Just Friends

The library window was open just a crack, but the winter air swirled in, shivery and spearmint scented. Hermione wrinkled her nose at the cold, and wrapped her scarf more tightly around her shoulders before tucking her hands further into the sleeves of her soft cardigan. Beside her, Harry peered longingly down at the sparkling snow surrounding Hogwarts. Students threw snowballs, built igloos, and the Weasley twins zoomed by on their brooms, trailing blue and lavender sparks behind them. Hermione straightened the papers between them on the broad window seat.

"Focus, Harry. We're almost done with the Herbology essay, and then I can review your homework corrections for Professor Flitwick after dinner," she coaxed.

"Sorry 'Mione," he grinned, and she forgave him with a soft smile of her own. "I was just—err—distracted a bit, you know, by the snow."

Hermione allowed her eyebrows to rise slightly. "And here I was thinking you were watching Ginny. Silly me. But honestly Harry, you're as obvious as Ron with Lavender."

She was teasing him, but her voice freed itself from her will and came out little and sad on the last few words. He blushed at Ginny's name, but almost scoffed when she mentioned Lavender.

"Hermione. Please 'Mione!" Harry paused to think, tapping his quill against his knee and staining his pants with a fine spray of emerald green ink. "Ron's just being a stupid git like he always is. Lavender's just the distraction, just some sparkly firework he's using to avoid admitting that he's totally in love with you."

The words tumbled out of his mouth so freely that Hermione knew he was giving her the truth. A little spark of gratitude for her friend flared up in her chest, warming her. She raised her eyes from the carpet and managed to tweak the corners of her mouth into a small smile.

"I'd always fancied myself a sparkling firework. You've wounded me terribly, Harry Potter."

His eyes sparkled at her jesting banter, but his mouth stayed solemn. "You're like the moon, 'Mione."

"Nocturnal? Dull? Waning?"

"No. Constant and loyal and—and—illuminating." He touched her nose lightly. "Silly."

She giggled. "Thanks Harry."

"Don't mention it. And 'Mione, I've been thinking. About Ron and Ginny, and you and me—let's start a club. We can call it Lovers of Aggravatingly Oblivious Gingers. It'll be very exclusive."

She laughed at him. "Let's go to dinner Harry. I'm sure we'll find our gingers there."

He looked out of the window, surprised that it was dinnertime already. As usual, Hermione was right. The grey winter sky had darkened to a velvety blue studded with coldly gleaming stars. Just behind a wisp of silvery cloud, he could see the gentle curve of the glowing moon. It really was lovely, Harry thought, as he gathered his papers and quill before turning to follow Hermione out the library door.

AN: Thanks for reading! For now it's just a one shot but if you enjoyed it, tell me in a review and I'll continue.

-The littledormouse