In Which Harry Observes and Ron Clues In

In Which Harry Observes and Ron Clues In

Harry had always thought that Ron's observation skills were somewhat lacking, especially when it took fourth year for him to notice that girls were different from boys. It was, therefore, a great surprise when Ron burst into the common room one day, and announced that he was dating Luna Lovegood.

"That Luna?" Hermione had immediately asked, with an expression akin to disgust. "But what can you see in someone who doesn't speak one word of sense?"

Ron had been indignant. "She likes my hair."

"Really?" Hermione had retorted. "And does she think the red jungle-haired gnome lives in it?"

Ron and Hermione had another fight, while everyone in the common room blocked their ears and sighed. Harry, meanwhile, thought that both his friends had missed the point. Relationships weren't founded on the admiration of your partner's hair. And why hadn't Hermione picked that up?

And thus, from that time hence, Harry decided to put his own observation skills to the test.

*

On Monday, before quidditch practice, Hermione had insisted that the team needed someone like her who could sit down, watch them play and analyse their quidditch theories. Harry, who didn't know that they even had any theories, was about to say so when Ron interrupted-

"It's okay, Luna's coming to watch me play."

"But you need someone who can write," Hermione had scathingly replied. "Can she spell onomatopoeia?"

"And what exactly do you mean by that, Hermione?" Ron's eyes narrowed angrily, while the rest of the team sighed. "Can you save the world, and get them to shut up?" Angelina had mouthed to Harry, who shook his head. He was only the Boy Who Lived, not the school counsellor.

Meanwhile, the bickering only got worse.

"What I'm implying, Ronald Weasley, is that Luna Lovegood is the type of person who is more likely to be looking for invisible dancing elephants than quidditch tactics."

Quidditch practice was cancelled, and Ron and Hermione did not speak to each other for the rest of the day. Harry intellectually wondered if something was not quite right between his two friends.

*

On Tuesday, it only got worse. Although Harry could not figure out what the "it" actually was.

During breakfast, Hermione had started reading "People Who Hallucinated and Went Mad." Harry, meanwhile, could swear that Hermione had somehow enlarged the book's title so that the whole school could read it. It was also peculiar how she kept quoting passages from the book, with a triumphant 'I-told-you-so' look in her eyes.

"And it says here that the belief of non-existent creatures is classified as insane," Hermione read, and then stressed in a cautious tone, "and dangerous."

Harry thought that it looked like Hermione was trying to make a point, although he could not guess what it was. It looked like Ron did, however, because he violently stabbed at his sausage and muttered-

"Well I think it's cute."

Hermione and Ron did not speak to each other for the rest of the day. Harry wondered why.

*

On Wednesday, Harry had been woken up by Ron, who pointed to his own bed urgently. Someone had left a maroon leaflet on Ron's pillow, and Harry picked it up cautiously.

In conspicuous writing, it had read: Illogical is always illogical! Strange minds breed danger! What to do when you are fraternising with irrationality and WANT OUT!

For some reason, Ron did not speak to Hermione for the rest of the day. Again, Harry wondered why.

*

On Thursday, however, Harry Potter got a Clue. And the "it" that was getting worse was starting to make sense.

At lunchtime, Ron and Luna were sitting in the library researching on some Charms homework when Ron leant down to squint at a rather long and complicated Latin word. Luna must have interpreted this differently because she then inched her face closer towards Ron's. Harry, who had been sitting with the two, realised that they were about to kiss, when-

BANG!

A book flew out of nowhere and hit Luna on the head, knocking her out. With the keen observation skills of a seeker, Harry realised that the book was no other than "Hogwarts, a History." Moreover, when he looked over at Hermione, who was sitting a few tables away from them, he saw that she had been reading "How to Perform Throwing Spells Without a Wand."

Harry began to think that there was a reason Ron did not talk to Hermione that day.

*

On Friday however, even Seamus and Dean noticed that something, also known as the "it", was happening. In fact, Harry was sure that the whole school did. Halfway through dinner, Hermione had stood up and stalked towards the Ravenclaw table. She then marched over to Luna, and yelled in a very un-Hermione like voice.

"YOU DICTIONARY OF BLABBERING NONSENSE! YOU IRRATIONAL AND DELUSIONAL GIRL! MURDERER OF LOGIC! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE EXAMINATION!"

And then, Hermione had turned and walked back towards to the Gryffindor table, only to yell at a flabbergasted Ron-

"HAVE I MADE MYSELF QUITE CLEAR, RONALD WEASLEY?"

Harry wondered if the tears in Hermione's eyes appeared because she had just realised that she had broken a school rule. However, with the "it" still lurking around, Harry was slightly suspicious.

Ron and Hermione did not speak to each other that night. Ron was being treated for shock, and Hermione was reading "Men Who Drove Their Women Mad."

*

On Saturday, Harry had thought that the world came to an end. Luna had actually won the general knowledge examination. But, as Harry reasoned, that only might have been because Hermione had not turned up, and therefore was disqualified.

Of course Luna had been rather happy. She had received her flowers and then given them to Neville with a smile. Thinking it over, Harry thought Neville looked rather happy too.

For the first half of the day, Harry wondered why Hermione hadn't arrived for the general knowledge examination. It was almost like Snape not deducting points from Gryffindor.

Then, for the second half of the day, Harry wondered why neither Hermione nor Ron had turned up for any of their classes. Harry, with the mind of an Auror in the makings, deduced that it was because of the "it", and wondered if he should inform Professor Dumbledore.

*

Later that night, Harry walked into the Gryffindor common room, only to be shushed by Parvati and Ginny. He looked around the room in alarm, and observed that everyone was standing in a semicircle, each with Hermione's trademark 'I-told-you-so' look on their faces.

Harry stepped forward for a closer view, but all he could see was a tangle of arms and legs.

He then looked a little to the right, and saw a copy of "Hogwarts, A History" next to the tangle of arms and legs.

He stepped forward further, and then came face to face with "it".

"It" was Ron and Hermione, and "it" was meant to be.