One Person Two Many

One Person Two Many

Chapter One

It had been the most romantic evening of Hermione's life. The Astronomy Tower would normally be full of students on such a warm summer's evening, all sneaking out of their dormitories for some time alone with their current squeeze. However, this time, Mr. Filch, with the assistance of the ever-faithful Mrs. Norris, had been on the warpath. He'd waited until ten in the evening, when all of the students (including seventh-years such as herself, she thought rather guiltily) were supposed to be back at least in their common rooms, and then struck. There were squeals from the girls and an amazing range of swear words that the boys muttered under their breath as they were ambushed. Smiling gratefully that she had not been caught, she rolled over slightly, to get a better look at the person lying on the flat rooftop next to her.

"I'm so glad you thought to bring your Invisibility Cloak with you tonight, Harry," she said, squirming in closer to him under the cloak, "It would have been horrible if Filch had caught us here and ruined our anniversary."

Harry's eyes bore deep into hers, as if he were trying to see inside of her.

"I know. But let's not spoil our perfect night by talking about Filch." Harry grinned. "Can you imagine what people would say if they knew that we'd spent even a tiny bit of our one-year anniversary talking about Filch? The rumors would start flying faster than a Firebolt."

Hermione giggled into his shoulder, then looked solemnly at Harry. "Well, in that case we'd better not risk talking anymore," she suggested wickedly.

"You'll get no complaints from me," he replied, rolling over so that he was on top of her.

She leaned up towards his face, a face she'd known and trusted ever since she was eleven. "I love you, Harry Potter."

Leaning down so that his mouth was inches from hers, he replied, "And I love you too, Hermione Granger."

There was little talk for quite some time.

*******

Ginny should have been concentrating on her homework, but she was distracted by watching Ron as he circled the common room, snapping at anyone who was breaking even the most minor rule. As he passed her chair, she reached out her arm to stop him. "Ron," she said.

He turned and glared at her. "What is it, Ginny? I'm busy."

"No, you're not. Just sit down here for a moment." She patted the chair next to her, where her boyfriend, Dean Thomas, had been sitting earlier.

Still glaring, Ron obliged and sat sullenly next to her. "What is it?"

"I want to know why you are being so annoying to everyone tonight? Surely you can't be missing Harry and Hermione?"

"Wha-what?" Ron exclaimed. "Where do you get that from?"

Ginny looked sympathetic. "I get that from the fact that you miss spending time with your two best friends, Ron. I know, I know," she said as Ron started to open his mouth to protest, "I realise that you are not in any way jealous of them, I was the first to defend you when people started saying that a year ago when Hermione and Harry first started going out, remember?" Ron nodded. "But I also realise that it can hardly be fun to sit in this common room knowing that your two best friends are up on the roof doing God-knows-what with each other. All I'm saying is try not to take out your anger - or whatever it is - on people who haven't done anything to you, alright?"

Although Ron looked slightly miffed at being told off by his baby sister, he once again nodded.

"Good," said Ginny, satisfied that the matter was closed, "Why don't you do some homework or study or something? I know Dean's up in his dormitory because he can't concentrate down here. Go and study together or, or just do something to keep your mind off, well, off them," she concluded a bit weakly, then picked up her quill as she turned her concentration back to her homework.

Ron started glaring at her again. "That wasn't as subtle as you thought it was, Ginny."

She looked up. "What wasn't?"

"Trying to get me to spend more time with Dean."

With the tired air of someone who has repeated the same argument over and over, Ginny put down her quill. "If you would just spend some time with him you'd get over your pathetic hatred of him; after all, you two only started fighting and only had to be moved into separate dorms after I started going out with him, you got along for the other five years that you lived with him."

Ron opened his mouth to protest, then shook his head in frustration and got up, walking around the common room picking on people again.

Ginny watched him for a moment then muttered, "He's a hopeless case", and focused her attention once again on her homework.

*******

Some time much later, Harry and Hermione were lying side by side on the rooftop, their arms around each other as they gazed through the Invisibility Cloak at the stars above them. Hermione did not have any sense of time left: for all she knew, the sun could be rising in five minutes or five hours. Lying on the deserted rooftop, listening to Harry taking deep breaths...how could her life ever get any better than this? She wondered. She was so absorbed in her day dreams that she jumped as she heard Harry snore. She was most reluctantly dragged from her reverie, and realised that, as much as she never wanted this night to end, they had better be getting back to Gryffindor Tower soon, before they both fell asleep and woke when the sun was up. She slipped her arm out from under Harry's neck and balanced herself as she gently kissed him awake.

"Wow," he said, clearly dazed and choked up on emotion. "I wish you could wake me up every day like that."

Hermione smiled, "I'll see what I can do." She paused. "I really hate to say this, Harry, but I think we should be heading back now."

He grimaced slightly, but sat up. "Alright."

They began making their way slowly back through the castle. Thankfully, Filch seemed to have gone to bed, probably thinking he'd caught enough students for one night. Their journey was unhindered. Not even Peeves was around.

They both paused at the foot of the staircase to the girl's dormitories. Harry put his arms around Hermione's neck and pulled her close. They stayed like that for a few minutes, then Hermione reluctantly dragged herself away. "We really should go now," she said, looking at Harry lovingly. He didn't say anything. It took all of Hermione's considerable willpower to turn and walk up the stairs. Just as she reached her door, she heard a faint "I love you," come floating up. She paused with her hand on the doorknob, then opened the door and went inside.

*******