Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and all the related characters... this is my fanfiction, my own way to express my ideas about h.p.

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One: Research and Reminisce

"If you want to pass this subject, you have to pass a research paper; it's actually a special homework, about muggle culture, traits, and habits, anything about muggles all around the globe. You have to consult me first about your choice of topic before completing it. Because there might be some topics that are above your level and I won't allow you to do it or study about it, rather. Just think about the topic you're going to study and we'll talk about the deadline if you have all your topics." Professor Lectricy explained about our muggle studies special homework.

I fully understood what she was saying but I was not sure if we're required to do it (the project, I mean) on our own or not. So, as usual, all heads turned to me as I shot my right hand upwards. My arm looks so straight every time I shot it upwards that's why (well, I guess) all heads turned to me when I did it (shooting my hands upwards, I mean). Anyway, I asked curiously, "Professor, are we suppose to work alone or by groups?"

"You have a choice. If you're so selfish and don't want to share your knowledge, you can work alone. But if you're generous enough to share it or you think you can't finish it alone, you may work in groups." She answered with a smile.

She's always like that. Professor Lectricy, I mean. When one of her students ask questions, she smiles like it's a very good thing to be asked by students with the same questions in a day. To tell you the truth, I didn't like her much but I like her subject. By the way, I decided to take muggle studies again after I gave it up on our third year because mom and dad ask me to. They suggested that it will be convenient for me to know the THINGS in both muggle community and magical world.

Anyway, Professor Lectricy went on with her explanation about our homework for almost an HOUR repeating all the details spontaneously! Could you believe it! She repeated it for an HOUR! Things like this can be boring sometimes. I couldn't see the point of listening to her anymore so I turned my head around to scan the room.

I had a good view of the room since I was sitting at the back seat. It was a regular-sized room with two oak doors that have carvings of vines at the edges. In my right-hand side was a row of windows with gold curtains that hang from the ceiling to the floor. In my left-hand side were cabinets with different sizes of plugs and sockets, there was also a television and shelves full of books like All About Electricity, Muggles to the Fullest, Living Through Technology andother books written by wizards who are addicted to muggle things.

I looked around the room and saw that EVERYONE (except Professor Lectricy, of course) was bored. Neville was resting his chin to his right hand. I thought he's going to fall asleep. He's always like that, anyway. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had their heads glued together (AGAIN!). I guessed they're having those 'little chats' again. They're always like that. Talking about everyone here at Hogwarts, I mean. One time when I was in our dormitory, I overheard them talking about Hannah Abbot and Ernie McMillan. Lavender Brown was like, "Hey, Parv! I have some news. Do you know that Ernie McMillan and Hannah Abbot are going out? Well, I saw them making out at the quidditch pitch this morning."

"Eeeewww…. Couldn't they make out somewhere else? Your whole body is going to be itchy when you make out at the quidditch pitch, you know. What's with all the grasses and dirt?" Parvati shrieked.

Realizing I was there, they will glue their heads together and talk in whispers. Sometimes they will ask my opinion if blue shirt is better than blue dress or if they should wear make-up in classes or not. Well, you get the ----

"Queen to A5,"

Huh! Oh yes, we were having a muggle studies class. Thanks to Ron for breaking out my day dreaming! Wait. Did I hear it right?

"Knight to E6," Harry said as I turned my head towards them. Harry and Ron, I mean.

I know what you're wondering about. Yes, you wonder why Harry and Ron have the same classes as mine. Well, I convinced them. Actually, it's only Harry whom I convinced. It's a long story, really, so don't ask me to relate it.

Anyway, I couldn't believe they're doing it again! Playing chess during classes, I mean. They always do that in muggle studies. Well, I can't blame them, the teacher is really boring. But what if they get caught? That's why we're always sitting at the back. Anyway, they always play wizard chess in every chance they got. It became an obsession or something to them.

"Hey, you two, stop it!" I hissed to them. "If you get caught, Filch will be very please to give you detention."

"Who cares? As long as we can play wizard chess with him!" Ron shot back.

"And, Hermione, you can get us out of trouble, anyway." Harry added.

Oh! Those two. They are kind of used to it. Me, getting them out of trouble, I mean. But I couldn't think of any excuses if they get caught that time.

"No, I won't make any excuses for you. And I'm pretty sure Filch can't play wizard chess. He's a squib, remember. So I'm sure he will ask you to clean his office or worse, his room for him."

They seemed taken aback by what I said. And I think they believed me. Could you believe that? They believed that Filch can't play wizard chess just because he's a squib! Yes, he's a squib, but he's also a wizard. Every wizard can play wizard chess. I couldn't believe those two! They're so…so…pathetic! I know that's kinda harsh but it's true. I mean, everyone knows that all wizards can play wizard chess even though they can't do magic. Well, I guess. I haven't read about wizard chess yet and I am not really interested.

Anyway, they started fixing the chess pieces while Professor Lectricy is saying her goodbyes. We fixed our things and hurriedly walked out of the room.

"So, Herm, what are we going to do with our special homework?" Harry asked me at the corridor while------

"WHAT! We have a special homework!" Ron asked with his eyes as large as Dobby's.

"Yes," I said a-matter-of-factly.

"But WE haven't learned anything from her yet."

"Ron, if you're playing wizard chess while she is teaching, it doesn't mean WE do not listen to her anymore. YOU, Ron, haven't learned anything yet, but WE have already learned something."

"Yeah, right!" he shot back.

"So what are we going to do with our project?" Harry continued ignoring my argument with Ron.

I'm so thankful that Harry is our friend. I mean, if he is not, well, Ron won't be my friend and Ron will probably be mortal enemies. He always makes sure that Ron and I get along well and he… uhmm… he's, as I describe him, the mayonnaise… Oh, no! Don't get me wrong! I mean, he's the mayonnaise. Mayonnaise makes the bread stick together. When there's no mayonnaise, the sandwich will going to be dry and the contents will fall off the bread. Do you get what I mean? When Harry is not around, Ron and I will argue a LOT and there will be no conversation between us (Ron and I, I mean). So, you get the point? Harry is the mayonnaise of the three of us. And that's the why I---

"HEY! Hermione, you're lost again! I noticed that these past few days, you're always out of your mind." Ron yelled noticing my day dreaming. Yikes! I wonder how I looked like with that state. Anyway,

"Are you alright? Do you want to go to the hospital wing?" Harry asked concernedly. Finally! He asked me something not related to the project.

"No, I mean, yes. Oh, no! I mean, yeah, I'm alright. And no, I don't need to go to the hospital wing. Thank you. Oh, God! What's happening to me! Anyway, I haven't got any idea about the project yet. Let me think about it."

"Well then, the lake is waiting for us!"

We went to the lake to take a rest. It was Friday and Muggle Studies was our last class during Fridays. Harry and Ron have quidditch practice that day but not until 5 pm. It was only 3 in the afternoon. Anyway, as usual, Ron was throwing stones in the lake with his back on us. I guess it's very awkward for him watching his two best friends making out. Err, not actually making out, I just can't find the right term. He, Harry, was actually sleeping peacefully and his head was on my lap while I played with his disheveled black hair. OH GOD! I haven't told you, yet! Oh, well… We, Harry and I, are officially together.

It was last August. I was in the Diagon Alley together with mom and dad. Since I am a muggle born and my parents are muggles, they went to Gringotts (I strongly dislike to go to Gringotts because the goblins frightened me. They looked like they're going to eat me every time they look at me in the eye. It's just so bothering, it makes me freak out) to exchange our muggle money to wizard money.

I headed to Flourish and Blotts to look for the books I needed. I noticed that there were lots of people shopping for school supplies; in every direction were wizards and students in muggle clothes. I could barely see any shops, since Diagon Alley was so packed with people. As I turned to the main street, where there were more people, I saw Harry and our eyes met. My heart really did a back flip and I felt it stuck on my throat. Believe it or not, I actually choked! We stared at each other for almost a minute, or what I thought was, it was like the time had stopped and our eyes were glued together. He smiled at me and I smiled back. Things happened so fast. One second, we're staring each other, then another second we were fighting our way towards each other. When we reached each other, I automatically wrapped my arms around his neck and his hands around my waist. Our bodies touched and I felt his muscles so strong but gentle, his arms slightly adjusting to hold me tightly. He embraced me firmly and I felt so safe. Like nobody can harm me and kill me-the dementors, werewolves, the death eaters, even Lord Voldemort. It felt like I'm going to melt in his arms and there's no tomorrow and time doesn't exist and all that. I felt so many things…

I didn't know what was happening. I mean, he is my best friend and all, I shouldn't be feeling this way. But I didn't have time to think about this that time. Then he made a very unusual gesture- he put his palm on both of my cheeks and kissed me; on the lips. It's unusual, because you don't kiss your best friend on the lips everyday, but it's also good, sweet, nice, cute, and all the good adjectives I know, you name it. At first his lips tasted like butterbeer, then mint, then sweet, then butterbeer again and so on… we kissed for almost forever. We were bursting with emotions; we missed each other, we're happy, confused, and sorry because with all those years we spent, we didn't confess our feelings to each other not until that day and we love each other, we're so in-love… there were lots of people staring at us but we didn't care, we didn't really care anymore-we didn't care what time is it, we didn't care how long we've been kissing, we didn't care who were staring at us. We only cared about what we felt that time and it was love. And that was important; Harry and I love each other. My best friend and I are so much in-love with each other. We're so much in-love…

After we broke from our kiss, there was this total silence. REAL silence. It was like all people were gone and there were only two of us. I don't know if I was imagining but it was like we were at some place where all I could see is rainbow colors and beneath us were flowers of different kinds and we were both grinning like idiots. We were not talking, we were just grinning. Just like that. And I couldn't think of any good words to say. I think all my vocabulary words were gone and flew away during the kiss. But I was able to blurt, "Thank you." I know that was stupid!

He answered, "Oh, that's polite. You're welcome." Then silence again…

…

…

…

It was so awkward. Awkward? But he's just my best friend! Oh, yeah! My best friend who I love and who happened to be in-love with me, too. Just great.

We looked at each other and smiled for a long time. He widened his smile to a grin then we both laughed. We laughed hard. I think that was the right thing to do. We laughed our hearts out, I think, for being happy that at last we're not hiding our feelings anymore. Then suddenly, he became serious, he stopped laughing and blurted, "I love you!"

I froze. I think because of shocked. He just blurted it out! But it's so good to hear. It kept ringing in my head for almost forever before my mind processed it and realized what it means.

"Hermione, I love you" he said again, slowly and nicely for my brain to process and digest.

"Oh, Harry! I love you, too!" I squeaked. I mean, I accidentally said it with this very small voice of mine. I guess that happens when you confess your feelings to someone.

Anyway, we hugged again and that's it! He finally knew that I love him. And I finally knew that he loves me…

He loves me….

He loves me….

He lov---

"OH NO! You two had gone mad?" Ron said in a way like he was accusing Harry and me with his right pointer finger pointing at us.

As usual, my reminiscing was broken by Ron and this really was not funny anymore. Anyway, Harry and I exchanged guilty looks, then turned to Ron and we said in chorus, "What are you talking about!"

I was so shocked. I mean, I did not expect that Harry and I will say the same thing at the same time! I tried and succeeded not to laugh, as I was glaring at Ron. I knew he was also trying not to laugh but unfortunately, he is bad at hiding expressions so I caught him. For a cover-up statement he said, "You two had really gone mad! As I was throwing stones I saw you, Hermione, grinning like idiot and looking so far away. You, too, Harry. I also saw you grinning at the clouds. What's eating you two?"

As he was saying this, I saw Harry at the corner of my eyes trying hard not to show a slightest guilty smile. He knew that Ron was telling the truth and it was really humiliating.

"It's really none of your business. Oh no! It's already 4:30. I have to go to the library to have a further reading about our homework. See you at the common room. Don't you dare follow me or see me at the library, you will just disturb me. And by the way, you have a quidditch practice at 5:00; you better get your broomstick and head to the quidditch pitch now." I said as an excuse and prevention for a severe and total humiliation. I said it very rapidly and I doubt if they heard every single word I said. I think they heard some of it because as I was walking fast, I heard Ron said to Harry, "She's always like that. She's using our homework as an excuse. Anyway, why were you grinning just a moment ago?" then I heard Harry answered, "Nothing, just thinking about the happy moments."

I headed to the library. It was large with almost a hundred bookshelves standing from ceiling to the floor. Every row of the shelves has almost a hundred books. And there was a long table and chairs in every spaces between the shelves. I went to the Muggle Studies section, picked some books (I concentrated on muggle high schools and teenagers) and read them one by one.

Did you know that muggle teenagers go out every Saturday nights to watch movies, go to diners or just hang around with their friends? That's why almost every muggles love Saturday night. Don't you know that almost every muggles can't live without a television, computer, air-conditioner, radio, and other stuff powered by electricity? So, it's like they can't live without electricity.

When I've read enough, it was almost 7:00 in the evening so I decided to go back to the common room. I was hungry but dinner was already over so I visited the kitchen for a quick meal. Anyway, Harry was sitting to his favorite chair near the fireplace when I got back to the common room and Ron was talking to Dean Thomas. I walked towards Harry and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. It surprised him and made him looked up to see me.

"Hi!" he said

"Hi! Why are you sitting alone here?" I answered back as I was heading towards the chair opposite him.

"Nothing, Ron is talking to Dean about Ginny. I think he is warning him not to hurt Ginny again. What took you so long?"

"I just got carried away with my reading and forget the time. "

"Have you eaten your dinner?" he said looking at me with his eyes looking so concerned.

"Yes, I visited the kitchen before I went here." I assured him.

"That's good." He replied with a smile

I smiled back and said jokingly, "Of course, I am always good. Anyway, how's the practice?"

"Ron is still working out his nerves; that's really his problem. Ginny and the chasers are really improving. The beaters are good but not as good as Fred and George."

"How about you?"

"Don't worry about me. I am also good like you… hehe… I caught the snitch in less than a minute twice. "

"Oh my God! Let me praise the famous Harry Potter for being so modest. Very modest, indeed." I said in a sarcastic tone.

He chuckled, and then we both laughed.

"That's what I like about you. You can make me laugh without even trying and not meaning to." He complimented.

I felt my cheeks burn and said, "Thanks. By the way, I've finished reading Muggle Studies books and I had come up with an idea about the project."

"Really? What is it?"

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A/N: That's it for the first chapter. please forgive me for all the wrong grammars 'coz English is not my language... you will notice that i invented the name of the muggle studies teacher, that's because he/she is an unnamed character in the book.. thank you... and please review... :)