My hand presses firmly along the stones in the wall as I walk up the stairs to my room. I need something to steady me—to help me feel grounded. My world's off-kilter, as though my magnetic poles have suddenly switched places.

A wry smile briefly curves my lips and I shake my head in disbelief. I had no idea when I woke this morning what this day would hold. It's been the most unexpected day of my life; except, maybe, the day I received my Hogwarts letter. My emotions have been everywhere they could possibly go, compressed in the space of twenty-four hours. I'm not sure I'll be able to mentally catch up anytime soon.

Once I get to my room, I'm grateful that the other girls have closed their bed hangings, apparently asleep. I've found that, instead of growing closer the longer we live together, the gap that began between us is steadily widening. Our priorities, which have always been different, are becoming even more separate. I certainly don't want to share any of my day with them. I feel some melancholy creep into my mind at this thought, although I'm at peace with it, too.

I've never been great at relationships with other girls. There was a time when I tried, but had very little good from my efforts in return. These girls weren't friendly my first few months here. I only became "interesting" after Harry and Ron were my friends. A small smile forms on my lips. I definitely got the best deal there.

Which brings me back to Ron. I'm not sure if his response to what he saw and heard tonight was out of fear for Harry, or if he was upset about the change in Harry's and my relationship. Maybe both.

The last thing we want to do is hurt our best friend. Even if he's okay with our dating, things will change, and we all know it. It's as if the angles in our triangle have suddenly shifted. I'm sure we'll be awkwardly off-balance for a time until we get used to this dynamic.

I shake my head, realizing that I've stood in place, going over all this in my head, for the last several moments. A wave of exhaustion tumbles my mind. I don't want to think anymore and I'm so tired, I'm tempted to sleep in my clothes for a second night. I hang up my robes, but then slide the rest of my clothes off into a heap by the side of my bed. My roommates will be scandalized in the morning if they wake before me, but I doubt that will happen. I'm not sure I care, anyway. I sigh as I shut the hangings on this day, then I sink into my bed and pull the covers over me.

My mind drifts through my day. The museum, holding Harry's hand, our car ride, time alone on the train, in the carriage…my lips curve at these memories. But then, others crowd them out. Ron's face in the train compartment, the feast, Harry's expression as he gazed at Dumbledore, the Prophecy, Ron on the stairs…tears prickle my eyes as anxiety creeps through me.

I know I'll never get to sleep with these thoughts running through my mind and I deliberately shift my thoughts to what happened after he told me. What it felt like to have his lips on mine, pressed against him with his arms around me…but there's no escaping the heavier parts of this night, and they crowd out the other memories.

I spend much of the night with fretful thoughts trampling through my mind like Trolls. I wish for some way to banish them, but can't manage it. I try reading by wand light, but can't concentrate. After rereading the same paragraph countless times, I finally open my bed curtains just a bit so that I can see the sky through the window and concentrate on finding constellations. I spot Cassiopeia, and then Perseus. My eyes travel from star to star, connecting the dots to trace their forms. I remember their stories and I feel myself begin to relax.

Before I know it, weak light filtering through the narrow gap in my bed curtains wakes me. Although I've slept some, I'm knackered and my muscles are sore from being so tense in the stress of last night. It's going to be a difficult first day of classes. Maybe I can catch a kip later on.

After a stretch, I shift the hangings out of the way. I was right about my roommates. Their curtains are still closed. I slide out of my covers and, with a quick wave of my wand, yesterday's clothes are in the hamper and my bed is made. I tug on my bathrobe, grab some clean clothes, and head to the shower. The hot water feels wonderful, loosening my muscles some and I consider staying here all morning. But I want to see Harry, too, and that thought prods me to turn off the spray.

As I get ready, I think about the conversation that Harry and I need to have with Ron today. It occurs to me that, when Ron was upset with Harry in the past, he left their dorm room early in order to avoid talking with him. I quickly finish dressing, pull on my robes, and hurry down the stairs. The common room is empty so far and I hope he hasn't come down yet. I find one of our books that we inadvertently left on the table last night and sink into the couch by the warm fire to read. Unfortunately, the next thing I'm aware of is Harry gently shaking my shoulder to wake me.

"Ron's gone," he says worriedly.

I sigh and get to my feet. "I figured he would do that—it's why I came down early, but I fell asleep."

"I guess you slept about as well as I did last night."

I nod and he slides his arms around me and whispers, "Sorry." We rest against each other as I wrap my arms around his middle. He leans to brush his lips against mine, and they linger as he deepens the kiss. My hands rise to run through his hair, which is still damp from his shower, as I return his kiss.

We hear people descending the steps just in time to move away from each other. We frantically try to find something "normal" to do before we're seen. I quickly sit in one of the side chairs and Harry moves away from me to stand by the fireplace.

It's some younger students who pay us little mind as they talk and laugh on their way out the of the common room. Once they're gone, we look at each other and smile, feeling a bit silly.

"I guess we'd better go to breakfast and see if Ron's there," Harry says.

"The sooner we talk with him, the better," I agree.

We walk to the portrait hole and I pull Harry in for a quick kiss before we clamber through and make our way down to the ground floor. Ron's in the Great Hall, already eating when we arrive, and, although the number of students is sparse this early, he's not alone. Neville's seated across from him and Luna is beside him. I suspect this is with purpose and Harry meets my sideways glance in agreement.

I wish Ron wasn't so good at raising barriers when he's upset. He's not going to make this easy on us, and by "us", I mean all three of us.

I'm frustrated by the pains he takes to avoid dealing directly with problems. It's what he did last year when he and Harry weren't speaking because of the tournament. Harry didn't help, but I'm not sure anything Harry could've said would have made any difference. I know that nothing I said changed Ron's mind. He was too willing to believe that he'd been slighted and wouldn't consider any other perspective, no matter what it cost him or anyone else.

I'm determined to not let that happen this time—I'm not going to let this become a drawn-out mess when Harry needs us both so badly. He's got enough to be going on with. I'll do everything I can to avoid adding the loss of his best friend to his worries.

"Morning," Harry and I say as we sit beside Neville.

Luna and Neville return our greeting with smiles, but Ron only nods, and then takes a drink of juice.

"Ready for the first day of classes?" Neville asks, reaching for the bacon.

"I am," Luna says, but her luminous eyes study Harry and me. "You and Harry look tired. Did you have trouble sleeping?"

"A little…" I hedge as I butter a piece of toast, "First night jitters and all."

"Ron had trouble too," Luna reports, and Ron rolls his eyes, annoyed that she announced this information. "Maybe you should check Gryffindor Tower for Ruby-throated Windigs. Their odor often causes insomnia even though it's barely detectable by humans."

"Yes, well…" Harry answers, pouring himself some pumpkin juice while trying to keep a straight face, "we'll have to check into that."

"So," I say, to change the subject, "have the professors handed out any class timetables yet?"

"Not yet," Neville answers, "but maybe soon," he adds as some of the professors begin to enter the Great Hall, along with more students.

We're soon surrounded by other Gryffindors, some of whom give Luna strange looks for sitting at our table.

"I guess I'd better go to my table," she says as Professor Flitwick starts to hand out class information to the Ravenclaws.

"See you later Luna," I say as Neville and Harry also bid her goodbye.

Ron finally speaks to tell Luna goodbye as she gets up.

"Bye," she says, briefly resting her hand on his shoulder, then adding, "I hope you feel better soon, Ron."

"Thanks," he mutters as his ears turn pink.

It's not long until Ginny takes Luna's space at the table. McGonagall appears soon afterwards and hands our timetables to us.

"I've got Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing today," Harry remarks, looking at his classes.

"Me, too," I reply, "and then nothing until Potions after lunch."

"What about you, Ron?" Harry asks. From the look on his face, I can tell he's not sure Ron will respond.

Ron nods curtly. "Same." He keeps his eyes on his paper and doesn't look at us, though.

"It'll be nice, having that break before lunch," I say.

"Yep." Ron says.

"What's with you?" Ginny nudges Ron. "You seem a little off today."

Ron shrugs. "Trouble sleeping last night."

"Something bothering you?" she persists.

"None of your business," Ron says in a low voice. "Leave it, all right?"

Ginny huffs and turns her attention to her food.

Ron pushes his plate away and starts to rise from his seat.

"Where are you going," I ask, surprised.

"To get something," he replies shortly before he leaves.

Harry and I exchange a glance.

"We'd better go check on him," I say to Ginny as Harry and I start to get up.

"Do you know what's bothering him?" she asks.

"We'll talk with him," Harry dodges her question and we make our way out of the Great Hall.

We take as many shortcuts as we can to get to our common room quickly, but it's empty.

"I'll go check in our dormitory," Harry says, starting up the stairs.

I sink into a side chair to wait. After a moment, I hear the portrait swing open. It's Ron. It takes him a bit to notice me. Our eyes meet and his steps hesitate for a moment. I smile tentatively, but he doesn't return it.

"What're you doing here?" he says, lowering his gaze from mine.

"Trying to find you."

He shrugs, still not meeting my eyes. "I told you I had to get something."

I stand and begin to walk to him. "I think we both know that's not why you left breakfast so early."

"Does it matter?"

He tries to slide past, but I take a hold of his hand before he can get by me.

"Very much," I say, waiting for him to turn and meet my eyes before I go on.

He reluctantly turns around as he lifts his gaze to mine, and I take hold of his other hand.

"I don't know everything you heard or saw last night—" (I search his eyes, but he keeps his face carefully blank) "but we weren't trying to hide anything from you."

"Right. How long have you been…together?"

"Since yesterday morning."

Ron's lips tighten and thin as though he doesn't believe me, and I continue hurriedly, "Neither of us had any idea it was going to happen. We needed to figure some things out before we talked to anyone about it, and you were the one that we wanted to talk with first."

"I guess there's no need for that now," he says with contempt. He tries to slide his hands from mine and leave, but I step forward, dart my hands around his middle, and hang on, determined to hold him here.

"Hermione!" he protests angrily, trying to wriggle from my grasp.

"I'm not letting you go," I say heatedly, tightening my grip. My voice is muffled because my face is in the front folds of his robes. I turn my head to the side so that I can speak more clearly. "We need you, Ron Weasley! You're our best friend. I'm not letting you go," I repeat, and my voice cracks as my eyes begin to sting.

I can't deal with this new burden of the prophecy and a rift between the three of us right now. I'm not going to let this happen. My body shakes as I feel tears run down my cheeks.

Ron stands there stiffly for a moment, but then sighs and hesitantly puts his arms around me. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "Don't cry."

"Sorry," I reply squeakily as he awkwardly pats my back and I try to gain control of my emotions.

After a long moment, he says, "It's going to be so weird."

"What?"

"You and him…and me."

"Yes, for a time," I agree.

"I don't know how I'm meant to belong now." His voice betrays sadness, and the tears that I thought were under control begin to sting again.

I tilt my head back to look him in the eyes. "With us. Always with us."

"You say that now, but there'll be times when you don't want me there."

"There will be some times when we'll want to be alone," I concede, "but not because we don't want to be with you."

"But…are you guys going to get all gooey-sweet and snog all the time?"

"Neither of us are really the gooey type, are we?"

"No, I reckon not, but…there will be times when I'm the third wheel."

"I can't promise that some things won't change…it will be awkward sometimes, especially at first until we find our new normal. But one thing won't change, and that's the fact that Harry and I both want all three of us to still be 'us'."

Ron nods and I tuck the side of my head back against his chest.

After a bit, I ask, "Did you hear him talk about the prophecy last night?"

"No," he answers, uneasiness creeping into his voice. "I only saw…" He hurries to add, "I wasn't trying to spy—I was worried that Harry hadn't come to our room yet."

"I know…" I nod against his chest, finally gaining control of my emotions.

"What did the prophecy say?"

Footsteps sound on the stairs and we both turn to see Harry stop in his tracks as he notices us.

His eyes dart from mine to Ron's. "Everything all right?" he asks tentatively.

"I think so," I say, as Ron and I pull apart, but I keep a hold of one of his hands.

"What's going on?" Harry asks worriedly as he walks to us. I take his hand in my other hand as he faces Ron.

I glance at Ron who gives a small nod. "I saw you guys last night," he says, and then adds, "I came back down to see why you were still in the common room."

"What do you mean, 'saw us'?"

"I saw you snogging."

Harry's eyes dart to mine, and then back to Ron. "I'm really sorry, mate. That's not the way we wanted you to find out."

"I know. Hermione's already talked with me about it."

"We know this is going to be odd and uncomfortable at first," I attempt to quickly summarize what Ron and I have already said, "but our friendship is extremely important and we're going to do all that we can to protect it."

Harry nods, then asks hesitantly, "So, what do you think about us being together?"

"I was angry," Ron admits. "I thought you were trying to keep something from me and I felt like a fool."

"We only figured out how we felt yesterday," Harry tries to reassure him. "We needed to get some things straightened out last night, but wanted to talk with you first thing today."

"I know. Hermione told me already." Ron pauses, then shrugs. "I reckon I'm okay with it."

Harry and Ron smile tentatively at each other.

"Hermione said something about a prophecy that we need to talk about?"

The smile slides off Harry's face. He nods and says, "We do."

I check my watch. "Unfortunately, we only have about ten minutes before we need to get to class. Maybe we can talk during the break afterwards?"

"That's probably the best time," Harry agrees in a subdued voice.

We gather our things and make our way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. To my surprise, Snape is the professor of the class now, but it doesn't seem to faze Harry or Ron. I must've missed that announcement last night during the feast when my mind was on other things. I glance at Harry and see his face set, determined to withstand whatever Snape might throw at him.

We take our seats and Ron's a bit surprised when Harry and I sit on either side of him. We don't want to take any chance that Snape might be able to sense the change in our relationship. However, the first class goes fairly well. Snape seems so happy to have finally realized his desire to teach this class that he spends most of his time on the syllabus, telling us what we're going to learn from him. He speaks with an air of superiority as he insinuates that we've learned very little from previous professors.

Snape can pontificate as much as he wants, as far as I'm concerned. He's so busy explaining how wonderful his class is going to be for us, that he's not needling Harry, or even Neville, for that matter. I highly doubt this will last, but I'll enjoy it for today. The bell finally rings to signal the end of class and we join the queue to exit the room.

When we get to the corridor, Harry turns to us and says, "I think the common room isn't going to be very private. How about the tree by the lake?"

Ron and I agree and we head down the stairs, and finally out the doors to the grounds.

I take a deep breath of air and gaze at my surroundings. It's my first time to see the grounds in daylight this year. The sun warms us as we walk towards the water in silence.

Once we're settled by the roots of the tree, Harry repeats the parts of the prophecy. It's hard to hear it again, but Harry doesn't need me falling apart. Ron's eyes get bigger and bigger the more he hears.

Once Harry's finished, Ron whispers, "Merlin…"

"Yeah…" Harry responds, seeming not to know what else to say.

"And Dumbledore knew it the whole time?"

The unhappy expression I saw during the feast last night appears on his face. "He did."

"Why's he only telling you now?"

Harry considers this question for a bit, then answers, "He didn't think I was ready to hear it before."

Ron's eyebrows knit and he seems lost in thought for several moments before saying, "I knew you were really struggling at the end of last year, but I thought it was because of Sirius." Ron sees the pain flit across Harry's face. "Sorry, mate," he says quietly. "I didn't mean to…" Harry shakes his head as though to negate the need for Ron's apology. Ron continues quietly, "I can't imagine having to deal with what Dumbledore told you at the same time."

The three of us sit in silence for a while, but then Ron says, "You'll have my help to beat You-Know-Who, no matter what."

Harry and I both lift our eyes to Ron's.

"Thanks, mate," Harry answers. "Couldn't do it without you."

"Probably not," Ron says with a grin and I snort. "There's more like it," he says, giving me an elbow. I begin to feel as though we're going to be okay and the knots that have been in my stomach since last night start to unwind. I can tell that Harry is visibly more relaxed than he has been all morning. His relief is palpable, now that he doesn't have to carry his burden alone and he has the surety of Ron's friendship.

The breeze shifts and scents from the kitchen wafts around us. None of us had a good breakfast this morning or dinner last night. Our stomachs growl, nearly in chorus, and we laugh.

"Is it almost time for lunch?" Ron asks hopefully.

I check my watch. "About fifteen more minutes or so."

"Why don't we go and put our things away?" Harry suggests. "By the time we do that and get back to the Great Hall, it should be just about time."

We gather our things and stand. As we begin to walk to the castle, Harry's fingers slide between mine. I smile at him and he returns it. I can tell Ron's noticed, but he's trying to nonchalantly ignore it as though it's something he's completely used to.

We push open the big wooden doors to the entry hall and ascend the marble steps. And, although I know there's an awful ordeal waiting in our future, I feel hopeful for the first time in months.

ooooo