January 1996

A/N: This takes place in the year that the Trio is supposed to be in fifth year. ONLY THE FIRST THROUGH FOURTH BOOKS HAVE HAPPENED ACCORDING TO THIS STORY. CEDRIC IS STILL DEAD. SIRIUS IS NOT.

Disclaimer: The story's mine; it was inspired by a picture I found online (I have no clue who the artist is, seeing as how it was written in some language I don't know). The characters are darling JKR's, who I still believe is a fantastic writer despite the bullshit everybody's firing off about her in the fanfiction world these days. Don't sue if you believe JKR sucks; you're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. Don't sue if you hate H/HR; I don't exactly support it, but it's the only pairing I can think of for those two. So yeah.

January 15, 1996

I think there's something wrong with me. I keep daydreaming about Harry's kiss. Today, I blanked out during Potions! I have NEVER done that before; it's horrifying. Thankfully, I didn't miss much, but that little incident has brought to my attention how serious this problem has become. If I don't confront Harry and get it all over with, I'll never rest properly again!

January 19, 1996

I didn't think I would ever get the chance to talk to Harry alone, or at least, if I did, I didn't think I would ever get my nerve up enough to talk to him about what happened at Christmas. But I did it! I found a space between Potions and Transfiguration, when Ron went to the loo. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Harry, I think we need to talk.

Harry: We talk all the time.

Me: No, I mean we need to talk alone.

Harry: Okay, we're alone now.

Me: Okay.

Harry: Okay.

Me: I wanted to talk about Christmas.

Harry: (getting flustered) O.

Me: O.

Harry: What about Christmas?

Me: You know, what happened under the mistletoe…

Harry: O. That.

Me: Yes, that. Why did you suddenly—you know…?

Harry: What do you mean?

Me: We're best friends, Harry. We've been best friends since you and Ron saved me from that troll in first year. Why now?

Harry: Why not now?

Me: I don't know. I guess I just wondered why you didn't do anything earlier.

Harry: Did you want me to?

Me: I don't know.

Harry: Well, you know I'm bad with girls—except you.

Me: Exactly. Except me.

Harry: So I wondered about our relationship a little.

Me: O.

Harry: And I guess I had a little too much of that punch, so I thought, Why not Christmas? The mistletoe was the perfect excuse.

Me: O.

Harry: O.

And then Ron came back. So I suppose I'll have to talk to him again. Merlin, how embarrassing it was! And to think I'll have to go through it all AGAIN!! Why couldn't Ron have stayed in the loo just a bit longer?

O Merlin this is so embarrassing…

January 29, 1996

I finally got another chance to talk to Harry again, when we were walking to breakfast and Ron hadn't woken up yet.

Me: Harry.

Harry: Hermione.

Me: I think we need to talk again.

Harry: About what?

Me: The same thing as before.

Harry: O.

Me: O.

Harry: You want to start?

Me: Not particularly.

Harry: I suppose I will, then.

Me: Okay.

Harry: Okay. So like I said, I kind of wondered about our relationship. I know there's Krum, but I just wanted to try it out. And Christmas was as good a time as any, more so, considering the mistletoe that was hung everywhere.

Me: Yes, you mentioned the mistletoe as an excuse.

Harry: Yeah. And I suppose I had a bit too much to drink, and I was nervous, so I came on a bit sudden.

Me: I was rather surprised. I wondered what you were getting up to at first.

Harry: You did?

Me: Yeah.

Harry: O.

Me: O.

Harry: So…

Me: Viktor's just my friend, Harry.

Harry: O.

Me: There's nobody else.

Harry: O.

Me: O.

And then we got to the Great Hall.

This is abominably frustrating! I'll have to find yet ANOTHER time to talk to him AGAIN! Why does this subject have to stretch for so long and yet be so touchy? So infuriating!