The Plan

writingismypower

Summary: Harry and Hermione have been distant with each other ever since Hermione had gotten herself a boyfriend. A few of their friends had noticed and decided to come up with a plan to bring them closer. However, when the plan was put into action, something went wrong and changed Harry and Hermione's perspective towards each other forever. Now their friends must deal with Hermione's boyfriend who happened to be Ronald Weasley, Harry's best friend, and also the aftermath.

It was Christmas vacation when the plan was created. A group of Gryffindors sat at a table in the corner of the Common Room. Lavender Brown was sitting on her boyfriend's lap, laughing at a joke that her girlfriend, Parvati Patil, who was sitting across from her on a separate chair, had told. Dean Thomas was exchanging laughs with Seamus as his girlfriend laughed. Neville smiled uncomfortably. The group had invited the shy boy to the table when seeing him alone, reading a Herbology book. He was glad everyone was laughing at their conversation and not at him.

"I can't believe my mum refused to take me to Sweden!" Lavender complained for the hundredth time after the joke was done.

"You should have done better on your last Transfiguration test," said Parvati, smiling. Her friend stuck out her tongue. Dean kissed the side of Lavender's neck, nuzzling his nose against it to take her scent.

"At least you can stay with me," he whispered and Lavender giggled. She turned around and straddled her boyfriend. Then the full-blown snogging session began.

The two stopped when their friends shouted their disgust at the saliva swapping that was being displayed.

Lavender gave her boyfriend one last kiss before resuming to sit, tamed, on Dean's lap.

Their attention turned to Hermione who was content with reading a textbook near the fireplace. She was oblivious to the laughs and chit chat that was taking place around her and had her sole attention towards the text. She was smiling a bit as if she shared a secret with the book on her lap.

Suddenly, the portrait hole opened, revealing a tired Harry. He had just returned from the library where he was finishing some long term assignments.

He stopped behind a couch and Hermione looked up at the sound. The small smile had disappeared from her face and was now replaced by an emotionless mask.

"Hey, Hermione..."

"Hi, Harry," she answered softly. Harry smiled shortly. An awkward silence fell between them. He stared at her eyes and she with his.

"How are you?" he finally asked.

"Fine and you?"

"Fine. How's Ron?"

"He sent me a letter. I think he sent you one too."

"Okay."

Hermione removed her eyes away from Harry, and Harry, taking it as a short dismissal, gave a goodbye wave that Hermione couldn't see and retreated to his dormitory.

"What happened with the two of them?" asked Dean, voicing a question that everyone was thinking.

"Yeah, they used to be so close...as close as you can get with a boy and a girl before going on to the dating territory..."

"They were past that it seemed. But then Ron asked Hermione out and that all changed," Parvati said sadly

"Harry kissed Hermione the day after Ron asked her out. He didn't know that at the time. It's awkward now because Hermione didn't say anything back and Harry just left. They haven't talked about it or anything since," informed Neville who was watching Hermione. He looked back at the group to find everyone staring at him. "What? You guys didn't know?"

Lavender got up from Dean's lap. "No. And why didn't we know, Parvati? We're supposed to know about everything that happens here!"

"I don't know. I guess we're losing our touch," said Parvati who sounded truly worried.

"Sorry, I thought everyone knew," shrugged Neville.

"I knew Harry liked her!" Seamus exclaimed. "But I thought Hermione liked him too..."

"Of course! Hermione does like Harry but couldn't say no to Ron."

"Why?" asked Dean. Lavender turned to her boyfriend.

"Oh, you guys know Ron! He was always jealous of Harry. Remember fourth year? Hermione's too nice to refuse Ron."

Lavender rounded the table and faced the whole group. Her mind was working overtime as she tried to figure out a plan.

"Harry and Hermione are in love with each other. They used to have picnics together--without Ron. They'd come back from them and look so happy and carefree. Hermione would always blush when he touched her and—oh, the way they looked at each other! They can even finish each other's sentences, for Merlin's sake. Remember when Harry would lay his head on Hermione's lap during the nights when they would stay up together and she'd run her hand through his hair? Ron looked soooo jealous then! They're a perfect match, obviously. Ron's being a jerk for taking her away from Harry," she said loudly but not loud enough to catch the attention of everyone else in the room.

"W-What should we do then?" Neville asked, being the first to speak after Lavender's rant.

"We get Hermione and Harry together. Ron's gone off on his vacation with the family. Harry and Hermione are here without her boyfriend. It's our chance!"

"How?" Dean asked.

"I don't know," said Lavender who suddenly looked downcast. Then she smiled. "But I will find out a solution."

"I'll talk to you guys tomorrow," she said as she rushed from the table and to the girl's dormitory.

"I'll go talk to her," Parvati offered, trying not to laugh at her friend's behavior. She waved a goodbye to her friends and left the table.

"Lavender might be on to something," said Seamus to Dean. The boy smiled and nodded.

Neville was beginning to regret telling them what he had seen when he walked in on Harry and Hermione's study session in the library. Whatever Lavender was planning...everyone would have to be prepared.