Regrets & Realizations

The Welcoming Feast

The feast was better than any other year I had seen at Hogwarts. It was to celebrate the winning of the war, so Harry was treated like a king the whole time. Even worse, was that Ginny assumed that she was his queen, and it was starting to intolerable. 

"Oh Harry, tell everyone about our quidditch game at the burrow a few summers ago." Ginny said clinging to his arm 

"Er--yeah. We played a quidditch game in Ginny's backyard a few summers back. It was cool." he said, and I let out a small laugh. Harry was the only one to notice and he looked at me and smiled and I just shook my head. 

"Harry, it was your first time using the new broom I'd gotten you for your sixteenth birthday, remember?" I said, doing my best to remind him. 

"Oh yeah!" He said, his eyes suddenly lit up "Every game I won that year was because of that broom! It's like my most valuable possession." 

Ginny scowled. "What about your wand?" she asked 

"Well, that's a close second." He said, causing me to smile (which I definitely tried to hide)

Suddenly, Ginny kissed Harry on the cheek and rested her head on his shoulder. "You're an idiot. But your my idiot." she said 

"I'm going to head to the common room." I said, trying to make an excuse to leave quickly 

"No, Hermione, please don't leave!" Harry called after me "McGonagall is about to name class prefects, and the head boy and girl. And I really think you're going to be head girl. Couldn't think of anyone better, really." 

Ginny seemed upset, as she was no longer grinning from ear to ear, though she still had her arm latched around his in a possessive-like manner.

"Fine, I'll--"

I was suddenly cut of by McGonagall chiming her glass to signal everyone's attention. She gave a long speech on how important it was to be a prefect and what a great honor it was. She then named all eight from all four houses. Gryffindor was Ginny and Dennis Creevey, and I automatically saw Ginny's disappointment that she wasn't chosen for head girl, as everyone knew Harry would be Head Boy. 

"And now for the Head Boy and Girl." McGonagall said and everything became even more silent than before "I've known both of these individuals for a very long time, and over the time I've known them, I noticed that they were quite the troublemakers...or so I thought. Mr. Potter wasn't causing trouble, trouble was following him. And as for Ms. Granger, she has never been known to shy away from a problem. She made it her responsibility to help him."

I looked over at Harry, who gave me the biggest smile I'd ever seen from him. It sent shivers down my spine that he was happy and not angry, upset or confused.

"These two have an undeniable bond that has only yet to grow. And it is with much honor that I can say Ms. Hermione Granger, and Mr. Harry Potter have been specially chosen as this year's head boy and girl." 

The great hall erupted in cheers and Ginny did her best not to look hurt that she wasn't chosen as head girl.