A Year To Remember - By grahm_craker_gal

Chapter Seven

It was Christmas break and I was taking full advantage of it. Ron and I were the only Gryffindors who had chosen to stay over break so we had all of Gryffindor tower to ourselves. I had brought all my brooms, I really had quite a collection you know, into the common room and was giving them a good fine tuning.

Ron bounced down the steps, blasting the Weird Sisters from his new Wizard's Wireless. When he got down to the common room he began doing the robot. I looked over at him and said, "Come on man, some of us are trying to get some work done."

Ron stopped dancing and incredulously asked me, "You ain't feelin' my groove here? All right let's see what jams you can bust out." Then he started flipping through my CD collection, which he had taken the liberty to bring down with him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I get that you ain't feelin' my beat, but, um, what the hell is this?"

I looked over and saw him glaring at a disc titled Song to Sing Unto the Lord. "Oh, that," I said, "Hermione lent it to me."

"Oh," Ron clarified, "so now she's got you listening to her people's music?"

"Her people?" I asked confused. What the hell did that mean.

"Yeah, the Bible-hugging, crucifix wearing, pray if you love Jesus people," Ron said.

I glared at Ron, seeing what he was getting at, "She's not like that," I told him.

There was an uncomfortable silence. Things were getting weird. It was never uncomfortable between me and Ron before. "You know, you, uh, got Ginny thinking that, well, that the little lip action between you and Jamie was, uh, was real." I stopped polishing the broomstick. I could tell that he was a bit angry with me for hurting his sister. Well, that was just too damn bad. "What's with you man?" Ron asked, "It's like you don't have time for your real friends anymore or something."

"I don't know, man," I said, wiping my hands on my jeans and rising to leave, "I'm just over it. I'm sick and tired of doing the same old shit all the time."

I walked all the way over to the base of the stairs before Ron said, "That girl's changed you and you don't even know it man..."

I spun around, angry, and replied, "Hey, let me guess. Did Ginny say that?"

"No," Ron said quietly, "I did."

* * * *

I decided I couldn't stick around Hogwarts with only Ron as company, I had to get away. I found Hermione's address in the school records. After that, I asked Dumbledore permission to visit her. He granted me it and congratulated me on a job well done in the play. With that taken care of, I got my favorite broom, packed a small sack with a present I had brought for her in it, and flew off towards her house.

I found her home rather easily and quickly. I dismounted my broom, ran up the porch, and knocked on the door.

Hermione answered it. "You," she said simply.

"Me," I replied, holding up the small bag I had brought.

"What is it?" she asked me, puzzled.

"I got you something," I told her as I gave her the sack. She unwrapped it and pulled out a new sweater.

"Thank you," she said sincerely, while draping it over her shoulders.

We stood together for a few minutes, then I said, "Well, I should be getting back. I'll see at school."

"Okay," she said softly walking back into the house.

I flew away, happy, hoping our relationship might somehow be revived.

* * * *

(From Hermione's Point of View for a little change)

After I went inside, I felt nearly ecstatic. I knew it was only a sweater, but it still made me happy. I looked down at the sweater. It was light pink and hand knitted, very soft. As I was admiring it, my father came in. He was a rather intimidating personage. He was a minister and very conservative. I knew from the way he was looking at me that he'd been watching from the kitchen window. "Hermione," he started, sounding as if he was trying his hardest to control his temper, "Boys like that... they have... they have expectations. You know the rules around here are not going to change."

"Fine," I said softly, a little disappointed. Couldn't he ever just let me be happy for once?

"Now you may not care what I say or think, but you should care about God's opinion," my father said sternly.

I smiled a little, "I think God wants me to be happy," I said, knowing it wouldn't please my father. "It's only a sweater dad. I'm going to make us some dinner." I kissed him on the cheek and left for the kitchen. I knew he was going to be pouting for a while.

* * * *

(Back to Harry's Point of View)

School was back in session. I hadn't seen much of Hermione since break, but that didn't upset me too much. I was now in a vacant classroom, studying for a Potions exam. I heard three people walk past realized who they were; Ron, Dean, and Ginny. I heard part of their conversation, which went approximately like this:

"Well, that's because he's always with Hermione Granger. She was looking pretty hot in that play man. I don't know..." Said Ron loudly. Ron always talked loud.

"She did not look hot," Ginny countered coldly.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she looked hot," said Dean stupidly. That's right, I thought, provoke the wild bitch.

"Wait! I have the best idea!" Ginny exclaimed.

That was all I heard, but I was already afraid for Hermione. Ginny was vicious. I would've warned her but really, what could I say? 'Um, Hermione, be careful of Ginny because I think she's going to do something. I don't really know what, but something.' Oh yeah, that would have worked really well.

* * * *

(Back to Hermione's Point of View)

It was Tuesday. So far things were pretty normal. I was heading for the Great Hall to get some lunch when Ginny, Lavender, and Pavarti approached me. "Hermione! Hi!" Screeched Pavarti in her high pitched voice.

I turned around and greeted them with a polite, "Hi."

"Listen," said Ginny, like I was her best friend, "I just wanted you to know, no hard feelings. Harry and I are way over."

I was a bit confused. Everyone knew Ginny and Harry had gone out, I mean who HADN'T heard about the dramatic break-up? but what did that have to do with me? "I don't really know what you're talking about," I told her.

Pavarti quickly changed the subject, "Hermione, you'd be so beautiful if you knew how to do your make up," she told me.

Lavender nodded in agreement and asked, "Hey, why don't you eat lunch with us?"

I nodded, bewildered as to why they were being so nice to me. It wasn't as if they'd been friendly to me before.

"Want a tic-tack?" offered Pavarti.

"No, I'm alright," I politely refused.

"Alright, but they do wonders for your breath, not that you need it or anything," Pavarti explained as we entered the Hall. When we walked in there was an eerie silence and then an explosion of whispers and laughs. I decided to ignore it. We sat down at their normal place at Gryffindor table. On the table top were multiple fliers all with the same thing on them. It was a picture of me, completely nude, with the phrase "Bookworm? I think not!" placed just so it barely covered what it absolutely needed to. But the point was still made.

"Is that you?" Ginny asked me innocently, "No wonder Harry likes you so much..."

I couldn't believe it. I couldn't understand why they would do this to me! What had I ever done to them? I could hear everyone laughing at me and see everyone gazing at me like I was the slut of the century. I had to get away. I ran towards the doors, feeling like every second lasted a thousand years. Before I got out I ran into something. Or rather someone.

* * * *

(And now, Harry's point of view on the whole affair)

As I was leaving Defense Against the Dark Arts, which I have right before lunch, I saw the flier. It was a picture of Hermione's head and some porn star's body. I couldn't believe Ginny had done this! I knew she was a bitch, but I hadn't expected something this bad, even from her. I knew I had to stop Hermione before she saw this. She would be devastated! I ran towards the Great Hall as fast as I could, but I could tell by the sound of laughter that I was too late. I ran in anyway, just as she was escaping. She ran right into me. I hugged her tightly and glanced down at her. The sight of her face broke my heart. Her eyes were full of shame, her cheeks were tear-stained, and her lower lip was trembling.

"Look, this isn't about you, it's about me," I told her comfortingly. "Stay here," I begged as I walked over to my group of friends.

Ron got up, with a flier in his hand, when he saw me coming. When I got within shouting range, he yelled, "Hey man, no wonder you were keeping her locked up. I had no I idea this was under all that!" Then he started laughing with about half of the hall.

I shoved him angrily, knocking him down.

"Stop it!" yelled Lavender, starting to get up to help Ron.

"You stay out of this!" cried Dean, restraining her. I knew he just wanted to see a good fight.

In the mean time, Ron had recovered and started at me again. I swung at him and hit him squarely in the jaw.

"We're through!" spat Ron, clutching his face in pain.

"Fine by me," I responded, walking back over towards Hermione, who was cowering near the doors.

"We're through forever!" Ron yelled after me. I didn't even look back.

I held Hermione in my arms. She seemed so fragile and breakable. "You okay?" I asked.

She merely nodded. Ron continued yelling, "You made a mistake scarface!"

I kept on ignoring him. "Let's get out of here," I said softly to Hermione.

"Hey! Get back here you little chicken shit!" Ron screamed.

"Wanna leave?" I asked. Hermione nodded again. I hugged her close to my side as we walked out of the Hall.

* * * *

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So ends this chapter. Sure hope you enjoyed it! Sorry for all the language, but really, he's a teenage guy, and teenage guys don't have the most pure vocabulary. Hope you liked it!

THANK YOU'S:

DreamSweeper - I totally forgot about the singing! Stupid me! I couldn't really incorporate it into this chapter, but I'll see what I can do later on!

Mrs. Elaine Potter

Sunny

delila-malfoy

Fatima

NickyGirl

Maggie O

AllStar628

broadwaystr666 - Hope things get better for you soon. Glad I can make you a bit happier!

hpdancer92

Want your name up here? REVIEW!

Oh, yes and a very special, if a bit belated, thank you to HaRrY + HeRmIoNe- 85 for putting me on her favorite stories list! THANK YOU!!!!

Well, that's all for today folks,

Until next chapter,

grahm_craker_gal