Author's Notes: Hey, I'm having fun with this! I looove writing romance
stories. I know this hasn't got a lot of magic/action in it, but it's
romance, what can I say? I'm loving it! Hope you are too.
Harry sighed. So Hermione was only his friend. He kind of regretted that. But he shouldn't. His feelings were bad feelings. I love Ginny, and only Ginny, he kept convincing himself. He sighed again in frustration.
He couldn't concentrate on McGonagall's lesson, no matter how hard he tried. She called on him to answer a question in class, and when he didn't know the question or the answer, he was pretty embarrassed. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sniggered. Hermione flashed him a look of concern.
He lifted his head up to concentrate. But his eyes seemed to want to look at Hermione. He tried again and again to turn his eyes away from Hermione, but they seemed to be glued to her. He got that pleasant feeling in his heart every time he looked at her pretty face. He just wanted to lean over and kiss her, like he'd never kissed her before. Harry almost smacked himself.
When class ended, he gathered up his books and started out of the door. "Harry Potter," Professor McGonagall called, "come here."
"Uh oh," Harry whispered to himself. "Yes, Professor?"
"I was wondering, if something was bothering you, Mr. Potter. It just looked like you were upset about something, and you seemed distracted. Anything you'd like to talk to me or Dumbledore about?" she asked.
"No ma'am," he said. "I'm fine, just a little, um, tired and anxious about my next Quidditch match, that's all. Thank you, Professor, for your concern.
Professor McGonagall nodded and said, "Very well then."
Harry walked out of the door. Weird, I must've looked pretty worried, if even McGonagall had to check on me, I'd better get myself together, Harry thought. It was just the guilt that was killing Harry. The guilt from that kiss he should've never given Hermione…and his new feelings toward her.
Harry caught up with Hermione. She was talking to Ron again. Harry couldn't help but feel just a little bit jealous. But part of him was glad that they were still friends.
"Hello Harry," Ron and Hermione said.
"Hi. Glad to see you two talking," he lied. Well, he was kind of glad, but the jealous feeling still remained. He didn't want Ron to get back together with Hermione. It just didn't seem right.
"Was something wrong back there in Transfiguration class, Harry?" Hermione asked, in a concerned tone of voice.
"Oh it was…nothing, Hermione, nothing. I'm just a little tired," Harry said. Harry was going to tell her at first, but he looked back and noticed that Ron was still there. "Hey Ron, where's Abbey?"
"Oh, I told her I needed to spend time with you and Hermione. She was pretty understanding about it, actually," Ron said.
Good then, he hasn't broken up with her, Harry thought. "Oh, OK then."
The rest of their classes that day were all the same. But at dinner that night, Dumbledore stood up to announce something.
"Settle down, settle down, now," Dumbledore said. "Since Halloween is coming up soon, the teachers and I got together and decided we would let you have a Halloween Ball. It is next week, on October 31st. For those of you that do not like dancing, we are going to still have a feast, so you can talk and eat with your friends. That's all," Dumbledore finished and sat down, and the usual noise broke out again.
"A Ball?" Hermione said, "I guess unless Ron breaks up with Abbey then I won't have anyone to go with," she whispered to Harry.
"I'll go with y-" he broke off and remembered he would have to go with Ginny. "Oh, I mean, I'm sorry about that, Hermione."
Hermione looked at him curiously and whispered, "Are you still thinking about…well, last night?"
"Are you?" Harry asked her.
Hermione looked down and said, "Yeah, kind of. Are you?"
"Yeah. I'm still sorry Hermione. I feel so guilty. But, listen, I'll tell you the truth." Harry lowered his voice again so nobody but Hermione would be able to hear him. "Hermione, since last night, I feel…different. I think that I'm…well…to put it simply, I think I'm in love."
Hermione's eyes got wider. "With me?" she whispered.
Harry looked up at her eyes and quickly looked back down, for her eyes made him speechless. "Yes, with you."
"But what about…you know…Ginny?" she asked.
"I feel so dirty. I'm cheating her, and I know it. It's my fault. For that kiss that I should've never given you, Hermione." Harry swallowed.
"I should be the one feeling dirty, Harry. I started the whole thing. I took you out there in the Hall and kissed you first. It only made you want more. Believe me, if Ginny finds out, I'll take the blame, Harry. Even if she doesn't believe me, I'll take it. And Harry…if you want to be more than friends…" she stopped.
Harry looked at her, puzzled.
"Oh no, I'm doing it again. Harry, I'm sorry that I'm hurting you. Please, please, please forgive me. I guess it's just, I should stop looking into those beautiful green eyes of yours. They ever so…hypnotizing…" Hermione looked down at her lap.
Harry grinned. She thinks my eyes are beautiful, he said to himself. "Of course I will forgive you. I do want to be more than friends. But, that would hurt Ginny. And I know you and Ginny are best friends, don't you think that would shake your friendship with her up a bit?"
Hermione looked into Harry's eyes again, she couldn't help it, she had to see those beautiful, green eyes. "Harry, I love you so much. But, you don't have to love me back. Go with Ginny to that Ball. I bet you'll fall in love with her all over again."
Harry nodded. "I sure hope so. But who're you gonna go with?" he asked.
"Oh, I'll find someone. Ron can go with Abbey, maybe Seamus or Dean or somebody will be willing to go with me." Hermione gave Harry an encouraging smile. "Please don't worry about me."
"I'll try not to," Harry replied. Harry looked up at her face. Her beautiful smile was still there. But no, he couldn't go on like this, he couldn't keep falling all over himself for Hermione. Hermione was right, he shouldn't worry about her. He would fall back in love with Ginny, and the whole Hermione thing would be over. He convinced himself that he wouldn't remain unfaithful to Ginny. He still loved her.
He'd wanted so bad to tell Hermione that he loved her. But he held back. He knew if he did that, she'd just try to convince him not too. Then he'd have to convince her that love didn't have an on/off button to it, he couldn't turn it on when he wanted to love and off when he didn't. Harry sighed and simply smiled at Hermione.
That evening, Harry walked up the stairs with Ron to get to his dorm. This was a bit complicated, because the staircases changed a lot. "Ron," Harry said, "do you still have feelings for Hermione?"
"Well Harry, that's quite a personal question…but, blimey, I'll answer it anyway. No, I don't have feelings for Hermione. Why do you ask?" Ron replied.
"Just curious," Harry lied.
"Oh, OK then. She's just not the right one. I've talked to Abbey a lot, and I really like Abbey. She's so fun to talk to! And not to mention beautiful," Ron said.
Harry looked at Ron curiously. Maybe Ron was right. Ron had never talked about Hermione that way, so, it must've been true, Hermione must not have been the right one for Ron.
"And I've found out that she has a pet cat named Lucky, and her mum works at a bookstore and her dad works at the Ministry of Magic. Just like my dad!" Ron exclaimed. "I wonder if my dad knows her dad. Her dad sounds like a jolly good man. Her mum does too."
"You've got it bad for her, don't you?" Harry asked, pleased that Ron wouldn't be getting back with Hermione any time soon.
"Well, what's wrong with that? You talked about Ginny loads of times like that when you first got with her. You've got it bad for Ginny, don't you?" Ron said.
Harry felt a surge of guilt go through him. He felt his cheeks get hot and said, "Yeah, I do like Ginny a lot."
"Ahh well, nothing wrong with that. Ginny's had the hots for you ever since she first saw you at the Hogwarts Train when you were leaving for your first year here. You should've heard her when I got home for the summer. 'Hey Ron, are you friends with Harry Potter?' 'Hey Ron, do you know what his phone number is?' It was quite funny, actually," Ron laughed.
Harry couldn't stand it. "Ron, I love Hermione."
"Yeah, I mean Ginny just-" Ron stopped. "Uhh, I must not have heard you right, could you repeat what you just said?"
Harry knew Ron would kill him, but he repeated, "I love Hermione."
Ron stared open-mouthed. "But…what about Ginny? Hey, how'd you get a crush on Hermione anyways?"
Harry paused, debating of whether to tell Ron about the kiss or not. His thoughts were interrupted when they finally reached the Gryffindor common room, where he gave the Gryffindor password to the fat lady in the pink dress.
Harry went over and sat on his bed. Ron followed. "Well, it was just the other night," Harry began.
"Yeah. And…?" Ron made him press on.
"Well, Hermione wanted to talk to me in private. She kissed me, and told me she loved me. That was when I kissed her back. And now, when I look into Hermione's eyes, or someone says her name, I just feel warm all over. Ginny just doesn't have that effect on me anymore. I wish she did, but she doesn't." Harry stopped.
Ron nodded. "Yeah, I fell out of love with Hermione before I even broke up with her. I guess it was the same thing that happened with Abbey that happened with you and Hermione."
"I just feel so dirty though, Ron. I'm cheating Ginny. I still love Ginny, I know I do, even if I don't have the same reaction to her as I do to Hermione. I don't want to hurt Ginny's feelings. You're not mad at me, are you Ron?" Harry asked.
"Nah, 'course not. I didn't think you and Ginny would last long anyways," Ron said.
"Hey, take that back," Harry said, hitting Ron with his pillow. Ron giggled and toppled over.
"Well, I'm only telling the truth, unlike someone over here," Ron said, hitting Harry back and pretending to give him a dirty look.
Harry suddenly grew serious. "But I don't know what to do about the whole Ginny thing. I don't want to hurt her feelings. Even though I don't show it very well, I love her. A lot."
"Would you like me to tell Ginny for you? She might take it better from me. I'm her brother," Ron offered.
"No, I hate those type of things. It only shows I'm too cowardly to go tell her myself," Harry said.
"Well you are too cowardly to go tell her yourself," Ron joked.
Harry hit him with the pillow. "You'd better shut up, Ron."
"Ooh, I'm scared," Ron said sarcastically. For the next 5 minutes, the boys had a playful pillow fight.
"Well then," Harry said. "I'll try to tell Ginny. Tomorrow."
Harry sighed. So Hermione was only his friend. He kind of regretted that. But he shouldn't. His feelings were bad feelings. I love Ginny, and only Ginny, he kept convincing himself. He sighed again in frustration.
He couldn't concentrate on McGonagall's lesson, no matter how hard he tried. She called on him to answer a question in class, and when he didn't know the question or the answer, he was pretty embarrassed. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sniggered. Hermione flashed him a look of concern.
He lifted his head up to concentrate. But his eyes seemed to want to look at Hermione. He tried again and again to turn his eyes away from Hermione, but they seemed to be glued to her. He got that pleasant feeling in his heart every time he looked at her pretty face. He just wanted to lean over and kiss her, like he'd never kissed her before. Harry almost smacked himself.
When class ended, he gathered up his books and started out of the door. "Harry Potter," Professor McGonagall called, "come here."
"Uh oh," Harry whispered to himself. "Yes, Professor?"
"I was wondering, if something was bothering you, Mr. Potter. It just looked like you were upset about something, and you seemed distracted. Anything you'd like to talk to me or Dumbledore about?" she asked.
"No ma'am," he said. "I'm fine, just a little, um, tired and anxious about my next Quidditch match, that's all. Thank you, Professor, for your concern.
Professor McGonagall nodded and said, "Very well then."
Harry walked out of the door. Weird, I must've looked pretty worried, if even McGonagall had to check on me, I'd better get myself together, Harry thought. It was just the guilt that was killing Harry. The guilt from that kiss he should've never given Hermione…and his new feelings toward her.
Harry caught up with Hermione. She was talking to Ron again. Harry couldn't help but feel just a little bit jealous. But part of him was glad that they were still friends.
"Hello Harry," Ron and Hermione said.
"Hi. Glad to see you two talking," he lied. Well, he was kind of glad, but the jealous feeling still remained. He didn't want Ron to get back together with Hermione. It just didn't seem right.
"Was something wrong back there in Transfiguration class, Harry?" Hermione asked, in a concerned tone of voice.
"Oh it was…nothing, Hermione, nothing. I'm just a little tired," Harry said. Harry was going to tell her at first, but he looked back and noticed that Ron was still there. "Hey Ron, where's Abbey?"
"Oh, I told her I needed to spend time with you and Hermione. She was pretty understanding about it, actually," Ron said.
Good then, he hasn't broken up with her, Harry thought. "Oh, OK then."
The rest of their classes that day were all the same. But at dinner that night, Dumbledore stood up to announce something.
"Settle down, settle down, now," Dumbledore said. "Since Halloween is coming up soon, the teachers and I got together and decided we would let you have a Halloween Ball. It is next week, on October 31st. For those of you that do not like dancing, we are going to still have a feast, so you can talk and eat with your friends. That's all," Dumbledore finished and sat down, and the usual noise broke out again.
"A Ball?" Hermione said, "I guess unless Ron breaks up with Abbey then I won't have anyone to go with," she whispered to Harry.
"I'll go with y-" he broke off and remembered he would have to go with Ginny. "Oh, I mean, I'm sorry about that, Hermione."
Hermione looked at him curiously and whispered, "Are you still thinking about…well, last night?"
"Are you?" Harry asked her.
Hermione looked down and said, "Yeah, kind of. Are you?"
"Yeah. I'm still sorry Hermione. I feel so guilty. But, listen, I'll tell you the truth." Harry lowered his voice again so nobody but Hermione would be able to hear him. "Hermione, since last night, I feel…different. I think that I'm…well…to put it simply, I think I'm in love."
Hermione's eyes got wider. "With me?" she whispered.
Harry looked up at her eyes and quickly looked back down, for her eyes made him speechless. "Yes, with you."
"But what about…you know…Ginny?" she asked.
"I feel so dirty. I'm cheating her, and I know it. It's my fault. For that kiss that I should've never given you, Hermione." Harry swallowed.
"I should be the one feeling dirty, Harry. I started the whole thing. I took you out there in the Hall and kissed you first. It only made you want more. Believe me, if Ginny finds out, I'll take the blame, Harry. Even if she doesn't believe me, I'll take it. And Harry…if you want to be more than friends…" she stopped.
Harry looked at her, puzzled.
"Oh no, I'm doing it again. Harry, I'm sorry that I'm hurting you. Please, please, please forgive me. I guess it's just, I should stop looking into those beautiful green eyes of yours. They ever so…hypnotizing…" Hermione looked down at her lap.
Harry grinned. She thinks my eyes are beautiful, he said to himself. "Of course I will forgive you. I do want to be more than friends. But, that would hurt Ginny. And I know you and Ginny are best friends, don't you think that would shake your friendship with her up a bit?"
Hermione looked into Harry's eyes again, she couldn't help it, she had to see those beautiful, green eyes. "Harry, I love you so much. But, you don't have to love me back. Go with Ginny to that Ball. I bet you'll fall in love with her all over again."
Harry nodded. "I sure hope so. But who're you gonna go with?" he asked.
"Oh, I'll find someone. Ron can go with Abbey, maybe Seamus or Dean or somebody will be willing to go with me." Hermione gave Harry an encouraging smile. "Please don't worry about me."
"I'll try not to," Harry replied. Harry looked up at her face. Her beautiful smile was still there. But no, he couldn't go on like this, he couldn't keep falling all over himself for Hermione. Hermione was right, he shouldn't worry about her. He would fall back in love with Ginny, and the whole Hermione thing would be over. He convinced himself that he wouldn't remain unfaithful to Ginny. He still loved her.
He'd wanted so bad to tell Hermione that he loved her. But he held back. He knew if he did that, she'd just try to convince him not too. Then he'd have to convince her that love didn't have an on/off button to it, he couldn't turn it on when he wanted to love and off when he didn't. Harry sighed and simply smiled at Hermione.
That evening, Harry walked up the stairs with Ron to get to his dorm. This was a bit complicated, because the staircases changed a lot. "Ron," Harry said, "do you still have feelings for Hermione?"
"Well Harry, that's quite a personal question…but, blimey, I'll answer it anyway. No, I don't have feelings for Hermione. Why do you ask?" Ron replied.
"Just curious," Harry lied.
"Oh, OK then. She's just not the right one. I've talked to Abbey a lot, and I really like Abbey. She's so fun to talk to! And not to mention beautiful," Ron said.
Harry looked at Ron curiously. Maybe Ron was right. Ron had never talked about Hermione that way, so, it must've been true, Hermione must not have been the right one for Ron.
"And I've found out that she has a pet cat named Lucky, and her mum works at a bookstore and her dad works at the Ministry of Magic. Just like my dad!" Ron exclaimed. "I wonder if my dad knows her dad. Her dad sounds like a jolly good man. Her mum does too."
"You've got it bad for her, don't you?" Harry asked, pleased that Ron wouldn't be getting back with Hermione any time soon.
"Well, what's wrong with that? You talked about Ginny loads of times like that when you first got with her. You've got it bad for Ginny, don't you?" Ron said.
Harry felt a surge of guilt go through him. He felt his cheeks get hot and said, "Yeah, I do like Ginny a lot."
"Ahh well, nothing wrong with that. Ginny's had the hots for you ever since she first saw you at the Hogwarts Train when you were leaving for your first year here. You should've heard her when I got home for the summer. 'Hey Ron, are you friends with Harry Potter?' 'Hey Ron, do you know what his phone number is?' It was quite funny, actually," Ron laughed.
Harry couldn't stand it. "Ron, I love Hermione."
"Yeah, I mean Ginny just-" Ron stopped. "Uhh, I must not have heard you right, could you repeat what you just said?"
Harry knew Ron would kill him, but he repeated, "I love Hermione."
Ron stared open-mouthed. "But…what about Ginny? Hey, how'd you get a crush on Hermione anyways?"
Harry paused, debating of whether to tell Ron about the kiss or not. His thoughts were interrupted when they finally reached the Gryffindor common room, where he gave the Gryffindor password to the fat lady in the pink dress.
Harry went over and sat on his bed. Ron followed. "Well, it was just the other night," Harry began.
"Yeah. And…?" Ron made him press on.
"Well, Hermione wanted to talk to me in private. She kissed me, and told me she loved me. That was when I kissed her back. And now, when I look into Hermione's eyes, or someone says her name, I just feel warm all over. Ginny just doesn't have that effect on me anymore. I wish she did, but she doesn't." Harry stopped.
Ron nodded. "Yeah, I fell out of love with Hermione before I even broke up with her. I guess it was the same thing that happened with Abbey that happened with you and Hermione."
"I just feel so dirty though, Ron. I'm cheating Ginny. I still love Ginny, I know I do, even if I don't have the same reaction to her as I do to Hermione. I don't want to hurt Ginny's feelings. You're not mad at me, are you Ron?" Harry asked.
"Nah, 'course not. I didn't think you and Ginny would last long anyways," Ron said.
"Hey, take that back," Harry said, hitting Ron with his pillow. Ron giggled and toppled over.
"Well, I'm only telling the truth, unlike someone over here," Ron said, hitting Harry back and pretending to give him a dirty look.
Harry suddenly grew serious. "But I don't know what to do about the whole Ginny thing. I don't want to hurt her feelings. Even though I don't show it very well, I love her. A lot."
"Would you like me to tell Ginny for you? She might take it better from me. I'm her brother," Ron offered.
"No, I hate those type of things. It only shows I'm too cowardly to go tell her myself," Harry said.
"Well you are too cowardly to go tell her yourself," Ron joked.
Harry hit him with the pillow. "You'd better shut up, Ron."
"Ooh, I'm scared," Ron said sarcastically. For the next 5 minutes, the boys had a playful pillow fight.
"Well then," Harry said. "I'll try to tell Ginny. Tomorrow."
