Hermione Granger and the Two Lovers

Chapter Twenty-Three

After their classes, Ron and Hermione walked outside, towards the lake. Harry went to drop his bag off in the dormitory.

Hermione and Ron sat down under a tree close to the lake. "It's beautiful," Hermione commented on the scenery.

Ron nodded and placed his arm around Hermione's shoulder.

Hermione smiled and looked across the lake. She spotted Lavender and Seamus snogging under a tree on the opposite side of the lake. Hermione glanced at Ron. He seemed to have spotted the couple, too.

Hermione felt a bit uncomfortable. Was she supposed to snog Ron? Or would that be disobeying her father's orders?

"So..." Ron said nervously.

"So..." Hermione answered.

"Do you want to have dinner with me, Saturday night?" Ron blurted out.

"Ron, we have dinner together every night," Hermione reminded him.

"I mean like alone."

Hermione's mind went completely blank and she had no idea what to say. "You mean, like a date?" Hermione asked stupidly. Of course he meant a date!

"Er... Sure, but if you don't want to call it that, then we don't have to," Ron added.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but she didn't know what to say. Yes! Yes! Yes!

"I can see you're not interested, just act like I didn't ask-"

"No!" Hermione said, rather loudly. "I mean, I'd love to have dinner with you."

"Great!" Ron exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Er... I'll pick you up at seven in front of the Fat Lady's portrait?"

"Sounds great!" Hermione agreed.

"Well, I'll see you later. I have plans to make!" Ron said, kissed her on the cheek and ran off into the castle.

Harry walked out of the castle just as Ron entered it. He spotted Hermione and walked towards the tree she was beneath.

"Word is you have a hot date Saturday night," Harry said when he reached the tree.

"Yeah," Hermione answered, blushing. "Please tell me you'll help Ron plan the date. You remember how bad our first date turned out."

"I didn't think it was that bad," Harry said.

"Well, I didn't think I was going to spend our date washing dishes at the Three Broomsticks," Hermione told him.

"Oh, that was you?" Harry said uncertainly. "Too many dates, can't keep them straight."

"Harry, you've been out with two girls, me and Cho, and as I remember it, your date with Cho wasn't much better," she reminded Harry.

"Don't remind me," Harry said, sounding a bit disgusted.

"So, will you help Ron?"

"Do I have much of a choice?"

"No..."

"Okay, I'll help Ron, but only because you asked so nicely," Harry gave in.

There was a calm silence as Harry and Hermione watched the Giant Squid jump out of the water.

"Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Are you going to be okay this summer?" Hermione asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, after last night, will you be alright over the summer?"

"I survived this past summer, didn't I? Harry answered, sounding a bit annoyed. "I had to stay at Privet Drive all summer, and I was perfectly fine, wasn't I?"

"Harry, I'm sorry. Ron and I had a bit of a miscommunication."

"Well, while you two were having great summers, I was playing butler for my aunt and uncle!" Harry yelled and started running up toward the castle.

"Harry!" Hermione called and ran after him.

Right before Harry opened the door to the Great Hall, Hermione grabbed hold of his wrist. "Harry, we need to talk."

"I don't want to talk to you or anyone else!" Harry hollered.

"Harry, please," Hermione begged.

"Fine," Harry said as Hermione pulled him away from the door and students.

"Harry, I'm sorry that Ron and I abandoned you over the summer, and I'm sorry that Sirius is dead!" Hermione apologized, tears now running down her face. "You have to know that Ron and I never meant to hurt you."

That wasn't completely true. Hermione had wanted to hurt him at that point. He had ruined her perfect life.

"You don't mean that," Harry said, reading the expression on her face. "You wanted to hurt me, didn't you?" he asked calmly.

Hermione merely buried her face in Harry's shirt and sobbed.

When Hermione finally calmed herself down enough to talk, she said, "I was furious with you. I just thought if I could get revenge, I'd feel better, but I was wrong."

"Hermione Granger just admitted that she was wrong?" Harry pondered, a bit surprised. "Call the press!"

Hermione chuckled. "Are we friends again?" she asked.

"We have no choice, we're brother and sister," Harry reminded her, pulling her into a hug.

"Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat."

-Harry Emerson Fosdick