Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Thirty-three: Ashwinders

Chapter 33: Ashwinders

As it happened, Harry and Ginny didn't need to eat Ron's crumbs after all and were able to eat lunch in the last fifteen minutes of the period.

Though he was still tired, Harry's second class of second years after lunch went by quickly. He'd forgotten he had a free period next until the class ended.

Suddenly, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. It crossed his mind that he could head down to the greenhouses early but Neville probably had a class to teach. He could plan lessons but he thought that it wasn't necessary. Maybe at the end of the week he'd have to plan a test at some point, but for now, he had other plans.

He made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady before he realized he never had learned the password. She was lounging on a chaise and dangling grapes over her mouth.

***

"Ron, listen," Hermione said. She and Ron were nose to nose in the broom cupboard again.

"You don't have to say anything," he whispered to her, "I know why we're here."

"You do?" she asked. Her voice was barely audible.

"You don't have to be so shy, Hermione. I know I never got to keep my promise that I made by the river."

"What? No. What promise? What are you talking about?"

"After I proposed to you in Australia, you said you... you said you wanted me."

"No, it's not that. We need to talk." Hermione stepped backward from him as an automatic reaction. She immediately regretted it though: she knocked a bucket and three mops over. Ron tried to stop them but it was too late. They crashed to the floor.

"Do you think anyone heard that?" Hermione said as Ron leaned over her and tried to pick up the bucket she'd knocked over.

***

"Hey, wouldn't be willing to let me in again without a password, would you?" Harry asked the Fat Lady.

"Sorry, no password, no entrance," she said as she chewed a grape. Harry glanced over his shoulder and saw no one. Should he just go back to the Defense classroom? He already had homework in Charms--ten inches of parchment on the uses of Lumos versus Lumos Maxima, Lumos Duo and Lumos Solem. Maybe he ought to start on it now?

But then there was a loud crash--it had come from behind a door not far from where he stood. Purely as a reaction, he drew his wand and hurried toward the noise.

It was a broom closet. Harry glanced up and down the seventh floor hallway... he was sure it'd come from here. He tried the knob but it was locked.

"Shh maybe they'll go away," said someone from inside the room. It was a very familiar voice.

"Ron?" Harry called toward the door. "Is that you? Are you alright?"

"Just fine. Looking for... er, a bucket. There's one. Found it."

"Right." Harry stowed his wand away back in his pocket and crossed his arms over his chest. "What's the password to the Common Room?"

"Um, Devil's Snare."

"Thanks." It was quiet for a few minutes, and Harry realized that Hermione must be in there with Ron. He almost walked away... "What are you going to use the bucket for?"

"Oh, for erm, Hermione needed it. I think she's trying to get ahead with Potions and she mentioned she needed one."

"Have you seen Hermione by the way? I've been meaning to talk to her about something."