"Hey, Mum, can Harry and I go see if John is back from the Bahamas yet?" Hermione asked, creeping down the stairs with Harry in tow.

"Sure, Honey. But make sure that you are back before 1. That's when the Knight Bus is supposed to pick him up." Her mother replied with a wave of her hand meaning that she had acknowledged their presence. Hermione grinned and pulled Harry out of the house.

"Come ON, Harry!" Hermione shouted behind her, exasperated.

"Not all of us know where we are going." Harry retorted back. He sped up and caught her around the waist.

"That's better. Now. Can you tell us where the heck you are going?"

"We are going to my friend John's house. He's known me since we are kids, and he DOESN'T know that I am a witch. I'd like it to stay that way, so don't attack him if he flirts with me. He tends to do that a lot." Hermione said, her face turning red.

A few minutes passed by with Hermione pointing out some of the houses and Harry just enjoying her company. He still had his hand around her waist.

"There it is!" Hermione shouted. She pointed to a 3 story brick house with a limo parked in the driveway. Harry's mouth dropped open.

"Didn't know I know a lot of people, did you, Harry?" Hermione said, smirking.

"Now come on, Harry. Let's go up and ring the doorbell," Hermione shouted as she grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him up to the door. She rang the bell. A butler appeared immediately.

"Why hello Ms. Granger. Sir John has been expecting you. I will call him right down, if you please." He closed the door and they heard him turn around and walk away.

"Ms. Granger?" Harry asked, trying to keep a straight face. Suddenly, the door opened and all Harry saw was a boy with a brown somewhat bowl-cut lunge toward Hermione, knocking her hand out of his. Hermione was picked up and spun around, then put down immediately.

"Hermione! It's great to see you!" John cried, hugging his best friend and his blue eyes sparkling. Hermione hugged him back.

"How was your trip?" She asked him.

"Fine, thanks. What happened to you? Why, Hermione grew up!" John replied, looking at Hermione. Harry balled his fists.

"And who do we have here?" John asked, finally acknowledging Harry. Hermione ran up to Harry and grabbed his hand.

"This is my boyfriend, Harry." Hermione replied proudly. Harry coughed when she mentioned the word 'boyfriend'.

"Not really, 'Mione." He said softly so only Hermione could hear him.

John looked down cast. "Darn. He got to her already. What did you say your last name was, Harry?"

Harry's eyes narrowed. "I didn't mention my last name." He said. Hermione knocked him in the ribs.

"It's Potter." Hermione replied, glaring at Harry.

"Harry POTTER? It's great to meet you, sir!" John exclaimed, leaping to shake Harry's hand.

"Excuse me, but, how do you know my name?" Harry asked.

"Everyone in the wizarding world knows Harry Potter! You are a legend!"

"John, what aren't you telling me?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I didn't really go to the Bahamas this summer. I went to a wizarding school called Hogwarts for summer school. I'm kind of failing at Durmstrang, so……." John said, trailing off at the last sentence.

"You went to Hogwarts? That's were we go to school!' Hermione exclaimed.

"I know." He turned to Harry. "Apparently, we know three things here. 1. You are Harry Potter. 2. I'm a wizard. And 3. We both love Hermione." John said, bluntly.

"And?" Harry asked darkly.

"We should have a duel for her hand. I mean, we both like her, right?"

"Excuse me, but I think HER should have a say in this! Magic is very powerful, and you could both kill yourselves! You could be sent to Azkaban if you kill each other! I won't let you do this!" Hermione cried.

"Fine then. It's not a fight to the death. It's just to see whoever is hurt so much that they can't mutter any spells." John replied casually.

"PLEASE think this through. I'm not some trophy to be won!" Hermione spun on her heels and started to walk off. Harry caught up to her.

"Look. I haven't said that I would do it yet, but it might be fun. Besides, it's not like I'm going to loose, here. I mean, I've beaten the Dark Lord before, alright? You won't have to do anything except just watch." Harry said. Hermione thought about it for a while.

"Alright. But promise me the moment that you feel hurt you will drop out."

"I promise." Harry whirled around and took out his wand from the waistband of his jeans.

They walked up to each other, bowed, and turned around.

"Ready?" John asked. Harry nodded.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Harry shouted.

"PROTEGO!" John retorted. "SECTUMSEMPRA!" he shouted back to Harry.

Harry blocked it with the flick of his wand. "STUPEFY!" The spell hit John in the chest, sending him flying.

"oww." He said softly. He got back up and yelled "RETUCTO!" The spell hit Harry in the head, causing him to fly back.

"HARRY!" Hermione cried. He stood up and thought to himself. The challenge was supposed to make sure that the other person couldn't say a spell. Wait a second, Harry thought.

"SILENCIO!" He cried. John couldn't say anything.

"Learn any nonverbal spells yet?" Harry asked.

John shook his head. "Looks like I'm the winner, then." Harry said as he turned around. He opened up his arms and Hermione leaped into them. He closed his arms around her, embracing her.

"Harry! I was so worried! Both of you might have been seriously hurt! Please don't fight again because of me!" Hermione said as she sobbed into his shirt. John walked over and patted him on the back.

"Congratulations. I knew that you'd take care of 'er. You were willing to fight me just to keep her your girlfriend. See you around, Hermione." John said as he turned around and walked into the house. Harry looked down at the crying girl in his arms. She had soaked his shirt. He let her go.

"It's alright, 'Mione. I'm fine. And so is John, alright?" He wiped a tear away from her face with his thumb.

"Now come on. Lunch is about to start soon." He grabbed her hand a Hermione chuckled.

"Boys. Always think about their stomachs." They walked back to the house and went inside.