Chapter 5: Weasley WorriesSummary:Two jelly siblings, a Quidditch match, a jersey, a party and -more siblings? Also, a wild Lee Jordan.
Remember the Morally Grey tag -Mi is VINDICTIVE.
Chapter TextGinny Weasley was not happy.
Her grades had been slipping as much as her relationship with Dean Thomas, and Quidditch was not the outlet it once was. The only bright spot of her week had been when Professor Slughorn had invited her to his Christmas Party.
At least, it had been a bright spot until she had heard everyone talk about Harry and Hermione being each other's dates.
In her third year, she had asked Hermione for pointers on how to be more relaxed around Harry. He was often at the Burrow, and she couldn't keep landing her elbow into the butter dish every time he opened his mouth.
Hermione's advice had worked, of course , and she had thought she was finally over him. She had even gone to the Yule Ball with Neville and dated Michael Corner from Ravenclaw.
That was until he had taken Cho Chang out on a date. It had been painful to say the least -not the date itself, but knowing why it had ended early. It was the first clue of what would be her biggest heartache to date.
Harry had seemed very interested in the Ravenclaw, and that boded well for Ginny, because she was the same kind of girl. Skinny, athletic, popular and a Quidditch player. It meant that maybe Ginny herself could be Harry's type.
The fact that she was thinking about it at all should have made her realise her crush maybe wasn't that gone, but hindsight was twenty-twenty.
She had never even thought of Hermione as a 'threat' until that Valentine date at Madam Puddifoot's. Cho had rushed out in anger after Harry was gone, telling her friends how he had abandoned her to go with Hermione somewhere, and how he had talked about her during the entire date.
At the time, she had thought Cho had been exaggerating. Now, however, Harry Potter seemed obsessed with Hermione Granger.
She rather thought it had developed as one of the 'a little over time, then all at once' type of things. During the summer and the first couple of months of school Harry and Hermione had seemed on the outs, then one day everything had changed. Almost two weeks had passed since the day the Duo had left the Great Hall with cakes in hand, only to return attached at the hip.
The two longest weeks of Ginny's life so far.
Harry carried Hermione's bag around like it was his job, hugged her like she was made of sunshine and rainbows, and kissed her head like she was the most precious thing in the world. And he did it without the least discretion for being in public - Ginny had thought he would be one of the more physically detached kind of boys, and he was , usually. With everyone but Hermione Granger. It was like she had flipped a switch in him. Merlin, the way he lookedat her. Ginny had never seen someone so enamoured with someone else at such a young age.
The Common Room's population was used to it by now, but Ginny still caught herself staring at the scene they made on their loveseat. Everybody knew that it was Potter, Granger and Weasley's spot -including the velvet armchair next to it- even if there had been very little Weasley in the mix lately. She had seen her brother vanish with them a few times during the last week, probably off doing some Golden TrioSuper Secret Stuff, but the rest of the time was all Harry and Hermione's show.
And what a show it had been. Hermione had apparently organised some sort of Girl Club for the NEWT-level Gryffindors inside the sixth-year dorm, and the girls had been raving about it left and right for a week -so much that it had been repeated three times more in the span of seven days. Ginny had caught all of them singing strange songs at least a time or two.
She wasn't mad for not being invited- Hermione had explained that if she made an exception for her, as a fifth year, then she would have to make it for everyone else's friends- but she was mad for the way almost every girl in Gryffindor now seemed to want Harry and Hermione to become a couple. It was like a curse. She couldn't round a corner in the girls' dorms without someone talking about them together, or even just about Hermione. She was a new favourite, apparently- couldn't go anywhere in the castle without having some girls waving at her or calling her name in greeting.
To be honest, Ginny saw how the added attention had made Hermione uncomfortable at first, but it looked like she had come to terms with that in a few days. She knew Hermione personally a good bit, and she could tell that she was doing all of this for a purpose. What purpose she didn't know precisely, but she would bet it concerned Harry on some level.
Returning to the point at hand, Ginny thought back to the first practice of the week. Never had a more mortifying ordeal happened to her, first year's Singing Valentine about eyes as green as fresh pickled toad excluded. She had tried to gauge lightly just how many chances there were of Harry returning her feelings -she knew very well it wasn't fair to Dean, but she had to know- and in response, he had shot her down as forcefully as a Bombarda .
Firstly with the brutal ultimatum about her performance on the Pitch -but she could let that go. After all, it wouldn't do to have a biased Captain to lead the team. She respected his integrity.
Then she had hinted at her problems with Dean. Great error, in hindsight. She had expected some sort of solidarity, but he had just looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him - then he had said some empty platitude and clapped her on the shoulder like she had seen him do to her brothers. She had wanted to vanish in that moment, because it was proof that Harry Potter was as romantically interested in her as he was in Ron .
The absolute coup de grace, however, had been when he had asked about the time. She was confused at first, but then he had remarked that he was late and that Hermionewas waiting for him . Just like Cho Chang had preached the year prior. Not that they had been on a date, of course, but couldn't he spare five minutes of his Hermione-time to offer a word of comfort to a friend? Apparently not. Or maybe he had sensed her intention to test the waters and had ran from it as fast as he could. That would hurt even more.
The worst thing in the entire situation was the identity of the person he was following around like a lost puppy. Cho had been just a girl he was interested in, while Hermione was permanent . Ginny could feel it in her bones -Harry Potter would never trade Hermione Granger for anyone else. She just wasn't someone you could replace.
She didn't hate Hermione for it, but she surely resented her and probably would for a long time.
In any case, Ginny Weasley was not happy.
———
Her little get-together had been a smashing success.
Hermione was very proud of it. She had never been the most social person around, often finding herself in need of alone time to recharge after a long day. But she had handled herself well in the situation, if she could say so herself. The only seventh year she had any recollection of before Monday night was Katie Bell, and even that only because she was on Harry's Quidditch Team. It way high time to make some new acquaintances.
The other girls had been a pleasant surprise. They had talked at length about her charms on the VCR, and she had enjoyed the more academic conversation, but the topic had swiftly shifted to Hogwarts-wide gossip.
Who knew Susan Bones and Ernie Macmillan were a thing? It was fascinating to see how people had so many opinions on other students' business.
Of course, they had started talking about Harry not long after. That is, before they remembered she was in the room and stopped cold, looking at her with naked fear in their eyes. Hermione, to their eternal surprise and relief, just started laughing. From there, she had been inundated with questions.
She remembered a few snippets of conversation with a slight smile.
"So you're not…mad?" A tall seventh year named Kelly asked hesitantly.
"Why would I be?" Hermione replied curiously, her head tilted slightly.
"Well, because he's Harry Potter and you're Hermione Granger," she said, as if it explained everything,"everybody knows how you two are with each other, and we were talking about him in his Quidditch gear, so…"
Hermione snorted. "You want me to say that he's not attractive in his flying uniform? I'm sorry, but lying is not a habit of mine -just don't escalate and we're good," the girlburst out laughing at the unexpected quip, and relaxed a whole lot more around her.
She also had the opportunity to correct some of the assumptions people had made about them.
"So, you were not with Potter during the Tournament?" One Elizabeth Edwards asked in amazement.
"Nope. Viktor didn't steal me from anyone. Harry and I have been just friends until now- I understand the confusion, but I can assure you that the article on the Prophet was just Rita Skeeter selling her soul and professionalism for profit,"
"How was Krum, then? Did he live up to the title of 'BonBon'? How did you two break up?", a giggling sixth year asked. Hermione hummed thoughtfully. "He was a gentleman through and through, but after he went back home we realised a long-distance relationship was not what we wanted -our feelings were just not strong like that. We're friends, now… pen-pals, really, and I still think he's a great guy, just not the one for me," she shrugged. "Very mature," Sally-Anne remarked. The others nodded appreciatively.
"Of course, he was not the one for you! Harry was right there," Fay laughed.
"Fay! Harry and I until now have been-"
"Yeah, just friends. Come on, Granger, everybody has seen how you two look at each other! Not to mention, he is like the Giant Squid around you recently,"
Hermione gave an embarrassed giggle -a giggle!- and replied. "Well, I did say 'until now'," the girls squealed and laughed. "But jokes aside, we really have always beenplatonic. I can admit to some recently developed feelings, but nothing is written in stone yet. He's too important to lose over a crush. You have no idea what we've lived through together. Some bonds… they're priceless," a choir of sighs and awes accompanied her.
"For one, I think you two are perfect together!", "Me too," "Same here!"
"Thank you, guys,"
Lavender offered a crucial piece of information with a concealed smirk and a conspiratorial tone. "Did you know that Romilda Vane -she's a fifth year- has decided to try and potion Harry? Even if she knows about him going to Sluggy's party with Hermione? Bad move, I'd say,"
"How dare she," "Shameful," "Merlin, she reeks of desperation,"
"Don't worry, girls, I'll take care of her," Hermione replied. The fellow Gryffindors couldn't help but shudder at the reminder of who exactly Vane was going to piss off. They wouldn't want to be in that position for a thousand Galleons.
After she had recounted the time when she had ended up as a half-cat because of a wrong hair in the Polyjuice, collecting rolling laughter and awed stares, a girl opened another discussion.
"Honestly, Granger, I thought you were a bitch," Annie Waters confessed. "If I had known you were this down to earth I would have asked for help with Transfiguration a time or two!" Hermione, instead of being mad, just gave a light laugh. "I can understand where you come from. To be honest, I'm just a reserved person and, as you've seen, I do not partake often in gossip and such," she gestured lazily with her hand. "But if you need help with anything just ask. Really, I will help you if I can," she shrugged.
"I can't believe Chang would lie like this!" A girl blurted out.
"What do you mean?" Hermione immediately clocked the name.
"I mean that last year she went around the Castle saying that Harry Potter had ditched her on Valentine's Day to be with you instead, and that you were a home wrecker for stealing her boyfriend," an outraged seventh year said. Hermione was livid, too.
"Then Chang should have the grace to wash her mouth before she spews venom. It's true that Harry had to come find me on Valentine's , but he did it because it was the only time we could arrange for that interview you saw on the Quibbler, the one with the truth about Voldemort. He met with me, Luna Lovegood and Rita Skeeter- the pinnacle of romance, really. Harry also told me that he had tried to explain his reasons, but she had only pushed harder with stupid recollections of other dates she had gone to -all in order to make him jealous. And, by the way, he was never her boyfriend," Hermione rolled her eyes at the way they cringed at the name. When they processed what she had said, the collective outrage was barely contained.
"Sorry if a homicidal megalomaniac at large had to take precedence over Madam Puddifoot's pink tea - honestly!" Hermione was enraged.
"But even without considering that, Cho Chang should only be thanking you, Hermione, not spreading false rumours. Who did she think could have explained her moods with empathy to a fifteen-year-old boy and convinced him she was not barmy, Morgana Le Fay? She's both a Prefect and a Ravenclaw, but sometimes she doesn't have a lick of sense. And don't even get me started on the way she defended Marietta after she snitched on the DA!" Lavender said, then caught Hermione's look of confusion. "We were in the Common Room when you lot talked about it," she clarified. Hermione nodded in understanding.
The girls shared astonished glances before Pav decided to speak up. "Frankly, girls, that's perfectly true. Sometimes I think Hermione has to have the patience of a saint to deal with those boys," Lav and Fay nodded sagely.
The Gryffindor upperclassmen girls went to bed with a new awareness in their eyes and a newfound appreciation for Hermione Granger.
And if the next day, in Ravenclaw-Gryffindor Charms class, Cho Chang was greeted by their pointed glares… well, no one fucked with one of them without consequences.
———
That Quidditch match was the one people waited for the most, Gryffindor versus Slytherin- the crowd was abuzz with excitement.
Harry felt ready and calm. He gave the usual pep talk in the locker room, noticing that Ron looked a lot less green than he had at breakfast -thank Merlin. It was his first match as Captain, and he wanted it to be a success.
Before he could get his broom, he heard his name being called in a familiar tone. Harry smiled, pleased. He pivoted right back, facing the girl he already considered his witch.
He gaped for a second, lost. Hermione was wearing a Quidditch jersey. A Gryffindor jersey, at that. She was grinning ear to ear, her hair wind-mussed and tied up with something that made them cascade in a waterfall of curls- like a ponytail but not quite. Her face was pink from the cold and she had even put on something on her lashes that thickened and blackened them.
She looked like a dream.
Then she turned around. 'Potter' and the number seven were emblazoned in gold on the back of her jersey- he was gobsmacked.
"Do you like it? Sorry, I nicked an old one from your trunk and resized it-"She took a look at him and immediately worried. "Are you mad? I'm sorry, I thought it would be nice. I will take it off-"
"No! " Harry almost yelled, trying to fight the urge to put a Permanent Sticking Charm between her and the jersey. "No. It's perfect. You're perfect," he breathed out, still amazed.
"So you're not mad?" She asked.
"Mad? I would be mad if I didn't like this, Mi. Never take it off, please?" Harry advanced swiftly to pull her in a hug.
Hermione giggled softly. Who knew Harry could be so possessive? She was certain of his feelings by now and was enjoying the slow but sure changing of their relationship. She was still surprised to feel, however, the occasional proof of his interest when he hugged her. This was one of those instances.
"Well, that seems a bit inconvenient. How about I wear it for all of your games?"
"Yes, please. Wear it as much as you can. I have more- do you want more?" Harry was blabbering, trying to make his boner go down before he embarrassed himself in front of the whole school.
The entrance of both Weasley siblings remaining at Hogwarts did the trick. They entered while he was still wrapped around his witch, interrupting her well-wishes with a cough.
"It's time," Ginny said, rather coldly. "Yeah," Ron remarked, again in low spirits.
Refusing to let them drag her mood down, Hermione turned with a dazzling smile and gently embraced them both at once.
"Just wanted to wish you well. I'll be on the stands, good luck," she turned back to Harry, planting a long kiss on his flaming cheek.
She looked at him right in the eye. "You stay safe. No ridiculous stunts," Hermione wiggled a finger in front of his nose. Harry smiled so wide that his adorable dimple appeared- a rare sight. She underlined the occasion by using the same finger to gently poke it, smiling sweetly herself.
"I don't make promises I can't keep," Harry quipped.
"Cheeky," she gave him a last squeeze, a breezy 'good luck' and then sauntered back to the stands.
Harry just stood there, smiling like a loon until Ginny cleared her throat pointedly- her remarkable semblance to Umbridge made him cringe.
"Gonna win the fuck out of this," Harry whispered to himself while stalking towards the Pitch.
———
" POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH. I REPEAT, HARRY POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH. GRYFFINDOR WINS 170 TO 0 FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE MATCH. A VICTORY THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY- CAPTAIN HARRY POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH! I KNEW WE RAISED THAT BOY RIGHT-"
The roar of the crowd was deafening, but he swore he could hear her voice clearly even then. He started his victory lap, Snitch held up high in his hand, and immediately spotted Hermione jumping up and down in Lavender Brown's arms.
He flew into the stands, flipping upside down with only his thighs anchoring him to his Firebolt -to end up face to face with Hermione. He grinned rakishly.
"Want a ride?"
Hermione burst out laughing. "No way-"
"Come on, for me?"
"I'd rather eat dirt, Harry James-"
"Don't you trust me?" He asked, puppy-eyed even while upside down.
"Of course I do-"
"Then fly with me? Just once- I'll be careful, I swear," she really couldn't resist his eyes, dammit.
"We could all go celebrate if Potter stopped flirting with Granger for five minutes, not that I blame him-", "Jordan! Why are you even here-"
Hermione faked exasperation. "Very well."
In front of the whole school, Harry carefully helped Hermione to get on top of his Firebolt, holding her close while descending to the ground.
The Team and a crowd of red-and-gold embraced both of them immediately- with two notable exceptions.
Neither of them noticed, however.
———
Ron Weasley was feeling more left out than ever.
The match that he had worked out in his mind to be hismoment to shine had been all about Harry- yet again. He hadn't had the occasion to block one single Quaffle, because the Boy Wonder had to catch the Snitch after fifteen minutes, with two goals already scored to boot.
That morning Ron had been out of sorts, the usual pre-game jitters making themselves known. By now he was used to it, but had still resented the way Harry was cool as a cucumber instead.
Then the locker room encounter happened.
After his talk with Neville, he had tried to unravel his feelings for Hermione- and Ron thought he had succeeded. He now realised that he did like her, but maybe he liked what status being with her could give him even more. But nonetheless, he had feelings for her- that was not false.
Ron had been forced to watch Harry charm her effortlessly day after day, exhibiting a kind of charisma he usually kept hidden under his natural shyness with girls and distrust of others, and that only shone when he was put in a position of leadership - the DA and his Captaincy being the two most glaring examples.
Hermione was the exception. Harry trusted her, maybe more than anyone else, and had no reason to feel nervous around her. She had been his rock for years, and nothing could change that. Moreover, she seemed as interested in him as he was in her, and that surely had helped his gradually growing self-assurance. All in all, Harry was extremely charming when he wanted to be.
That didn't help Ron's recent and old self-esteem issues. At all.
He had seen clearly what Harry was doing- he and everyone else, in some ways. Harry had been increasing physical contact with Hermione on a daily basis, and that was obvious. Also obvious was the way he stared down any other male who dared exist in her vicinity. Case in question, the time when Cormac McLaggen had been able to savour the shape of Harry's fist for three days after a too loud comment about Hermione's thighs.
Hermione had reacted to the scene by not even raising her eyes from her book. When Harry had laid his head on said thighs in a huff, she had merely pointed her wand at the bruised knuckles, healed them, and then proceeded to pet his hair like she would Crookshanks. She had later made some remarks about 'ending up in trouble for no good reason', but Harry still looked just as pleased as the furry hellion.
That was all evident, obvious.
What Ron really meant was something he saw as a person who knew Harry. He had been opening up to Hermione in ways he had never done with anyone else, judging from the conversations he had overheard during the last weeks and the inside jokes they had made. He had been treating her with a reverence, a devotion Ron had never seen him express for someone else.
And Hermione had been responding in kind to everything. She was always touching him in some way, always whispering something in his ear, always sharing secret glances that only they could understand.
It hadn't been easy for Ron, but he was trying to accept the situation in his own way -he had also noticed that Lavender Brown often looked at him, so maybe he could shift his interest to her? He didn't know if it was possible.
That day, however, had underlined the fact that he had a long way ahead in order to accept a relationship between his best friends. He had found them wrapped in a tight embrace and, while it had been painfully awkward, he could have ignored that.
Then Hermione had turned around to kiss Harry on the cheek. The name on her back and the way she had spoken and touched him in that moment had hit Ron like a Bludger to the head. She was utterly and completely Harry's . There was nothing to think about -he just had to accept this new reality.
That was not the way he would have liked to begin the match.
But even then, his presence had been completely useless. The Slytherin Team didn't even have the time to come close to his hoops, because the Gryffindor Chasers had taken control of the Quaffle immediately and did not relinquish it until Harry finished the match.
It had been satisfyingly humiliating for the snakes, however. That was one bright point.
But Harry just had to pick up 'Mione on his broom, didn't he? Didn't he think about Ron's feelings at all? Or did he really have no idea about his crush on her?
All in all, it was a pretty depressing victory for one Ronald Weasley.
———
The fact that Lee Jordan shouldn't have been in the Castle didn't click until Harry was in front of the Fat Lady's Portrait.
"Mi," he asked, suspicious.
"Yes?"
"Why was Lee present today?"
"How would I know?" Her innocent face didn't fool him a bit, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.
"Mhmh, try again -with more conviction,"
"Maybe I sent a couple of letters here and there," she batted her eyelashes with a grin.
"To whom?" He was starting to get scared.
"Okay," Hermione huffed. "I asked the Twins to come and they brought Lee. While he was here, why not make him comment on the match like the old times?"
"You asked Fred and George to come to a party? Who even are you?" He was almost scandalised.
"Oh, don't make that face. They're very good at what they do- that means mayhem . So yes, I asked them to come and bring a couple of things for the party -this is a golden opportunity to create House unity" she shrugged. "Of course, I blackmailed them a bit to keep things controlled," she clarified, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You're unhinged, you know that? I'm starting to fear the monster I've created," Hermione laughed at his naïveté.
"Silly boy, you didn't create anything- you just keep giving me reasons to let loose." Hermione had the most devilish smirk when she sauntered past the Portrait. Harry was uncomfortably aroused, again- what did it tell about himself that he enjoyed Hermione's deranged side more and more?
———
The after-party was a complete triumph.
He had been baffled when a gaggle of girls had approached them while they were sipping their Gillywater, and instead of making eyes at him like previously in the year they had cornered Hermione, asking about the contraption she had used for her ponytail-not-ponytail.
"Oh, that's a banana clip. My mum gave me a few because they hold my hair a lot better than ties. You want some? I can ask her to buy them- they're very inexpensive to tell you the truth," Hermione spoke candidly.
A flurry of thank-yous and gushing about her hair followed the excited group.
"What was that ?" Harry asked, confused about the whole ordeal.
"That, Harry James, were the consequences of my own actions. Remember the Girl Club?" He nodded.
"Apparently not only did I succeed in rallying them together, but I became a sort of ringleader in the meantime. No clue how that happened, to be honest, but now they won't leave me alone " she whispered. Harry laughed, wheezing until he saw Hermione's deadpan look.
"Sorry, sorry," he tried to calm himself, brushing a couple of tears from his eyes. "It's just that only you could think of using parties to form an army of girls, and then be upset because you became their General while talking about hair," he was starting to think there was nothing she couldn't do. 'Brilliant, but scary' were Ron's immortal words.
"Mhmh, General Granger -it has a certain flair to it, doesn't it?"
"Just don't become the next Dark Lady, please. We have enough of them, I think,"
"I would never! Now, a Light Lady is something entirely different…" she joked. He hoped so, at least.
" We think,"
"Oh mighty Princess of Gryffindor,"
"That the only Lady 'ickle Harrykins wants you to be,"
"Is his Lady," the Twins finished in their typical fashion.
Harry blushed a bit but tightened his grip on her waist. Hermione was exceedingly pleased at that- she was coming to love having his affections, his attention, his devotion all to herself. Maybe she was a bit possessive, too?
"By the way,"
"Princess,"
"What's that about?" Hermione interrupted, horrified. The Twins ignored her.
"We thought it would be the least we could do,"
"As humble subjects of your reign,"
"To bring something,"
"To aid your noble quest," they both dangled a purple vial in front of Harry and Hermione's faces.
"What's that?" Harry asked, sceptical.
"That's a modified Truth Serum, Great Chosen One -Ruler of Quidditch Pitches and Common Rooms alike. It keeps you from telling things that you really can't or won't say for a good reason, but would let your tongue loose on anything else. Entirely intention-based," George explained.
"And entirely legal," Fred winked.
"And what do you want us to do with it?" Hermione prodded.
"Drink it, Golden Girl. What better way to recruit soldiers than sharing your battle stories? Shock and awe will give you an edge with everyone, and when your adventures are known to all…"
"… you'll have an easier time holding up leadership. Reassuring them that everything you say is true -if a bit edited- is just a plus," George finished.
Hermione was honestly impressed. There were a few kinks to work, but it was doable. Harry seemed far less convinced, but she would work on that later.
"Thank you, guys. Really. But I think we will save the shock and awe for a larger audience," she grinned.
"Please, do invite us when you do,"
"Of course,"
Harry couldn't honestly imagine a scarier partnership than this.
———
"Granger! Granger!"
Another group of girls called from the opposite corner of the Common Room. Hermione pivoted around. "Yes?"
"Do the thing! Come on!" Sally-Anne asked.
"What thing?" The Common Room had quieted down to listen.
"The music thing! We want to dance again!"
"Oh, no problem. Just let me…" She waved her wand in the direction of her dorm. A Muggle device came down flying, and Harry caught it in midair amidst the cheering crowd. He passed it to Hermione with a cheeky smile.
The moment was interrupted soon.
"Hey, Harry. Fancy more Gillywater?" Romilda Vane had finally made her move. The whole group of older girls stared her down, and she had the impression of having made a faux pas that would not go unpunished.
She was right.
The Room went deathly quiet when Hermione, who was sitting on Harry's right and looking for all intents and purposes like a queen on her throne, slowly stood up to face her.
Harry's gaze turned cold, deadly. Hermione, instead, had a chilling smile on her lips.
"Why don't you give it to me? Harry has had enough, didn't you?" Harry nodded, coming to stand beside Hermione and pulling her closer with a hand on her waist.
"W-well, I prepared it for him-" Romilda stammered. Something was very wrong here.
"Oh, I'm sure you did," Hermione's smile fell and she whipped out her wand. The Gillywater was summoned and turned bright pink, then forest green with a flick of Hermione's wand.
"Amortentia, and Draught of Revulsion" Hermione declared. The whole Gryffindor House gasped- even Ron and Ginny, who had been keeping to themselves, looked enraged and came to stand closer to the Duo.
"You wanted to dose him with the nastiest, most powerful love potion in existence, and make something -or someone- disgusting to him" Hermione nodded to herself. "And I can't blame you, really. I did tell Harry that he was more fanciable than ever, and the only conceivable way he would ever notice you…" she drawled.
"But, do you know who was born from the use of a love potion?" Romilda shook her head. She was finished, and she knew it. "Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr," Hermione said, recalling the information Professor Dumbledore had shown to Harry. Harry finished her thought, "You might know him better as Lord Voldemort," shrieks and gasps filled the Room.
"Mhmh, so I don't think we're going to let this slide -will we, Harry?"
"Nope. But, I find myself curious. Who was the Draught keyed to?" He spied Romilda's eyes darting to Hermione.
"Oh, of course it would be linked to Mi. Not that you could ever compete with her, potions or not," he rolled his eyes.
"There's no need to be mean, Harry James," Hermione falsely scolded.
"Is it mean when it's the truth?" He asked, tucking a curl behind her ear. Romilda was on the verge of tears. "And well, she has just tried to rape me, so I would say some meanness is warranted," he glared pointedly at the fifth year.
"Not that any potion could make me revulsed by you, Mi," he grinned lopsidedly. "You flirt," she rolled her eyes fondly. "Call the cavalry," she commanded, her eyes fixed on Romilda like she was prey.
Harry decided to give a bit of a show. He turned his head towards his witch, stroked her cheek for a moment and smiled, whispering 'Expecto Patronum'. It was obvious what he had thought about to conjure the blindingly bright stag. It immediately parked its muzzle on Hermione's shoulder, nuzzling her neck.
"Oh, hello Prongs. You're such a sweetheart," she caressed its head and antlers, like it was perfectly normal to pet the literal manifestation of someone's magic. It was very clear to everyone just how much Harry's magic loved Hermione. Harry hummed contentedly, then scolded the ghostly animal lightly. "Come on, Prongs, you have a job to do."
Prongs pushed his antlers onto her side, as if asking for something. "What- oh, you want me to-? Okay, I guess," she muttered the incantation herself. A beautiful, bright doe came out of her wand, immediately going to cuddle with the stag.
Hermione reddened. "Well, this is surprising and slightly sexist, but she's too beautiful to object any further," she shrugged. Harry was wide-eyed, remembering when Moony had told him his mother's Patronus was a doe, too. He was too happy for words.
"It's only right to give her a name," he said softly. Hermione thought for a moment. "Faline," she blurted out, smiling. "She was Bambi's best friend."
"I remember it differently," he whispered to himself, smiling giddily. He remembered seeing the film in elementary school, and the fact that Bambi's contender for Faline's love was called Ronno didn't escape his notice either. It was a fitting name if there ever was one.
"But let's worry about the matter at hand," Hermione noticed they had sidetracked a bit. Harry talked to the glowing animals, moving his wand with a turn of his wrist. "Ask Professor McGonagall to come here, we have a pretty serious issue," he explained the situation better. Hermione in the meantime hid every and any evidence of the Twins' gifts , and her own contributions. "We wouldn't want to end up in trouble for a bit of harmless celebration," she explained primly. Harry just sat back on the loveseat, pulling her with him. Romilda tried to run back to her dorm, but a swish of Hermione's wand froze her in place.
Meanwhile, the whole House was staring at them like they had grown a second head. What the hell had happened to them? How did they get so good? Why were their Patroni so bright that people had to squint when they appeared? The legend of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger was growing by the moment- and it would only get bigger as time passed.
Ginny had stilled when Faline came out of Hermione's wand. That was the proof that their magic had intertwined to an alarming level. There really was no chance for anyone else- their magic had decided for them, or maybe just before they acknowledged it.
———
Both deers sauntered through the wall and a few moments later Minerva, who was busy in conversation with Filius Flitwick, received a surprise. The Professors' break room was full that day, and Severus was seated just close enough to have the shock of his life.
Two of the brightest Patroni they had ever seen made their majestic entrance and sat down in front of Minerva, the stag curling around the doe in an unmistakably protective manner. Minerva was close to tears. James and Lily… but then she recognised their voices. Potter and Granger. Her two favourite cubs, even if she couldn't say it out loud.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall. Sorry for the bother, but we need your help with a tricky situation in the Common Room- someone had the brilliant idea to try and feed me Amortentia and some other stuff, you see. Hermione intervened of course, but we need you to fully close the matter," the stag spoke clearly. "Professor," the doe added, "I am sorry for the delivery, but he's right. This cannot go unpunished."
After Minerva got over the shock, she registered what the Patronus had said and immediately rose to her feet, stalking towards the Den in a rage.
Meanwhile, Severus Snape was still looking at the spot where the animals had disappeared. He hadn't seen a doe Patronus since his own and Lily's, but now even that had been sullied. A Potter had taken away his last connection to Lily.
He knew very well that Lily's Patronus was based upon Potter's, and that Miss Granger's was obviously tied to his son's, but Severus had just found out that his Patronus was now someone else's proof of love -yet again. That was not something he could just get over easily.
It didn't help Potter's resemblance to his father, and neither did the fact that Granger was a young, brilliant Muggleborn witch just like Lily had been.
It felt like history was repeating itself, and he was once again spectator of a Potter's triumph.
It didn't hurt like the first time, but it wasn't pleasant nonetheless.
———
The Vane situation was resolved swiftly, with Romilda getting a good week of suspension and detention for the rest of the year.
Hermione, of course, had added a bit of spice -every time she even thought about potioning someone for the wrong reasons she would get an insufferably itchy rash on her entire back, made of big letters forming the word 'rapist'. She had refined her technique since the last time, so it would go away anytime someone else tried to heal it or take a look at it. Then it would come back, doubling its itchiness, ten minutes later. Romilda would know exactly who had cursed her, but will never be able to prove anything. Karma was a bitch, after all.
When she whispered that to Harry, his eyes smouldered with desire. He really couldn't resist her when she was like this, especially if it was in his defence.
Professor McGonagall had complimented them on their Patroni and left the Room, which was still as full as earlier but quiet as a church. Harry looked around, then spoke up. "Well? Didn't someone say something about music?"
Hermione summoned her VCR back and put a cassette on, casting a Sonorus for everyone to enjoy. The Girl Club members squealed and ran to the centre of the room, using it as a makeshift dance floor.
The party went back in full swing with the Twins holding court and the music entertaining the rest. Hermione turned to Harry, speaking in his ear. "By the way, Sluggy's soirée is near -I should really teach you to dance."
"You can dance?" Harry looked at her curiously.
"Of course, remember the Yule Ball? I was leading Viktor, not the other way around," Harry rolled his eyes, muttering something about a 'fucking lucky ponce', but then asked her how she had learned.
"My parents made me take a lot of extracurricular classes, like ballet and piano when I was little. Then ballroom dancing was added when I was a bit older. I'd say I can teach you with no problems," she smiled slyly.
"You, of course, are a marvel at everything -but I have two left feet, Mi,"
"I call bullcrap. You're too naturally graceful not to be able to dance -you just need direction and a bit of practice,"
"Naturally graceful, mh? I appreciate it, but maybe next time add how handsome and smart you think I am?"
"You know you're both, stop fishing for compliments," she rolled her eyes. Harry blushed and smirked at the same time.
"Oh really? I am both? Do tell more," Hermione shoved his arm lightly, when Lavender came to collect her for a song- the first notes of Hung Up resonated in the overcrowded room. Hermione raised her shoulders at Harry, then followed Lav to the dance floor, where the Club girls clapped in excitement.
"Hermione! How did you dance like that last time?" Lav asked when Daddy Cool started a few minutes later.
"Honestly? They're my mum's moves from the '80s, I just copied her when we danced together in our kitchen," Hermione laughed over the music.
———
Harry observed the scene with a lopsided smile on his face. Hermione was as good as he had imagined, of course. The fact that she was swaying her hips around with his name on her back was just an added bonus.
Merlin, he would definitely revisit this scene in his mind that night. She was so bloody beautiful.
Then he took a look around. A lot of people had joined in on the dance, and the rest were mainly Purebloods- Weasleys included. A couple of boys here and there were giving him the stink eye, but he paid them no mind. It wasn't his fault if he had better taste in women, and now they were regretting it. He had to address the elephant in the room with his best mate, instead.
He readied himself for the confrontation and approached Ron.
"Hey, mate. Been a while since we had a chat,"
"Yeah. Since you've Spellotaped yourself to 'Mione, I didn't think my presence was all that appreciated," Ron replied, coldly.
"You're my best mate, Ron, your presence is always appreciated," Harry tried to keep calm.
"Then I just don't want to be present while you two snog each other, right nightmare that would be,"
"We don't snog each-"
"But you will!" Ron's raised voice was fortunately covered by the loud music.
"And so what?" Harry snapped. "How is it your business if we snog or not? You're not her father, you know."
"Because I'm your best friend! You shouldn't-"
"I shouldn't what? Try to be with a girl who could actually love me and not my name? Be happy? Do tell me why I shouldn't , mate,"
"Because it's not fair!" Ron exploded. "You've got everything on your side, Harry. Everything. What is left for me if you also take Hermione for yourself?"
"I've got everything on my side? Are you completely mental or do you actually believe what you're saying? Did you miss the part where a madman has been trying to do me in since I was one ? When he murdered my family? When his lapdog took away the one person I had left?" Harry yelled.
"I know that! I know, and I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, but everything else it's still on your side! Just look at today, you're the one who won the match, and I didn't even have a chance to catch a Quaffle!"
"That's exactly your problem, Ron. You don't care that your team has won , you only care that you didn't get to be the hero of the moment," Harry shook his head. "I can't continue to condone your jealousy, mate. I can't deprive myself of the girl I think I might be in love with, or -or lose a fucking Quidditch match on purpose so that you can feel better about yourself. Just- just fucking grow up! Life is not fair , or I would be coming back home to my parents on Yule. You want attention? Recognition? Work for it. Be better. Don't blame me for your shortcomings," Ron was gaping in shock.
"And Hermione is not a thing! She can't be taken away,Ron. She has feelings and can choose for herself- and if I'm her choice, then I won't fucking waste that chance for anything," Harry stormed back to his dorm, his evening ruined.