Split Second

Chapter 1

    “Can you believe it, Harry?” Hermione Granger asked one of her best friends, Harry Potter, early their final morning at Hogwarts during breakfast. “I mean, we’ve gone through seven years together! Seven years!!!! That’s like, an eternity!! It‘s our LIVES!!” Her voice cracked with emotion as she nonchalantly reached for more juice.

    “It’s definitely overwhelming,” Harry said quietly, pondering, pretending not to notice Hermione‘s misty eyes.

    In just a few short hours, he, Harry, and his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley would no longer be Hogwarts students. It was time for what the muggles called ’graduation.’ He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, even though he’d known this day was coming all year. Sure, he was excited, almost everyone is once they graduate and the excitement of being tossed out into reality hits. No longer would he need permission to perform magic, or have to fear the Ministry if he performed magic while school was out of session. That was just unbearable, especially at his home. The reality of returning to the Dursleys’ for a time hit him hard, and the thought made him miserable, although he cracked a slight grin at the ideas of what he could possibly do to Dudley now that he didn‘t need permission. He knew he should have purposely failed his potions exam, he thought, sighing.

    “Oh, Harry. I will miss you so very much!” Hermione’s eyes became mistier with tears, her newly filled glass of juice lay forgotten on the table. Harry held her hand in a comforting gesture. He’d miss her, too. Just then, Ron, with a I-betray-no-emotion look, approached the table.

    “Morning, Harry. Morning, ‘Mione,” he said, sitting and helping himself to some waffles like it was any other day of the year. How could he possibly be so calm, thought Harry. Oh well, that was just Ron. He panicked around physical situations, like anything remotely involving Hermione, but when it came to emotions, he always played it off cool, even if he was torn.

    “Ron! Oh, I’m going to miss your piggy ways of eating....” Hermione trailed off and grabbed the nearest napkin, blowing her nose, after which she snapped a picture of him as syrup dripped from his mouth.

    “Hermione, honestly. Can’t a lad get a bite to eat without the paparazzi hounding ‘im?”

    “Not today,” she said firmly, snapping away, catching every detail they‘d all be certain to miss.

    Just as it looked as if Ron was going to pour syrup all over Hermione’s camera in heated retaliation, Harry intervened. “Are you two going to the 7th years’ end-of-Hogwarts’ party tonight in Hogsmeade?” Hermione looked relieved as Ron’s attention was diverted, and she shifted her camera calmly into her bag.

    “YEAH!” Ron exclaimed excitedly, shooting a chunk of waffle towards the Slytherins, all of whom looked disgustedly at him and retreated back to their snooty conversation, shooting aggravated looks at him now and again. “I heard it’s supposed to be wild!” He grabbed his fork and ate a sausage whole, ignoring the Slytherins. Hermione looked ready to throw up.

    “I’m not sure,” Hermione replied to Harry, biting her lip. She was always the cautious one, avoiding the party scene for the most part; especially parties labeled as “wild” or “crazy,” while Ron was up for just about anything party-related, and dragged Harry along in his wild goose chases. Completely different from our tangos with Voldemort, thought Harry, snickering. He always had to drag, sometimes bribe, Ron along for those....

    “Dad’s new muggle car is going to be there! He said he’d let us take it out for a ride if we want! Hermione, you HAVE to come!” Ron rambled. “He doesn’t let just ANYONE drive it! Besides, we’re done with the term, there’s no homework, so Harry and I will DRAG you, right Harry?”

    “Right,” Harry said firmly, smiling. He’d miss his best friends.

    “Oh all RIGHT then,” Hermione said, finally caving, smiling at Ron. “I guess I could party with you two clowns just ONCE!”

    “There’s the spirit!” Ron laughed. “Maybe we can take a little spin...” he said, winking to a slightly blushing Hermione. Just then, Ron’s younger sister, Ginny Weasley, sat down next to Hermione.

    “Hey, Gins,” said Ron.

    “Good morning, Ron,” Ginny said, grabbing some scrambled eggs and juice, not taking her eyes off Harry at all, looking melancholy. “Are you all excited to be leaving?”

    “Somewhat,” said Hermione, once again biting her lip. “I’m going to miss everyone so much!” Her eyes misted over once again and she cracked out her camera.

    “Good God, will she never cease?” asked Ron, rather hotly, swiping a sausage from Ginny‘s plate.

    “NO!” snapped Hermione, eying him, taking pictures of Ginny. “Now, one of you and Harry!”

    A few years ago, Ginny quite possibly would have taken off running in the other direction, ridden with nerves, but this had no effect on her any longer. While she and Harry weren’t quite yet labeled as “dating,” everyone knew they someday would be, especially since it was well known that she had told Harry once that she would do anything for him, to which he had replied the same to her. They were just made for each other, even a plain muggle could see that. Totally fate. It was kind of like Ron and Hermione. They never had declared any feeling for the other just yet, but everyone knew they were soul mates. Even they knew, but didn’t object, as Ron’s unplanned kiss proved to Hermione that previous Christmas under the mistletoe.

    Harry grinned. “Come on, Gins, let’s give Hermione our best pose!”

    With that, Ginny scrambled up from her seat and sat in front of Harry, who bowed slightly over her, clasping his arms around her, and she grabbed his hands. They both grinned, and as anyone could see, especially a snickering Ron, both hearts were fluttering.

    “Oh jeez,” said Ron, rolling his eyes. “This is so sugary sweet I’m going to get a bloody cavity! Should I welcome you to the family now or later, Harry?” Ginny burst into giggles and went back to her seat to finish her meal.

    Conversation flowed easily throughout the rest of breakfast. Hermione cried and took plenty of pictures of everyone, but went crazy with her camera most especially when Draco Malfoy, after announcing something snooty to the remaining Slytherins, tripped over a table leg and flew into the Ravenclaws, prompting a shower of scrambled eggs and juice to land on him. Everyone burst out laughing.

    “I’VE WAITED FOR THAT FOR SEVEN YEARS!!!!!” hooted Ron, loud enough for many to hear, clutching Harry in heaves of laughter, nearly falling out of his chair. Malfoy stood, plucked some egg out of his hair, and tried to retrieve some dignity if there was any. He stalked off, eyes flashing and egg still in his hair.

    “I used a whole roll for that!!!” exclaimed Hermione, cheeks pink from restrained laughter.

    Conversation and reminiscing continued until Ron realized that they didn’t have much time to prepare for the graduation feast and that the rest of the students had scattered. “Well, guys. I suppose it’s time to get dressed,” he said, rising. Harry and Hermione followed suit. “Mom and Dad, and the sibs will be here soon, I gotta be dressed and ready to meet up with them for pictures.”

    “I’ll keep them until you’re ready,” said Ginny, with a somber expression on her face.

    “Thanks, Gins....” said Ron, tousling her hair.

    “Alright, well,” Hermione said, eyes glistening, “until this afternoon then.”

    “Until then,” said Harry and Ron. The trio split, going to change into the cloaks that would forever change their lives.