The Hidden Lake

The Hidden Lake

Chapter 1: Return to Hogwarts

It was September 1 and Hermione Granger was once again dragging her trunk aboard the Hogwarts Express. After spending her summer with her parents in France, she was looking forward to seeing her best friends again. Harry had spent the last two weeks with the Weasley's at the Burrow and her extended stay in France didn't allow her any time to visit. Unfortunately, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were nowhere to be found. Assuming they would be along shortly, she went in search of a compartment. Halfway down the train she spotted Neville Longbottom.

"Hey Neville, how was your summer?" She asked still pulling her trunk a little out of breath.

"Need some help with that?" He smiled and grabbed the other end of her trunk and led her down the aisle into a cabin near the front of the train. "It was alright, didn't really get out much. Went to Lavender's sweet sixteen, ooh, wish I hadn't. You missed out on quite a party."

"Yeah poor Lavender, I was in France with my parents but she told me all about it. Imagine walking in on your best friend and boyfriend. How sad."

"I know it was terrible. She went into her pantry to tell the house elves to bring out some more snacks and there they were. She screamed so loud we thought she was being attacked. We ran towards her and Parvarti and Seamus were just standing there with lipstick all over their faces trying to calm her down. Luckily Dean grabbed her wand out of her hand before she hexed him. Seamus looked like he would wet himself, and Parvarti was trembling. I never knew Lavender could look so scary."

"That's terrible; I can't imagine, finding your boyfriend in the arms of your friend. I think I would die."

"Yeah her mom made everyone leave after that. Didn't want a big spectacle I guess." Neville turned into a compartment. "Well, I already have a compartment here if you want to join me." She nodded, "Ginny said she would meet up when they got here." His face started to color a bit and Hermione smiled inwardly. "She said they would be here around 10:45 which gives us.... about 10 more minutes."

At the mention of Ginny's name, Hermione remembered a post Harry had sent her a few days before. "So now that I know she likes him, we need to find out if he likes her too. I'm positive he does, but our arses are on the line if we are wrong. See you in a bit." Harry and herself had decided to set Neville and Ginny up the second they realized they had feelings for each other. Neville's timidity when mentioning his future rendezvous with the youngest Weasley confirmed their suspicions.

A few minutes later, Hermione excused herself to try and find her best friends. If she and Harry's plan were to be put into action, she would need to tell him that Neville did indeed like Ginny back. However, she was distracted about three doors down when she thought she heard her name and paused.

".... She is so beautiful." The mysterious voice said. "After all these years I wish I could just tell her that." Hermione; never really considering herself to be a 'beautiful' person; decided they weren't talking about her, but pressed her ear to the door to try and figure out who was talking and whom they were talking about. Hermione was never really a gossip, but had always secretly wanted to have one up on Lavender and Parvarti. This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"So why don't you?" a second voice responded. "You talk about her so much I'm about to go insane. 'She's so smart, she's so sexy, and she's soooo wonderful.' Puh-lease. Have some fucking balls man. Here I'll help you. Repeat after me; come on say it with me now; 'would...you...like...to...go...out...with...me.' See now, that wasn't too bad. Now it's your turn."

Hermione laughed as she heard the second boy talk as though he were teaching a toddler.

"Ha-ha, very funny. You know perfectly well why I won't ask her out."

"Yeah and it's stupid. You've liked her for 5 bloody years and you're too much of a chicken to just ask her out. Who cares what people think? Then again..... No one would even have to know. A secret romance would be perfect for the two of you. Sneaking around each others friends, secret get togethers, notes and quick kisses between classes. And like I said, no one would have to know, except me of course. Since I am the only one you can trust with this secret and have kept it for you since you laid eyes on her." He started to sound irritated. "Man, I can't believe that you, of all people, are too scared to ask her out."

"I know I should ask her out, and I want to, but she'll turn me down, you know that. After everything that has happened between us, I can practically see her laughing in my face right now. I don't know if I can take that sort of a rejection."

"Well then maybe you shouldn't have been an arse to her all these years then should you? Getting in fights all the time, offending her, you blew it mate."

"How else was I supposed to act? Besides she's sexy when she's angry." It sounded like his friend was pretending to gag. "Anyway, did you see her earlier? The second I walked onto the platform I spotted her. She looked so beautiful I froze to the spot and didn't move until some third year pushed through the barrier and knocked me over. Ruined my brand new robe I tell you, look at this hole. It was worth it though. Glad she didn't see me. Imagine what she would say seeing me plowed over by a third year. I was actually thinking about going and talking to her, but by the time I looked up she was already on the train. I wonder which compartment she went into."

"Damn boy, you really got it bad don't you?" The second boy sighed, "You should tell her. But knowing her, she probably has already figured it out. If she hasn't, she might pick up on it you know. What with all that brilliance you so frequently remind me she has, it is just a matter of time. And sooner or later she will find out."

"Man I hope not. Can you imagine what she would say? But you're defiantly right though. She's the only thing I have ever wanted that I just couldn't seem to get. I want to ask her out so I guess I had better before someone else gets to it first. I wouldn't want to loose her to some worthless piece of garbage."

"Scared are we? Oh I get it you mean you're afraid of loosing her to someone like-"

"HERMIONE!" She jumped as she heard hear name as was upset that she missed the one piece of evidence that would help her figure out who the boys were talking about, but when she turned around to see Harry, Ron, and Ginny all walking towards her, her disappointment immediately turned into delight. Before abandoning her position, she tried to hear one last confession before turning away, however the occupants were no longer speaking.

"Hey guys, have a nice summer?" They all nodded. "Great, I saved us a compartment. Neville is there already," she paused and looked towards Ginny whose cheeks suddenly flushed, "wanted to make sure we could all sit together you know. Come on I'll show you where we are."

She showed them the compartment, and when she saw Ginny and Neville give each other shy glances, she remembered what she had left to do in the first place. "Harry, can I speak to you for a moment?" Before he could answer she had dragged him out the door and down the hall. She pushed him into an empty cabin and checked the hall to make sure no one would overhear them.

"Oi, 'Mione what was that for?"

"He likes her. I am absolutely positive." They both grinned.

Harry rubbed his palms together with relish. "So fellow match-maker, how shall we hook those two lovebirds up?" Just then Luna walked by. "Hey, Luna, could you come here for a sec?" She turned around and walked over to Harry and Hermione's cabin. "Would you like to help us set Neville and Ginny up?" Luna smiled and nodded in agreement.

"It's about time those two got together, talked about him all summer she did."

"Okay, so here's what I want you to do, in about an hour ......."

Harry and Hermione returned to the cabin, and within the hour, the five friends had completely caught up with each other. Luna suddenly walked in and whispered something into Ginny's ear. The redhead blushed furiously, glanced over at Neville, giggled, and then got up and left with Luna.

"What was that all about?" Neville asked also turning a deep shade of red. "Did I do something wrong, is there something on my face?"

Harry shot Hermione a knowing glance before grinning devilishly and telling him that he should go find out. Neville stood up and left the compartment muttering a weak goodbye positively shaking with nerves. Harry and Hermione burst into laughter.

"You planned that didn't you? Both of you?" Ron blurted out looking furious. "You're helping to set them up."

Harry grinned again. "So what, she likes him. And it's obvious he likes her back, so when Ginny asked what to do, I said I would help to get the ball rolling. So I did. Jeez Ron calm down. This overprotective brother act is getting old. You know Neville's a great guy. He would never do anything to hurt her, relax. And besides didn't you just say last week that you were glad she didn't like Dean anymore."

"You're right. I'd just wish you would help me out as much as you did with Ginny." Harry's jaw dropped at this and Ron suddenly realizing what he had said turned a lovely shade of purple. "I mean.... uh...I think I'm gonna be sick." And with that Ron ran out leaving a baffled Hermione and a shocked Harry alone in their compartment.

"What was that about?" Hermoine asked.

"Umm...it was..... Uh.....Just a little project I said I would help him with. Yeah, a project." He suddenly looked embarrassed.

"Harry James Potter. You're going to try and set us up aren't you?"

"Well, I said I would try." He turned to look his best friend in the eye and wished he hadn't said anything. Ron would be heartbroken. "He looked so desperate at the time and I didn't have the heart to say no. I know you don't think of him that way 'Mione but he's head over heels for you. You're all he talks about, so to get him to shut up I said I would try to help you guys out."

"Who says I don't think of Ron that way, just because I study and read all the time, it doesn't mean I don't think about boys....I mean...." She spat out "OOPS"

Even Harry was surprised at her frankness, but was glad she let it slip. "I knew it. HAHA. I knew you liked him back. You should have said something earlier. I had a feeling you liked him but I didn't want you biting my head of if I was wrong." Hermione's mouth was hanging open at her own blunder. "Don't worry about it, I won't say anything, I'll just help to push him along."

"Thanks Harry. I've actually wanted to ask you if he liked me back before, but I thought he liked someone else. I didn't want to be rejected if he did."

"Well, he's had is eye on you since the Yule Ball, he was just too scared to say or do anything. I would have tried to set you up last year, but I had a lot on my plate."

"I know you have enough going on without having to worry about your best friends love lives. And I really appreciate your help." Harry smiled at her. Hermione suddenly grinned remembering the conversation she had with Neville earlier. "Speaking of, who do you happen to have your eye on this year? No wait, let me guess. Hmm......" Harry started to squirm. "Could it be...?" She paused for effect. "Lavender?" Harry's face was priceless. Hermione laughed. "You know she broke up with Seamus don't you?"

"She did?" Harry's eyes lit up. "I thought they were inseparable?"

Hermione sighed. "She was, until she found him making out with Parvarti. Poor girl. It was at her sweet sixteen too. I wasn't there to see it, but she owled me in hysterics." Hermione frowned. The thought of it was kind of depressing.

"Too bad," said Harry, who on the other hand looked quite happy about it. "So you think you can put in a good word for me?"

"Sure Harry."

Just then Ron walked in and smirked at him. "So Harry, you will never guess who I just saw. Pretty, happens to be my best friend's object of affection. Oh, look, she's walking this way. Uh-oh looks like Terry is scoping her out."

Harry looked up and zoomed out the door the second he saw Lavender pass bye. He turned back around and whispered "Go for it mate" in Ron's ear, and winked at him before disappearing again.

Ron looked a little nervous, yet determined as he sat across from her. Hermione looked up at him to see him staring right into her eyes. Her stomach started to clench and her palms got all sweaty. The room was full of tension and Hermione decided to break the silence.

"So Ron," she began nervously. "How are the Chuddly Cannons doing this year?" 'Great; talk about something you don't know any thing about. Good one Hermione.' She thought.

"Alright," he said with a confused look, "well, better than last year at least, eighth in the league.

Still don't think they will be able to pull it together to get in the World Cup though."

"Oh that's good, I was wondering if..."

"Hermione, since when have you started caring about Quidditch?" He smirked at her. "You've never really shown any interest before." He saw her face fall and knew that now was the time to make his move.

'Oh crap' she thought. 'Am I that easy to read?'

"Well I just thought...." but she never got to finish. Ron had stood up, scooped her into his arms, and planted one on her. They broke apart and Hermione was speechless. Ron looked surprised at his own daring and began to mumble.

"Oh God I can't believe I just did that." His eyes looked like they would pop out of his sockets. "'Mione I'm so..."

"Do it again."

"What?" His eyes grew even larger.

"Ron, kiss me again." And so he did. Hermione held onto him thankful that he finally decided to make a move.

Before they broke apart the compartment door opened to reveal half the Gryffindor 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th years waiting outside. They burst into applause leaving both Ron and Hermione red with embarrassment. "About time" Ginny said before she and Harry dissolved into laughter.

"Don't get to excited Ginny," another spectator commented as everyone began to walk away. "Instead of listening to them fight all the time, will be walking in on them making out everywhere."

Ron and Hermione blushed as they looked at each other as Hermione repeated, "Well, it was definitely about time." And she smiled.

Outside their door Draco listened with disgust.

He had heard the Gryffindor's making quite a fuss about something and decided to investigate. As soon as he heard those words he wished he had just stayed in his compartment with Blaise. "I must say Ron, it took you long enough to ask her out. Waiting since the Yule Ball. You two are so perfect for each other." He could hear Potter and what he said next, pierced his very soul. "Ron and Hermione, it's got a nice ring to it." The occupants all laughed.

Draco was furious. He marched back to his compartment practically burning with rage and a surprised Blaise greeted him. "Back so soon? What was all that noise about? Wait a minute, did you ask her? Ooh mate, doesn't look like she took it so well. What did she do, set you're arse on fire? You are practically steaming."

"Fuck Zabini, he beat me to it. The little bastard beat me to it."

"Weasel? Wow. Didn't think he had it in him."

"Fuck off Zabini." Draco sighed as he plopped down across from his best friend. "You were right; I should have asked her a long time ago. Now I've lost her. Lost her to that brainless, worthless, foul....."

"Easy now buddy, calm down."

"CALM DOWN? I LOSE THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS TO THE WEASEL, AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS CALM DOWN?" Blaise rolled his eyes. "That's it. I have no chance with her, all cozy with that ....."

"Come on Draco," Blaise sighed "don't tell me you are going to give up that easily. You can still get her."

"Oh really, how would I do that exactly? Go up to her and beg? 'Excuse me Hermione, I've been in love with you for 5 bloody years, but I was too much of an arse to ever be nice to you, and I realize that you and the Weasel have something going on but would you mind dumping him for the miserable bastard that I am?'" He paused, "Yeah Blaise that sounds great."

"Don't worry Draco," Blaise smiled and got a devilish look in his eyes. "I've got a plan."