A/N.- Hullo!! Well, here's a little something I just thought about after receiving (for the umpteenth time) a chain letter in my inbox sigh those ruddy forwards just get me on my nerves. OK, so even if this is only the prologue, enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable here, all property of JKR.

It's Just a Game

Prologue-Nov, 24th

It's the Golden Trio's 7th and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and many of Harry's friends already have a romantic relationship with someone. Ron is actually dating Luna Lovegood, Ginny is dating Neville Longbottom, even Draco Malfoy had started dating Pansy Parkinson…come to think about it, only Harry and Hermione Granger were the only ones without a couple right about now.

One random day, during a free period, Harry and Hermione were inside the common room making homework…or so they said. In fact Harry was trying to write at least 6 inches out of the 1½ feet they had been set, and Hermione had her mind somewhere else.

She was actually thinking if she would be able to ask him. She had to, even if it was only as a game. Suddenly hearing her name brought her back to reality.

"Umm…did you call me Harry?"

"Had a nice trip?" He asked teasingly, forcing him into the receiving end of a playful smack on the head.

"Shut up. Did you want to ask me something or what?"

"Well, actually to tell you that the sky is gonna fall or something similar"

"Oh yeah? And why's that?"

"Because I finally managed half a foot and you don't seem to have made even 3 inches" He replied teasingly again.

"Oh shut up!" She responded pretending offense. "Just because I usually finish before you even start, it doesn't mean that I can't drift off sometimes"

"Okay, Okay, sorry. I got your point"

"Umm…Harry" She asked, pretty nervously.

"Huh?" He said, to mean she had his attention, or at least half of it, since he was now going for 7 inches (of homework).

"Dunno if you have noticed, but it seems almost everyone here has a couple right now"

"Yeah, I noticed even Malfoy's been dating that cow Parkinson"

"Yeah…well…" She said, trying to fight her nerves "I-I had a proposal for you"

"Proposal?" Harry's eyes were practically out of their sockets.

"No that kind of proposal you moron" She said. "I was about to tell you if you'd like to play a little game with me?"

"…" Harry could actually say nothing right now (teenage misunderstanding mind at work)

"Do you always have to think of everything in a double sense?" She said a bit exasperated.

"Sorry, you know sharing a room with Ron, Dean and Seamus doesn't leave anything good"

Hermione tried to think of his reasoning for a while, and agreed he was right on that one.

"Anyway, then what kind of game are you talking about?" Harry said curiously, thinking straight for once.

"Well, first of all…" She cleared her throat "I guess that maybe we are the only Gryffindors in our year who don't have a romantic relationship with anyone" She let out a nervous giggle.

"Maybe" Harry confirmed with a hint of sadness (or something like that) in his voice. "So?"

"So umm…I was thinking…" She cleared her throat again. "Perhaps…"

"Just say it already Hermione" Her inner voice told her, growing impatient.

"I was thinking that perhaps we could sort of pretend we are a couple, you know, like when little children play 'husband and wife'?"

Harry only raised an eyebrow, and considered.

"I-I mean, it's OK if you don't want to" Hermione said, trying not to show disappointment in her voice.

Harry said nothing, he just kept observing her. She had gotten prettier over the past summer, and her body seemed to have finally caught up with her age. Besides, she was his best friend (besides Ron of course) and since it was a game, it was completely innocent and harmless, right? He considered his answer for a moment and finally responded

"Sure, after all it's just a game right?"

"Thanks Harry" She said, throwing her arms around him. When se pulled away she said "Ok, we both know games don't last forever right? So…how long should we keep it?"

"Well…how 'bout a month?"

"I was thinking about making it a little shorter, but if you think you can keep it going for a month, well, I guess that's fine" She agreed teasingly, earning a huff from Harry. "So, get ready, we'll start tomorrow alright?"

"OK with me" Harry replied turning back to his homework, while Hermione did the same.

A/N.- OK, kinda short, but it's just the prologue...perhaps all of the chaps will be 'bout this size, perhaps just slightly longer. Anyway, that's door number one: I make short chaps but write what happens the whole month. Door number two: I make kinda longer chaps but write only 'bout 10-15 out of the 30 days, whaddya think? Review and lemme know!!!