Ronald and Lavender's Set-Up Service

4

DENIAL AND UNSURE BEHAVIOR

Lavender and Hermione were in Hermione's room. They had just changed into their pajamas, and lounging around.

Lavender realized that this would be the ideal time to start Phase Two: Denial and Unsure Behavior.

'What did you two do while we were gone?' Lavender asked.

'Nothing much,' Hermione lied.

'Are you sure?' asked Lavender.

'No.'

This was getting nowhere.

'Do you... like Harry?'

'What do you mean?'

'As more than a friend?' asked Lavender.

'I don't know.'

'I think you do.'

'I don't! Really.'

Lavender grinned. 'Hermione... I think you like him...'

'Maybe a little.'

'So you like him.'

Hermione smiled. 'A bit.'

'A bit means...'

'It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing,' said Hermione.

'Just tell me what happened. I have no clue,' Lavender lied.

'All right all right.'

'Tell me,' said Lav.

'We only kissed twice.'

'Only?'

'It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing,' she repeated.

*

'Harry?' called Ron.

Harry walked into the guest room pulling his pajama shirt over his head.

'Yeah.'

'I'm gonna ask you one question, and you have to tell me straight-up the answer, all right?'

'I guess so.'

Harry was a bit nervous. Did Ron see what had happened?

'Do you like Hermione?'

'You saw.'

'Saw what?' asked Ron naively.

'Oh,' said Harry. 'You didn't see.'

'See what?'

'Nothing.'

'It couldn't have been nothing! C'mon, give me the dirt!'

'It doesn't matter.'

Ron grinned. 'Well, at least give me the answer to the first question.'

'No!"

'I don't believe you,' Ron said promptly.

'Why?'

'If you tell me what that 'nothing' was, then I might believe you!'

'It was nothing.'

Ron had to take drastic measures.

'Did you kiss her or something?'

Harry didn't know what to say. He couldn't deny it, he'd go red!

'You could call it that.'

'So, do you like her?'

'A tad.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It's another way of denying it,' he grinned.

*

'I have to go talk to Ron,' said Lav. 'See you around.'

'I'm going to go take a bit of a walk, anyways,' said Hermione, yawning.

Lavender met Ron in the living room.

'She likes him 'a bit.''

Ron laughed. 'Really, because he likes her 'a tad!'

They laughed.

'She's gone for a walk out front. You should send Harry out.'

'He's already gone out.'

'Yes! Phase Two is successful!'

Hermione sat on the porch swing watching a plane fly over her house. All but one of the stars had faded. The moon had fallen so much since the dinner that night. A ribbon of daylight swam through the dark sky. When she looked back down, she saw that someone sat beside her.

'Harry?'

'I love this part of the night,' he said thoughtfully. 'It's pretty.'

Hermione nodded. She scootched a bit closer to Harry. He wrapped one arm around her.

'Hermione.'

'Yes, Harry?'

'I - I'm really thirsty. I'm going to get a drink.' Harry walked quickly into the kitchen.

[AN: This is the part where Hermione gets really angry, runs around, stomps her feet and bites things, cursing.]

I blew it, Harry thought. It was the perfect moment and I blew it.

He poured himself a glass of water. He looked out the kitchen window. Hermione was out there biting trees and things.

'Poor soul,' he muttered. 'But biting trees doesn't make it better. Nothing will.'

Then he realized he had to do one thing to save their relationship - and Hermione's dental work. He marched outside. Hermione saw him and quickly stopped biting and cursing and looked him in the eye. She didn't say anything.

'Mione... I - I...'

'Now you've got to get another drink.' She turned away.

He looked at her somewhat angrily, slightly hurt.

She gestured for him to sit down. He did.

'I'm sorry,' he said quietly. 'I - er - I'm not great communicating with females,' he admitted.

'It's OK,' said Hermione blandly. Harry wasn't sure if she meant it.

'Look,' said Harry. 'I really like you.'

'Really,' said Hermione sarcastically.

'Really.' Harry reached for her hand.

Hermione sighed. 'I really like you too, Harry. I'm just a bit - well, disappointed,' she said grinning.

'Why?' said Harry, quite confused.

'We never finished that kiss,' said Hermione.

Harry laughed and the couple kissed and walked back to the porch to gaze at the night sky, to look up at the one star that still shone as brightly as it had before. They sat there for hours, by the dark sky that was slowly turning into a sunrise. Hermione smiled and leaned against Harry. She wouldn't give this moment up for ten thousand bags of galleons.

~LA FIN~