Just a Goodnight Kiss

Untitled

CHAPTER ONE

Before the last bell of the fall term had even finished ringing, Harry Potter was out the door, thankfully leaving behind Professor Binns and his monotonous, droning voice, with Ron hot on his heels. Hermione, however, was still gathering her things, having been scribbling frantically when the bell rang.

Harry couldn't help but grin as he watched his best friend yell, "WE'RE FREE!" and throw his hands up in ecstasy.

The first term of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's 6^th year had been very challenging. With difficult new classes and even more difficult old ones, the teachers were already drilling them so hard that it was as if the N.E.W.T.S. were in a week. Harry didn't even want to think about what his classes would be like when the exams really were a week away.

Shaking off this thought, Harry said, "Bit excited about the end of term I take it?"

"'Course I am. Christmas here I come! Bring on the presents!" exclaimed Ron loudly, making some of the students now filling the halls look at him in alarm.

"Already harping about Christmas, are you Ron?" Ginny had joined the two boys as they walked, heading for the Gryffindor common room.

Harry laughed and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Where's Hermione?" she inquired, looking at Ron.

"Who knows? Knowing Hermione, she's probably already in the library starting on our holiday workload," Ron said.

"No, not exactly," said a voice from beside Harry. Ron jumped around guiltily.

"Though we should probably get started." Hermione continued, ignoring Ron's half-articulated apologies. "We have a ton of work to do and I'm not letting you two save it for the last minute like you always do."

"Not even two minutes into the winter holidays and you're already giving us grief about our homework? You're mad, Hermione," said Ron disbelievingly, forgetting his apology mid sentence.

"Only because you always put it off for the last night and then expect me to help you with it," she fired back.

Harry recognized what was sure to be a fierce row and felt himself getting angry. If he stuck around long enough he'd be greeting the Christmas holidays with his two best friends screaming at each other.

Harry looked around and saw a corridor off to the left up ahead that he could take to the common room. It might be a bit longer than the direct route but he was willing to walk a minute longer in order to get away from two yelling 16 year olds.

Harry hung back, walking slightly behind the shouting couple and pulled once on Ginny's backpack strap. She jumped slightly and looked around at Harry. She slowed her pace a little to keep even with him, keeping her eyes on Ron and Hermione (who were now full out shouting). Then she threw Harry a quizzical look.

Harry jerked his head toward the upcoming corridor and whispered, "Let's go." Ginny turned and saw the corridor and looked back at the rowing twosome and finally back at Harry. A slight smile played around her mouth and she nodded.

They walked a few more steps, until the corridor was almost directly across from them.They slowed down to an almost complete stop, and when Ron and Hermione failed to notice, Harry and Ginny took off for the escape, walking quickly.

Once they were safely in the corridor and had turned the corner, Ginny let out a deep breath and said, "Thanks."

"Anytime. Just figured you wanted to get away from the rows for once, too."

Ginny smiled and said, "Yes...it does get quite annoying. Sometimes I just want to the hex the both of them, to get them to shut up. I mean they're always at each other's throats, those two. You'd think they'd get tired of fighting after a while."

Harry opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"I mean Ron has a point, Hermione was already on his back not even 5 minutes after we got dismissed. That has to be bloody frustrating, but then again, Hermione probably reckons that that's the only way she's going to get him to do his work...." Ginny broke off as she looked at Harry and turned a very light shade of pink. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

"Don't be," Harry said quickly. "Ramble on." It's better than you blushing non stop and running away every time I come near, he thought. Harry remembered the days when Ginny would act funny around him. But those days were over. She had grown up, and Harry was very glad of this. Now that he could actually carry on a conversation with her they had become rather close, and he realized there was much more to her than he thought.

Ginny smiled gently and looked down at the floor.

Just then Harry and Ginny approached the Fat Lady's portrait. Both of them looked at the portrait and said, "Sugar Quill".

"Staying for the holidays?" the Fat Lady inquired as she opened.

Harry nodded with a vague "yes" and Ginny said, "Yes, I suppose so."

Harry looked at her as he climbed through the hole behind her and said, "Were you planning on going back to the Burrow for Christmas?"

"I don't know... Couldn't make up my mind. But if you're staying then Hermione and Ron are as well, right?" she guessed.

Harry nodded and was about to say something when the portrait hole opened once again and Ron toppled through, his ears burning red.

"Hermione's gone straight down to dinner. And thanks for running off like that," Ron muttered as he quickly made his way across the common room and up the stairs leading to the boy's dormitory. He was gone before either of them could say a word.

Harry looked at Ginny, eyebrows raised..."Must have been a bad one."

Ginny nodded. "I'm going to drop my things off in my dormitory and then go down to the Great Hall. See if I can cheer Hermione up." Harry nodded.

"Okay. I'll go up and try to calm Ron down a bit," he said. "I'll see you at dinner."

Ginny nodded and went up the stairs to her dormitory.

Harry watched her red locks bounce until they disappeared up the girl's staircase and then he made his way up his own.

He entered his dorm to find Ron sitting on the edge of his bed glaring out the window. The red had ebbed slightly from his ears, but they were still pink. He clearly did not want to go to dinner and have to face Hermione again.

"Look, sorry we left mate," Harry started, feeling a twinge of guilt.

"No, don't be. I know you hate it when Hermione and I argue," Ron interrupted, deciding not to be stubborn. "I would hate it too if I were you."

Harry remained silent, not knowing quite how to respond and sensing that Ron had more to say.

"And I can't stand bickering with her either. Bloody hell, Harry, it tears me up inside," he said quietly, looking down at his shoes.

"Why? Friends argue all the time," said Harry, knowing the answer to his own question. But maybe Ron doesn't know the answer yet. Maybe this will help him see...

A few seconds went by and then Ron looked at Harry and something flickered in his eyes. Maybe he figured it out...he thought to himself excitedly, though part of him felt scared.

"Yeah...yeah I reckon your right," Ron said, standing.

Apparently not Harry thought glumly, cursing Ron for being so thick, yet at the same time thanking him. Harry was confused with his own conflicting emotions.

His train of thought was interrupted by Ron's voice.

"Come on, let eat. I'm starved!" he said, making his way out of the dorm.

Well, at least he's acting normal again, thought Harry with a wry smile as he took off after his friend.

Ron and Harry walked to the Great Hall talking excitedly about the upcoming winter holidays. They had planned a snowball fight, a trip to Hogsmeade to shop for presents, and loads of Quidditch practice by the time they had stepped inside the magnificent Great Hall.

Harry's eyes swept up and down the Gryffindor table until they landed on a straight- haired red head next to a bushy brown one at the far end of the table. He headed straight for them and Ron hesitantly followed his lead. Harry sat across from Hermione to spare Ron from her evil glares throughout dinner. Ron cast him an appreciative glance as they sat down and Harry smiled in return.

Harry looked across at Hermione, who was determined not to look at Ron. She was a bit flushed in the cheeks, but other than that she seemed okay. Ginny was eyeing the boys cautiously, warning them not to mess around with Hermione.

"Hullo," said Harry, hoping that she wasn't too upset.

"Hi Harry...Ron," Hermione responded, nodding her head at both of them in turn, though still not meeting Ron's eyes.

There was an awkward pause for a few seconds where none of them said anything. It was broken by the sound of a chair being pushed back, scraping the polished floor as Dumbledore waited for everyone to settle down. After a few seconds complete silence fell.

"Congratulations on making it through another term!" he said as he raised his goblet out to the four tables of hungry students.

A few people raised their own goblets and Harry heard the gentle ripple of clinking glasses throughout the Hall.

After a moment Dumbledore continued. "The very best holiday wishes to you all. Tuck in!"

"Cheers!" said Ron at the mention of food, seeming to completely forget that his best friend was having a hard time looking him in the face.

Hermione shook her head in pity, yet an amused smile lit up her face.

Harry shrugged and, mimicking Ron, dove into grabbing all the food he could handle and devouring it. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until that moment.

The four of them chatted in between bites of food and by the time the meal was almost over, Ron and Hermione were acting like themselves again.

When the first people rose to leave, three boys from Ravenclaw, Dumbledore once again rose from his chair and the boys sat down immediately, looking rather confused and scared, wondering if they had done something wrong.

Dumbledore cast them a friendly smile and said, "Would all sixth and seventh year students please stay seated? The rest can go whenever they wish." Dumbledore sat back down and became immersed in his conversation with Professor McGonagall once again.