Saudade

Chapter 14 The Reason For the Dreams Harry

Harry watched Ophelia as she walked away from him, exiting the Room of Requirement. He felt a sense of relief that she accepted his gift, yet he was uncertain about her feelings. He had finally admitted his feelings, a step he never thought he'd take, yet her silence left him puzzled. Maybe Ron's assumptions were incorrect. Maybe Ophelia doesn't have the same feelings for Harry and just wants to maintain their friendship.

As he returned to the common room--his mind couldn't stop picturing the shocked look on Ophelia's face--to find Hermione and Ron in the best seats by the fire; nearly everybody else had gone to bed. Hermione was writing a very long letter; she had already filled half a roll of parchment, which was dangling from the edge of the table. Ron was lying on the hearthrug, trying to finish his Transfiguration homework.

"What kept you?" he asked with a sly smile, as Harry sank into the armchair next to Hermione's.

Harry didn't answer. Half of him wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had just happened, but the other half didn't want to say anything at all.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Hermione asked, peering at him over the tip of her quill.

Harry gave a half-hearted shrug. In truth, he didn't know whether he was all right or not. "What's up?" Ron said, hoisting himself up on his elbow to get a clearer view of Harry. "What's happened?"

Harry didn't quite know how to set about telling them and still wasn't sure whether he wanted to. Just as he had decided not to say anything, Hermione took matters out of his hands.

"Is it Ophelia?" she asked in a businesslike way. "Did she say something to you?"

Numbly surprised, Harry shook his head.

"Did you say something to her?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. Ron sniggered, breaking off when Hermione caught his eye.

"So--er--what did you say?" he asked in a mock casual voice.

"I--" Harry began, rather hoarsely, he cleared his throat and tried again. "I--er--told her I--"

Ron sat up so fast that he sent his ink bottle flying all over the rug. Disregarding this completely, he stared avidly at Harry. "You told her you like her!"

Harry looked from Ron's expression of mingled curiosity and hilarity to Hermione's slight frown and nodded.

"HA!"

Ron made a triumphant gesture with his fist and went into a raucous peal of laughter that made several timid-looking second-years over beside the window jump. A reluctant grin spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron rolling around on the hearthrug.

Hermione rolled her eyes and returned to her letter.

"Well?" Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. "What did she say--" he suddenly stopped. "I can't believe I'm actually rooting for her," he said in disgust and then returned to his excited state. "But what did she say?"

Harry's grin faded.

"She ran away..." Harry mumbled.

"Oh," Ron said, his smile fading slightly. "Well, she didn't totally reject you, right?"

"I suppose not," Harry said, who hadn't considered this, and immediately felt a bit relieved. "She did accept the gift I got her."

"See!" Ron said beaming once again. "Just give her the night to think it through. It's obvious she likes you back."