I was really hoping for more reviews, and I mean it. I really want reviews on this because I'm not gonna write it if only I'm reading it. And I know that people are reading it, so stop being lazy and just taking in my work: give something back to me even so much as a 'great chapter!'.


Hermione smiled slightly as she pressed her fingers to her lips. It was a small secret smile and she shook her head at the spectacle she was making of herself. For the past week she had been walking around as if lifted by some unseen force- and truth be told she was.

Jin's love to her was something amazing and mystical, even if she wasn't ready to return the feelings just yet. She stood and left the Great Hall having had enough of the pressing stares of the student and staff body.

Once outside the doors she spun around and lifted her arms up as though she had an invisible partner. The wind pressed into her hands as it always did now and she smiled as they waltzed silently in the empty hallway. A pair of ghost lips pressed into her forehead and a voice whispered into her ear words of endearment and encouragement.

The words also warned her of the door that was about to open, thus enabling Hermione time enough to lower her hands from their ballroom position. Jin's wind hands glided across her shoulders and back and his voice whispered once more in her ear, "I will see you tonight my sweet Bon-Bon."

She grimaced slightly at the nickname and whispered almost silently in return, "Bon-Bon is where I cross the line." She could almost feel his smirk and knew that somewhere he was.

"Hermione!" She winced even harder at Ron and Harry's call and bit back a sigh. Since the blizzard incident she had avoided them at all costs even so much as leaving supper early. She turned.

"Hi guys!" Her bright response and smile made them falter for a second.

"Hermione, we need to talk-"

"I'm not worth suicide over!" Ron had grabbed her by the shoulders and was shaking her violently. Harry was instantly there tugging Ron off of her as Hermione's poor abused brain fizzled back to life.

"What a manhandling. Ron, you don't know you're on strength." Hermione rubbed her hands up and down her arms to get back blood flow from the vicious attack.

"Hermione, we need to talk." The murmurs in the hall grew louder signaling the end of supper. "But not here, somewhere else." Hermione reluctantly nodded and followed the two boys down one hallway and around and down another before coming to the courtyard. Since the strange winter storm the grounds and surrounding areas had been under an extreme heat spell that you would expect from late April, leaving the courtyard warm and muddy.

Picking their way along through the mud to the cobblestone path they finally made it to a bench. The three sat though uncomfortably.

"Hermione, suicide is not the answer, I'm sorry I can't return your feelings but you have to get over me!" Hermione's eye twitched slightly at Ron's dramatic self-centeredness.

"Ron, never in my life would I kill myself over you, I can assure you of that." He almost looked deflated, as if she was lying and trying to cover up her weakness.

Harry seeing what was about to happen: a fight, stepped in.

"Well, can you tell us what you were doing? Maybe give us a bit of insight?" Harry cringed at how feeble he sounded, but maybe feeble and diplomacy was best for right now.

"I, well. It's complicated." Ron made a sound in the back of his throat. "Ron, I'll swear to and on anything you want that it was not about you." Harry motioned for her to continue and Hermione could picture Jin watching them with a huge grin.

"I had a fight with my boyfriend-"

"See Harry! She's delusional!" Ron jumped up and pointed his finger harshly at Hermione. "You and I are not dating, we did not have a fight, stop deluding yourself!" Hermione's eyes flashed and she was about to retort when an owl's screech tore through the night's silence.

A tawny barn owl flew towards them equipped with a single rose and a letter. The owl landed on Hermione's clothed legs and held out an appendage to her.

"Oh, for me?" She murmured while untying the objects.

"I figured this would come in handy, so I prepared a serenade for you lass. Aren't I just the sweetest demon you've ever dated?" Jin's voice was so close it was nearly in her head.

"You're the only demon I've ever met." She whispered back just as silently assuming he could hear it. Picking up the rose she inhaled its scent deeply and smiled. Jin had gotten her a rose.

Opening the card she didn't mind it too much when Ron and Harry peered over her shoulder.

'My dearest Lass Hermione, (she made a face. God, these pet names needed to go!)

Now, don't be torn up over how I've addressed this to you. You are quite my bonnie little lass and thus I'm going to treat you as such. Normally I would offer such royal beauty a chicken for your table, however as you are off at your boarding school and thus are in no need for a chicken (I also do not have one) I decided a rose would just have to do. A rose is supposed to symbolize beauty beyond compare. I don't believe that (she made a face again) for you are far more beautiful than any rose. You should symbolize beauty beyond compare, as I like you more than roses. (A look of exasperation crossed her features. 'Jin, as you were doing so well with the poetic lover thing…'.) Any who, I am sure looking forward to seeing you over break, I am truly glad that you agreed to stay with me at my home for the summer. I'll introduce you to all my best mates, including one great brute named Urameshi. He's harmless as a puppy dog he is, but don't tell him that. Anyway I hope that this mail reaches you safely and that you reply back as soon as possibly.

All my affection,

Your Jin and Tonic'

Once again a look of exasperation crossed her features. 'Your Jin and Tonic?! Jin! What is that supposed to mean, of all the nicknames and pet names you chose and alcoholic beverage!' Her eye twitched. 'And what is this about coming home with him for the holidays! I never agreed to that. That sneaky little conniving demon! I am going to skin him alive next time I get my hands one him!'

"Hermione… Hermione… Hermione!" Harry butted her shoulder lightly as she came out of her murderous haze. "Who is this from, do you know?"

Her eye twitched again- it seemed to be doing that lot. Were they insinuating that the only romantic things that she got were from strangers or stalkers? Well. Now that she thought about it, Jin was pretty much her stalker.

"Of course I do, as I told Ron previously I am seeing someone and I have been for quite some time." They looked disbelieving at her. "No really, I am!"

"Hermione, I told you that you don't have to fake a boyfriend. It's okay to be upset about this sort of thing. I know I'm dashing and all, but give up the act it's a little sad." Ron's flippant attitude was beginning to rub her the wrong way. He stood and stretched his arms, "C'mon Harry she's obviously not ready to talk about her problems just yet. She just needs time to come to grips with the situation." He started to walk away and then stopped at the entrance to the courtyard to wait for Harry.

"Listen, Hermione. I'd love to believe that you're in a relationship, but this?" He gestured to the card and the rose. "Came along a little too conveniently, I mean just when we confront you and ask you about your feelings all of a sudden you have a boyfriend?" He gripped her hands softly but tightly in his hands. "I want to believe you. But I just can't." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Come talk to us when you're ready- and I'm always here for you. Just- but honest with me, okay?" Hermione hung her head dejectedly- they'd never believe her even though she could see that Harry desperately wanted to. She nodded feebly and felt their presence leave.

Almost immediately she was swept up into a deep and loving hug.

"Oh Jin." She crushed her face into his chest and cried. "I know that the likelihood of me finding romance is slim, finding it right when Ron rejected me is even slimmer but I had hoped that they would believe me."

"I know, and that card I sent was a real ear wiggler if you ask me. Quite the romantic writer aren't I?" He grinned at her and she had to return the smile. She leaned back from his embrace, and was content to just sit next to him. Her smile widened at the thought, most girls her age always had to touch who they were with, always had to be all over them, or in their laps. She stole a glance at Jin. But not them, true their relationship was just starting, and they weren't even really dating yet (or at least that was what she continuously told herself) however she felt as though they didn't have to be all over each other. It was nice.

"So, will you come with me?"

"Hm?"

Jin tapped the letter still held tightly in her hands. "Come stay at my cottage with me. Just for the summer. You'll have your own room and everythin'. No sleepin' in my bed less you be wishin' to. Promise my heart and hope to." He paused. "And hope to?"

She giggled, "Cross my heart and hope to die."

"Gods, that sounds gruesome. No, I like my way far better." He took her smaller hands lightly in his, "Promise my heart, and hope to keep you."

Her face heat up and she slid her hands from his.

"Don't say that sort of stuff. We aren't in a relationship yet, there is no forever for us yet. We're just too friends-" His face was all of a sudden far too close to hers.

"Good friends who."

"Who." Her brain stopped, he was so close.

"Good friends who kiss and hold occasionally." He was all of a sudden there invading her senses warm and soft on her lips.

He pulled back, "Come stay with me. Let me show you what could be. No strings attached, if it's not what you imagine or fantasize about you can go right home and tell me goodbye." Their eyes met.

"Yes." He smiled and swooped in for another kiss.

She giggled slightly as she closed the door to her dorm room behind her and for the thousandth time pressed her fingers to her lips. They were still warm from his kisses.

She knew that the other girls were watching but chose to ignore them and continue in her Jin induced haze. Nearly dancing to her bed she conjured up a vase and went to the small adjoining bathroom to fill it with water. Coming back into the room she floated to her bedside and gently placed the vessel on her nightstand. Taking her rose she swiftly cut it down to size with her wand and placed it in the vase. Tomorrow she would have to go get some plant longevity powder to put in the water to make the rose last longer.

Even though she knew the letter and the rose was mostly for show, it was almost mostly to show her how Jin felt. And she felt it loud in clear through his kisses and words. Rereading the letter she smiled happily. So this was what it felt like to be wanted, no to be needed for more than schoolwork. Folding the letter gently as though it was made from the finest silks she placed it in her bedside table next to the previous letter and bruise balm.

Toeing off her shoes Hermione slid herself backwards into her bed and shut the hangings in order to change for bed. Then, finally, curled under the covers she slept and Jin through his wind held her.


So I've decided that I'm going to put up whatever song I was listening to at the time of writing this chapter.

'Your Guardian Angel' by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus