Chapter Two-
I own nothing but the plot and what they say.
-Hermione-
Hermione was beyond angry. Snape's comment in Potions could be disastrous. If Harry looked too much into it, he could think she liked Ron. She did, of course, but she liked Harry just as much! It was all so unfair. She just wanted to thank Ron for helping Harry, but no, she had to get in trouble and make Harry think she likes Ron.
Hermione stormed to her common room, bursting in after the painting. It was time to tell Ginny, Hermione figured.
"Ginny!" Hermione screamed, walking around.
"Are you going to tell me what you've been wanting to this whole week now?" Ginny asked, coming down smoothly from her room.
"Yes," Hermione sighed, and led Ginny up to her room.
After Hermione closed the door, she sat on her bed, now less willing to tell her.
"Go on," Ginny pushed.
"I don't want you to get mad, or upset. And I'm sorry, when I said yes, I didn't think about others. I was selfish, and I apologize." I said.
"You're going to the dance with Harry." Ginny sounded so down, and beaten, and I couldn't help but get sad.
"I'm so sorry, Ginny. I didn't think! I was so happy he asked, and that I had a date, I didn't think of you. I'm really sorry." I said quietly.
"But you won't cancel it, either." Ginny replied.
I was silent. She seriously wanted me to do that?
"You're going with Neville." I excused it.
"So? He asked me! What was I supposed to say?" Ginny yelled.
"How about 'no'? If you wanted Harry so bad, you should've asked him! And I'm sorry if someone finally wants to be around me in a romantic way, and I like it! I'm sorry if I just happen to like Harry, and he asked me! Now, Ginny, what was I supposed to say?" I yelled back.
"HOW ABOUT NO!" Ginny yelled, tears streaming down her face.
"Get out." I said, anger within every ounce of my body.
"Gladly," she said, but she sounded more sad then angry.
When the door closed, I sobbed. What the hell? I told her I was sorry. And I like Harry, too.
-Harry-
I stumbled out into the common room. Today was the day of the first challenge. I knew what to do, yes, but I was still nervous.
I blindly walked to the grand hall, and when I arrived, I barely ate.
Hermione was silent beside me, and honestly, I didn't want her to talk to me. I was still mad about her and Ron.
"Harry-" Hermione started.
"Don't," I said, making her eyes drop, and her shoulders shake. Instantly, I felt bad.
"Hermione, what happened in Potions?" I asked her gently.
"I figured out that Ron told Hagrid to tell you about the dragons, because Charlie is here, and so Ron would know, and because Hagrid would never disobey Dumbledore lightly. I wanted to thank him, since I figured you wouldn't, and I knew he wouldn't let me tell him in person, so I wrote him a note. I said thank you, with a smiley face, and he replied, acting like he didn't know what I was talking about.
"But then Snape took it and said that in front of the class. It was not flirting, I swear." Hermione said, and she looked upset.
"Okay, I believe you," I said.
Hermione squealed and kissed me. I was too shocked to do anything, but she backed off, and looked equally shocked. I smiled at her, and she smiled back. I then left to go to the field.
Honestly, I should've heard Ron stand up and storm out.
-Ron-
I was walking blindly around the castle. I didn't know why I was so mad, I just was. Hermione kissing Harry just looked bad. It didn't look right. It made me want to kick and scream. I growled and headed to the field. Maybe Harry will get beaten up a little. If so, I wanted to see it.
"Ron?" Ginny asked, stepping out from the trees.
"Ginny? Why are you crying?" I asked, instantly looking around for threat.
"Why are you growling and kicking poor flowers?" Ginny asked.
I shrugged. "Something made me mad."
"Yeah, well, something made me sad."
I sighed, and started walking. She was in step with me, and we walked quietly to the stadium.
"So, I hear Harry and Hermione are going to the Yule Ball together." Ginny said, and her voice cracked at the end.
"They are?" My voice rose in pitch, and she gave me a sad look.
"Yes," she replied.
"That explains the kiss." I mumbled.
Ginny didn't even comment.
Once we got to the GO HARRY! section, Ginny went to go sit alone, and I sat by her.
"Hey guys," Hermione had a smile plastered on her features, and Ginny squirmed.
"What do you want?" Ginny asked.
Hermione smile faded, and then disappeared.
"I'm…just going to go talk to…Victor."
Both of us knew it wasn't Krum she went to see.
The first one of was Fleur, and she got her egg almost instantly. Ginny sighed, and I frowned. Hopefully Harry knew what he was doing.
Next was Krum, and he took awhile longer, but still retrieved his golden prize.
Next was Cedric, who took the longest. He did, though, get his egg. Ginny and I sat up straighter, and so did almost everyone in the large Harry group.
When Harry came out, he looked determined. His eyes immediately looked for the egg, found it, than he found cover; which was smart considering the dragon appeared just about then.
The Horntail spewed fire all over the rock Harry was hiding behind, and Harry visibly recoiled from the heat.
"KILL HIM DRAGON!" Ginny and I turned to see Malfoy laughing with his friends. He met my eye and smirked. I gave him the finger and went back to watching Harry.
Nobody heard what spell Harry used, but eventually his Firebolt appeared. He got on it, and sped around. The dragon chased him, but couldn't exactly catch him.
Harry flew over the teachers' pavilion, and the dragon came roaring after, almost killing the teachers. Applause was heard from the students. Ron could literally see Hermione's disgusted face. He smiled for a minute, but then it disappeared when he thought about breakfast that morning.
Silence followed for about five minutes as they waited for Harry to come back. Ron heard Malfoy talking about how Harry probably was dead by now, and he clenched his fist.
Then they heard a roar, and Harry arrived, swooping down, grabbing the egg, standing off his broom, then walking back into the safe hut, all in one motion.
And despite myself, I couldn't help but clap for my best friend. I was mad, but not near as mad as I was. I realize now he never wanted this. Some part of me knew he didn't like all the attention he gets. None of this was his fault. Why did I blame him? He saved the world, and he was getting punished by everyone. They stared at his scar, which he didn't even try to get. Former Deatheaters hate him, and would do anything to dispose of him. He's always in danger, and, like Hermione said, this sounds like someone trying to get himself killed.
I started walking down the steps, and then headed to the Gryffindor common room.
He didn't expect the party to be this big. Everyone was partying, either drinking booze that somehow someone snuck in, or dancing to the music, or talking to Harry, who was the center of it all. It was obvious he didn't like it, but it was also obvious that someone had spiked his drink to get him hyper.
"I don't know, I just somehow, did it." He said, and everyone looked amazed.
"Yeah, mate, I bet you did. Now who spiked my best friend's Dr. Pepper?" I asked, speaking above everyone else.
It got quieter, not silent, but better. No one raised their hand.
"Yeah, alright, sure, hey Harry, can I talk to you?" I asked.
Harry didn't look like he wanted to, but everyone walked away anyway, so he slowly headed towards me. I knew he was still mad.
"Hey, buddy." I said.
"What? I'm your mate again? Did you get over it?" Harry asked, his voice rising a little.
I saw Hermione look up from her book and give us a concerned look.
"Listen, Harry, I'm sorry. I realize now that you didn't want fame, and you didn't put your name in that cup. I mean, how the hell could you, anyway? And I know you don't want that scar, and it was wrong for me to say that you did, and more." I explained.
Harry stared at his shoes, before looking up at me. "I'm sorry I'm dating Hermione."
I understood what he meant. Not like I was going to admit I liked her, though.
"Why would you? Not like I care."
"Sure, man." Harry smirked, before heading over to Hermione and sitting by her. Ron watched for awhile as they smiled at each other. Hermione said something that made Harry give her a sad look, and she laughed, kissed him, and walked upstairs to her room.
Harry walked back over.
"Sorry," he repeated.
"Your relationship with her is never going to work if you keep feeling bad whenever she touches you, or you touch her." I said, easily masking the pain.
"I guess so, but just say the word, man," Harry said, but it was obvious he just said it to say it.
Ron and Harry went over to Neville and Seamus, who were flirting with some third years, who looked like they had no idea what they were doing with the cups they had in their hands.
Don't they know they're thirteen? Is there a difference between a year? I knew about sex and all last year, too. Maybe it's just that now everyone is actually hooking up.
"Hey, third years, have you seen Ginny?" I asked the girls.
"She went upstairs to talk to Hermione. I think they're trying to make up from their fight. My name is Bonnie, and this is Claire, by the way." I sighed.
Bonnie had black hair, and she had a farmer's tan, with bright blue eyes. It sounds like it wouldn't work, but it does. She was really pretty. Claire looked delicate; she had dark brown hair that reached her shoulders, braces, brown eyes, and a shy smile.
"They were fighting over a guy, but when Ginny came and talked to us, she said that she was really only mad because Hermione didn't think about her, and her feelings." Claire blurted out. Everyone looked shocked.
"Uh, Claire, don't tell them about her whole life, okay?" Bonnie looked mad, and we all tried to hide laughs. The girl just told us some pointless gossip.
"Right, well, Bonnie, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Seamus asked her.
Bonnie looked shocked, but recovered. "Sure."
I smiled, before turning and going up to the girl's dorms. I knocked on Hermione's room.
"Go away!" Two girls screamed.
"Harry wants to snog Hermione."
The door opened to an angry Ginny.
"Go away, dumbass." Ginny tried to slam the door, but I put my hands in the door when I saw Hermione crying in the background.
"Mione?" I asked; pushing past Ginny and walking to her.
"Ron, please, get Harry." Hermione said, sniffling.
Instantly, I stiffened. My face went red with anger, and I shook.
"Sure, I'll get your boyfriend. When he comes up, he'll comfort you. Since obviously your best friend can't." I turned and stormed out.
"Ron! I didn't mean," But I slammed the door.
I walked downstairs.
"Harry, your girlfriend wants you." Harry saw my face, and his face went pale.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"She wouldn't tell me. But she's crying." I went to my room, and went under the covers, Hermione's plea replaying over and over in my dreams.
-Hermione-
I had hurt Ron. I hadn't even met to! I just wanted Harry, who was so comforting and helpful, to be with me. I didn't even think about Ron. I burst into fresh tears.
Ginny and I had been talking about our fight. We made up after we discussed why everything was said. She forgave me, but she wasn't happy about me and Harry. I told her I didn't like how she didn't think of me, and how I needed a life, too. We were crying, and eventually Ron came up.
"Hermione? Hermione! What's wrong?" I felt Harry's arms around me, and I snuggled into them.
"Just…getting over a fight." I buried my face in his neck, and he ran his hands through my hair.
I heard Ginny close the door, and felt a stab of guilt. That had to hurt to see him dismiss her and go straight to me.
"Ginny…" I mumbled.
"She'll be fine, don't worry, shh," he rubbed my back, and eventually I calmed down, and we just sat there holding each other.
Okay, so I didn't bring Draco in. I'm sorry! I decided I want Hermione to figure out which one of her best friends she likes romantically, first. I'm probably going to make her choose one of them, while meanwhile bring Draco in to be annoying, and then start it up. But it'll be soon! Maybe next chapter if I get reviews!
Christin