Palm Reading

Palm Reading Part 1

"...Okay class, so for your homework, I expect you to find someone not in our divination class and do a simple palm reading. Refer to your charts and write five inches about the experience and your results. Make sure you really study the hand...take it allll in. Alright, and with that , class dismissed! Use your inner eye students!" Professor Trewlany told her students, including a certain sleepy redhead named Ron Weasley.

He put his textbook into his shoulder bag and schlepped over to the ladder where his best friend, Harry Potter, waited for home walk to their next class. 

"Oi! Get a move on," Harry warned, "You've been ever slower than usual today."

"Very funny," He replied flatly.

Ron and Harry stepped down the ladder and they both jumped down before the last couple of steps.

"So,  who do you think you'll do a palm reading with?" Harry asked nonchalantly as they walked down the spiral staircase.

"....Uh, I guess Hermione? She's not in the class anymore so it counts...," He stumbled out. There was a pregnant pause.

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"I don't know, I just didn't think you'd want to get that close and hold her hand and... you know what I mean."

"Oh," Ron said quietly.

He didn't manage to get out any more words because the thought of getting closer to Hermione was all-consuming.

I could feel her soft fingers, trace the veins on her palm,  count her freckles and stare with an airtight excuse, Ron thought, THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

Harry looked over and noticed his friend's ears were burning red as he seemed to be frantically thinking.

"You all right? You've gone a bit...quiet, Ron"

"Nothing," He replied all too quietly and looked at the floor.

But what if she says no? She'll think I'm a creep for looking at her. What if my palms are sweaty and I disgust? Harry's right, I shouldn't do this.

"Ron...I know it's, uh, different, with you two but if not a big deal." Harry said carefully.

"Right. I know. Whose palm will you read?"

"Uh, I dunno. Someone not in our year because almost everyone takes divination." He said, then added, "Maybe Ginny."

Harry's eyes flickered to Ron to see if he had noticed, preparing himself for his mate telling him a firm "no", but Ron hadn't seemed to have even heard, he was lost in his own thoughts.

"Yeah. Sure." He mumbled to satisfy a response.

Harry knew why he was so distracted. They'd only talked about her a couple times late night in the dorms when everyone else was asleep. Harry  secretly hoped that they wouldn't date because he be left alone and he'd be the third wheel. The problem was that he was sure he'd caught glimpses of Hermione's feelings too. Times he saw her staring across the room, they bickered like an old married couple, and she always helps him with his homework. They had each other and, truthfully, it made him feel alone.

"We'd better move quickly. We're late for defense against the dark arts." Harry reminded Ron, but was mainly talking to himself.

"Right. Come on them!" Ron said as he picked up his pace, practically skipping. All of a sudden, he had a hopeful smile plastered on his face.