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RECAP: Ron smiled back at her, and leant forward and kissed her, cupping her face in his hands. Their kiss was short and sweet, as they pulled away; they smiled at each other again.
The last week of January flew by quickly, and February 2nd was drawing closer and closer. The students were very excited, and Hermione and Harry had been quite stressed the whole week trying to pry off students who were sticking to them like leeches, trying to find out what the Dating Auction was about.
Finally February arrived, and on the day of the 2nd, lots of students, mainly 6th and 7th years, crowded into the Great Hall at 3:00 sharp. Harry and Hermione had conjured up a small stage in one corner and had arranged huge amount of chairs and benches in front of it. Everyone surged into the Hall and took a seat on them.
"Welcome everyone, and thank you for coming to this briefing of the Dating Auction," said Hermione.
"Yes, this is just a briefing, an explanation of the rules etc. The actually event will take place tomorrow," said Harry, seeing the look of surprise on people's faces after Hermione's welcoming message, "Ok, so lets tell you guys what's going on, ok?"
"The Dating Auction is going to be exactly what it sounds like! There will be an eligible bachelor or bachelorette up for auction, and members of the opposite sex will be able to bid on them. The highest bidder will win a date with the person for Valentine's Day," said Hermione.
There were murmurs of interest going around the room. A few people were looking like they didn't agree with this idea and were shaking their heads. Most people however were grinning.
"Ok, now, if you want to be put up for auction, please write your name on a slip of parchment and put it into this box here," said Harry, motioning towards a large box on a table in front of him, "And also, all proceedings of the bidding goes straight towards St. Mungo's Hospital of Magical Maladies and Injuries."
"Please make sure that if you want to submit your name, to do so before noon tomorrow. Does anyone have any questions?" finished Hermione.
No one did, so the students were dismissed and everyone filed out of the Great Hall, chattering excitedly about the Dating Auction. Harry and Hermione went up to Ron and Ginny, smiling broadly.
"So? What do you think?" asked Hermione, excitedly.
Ginny grinned and said, "It sounds awesome, Hermione! I mean, it doesn't seem like the kind of thing you would organize, but what the hell, it sounds like fun!"
Hermione smiled at her and turned expectantly towards Ron, who was standing rather quietly.
"Well? What do you think, Ron?" she asked.
"I think it's… great… yeah, really great!" he replied, smiling at her. Hermione could tell he was lying, but she appreciated the fact that he was trying to support her idea. She smiled back at him, and slipped her hand into his. They looked around but Harry and Ginny were nowhere to be found. Ron shrugged and led Hermione out of the Great Hall, and up to her common room. They entered and the first thing they saw was not a pleasant scene.
Harry and Ginny were facing each other, shouting, and both their faces were bright red.
"And you expect me to sit back and just be ok with this?" screamed Ginny.
"Look you're making a huge deal about this! I'm Head Boy and it's my duty…" he was cut off however, by Ginny's hysterical voice.
"Your duty to what? Cheat on me? Somehow that doesn't seem to ring a bell about Head Boy duties!"
At this point both seemed to realize that Ron and Hermione were in the room, and turned to look at them. Ron and Hermione had frozen, taking in the scene. Ginny huffed, and strode out of the room, glaring at Harry as she left. Harry stood by the couch, his face flushed, still looking angry. Slowly, the anger webbed away from his face, replaced by a weary look. He sank down onto the couch, burying his face in his hands.
"What just happened?" asked Ron tentatively, looking like he really didn't want to know.
Harry shook his head, now looking at the floor. Hermione immediately took charge, motioning for Ron to follow Ginny, and approached Harry.
"Harry? Why did Ginny say you were cheating on her?" she said gently, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Harry looked up at her, and started speaking in a hollow voice, "She's making a big deal about nothing. Honestly, I just said to her, if no one signs up for this dating thing, then I'll have to be one of the bloody contestants, and she started laughing. And when I told her I was serious, she got mad, and accused me of cheating on her?"
Hermione made a sympathetic face at him, and said, "Oh Harry, I think you were a bit tactless. You should have said that no matter how badly you would much rather spend Valentine's Day with her; you just have to be a contestant. Although, really Harry, you shouldn't be worried about this. Loads of people will put their names in! You won't have to put your name in!"
Harry sighed and said, "I hope you're right. Well…what am I supposed to do now?"
"Don't worry about Ginny! She'll understand, Harry, I think she was just jealous and let herself blow up at you," reassured Hermione.
Meanwhile Ron had rushed back to the Gryffindor Common Room in pursuit of Ginny. He found her sitting on a couch, her shoulders shaking, and her face in her arms.
"Gin?" he walked over to her and put his arm around her, "Ginny?"
She looked up at him and wailed, "Oh Ron!"
He pulled her into a hug, and let her cry on his shoulder for a while. When her sobs finally subsided, he asked her again.
"Ginny, what happened?"
"Oh Ron, I was such an idiot. I'm letting Harry get away from me!" she said, tearfully, "I messed up, I messed up…"
Saying so, she buried her head back into her arms and started crying again. Ron kept hugging her, and hoping she would stop crying and go back to the sensible girl she usually was. Just then, Hermione came into the common, much to his relief. She made an immediate beeline for them and came and put her arm around Ginny as well.
"Ron, go away," she said.
"Well that's nice!" he exclaimed, but did as she said, casting a last worried look towards Ginny, before leaving the common room.
"Ginny? I talked to Harry… and well; he's really upset about this as well. You need to think about what you're going to do," said Hermione gently, lifting Ginny's face and brushing the tears away.
"Hermione, I don't know what to do! I… I love him, Hermione, I really do," said Ginny, now holding onto Hermione, "And I couldn't bear it if he ever went out with another girl!"
Hermione pacified her to the best of her ability, and then led her up to the dormitory, putting her into bed.
"Now, you just try to sleep a little, and clear your head a bit. I know you didn't get a wink of sleep last night, "she said, giving her a grin.
Ginny however didn't even smile, but looked even more morose as she remembered how she had spent the night on the couch cuddling with Harry.
Hermione left her there, and went back upstairs to her own common room. She was very much upset about the whole affair. She hated it when Harry and Ginny had a fight, even more than when she fought with Ron, because she knew that most of the time, Ron was just being pig-headed and they were fighting over a trivial matter. But Harry and Ginny rarely had arguments, and it was quite scary when they did, especially one as big as this.
She entered the common room to find Ron sitting there alone. She went over to him and sat down.
"Harry's gone out to have a fly on his broom. It helps to clear his head I suppose," he told her.
"Oh Ron, this is awful. They haven't fought like this in ages!" said Hermione mournfully,
Ron scooted closer to her and put his arms around her.
"Don't you worry, Hermione. They'll work it out. You know that neither can last without he other for more than a couple of hours!" he said comfortingly. Hermione gave him a weak smile, and rested her head against his chest.
A FEW HOURS LATER
Ron and Hermione mad their way down to dinner alone, because Harry had not yet returned from the quidditch and Ginny was still up in her dormitory. The two of them sat down at the Gryffindor table and started helping themselves to some food. Just then Harry walked in, looking very wind-swept and disgruntled. He came in and sat down opposite them, grabbing the nearest plate of stew and helping himself.
Ron, Hermione and Harry made small talk for a while, avoiding the subject of the recent fight. Suddenly made a choking sound. Ron and Hermione turned to see Ginny entering the Great Hall. She caught sight of Harry however, and turned abruptly and left again.
"Uh oh," thought Hermione.
Harry's face fell, and he pushed his plate away. Ron and Hermione exchanged looks, and Ron placed a comforting hand on Hermione's knee.
"Harry," he said, "Um… listen, about Ginny… seriously, she'll come around ok? Give her a bit of time."
Harry just nodded miserably, and Hermione patted his shoulder sympathetically.
AN: Ok, guys, sorry for the gap. Remember, I'm actually writing this story as I'm going along, unlike Secret Santa, which I wrote and then published. Anyway, thanks to all those who reviewed!
Ok I know the scene in this chapter with Hermione telling Harry that he was tactless is very similar to the one in HP GoF where she tells him that about Cho, but t just fitted really well! Anyway, I've already credited J.K. Rowling for the HP characters and that's just a characteristic feature of Hermione I guess…
Don't forget to review and tell me what you think of this chappie, kinda sad I know… what with Harry so upset... and Ginny being so stubborn… anyways, if you want the next chappie to come out quickly, then REVIEW!