Harry, on the other hand, was completely confused. I hope I didn't bump into Hermione too hard, he thought. I'd better check to see if she's hurt. Just as he was about to make a move towards her, however, she glared at him. Oh god, she's mad at me. I DID hurt her! I need to apologize to her... and quickly... but she seems so angry right now... well, I'd better do it before she gets angrier. Firming up his resolve, he was just about to open his mouth, when Hermione touched her lip, noticing blood. Her glare intensified tenfold, and Harry suddenly lost all his nerve again. He backed away and huddled behind his own knees, only daring to take quick peeks at Hermione. She's bleeding! I really did hurt her! I can't believe I was so stupid. She looks like she's about to kill me! Maybe I can grovel in front of her and she'll make it quick... All of a sudden, Hermione's face was flush with embarrassment and she seemed to be avoiding Harry's gaze. What just happened? Why's she avoiding me now? Damn girls are always so confusing...
He cautiously crept up to Hermione, and in the most sincere voice he could manage, said "I'm sorry I bumped into you, Hermione. Are you hurt?"
Hermione appeared to take several calming breaths before answering. "Yes, I'm fine, Harry." She then muttered quietly to herself, "Oh good... he said 'bumped'... he doesn't consider it a kiss, either."
Unfortunately for her, she didn't say it quietly enough. Harry managed to catch the last few words... Kiss? I thought I just hit her mouth... with my own... oh god, does that qualify for a kiss? Harry gaped. I've never kissed anyone before... wait, has Hermione? I doubt it.
"Err... Hermione... was... was that your... um... first kiss?" Harry asked meekly.
"NO!" she shouted vehemently. "No no no no no no no. That wasn't a kiss! That doesn't count. You didn't kiss me, Harry. That was not my first kiss. Definitely not. It was just a bump."
Harry quickly backed down again. "Alright Hermione. That... was just a bump. Right."
They stared at each other in silence, unsure of what to say next. Turning to where the marble slabs used to be, he said, "So... I guess the new beacon works now, doesn't it? Why didn't we get a flood of memories like last time?"
Hermione, eager to change the subject, quickly explained. "The clusters we added make sure we actually get to experience each trip through time, and remember them in the right order. I didn't realize that would be a problem with the original design. It'll make things much easier to remember and organize, too."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I guess that makes more sense. I just hoped there would be an easier way to check to see if it was working properly or not."
Hermione replied. "Well, we can always create the 'return' cluster with the leftover sandstone I have in my bag... it won't do very long distance travel, but we could just carve them up in a few hours and come back. My future self was nice enough to pack the memory of it so that it came through clearly." She smiled. "Well, let's make sure we know what time it is, so that we know we came back to the right beacon. Calentempa." The date and time floated in front of her. 1994, June 30th, 8:51 AM.
Hermione's eyes bugged out. "Harry! We have to be on the carriages to Hogsmeade in less than an hour, or else we'll miss the train! Have you packed yet?"
"No I haven't, Hermione! I've been with you every night, remember? We haven't had time to pack!"
Rushing out of the chamber and back into Gryffindor Tower, Harry began to open up his dresser and stuffed everything he had into his trunk. The room was nearly empty, as everyone else was probably in the Great Hall eating breakfast already. Oddly, he noticed that Ron was still asleep, and hadn't bothered to pack last night. He shook Ron to wake him.
"Whuzzat? Gerroff, that's not chocolate..." he muttered, still asleep and presumably dreaming.
"Ron! Wake up! Haven't you packed yet?" Harry shouted at his friend.
Ron opened his eyes lazily. "Huh? Harry? There's still time, you know... no rush..."
"Ron, it's past nine o'clock. We have to be on the carriages by nine-thirty, or else we'll miss the train. Everyone else is already gone."
"Won' take too long..." Ron said, rolling over in his bed.
Harry let out an exasperated sigh. "Alright, Ron, whatever you say. But I'm not saving any breakfast for you if you're late." Ron slowly started to get up, stretching and yawning lazily. Since his friend was acting mostly awake, Harry went back to his trunk to begin stuffing all the clothes, textbooks, and school supplies into it haphazardly. He did take care to place the Maruader's Map and invisibility cloak carefully, however. He was finished in fifteen minutes, and levitated the trunk out of the room downstairs. It took Hermione five minutes to catch up to him. She grinned at him as they stepped out of the portrait-hole. "Let's catch up to Ron downstairs, Harry."
Harry chuckled. "He'll have to catch up to us, actually. I had to wake him up when I got upstairs. Last I checked, he was still packing."
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