Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Twenty: Blast-ended Skrewt

Chapter 20: Blast-ended Skrewt

After George and Angelina left, it was quiet at the table for a moment.

"Right," Dean said to Ron, breaking the silence. "Well, now you can come back to Hogwarts with Ginny and Luna and me."

"And I'll be there too," Neville said, raising his glass.

"Yeah, I didn't tell you," Seamus said, "I'm going back too. Me Mam thought my education was a tad too botched for trying for the late N.E.W.T.s test over the summer."

"Yeah," Ron said. He glanced over his shoulder. "Maybe. Might as well..."

"Harry, you should come back too," Neville said.

"I don't know..." Harry said. He glanced at Ginny. "I should really head out for the night. I've got work in the morning."

"Skive off. You've done enough work to last a lifetime," Seamus said.

"Yeah, actually I think I'll head home too," Ron said. Standing with Harry.

"Maybe we'll have another party before the start of school though," Harry said, looking at the disappointed faces around the table. "After all, there's still a week left. Just the D.A."

"That sounds wonderful, Harry," Luna said. "Will you teach us more spells?"

"What?" Harry asked. "No, I just meant a smaller gathering."

"Right, see you," Harry said. He followed Ron across the room. They found Hermione. She seemed relieved that she was allowed to leave.

After saying good-bye to a few people, the three of them left together. Ron sidelong-Apparated with her since he said he was too drunk to do so himself.

"Tea?" Hermione offered when they came in through the front door.

"Sure," Ron said.

"Mm. Why not?" Harry agreed. The boys followed her down to the kitchen. She put the kettle on.

"So what's wrong?" Hermione asked as her back was turned. She was retrieving mugs from a china cabinet at the end of the long kitchen. Upstairs somewhere, a clock chimed twelve. Ron waited for the chiming to stop before he spoke.

"George is closing the shop," Ron said.

"Oh," Hermione said, turning. Harry could tell she was trying not to act too surprised. "Why? I thought business was doing well?"

"He wants to travel the world. With Angelina Johnson."

"I think your mother will probably not take that well," Hermione said slowly. Ron only shrugged.

"George offered Ron the shop first, but Ron turned him down," Harry explained.

"I'm going to go back to Hogwarts. Take my N.E.W.T.s and become an Auror, like Harry. It makes sense."

"You should do what makes you happy," Hermione said. Harry met her eyes for a moment and they both looked away from each other.

Ron glanced between the two of them. It was quiet for a few seconds and then the kettle's faint squeal rose to a loud scream. Hermione moved the kettle off the flame and turned the burner off.

Then, as she poured tea into three cups, Ron asked quietly, "What was that look about? That you two just gave each other?"

Harry tensed.

"What look?" Hermione asked without looking up from her work.

"I saw you and Harry just look at each other. When you said something about doing what makes me happy. What was that about?"