A/N - Okay, okay. So. If you read this chapter already, I'm sorry, but I hated it. It was just… weird. I dunno. So I rewrote it. Madi, don't be mad. J Huggles! Here goes guys:
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Technically, this is still a flashback, so just go with it.
As Ron finished his game of chess, he decided that now was as good of a time as ever to start on that dreaded potions essay due in two days. As he entered the dormitory, he glanced out the window.
Sodding rain. It's supposed to be quidditch season! How're we supposed to play in bloody weather like this?! he thought angrily.
Looking more closely out the window, he saw two figures down by the lake. Who in the bloody hell goes out in the rain and sits by the bloody lake?!
Straining to see who it was, Ron was struck with a brilliant idea. (A/N - mark your calendars. lol!)
"Of course!" he muttered. He ran over to his bed, and digging through his trunk, he pulled out the omnioculars Harry had bought him back in fourth year. He looked through them, and though the image seemed sharper, all he could make out was that they both had dark hair - one brown, one black.
He spun the dial on the omnioculars to switch it to slow motion, and peered through them again. As the rain was falling as though in glue, Ron looked beyond it, not having any blurred water obstructing his vision.
"No."
Paling, he dropped the omnioculars. Holding hands?! That only meant one thing, didn't it? Ron was beside himself. He sank onto his bed, racking his head as to any memory of anything going on between the two. Harry and Hermione?! MY Hermione?! When did this happen? How did this happen? This can't be happening.
Ron didn't come down until dinner.
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Harry stood up and held his hand out for Hermione. She smiled and took it, pulling herself up.
"That was nice," she said.
"It was. I enjoyed it."
"You know Harry, I'm glad you're here. You know, I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," and she kissed him on the cheek.
Blushing, he replied, "You know, you're probably right."
Laughing, he gave her a hug, and the two set off towards dinner. Before they reached the Great Hall, Hermione stopped him, wringing her hands, and said,
"Harry, you know you're like my brother, right?"
"Yeah…"
"And I can tell you anything?"
"Mhm…"
"Well, I think I like Malfoy."
"Oh?" Harry said, eyes wide.
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A/N - Two Weeks Prior to Present Flashback
Hermione was leaving Herbology, having just been with a class full of Slytherins, a few Ravenclaws, and Neville. Why Harry and Ron had not taken NEWT Herbology was beyond her. She made her way towards the stone steps, when her robe snagged on a bush. She yanked it, and fell forward, tripping over the first step. Luckily, Hermione was almost the last one out, other than Neville and Malfoy.
Her books were strewn across the ground, and her robe was torn down the side. Neville made his way towards her, but stopped abruptly when Malfoy growled in his ear, "You better run along, Longbottom. Go on now, I've got this."
Giving him a terrified look, Neville retreated up the steps without so much as a glance at Hermione.
"Well, well, well. What've we got here? A mudblood in the mud. How ironic, don't you think, Granger?"
"Oh, shut up," she grumbled, her face reddening angrily.
"Or what, you'll fall on me?" he sneered. "Unless you're like every other girl in this school, because in that case, you'll be falling for me."
She glared daggers at him, and said, "Only in your wildest dreams."
"If only you knew what I dreamt, Granger."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
He sighed and bent over to grab her books.
"What are you doing?" she asked, obviously annoyed.
"Being a gentleman," he replied with a smirk.
"Why?"
"Because I know it infuriates you, and you look so goddamned cute when you're mad."
Did I really just say that!? he wondered aloud.
Ugh! He's so infuriating! Wait… did he just say cute? Hermione mused.
Blushing furiously, Hermione scrunched up her nose and snuffed. She sat in an upright position on the step, and held out her hands for Malfoy to give her books back.
"Why should I give them to you?"
"What happened to being a gentleman?"
"I know this is pissing you off more."
"Well, you'd be correct in that assumption," she snorted.
"I know. I'm always right," he said arrogantly. "I also know that you might not like what I'm about to do, but I'm going to do it anyway."
She gave him a look that said, 'Oh, really?'
He then walked up to her, grabbed the hand she had been holding out for her books, and pulled her up. Once she was standing, he was only about three inches from her face.
She peered up into his eyes, her stomach doing flips, and said, "So is this what I wasn't going to like?"
"No, but this is," he said, before grabbing her chin, and slowly kissing her.
When they broke apart, she laughed and said, "Well, I'm not sure what you don't like, but I definitely didn't hate that."
"Really?" he asked, looking a little down.
That wasn't supposed to happen… I wasn't supposed to feel anything. I only did it to make her mad! What's wrong with me?! His thoughts were interrupted by:
"Yes, really. I'm just surprised you'd want to kiss a mudblood."
"A little dirt never hurt," he teased.
"Hey!" she exclaimed smacking him playfully.
He laughed and said, "I'll be seeing you around, Granger."
"Definitely," she replied, blushing.
Since then, Malfoy had taken to flirtatious winks and staring contests during meals and classes, making sure no one caught them. Hermione participated with enthusiasm.
-End Flashback of Flashback (lol)-
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-Back to present flashback-
As they walked up the steps and into the Entrance Hall, Hermione noticed Harry had a look of deep thinking upon his face. While he did looked troubled, he didn't really look upset.
She looked up at him, and said, "Aren't you angry, Harry?"
"No. Disappointed? Yes. I could go on and on about how you could do so much better than him. But I won't. I trust you. I've also noticed those little staring contests you've been having with him at dinner, so I guess this was a little unsurprising," he said, laughing at her shocked look. "So no, I'm not angry. But Ron might be…"
"Oh god. You're right. Let's not tell him unless Malfoy and I end up being something, ok?" she asked, looking somewhat horrified at the fact of Ron finding out.
"Fine by me. I don't need a fight on top of all the stress I'm getting. Our workload is bullocks!"
"Oh, Harry, you know it's just preparation for NEWTs."
He stared at her for a minute, before rolling his eyes. "Ok, and you liking Malfoy is just preparation for ruining our friendship."
"Excuse me?"
"I didn't mean it. I just hate our workload."
And with that, they entered the Great Hall.
…
"Umm, Harry?" She whispered while they were walking to the table.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think Ron's telepathic?" she questioned, looking very apprehensive.
"Well he's no Trelawney… well, you know what I mean. Why?" he said, laughing at his own joke.
"Because he's glaring daggers at us right now."
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A/N - AAAAHHHH CLIFFY! Hehe. I'm evil. What can I say? That's two chapters in one day, though, so you can't be too damned mad. I love you guys, especially Kayla and Madi!! Huggles! Review please! It keeps me going!
