Taboo

Hermione tried to act more normal around Harry and Ron. She was still the top student in her classes (except for Potions, thanks to the Prince's book) and now joined Harry and Ron for every meal. They seemed somewhat less suspicious, but Hermione caught Harry hastily stuffing his Marauder's Map out of sight when she walked into the common room after she said she needed to go to the library to do research on horcruxes.

Harry had scheduled Quidditch practice for the team on Saturday at two o'clock, and Hermione knew that he could not possibly check his map while flying around on a broomstick. At ten to two, she waved Harry and Ron out of the common room. As soon as she made sure they were going towards the Quidditch pitch, she raced up to the seventh floor.

She squeezed her eyes shut and paced in front of the blank wall. When she opened her eyes, the doorknob had appeared. She grasped it firmly and pushed.

"What--" she said, agape. The room was quite unlike what it had been when they had used it the previous year as a secret meeting place for Dumbledore's Army. The floor was now covered with a carpet of sweet smelling grass, a few wildflowers in bloom here and there. In the middle of the room was a small clearing, surrounded by a grove of trees. She heard the twittering of birds and even felt a gentle breeze. Malfoy motioned to her from the clearing, where a picnic was neatly arranged.

"Impressive, isn't it?" he said, looking delighted with himself. "I think the room took it literally when I asked for something like our spot by the lake."

"I haven't got much time," said Hermione, sitting down. "They're both at Quidditch practice, but they should be back in a couple of hours."

"Don't worry," said Malfoy airily. "I'll get you back in Gryffindor Tower before they're back. They won't notice a thing." He reached over and removed the cover on top of the platter.

"Did you bring this?" asked Hermione, taking a crumpet that was still piping hot.

"Actually, no," he replied. "It was already here when I came in."

"Well, this is really nice," she said, looking around appreciatively.

"Anything for you," said Malfoy, winking at her. She smiled in spite of herself. They were both silent for a minute.

"I have to say," admitted Hermione. "I've been looking forward to this."

"You have?" He sounded surprised and pleased at the same time.

"I'm actually starting to believe that you're not so bad after all," she said, giggling in a very unHermione-ish way. "Though Harry and Ron would definitely disagree if I told them."

"You're not going to though, are you?" he asked, slightly worried.

"Of course not," she said, to his relief. "They wouldn't believe it. You should hear Harry going on about how he thinks you're plotting something. I keep telling him it's completely ridiculous, but he won't listen. He's so stubborn sometimes." She rolled her eyes.

"What does he think I'm plotting?" he asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Oh, I don't know," said Hermione. "He probably thinks you're going to murder him in his sleep. I don't know where he gets these ideas."

"That is ridiculous. I'm not planning anything of the sort," he said defiantly, which was the truth.

"Maybe you should tell him that," suggested Hermione. "If I have to listen to any more of his rants, I think I'll go mad."

"Ha," snorted Malfoy. "He'd probably jinx me before I even opened my mouth. Doesn't think before he acts, does he, that Potter?"

"He's a bit impulsive, but his intentions are good," she said defensively.

"Let's talk about something else," said Malfoy, sensing that it would not be wise to pursue the topic further. "So...the Christmas Ball...are you going?"

"I haven't really thought about it," she said, turning slightly pink. "It's still ages away."

"I'm taking Pansy," he said, sighing. "I haven't really got a choice. She'd kill me if I took someone else. She's unbelievably clingy, you know." He made a face and they both laughed.

"It's funny," said Hermione, still chortling, "but I have just as much fun with you as I do with Harry and Ron. Though these days, you're better company, seeing how they've been acting lately...moaning about Quidditch and how much homework they've got. As if the rest of us haven't got loads to do," she said with a sniff.

"Glad to hear it," said Malfoy, beaming at her. He checked his watch. "It's nearly four. You should probably go." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, causing her to blush with happiness. "See you next week?"

"I'll find out when the next Quidditch practice is scheduled for," she said, her hand on the doorknob. "Oh wait, I forgot. I was thinking about going to Hogsmeade next weekend."

"Silly me," said Malfoy, smacking his forehead. "I forgot that Pansy wants me to help her pick out a gift for her mum's birthday. Ah well, we can postpone it until the week after." They said goodbye to each other and went their separate ways.

When Harry and Ron came back from Quidditch, they found Hermione reading in front of the fire.

"Oh, hello," she said brightly. "How was practice?"

"Terrible," grunted Ron, chucking his broom on the ground.

"Why, what happened?"

"Ask him," said Ron, glaring at Harry. "I'm going to bed."

"But you haven't even had dinner..."

"I'm not hungry." He stomped upstairs, muttering and cursing.

"It must be really bad if he doesn't even want dinner," said Hermione, turning to Harry. "So, what happened?"

"Er, Ginny broke up with Dean," he said shortly.

"What? Why?" This was surprising news. Ginny and Dean had seemed pretty steady.

"He showed up after practice and they had a fight. They've been mad at each other for a while now. Anyway, I saw her sitting alone on the bench and she looked like she needed a bit of cheering up," said Harry, shifting uncomfortably. "And, er...I kissed her."

"What's so bad about that?"

"Ron walked in on us," he said, burying his face in his hands. "I don't know why I did it. I wasn't thinking...I mean, she's his sister."

"You've liked her for a while, haven't you? I noticed it over the summer," she said shrewdly.

"Er, yeah," he admitted. "The only reason I didn't tell her was because I was afraid of how Ron would react. And now I've gone and done it..."

"Well, I think you two make a lovely couple," said Hermione supportively, as Ron thumped down the stairs.

"Well, I don't," he said, avoiding Harry's gaze.

"I thought you weren't coming to dinner," she said pointedly.

"I'm hungry," said Ron, walking past them. "I'm not going to suffer because of him."

"Come on, Harry," said Hermione comfortingly. "Ignore him. Let's have some dinner." She escorted him to the Great Hall, where Ron was sitting alone, shoveling shepherd's pie into his mouth. He turned away from them when he saw them coming.