32 AM
“No, Ron, you started dating Lavender Brown. How was I supposed to know you fancied me?”
“Obviously I was trying to make you jealous! How could you ever think I actually fancied Lavender.”
“Well you were snogging her every chance you got!”
“Not every chance…”
“Ronald, don’t you dare. Just admit you were in the wrong.”
“In the wrong? Well—I wouldn’t—wrong? Me? Well, can you blame me? I was sixteen.”
“If I recall correctly, I was also sixteen, and I wasn’t snogging every boy that looked my way.”
“Well—”
“And don’t you dare bring McLaggen into this, I hardly ever spoke to him.”
“What about Krum, then?”
“Well, Krum was…different.”
“Aha! I got you there.”
“Quit arguing, you two. Look who has just come in.”
“Huh—oh. Malfoy.”
“And Zabini.”
“And Parkinson. Interesting.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Oh, no reason.”
“Tell us, Hermione. We know you know something.”
“It’s just that I heard Malfoy was dating one of the Greengrass sisters this summer. But I suppose they must have broken up.”
“Why?”
“Well, he’s with Parkinson, isn’t he?”
“Can’t a bloke have friends?”
“Are you defending him, Ron? Look. He has his arm around her.”
“Zabini looks upset.”
“Zabini always looks upset, Harry.”
“Well, I just don’t think it makes sense. Malfoy with Parkinson?”
“Of course it makes sense. They’re both Slytherins. It must be difficult to mingle with other Houses after the battle.”
“She has a point, mate. Besides, who could ever date a Slytherin besides another Slytherin? I reckon they hiss at each other in bed.”
“Very funny, mate.”
“Oops, sorry Harry. It’s different with you, of course. You’re the Savior.”
“But I thought you said you couldn’t speak Parseltongue anymore? After the battle?”
“It still doesn’t make it funny.”
“Right…”
“Stop worrying, Hermione. I am fine.”
“I wasn’t worried, just…”
“Thinking?”
“Thinking?”
“Ha ha ha. You two think you know me so well—”
“Yup.”
“We definitely do.”
“Well then I have a challenge for you. I have a surprise planned for this Saturday night. Can you guess what I have in mind?”
“A study session?”
“A romantic dinner in the library?”
“Wrong and wrong. I guess you two will just have to wait and see…”