Wherein Hermione is taught a Lesson by Lavender
Takes place in sixth year.
"I can't believe the nerve of that boy, playing hard to get with me!"
"Hermione, did you really think that Harry would still be there waiting for you once your bizarre crush on Ron disappeared? Once you made it clear that you wanted nothing more to do with Harry, did you really think that no other witch would make a move on him. He turned down your invitation to the Spring ball because he's already got a date, you moron."
"But who? I would surely have noticed if Harry started dating someone!."
"The only girl in Hogwarts who sees him only as Harry, and not the 'Boy-Who-Lived'."
"I do that!"
"No, you don't. You do see Harry as Harry, but you also see the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. Remember what you said to him on the train here when you met him before first year?"
"But I've known him for over five years since that!"
"True, but I didn't say that your view of him was significantly tainted by the 'Boy-Who-Lived' fame, just that the taint, however slight it might be, is present in your perception of him."
"But there's no else it could be... Unless, did he start dating Ginny?"
"Ginny? After I tell you that it's a girl who sees him as he really is, the first girls that comes to your mind is a rabid 'Boy-Who-Lived' fangirl?"
"But there's no one else it could be. The only girl he's been on any kind of date with recently in Luna, but they were only going to Slughorn's party as friends, and there's no way that there was ever anything more to it."
"You are, of course, spectacularly. Yes, Harry only asked Luna to Slughorn's party as friends, but he was rather clueless, no doubt in part to being raised by people who despised his very existence. Luna wanted more, and after that party, she dragged Harry into a broom closet. They may have started the night as 'just friends', but they were certainly more than that by the end of the night."
"Luna, Harry's dating Luna?? Why wouldn't he tell me?"
"You've been making it rather clear to everyone that you wanted nothing to do with him. Harry and Luna aren't hiding their relationship, but neither have they made any conscious attempt to advertise it. They just are. And just how you managed to overlook a black family engagement ring on Luna's finger is entirely beyond me."