Harry and Hermione Love at First Sight

The next few days flew past as Gryffindor’s struggled under their heavy load of homework, everyone had so much to do they couldn’t do anything else. At night, in the common room, armchairs were always occupied as the floor was littered with Potions, Charms and Transfiguration paper, as everyone worked flat out just to get through one night. Though everyone complained, the teachers stood their ground.

“Your O.W.L.S. inch every closer! These tests will determine what sort of Witch or Wizard you will be for the rest of your life!” Prof. McGonagall said sternly as Seamus Finnigan moaned yet again about the extreme overload of work.

Harry, Hermione, Ron all sat around a table in the library. Hermione just finished her Arithmancy homework, and though she kept persisting that Harry and Ron do their own homework, but they kept asking until Hermione caved and helped them. Harry sat howling with laughter as Hermione tried to show Ron how to make inanimate objects move with a Mobility spell. Ron aimed his wand at books and sent them scuttling all over the room, some screaming, others trying to bite students, while the rest flew around the lamps, nearly setting themselves on fire. Hermione ran around, waving her arms trying to get Ron to stop, which of course he didn’t, until Snape walked in and Ron dived behind a bookshelf, hiding behind a book on The Many Uses of Dragon’s Blood.

Snape, with a sweep of his wand restored order and quiet in the library. Students came off the tables, muttering to one another. Snape looked around the library, his cold black eyes searching for someone to expel. He looked past where Harry and Hermione hid behind her large Arithmancy book, waiting with bated breath. Peeking over the top, Harry scanned the library. Not only was Snape gone, but Ron also. Hermione also peeked over the top, and looked at Harry.

“You don’t think, Snape got him, do you?” Just then a tall black girl walked over the Harry and Hermione’s table, and pulled down the book. She smirked.

“Harry, if you two wanted to be alone, conjure yourselves up a room!” Angelina Johnson winked at Harry who had gone very red. Harry sighed.

“What is it Angelina?”

“First Quidditch practice tomorrow, and also I’ll be looking for a new keeper, so if you know anyone thats interested, tell them to show up at the Quidditch field at 7 o’clock.” Angelina was the new Quidditch Captain, taking Oliver Wood’s place. She looked at Hermione, then at Harry. She winked before saying,

“If you ask ME you too make a very cute couple!” Harry dove at Angelina, but she stepped nimbly out of his reach, laughing and went out of the library. Harry sat back down, his face burning. Hermione jumped up, sweeping all of her homework into her bookbag, keeping her face down. As Harry picked up his homework, he spoke,

“I’m sorry about that Hermione, she was just kidding, it didn’t mean anything..” Harry looked slowly up at Hermione, who looked up from her bag. Their gaze met, for a brief second, they looked into each others eyes, until Madam Pince’s bark made Hermione jump. She ran out of the library. Harry sighed and got up, supposing he should go look for Ron.
Meanwhile......

Ron sat in the strange but wonderful office of Professor Dumbledore. There were many interesting things, twirling, glowing and purring all around Ron, but this really wasn’t the time to be looking at those things. Especially since Ron was about to be expelled.

Snape stood behind Ron’s chair, an evil smirk spread across his face. He was finally going to expel one of the accursed Weasleys, then perhaps, Harry Potter will follow....

Ron stared at the well polished side of Dumbledore's desk. He thought of how he could get by when Mum and Dad tossed him out of the house. Maybe he could work in Fred and George’s joke shop when they opened it the end of this year. But all further thoughts of how he would survive during the winter were forgotten as the door swung open, and Dumbledore stepped in followed by Madam Pince and Professor McGonagall. Ron gulped as the door swung shut.
**********
Harry sat in his pajamas, in front of the fireplace, watching the sparks fly up and crackle. Ron had been gone for a really long time. Harry had searched everywhere for him, even Fred and George didn’t know where he was. At half past 2 o’clock, the portrait swung open, and Ron stepped into the common room. He stood there in silence, looking over at Harry, who saw him and got up from his armchair. Harry walked slowly over to Ron, looking at his face and trying to see what could be wrong. Ron hung his head, took a deep breath, and said,

“Snape finally did it.” Harry’s jaw dropped as he gaped, trying to comprehend what Ron meant. Ron looked up at Harry, his eyes blazing.
“The dirty scum bag put me in detention for a month.” Harry gave a great sigh.

“Good god you prat, you had me thinking you were expelled, which I’m amazed Snape didn’t press for. What happened?”

They sat down in front of the fire, and Ron related what had happened in Dumbledore’s office.

Snape, like Harry suspected, practically begged for Ron’s expulsion. But after hearing the account of Madam Pince, and consulting with Prof. McGonagall, Dumbledore had a far less severe punishment. Since Ron was only trying to accomplish his homework, and it was all considered an accident (Ron said Dumbledore quietly chuckled), he would only be put in detention for two weeks. Snape was of course, furious, and demanded that Dumbledore give Ron a more “horrible” punishment.

“And then, he suggested I help him and Filch out every single night for my month detention!! I’ll be in his creepy office doing who knows what!!!” Ron flopped miserably back on his armchair. “How will I have time for homework?” At that Harry remembered what Angelina had said.

“Ron, the Quidditch try outs are tomorrow night!! 7 o’clock! Angelina said its for the Keeper position!” Ron eyes widened and he leapt up.

“Harry, I’m going to that Quidditch try out, and I don’t give a damn what Snape’ll do! This is my chance!!” Harry nodded and looked at the clock.

“We better get to bed, we have more pre-O.W.L.S. quizzes tomorrow.” They trudged up the stairs, and as they walked past the Girl’s dormitory door, Harry thought of what happened in the library. As he lay back in his pillow, he grinned, thinking today wasn’t so bad. Little did Harry know, that a few stairs away, he wasn’t the only one lying awake.