Chapter 7: Discussion in Great hall
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
While the entire hall reacted to the dramatic interruption, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger remained completely unaware of the cheering, clapping, or even Colin Creevey snapping pictures like mad.
The two of them were lost in their own moment.
Their attention was focused entirely on each other as they kissed, the world around them fading away. Nothing else seemed to exist except the warmth of each other's lips.
That perfect moment ended abruptly when a loud noise echoed across the Great Hall.
Harry and Hermione pulled apart and turned to see what had happened.
Every student in the room was staring toward Ron, who was still standing on his bench.
His face had turned a shade of red that any Gryffindor might admire.
Unfortunately for those sitting closest to him, they looked less impressed and more desperate for fresh air.
Ron climbed down from the bench, piled extra food onto his plate, grabbed his goblet, and stormed out of the Great Hall.
Harry leaned slightly toward Hermione.
"I think he might be a little jealous," he whispered.
Hermione considered the situation carefully.
"Possibly," she whispered back. "But since it's Ron, we probably shouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly."
Harry slipped an arm around Hermione's waist and led her back toward the Gryffindor table.
Several older students were attempting air-freshening charms, though none of them seemed particularly effective.
Eventually Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall came down from the staff table and handled the problem themselves.
Harry leaned toward Hermione again.
"Couldn't you have used a version of that jinx that didn't smell?" he whispered.
Hermione shook her head.
"The spell only releases gas from whatever happens to already be in his stomach," she explained quietly. "And Ron tends to eat everything put in front of him."
Harry suddenly looked alarmed.
"Oh no."
Hermione frowned.
"What?"
"You don't have to share a dormitory with him," Harry said.
He imagined night after night of the same experience.
Hermione gave him a sympathetic look.
"Let's hope he gets over it quickly."
Harry thought for a moment.
"Do you think I should go talk to him?" he asked. "Just to make sure he's alright?"
Hermione hesitated.
"He's probably embarrassed and still jealous," she said carefully. "Talking to him right now might make things worse."
Harry sighed.
"Fair point. I'll try later… or maybe tomorrow morning."
Just then two familiar voices spoke simultaneously.
"Well it's about time."
The Fred Weasley and George Weasley had appeared beside them.
Harry looked puzzled.
"About time for what?"
"For the two of you, obviously," George replied.
Fred nodded.
"Though if you could have waited until Christmas, we would have made a fortune."
Hermione blinked.
"A fortune?"
George grinned.
"Angelina was running a betting pool on when the two of you would finally figure it out."
Fred leaned across the table.
"Angelina! Who won?"
Angelina Johnson glanced down at a parchment.
"Professor McGonagall," she replied.
Hermione stared in disbelief.
"You were betting on when we would start dating?"
George shook his head.
"Oh no, Hermione. We would never do something like that."
He smiled innocently.
"You've clearly been together forever."
Fred finished the thought.
"We were betting on when you'd finally realize it."
Hermione glanced down the table.
One person in particular was not smiling.
Ginny Weasley was staring at Hermione with an expression that looked remarkably similar to the Killing Curse.
Hermione simply smiled sweetly.
Then she leaned her head against Harry's shoulder while taking his arm.
Harry wrapped his arm around her instinctively.
Ginny immediately stood up and stormed out of the Great Hall.
Hermione watched her leave.
Between her red hair and the steam practically rising from her ears, Ginny reminded Hermione of the Hogwarts Express pulling out of the station.
Harry, meanwhile, had completely missed the entire scene.
He was still talking with the twins.
"What do you mean we've been together forever?" he asked. "I liked other people before."
George raised an eyebrow.
"Ah yes… the charming Cho Chang, perhaps?"
He glanced toward the Ravenclaw table.
Cho was also glaring at Hermione.
"She never really had a chance," George continued. "You two have been inseparable since first year."
Fred added with a grin,
"If you hadn't figured it out by Christmas, we were planning to help things along."
Hermione still looked shocked.
"Professor McGonagall was actually betting on us?"
She glanced toward the staff table.
The usually stern professor almost seemed to be smiling.
Fred nodded enthusiastically.
"Professor Flitwick placed a bet too."
George continued.
"Professor Trelawney tried to wager that you'd confess your love over Harry's grave."
Fred snorted.
"But Angelina insisted on an exact date, so Trelawney stormed off claiming the secrets of the future were too valuable for gambling."
Harry suddenly remembered something.
"Wait… you two aren't mad I didn't choose you as champion, are you?"
Fred looked at George.
"He thinks we'd be angry."
George nodded dramatically.
"He gives us the greatest gift imaginable and expects us to be upset?"
Harry blinked.
"Gift?"
Fred leaned closer.
"Clearly he doesn't understand."
George nodded.
"Then we must enlighten him."
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