Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters contained within
this story, J. K. Rowling does, and she kicks ass, so I wouldn't steal her
stuff from her.
Appearances
Chapter 1: The Trouble With Yule Balls
"No."
"No? Why on Earth not?"
"Because its weird Harry, that's why," she turned around and faced him. She bit her lip as she looked through is round glasses and into his deep green eyes. "I can't do it."
She turned back around and walked briskly down the drafty corridor towards the Gryffindor common room. Harry stood in his spot, staring blankly at her full hair swaying with her hips. Running his hand through his hair, he pondered her response.
"Girls, way more trouble than they're worth. Believe me," a voice said next to him. "Especially that one, just stay away from her when it comes to romantic stuff. The road less traveled is generally that way for a reason."
Harry sighed and turned to look at the red-haired boy who stood at his eye level. "Thanks Ron, you've certainly shed some light on the mystery that is Hermione."
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, I told you that last time too, didn't I. But no, you don't listen to me at all." He pushed Harry towards the common room, causing his 6 foot 3 inch build to falter.
"Please stop pushing me, it's getting a little old," Harry said regaining his balance and adjusting his glasses. They began walking to the common room, Harry's hands shoved into his pockets and his feet shuffling on the ground.
The shuffling echoed through the corridor, creating a loud squeak that caused the portraits on the wall to murmur amongst themselves about the poor upbringing of young witches and wizards in "these lax years."
It drove Ron just as crazy. "Harry!" he yelled stepping in front of him and grabbing the wizard's shoulders. "For goodness sake, if it's eating you that bad, go and talk to her about it. Ask her for a reason! Jeez, you act like someone ran over your broom or something. She's just a girl."
"She's not just a girl. She's Hermione." Harry said sidestepping Ron and continuing to the common room. He stopped in front of the portrait of the fat lady and whispered the password, "Truth."
They both climbed in and sitting in the common room were a few second years and Hermione and Ginny working on one of Ginny's Muggles' Studies scrolls. "I get the television thing, but what's a computer?" Ginny asked, trying to take in the vast amounts of electronic devices that had been described to her in class.
She looked up and saw Ron and Harry walking into the room. "How's it going guys?" she asked, thankful for the distraction from her scroll. "Almost ready for the Yule Ball?"
Harry winced as he saw Hermione drop her head to her chest and her face glowed through her hair. Ginny, noticing Harry's face, looked to Hermione. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Um, I think," Ron stumbled for words. "I can help you with your scroll upstairs, Ginny." He walked up to her and grabbed her arm and her Muggles' Studies book.
"But Hermione was." she tried to say as she quickly grabbed for her remaining supplies on the table.
"I can help you now," Ron cut her off as he dragged her up the stairs, the girl flailing to understand what was going on.
Hermione looked up at Harry. "You know, you didn't have to have Ron drag her away. She's 16-years-old now, she isn't a child."
He looked down at Hermione, who bore a frown on her face, and rolled his eyes. "Come on, since when do I have anything to do with Ron's random 'this is an awkward moment so I'm going to make an arse of myself' outbursts?"
Hermione looked satisfied with this and brushed her hair out of her still slightly pink face. "I see that you would like to talk," she said, breathing deeply. "You can sit down." Her hand went out and touched the seat next to her on the couch.
Sitting down on the couch, Harry took Hermione's hand and looked into her eyes. She tried to pull away, retracting from the intimacy, but he held fast to her hand. "Why did you say no, Hermione? I really want, no, I need to know," he whispered, keeping his face far enough away from hers to keep her from being too uncomfortable, but heightening the intensity all the same.
Hermione closed her eyes and swallowed hard. "Because it would be weird." He opened his mouth to protest but she raised her free hand and cut him off. "Let me finish. If you want an explanation, you have to let me talk." She readjusted herself in her seat and faced him more. "Listen, Harry, we've tried this already. It didn't work out."
"Can't we try again!" he blurted out. Immediately his face grew deep red and he ducked his head as all of the other students in the common room turned to face the pair.
Hermione scowled at him and wretched her hand away. "If you want to talk civilly, we can go to my room and discuss this. Without yelling," she seethed and stormed off to her single where she resided as Head Girl.
Harry, covering his flushed face, scampered off to her room, quietly opening the door that she had slammed in her wake. "I'm sorry," he said as he bowed his head.
She just stood there with her arms folded across her chest. "You mortify me, Harry Potter."
"Please continue explaining," was all he could say as he slunk into the chair next to her bed.
Hermione took a seat on her bed and regained her composure. "Ok, where was I. Well, we've tried dating already Harry. When you asked me to Yule Ball during 5th year, I don't think you understood how happy I was. You noticed me, I wasn't just Hermione anymore, I was a woman worthy of Harry Potter's notice." As she spoke there was a sparkle in her eye that made Harry remember that year. "But I learned quickly that sometimes the things you think you want aren't always what you really want. There was just no chemistry between us, Harry. I loved you, and I still do, but that doesn't go past friendship."
"Then why can't we go to Yule Ball this year as just friends? You know, good fun." He looked into her eyes, searching for something in there that told him that everything was going to be fine.
But she stared down at her bedspread. "Harry, if I go to Yule Ball with you, you have to know that I won't fall in love with you, not again. It won't be this magical time in which you get the girl you've been pining after all these years. You think that we'll both look stunning, you'll wow me with your debonair and everyone will talk for weeks about whether or not we're together and how we fell in love all over again because of the enchantment of the Ball. But that's not the way it's going to go, not this time anyway."
"I don't want you to fall in love with me again, Hermione," he said. He got out of the chair and kneeled on the floor in front of her and took her hands in his. "Look at me Hermione." She looked into his eyes, her own filled with tears. "I want a friend, believe me, not love."
She took his face in her hands. "I do love you Harry Potter, I really do. And we will be together forever. Maybe we'll live down the street from each other or both work in the Ministry of Magic. But I can't love you like you want me to, and I know that you still love me."
Harry looked down at the floor so she couldn't see the hurt in his eyes; she always had the ability to see right through him. "Fine, but can't we just do one night of fun? No strings attached, I swear on my honor as your best friend."
"All right then, it's a date." She smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. They both stood and Harry embraced her tightly. She wiped a tear from her eye and pushed him away. "Come on now, it's late. We've both got to get to bed, Potions bright and early tomorrow morning!"
As he closed the door behind him, Harry sighed, dropping his head to his chest. "How'd it go?" Harry jumped and clutched his chest as he heard the voice.
"Ginny! Don't scare me like that," he said walking over to where she sat on the common room couch. "How long have you been out here?"
Her face was straight, not showing any emotion. She was trying desperately not to jump on him screaming 'Does she love you or not!' All she wanted to hear was that she had a chance. "Not too long. Ron told me what was going on and I wanted to talk to whoever needed me after the outburst in here earlier."
Harry smiled and tousled her long red hair. "Thanks Gin, but I think we're going to be OK, despite the fact that she doesn't love me anymore. But Yule Ball will change that. She doesn't think it will, but I'll show her that we're meant to be together."
As she smoothed her hair back down, all Ginny could muster was a fake smile. "Well, good luck. You know, Harry Potter has to get the girl, it's just the way the story goes."
He smiled at her and bounded up the stairs, calling back his goodnight. Ginny collapsed on the couch and covered her face in her hands, holding back the flood of emotions that no one could see. Lying back on the couch, she eventually let the tears run, knowing that no one was around to see and aching with the pain of rejection from someone who didn't even know what they had done.
The candles had dimmed in the common room; Ginny had been there for over an hour. She hadn't noted the time though, until she heard a door creak. Staying as close into the couch as she could, she listened to the sound of the Head Girl tiptoe her way to the portrait hole and leave the common room.
Hermione scanned the dark corridor before she climbed out of the entrance to the common room. She clung tightly to her cloak, trying not to make a sound as she made her way to the stairs that she briskly walked up before they had a chance to shift on her. Using the Marauder's Map, making her way to the third floor without running into Filch, Mrs. Norris, or Peeves was becoming easier by the night, but she never let down her guard. She had almost been caught two nights before and was on high alert as she stealthily slipped into an unlocked room.
"Is that you?" a husky voice called out to her in the dark room.
"Of course," she whispered back, slipping into the shadows. Feeling a strong pair of hands grab her waist her body turned to putty and melted into his strong arms. "It feels so good to be here, with you. I miss you so much."
The hands wrapped around her, his face buried itself into her hair and neck, inhaling her scent deeply. "I love being here with you," the voice said. "This is the only part of the day that I look forward to anymore."
Hermione brought her face up, her lips meeting with the warm flesh of his face, and they began searching for the other pair of lips that brought her so much joy. Their connection was like a surge of electricity setting Hermione's body on edge, every hair stood on end.
She pulled away and the pair slid themselves down to the floor. "How has your day been?" she asked as she sat with her back to him, his arms curled around her chest and his face rested on her shoulder.
There was a deep sigh. "Same as yesterday," the voice grumbled. "I swear I feel as though I've lost my youth entirely. I'm not that old, am I Hermione?"
She turned and pecked him on the lips. "Not old at all." She smiled brightly, causing a smile to spread across his face. "Professor McGonagall is old, Professor Snape is old."
"But," the voice interrupted.
She put her hand to his lips. "You are not in any way old. If you were old, you wouldn't have climbed all the way up here to be with me past curfew."
"Well thank you for shedding some light on who is really old at this school," the voice said. "How has your day been?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and rubbed her temples. "The day was fine, but right before curfew Harry and I had a little 'discussion.'" He raised an eyebrow, urging her on. "He asked me to be his date for Yule Ball." His body drew back from her slightly. "I said no the first time, and come on, it's not really like we could go together or anything," she said quickly.
"I know," the voice said, poorly masking the stab in the heart.
"So we had a talk," she said, leaning back into his body. "I told him that I can't fall in love with him again. He said that he wasn't expecting that to happen and I eventually agreed to go with him, just as friends. Believe me, you have nothing to be concerned about. I'm your girl."
His face nuzzled into her hair, enjoying the silky feel against the skin. "I love you, Hermione."
"I love you too."
As the sun rose, they stirred and with a kiss, Hermione dashed off to Gryffindor tower. He made its way down the stairs to prepare for class. "It should be illegal for Potions to be this early," the voice mumbled. He brushed into the room, noticing that Hermione was already seated in her front row position.
"You will have an exam today," Snape growled as he reached the front of the classroom. "Prepare your cauldrons for a sleeping draught, now." He walked up to his desk and sat down with a flourish of his cloak to grade some third year scrolls.
Ron winced. "It should be illegal for Potions to be this early," he whined to Harry as he mixed the ingredients for the draught.
"It should be illegal for Potions to be ever," Harry retorted as he began to stir the contents of his cauldron.
Snape's eyes fixed on the pair. "This is an exam," he said pointedly. "If I hear one more word I won't give you the chance to fail on your own merit." He looked back down at his papers.
Ron made a face and went back to his potion. Hermione mixed with a bit of bounce in her actions, still riding high from the previous night's rendezvous. Of course, everyone was oblivious, when Snape gave an exam the focus was only how not to fail.
When class ended, Harry, Ron and Hermione began the walk up from the dungeon to the common room. "You missed breakfast again this morning, Mione," Harry said, concerned. "I know you study all the time, but if you keep neglecting to eat, that can't be good for your health or your grades."
"Um, I was just up really late last night and slept through breakfast. But I did have some leftovers on my way to class that I brought up after dinner last night," she smiled at the guys.
Ron snickered. "Sure, sleeping through breakfast," he said stifling a giggle.
Hermione shot him a look that would have wilted the Whomping Willow.
"Sorry, Mione," he said, eyes like a deer caught in the headlights. "I was just kidding around. Really, I didn't mean nothing by it."
"I'm getting some lunch, so you don't make some lude remark about this meal now," she said and stormed off to the Great Hall.
Harry looked wide-eyed at Ron. "Someone's in the dog-house now, aren't they?"
"Don't know what I said, but I'll tell you I'll never say it again!" Ron whispered to Harry, shaking his head. "I don't know what's gotten into her recently. It's like that time thingy she did in fourth year all over again. She's way cranky."
"Well maybe it's because she's got you two morons for friends," Ginny's voice came from behind them.
"Can it, Gin, for mercy's sake," Ron groaned.
Harry reached out and tousled Ginny's hair. "Hey you," he said playfully. "Hope your morning's been going better than Ron's over here."
"I've had a great morning, thank you," she said smoothing her hair back down. "And can you please not do that to my hair anymore? This Weasley hair is difficult enough to control in the first place, I don't need you going and messing with my morning efforts." She sent Harry a small scowl.
He looked at her quizzically. "Sorry Gin, I guess. I didn't know it bother you so much."
"What's with you women today!" Ron huffed throwing his hands up in the air, completely defeated.
Ginny shot her brother a look of disdain. "I'm going to have lunch with the other 'crazy' woman, thank you very much." She turned and stormed away from them. "What arses," she cursed under her breath. "Boys are just so not worth it."
She entered the Great Hall and looked over to the Gryffindor table where Hermione sat pouting by herself. Ginny walked over to her slowly, clutching her books to her chest and double-checking her hair again. "So, boys really know how to ruin a perfectly good morning, huh?" she said, standing behind Hermione.
"You said it," she said, scooting over so Ginny could sit beside her. "So how'd they ruin your perfectly good morning?" she asked turning back to her heaping plate of food.
Ginny sighed as she started spooning roasted potatoes onto her plate. "The usual gripe. It's Harry; he still doesn't see me as anything more than Ron's kid sister. I've helped you guys save the magical and muggle worlds a few times and he has yet to notice that I'm not 12 anymore. To be perfectly honest, you're the only person who makes me feel like I'm worth something, Hermione."
"Don't say that, Ginny!" Hermione said, giving the girl a hug. "You're absolutely magnificent. And there's someone else out there who makes you feel worth something." Hermione gave Ginny a knowing look.
Her eyebrows rose and her mouth fell open. "What?" Ginny exclaimed. "Do you? How? Did I?"
Hermione giggled in spite of herself. "I know a few things. And believe me, I couldn't be happier for you."
"Really?" she said. "So you know who and everything?"
"You forget I have the Marauder's Map for my own little escapades," Hermione smiled. Ginny laughed and threw her arms around Hermione. "We women have to stick together. Men are stupid, and if we don't have each other to buffer their extreme arse-ness, we would all go crazy!"
Ginny just looked at Hermione. "Are you ever going to tell anyone other than me who these late nights have been spent with?" Hermione violently shook her head. "Didn't think so," Ginny said turning back to her plate of food.
"I could ask you the same question though," Hermione said. Ginny just looked at her. "See, very sensitive topic, isn't it? Would you really want everyone at this school on your case?"
"We take this to the grave," Ginny said somberly.
Hermione giggled. "Or at least to graduation." Ginny laughed.
The clock in the Great Hall began to chime. "Oh, I've got to run, Potions beckons," Ginny said grabbing her books and kissing Hermione on the cheek. "I'll see you later."
Hermione waved goodbye and opened a book at the table. The Great Hall was completely empty; Hermione's independent study allowed her the free period so she could work in peace. She heard footsteps in the Hall though and she raised her head. "Tonight," a voice said behind her as a hand ran down the side of her face.
She whipped around and kissed the lips and as she broke away mumbled, "Tonight."
Appearances
Chapter 1: The Trouble With Yule Balls
"No."
"No? Why on Earth not?"
"Because its weird Harry, that's why," she turned around and faced him. She bit her lip as she looked through is round glasses and into his deep green eyes. "I can't do it."
She turned back around and walked briskly down the drafty corridor towards the Gryffindor common room. Harry stood in his spot, staring blankly at her full hair swaying with her hips. Running his hand through his hair, he pondered her response.
"Girls, way more trouble than they're worth. Believe me," a voice said next to him. "Especially that one, just stay away from her when it comes to romantic stuff. The road less traveled is generally that way for a reason."
Harry sighed and turned to look at the red-haired boy who stood at his eye level. "Thanks Ron, you've certainly shed some light on the mystery that is Hermione."
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, I told you that last time too, didn't I. But no, you don't listen to me at all." He pushed Harry towards the common room, causing his 6 foot 3 inch build to falter.
"Please stop pushing me, it's getting a little old," Harry said regaining his balance and adjusting his glasses. They began walking to the common room, Harry's hands shoved into his pockets and his feet shuffling on the ground.
The shuffling echoed through the corridor, creating a loud squeak that caused the portraits on the wall to murmur amongst themselves about the poor upbringing of young witches and wizards in "these lax years."
It drove Ron just as crazy. "Harry!" he yelled stepping in front of him and grabbing the wizard's shoulders. "For goodness sake, if it's eating you that bad, go and talk to her about it. Ask her for a reason! Jeez, you act like someone ran over your broom or something. She's just a girl."
"She's not just a girl. She's Hermione." Harry said sidestepping Ron and continuing to the common room. He stopped in front of the portrait of the fat lady and whispered the password, "Truth."
They both climbed in and sitting in the common room were a few second years and Hermione and Ginny working on one of Ginny's Muggles' Studies scrolls. "I get the television thing, but what's a computer?" Ginny asked, trying to take in the vast amounts of electronic devices that had been described to her in class.
She looked up and saw Ron and Harry walking into the room. "How's it going guys?" she asked, thankful for the distraction from her scroll. "Almost ready for the Yule Ball?"
Harry winced as he saw Hermione drop her head to her chest and her face glowed through her hair. Ginny, noticing Harry's face, looked to Hermione. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Um, I think," Ron stumbled for words. "I can help you with your scroll upstairs, Ginny." He walked up to her and grabbed her arm and her Muggles' Studies book.
"But Hermione was." she tried to say as she quickly grabbed for her remaining supplies on the table.
"I can help you now," Ron cut her off as he dragged her up the stairs, the girl flailing to understand what was going on.
Hermione looked up at Harry. "You know, you didn't have to have Ron drag her away. She's 16-years-old now, she isn't a child."
He looked down at Hermione, who bore a frown on her face, and rolled his eyes. "Come on, since when do I have anything to do with Ron's random 'this is an awkward moment so I'm going to make an arse of myself' outbursts?"
Hermione looked satisfied with this and brushed her hair out of her still slightly pink face. "I see that you would like to talk," she said, breathing deeply. "You can sit down." Her hand went out and touched the seat next to her on the couch.
Sitting down on the couch, Harry took Hermione's hand and looked into her eyes. She tried to pull away, retracting from the intimacy, but he held fast to her hand. "Why did you say no, Hermione? I really want, no, I need to know," he whispered, keeping his face far enough away from hers to keep her from being too uncomfortable, but heightening the intensity all the same.
Hermione closed her eyes and swallowed hard. "Because it would be weird." He opened his mouth to protest but she raised her free hand and cut him off. "Let me finish. If you want an explanation, you have to let me talk." She readjusted herself in her seat and faced him more. "Listen, Harry, we've tried this already. It didn't work out."
"Can't we try again!" he blurted out. Immediately his face grew deep red and he ducked his head as all of the other students in the common room turned to face the pair.
Hermione scowled at him and wretched her hand away. "If you want to talk civilly, we can go to my room and discuss this. Without yelling," she seethed and stormed off to her single where she resided as Head Girl.
Harry, covering his flushed face, scampered off to her room, quietly opening the door that she had slammed in her wake. "I'm sorry," he said as he bowed his head.
She just stood there with her arms folded across her chest. "You mortify me, Harry Potter."
"Please continue explaining," was all he could say as he slunk into the chair next to her bed.
Hermione took a seat on her bed and regained her composure. "Ok, where was I. Well, we've tried dating already Harry. When you asked me to Yule Ball during 5th year, I don't think you understood how happy I was. You noticed me, I wasn't just Hermione anymore, I was a woman worthy of Harry Potter's notice." As she spoke there was a sparkle in her eye that made Harry remember that year. "But I learned quickly that sometimes the things you think you want aren't always what you really want. There was just no chemistry between us, Harry. I loved you, and I still do, but that doesn't go past friendship."
"Then why can't we go to Yule Ball this year as just friends? You know, good fun." He looked into her eyes, searching for something in there that told him that everything was going to be fine.
But she stared down at her bedspread. "Harry, if I go to Yule Ball with you, you have to know that I won't fall in love with you, not again. It won't be this magical time in which you get the girl you've been pining after all these years. You think that we'll both look stunning, you'll wow me with your debonair and everyone will talk for weeks about whether or not we're together and how we fell in love all over again because of the enchantment of the Ball. But that's not the way it's going to go, not this time anyway."
"I don't want you to fall in love with me again, Hermione," he said. He got out of the chair and kneeled on the floor in front of her and took her hands in his. "Look at me Hermione." She looked into his eyes, her own filled with tears. "I want a friend, believe me, not love."
She took his face in her hands. "I do love you Harry Potter, I really do. And we will be together forever. Maybe we'll live down the street from each other or both work in the Ministry of Magic. But I can't love you like you want me to, and I know that you still love me."
Harry looked down at the floor so she couldn't see the hurt in his eyes; she always had the ability to see right through him. "Fine, but can't we just do one night of fun? No strings attached, I swear on my honor as your best friend."
"All right then, it's a date." She smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. They both stood and Harry embraced her tightly. She wiped a tear from her eye and pushed him away. "Come on now, it's late. We've both got to get to bed, Potions bright and early tomorrow morning!"
As he closed the door behind him, Harry sighed, dropping his head to his chest. "How'd it go?" Harry jumped and clutched his chest as he heard the voice.
"Ginny! Don't scare me like that," he said walking over to where she sat on the common room couch. "How long have you been out here?"
Her face was straight, not showing any emotion. She was trying desperately not to jump on him screaming 'Does she love you or not!' All she wanted to hear was that she had a chance. "Not too long. Ron told me what was going on and I wanted to talk to whoever needed me after the outburst in here earlier."
Harry smiled and tousled her long red hair. "Thanks Gin, but I think we're going to be OK, despite the fact that she doesn't love me anymore. But Yule Ball will change that. She doesn't think it will, but I'll show her that we're meant to be together."
As she smoothed her hair back down, all Ginny could muster was a fake smile. "Well, good luck. You know, Harry Potter has to get the girl, it's just the way the story goes."
He smiled at her and bounded up the stairs, calling back his goodnight. Ginny collapsed on the couch and covered her face in her hands, holding back the flood of emotions that no one could see. Lying back on the couch, she eventually let the tears run, knowing that no one was around to see and aching with the pain of rejection from someone who didn't even know what they had done.
The candles had dimmed in the common room; Ginny had been there for over an hour. She hadn't noted the time though, until she heard a door creak. Staying as close into the couch as she could, she listened to the sound of the Head Girl tiptoe her way to the portrait hole and leave the common room.
Hermione scanned the dark corridor before she climbed out of the entrance to the common room. She clung tightly to her cloak, trying not to make a sound as she made her way to the stairs that she briskly walked up before they had a chance to shift on her. Using the Marauder's Map, making her way to the third floor without running into Filch, Mrs. Norris, or Peeves was becoming easier by the night, but she never let down her guard. She had almost been caught two nights before and was on high alert as she stealthily slipped into an unlocked room.
"Is that you?" a husky voice called out to her in the dark room.
"Of course," she whispered back, slipping into the shadows. Feeling a strong pair of hands grab her waist her body turned to putty and melted into his strong arms. "It feels so good to be here, with you. I miss you so much."
The hands wrapped around her, his face buried itself into her hair and neck, inhaling her scent deeply. "I love being here with you," the voice said. "This is the only part of the day that I look forward to anymore."
Hermione brought her face up, her lips meeting with the warm flesh of his face, and they began searching for the other pair of lips that brought her so much joy. Their connection was like a surge of electricity setting Hermione's body on edge, every hair stood on end.
She pulled away and the pair slid themselves down to the floor. "How has your day been?" she asked as she sat with her back to him, his arms curled around her chest and his face rested on her shoulder.
There was a deep sigh. "Same as yesterday," the voice grumbled. "I swear I feel as though I've lost my youth entirely. I'm not that old, am I Hermione?"
She turned and pecked him on the lips. "Not old at all." She smiled brightly, causing a smile to spread across his face. "Professor McGonagall is old, Professor Snape is old."
"But," the voice interrupted.
She put her hand to his lips. "You are not in any way old. If you were old, you wouldn't have climbed all the way up here to be with me past curfew."
"Well thank you for shedding some light on who is really old at this school," the voice said. "How has your day been?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and rubbed her temples. "The day was fine, but right before curfew Harry and I had a little 'discussion.'" He raised an eyebrow, urging her on. "He asked me to be his date for Yule Ball." His body drew back from her slightly. "I said no the first time, and come on, it's not really like we could go together or anything," she said quickly.
"I know," the voice said, poorly masking the stab in the heart.
"So we had a talk," she said, leaning back into his body. "I told him that I can't fall in love with him again. He said that he wasn't expecting that to happen and I eventually agreed to go with him, just as friends. Believe me, you have nothing to be concerned about. I'm your girl."
His face nuzzled into her hair, enjoying the silky feel against the skin. "I love you, Hermione."
"I love you too."
As the sun rose, they stirred and with a kiss, Hermione dashed off to Gryffindor tower. He made its way down the stairs to prepare for class. "It should be illegal for Potions to be this early," the voice mumbled. He brushed into the room, noticing that Hermione was already seated in her front row position.
"You will have an exam today," Snape growled as he reached the front of the classroom. "Prepare your cauldrons for a sleeping draught, now." He walked up to his desk and sat down with a flourish of his cloak to grade some third year scrolls.
Ron winced. "It should be illegal for Potions to be this early," he whined to Harry as he mixed the ingredients for the draught.
"It should be illegal for Potions to be ever," Harry retorted as he began to stir the contents of his cauldron.
Snape's eyes fixed on the pair. "This is an exam," he said pointedly. "If I hear one more word I won't give you the chance to fail on your own merit." He looked back down at his papers.
Ron made a face and went back to his potion. Hermione mixed with a bit of bounce in her actions, still riding high from the previous night's rendezvous. Of course, everyone was oblivious, when Snape gave an exam the focus was only how not to fail.
When class ended, Harry, Ron and Hermione began the walk up from the dungeon to the common room. "You missed breakfast again this morning, Mione," Harry said, concerned. "I know you study all the time, but if you keep neglecting to eat, that can't be good for your health or your grades."
"Um, I was just up really late last night and slept through breakfast. But I did have some leftovers on my way to class that I brought up after dinner last night," she smiled at the guys.
Ron snickered. "Sure, sleeping through breakfast," he said stifling a giggle.
Hermione shot him a look that would have wilted the Whomping Willow.
"Sorry, Mione," he said, eyes like a deer caught in the headlights. "I was just kidding around. Really, I didn't mean nothing by it."
"I'm getting some lunch, so you don't make some lude remark about this meal now," she said and stormed off to the Great Hall.
Harry looked wide-eyed at Ron. "Someone's in the dog-house now, aren't they?"
"Don't know what I said, but I'll tell you I'll never say it again!" Ron whispered to Harry, shaking his head. "I don't know what's gotten into her recently. It's like that time thingy she did in fourth year all over again. She's way cranky."
"Well maybe it's because she's got you two morons for friends," Ginny's voice came from behind them.
"Can it, Gin, for mercy's sake," Ron groaned.
Harry reached out and tousled Ginny's hair. "Hey you," he said playfully. "Hope your morning's been going better than Ron's over here."
"I've had a great morning, thank you," she said smoothing her hair back down. "And can you please not do that to my hair anymore? This Weasley hair is difficult enough to control in the first place, I don't need you going and messing with my morning efforts." She sent Harry a small scowl.
He looked at her quizzically. "Sorry Gin, I guess. I didn't know it bother you so much."
"What's with you women today!" Ron huffed throwing his hands up in the air, completely defeated.
Ginny shot her brother a look of disdain. "I'm going to have lunch with the other 'crazy' woman, thank you very much." She turned and stormed away from them. "What arses," she cursed under her breath. "Boys are just so not worth it."
She entered the Great Hall and looked over to the Gryffindor table where Hermione sat pouting by herself. Ginny walked over to her slowly, clutching her books to her chest and double-checking her hair again. "So, boys really know how to ruin a perfectly good morning, huh?" she said, standing behind Hermione.
"You said it," she said, scooting over so Ginny could sit beside her. "So how'd they ruin your perfectly good morning?" she asked turning back to her heaping plate of food.
Ginny sighed as she started spooning roasted potatoes onto her plate. "The usual gripe. It's Harry; he still doesn't see me as anything more than Ron's kid sister. I've helped you guys save the magical and muggle worlds a few times and he has yet to notice that I'm not 12 anymore. To be perfectly honest, you're the only person who makes me feel like I'm worth something, Hermione."
"Don't say that, Ginny!" Hermione said, giving the girl a hug. "You're absolutely magnificent. And there's someone else out there who makes you feel worth something." Hermione gave Ginny a knowing look.
Her eyebrows rose and her mouth fell open. "What?" Ginny exclaimed. "Do you? How? Did I?"
Hermione giggled in spite of herself. "I know a few things. And believe me, I couldn't be happier for you."
"Really?" she said. "So you know who and everything?"
"You forget I have the Marauder's Map for my own little escapades," Hermione smiled. Ginny laughed and threw her arms around Hermione. "We women have to stick together. Men are stupid, and if we don't have each other to buffer their extreme arse-ness, we would all go crazy!"
Ginny just looked at Hermione. "Are you ever going to tell anyone other than me who these late nights have been spent with?" Hermione violently shook her head. "Didn't think so," Ginny said turning back to her plate of food.
"I could ask you the same question though," Hermione said. Ginny just looked at her. "See, very sensitive topic, isn't it? Would you really want everyone at this school on your case?"
"We take this to the grave," Ginny said somberly.
Hermione giggled. "Or at least to graduation." Ginny laughed.
The clock in the Great Hall began to chime. "Oh, I've got to run, Potions beckons," Ginny said grabbing her books and kissing Hermione on the cheek. "I'll see you later."
Hermione waved goodbye and opened a book at the table. The Great Hall was completely empty; Hermione's independent study allowed her the free period so she could work in peace. She heard footsteps in the Hall though and she raised her head. "Tonight," a voice said behind her as a hand ran down the side of her face.
She whipped around and kissed the lips and as she broke away mumbled, "Tonight."