Thanks for all the reviews, keep them coming! And as far as shipping goes, this will not be a H/G fic. I've never really liked that ship in canon or fanon.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter!


Chapter 4

Harry woke up late Friday morning. The both of them had silently decided that they might as well stay up a little longer. This was mostly due to Hermione's shoving him off the bed and Harry's subsequent initiation of a fairly enthusiastic pillow fight. After about half an hour or so of their pillow fight, Hermione finally decided to apologize for her "rash and impulsive behavior" as Harry elaborated. Even with the somewhat sincere apology, Harry still found it necessary to tickle Hermione until she cried, "Stop…Harry…you're…torturing…me! Ahhh…you are evil!"

Harry had stopped and looked questioningly at her, "I'm evil now am I?" he teased, "When did this happen?"

Hermione had giggled, and said, "Oh Harry. You're evil in a good way. Hopelessly sweet, quite handsome, fantastic kisser…is that enough for you?"

"Not nearly. You're missing about a dozen more. And, don't forget, there's my raven black hair, my enchanting emerald green eyes, an – "

Hermione had shut him up by straddling him yet again, and kissing him all the way down his neck, and then –

"Hey…stop that. That's not fair. You must know that if you keep doing this, you have to explain to me again just why you're so hung up on that issue we're having."

Hermione stopped, but not before she wagged her finger at Harry and told him, "Don't be smart with me, Harry James Potter."

Harry grinned at her and said, "It's true, though. What can I say," at which point Hermione threw her pillow at him.

After a few minutes during which the both of them sobered up, the discussion was brought back to the love potion situation. Hermione had sat up in her bed with Harry doing likewise, sitting so closely to her that he was near tempted to breathe some rather suggestive words into her ear.

"Back to what we were talking about before," Hermione began, "Not that, Harry! (after Harry looked southward) Ginny's love potion! Alright, anyway, I think we should start our break-up charade as soon as possible. Preferably tomorrow – or rather (after she looked at the time on her room's wall clock) later this morning right when we wake up. To make this as believable as can be, we have to have started spreading the news before breakfast is well underway. So, that way, by the time everyone leaves to go to their morning classes, the gossip of 'the break-up' will be fairly well-disseminated."

"I can't act, Hermione. Please don't tell me I have to act like I actually like Ginny that way. No, I won't."

"You have to, Harry. I really think the best way to take out the love potion threat is if we make Ginny truly believe that I'm no threat to her pursuit of you. She won't see the need to force her own magical hand into the situation since you'll be a free agent and all." Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment while Harry wondered what was taking Voldemort so long to kill him. Anything was better than this bloody break-up plan.

Hermione continued her explanation choosing to disregard Harry's less than enthused expression, "I think it would be best if we do a mutual break-up. That way, Ginny will be assured that neither of us were unexpectedly dumped and would be 'pining' after the one they lost. Yes, that would work best – the less threat the better. Now, I just have to find that elusive love potion, and destroy it. And in the meantime, we should make sure to push Ginny Neville's way – well, I will try to do most of that, since you'll be busy leading her on. Hmmm, yes. This just may work."

"Uh, Hermione. Aren't you forgetting the fact that Ginny has a boyfriend who may be strongly encouraged to pummel me once he sees his girlfriend flirting with me?"

Hermione waved her hand as if the thought was inconsequential, "Neville's used to that by now. He knows full well about Ginny's obsession with you."

Harry answered, exasperated, "Yeah, uh huh. He may have been alright about that situation when I was dating you, but I doubt he'll be very thrilled when he sees me not dating anyone. I'll be a bloody threat to him! Are you absolutely sure we shouldn't let anyone else in on our charade? Neville, maybe? I'm not particularly fond of getting punched in the face."

Hermione shook her head firmly, "No, Harry. I'm very sorry. But to make this work, we can not tell anyone, not Neville, not even Ron! Yes, not even him. Although he'll probably figure out it's a lie, but we'll deal with that when it becomes an issue. And maybe it would help if we act as if we hate each other."

Harry gave a resigned sigh, "So it's not going to be one of those "let's stay good friends" break-ups? You do realize people will look at us funny after us being friends since we were eleven."

"We act as if we hate each other. It's the best way to get Ginny to change her tactics! Please, Harry. I promise I'll find that cursed potion as soon as I can. I'm just asking you to bear with this for a couple of weeks or so. Please…for me?"

Harry nodded reluctantly, and after muttering a good night, fell asleep; this time for good.

Harry woke up late Friday morning. Hermione wasn't there. He assumed she had woken up already to get a head start on that break-up charade plan she thought up. He dearly wished that love potions never existed. While he was at it, flipping Cupid could be tortured to death for all he cared.

"Get a grip on yourself, Potter. Start acting. And stop moaning about it." Harry thought to himself, and became resolved to play his part in this crazed plan.

After all, he was a free agent as of this moment.

Honestly though, he felt about the same as he did when he had seen Hedwig stabbed to death and mercilessly cut into crude pieces—a lightning bolt scar emblazoned on every piece. "I have to hate Hermione? What have I gotten myself into?" He asked himself quietly.

It was going to be a very long day.


TBC