"Hey," said Hermione, yet it seemed forced. She reached up and kissed Harry on the lips.
"Hi," he replied guiltily. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She narrowed her eyes. "What about you?"
Harry knew something was up, but he decided not to push it. He answered untruthfully, "Nothing too." He knew that Hermione could tell, but she also let it drop.
He leaned in to kiss his girlfriend again, but for some reason he was reluctant. He didn't feel attracted to her. He did anyways, though, but it felt like she wasn't enjoying it either.
Harry pulled back, took Hermione's hands, and said, "No matter what happens, can we still be friends?" He knew that he was being a horrible person and terribly selfish and that he didn't deserve her friendship, but he had to ask.
Hermione nodded. "I promise." She was going to regret that later, he was sure. "Do you?" she asked.
"Promise."
"Okay, I have to go. Sorry!" Hermione told him, and dashed off.
Probably to the library, Harry thought. Where she wouldn't be emerging for an hour or so... His conscience was telling him no, he shouldn't, but it was slowly being overpowered by his want.
Harry walked over to a group of Gryffindors standing by the fireplace. "Hi Katie, Ginny, Seamus. Mind if I borrow Ginny for a minute? Need to talk to her about, er, Quidditch."
"Sure," replied Katie. "But wait- Quidditch? I'm on the team too."
"Just, uh, she's new. You already know this stuff." Katie shrugged but nodded and continued talking with Seamus.
Harry grabbed Ginny's arm, and they ran out of the common room. The moment they were out of sight Ginny pulled Harry down to her and began snogging him fiercely. Harry responded with equal ardor.
Ginny broke off for a second. "Ugh, you taste like Hermione."
"Sorry," grimaced Harry. "We didn't kiss that long, I stopped it. But I don't think she felt anything either. And we promised to be friends even if we break up. I'm not sure if she found out I was cheating on her though."
"It's ok," sighed Ginny. They kept kissing until suddenly-
"Have you finished that Transfiguration paper yet? I can't believe McGonangall set us two rolls of parchment. Two!" Someone's voice carried down the hallway, followed by the echoing footsteps of two people.
"Let's go this way," Harry hissed. They carefully sneaked into an empty classroom. "We're ok," he breathed. "Let's keep going, shall we?"
Ginny smiled. They continued heated snogging and were so immersed that they didn't notice two other people walking into the classroom, but they didn't see Harry and Ginny, either.
BANG! A door was slammed down the corridor from the room. Everyone jumped and looked up, for the first time taking note of the other occupants of the classroom.
Harry's mouth fell open. "Hermione, you're cheating on me with Ron Weasley?"
"You're cheating on me with Ginny Weasley?"
"Ron, you're cheating on the person whose being cheated on by the person who I'm cheating with?" asked Ginny.
"What?" said Ron. "You and Harry are cheating on Hermione?"
All at the same time, they replied, "Yes," Hermione ashamedly, Harry nervously, Ron confusedly, and Ginny defiantly.
"Um, ok, I know it wouldn't be right but maybe.." suggested Hermione hesitantly, "we could just break up and go with the way it is? And all be friends?"
"What the hell," shrugged Harry. "Sure." Ginny and Ron nodded, before Harry asked one more thing.
"But could you and Ron go to a different room, please?"