The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 123: Ripples

"Not that I mind the company, but is everything okay?"

Harry smiled wryly.  "Perfectly okay, why are you asking?"

Hermione looked at him closely, inspecting his facial reaction.  "Well, given what happened earlier this school year, thought it would be best to ask."

Harry's smile turned sheepish.  "You're not wrong, but don't worry, everything's fine with me and Katie.  Great even.  She's doing a long study session with a few friends and people in her classes."

"Ah, which means you finally remember us?" Hermione teased.

"Something like that," Harry said, a little uncomfortable.  "I haven't been that bad, have I?"

"No, not at all," Hermione said immediately, feeling a little bad.  "I was just teasing you.  I have no real desire to be in a relationship like that but would never begrudge you spending time with your girlfriend."  She looked worried.  "I don't seem that jealous or put out like I used to, do I?"

"No, not at all," Harry repeated.  "But again, you're not wrong.  I don't want to be someone that forgets his friends just because I have a girlfriend.  Especially sisters."

"Big sister."

"Sister of undetermined age."

Hermione rolled her eyes.  They continued to do their homework together, finishing a long Ancient Runes essay, a Potions essay on revealing spells and their applications, and then a Transfiguration essay on elemental transfiguration.

Harry rubbed his neck.  "And you're still taking Arithmancy on top of what I'm taking.  Next year is really going to be tough."

Hermione sighed and rubbed her temple.  "I am a bit worried about that to be honest.  Alicia was taking less than me and she was going spare.  Not to mention we're Prefects and you're Quidditch Captain."

"We'll make it through, one way or another," Harry said without too much confidence.

"You could always drop being Captain," Hermione said with a smile.

Harry snorted.  "I could also drop being Prefect."  He laughed at her gasp of outrage.  "I'll make it work.  I just have to follow your example."

Hermione pushed him playfully.  "Flatterer.  I'm telling Katie."

"Go for it."  He looked at her carefully.  "How have you been doing by the way?"

"Fine, why?"  She narrowed her eyes at him.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's the same way that you were looking at me earlier."

"You think I'm lying?"

"You thought I was?"

Hermione chewed her lip.  "You have this annoying tendency to underplay what you're feeling.  So I have to inspect you more closely."

"And you have this fine character trait to ignore how you're feeling for work or other things."

She huffed.  "Seriously, you're starting to make me anxious.  What are you on about?"

Harry explained his impromptu session with Moody and their resulting conversation.  Hermione looked outraged at the duel and muttered something about irresponsible adults that throw spells about like candy.  She nodded thoughtfully when he finished.  "I'd like to see the FireFalls, it sounds lovely."

"I'll see if I can take you over the summer."  After a moment of silence, he spoke softly.  "So, it got me thinking about how people who've experienced a certain kind of pain can recognize others who also have experienced it.  Which is why I wanted to talk to you and I'm rather ashamed I never talked to you before this."