Harry Potter and the Dream of Fate

"Can't believe you've won me again," Harry muttered, "I had a perfect strategy..."

"Of course," Ron retorted, "Uh, Harry, do you know where Hermione and Persephone went off to?"

"Yeah, Hermione said that they went to the library, but I don't think they'll be there long, you know how easily Persephone gets bored."

"Harry," Ron said preoccupied, "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure Ron, what's up?" Ron eyed the Common Room nervously.

He drew near to Harry and whispered, "Somewhere else--"

Harry nodded and they swiftly left the semi-crowded Common Room.

"Are you okay Ron?" Harry asked his best friend, "You look nervous."

"It's so stupid really," Ron said as they entered Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, "I just need to tell someone else, and who am I going to tell other than you, wait," Ron realized where they were, "How did we end up in here?"

Harry noticed the area as well. They hadn't been in this bathroom for quite a while, Harry supposed they automatically knew that it was the best place to discuss private matters without even thinking about it. "Don't know, but we don't have to worry about anyone eavesdropping," he stated absentmindedly, leaning against a stall, which also happened to be Myrtle's very cubicle.

"Of course," came a whining voice behind the door, "No one will eavesdrop, even poor, diluted Myrtle, she's a nobody isn't she?" Myrtle's transparent, freckly face rose up from the cubicle, ghostly tears dripping through her cheeks, "Let's all have our private conversations in Myrtle's bathroom since no one will listen," she groaned as she finally descended upon the two. Noticing Ron, she curiously turned around, and smiled crookedly at the sight of Harry. "Oh, Harry, I didn't know it was you," her crooked smile twisted broadly so that even some of her teeth showed.

"Hullo Myrtle," Harry tried to say cheerfully, running a hand through his hair.

"Myrtle," Ron stated firmly, "Now is not the time! Go back to your U-bend, me and Harry need to talk!"

"Oh that's tart isn't it? The red-headed boy just goes out and says that he doesn't want me around? Well, this is my grave site, don't you think you ought to be the one who leaves?" she hissed at him angrily.

"Myrtle," Harry said reasonably, "Ron's really, uh, troubled right now. Do you think you could leave us to talk for just a few minutes, eh?"

"You want me gone, Harry? Well, fine then, I'll leave you ALL alone to talk about his woes, as though they could ever compare to mine!" she wept and wept until they could no longer hear her through the plumbing.

"Lucky she's fond of you, Harry, or she would have never gone," Ron said exasperatedly.

"So what's going on Ron?" Harry inquired.

"Whew," Ron buried his face in his hands, "IthinkIlikeagirlbutI'mnotsureandI'msureshedoesn'tlikemeback," he mumbled.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Harry!" Ron groaned, "I think I like a girl but I'm not really sure and I'm positive she doesn't like me back!"

"A girl? This is what this is all about?" Harry chuckled in relief. For a moment he though it was something life threatening, like a Death Eater inside Hogwarts or Voldemort in the flesh.

"Don't laugh, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, "Look, I know it's stupid but this is really bothering me!"

"I'm sorry Ron," Harry said seriously, "It is a big deal. But first, who's the lucky girl?"

Ron sighed deeply, "I think it might be, the only girl who comes to mind is, Hermione."

"Hermione? Well, it's about time you just came out and said it," Harry retorted.

"Why would you say that? It's not noticeable is it? I mean, I didn't really know until a few days ago, Harry--"

"Ron, Ron, relax," Harry said, "I only thought so because I know you so well. No one else knows, honestly."

"Right," Ron said a bit brighter, "So what do you think? Are you mad at me?"

"Mad at you? Why?"

"Because you're such good friends with her, and maybe, you might feel the same way about her--"

"Are you crazy!" Harry shouted, "Ron, that is preposterous!"

"No it isn't. You're around her as much as I am, maybe even more often. It's totally believable if you've fallen in love with her. I mean, she isn't exactly drop-dead gorgeous or anything, but she is beautiful and smart and she smells so good,"

"Ron, please!" Harry put his hand up in protest, "I suppose from your point of view it is believable, and I do love Hermione, but like a brother loves a sister. And I would never be angry at you about it. If Hermione was to fall for anyone, my first hope would have to be you, Ron."

"You're serious? You mean there's nothing going on between you two?"

"Nothing, at all. I only wish the best for Hermione, I couldn't picture myself going out with her, like a boyfriend, ever."

Ron let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to know," he muttered.

"So," Harry said prodding Ron on the shoulder, "What are you going to do? Are you going to tell her?"

"No way!" Ron said vociferously.

"What do you mean no? How is she going to know?"

"I let her make the first move, if she's even interested," Ron said grumpily.

"No way Ron. You know she won't make the first move. You need to surprise her, make her see that you really care."

"I do show her I care!"

"By arguing with her all the time?" Harry answered for him.

"What do you propose then, Harry? Want me to hold her books for her, an occasional snog in the Common Room, perhaps."

"No, no no!" Harry wrinkled his nose, "The Hogsmeade visit will be coming up, why don't you take her? I'll be taking Cecile, so we'll both be on the same boat."

"Brilliant Harry!" Ron smiled, "I do have some money saved up, maybe I could afford to take her someplace nice, and even then I'll have a few sickles so I could buy her some flowers!"

"Right, I think I'll get some flowers for Cecile as well," Harry reminded himself.

Ron looked remarkably relieved, "I feel a whole lot better, thanks Harry."

"Don't thank me yet," Harry said playfully, "You still need to ask her."

Ron groaned and Harry took him by the collar, "I think now would be the best time--" and he led him down the hallway, towards the library.

* * *

Once they reached the library, Hermione was found sitting alone at a small table next to the windows. She was absorbed in a book, as usual, and conveniently located across from her was an empty chair. Harry walked in with Ron and they took an inconspicuous route to Hermione, so that she couldn't spot them. Harry agreed to wait for Ron behind a bookshelf, for moral support, as long as Ron went through with it. Ron took a deep breath, dusted himself off, and walked directly towards her.

She noticed him first. "Hey Ron," she said, marking her page in the book.

"Hi Hermione," he choked, even her name was beginning to be a difficult task. He straightened up and took a seat. "Whatcha reading about?"

"Nothing important, just something for Arithmancy. What brings you to the library, last time I checked, you weren't very fond of it." Hermione stated matter-of-factly.

Both to Ron's liking as well as dismay, Hermione was making constant eye contact. This was good because it hinted that she thought he was important and that she wanted to talk to him. This was bad because it made him exceptionally nervous.

"I needed to ask you something..."

From behind Harry a tiny whisper muttered, "What's going on?" in Harry's ear. Harry jumped.

"Persephone!" Harry said in surprise, "You're here!"

"Yes!" she said, mimicking his astonished voice, "I am!"

He smiled briefly and tried not to look in Ron's direction, he didn't think Ron would be too happy if Persephone knew about "The Plan" before Hermione.

"You're hiding something from me," she said, wearing a mischievous smile, "And it's somewhere behind you."

"No." Harry said in an unusually high voice.

"Ha. Yeah, right. Alright, your lying is horrible. Lemme see," since Harry blocked her way around him, she went through the inside. She scooted over him, and spied on the two talking friends who were in plain view. Her cheek brushed slightly against Harry's on her journey, but she took no notice. Harry however, felt his cheek burn. "Ah, I see," she said retracting a bit, "You didn't need to keep it from me, I already knew."

"Don't tell Ron, okay?" Harry asked.

"Sure. I just hope he's really asking her. He's pointing at her books so maybe he decided to ask about homework... hold on..." She tried to move farther forward, without being seen and without stepping on Harry, but it just resulted in her tripping over herself, and stumbling. Harry caught her quickly (using his wonderful Quidditch skills of course:) ) by the waist and brought her up.

They both stood in a very awkward position indeed. Persephone was leaning against the bookshelf, with Harry inches from her, his hands on her waist. She felt her face get very hot and she chuckled softly, "I'm so clumsy."

"It's okay," Harry replied in a hushed whispered. His stomach was filled with butterflies, and he felt more scared in that moment than he did when he went up against the Dark Lord. Well, maybe not more scared, but pretty close. He could feel his heart thump hard against his chest, and he could swear he could feel hers as well.

"Harry," she whispered, locking eyes with him, "Are you under that spell?"

"No," he replied, "You?"

"No."

Persephone closed her eyes and tilted her head up towards him, and Harry could see the faintest bit of pink on her eyelids. He leaned towards her as well and she smelled of raspberries and peppermint. He closed his eyes as well and leaned in towards her, he was so close that he could feel her breath coming from her lips and,

"HARRY!" Ron hissed from a few bookshelves away, "Harry where are you!"

They both jumped from the surprise, Persephone bumped her head on the bookshelf she was leaning against. But Harry never broke their gaze.

"Harry!" Ron called out again, "Harry!"

"I'm right here Ron," Harry whispered back, eyes still on Persephone. Persephone moved first, she flipped around and randomly selected a book. Harry could see her hands shaking. Ron turned the corner just then and Harry faced him while Persephone tried to casually lean against the bookshelf.

"Harry, I've been looking--oh, Persephone, I didn't know you were here..."

"Oh me? Oh, I'm just leaving actually," she said in a rushed tone, "I was just talking to Harry about, uh, Pixies of the Seventeenth Century," she read off the title of the book slowly, "And Harry, that was fascinating, but I gotta go, bye!" She took off in the opposite direction, and Harry had a very strong urge to follow her. But his friend needed him, and he thought it best to just let the moment `blow over'.

"So Harry, she said YES! Hermione said yes!" Ron panted in excitement.

* * *

The day of the Hogsmeade visit inched closer and closer, and Ron and Harry weren't the only ones with butterflies in their stomachs. Hermione was also very nervous, this was her first formal outing with a boy anyway, disregarding the Yule Ball with Viktor, since that ended rather brusquely. Other Gryffindors were uneasy as well, since this visit had turned into a bit of a dating game. It seemed that the boys had finally built up the courage to ask girls to join them after the ball, and girls seemed to have agreed. Except for occasional rejection, all the boys were quite proud. Poor Neville had not gotten a date to this outing, not even Ginny agreed to go with him. Ginny decided to go with other girls in her year, after all, she still was only fourteen.

Someone who was definitely not nervous, or at least did not show it, was Persephone. She seemed very cool and collected and poised. She was going with Malfoy. Even after their many disputes and the rather embarrassing misunderstanding at the ball, Malfoy managed to sweet talk Persephone into going with him. Persephone knew better than to fall into his phony words, it's just that she had no one else to go with and even though Draco could be nasty, she amused herself by seeing the softer side of him.

He, like herself, had learned to trap feelings down in a vault somewhere between your heart and soul. But nothing was impenetrable, and being like him, she could see right through the thick iron locks. She knew of course, that in return, he could also see through hers. But this didn't bother her as much as she thought it would, because if he did try to mess with her, she knew that she could take him with or without a wand.

So while most girls were off pampering themselves and making their weekend robes wrinkle-free, she slipped on a clean pair of jeans and salmon colored crew top, straightened up her hair a bit, put on some lip gloss, threw on her regular black robes, and was on her way.

She left without a word to Harry or Ron or Hermione, since they were all too busy wrapped up in themselves, and on Harry's part, wrapped up in some lunatic Mary Sue, and she just wasn't going to even attempt to get involved. As for Hermione and Ron, she was earnestly happy for them, she had seen what was coming a million miles away, and the fact that they had put it off until now just made her all the more frustrated. She hoped it worked out for them, although she definitely couldn't say the same for Harry. But like others have told her, if you can't same something nice, don't say anything at all, that's why she pursed her lips as she walked past the doting couple on her way to Hogsmeade.

Draco had told her to meet him outside of Honeydukes, some candy store she had heard way too much about from Ron, Fred and George. She casually strolled down the cobblestone walkway, and slowed down when she saw the Golden sign of the candy shop. She noted a faraway figure, a boy she could tell, holding a large box of chocolates, she had never seen anything like it. She shook her head a little and murmured to herself, "Lovesick fool."

She did a double-take, however, when that lovesick fool turned out to be her date, Draco Malfoy.

She approached him, half smiling, half laughing.

"For you," he said, arms outstretched, the even-more-massive-than-before box of chocolates inches from her reach. She took it.

"What is this?" she said bemused.

"Chocolates, from Honeydukes. The finest German chocolate to be exact," he drawled effortlessly.

"Yeah, but what for?" Persephone said, leaning against the wall, giving in to her cravings and taking the largest and most gorgeous chocolate from the bunch.

"What kind of gentlemen would I be if I didn't give you chocolates?" he smiled.

"True, true," she chuckled, closing the box and taking his arm. "To lunch?"

Malfoy took a large stride, "To lunch."

Malfoy brought her to a very large, decorative restaurant. They sat down at a small, round table, with large golden plates and goblets with tiny etchings of leaves and vines along the borders. Persephone felt very uncomfortable in her jeans and ordinary school robes in such an extravagant place.

"It's so fancy, you ought to have told me!" she whispered.

"Don't think anything of it. You look fine, pretty even," he cracked a smile, showing off almost every one of his pearly whites.

"Are you trying to charm me?" she said, putting her cloak on the back of her chair, flipping her hair out at the ends so that she'd look a bit more fancy.

"Charm? No, I'm just being myself."

A waitress addressed them, handing them both menus and butterbeers and for some reason Persephone noted that Draco looked particularly uncomfortable.

"Um, what's this one, eh, melodaugh au trauffe?" she read out loud.

Draco laughed a bit to himself, "I don't think you'll want to be eating that, it's calves brains."

"What!" Persephone exclaimed, "But, ew. Okay, is this even French?"

"No, its very poetic-sounding Mermish."

"Seriously?"

"Yes." Draco laughed to himself again, and fidgeted with something in his pocket.

"What are you having then?"

"Same thing as always, Le Hautte de Mermaid."

"And that would be..." Persephone asked, twirling her finger.

"Mermaid Special. It's a large platter with boiled lobster and melted butter, shrimp, king crab and a very special tartar sauce that comes in the middle. Only made by wizards, only tasted by wizards."

"Wow, that sounds pretty amazing."

"You do like seafood, right? I mean, your not disgusted by fish or anything?"

"Of course not. A free meal is a wonderful meal." She stated this promptly, a large smile playing across her face.

Draco smiled back, but his smile soon faded as his hand slipped back into his pocket. Persephone wondered what was keeping him so occupied. But before she could ask him about anything, she saw resolve when his eyes met hers.

" I have something for you."

Persephone grinned, "Presents? But I didn't get you anything!"

"Doesn't matter." He took a small black velvet box from his cloak pocket and placed it on the table between them. He followed suit by tapping his wand on it three times and the box grew out of the pocket sized miniature, becoming about as big as his hand.

Persephone recognized the package. Something like that held jewelry. Or in some cases, the keys to a really nice car.

"Are you just going to look at it, or open it?" Draco drawled.

Persephone jumped a little. She reached for the velvet box, nerves eating at the pit of her stomach. She shot Draco a nervous glance, and to her surprise, he returned it. She slowly opened the box and gaped at its contents.

* * *

Harry met Cecile outside the door of the Three Broomsticks. He had bought her a dozen red carnations, remembering how pretty she looked in red at the ball. She found him a bit behind schedule, but with a twinkle in her eyes as she kissed him.

"These are for you," he stammered.

"Oh my gosh, Harry!" she replied, "They are so beautiful! You are the best boyfriend in the world, yes you are!" she purred.

"Let's sit," he pointed out, a bit surprised at her behavior.

They sat at a little table in the back, which had a candle lit, compliments to Harry, and another single red carnation at her seat.

She took the carnation and put it in her hair, and set the other dozen on the seat beside her. "I can't stop thinking about you Harry. I know this may shock you, but you and me, I believe we're soul mates."

Harry's eyes widened at this. She was being quite forward, especially on their first date, and to tell the truth, it scared him. He could not think of anything to say to that which would reflect truth. In all honesty, he hadn't thought about her that much at all, which is why he had spent all the details on this date. To compensate in a way.

"You don't think so, Harry?" she said alarmed, scanning his face for a response, her clear blue eyes digging into him.

"Yes, I think so. I think about you too."

He gave her a convincing smile, that seemed to satisfy her, since she smiled back and brought her eyes to the menu. He hated to think that this relationship was beginning on a lie, but he believed that if his life wasn't so busy, he would have thought about her more often.

"Oh, I don't see anything I like. What about you?"

"Uh, I'd have the chicken, do you like chicken?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, chicken," she sighed deeply and brought her face up to his. "I'm going to go freshen up a bit, okay? Order for me, will you? The chicken is fine. Anything you like is fine, love," she traced his face with her fingers before walking away.

* * *

Ron was a complete and total mess. He couldn't see two inches in front of his face he was so nervous. Hermione wasn't there yet. She was late. She didn't want to come. Of course not, why would she? A million more negative questions raced through his mind.

He had to bail out on a restaurant or any fancy place because of the money. Ron couldn't afford to buy Hermione flowers and lunch and everything else that a guy would pay for in a first date. So he decided to have a picnic instead. The weather was a bit on the chilly side, but the sun was shining and a light breeze made it very romantic. He had settled himself on the bank of a tiny brook running through Hogsmeade, a classic red and white plaid picnic blanket underneath him. The food he hadn't made himself, of course, Ron was never meant to be a cook, he had help from Dobby and other house elves to make up wonders for him. Something he would conveniently not tell Hermione. He didn't want her to go through another S.P.E.W speech, right when he wanted to be romantic.

That's if she came, of course. She was 15 minutes late. Most would neglect this factor, but this was Hermione. She was never late. Never. He had expected her to be there first, even. He rushed there to make sure he had left everything perfect. Including the eight white daisies he had laid out in the center of the blanket. Eight daisies, one for each letter of her melodious name. The name God had taken from the most beautiful angel in heaven and had placed upon Hermione.

It was unlike Ron to think such thoughts. He wasn't exactly Rico Suave. But when he thought about Hermione, it was like everything about her was poetry and everything else was pointless. Aha, there he goes again.

Eighteen minutes. Almost twenty. He couldn't take it. He had hardly any patience as it was, now take the most nerve-racking day of his life and add those together and you sum up something on the edge. That's where Ron was right now, on the edge. Good thing Malfoy was with Persephone, because if Draco had spotted Ron right now, he would have had a field day, that even Harry couldn't deny.

She hated him. This was a joke. Hermione was playing a cruel joke on him, and he deserved it, to think that someone like her could ever desire someone like...

"Ron."

Her voice rang out like wedding bells, pronouncing the arrival of the bride.

"Hermione!" he sputtered, spinning around towards her, almost taking the blanket with him.

"Oh, Ron. I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, I was stopped by Professor McGonagall and I couldn't get away,"

"It's okay, sit, I hadn't even noticed you were late."

Liar.