Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us

Chapter 4: Trio Trouble

Later that evening Harry and Hermione said good night to Ron. They parted company and did their rounds. When their rounds were completed they went back to the Head Boy/Head Girl suite.

They sat next to each other on the couch and started studying for their N.E.W.T.s. Harry couldn't help but notice that their auras were interacting in a strange way. They seemed to be joining together. Where their auras joined, they also seemed to be changing into a reddish color. "Hey Hermione, what does it mean when two auras join together and change color?" he asked Hermione.

"I don't know. Why?" she asked.

"That's what ours are doing. I'd better sit on the opposite side of the table then, in case it's a form of attack." Harry got up and moved to the couch across from Hermione.

"I guess we should see Dumbledore about that. He'd probably know what it meant and whether or not it's a form of attack."

"Good idea. I'll write him a letter and see if we can get an appointment to see him."

"Why? It's dark enough now. We could just fly there now."

"Without an appointment?"

"Angels can see an Angel Lord anytime -- as long as it's important. If you don't classify this as important, I don't know what is."

So together they went into Hermione's dorm. She opened her window. She spread her wings, which were perfectly healed, thanks to all the time Harry spent with her in the hospital wing.

"Just take it easy Hermione. Don't over exert yourself. Your wings may still be a little bit stiff."

"I won't go too fast." She climbed onto the sill and jumped out. Harry followed suit. They flew in and around the turrets then Hermione stopped in front of Dumbledore's window. She knocked three times.

Dumbledore opened the window. Harry and Hermione flew inside. "Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, what brings you here to see me at this late hour?"

"Well sir," said Hermione, "Harry said he saw our auras acting strangely."

"Mr. Potter?"

"Well sir, it looked like they were joining together and changing color. I thought it might be a form of attack."

Dumbledore chuckled. "It's not an attack. It's something very few Earth-born angels experience."

"What is it?" asked Hermione excitedly.

"The process is called melding. It only happens when an angel finds his or her soulmate. Even if the angels don't realize it at first, the auras interact in that way."

"What happens when the meld completes?" asked Harry.

"It is a most wonderful feeling. The angels are connected permanently on such a deep level even when the auras aren't joined. They can read each others' thoughts. They always know how the other is feeling.

It also has other benefits. While melded, the auras are much stronger than either is individually."

"What are the drawbacks?" asked Hermione.

"The most major drawback is that if a meld is started and almost completed, then stopped, both angels feel as if something is missing in their lives."

"Thanks," said Harry, "We won't bother you anymore. Let's go Hermione. We found out what we came here for. Let's leave Dumbledore to get his rest. Have a good night sir" Harry spread his wings and flew off. Hermione flew close behind.

They landed back in Hermione's dorm. Harry sat on the bed. Hermione followed suit and sat beside Harry. They wrapped their arms around each other. Harry placed his lips to hers.

As they were snogging, their auras started to meld. When the meld was about three quarters of the way complete, Hermione pulled away suddenly and the meld was broken. "No Harry, I can't do this. I can't lie to you like this. I can't lie to myself like this."

"What do you mean -- lie?"

"The truth is, Harry, Ron and I have been going out since last summer. I love him so much Harry. I can't meld and connect with you on that level."

"What if I told you that Ron doesn't love you the way you love him?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've caught him snogging Luna up in the Astronomy Tower a number of times on my rounds."

"Prove it!"

"How?!"

"Show me a picture."

"Fine, I will."

"Fine!"

"Fine!" Harry turned and stormed out of Hermione's dorm. He grabbed his books from their common room and went into his dorm. "I can't believe I ever thought I loved her." he thought savagely even though deep down he knew he wanted her to be be his.

He saw a picture of himself, Ron and Hermione on his nightstand. In his anger and grief he picked it up and threw it against the wall. The picture seemed to explode once it hit the wall. Pieces of glass and wood flew all over and the torn picture fluttered onto the floor.

* * *

Meanwhile Hermione was crying on her bed. "Maybe Harry is right. Ron hasn't been kissing me as passionately when we're together. Maybe he is snogging someone else."

She picked up the picture of her and Ron from her nightstand. Ginny had taken it at The Burrow the previous summer. The Ron in the picture was either whispering sweet nothings in her ear or kissing her earlobe. Either way the Hermione in the picture was giggling like mad.

She fell asleep wondering if maybe Harry was telling her the truth, or lying trying to break her and Ron up. "But why would Harry do something like that?"

* * *

The next evening before he went on his rounds Harry went to the Gryffindor common room. He saw Collin sitting and talking with a couple more of the sixth year boys.

He went and talked with him. "Hey Collin, can I borrow your camera when I go for my rounds?"

"Why?"

"I need to prove something to Hermione."

"Sure let me go get it." He ran up to his dorm and brought it down for him. He returned down to Harry, camera in hand. "Just be careful with it Harry. It's an antique."

"I will. Thanks Collin." Harry left the Gryffindor common room Before going on his rounds he returned to the Head Boy dorm and grabbed his invisibility cloak.

He started his rounds as per normal, but when he approached the Astronomy Tower he put on his invisibility cloak. He climbed up the steps. When he got to the door he opened it quietly.

The full moon cast bright light upon a couple. "Oh Lav, have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are," he heard Ron say.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever told me Ron.

"Lavender," thought Harry, "How many other girls does Ron bring up here?" He sneaked around to the front of the couple.

He aimed the camera and snapped the picture just as their lips met. The click broke Ron and Lavender apart.

"Collin! I'm going to kill that picture-taking freak next time I see him."

"You're not going to kill anyone Ron," said Harry as he removed the cloak. He was still holding Collin's camera.

"Harry!? Why!?"

"Hermione! You're supposed to be her boyfriend."

"Is that true Ron?" interjected Lavender.

"Yes," said Harry, "Ron's also been up here with Luna Lovegood as well. Who knows how many other girls."

Smack! Lavender slapped Ron so hard it echoed around the Astronomy Tower. She then stormed out the door.

"How could you do this to me Harry?"

"I had to. I had to do it for 'Mione."

"What? Are you two seeing each other -- behind my back?!"

"No. She turned me down because of her love for you!" When he said you he jabbed his finger in Ron's chest.

"There is nothing serious between Hermione and myself. Hermione knows that."

"Are you that thick? Hermione loves you."

"It was just a summer fling we had."

Just a fling! Just a fling! How could you lead 'Mione to believe that you loved her. You're nothing but a prick." Harry stormed out of the tower before words lead to fist blows.

He finished his rounds and returned to the Gryffindor common room. Collin was sitting in front of the fire. "Here's your camera back Collin. How long will it be before my picture's ready."

"I'll have it for you tomorrow at breakfast."

"Thanks Collin." Colin then went up to his dorm. Harry went to the Head Boy/Head Girl suite through the secret passage.

"You're back late," said Hermione.

"I had a few 'problems' on my rounds. Nothing I couldn't handle though. I'm tired. I'm off to bed," Harry replied.

"Oh. Ok then. Good night."

"Good night." Harry went into his dorm and changed into his pajamas. Truth be told, Harry wasn't tired at all. He was excited. Tomorrow he would prove to Hermione that Ron did not love her.

* * *

Harry woke up in a very good mood the next morning. He got dressed and went down to the great hall for breakfast.

As he was eating, Collin came and handed him the picture. "Thanks again Collin."

"You're welcome Harry."

Harry looked at the picture. The photoaph was black and white. The images of Ron and Lavender sat gazing into each others' eyes. They kissed then returned to their original positions.

"You're up early," said Hermione as she sat down across from him, "Oh what is that?"

"The proof you requested."

"About what?"

"Ron's cheating." Harry slid the picture across the table to Hermione.

"You told me Ron was seeing Luna. He's with Lavender in this picture."

"Either he and Luna broke up, or he's cheating on her too."

Hermione sat staring at the picture. Harry saw the tears welling in her eyes. She put the photo in her bag then left the great hall. She sat in the corridor and rested her head in her knees and started crying.

Ron saw her as he approached the great hall for breakfast. "What's wrong hon?" he asked as he knelt beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Hermione shrugged his hand off her shoulder and pulled the picture from her bag. "Who are you with in this picture?!"

Ron took it fom her and replied, "Lavender."

"You are supposed to be my boyfriend! I really thought you loved me!"

"I thought you knew what we had last summer was just a fling."

"Just a fling! Just a fling! Ronald Weasley How dare you treat me in such a way!"

"I bet you had something with Harry!"

"Ronald Weasley! How dare you even think something like that!

I really loved you Ron!"

"Then how come Harry kept staring at you after you got out of the hospital!"

"Harry does have feelings for me! I turned him down because I really loved you and thought you loved me in return!"

"Yeah right! I bet! You and he probably had a bunch of little snogging sessions in the Heads' common room!"

"I would never do that to you Ron! Harry wanted to, I told him no!"

"Yeah right!"

"You bastard! How dare you accuse me of cheating on you!?

"How many others are there?!"

"Other what?"

"Girls! How many other girls are there!?"

"Luna, Lavender, Susan, Parvati, Padma and a couple others."

"You bastard! I can't believe you! I can't believe I ever let myself fall in love with you!" Se finished her yelling and gave Ron a hard smack across the face. It was on the opposite side than what Lavender smacked him so now he had a bruise on both cheeks. In fact Hermione smacked him so hard her nails drew blood from his cheek.

She got up and ran down the hall. At that point Harry exited the great hall. "You," said Ron angrily, "you showed Hermione that picture you took!"

"That's why I took it," Harry replied calmly.

"How could you do that to me?!"

"I couldn't just let 'Mione find out the hard way."

"How's that?"

"Waiting until you were married and then her catching you in bed with another woman.

I just spared her the grief of that!"

"I'm never speaking to you again Harry."

"Why?!"

"For betraying our so-called friendship like this!"

"That's fine with me!" Ron marched into the great hall as Harry walked down the hall in away from the great hall.

Harry returned to the Head Boy/Head Girl suite. He saw Hermione sitting on one of the couches. She was drying her eyes from crying.

"Hermione, are you okay?" he asked. He walked over and wrapped an arm around her.

"Why did he treat me like that?"

"Who knows. You know I would never do that to you don't you?"

"Harry Potter don't you dare be coming on to me! Or is this all you wanted in the first place?"

"No! You have it wrong?"

"Do I?"

"Yes."

"Let's see how wrong I have it. You've told me numerous times that you love me. You tell me that Ron's cheating on me. A few days later you show me a piture of Ron and Lavender.

I think I have it quite correct you were hoping that Ron and I would get into a fight then you'd come in and comfort me. You hoped in the process of your comforting I'd confess that I loved you all along. It's not going to work.

I may have feelings for you Harry, but I can never act on them. It would only further Ron's belief."

"What do you mean?"

""When Ron and I were fighting, Ron said he thinks I was cheating on him with you."

"You were. We kissed quite a few times."

"You kissed me quite a few times."

"You never pulled away."

"I did the last time."

"You and I are Soulmates!"

"I can't have a relationship with you. I don't want Ron coming and scoffing and bragging that he was right all along."

"Fine. Don't cry to me anymore if something bad happens to you." Harry pulled away from Hermione. "We're late for class, and we don't want our star pupil and student Heads missing any classes now do we.

Firenze is expecting me in Divination and Professor Vector is expecting you in Arithmancy." Harry left the suite and went down to the classroom on the first floor.

"Glad you could join us Mr. Potter. That will be five points from Gryffindor," said Firenze, "please take your seat or I will deduct two more."

Harry sat next to Dean and Neville. "Now as I was saying before Mr. Potter interrupted us, the trine between Neptune, Mercury and the moon poses problems amongst friends for a while." He noticed Ron and Harry glaring at each other across the semicircle. "The stronger the friendship, the greater the problem. However, the damage done is not irreversible. It may take a while but the friendship can be repaired and rebuilt stronger than ever."

The class left the classroom all talking about the fight between Ron and Hermione and Ron and Harry.

* * *

Firenze was correct about the problems lasting a long time. The days turned into weeks which turned into months. Ron wasn't speaking with either Harry or Hermione. What was worse, at least in Harry's opinion was the fact that Hermione had also distanced herself from him as well.