Faced with three of the Weasleys, Harry started to sweat…

“Of…of course not…” Harry said weakly, quailing under the glare of the three Weasleys.

“Hey, Cut it out. All of you. Harry did not jump at us, as you put it. He slipped from the roof. It was an accident!” Ginny shouted, coming in between Harry and her brothers, waving her arms about.

“Ok, ok. Cool it, Ginny. We know he wouldn’t do that. It was just fun teasing him about it.” Fred laughed.

“Hey mum, what’s for breakfast? I’m staving!” Ron said, sitting himself at the table, choosing the seat beside Hermione.

“Do you only think what your stomach?” Hermione asked, as Mrs. Weasley placed the bacon and eggs on the table.

“Hey, what can I say? I’m a growing boy!” Ron laughed, helping himself to breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~