章 434: 18
And They're Called…
"Lavender, I really don't think a party is really appropriate right now." Hermione said, trying to sound polite. In truth she was still shocked at even being invited to what Lavender described as a Hogwarts girls' tradition of a secret slumber party. Part of her really was excited to be included, but she was sure she wouldn't have any fun.
Over the past month, she was seeing less of Harry than she would have liked. He attended classes, and was running the new Defense club during the week, but every Friday afternoon when the last class finished, he would kiss her on the cheek, bid her goodbye, and go off for the weekend on some sort of mission for the war. While he was away, Hermione found herself worried to death that he was not going to come back. She would try and act as if everything was alright. She would work on homework, and visit with Professor McGonagall, who would let her vent her frustration over the situation, or she would just sit in her dorm and try to lose herself in a book, which never worked.
Thankfully, Monday morning would arrive, and she would wake up at four-thirty for her morning exercise with Lavender and Neville, and there he would be, waiting for her with a smile, and gentle kiss filled that let her know she had been missed as well, and the cycle would begin again.
"Away on another one of his missions." Lavender argued, tearing Hermione from her musings. "And a party is exactly what you need. I really don't want to see you hide up here all weekend, worrying yourself sick until he comes back. A bit of girl bonding will do you good. Other than me and Parvati, you haven't really interacted with any other girls, and they're all more than a bit curious about you now."
"You have been quite the hot topic the last two parties." Parvati smiled as she came out of the bathroom with a brush, and a few odds and ends in her hands.
"What?" Hermione gaped. "Why?"
"I'm sure you'll find out tonight, now get packing! The girls aren't going to wait all night!" Lavender ordered.
"How is listening to gossip and doing each other's hair going to help me? You know I don't care about any of that stuff." Hermione retorted. Lavender rolled her eyes.
"Hermione, what do boys talk about all the time?" She asked.
"Girls and sports." Hermione answered immediately.
"Correct. What do girls spend all their time talking about?"
"Clothes, shoes, make up, body issues…" Hermione began to tick off on her fingers.
"EEHHHHH! WRONG!" Lavender shouted. "We talk about boys. Boys and the things we get up to with said boys."
"I've hardly ever heard…" Hermione started, but Lavender stopped her again.
"That's because you've never been invited to one of our gab fests. Do you remember when I told you about my Italian adventure?" Lavender smirked.
Hermione nodded.
"You're very likely going to hear a lot of that sort of thing tonight, especially as we get drunker." Lavender smirked, heading back into the dorm. Hermione followed hot on her heels.
"There's going to be alcohol?" she asked scandalized.
"More than likely." Parvati laughed as she was triple checking her bag to make sure she had everything. "Padma was quite sure that Lisa could get her hands on something, and I think Ginny still has something left over from the last Quidditch match. It must be so cool to have older brothers who know the best ways to smuggle banned items into the school."
"Parvati, you're supposed to be a prefect!" Hermione said with surprise.
"Oh don't be so naive Hermione. What do you think happens to all the confiscated contraband around here? Only half of it makes it to the teachers. The Head Boy and Girl have a freaking bar in their suite thanks to all the stuff they've taken from younger students who don't know how to hide stuff better."
"Not to mention the room we're going to does have a knack of providing just what you want." Lavender winked to her friend.
"Where is this place anyway?" Hermione asked, still stunned over hearing there would be alcohol at this little party. "And who exactly is coming?"
"My sister," Parvati began. "Lisa Turpin, and Eloise Midgen, Susan Bones and Hannah, Ginny, Katie Bell, and the three of us. There might be a few others there as well."
"Come on. We need to get in there before curfew." Lavender said, putting a notice me not charm on her bag and hefting it on her shoulder.
Hermione, having no further arguments for staying away from this little slumber party relented and opened her trunk to pull out her pajamas, and a change of clothes for the next day. Lavender had said that they would have everything else they would need at wherever they were going. Hermione thought the description of this place sounded familiar, put she couldn't say why, and Lavender hadn't said what it was called either, only that it was brilliant.
Hermione had never been to a slumber party, and though she was very nervous about being caught out after hours, she was very excited to be allowed to go. Lavender had promised it would be a lot of fun, and that it would do her good to bond with more females. Besides, if she didn't go, Hermione knew she'd just lie awake in bed wondering what Harry was up to, and if he was safe. This at least would help keep her mind off things for a bit.
"Hey, you lot ready?" Katie Bell said as she poked her head in the sixth year girl's dorm.
Her best friend Leanne also peeked in.
"You're coming too?" Lavender asked of the curly haired girl who nodded brightly.
"Awesome." The blonde sixth year grinned. "You always get Katie to tell the best stories!"
"Oh shut up!" Katie rolled her eyes. "Let's go."
Parvati and Hermione both grabbed their bags and followed Lavender and Katie and Leanne down to the Common Room where Ginny was waiting, talking idly with Dean Thomas.
A few minutes later, Hermione was being led through the seventh floor corridor to a section she had walked through a thousand times before. She didn't understand why they were heading this way as there was no classroom, or even a broom cupboard in this particular hallway.
"Hurry up!" Someone shouted a head of them, though Hermione couldn't see who it was. She did quicken her pace when her fellow Gryffindor girls did so, and she soon found herself slipping into a door across from the portrait of Barnubus the Barmy. A door she had never seen before.
"Finally." Lisa Turpin, a tall willowy blonde Ravenclaw sighed as she shut the door behind her. "You guys are the last. Grab a sleeping bag."
Hermione turned and saw that they were in a large comfortable looking room with very soft looking carpet and a number of pillowy looking mats with warm looking sleeping bags on top and big fluffy looking pillows. There was a warm, bright fire roaring in a simple fireplace, and Hermione saw there was a table with food, and a number of bottles on it. Hermione suddenly realized where they were. She'd read about it in one of her editions of Hogwarts: A History. The famed Room Of Requirement.
"This is amazing." She whispered to herself as she took a look around.
Padma Patil was sitting on one of the mats with her sleeping bag wide open. She wore a light pink camisole and very short shorts which showed off her long dark legs. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. She smiled and waved to her sister, and held up a half-eaten éclair, motioning with her head towards the table. Parvati ooh'd and headed over to the table in question. The other Gryffindor girls began settling in, choosing a bed for the night, and opening their bags and pulling out sleepwear.
Hermione found a bed between Lavender and Katie Bell, who smiled brightly at her as she pulled a black baby doll out of her bag, and waggled her eyebrows at Hermione, making the girl blush lightly.
"I didn't know she was coming."
Hermione looked up to see Su Li, a pretty and petite Asian girl pointing at her while looking at Lisa Turpin.
"You got a problem with Hermione?" Lavender asked threateningly.
"We're throwing this party for Hermione." Lisa said. "Harry's gone, and Lavender said she's really upset about it."
"So?" Su asked rather irritably.
"I think if you gave her half a chance, you'll find she's a lot nicer than you think." Katie said defensively, which shocked Hermione. She had only barely ever talked to Katie, and most of it had only been recently.
"If you've got a problem with her, you can always go back to Ravenclaw Tower." Padma said evenly. Su crossed her arms defiantly, but didn't respond.
"If I knew you were going to be a bitch about it, I never would have invited you." Lisa stated, making Su recoil.
"Alright!" The Asian girl said, holding up her hands. "I'll give her a chance."
"I'm glad she came." A girl with waist length dirty blonde hair and large silvery blue eyes smiled dreamily. "Now I'm not the only outcast here."
"Luna, you're not an outcast." Ginny Weasley shook her head and then smiled at the girl. "People just don't know you. We're going to fix that with both of you tonight."
"I've got a load of questions for Hermione myself." Lisa smiled sitting on her makeshift bed and scratching her long bare legs. Hermione cringed a bit at Lisa's rather predatory smile.
"Be nice." Lavender said warningly. "I won't allow any of you to embarrass her too badly."
"We all promised to be nice to her." Padma stated, looking at every other girl in turn.
"And I'm going to set the standard by telling her, I'm really sorry for ever saying anything about you over the years. I didn't know the first thing about you, and I let the opinions of others cloud my own mind about you. I hope you can forgive me."
Hermione didn't know what to say or do, so she just nodded blankly. Lavender giggled beside her, giving her playful shove.
"Don't go breaking her this early." The blonde laughed. Hermione glared at her friend who continued to giggle.
"Hurry up you lot and get changed!" Susan Bones smiled as she emerged from what clearly was the bathroom, clapping her hands excitedly. "We can't get this party started until everyone's in their pajamas!"
Moments later, each and every girl was dressed in their favorite sleepwear and sitting up on their mats. A few of them had small plates of snacks and treats set upon the floor before them, along with bottles of butterbeer.
Hermione was wearing her favorite Mickey Mouse Shorts, along with a thin blue tank top. She had her legs folded under her comfortably, though she was anything but at the moment. As she looked around she felt truly insecure, though she couldn't really say why. It wasn't like she was truly hideous by any means, but she was in a room with arguably the prettiest girls in the school.
Katie Bell had a simple black baby doll on, with her dark brown hair pulled up in a ponytail. Her skin was like cream, with hardly a blemish to be seen, save for a light scar on her left shoulder, a reminder of her second Quidditch match.
Katie's best friend, Leanne was just as pretty with soft brown curls that framed her face. She had bright friendly hazel eyes, and full pouty pink lips. She also wore a baby doll of a light blue color, though unlike Katie's, had delicate lace on the sides. It was also lower cut than Katie's. She had Katie's feet in her lap and was applying deep red polish to Katie's toes.
Next to Leanne sat Hannah Abbott who wore a button up pajama top over her long pajama pants. She was holding her legs tightly, resting her chin on her knees, staring blankly into the fire. Hermione thought she looked really lost, and sad. She wondered if she was missing Neville as much as he was missing her. She wished she could say or do something to fix things between the two. At the same time, Hermione thought maybe it was better they weren't together anymore.
Su Li was sitting next to Hannah, and was extremely pretty, what with her exotic features, and those almond shaped eyes, and that long lustrous black hair. The Asian Ravenclaw wore long green silk pajamas pants and a white camisole.
Susan Bones was lying on her stomach with her legs kicked up and her lightly freckled face in her hands as she giggled to the tale Padma was weaving. Susan was easily the bustiest girl in the room, and her assets were almost spilling out of her dark blue tank top. She had a classic hourglass figure and the roundest bottom of all the girls. Add to that the bright blue eyes and easy, enchanting smile, and it was hard not to feel a bit inferior next to the Hufflepuff.
Lisa Turpin was next to Susan and the tallest of the bunch. Her figure was very close to Hermione's though her chest was smaller. She had gorgeous honey gold blonde hair which was put up in a very messy bun on top of her head, and big blue eyes. He neck was swan like, and Hermione was positive Lisa could be a fashion model in the muggle world. Lisa wore pink shorts with unicorns on them, and a t-shirt with the Weird Sisters on the front.
Padma and Parvati were sitting on the same bed dressed in similar sleepwear, short loose shorts and camisoles. Parvati's was dark purple as opposed to Padma's pink. Though they were identical twins, Hermione could easily see differences in the two now that they were together. For instance, Padma's eyes were slightly bigger, giving her a pronounced doe like face. Parvati's face was also thinner than her sisters.
Luna sat on her bed watching the other girls, much like Hermione. She was very petite, and nicely proportioned. Her hair was very long, and she had her wand behind her ear. At first glance, one could easily believe that Luna might be quite mad. However, if one took the time, they could see just how beautiful she really was. She sat up straight, with her legs crossed in front of her and her hands resting in her lap. She had a loose tank top on, and Hermione could see the sides of her breasts peeking out, and simple pajama pants with many different dogs on them.
Ginny Weasley sat next to Luna, talking to the blonde. Ginny had a very athletic build, with slender hips and medium breasts. She had dressed in a very large Puddlemere United Quidditch Jersey which had the name O'Brien stitched on it over a number twelve.
Finally Lavender was next to Hermione wearing a camisole, similar to the Patil girls, and her knickers. Lavender was easily the least modest of the girls there that night, and she seemed rather proud of that fact.
"So how long do we have to wait before we can interrogate Hermione?" Padma asked excitedly when she saw everyone had at last gotten settled.
"Oi!" Lavender shouted. "Let her relax, for Morgana's sake. This is her first girl party, and it isn't like any of us have been all that kind to her before."
"Maybe because we were all jealous." Lisa sighed heavily. "Let's face it, the girl's got the whole package."
"The whole package?" Hermione asked softly bewildered. She was looking to Lavender for explanation.
"Brains, looks, charm, grace…" Susan ticked off her fingers.
"She's right." Padma nodded. "It's no wonder we've all been so intimidated by you. So… we lash out, and make you feel insignificant so we can feel better about ourselves. It's what girls do. Well, most girls anyway."
"I think you're mistaken." Hermione shook her head, hugging her knees to her chest.
"I told you." Parvati said loftily. "We did this to her."
"Not just us." Ginny pointed out. "There are more than a handful of boys who have done worse things, not to mention the Slytherins."
"It doesn't matter." Padma waved everyone down. "What matters is that we now have a chance to correct our mistakes. So, here's to new beginnings."
Padma raised a bottle of what Hermione thought might be Firewhiskey. She took a drink and passed it to her left. Eventually the bottle made it to Hermione herself, and she could now see that it was not in fact Firewhiskey, but elven brandy. Hermione had never drank more than a glass of wine at dinner with her parents, and wasn't sure if she really wanted to, but with everyone looking at her, she felt an immense amount of pressure.
"What could it really hurt to have sip?" she wondered. "It isn't as if one or two sips isn't likely to get me drunk, right?"
Hermione put the bottle to her lips and took a mouthful, swallowing it down quickly. She had expected something foul, or for the liquid to burn her throat or something, but it was decidedly smooth and sweet. Hermione was surprised to find that she rather enjoyed it, as she passed the bottle to Katie.
"Well done." Katie said, saluting her.
"I was sure she'd pass it." Su Li said a little sourly. Several of the girls glared at the Asian girl, though she didn't seem fazed by it at all.
"It was really good." Hermione said with a shrug.
"Careful." Padma smiled. "It's really strong, and we have a tradition of pranking whomever passes out first."
"I'll keep it in mind." Hermione nodded.
"Can we play 'I Never'?" Lisa asked excitedly.
"Oh yeah, that'd be fun!" Ginny smiled.
"I think it's a good bet we'd all be hammered before Hermione had to take a single drink." Su Li said.
"Probably." Katie Bell replied. "But, she'd learn a lot about us in the meantime, and it might make her feel a bit more comfortable if we spilled some of our secrets."
"That's very wise, though I'm afraid I won't have very many secrets to reveal either." Luna smiled gently.
"What's 'I Never'?" Hermione asked Lavender.
"It's a game. A drinking game. See, we all get something to drink, and then we all take turns and we say something we may or may not have done. Like, you would say 'I've never failed a test.' Then anyone who's failed a test would take a drink. Then we all know who's ever failed a test, because those are the people who drank." Lavender explained.
"And I have plenty of brandy for everyone." Padma said, rising from her bed and going to a bag under the snack table. She used her wands and levitated pint size bottles to everyone.
"Remember that it's strong, so when you take a drink, just a sip. We don't want to get too drunk too fast now. I've got a really good prank for whoever falls asleep first, and involves hiding every article of clothing you brought!" Padma smile wickedly.
"Where did you get all of this?" Parvati asked, opening her bottle.
"Terry Boot." Padma, Lisa and Su said together. Parvati nodded understanding, while Hermione looked puzzled. Lisa grinned as she looked at Hermione.
"Terry's family owns a distillery, and his brother gave him quite a bit of this stuff over the holiday. A bit of gold, and some other small favors, and he gave us enough for tonight." Lisa told her. Hermione just nodded, shocked at learning how easy it seemed to be to smuggle in contraband.
"So who's going to start?" Su asked, looking at Hermione.
"I will. Leanne smiled wickedly at Katie, who groaned. "I've never been caught in the shower with a boy."
Katie groaned again as she took a sip from her drink, glaring at her best friend, who was giggling like a madwoman.
"WHAT? Several girls asked with shock.
"Alright, alright." Katie shook her head, her face slightly pink. "You know you're just wicked!"
Leanne simply giggled.
"When did this happen?" Lavender asked, looking hungry for juicy gossip.
"About a month ago." Katie said smiling, though she was looking at her toes. "After the last Quidditch match. I um… oh man, I am so going to kill you Leanne. During the party, I got to talking with Andrew Stippins, and well… he mentioned how hot it could be to take a shower with a girl. Well, I started to think about it to, and our conversation got a little racier, and soon talking wasn't really enough anymore."
"Oh you slag!" Parvati smirked. "I think I remember you going upstairs with him now. He is quite good looking.
"He's even better out of his robes." Katie said which made most of the other girls catcall.
"Anyway, we ended up taking that shower, and it was getting really interesting when that absolute arse Clarence Bleekman came in and caught us. It would have been ok, but then he had to start making insinuations that he should join us. I'm just thankful it wasn't McClaggen. He would have just stripped off and tried to manhandle me."
Hermione grimaced as she remembered how McClaggen had tried to paw at her that night at the Christmas party.
"My turn." Katie said, hefting her bottle in preparation. "I've never been with more than one bloke at a time."
No one drank. Katie's smile fell a bit. "Damn, I was sure at least one of you had done that."
"Who?" Lisa asked. Katie's smile widened but she shook her head.
"Hermione's turn." Katie grinned.
"Umm… alright. Uhh… I've… Oh I've never gone topless in public." Hermione said, and to everyone's surprise, she drank. Luna, Lisa, and Leanne also drank.
"When and where did you go topless?" Su asked sounding quite skeptical.
"France.' Hermione smiled lightly. The beaches are all topless, and I did it when I was there. It was no big deal, really. What about you three?"
"Same thing." Leanne smiled. Lisa nodded but Luna was smiling a bit mischievously.
"Last summer, Daddy and I were in St. Petersburg. Daddy had a meeting, and I went into a muggle club. Daddy got really mad when he found me. I got a bit tipsy and thought it was really hot, so I took off my shirt and bra."
"I bet your dad was really angry." Ginny said, a bit of a worried look on her face.
"I think he was more upset that I was drunk than the fact I was topless. Sometime at home I don't bother with clothing at all. But usually Daddy's not home. It makes him uncomfortable."
All the other girls made rather disgusted faces at the thought of being naked around their parents.
"So, it's my turn." Lavender smiled, raising her own bottle in preparation. Lavender looked around at the other girls with a deeply mischievous smile on her face.
"I've never let a guy touch my chest."
"Oh come on." Susan rolled her eyes as she tipped her bottle back for a sip.
"Everyone of us has done that." Padma agreed.
"I haven't." Hermione said in a soft whisper.
"I think she meant besides you sweetie." Katie said in a stage whisper.
"Even Luna drank." Su Li said, pointing to the blonde who was smiling dreamily.
"Maybe we should have played truth or dare." Parvati grinned. "Because I'd really like to know who my slut of a sister let latch onto her boobs and when."
"Why do you want to know so badly?" Padma asked, turning to her sister. "You know what… Fine. It was Anthony and it happened after the Yule Ball."
"I remember." Lisa smiled. "You were so mad at him."
"Well because he just kept squeezing them. I had bruises the next day."
"Over or under?" Katie Bell asked with a sly smile.
"Under, of course." Padma smirked. "What about you, sweet sister?"
"After the Yule Ball as well, and it was Dean." Parvati said, looking wistfully. He'd been so sweet all night, and he's such a good dancer. We got to snogging, and his hands started to wander… and I just let him."
Katie looked over about to speak when Parvati cut her off.
"Under." She smiled brightly.
"How'd he do?" Susan asked curiously.
"It was alright. I didn't have bruises. He pinch my nips a bit hard, but when I told him to stop, he did.
"I thought Justin was going to pass out." Su said with a soft laugh.
"JUSTIN?" Susan and Hannah asked in pure shock.
"The Justin who blushes like mad and runs away whenever we start flirting with him?" Susan asked.
"The same Justin who nearly passed out when Marjorie Hemmingworth offered to show him her boobs last year?" Hannah asked.
"The very same." Su shrugged. "I went to Kevin's party over the summer, and Justin was there, and we played seven minutes in heaven, and I let him get a feel."
"Over or under?" Katie asked.
"Under." Su replied with a naughty smile.
"Oh you slag!" Katie laughed.
"How'd he do?" Susan asked interestedly. "Any bruises or anything like that?"
"Are you kidding me?" Su laughed. The boy started hyperventilating the moment his hand touched bare flesh. He just kind of held it. I had to move his hand for him. Eventually he started to catch on, but then our time was up."
"What's it like?' Hermione asked, wincing at how stupid she sounded. "To let a boy touch your breasts.
"Depends on the boy." Susan said, sitting up. "Especially if it's his first time. Some boys are sweet, and gentle."
"And others will forget that they're attached to you and can be hurt." Lisa added with a shake of her head. "I wish I'd taken Su's example, and showed him what I wanted."
"I know, right?" Padma scowled. "You could show them exactly how to touch your boobs instead of letting them maul and pinch and just try and tear them off. I had bruises after the first time. It was horrible."
"You think that's bad?" Susan asked. "I thought for sure David Summerby was going to twist my nips right off!"
"Boys really are completely clueless when it comes to boobs." Ginny Weasley stated with a shake of her head. "Michael liked to mash them, like he was trying to push them back into my chest."
"I like it when they kiss my buds." Luna smiled softly. "I like the tickling feeling I get. When they kiss and suckle at them. But I hate it when they bite them."
Hermione felt herself beginning to blush as she imagined Harry bending to kiss her chest.
"Ooo, I like that too." Susan smiled.
"Oh hell yes." Katie agreed. "It feels like raw energy surging through my body, I just can't get enough of that sort of thing."
"Oh shut up, you little liar. I know that you like a bit of roughness." Leanne said, shoving Katie hard, nearly knocking Hermione over as well.
"Not on my boobs!" Katie protested.
"How long are you with a boy before you let them touch your breast?"
"Depends on how much you like the guy, and how he's treated me." Padma said, and the other girls agreed.
"And they're called boobs." Susan corrected.
"What?" Hermione looked at the redhead.
"Sorry." Susan shook her head. "Breast sounds all clinical or whatever, you know like you're a healer or something. I can't call them that. Boobs, baps, tits…"
"Cha-chas." Katie Bell laughed.
"Who calls them that?" Leanne snorted.
"I prefer tatas." Su Li grinned.
"I heard a few boys call them milk jugs." Parvati scowled.
"Melons, pushmatas, puppies, funbags, gazongas.." Susan continued. The other girls were all starting to laugh with each name. "Headlights, gobstoppers, cupcakes, mounds, shlobes, shabba-dos."
"You know far too many names for your num-nums." Lisa laughed with a snort.
"NUM-NUMS?" the other girls shrieked with laughter. Lisa grinned and saluted before taking a sip of her brandy.
"I'm fond of pillows.' Luna smiled. I like the thought of having a boy rest his head between them after sex."
"Can I tell you Hermione that I am deeply jealous of you." Parvati said, leaning forward a bit. "Just the way Harry kisses you tells me he would be an exceptionally gentle lover. All soft, and tender, and sweet. I bet he'd whisper in your ear while you make love. Tell you how beautiful you are, and how deeply he loves you."
"Oh god, I would kill for that." Susan groaned.
"Just the way he looks at you." Lisa sighed. "Like he's looking at something so perfect, that it takes his breath away."
Hermione couldn't say anything to that. She could only smile softly as the other girls all looked at her smiling enviously.
"I've never had sex with a boy." Ginny said after several long moments of silence. The other girls turned to look at her questioningly, until the redhead reminded them that they had been playing a game. They went around five or six times, and Su Li's prediction that Hermione would hardly drink proved real as she had never done any of the things the other girls had done, though she was really thinking about trying many of them out with Harry, if she got a chance.
It was Luna who startled most of the girls as apparently she had a great number of secrets. Luna had apparently done many things that none of them would ever have guessed of her, given how odd she appeared. Her fellow Ravenclaw all apologized to her for being cruel to her in the past, and promised they would include her more, as she'd proven to be most entertaining to be around, as well as insightful.
Hermione noticed that she had barely drank anything from her bottle, while the other girls had made a bit of a dent in theirs. She felt fine until she got up to use the loo, and her head swam a bit. Padma had not been joking when she said it was strong.
It wasn't an entirely disagreeable feeling. She felt a bit giddy, and she definitely felt relaxed, physically speaking. However, when she finished in the bathroom, she began to become a bit paranoid. She was out past curfew, and drinking. She imagined the look of disappointment on Professor McGonagall's face and her stomach dropped.
She wondered if she could make it back to Gryffindor tower, and then she imagined all the girls making fun of her for being afraid.
According to Lavender, this was a pretty regular thing, and none of them had ever been caught before, so she was likely safe. Hermione splashed cold water on her face and did her best to calm down before returning to the larger room where Susan was regaling the others with a story about her Yule Ball date.
"You alright?" Lavender asked when Hermione sat down on her mat.
"I think so." Hermione replied.
"Go easy the rest of the night." Lavender said quietly. "There's no reason you should wind up with a hangover."
"Thanks." Hermione smiled.
The girls continued swapping stories, some of which Hermione found hard to believe. They all seemed to have fun, and enjoyed being together, except for Hannah who had remained very quiet through most of the night. When she got up to go to the bathroom, Hermione claimed she had to go again as well, and followed the blonde into the loo.
"Hey." Hermione said when the door was closed. "I haven't talked to you since…"
"I know." Hannah nodded, avoiding Hermione's eyes. "I've been busy."
"It isn't your fault, you know. It's no one's fault except that bastard who… it's his fault, not yours."
"I know.' Hannah said angrily, turning to face Hermione. "I know exactly whose fault it is, but it doesn't stop the nightmares. It doesn't make me feel any better. I feel dirty all the time. I feel disgusting."
"I'm sorry." Hermione said softly. "I just… I don't know what I thought I could do." She shook her head in frustration. "It's just, you were so nice to me, and I wanted to help."
"You can't." Hannah said, wiping at her eyes now. "Susan's my best friend, and I know that it's killing her that she can't get me to smile even a little bit. And Neville…
Hannah walked to the wall and slid down to sit on the cold tile floor. Hermione walked over and sat next to her.
"Neville was so sweet to me. He just wanted to know I was okay. I just can't talk to him. Even when I broke up with him, I wanted to throw up. I hated chucking him like that, because I care for him, but I just can't look at him anymore. I know it isn't his fault, I do… but I can't stop blaming him. Him and everyone else. And I feel so awful all the time for it." Hannah sighed, wiping her eyes again.
"He doesn't hate you, you know." Hermione offered. "And he understands…"
"I see him in classes and at meals and around the school." Hannah said. "I see what I did to him. How I hurt him. It's etched on his face. He doesn't think I see him looking at me, but I do, and I see how badly I hurt him."
They sat in silence for a bit before Hannah sighed again.
"Susan was sure that this party would help cheer me up. I never told her exactly what happened. She thinks I just saw something really bad. I can't even talk about it to anyone."
"Maybe that's part of the problem.' Hermione suggested. "Maybe talking about it would help you figure out how to deal with everything you're feeling."
"I don't want anyone's pity or…"
"I don't pity you." Hermione said. "And I'm sure no one in there would pity you either. They're your friends and they'd support you. You could also talk with a teacher, you know."
"I've never been so afraid in all of my life." Hannah began after a few minutes. She continued to stare at her hands clasped in her lap. "I was actually thinking of trying to sneak off with Neville that night to get more physical. And then everything went to hell. I keep thinking that if I hadn't been next to Neville… if I'd hung back a bit it could have been someone else. I couldn't get him off of me, and All I could think of was what he was going to do to me. I wake up sometimes at night and I still feel him on top of me. I can still smell his breath, and feel his hands on my chest."
Hannah was openly crying now. Hermione could only sit there listening, and wishing you could do more. Yet she knew that Hannah had to work this out for herself. Hermione swore she would be a supportive friend, even though she was more than a bit startled that Hannah was choosing to open up to her.
Hannah went on for another half hour. She told Hermione about her nightmares and how difficult it was for her to try and pretend she was alright. She admitted to crying almost every night, and how she cringed when people even brushed past her. Hermione hated herself for even thinking it, but she was thankful it hadn't been her.
Their absence had finally been noticed, and Ginny Weasley poked her head inside and asked if they were alright. Hermione assured the red head that they were fine and would be out in a bit. Hannah thanked Hermione for listening.
"I think you were right, maybe I did need to talk." Hannah sighed, getting to her feet and going to wash her face.
"Hannah, I can't even imagine how you're feeling, or what you're going through, but I do know that in time, you'll get past this." Hermione offered.
"Time heals all and all that right?' Hannah gave a watery laugh. Hermione could only shrug.
"Maybe, but every wound leaves a scar, even if we can't see it. I don't think you should be ashamed, Hannah. It might even help if you came out and joined the defense club. Harry's teaching us to fight so none of us have to be afraid again."
"I think it might be a good idea." Hannah said after a moment's consideration. Hermione gave her a soft smile, and when Hannah had cleaned herself up, the two girls rejoined the party.
Hours later, Hermione lie in her sleeping bag, listening to the soft crackle of the fire. It wasn't too long after she and Hannah returned that the girls began to fall asleep. As promised, the first girl, to pass out was subjected to a serious of pranks which she would not discover until she woke up. Hermione had found it all rather juvenile, and yet, couldn't help but find the entire situation amusing. Especially as it wasn't her on the receiving end. She felt she'd suffered through enough pranks in her life. She wondered how angry Leanne was going to be when she discovered all he clothes had been vanished. Not to mention the truly ghastly engorgement charm Katie had put on her best friend's nether region.
"Hermione? Are you sleeping?"
Hermione rolled over a bit so she was facing Lavender, who was lying next to her.
"No, what is it?" Hermione replied softly.
"How is she doing? Hannah I mean. I figured you two must have talked. I think it helped because she seemed to be a little more relaxed after you two came back." Lavender observed.
"She'll be alright eventually." Hermione said sadly. "She's got a lot of things to work out and get over. It isn't going to be easy, and she'll need her friends."
"How about you?" Lavender asked. "How are you feeling now?"
"It was fun." Hermione admitted. "And it did help me not worry about Harry so much, so thanks for that."
"I told you." Lavender grinned.
"Listening to everyone got me thinking about a lot though." Hermione said, propping herself up on her elbow. "About things between me and Harry."
"Care to share?" Lavender said, mimicking Hermione and propping her own self up.
"Well, He's been really distant lately. Ever since that duel with Malfoy, he's been so… not cold, but not his usual self either." Hermione sighed.
"Can you really blame him?" Lavender asked. "He trusted Dumbledore and he stunned Harry to stop him from dealing with Draco. The bastard fired a killing curse at Harry for Merlin's sake. His life had been threatened, and they trained him to take down anyone who was a threat with extreme force. Now he's getting mixed signals. It's got to be confusing. I was really scared he was going to break up with you with as angry as he was that night, like he might have blamed you or something stupid like that."
"No. He told me that he would only blame me if I had actually done something." Hermione smiled softly.
"Gods, you are so lucky." Lavender grinned in the dark.
"I thought I was. Now though… We've hardly spent any time together outside of classes and whatnot. The last time we were close was before that duel. When I try to let him know that I want to get… close, it's like he's a million miles away."
"And you're starting to think by doing something more, it might bring things back around?' Lavender asked. Hermione gave a shrug and Lavender shook her head.
"Maybe.' Hermione sighed.
"Look Hermione, take it from me." Lavender said earnestly. "Getting more intimate with a boy because you want things a certain way is a terrible thing to do. It's emotional blackmail. Even if the boy isn't aware of why you're doing it, you do, and it will make it feel wrong ultimately."
"You're right.' Hermione said. "I know you're right, and it's why I haven't done it, among other reasons. But I still want to be with him… you know? Physically. Even before this stuff I was thinking a lot about it. Especially when we had a few moments on our own, and we were snogging. And after listening to you guys talk about stuff you've done, I can't help but want to experiment a bit, you know?""
"Of course you do!" Lavender smiled. "I'd be a little worried if you didn't feel like that."
"But I don't want to do it here at school. I want it to be right. I don't want it to be some fumbling grope fest in a broom cupboard where anyone can find us! That would be humiliating." Hermione whined softly.
"Oh please." Lavender snickered. "There are loads of places you could go without worrying about being caught. You could use this room for heaven's sake. All you got to do is make sure you ask it to make it so no one could find you. But besides that, I get what you're saying. And you should also know that you don't have to rush things. When it feels right, then you can start taking things to the next level. What's important is that you're comfortable, and you want to do things."
"I never would have thought I'd be taking love advice from you.' Hermione snickered, and Lavender laughed as well.
"I never would have thought I would be giving love advice to you. I just wish I could follow it myself." Lavender sighed, rolling onto her stomach and resting her head on her folded arms.
"Things with Ron are getting worse, aren't they?" Hermione wondered. Lavender gave a nod.
"I don't know where exactly they went wrong, but I just find myself going through the motions. Things I used to find so cute are now boring and stupid. On top of all that, he's not the boy I find myself thinking about now." Lavender grumbled.
"Neville?' Hermione asked, trying not to smile.
"YES!" Lavender hissed, trying not to wake any of the other girls. "I don't even know why. He's just… Ever since new year's I can't stop thinking about him, and what's worse, I can't do anything about it."
"What? Why not?" Hermione asked confusedly.
"He's still hung up on Hannah. I'm still with Ron." Lavender ticked off. "He's afraid of me…"
"Neville's afraid of you?" Hermione asked, taken by surprise.
"Oh yeah." Lavender nodded emphatically. "He's intimidated by me, because of my reputation."
Oh, I see.' Hermione said catching on. "You think he might feel inferior or something because supposedly you've…"
"Been around the castle, yeah." Lavender nodded.
"I don't think Neville would not want to be with you because of your reputation. He's a better person than that."
"No, it isn't that. I think he might feel inferior or something, like he wouldn't be good enough for me or something. Or like he'd always be comparing himself to other guys I've dated. He's not the most confident guy around, and I think if I started to show that I was interested that he might think I was toying with him a bit. I don't want that." Lavender sighed.
"What is it about him that you like about him. I mean… he isn't the kind of guy you normally go for." Hermione pointed out.
"I know, and I think that's part of it. He isn't the type I generally go for." Lavender admitted. "I think another part is that he's a gentleman. The way he escorted Hannah at the party. The way he lets girls into rooms before him, or opens doors for them. How he smiles, or the way he looks when he's concentrating on something. Just, I don't know."
"It probably helps that he's been training with Harry.' Hermione said. "He's changed a lot physically over the past few months."
"Yeah." Lavender agreed. "But he wasn't unfortunate looking before."
"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Lavender groaned softly. "Like I said, he's still really hung up on Hannah, and he needs to get over her. I don't want to be a rebound for him. And besides, I feel like I owe Ron. I mean… I cheated on him. I mean sure, we'd only been together less than a month, but I still feel terrible. It's probably why I don't let things progress because I feel wrong. It's so mental."
"Lavender, if you aren't happy you need to change your situation. I never said anything before, but you really should have just come clean with Ron from the start. Maybe things would have worked out, but now you've got this huge burden hanging over you. And it really isn't fair to Ron either. It's hurting both of you."
"I know, I know, it's just…" Lavender sniffled, and Hermione could hear in her voice she was fighting back tears. "I've tried to just forget all about it, but whenever Ron and I start kissing I feel sick to my stomach. Don't get me wrong, Ron's a fantastic kisser. I mean…"
"I know what you mean." Hermione replied quickly.
"And then, I'm afraid of being alone. I know Ron, I know how he works. If I tell him what happened, he'll spread rumors all over the school, and no one will ever want to be with me." Lavender said anxiously.
"Then you don't want to be with those people anyway." Hermione countered. "Why would anyone want to be with someone who doesn't take time to find out the real you, instead of listening to all the rubbish around here. And maybe what you need is time on your own."
"What do you mean?"
"Well you said it yourself, you don't want to be Neville's rebound. I doubt very much he'd want to be yours. You'll need time to get over Ron just as he needs time to get over Hannah. You can be friends with Neville, get to know him and find out for sure if he's the guy you really want. Then, when it's right, you can take that step. And if you discover he isn't the right guy for you, you still have a great friend." Hermione explained.
Lavender thought about this for a bit but didn't say anything. Hermione laid down again, and snuggled into her sleeping bag a bit as the fire was dying down more, and it was beginning to get cold.
"I'll have to think about that a bit.' Lavender yawned. "I never would have thought I'd be taking love advice from you."
"I never would have thought I would be giving love advice." Hermione replied with a soft snort.
"Hey." Neville said as the Gryffindor girls returned early Sunday morning, most of them looking tired and more than a little hung over. Leanne was following Katie, grumbling and using a large blanket to cover herself. Leanne had threatened revenge on all the girls, but especially Katie for giving her bat wings between her legs.
They were all very sleepy, and most of them were pretty hung over, and headed up the stairs for a bit more sleep. As it was Sunday, there was nothing preventing them from doing so, and Hermione thought it sounded like a fine idea as well.
"Rough night?" Neville asked with a snicker.
"Not even remotely." Hermione smiled sleepily, hanging back along with Lavender, who smiled at Neville. "It was quite fun. Did you just get back from a run?"
"Yeah, I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep. So I headed out on my own. Harry was proud." Neville shrugged.
"What do you mean he was proud?' Hermione asked suspiciously.
"He got back late last night." Neville replied. "I didn't even know it until I got back from my run and he was getting out of bed. He should be down…"
Hermione gasped when she saw her boyfriend. He had a rather fresh looking couple of cuts on his cheek that looked like he'd been scratched by an animal. He gave her a gentle smile as he took her hand and pulled her closer. She dropped her bag as he embraced her and whispered a sweet good morning to her.
She pulled back just enough to be able to look at his face. She reached up and gently touched his scratches. He didn't wince or pull away, but kept his eyes on her.
"What happened?' She asked with concern.
"Got a bit too close to a crazed animal." Harry joked lightly. "She's much worse, I imagine."
"Oh gods, Harry." Hermione groaned as she embraced him again. "I really wish you didn't have to keep going out like that. I worry about you so much."
"She really does.' Lavender said. Hermione turned and threw a glare at her friend who shrugged.
"I'm fine, Hermione, really." Harry said gently, reaching up to brush a bit of her hair out of her face, which made her shiver lightly. "Remember I was trained for this sort of thing."
Hermione frowned, but didn't reply. She knew it was a pointless argument. Harry was a soldier, and felt he had a duty to fight to end Voldemort's forces.
"But I am really hungry. Ready for breakfast?"
"Ok." Hermione said with a nod, pulling away from him and getting her back. "Let me go changed really fast, alright?"
"Yeah.' Harry nodded. Hermione turned to go but Harry reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him. Hermione looked a bit confused until he reached up to draw her face closer and gave her a long, slow, lingering, sweet kiss that told Hermione that he had missed her nearly as much as she had missed him.
"I'll, uh…" Hermione breathed when Harry finally broke the kiss. "I'll be right down."
Both Lavender and Hermione went up stairs, but only Hermione returned. She and the two boys went down for breakfast where Harry told them what he could of his latest mission, and Neville and Hermione brought him up to speed on what he'd missed whiled he'd been gone. Both Harry and Neville were very intrigued by Hermione's story of what had happened at the slumber party. Though for completely different reasons.
After breakfast, Harry asked Hermione to help him catch up on his homework. They spent the morning in the library getting Harry caught up, which thankfully didn't take very long. Hermione knew they would have the whole evening to spend together, and Hermione was beginning to think that a visit to the Room of Requirement might be in order.
They were just entering the portrait hole to drop off their books and things before going to lunch when the shouting interrupted their own conversation. Hermione felt Harry's tense a bit, and she felt a little anxiety herself when she saw that nearly every Gryffindor was watching a very boisterous argument between Lavender and Ron Weasley.
It isn't like that at all Ron!" Lavender was saying, arms folded tightly across her chest.
"Then what? What is it, because nothing else makes sense to me." Ron shouted. "You spend all your time with them, and they're all losers, Lav. What else could you possibly be gaining by hanging out with them?"
"They're my friends Ron. That's it." Lavender huffed.
"You've never bothered with either of them before now. Then Potter shows up and suddenly you're best buds? You're practically drooling whenever you sit with him in the Great Hall. And what about what you wear when your 'exercising'?"
"I told you, Hermione's mum got that stuff for us. It's what muggles wear when they exercise Ron." Lavender sighed.
"Convenient that what they wear shows off your arse so wonderfully. Bet Potter loves running behind you so he can get a good long look."
"That's it." Lavender threw her hands up, tears falling down her face. "That's it. I've told you over and over again that I had no interest in dating Harry, and you keep accusing me of it. I've told you a million times that Harry is with Hermione, and any girl would be lucky if he could even tear his eyes from her for two seconds. He loves her, and nothing I or anyone else says or does is going to change that."
Hermione felt Harry give her hand a squeeze and looked to see him watching Lavender and Ron intently.
"I've tried Ron, but you just push and push." Lavender continued. "I'm not ready to get more physical and yet you take every opportunity to grope me when we snog. I say I want to take things slow, and you keep whining about us not doing anything. My gods, you're driving me insane all the time!"
"Maybe if you'd take my feeling into consideration for once instead of being such a cold hearted…"
"I cheated on you Ron!" Lavender shouted, silencing all the voices in the Common Room. She stared at her boyfriend intently as he processed what she had just said.
"Potter." Ron snarled, beginning to scan the crowd for Harry, but Lavender stopped him with her next words.
"Not Potter." Lavender said heavily, tears falling more freely. "I've hated myself all year for it. Hated lying, hated the guilt. Hated it all because I thought you deserved better. I wanted things between us to work because I really liked you. But… you're so jealous, and petty, and I can't stand how I feel anymore, Ron. I've lied to you, and no one deserves what I did to you. I should have told you when I went to your house last summer. I should have confessed and been done with it, but I couldn't."
"Last summer?" Ron asked, looking as if things were starting to sink in. "When? Who?"
"Does it matter Ron?" Lavender asked, wiping angrily at her eyes. "I fucked someone and then pretended that everything was ok."
"We… you… I…" Ron began to babble while he tried to puzzle through it. And then his ear began to turn a violent shade of red, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at Lavender.
"How could you?" He asked in a hiss.
"I don't know." Lavender shrugged. "But I can't do it anymore. We have to stop this, Ron. For both of us. I'm sorry Ron. I'm sorry for lying, and for everything."
"I can't believe this!" Ron snapped, recoiling as if he'd been hit. "I can't believe you would do it, but I don't know why I'm surprised. I mean after all, your reputation is pretty…"
"Ron,. That's enough." Dean Thomas said, stepping forward.
"I only went out with you because of what I'd heard. I mean, you were supposed to be easy, but maybe I didn't have enough money or…"
There was a resounding crack, and once again silence fell heavy. Lavender was staring at Ron furiously, shaking her hand a bit. Ron slowly turned back to look at his now ex-girlfriend, and bright red handprint across his left cheek.
"You complete arse." She said through gritted teeth.
Ron began to snarl, but before anything else could happen, Harry stepped between them, glowering at Ron. Ron looked at Harry, and in a moment, his rage began to dissipate.
Hermione and Parvati both came to Lavender and began to lead the crying girl up to the girls dormitory, the crowd parting to let them pass. Hermione looked over her shoulder to Harry who was still staring at Ron, who was watching the three girls intently.
Ron turned, looked at Harry acidly, and then stormed out of the Common Room. After that, people began to disperse and return to whatever held their interests previously.
Harry stood in the center of the room, turning to look at his fellow Gryffindors in wonder as Neville came to his side.
"You ok mate?" Neville asked, his voice almost a whisper.
"They all just… It was like nothing happened." Harry said, turning to his friend in shock.
"Break ups happen all the time… though to be honest, not usually so public., you know?" Neville shrugged, turning and heading for a couple of empty chairs. Harry followed and took one of the chairs.
"What did Lavender mean when she said she cheated on Ron?" Harry asked.
"I'm guessing she kissed another guy." Neville shrugged.
"That constitutes cheating?" Harry looked troubled.
"Yeah." Neville said. When two people are together, that should be it, Harry. You shouldn't kiss or anything else with another person if your going out with someone else. It's cruel."
"And one kiss is all it takes?' Harry asked.
"Well, no, I suppose not." Neville said, wrinkling his brow. "It could be one kiss, or it could be a lot more, it just depends."
"On what?"
"Gods Harry why do you ask such complicated questions?" Neville sat up a bit straighter.
"How else am I supposed to learn?" Harry asked. Neville chuckled. "Was it like that for you when Hannah broke up with you?"
"You mean the yelling?" Neville asked. Harry nodded and Neville shook his head. "No, there wasn't any yelling. Hannah told me that things weren't working between us, and that she felt it would be better if we just ended things."
"Dating gets more complicated everyday." Harry grumbled.
"It's always been complicated, you just have things easy with Hermione." Neville sighed. "You and Hermione… it's almost like you were made for each other."
"So, what happens to them now?" Harry asked, looking towards the stairs that led to the dorms.
"Who knows." Neville shrugged. "Break ups are never usually good. It's actually stupid how much we just want to hurt the people we break up with. We get angry because we got hurt and… it's usually pretty messy. Rumors, pranks… just, it's so stupid."
"Then why do it?" Harry asked.
"Pride?' Neville replied, though he didn't look sure. "Anger, broken heart."
"Have you…"
"No." Neville shook his head quickly. "No, Hannah is a good person, and I don't want her to ever think bad of me. I know why she chucked me. It doesn't make it hurt any less, but I get it. Ron on the other hand…"
"You think he might do something to hurt Lavender?" Harry asked, looking ready to go hunt Ron down.
"He'll probably spread some nasty stories about her to make himself look good or something. Nothing worth beating him up over. See, Ron can be an ok guy, he's just got some serious issues. He's got five older brothers, and he feels like he's in some kind of competition with them, or something. He'll be angry for awhile, then he'll get over it. Same with Lavender. Actually, Lavender will likely have a new boyfriend in no time. She's a nice person and she's really attractive. I wouldn't worry too much about her." Neville smiled.
Harry turned to look at his fellow Gryffindors again, his mind replaying the scene he'd just witnessed and wondering what on earth could make two people who were supposed to care for one another become so angry that they no longer wished to be together. Was it true that he had things easy with Hermione, and that she was in essence made for him?
If that was so, then why was he suddenly filled with a very uncomfortable feeling of dread. Would Hermione cheat on him? Would he cheat on her? How many ways were there to cheat on someone, and had he already done it without realizing it?
Harry realized that the only person who could answer these questions was his girlfriend, who was currently upstairs, likely trying to comfort her friend.
Harry just knew that when he did talk to Hermione, she was likely going to become very uncomfortable. He only hoped he wouldn't make her cry again.
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