Summary: Join Hermione as she steps onto the Train of Love, or rather the Rollercoaster of Love. How will she handle the twists and turns? Will she be able to hold on as her stomach does a loop to loop or will she fall head over heels?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the idea for this story. All else belongs to the wonderful J.K Rowling.
A/N: This is my first ever story and I'm quite unsure about it but I figure that you have to give everything a go, plus it's summer and I'm bored. Should you feel that there's no point continuing this I can always delete it! Please Review. Thanks for taking time out to read this!
Flattery gets you everywhere
It was the last week of 6th year and Hermione Granger was sitting in the common room reading Hogwarts: A History for the hundredth time. She was just about to turn to her favourite chapter when a fiery red head jumped on the couch beside her.
"Hi Ginny." Hermione said as she embraced her friend. When she pulled back she saw a mischievous grin on Ginny's face.
"What's that look for?"
"Oh nothing...well actually... nah you wouldn't want to know..." Ginny said with a glint in her deep hazel brown eyes.
"What? You know you can't just come over here and say that without continuing. Apart from it not being fair, I know you hate keeping gossip, especially when it's exciting... which this appears to be, so SPILL!"
Ginny contemplated this knowing how fun it was to make Hermione squirm, but she knew really that Hermione was right. She really hated having gossip with no one to tell. "Alright, you got me." Ginny continued with her news, "I was talking to someone today and they told me who they had a crush on... and it was you!"
Hermione tried not to look too interested knowing it would just make Ginny stall longer, although she was really excited about the prospect of an admirer. "Oh right." Hermione said blandly, while stifling a grin.
"Hmm... well I know you'll be more excited when I tell you that the guy was our very own Boy who lived, Harry Potter!"
'Why would Harry tell Ginny that he likes me and why would she be excited? Everyone knows how much she loves Harry. She has done since she first laid eyes on him!' Hermione thought to herself. Finally realising that her friend was still waiting for a response Hermione voiced her thoughts.
"Oh well, you know I'm over him now. I would truly love it if you guys went out. I know you would be perfect together. After all, friendships always make for the best relationships!"
Hermione pondered again. How could she honestly believe her friend who was so obviously lying to herself never mind the rest of the world? But then again, she did always think that Harry was very good looking, and well he probably would be a good boyfriend. 'I wonder if he's a good kisser.' 'I did not just think that...why am I thinking about him being a good kisser? I'm not going to go out with him! Gin could just be making all this up. And anyway, what about Ron?'
Everyone knew that Ron and Hermione had an odd relationship that not even they could define. People constantly suggested to the friends that they should go out but they always denied there was something more... mostly Ron denied with an outburst followed by a bashful glance at Hermione. She had never really accepted that anything more could happen though and so just buried herself in her studies and remained best friends with him. But now that Harry was saying these things, how would the dynamic of their friendship change? Would Ron go mad and finally explode? After the many other odd things that had happened to the trio, would that be entirely improbable? She didn't know. Luckily Ginny brought her back to reality before she started articulating herself towards madness.
"So? Are you going to go out with him? I know that you think that he's cute and you probably wonder all the time about whether he's as good a boyfriend as he is a friend. I don't think it would hurt if you went out on one date, just to see..." Ginny suggested to her somewhat shaken friend.
Hermione sighed realising that nothing would stop Gin once she got an insane idea in her head, especially if it was about the infamous Harry Potter, so she got up from her chair and turned to walk over to her best friends who were engrossed in a game of chess. Neither noticed their friend walk over to them.
"Harry? Can I talk to you?"
As usual Ron was winning and Harry was grateful for the excuse to leave before he lost entirely. Ron wondered why Hermione only wanted to talk to Harry but shrugged it off as some emotional talk as he was not very good with that kind of thing.
"Sure Hermione. Let's walk down to the lake." Harry suggested. Hermione nodded and the two walked out of the common room.
The walk through the corridors was quiet and tense. Harry had secretly been glancing over at the conversation between the two girls and was sure that Ginny had told Hermione his dark secret. He didn't really know why he told her but he couldn't seem to help himself and the words just kept spilling out. He regretted them as soon as he had said them knowing that Ginny had not always been fully contented with just being his best friend's little sister. Even though their friendship had developed over the years he never felt that it had anymore room to grow, especially not with the feelings he had for Hermione.
When the couple finally made it to the lake Harry suggested that she take a seat on the rock beside him. She sat down and instantly brought her eyes down to her shoes, studying every scratch and dent that the many miles of wandering through the grounds had embellished. Harry knew that this situation was uncomfortable but he still couldn't take his eyes off Hermione. For once he had her on his own and she knew his dark secret and was still talking to him. He just hoped that she wasn't trying to let him down gently.
Both started to talk at the same time causing colour to rise to their cheeks. Hermione, not normally so lost for words, told Harry he could speak first so that she had more time to compose herself. "Hermione. I know that this probably all seems out of the blue. I really didn't mean to tell Gin that I like you but it just came out and I know I'll probably regret it. I understand if you just want to be friends. You're beautiful, sweet, funny, smart and just so brilliant to be with. You could have anyone, so why would you want to be with a guy who is just "the Boy who lived"?"
After speaking Harry looked down at the grass and Hermione looked up at his face. She could see tears welling up in his sparkling emerald green eyes though none would fall. His unruly hair was blowing down into his face and she had the sudden urge to reach up and push it back. As odd as it seemed, his words had touched deep inside her heart and had made her stomach do a flip-flop. She came to the conclusion that Harry was a Mr Right, although it may only be Mr Right Now. Could she afford to push it aside just in case it spoilt their friendship? She figured not and finally got the courage to say to Harry what she had been debating since the first day she met him.
"Harry you are not only just "the Boy who lived". You are so much more- especially to me. I think that you are amazing and worth whichever girl whom you set those dazzling eyes upon." At this Harry looked up with a slightly crimson questioning look on his face. "Does that mean that we can become more than friends?" Hermione nodded and Harry grabbed her around the waist, pulling her closer to him. He cuddled up to her, smelling her hair and entwining his free hand with hers.
I know this is meant to be a Hermione/Ron story but it wouldn't be as bumpy a ride for her if she simply ended up with Ron. She has to fully appreciate how much she depends on him and how far her love stretches.
