Cho raced hurriedly to where she saw Harry, Hermione and Ron walking off together. Hermione walked between the two boys, Ron chatting animatedly about the Quidditch match and the fall that he took. Harry was watching the ground solemnly as Ron went on and on... Finally, he muttered, "Sirius would have wanted to see that game..." Ron looked uneasily at Hermione as she started to reply. Ron, however, cut him off.

"Oi, Harry, this is a time for celebration! We beat the Slytherins and they'll have to live it down. And I'm sure that Sirius can still see you, wherever he is." Hermione nodded emphatically at Ron's statement before looping her arm through Harry's and resting her head on Harry's shoulder.

"And we're sure he's very proud of you and Ron as well." Harry looked down at the girl before pulling her firmly against his chest and giving her a hug, then turned and nodded to Ron.

"Thanks, you two. That helps more than you know..." Ron grinned and winked cheerfully at Hermione, who smiled back and lay her head against Harry's chest. The redhead's eyes furrowed as he viewed this scene. The contented look on Hermione's face was mirrored on the raven-haired teen. Harry's face was turned slightly so he could see her through he corner of his eye. They were a sight, Ron conceited to think. A part of him was torn between being a smart-ass, or feeling the pain growing in his chest at the sight of his two best friends in such a predicament.

The smart-ass won.

"Oh, go get a room you two! I really didn't need to see that with my oh-so-pure eyes!" Ron faked a swoon as Hermione turned deep red and Harry fought back a grin. Sometimes Ron could be insufferable at times...

"Harry! Wait—HARRY!" The trio turned to see Cho Chang hurrying to them, her black hair whipping through the wind blowing through her hair. "You won't believe what I just heard!" Three incredulous looks follow the sentence, and a feeling of anger flashed through her as Hermione stepped closer to Harry, stepping in front of him—as if blocking him from her.

"What is it Cho?" Harry finally asked. She felt a rush of happiness rush through her. Harry would be so happy that she gave him this news...

"It's actually more about Weasl—I mean Ron. You see, when you were all on the field and Ron fell—"Ron flushed, "Loony Lovegood jumped out of her seat and was watching him the whole time! And when he got up she started cheering! She likes him, a lot!" Ron's eyes furrowed darkly.

"But...But I don't like her... not like that!"

"Well, everyone knows that Ron..." Cho retorted. "But she didn't take her eyes off of you the whole time. What you need is to get her off your back. You need," Her eyes widened in triumph as a brilliant idea hit her. "a girl to act like your girlfriend and that would get her to back off and get over you. Brilliant, isn't it? And what's more you should use Hermione," she nodded to the girl who's eyes widened as she stepped back against Harry. "As the girlfriend. Everyone knows you like each other." Hermione stuttered, shaking her head—Ron was fighting for words to fight this accusation. The truth was he did like Hermione, but he could tell she liked Harry now.

"I don't think that will solve the situation, Cho... I've read about things like this and—"Hermione began, but Cho cut her off.

"Do you want Ron to be stuck with a girl like that?" Ron shuddered in revulsion and Hermione looked helplessly at him, then Harry.

"It probably isn't right to deceive Luna like that..." Hermione nodded in agreement with what Harry said.

"And she's not so bad."

"Not as a friend, she's not that bad... But... Oh, please Hermione?" The girl looked helplessly at Ron, then Harry, and then Cho. Looking helpless, she nodded.

"Anything for a friend." She felt Harry tense slightly behind her, and her eyes averted away from everyone else. "I-I have to study for Arithmancy... See you later Harry. Bye Ron. Cho." She hurried off to the castle, Harry's eyes following her. His best friend was watching Hermione and Harry's exchange and felt terrible. This would hamper how fast they would get together. And this could hurt them. And this would all be his fault...

Bloody Hell!

"Harry?" Cho purred stepping closer. "Want to walk with me back to the castle?" Ron's eyes followed her as Harry nodded and they started off together, Ron trailing behind them. It was odd. The one who hardly noticed anything was noticing things his best friends hadn't.

"Ronald?" Turning raptly, Ron found himself face-to-face with Luna Lovegood.

"Er... Hi, Luna."

"Hello. I wanted to tell you that you played excellently on the field. You'll defeat the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs easily." Leaning in, she kissed him on the cheek tenderly, brushing back her long blonde hair away from her face and gave him a slow, mysterious smile. "I'll be off then." Turning on her heel she walked away, her blonde hair floating behind her.

The redhead lifted his hand to his cheek and touched where she had kissed him. Before he realized what he was doing he found himself wearing a goofy grin. Shaking his head darkly, he frowned. Oh, boy. He just got the lot of them in a load of crap.

He found himself watching Luna as she smiled and waved at people that she couldn't even see. Bloody Hell, he must be losing his mind... But as he walked back to the castle his mind was following the blonde girl.