My sincerest apologies for not updating. I have no excuse. You may throw rocks if you do wish. But read first! Oh, and someone said something about how the internet wasn't common in Hermione's fourth year… thank you telling me, but I'm going to keep it like that because: A) It works for me and B) I'm too lazy to go and change it(:
"So, you and Ron were getting awful friendly during the match, talking about Quidditch and such," said Ginny, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. "So what happened?"
Hermione flopped down on one of the battered chairs in their dark tent. Although the game had hardly lasted an hour, she was exhausted. The combination of adrenaline and the… ups and downs with Ron had left her drained.
"What happened? I couldn't tell you. I thought things were going great, and then those… animals came out." She shuddered.
"The veela? Oh come on Hermione! Harry and Ron were just being guys. That doesn't even bother me!"
"I know! That's what I thought too. But in all the romantic books I've read and cheesy movies I've seen, the guy never goes slobbering off after some hot piece of meat! So, I don't know what's going on." She groaned in frustration and threw herself onto Ginny's bunk so she could smother her face in the thick quilt.
Ginny sighed and crossed the tent to pull her friend up by the arm. "C'mon Hermione, up we go!" Hermione stayed obstinately face down. "DUDE! You're acting just like those pathetic girly girls who go around moping around because of some guy."
Hermione rotated her face to shoot Ginny a raised eyebrow. "Ok, fine. You're acting somewhat like I did around Harry. But you were the one who got me out of that! And this is way worse. What I did was endearingly cute, because I was a little. This… you just need to man up."
She sat up and sighed. "Maybe you're right. Let's just check the book. See if there's anything else we can do."
Twelve Fail Safe Ways to Charm Wizards was still open to Chapter One: Pay Attention where the two girls had abandoned it.
"Ohhhhhh," said Ginny overdramatically. "So that's why you and Ron were talking about all that Quidditch stuff! I was wondering, because you've never seemed interested in it before."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Said Hermione breezily. "Quidditch has been a Wizarding tradition for nearly three hundred years. It is fascinating."
"Right. It has nothing to do with this book on how to catch guys."
"Of course not. So, if you'll excuse me…" Hermione reached over her friend to flip the pages to the next section.
Chapter Two: Relax and Be His Friend
So my dears. I'm assuming that you have successfully engaged your boy in some thrilling (or lack there of) discussion on something that he has a passion for. Hopefully you didn't die of boredom. Perhaps you even found something you liked! But that is not what this chapter is about. This chapter is about using that smidget of conversation to bring on a whole new realm of relationship for the two of you.
Now, I know that most experts say that "once you're in the friend zone, there's no getting out" but I happen to think that all great, meaningful, and above all, lasting relationships spring from friendships. Remember, this is not a novel to read if you're just looking for a fling.
So now that you have talked, go talk to him again! Build a friendship and be his friend. And remember, that you cannot do this if you are constantly tripping over yourself to be his girlfriend! Relax and be his friend.
But, perhaps you were already friends with him. And you're telling me "Madeline, you're insane. I've already done this. So thank you for a pointless chapter with no advice for me." Oh contraire my dear friend. You've been friends for some time now, correct? And once you realized that you fancied this boy you suddenly find yourself jealous for no reason? Snapping at him for something that shouldn't bother you? Struggling to maintain a conversation with him without getting lost in his eyes? Yeah. I thought so.
Therefore, take my advice. Friends first, let him see who you are! Crack a joke, tell him a funny story, talk to him about his family, but be friendly. But, don't be his best guy friend (for more on that see Chapter Five).
Good luck dearest!
…
"Wait, what does it mean, "But don't be his best guy friend"? asked Ron.
"Oh, you know, no fart jokes or burping contests or anything like that."
Ron stared, opened mouthed at her.
"Do you really think we do that?"
"Well, yeah. Don't you?"
"Of course not!"
"Well, do you and Harry?"
"No! I mean, yesterday I burped after a Butterbeer and then he burped after his and we just… forced ourselves to burp at each other for a while…."
Hermione wrinkled her nose at him. "Yeah, we weren't supposed to do that."
"It wasn't that bad! And I won!" Ron smiled at the memory.
"Very good sweetie," she said sarcastically. "I'm proud of you."
She patted his face mockingly a few times before Ron grabbed her hand and pulled him towards her into a hug.
He buried his face into her hair and whispered: "I knew you would be."
Yay! So, school starts tomorrow:/ and for some odd reason, I've decided to take an AP course. So, I don't know what my updating schedule will be like, but I will try to do once a week. I'm telling myself Saturday or Sunday, but this story may become what I like to call "an object of procrastination" and it may be updated during the week(:
Anyways, I've got the rest of the fic loosely planned out, but if there's something in particular you want to see, let me know!
