A/N: Thanks to all those people who reviewed and added this story to their faves and story alerts. As promised, that early post! I'm free of projects and homework! IT'S SUMMER!! ^_^

Chapter Four: Don't Tell.

Sunday, 10:57 PM, Gryffindor girls' dormitory

Dear Diary,

I apologize for the abrupt halt of my entry. I bet you want to know what happened. Well, to summarize, someone found out, a revelation was made, a disappointment disappointed me, a jealousy overcame me and I have sunk into the level of desperation.

Oh God, I don't think I can handle this anymore! I mean, Harry's being such a prick! Ginny is being her usual flirty self. Phineas is love struck and as usual, I'm at the end of the line with confusion mottling my mind.

I don't get this. Harry yearns Ginny, but Ginny's pining for Algernon. Phineas is after Hermione, but Hermione is seeking… no one.

I am absolutely after no one. I can live my happy life alone as a librarian. Or an accountant at Gringott's. Or a professor here at Hogwarts. There are a lot of options.

But before I ramble even more, I'll start from the beginning then…

*~*~*~*

The one who had entered the room was Phineas. I was in the middle of putting my wig on. He saw me, all right. He stood there, looking dumbstruck and shocked. I looked probably the same.

He strode over to me, pointing a shaky finger at me. "Y-You're a girl! Hermione Granger! I knew it! You seemed awfully familiar looking! Why are you dressed up as a boy? Why couldn't you just get on the team as a girl?"

"Shut up, you pillock! Yes, it's me, Hermione Granger. Look, the reason I'm joining the Quidditch team—"

"As a boy." He interrupted.

"Yes, as a boy, is all because of a bet."

"A bet? With whom?"

"Ron Weasley. It was a bet we made on the train to Hogwarts. He bet that I couldn't last a minute in Quidditch. I bet I could and things went complicated from there. He made deals and conditions and other loads of boyish things. In the end, I could only tell Luna Lovegood about the bet, but now it seems you know too."

He paused for a while. "I'm going to tell Harry."

I quickly grabbed his arm. "No, you don't. You cannot tell Harry. Absolutely not him. Don't tell. I'm serious, Phineas."

"Fine, I won't tell. But what's in it for me?"

Sweet Merlin. Must all boys need something in return to do something?

"What is it?"

"You have to be my girlfriend."

"What?!"

"Not Algernon. Hermione." Then he leaned closer. "I want Hermione Granger to be my girlfriend." His eyes were filled with innocence and sincerity.

"Alright." I gave up. How could I deny him? He seemed so pitiful.

"So, how about dinner tomorrow?" He was smirking.

"Sorry, I can't. I already have dinner plans with Harry."

"Harry? I thought you weren't dating anyone."

"I'm not. Just a simple outing with a friend."

"Of course."

"Don't drawl; it's rude."

"Right." He grinned at me. I raised a brow questioningly.

"What?"

"Nothing. Put your wig back on, 'Mione."

Now, when did I allow him to say that? It just didn't sound right when he said it. He lacked a bit of essence in his voice. The name didn't even sound familiar to me anymore. It seemed like "'Mione" was a whole different person from me when he said it.

"Don't push it, mister. Only Harry and my other personal friends can call me that."

"Fine. How about 'Herms'?"

Gross. Absolutely disgusting. "Herms"? How awful, how annoying, how disturbing, how… not like me. Sure, it was fine when Harry and Ron teased me with it, but as a pet name? I didn't think so.

"No pet names. Absolutely none allowed and I mean it."

"Alright, alright. But you do have to date me though."

"Maybe later. Or next month."

He glared at me and I smirked at him. Why did he fancy me anyway? What did I have? I mean, look at Ginny! She's got the looks, the shape, and the beauty. Except smarts, I'm so much smarter than that bimbo.

Suddenly, Harry came in and Phineas jumped up. "Feeling better?" He asked, coming to me.

"Yeah." I replied, smiling.

"That's good. I have some news though; I already told the others. Saturday there will be practice but not so long. Practice is from three to five. I have dinner plans at six."

I tried not to grin as he said it in front of Phineas.

"With whom?" Phineas asked.

"Hmm? Oh, just Ginny."

My eyes widened and I swear I heard a crack somewhere in my chest. How could he have dinner plans with Ginny? Did he invite her as well? How could he not tell me?!

Oh wait. I get it. He just prefers Ginny to book-wormy, dorky, ugly Hermione Granger. I just don't match up to her godliness looks. I'm just not pretty enough for Harry, that's why. I'm too low and dirty for the likes of "The-Boy-Who-Lived." I'm just a ruddy peasant girl in the gutter. And he and Ginny are lords and ladies. I should've said "yes" to Phineas all along. I mean, how could I actually think that Harry would like me like how he likes Ginny? I am honestly so stupid. Why am I, Hermione Granger, never good enough for anyone?

"Oh." I replied, quietly.

"That's… surprising." Phineas said.

"Yeah, I know. It was so sudden. But since she recently broke up with Dean, I guess she decided to go after me."

Now, this was surprising. I wonder when Ginny broke up with Dean. Probably that morning. Or maybe late at night when they were snogging and realized Dean's tongue doesn't taste right or something.

"She asked you?" Phineas asked, clearly impressed.

"Yeah." Harry answered, shyly scratching the back of his neck.

"Right. Well, we still have practice and all, so let's just get back." I interrupted. My voice sounded like it was cracking. Maybe it was because of the tears stinging the back of my eyes.

"Of course. Let's go." Phineas said.

Then the three of us left for practice.

*~*~*~*

I tried so hard to hold my curiosity after that. It was dinnertime. Harry was eating beside me. He hadn't told me (officially) yet about his dinner plans.

So, it was in the Common Room I finally broke down.

"Harry?" I asked as he and Ron played a game of Wizards' Chess.

"Yeah?"

"Y-You don't have dinner plans with me tomorrow, do you?"

They both look at me, astonished. Ron's eyebrows were raised questioningly at Harry after he looked at me.

"Oh, right. It sort of slipped my mind. You see Ginny broke up with Dean yesterday. And she had dinner reservations at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday. So I told her about my dinner plans. She asked if it was okay if we could switch. That is, she and I go to the Golden Snitch and maybe you and another boy go to Three Broomsticks."

My already split heart fell at my feet. I could hear it crack and shatter into a million pieces, scattering all over the floor.

"Oh."

"How did you find out?"

"It was a secret? Algernon told me. You know, my friend."

Harry visibly cringed at how I emphasized the word.

"It's not like that, 'Mione—"

"Don't call me that! How could you make plans with Ginny without even telling me? Instead, I had my real friend tell me! You couldn't even tell me yourself!"

I was crying now. I couldn't help it! How could he do that to me? He's my best friend! Rather, was my best friend.

I looked at his emotionless face and quickly ran up the stairs. I didn't even go to my dormitory. I sat on the stairs, the shadows drenching me in their darkness. Then I heard Ron's voice.

"That was low, mate." Ron said, breaking the silence I left them in.

"Look, I'm sorry, alright? It's just that Ginny just broke up with her supposed-to-be long-term boyfriend. So when she asked, I just couldn't say no."

"So you're saying she's more important than Hermione?"

"No! Hermione's the most important person to me right now!"

"Is that true? If she was, wouldn't you have told her or said no to Ginny? Or are you not quite over her?"

"I am over her, Ron. She's just needs her heart to be mended."

"By you especially? I know Ginny can be a flirt. But, bloody hell, Harry. I figured you'd be stronger than that."

"I am, Ron. I'm just going to comfort her a bit. She was crying when she told me."

"Look who's crying now, Harry! It's not Ginny. It's Hermione. You know, your best friend for seven years. Maybe that's all how long she'll be a friend with you. If I were her, I would give up on you. Drop you like a sack of potatoes."

"Well, you're not 'Mione, Ron."

"I believe she told you not to call her that anymore."

"Whatever! Point is, Hermione's overacting. She's being a spoiled brat."

"That's how it is, eh? Fine. I'm done with this, Harry. Game over."

Then he stood up and left for his dormitory.

I heard Harry sigh. Then he placed a chess piece down.

"Checkmate."

*~*~*~*

I laid awake in bed that night. I couldn't think of anything except for Harry's harsh words. He sounded so cold, so cruel.

I never thought Harry was capable of sounding like that. I felt so heartbroken. I felt like I was thrown away like some useless rag. But most of all, I felt lonely and abandoned.

*~*~*~*

When Saturday came, I woke up near eleven already. Not that I minded, but I also didn't spend my entire night crying over Harry. That would be too pathetic.

I merely got out of bed, did my usual morning routine and dressed in my usual Muggle clothing.

I ignored Harry that day. Not that he noticed; he was always with Ginny. They would be laughing, talking. During meals, I sat at the end of the table, alone. Harry and Ginny sat together, just enjoying each other's company.

The day ended finally. But I stayed up until nine to wait for Harry. At near ten the Common Room door swung open and Harry came in, looking flustered and tired.

I immediately stood up and tried to leave. But Harry had other plans and held onto my arm.

"Wait. I'm sorry about yesterday. I mean, I was supposed to tell you but I forgot. And there's really nothing between Ginny and I."

I nodded but his grip tightened and he swirled me around. "Look, I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to hurt you!"

He had tears in his eyes and I softened at this. I touched his cheek as a tear rolled down his face. "She hurt you." I whispered softly.

He kissed my hand as I wiped the tear away. "No. She didn't do anything. But she did tell me a valuable piece of information about Al."

"Really?" I asked, my eyes wide. "Tell me!"

He chuckled at me. "First, you have to kiss me."

"What?! No way!"

"Just a kiss between friends! Besides, I need proof that you forgive for me for being an ignorant prat."

I glared at him. Then leaned in and kissed him on the lips. But with what meant to be a chaste kiss turned deeper as I was about to let go, Harry wrapped his arms around my waist. I seemed surprised at first, but then I relaxed as easily as I slid my hands up to wrap around his neck. Soon, lack of air passing through us became a problem and we both let go.

"Forgive me yet?" He asked, grinning.

I thought about it for a while. "No, not yet."

Then he leaned in and kissed me again.

*~*~*~*

I woke up just as the sun had started to show its first ray of light. I tried to sit up and recognize my surroundings, but something tightened around me.

I fully opened my eyes to the sight of something black and fuzzy. A sweater to be more precise. Harry's sweater. I froze and my eyes traveled up to look at him. He was asleep and his ebony locks were as messy as ever.

I looked down to my waist and Harry was hugging me protectively (and tightly). My arms were wound around his neck and we were both squished up against each other on the couch. I tried to lean back but I was the one against the couch's back.

Seeing as I was comfortable and no one was around, I snuggled closer to him, burying my face in his neck.

Soon, he woke up. When he tried to get up, I bit his neck softly and he groaned.

"Ah, last night was good, wasn't it?" He asked, grinning.

I smiled and kissed his nose. "A bit."

Harry licked his lips seductively and kissed me.

After we finally stopped, we both sat up, me ending up on Harry's lap.

"Forgive me now?" He asked, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"If you tell me that 'valuable piece of information' about Al."

"Fine." He said, pouting a bit. "But after, you give a reward right here." He pointed to his already swollen lips. I leaned in until my lips were nearly a centimeter apart. "Okay." Then I pulled back.

"Ginny likes Algernon."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes."

Now, we have a problem.

But we had an even bigger one when someone came tromping down the stairs.

"Hermione?" A voice asked, behind us. I recognized it as Phineas'.

I immediately stood up from Harry's lap. "Phineas, what are you doing up?"

"I always wake up this early to jog around the Quidditch pitch." He replied, shrugging.

"Oh."

Harry stood up and looked at Phineas. "Phineas? You know Hermione?"

"Yeah, she's my girlfriend." He replied.

I stiffened as Harry looked at me questioningly. "I'm not your girlfriend, Phineas."

"Yeah, you are. You told me you would be since I wasn't going to tell Harry about—"

"How good you really are at Quidditch." I interrupted. Phineas smirked.

"What?" Harry asked. "So you are his girlfriend?"

"Yes. No. Um, just conditionally."

"Oh, I see."

"Not officially, Harry."

"Right, of course."

Then Harry bounded up the stairs.

*~*~*~*

So, basically, my life's a mess. A total mess. Argh! How am I supposed to focus on classes and schoolwork when people like Harry and Ron exist?

Sweet Merlin, I'm going to faint. It's time for bed now. I'm sure I wouldn't want that little run-in with Parvati again. Horrible, horrible, horrible...

*~*~*~*

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! And don't forget to review! :)