Hermione's Heart

HERMIONE'S HEART, PART IV: Moments of Truth

Hermione stood between Ron and Harry, the cloak still dangling from Ron's hand. She had to think quickly. How was she possibly going to explain how she had managed to get hold of Cho's cloak, especially when Cho had been playing in the match?

"Hermione?" Harry prompted, watching her closely. "Where'd it come from?"

Damn these Seekers and their sharp eyes

, thought Hermione. Assuming a bossy tone she hadn't used towards Ron and Harry in years, she said, "I guess I must have grabbed it in mistake for my own at the last prefect meeting." She was betting on the fact that neither Harry nor Ron would know that meeting had taken place nearly a week ago. "That must have been it. We were just leaving Minerva's office -"

Both boys cut her off, hooting with laughter. "Minerva?" gasped Ron when he could finally speak again. "Since when are you calling her Minerva?"

Harry was red-eyed from laughing. "Yeah, Hermione. Something you want to tell us about Professor McGonagall - excuse me, Minerva?" he added, sending Ron off on another gale of laughter.

"Oh shut up laughing, you two." Hermione was relieved they seemed to have forgot all about the cloak mix-up, but she couldn't believe she had let slip her private, first-name calling of Professor McGonagall. "For your information, some people are more mature than either of you, and talk about issues as equals."

"Right, right," Ron nodded, wiping the tears from his eyes, and tried to look serious but burst out laughing again. Harry continued chortling all the way up the steps of the front entrance.

The two boys walked ahead, still snickering and mouthing "Minerva" at each other at intervals. Hermione kept a dignified distance. She thought they had completely forgotten the cloak until they reached the turning point for Gryffindor tower.

"Okay, sorry," said Harry, trying mightily to keep a straight face. "I have a moment, I'll take that over to Cho for you."

Hermione clutched the cloak to her. "You needn't bother," she said coldly. "I'm sure Cho must have my cloak; it will be easier if I go exchange them myself."

"Yeah," snorted Ron. "Who knows, Hermione might get a chance to have another mature conversation with Minerva again."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Harry's face, and Hermione wondered if he was as over Cho as he'd pretended. Shaking his head, he clapped Ron on the shoulder and the two of them headed to the tower, leaving Hermione alone in the Entrance Hall. She supposed she should feel grateful they hadn't found out about herself and Cho. And that they found the idea of her referring to their teacher by her first name simply as a huge joke. Yet despite getting herself out of this jam, Hermione didn't feel at ease. She'd have to be more careful.

**

Harry continued to go out of his way to be friendly to Cho, who responded in kind. Within a few weeks, things had become so friendly the four of them sometimes hung out together between classes, a development Hermione was not entirely sure she liked. At the moment, Cho had just come from Charms while the three sixth-years stood waiting for the Transfiguration class to clear out.

"Watch out, here comes Minerva." Ron elbowed Hermione. He hadn't had occasion to tease Hermione like this since Lockhart had taught at Hogwarts.

Ignoring him, Hermione rummaged in her book bag for a fresh quill.

"What's up, Hermione? Going to pen a mash note to Minerva?" Ron joked.

"What!" Cho broke off her Quidditch talk with Harry and stared at Hermione.

Laughing, Harry explained, "Hermione seems to think she and Professor McGonagall are on a first-name basis now. Ron reckons it must be Hermione's way with words. And as for Hermione here, she's not talking." He smiled over at Hermione, who gave him a killing stare.

Cho's eyes flashed dangerously at Hermione, but instead of joining in mocking her, she turned on Ron and snapped, "Oh come off it, Ron, we all know you're just hoping for a good spanking from McGonagall, aren't you?"

At this Ron scowled and stopped laughing, but Harry chuckled at Cho's remark. Hermione said nothing, and avoided Cho's gaze. At that moment, Professor McGonagall's door opened and the previous class poured out, while the Griffyndors filed in and Cho dashed off to her next lesson.

Ever since the Minerva incident, Hermione had been unusually quiet in Transfiguration, knowing anything she said in class would be fodder for Ron and Harry's jokes later on. The rest of the class, however, had grown accustomed to Hermione taking the lead whenever a question was asked, and when she didn't volunteer the answers, discussion fell rather flat.

"Well? Haven't any of you done the reading?" Professor McGonagall demanded when her third question in a row was greeted with silence. "Miss Granger." Her gaze fell on Hermione, who had been keeping her eyes fixed on her desk.

With a sigh, Hermione rattled off the answers to all three questions, keeping her face as expressionless as possible. Without even looking, she knew Ron was sniggering. But the teacher seemed to have noticed this as well.

"Weasley!" she barked. "What precautions must one take before undertaking animate to inanimate transfiguration?"

"Um," Ron began, hastily composing his face.

"Potter!"

"Er..." One negative side effect of teasing Hermione was she hadn't helped him with Transfiguration homework. As they had now moved into more theoretical work, the readings were important. "Well, you should, ah, check the health of the animate object?"

"Yes, yes, establish viability," McGonagall said impatiently. "What else?" She cast her eyes about the classroom, calling on students at random.

By the time the lesson ended, Professor McGonagall was in a foul temper, resulting in an inordinate amount of homework for them all. On the way out the door, Ron said to Hermione, "Okay, truce on the Minerva thing if you'll help us with the homework again?"

"Agreed." Hermione held her nose in the air, not bothering to look at Ron.

"Why would someone even want to be on a first-name basis with McGonagall?" Ron muttered to Harry as they all trooped downstairs to the dungeons.

**

When the last Hogsmeade weekend of the term rolled around, Hermione found herself feeling a bit nervous. She hadn't seen Cho alone since Ron had unsuspectingly informed Cho about Hermione's continued crush on McGonagall, and just recalling Cho's expression made Hermione quake. What was worse, she really did feel she was getting over her obsession for the professor. The more time she spent with Cho, the less she fantasized about her teacher. It was true she had lingered after class once to make small talk about the Quidditch news Hermione had dutifully memorized from the Daily Prophet, but there was nothing flirtatious in talking sport, was there?

Meanwhile, Harry was now encouraging Hermione to bring Cho along to their meeting at The Three Broomsticks, much to both Ron and Hermione's annoyance.

"I don't know, Harry," sighed Hermione. They were eating lunch before setting off to the village. "I thought it was just going to be us three."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Cho doesn't have to come everywhere with us. She's not your girlfriend anymore."

"Well, why shouldn't she come? Four is a nice, even number. And I've really been working hard on rebuilding a friendship with her." As Harry said this, Hermione cast a worried glance at him. She still suspected he had ulterior motives, and that pure friendship with Cho wasn't one of them.

Hermione accompanied Harry and Ron to the village square, and arranged to meet them at three o'clock. "I told Cho I'd meet her at the bookstore," she said, and excused herself. For once, the prospect of a trip to Zonko's with the boys held more appeal for Hermione than did time alone with Cho.

Cho was browsing through the new arrivals when Hermione stepped inside the tiny shop.

Despite some tantalizing new titles, Hermione followed Cho outside after being allowed only a few minutes of shopping. They walked in silence until they were at the edge of town. Cho's anger was almost palpable, and Hermione was afraid to say anything.

Reaching a deserted spot, Cho stopped walking and faced Hermione. When she spoke, her voice was cold. "Still quite cosy with McGonagall, I see. What exactly was Ron going on about the other day?" She crossed her arms and leaned against a post and rail fence, waiting for Hermione's response.

"He's just making a big deal out of nothing, "Hermione insisted. "It's a long story."

Cho made a show of checking her watch. "I've got the time. Enlighten me."

Hermione recounted the cloak mix-up, and how she had tripped up over McGonagall's name. "I was so rattled. Do you know how close they came to finding out about us?" she concluded.

"They say that truth comes out under pressure. You obviously have her on your mind."

Hermione lashed out. "At least I haven't got other men on my mind."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I suppose you haven't noticed how Harry is paying you an awful lot of attention lately?" Hermione demanded.

"We're trying to be friends. That's all."

"Maybe you are. But I think he's still got feelings for you." Hermione met Cho's eyes.

"I told you before, there hasn't been anything romantic between us for a long time." Cho shook her head in a gesture of impatience. "Why shouldn't I be friends with him? You still hang out with Ron."

"I've been friends with Ron since our first year! The only connection you've ever had with Harry was as his girlfriend." Hermione's eyes blazed.

"I've given you nothing to worry about as far as my behaviour to Harry. I wish I could say the same for you and McGonagall." Cho's expression changed from one of anger to one of worry. "Hermione," she started, in a kinder voice, "I just want you to tell me - to promise me - that you don't have feelings for her. That... well, that I'm the only one in your life."

Hermione opened her mouth to give Cho an automatic assurance, then paused. It was true that increasingly her thoughts were of Cho, not Minerva McGonagall. Yet Hermione could not deny she still felt a little thrill run through her every time the teacher gave her one of her rare smiles, or when she uttered one of her crisp words of praise. It had never occurred to her, however, that anyone would think her crush on McGonagall would actually go anywhere.

"I'm not playing you false, Cho," she finally said in a low voice. "And I'm sick of having this conversation. You've got to trust me a little. McGonagall is a professional. She'd never carry on with a student like that."

"I'm not so much worried about that," admitted Cho. "I just want to know that you're committed to me."

"Of course I am!"

The two girls faced each other, both feeling exhausted. Cho no longer looked angry, Hermione noticed with relief.

"So, our first fight," Cho finally muttered, breaking the silence.

"I guess." Hermione looked down at the ground.

"Sorry. I guess I overreacted."

"It's okay." Hermione began walking again, and Cho joined her. They meandered through the countryside in silence, but this time the quiet was peaceful. Cho reached out a tentative hand for Hermione, and was rewarded with a small smile.

Hermione took a deep breath. The December afternoon was crisp, but they hadn't had anything more than a hard frost, making for an unusually mild winter thus far. The air smelled smoky as chimneys sent up sooty clouds, and a pleasing zestiness filled the air. Hermione felt herself begin to relax. Sneaking a glance over at Cho, she saw the other girl looked more peaceful as well, and that she wore a thoughtful expression.

"Too bad you don't like flying more," remarked Cho as they headed for town. "Whenever I'm outside, I keep finding places that would be great to explore by broom. Especially now I've got that Nimbus."

"Maybe I'm just not sure I can handle that much broom between my legs," joked Hermione, a wicked gleam in her eye.

Cho shot her a flirtatious smile. "Unexpected lewdness from the Gryffindor prefect. I'll give you something to handle," she murmured, pulling Hermione aside and kissing her. "I can't wait until you come to London," she breathed, sliding her hands along Hermione's back and pulling her even closer. "There's this club I want to show you - I really think you'll like it."

Hermione looked into Cho's intense brown eyes. "A club, is it?"

"Yeah." Cho broke off talking and concentrated on kissing her girlfriend. Hermione suddenly wished they weren't due to meet the boys in a few minutes.

"We're going to be late," Hermione reminded, shaking her head and trying to catch her breath.

Her lips felt strangely chapped, and she made a mental note to visit the matron to get some aloe.

Ron and Harry already had a table at the back of the pub, and waved the girls over. Two glasses of Butterbeer sat on the table, and as Hermione and Cho pulled up chairs, Harry went to the bar to get them each a glass.

"Term's almost up," he said after they all had a long swallow of the warming beverage. "Looking forward to going home?" he asked Cho.

"Definitely," answered Cho, kicking Hermione under the table to stop her giggling.

"Well, be careful." Harry frowned at both the girls. "There have been several reports of Death Eaters about in London."

"Don't worry, Harry," said Cho. "Why would they have any reason to bother us?"

Harry shrugged. "Why do they do anything? We were just reading The Daily Prophet and apparently some shops in Diagon Alley were attacked last week."

"What happened?" Hermione asked. She had become so consumed with her own emotional life, she had ignored the fact that Voldemort's supporters continued to cause mayhem for both the wizarding and Muggle communities alike.

"Nothing too serious," Harry admitted. "Mostly just defacing property with sayings supporting You-Know-Who. Ministry's been spending a bit more on Magical Mess Remover."

"Well, that's not so worrying." Hermione took another sip of Butterbeer. "Anybody could have been responsible for that sort of prank."

"I don't think anyone would joke about something like that." Ron spoke up from his corner. "Harry's right, Hermione. You two should look after yourselves."

"My mum refuses to let me go anywhere magical unless she's with me," assured Cho, then added, "Of course, she does let me go anywhere in Muggle London."

Now Hermione was regarding Cho with a look of surprise and disbelief. "Don't take this the wrong way, but does your mother get out much in Muggle London? How can she possibly think it's safer?"

Cho shrugged. "She thinks we blend in better in the Muggle world. There aren't a ton of Asian wizards here, you know. She does some business with Muggles for her work, so I guess she's used to passing. But she's totally paranoid about the wizarding world - has all these enchantments on the house, completely elaborate."

She paused for a minute, then added, in a less breezy voice than she had used previously, "Ever since Cedric was killed she - she's been very protective. Thinks You-Know-Who might target me, because of Cedric." Not looking at the others, she scowled, "It's completely ridiculous, of course."

Realizing everyone at the table, including herself, was staring at Cho, Hermione turned the conversation. "You staying here, Harry?"

"Yeah. So's Ron."

"And Ginny," added Ron.

"Right. And Ginny." Harry repeated.

Rosmerta called out from the bar, "Last call for Hogwarts students!"

The foursome checked their watches. None of them wanted another round, and it was almost time to head back to the castle. They pulled on their cloaks - Hermione taking care to make sure she had the right one - and set off for school.

**

The remaining days of the term passed quickly. Hermione hardly saw Cho at all, except for chance encounters in the library. And even those weren't very satisfactory. Cho liked to hold hands under the table, but Hermione found this distracting. It was also very hard to concentrate on Potions homework, or to translate Ancient Runes when your girlfriend was tickling you with a quill. Reminding Cho that she was the one who had said they should keep the relationship under wraps, Hermione put an end to their study dates, and instead holed up in a corner of Gryffindor tower.

The night before the holidays began, however, even Hermione couldn't be bothered with schoolwork. She relaxed in front of the common room fire with Ron and Harry, who were plotting a way to organize a snowball fight on broomsticks, now that the first snowfall of the year had arrived, and lamenting the absence of George and Fred's ingenuity.

She only half-listened to them; her mind kept wandering to her upcoming visit with Cho. It sounded like Cho had planned a romantic time for the two of them. Hermione was curious to see Cho's house, and to see how it felt to not worry about hiding their affection from Ron or Harry, or anyone else. But she was also a little nervous. She knew how amorous Cho got when they hadn't seen each other much, and this last week their time together had been very scarce. Cho seemed eager to take their relationship in a more serious direction, something Hermione wasn't sure she was ready for.

"So, Hermione," said Ron, bringing her back to attention. "Think you can handle a whole two weeks without seeing Minerva?"

He was laughing, and already held up his arms expecting retaliation. But Hermione just sat in her chair. With a start, she realized she hadn't thought about Minerva McGonagall much at all. In fact, the last time she'd seen her was two days ago. Professor McGonagall had called Hermione to her office to discuss one of Hermione's practice NEWT papers. The transfiguration teacher had also loaned Hermione a book to read over the holidays - "something I'm sure you'll like, from my private library" - she'd said, and Hermione had yet to open it. Was it possible she was finally over her crush? And if her heart really and truly belonged to Cho now, was it time to take the next step in their relationship?