A/N: Well here's Chapter 8 everyone. I did not receive as much reviews for Chapter Seven as I had hoped. I hope that doesn't mean that it wasn't as read as the previous chapters. Please review, for some reasons the more reviews I get the more creative I get and the faster you get posts. So just think about ; )
A Challenge is Set
The months passed by and Ron and Luna's wedding was approaching at a fast pace. It was now April and spring was evident all around London. Several weeks had passed since the fiasco Hermione had had with Harry, yet everything was still awkward between the two. It had taken a few days to even track Harry down, let alone talk to him.
Things with Barnaby weren't going so well either. He was a really sweet guy, she had no complaints about him. Other than she felt like it was a one way relationship because he was putting more into it than she was. She seriously starting to consider ending it. What good was it to stay in a relationship in which she didn't participate in? what good did it to when the one guy she really wanted was so hurt seeing her with someone else?
The following day, Hermione was glad for a distraction. From Barnaby, from Harry and from love in general. Luna, Ginny, and her were going to have a girls day out, buying the dressed for the wedding that had finally been scheduled for May. They decided to check a small, very old Boutique in an alley of Diagon Alley.
"You sure this was the place Lavender told you about?" Hermione asked Ginny eyeing the store suspiciously. It looked like a very ancient store.
"Yeah, this is the place where she got her dress," said Ginny. "you know Lavender isn't wrong when it comes to fashion."
"Yeah." Hermione agreed.
"Well come on then girls, we have dresses to try on!" said Luna enthusiastically.
They walked inside the store and a small, withered witch made her way towards them.
"Which one of you is the lucky bride.?" she asked.
Luna raised her hand earnestly.
"well come along with me, no offense girls but the bride alwlays comes first." said the old lady.
"Yeah we know." said Ginny.
The old witch led the girls toward the back of the store where they were instantly blinded by the vast amounts of white dresses hanging on the walls.
"Here are all the dresses, they're all samples of course, the one you pick will be altered to suit you perfectly." she explained.
"Are they all this white?" Luna asked concernedly. "I really don't want to blind anyone with an extremely white dress."
Hermione and Ginny laughed at Luna's candor.
The witch shook her head.
"They can be magically altered in anyway the bride desires. Including color."
"Oh all right." Luna said.
"So what style of dress are you looking for?" the old witch asked.
"well I want a very puffy skirt, I know that much." said Luna brightly.
The witch nodded.
"Do you have an idea of what shade you want?" she asked.
"Off white would be nice." Luna answered.
"I think I know the perfect dress for you, I'll be back in a moment."
The little witch disappeared into the masses of white dresses leaving Luna, Hermione, and Ginny alone.
"Did you finally pick a color for our dresses yet Luna?" Ginny asked.
"Yes I have. I decided you should wear yellow." Luna said. "Hermione, are you all right?"
Hermione had spaced out since the little old witch left them.
"Yes sorry I was just thinking of stuff." Hermione said forcing a smile.
Ginny and Luna exchanged smug looks.
"Harry." they said together.
"What?" Hermione asked bemused.
"You were thinking of Harry weren't you?" Luna asked.
"No I wasn't" Hermione lied.
"Hermione, you've never been a good liar." said Ginny.
"You don't have to lie to us, we know what happened between you two." Luna said.
"You heard about that?" Hermione asked bashfully.
Luna nodded.
"Yes, Harry came to us right after it happened."
Hermione sighed.
"What did he say?" she asked.
"That he lost." said Luna. "Did he lose, Hermione?"
Hermione ran her hand through her long mass of brown curls.
"I don't know" she said wearily.
"Do you still love him?" Luna asked.
"Yes." Hermione replied.
"Do you love Barnaby?" Luna asked.
"I fancy Barnaby."
"But you don't love him. This should all be easy." said Luna bluntly.
"But it's not!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Why not?" Ginny asked.
"It's…complicated." Hermione said not entirely sure of what she really wanted to say or why she thought it was complicated.
"Only because you're letting it be."
Ginny nodded fervently.
"Here you are." said a shaky voice.
The old witch had reappeared from the back of the store carrying a beautiful white off white dress. Hermione was relieved of the distraction. She really was starting to wonder why exactly she found it so hard. The solution couldn't be anymore easier or clearer. She only loved one man, and that man had finally become aware of their potential as a couple. She was in a relationship with another man for whom she only held a smidgen of affection for. The truth was that love had always been a complicated subject for Hermione. It was terrifying. Even more so when the best friend she had loved for years gets added in the mix. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she knew she had to speed things up.
Harry lay lazily on his couch reading the Daily Prophet. The front page of the daily prophet lay face down on the coffee table, crumbled up. The front page sported a picture of Hermione and her darling Barnaby, celebrating the success in the case that had brought them together. Harry's blood boiled as he saw the Hermione in the picture smiling brightly and side glancing Barnaby. just as he was going to throw the entire Daily Prophet in the rubbish bin, there was a knock at his door. Harry walked wearily towards it.
"Barnaby?" Harry said surprised.
There he was, standing right outside his door. The man that had been the source of Harry's stress.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked inquisitively.
"Can I come in?" Barnaby asked.
"Uhm, sure." said Harry stepping aside to let him in.
Barnaby sat himself down in Harry's plaid couch. He spotted the front page of the Daily Prophet crumpled on Harry's coffee table and decided to ignore it.
"I'm going to make this quick." said Barnaby.
"All right." Harry said simply. His mind was still working frantically wondering what the heck Barnaby had come to his house for.
"Hermione seems to be very enthusiastic about her friend's wedding." said Barnaby.
"Yeah we all are." said Harry.
"Yeah well…that sort of got me thinking, I love Hermione very much." said Barnaby genuinely.
Harry felt extremely uncomfortable. This was not something he ever wanted to hear.
"I've have never felt that way about anyone." Barnaby continued. "and all this wedding talk got to me."
A feeling of dread spread throughout his body. He felt like he had just missed a step on the stairs.
"What exactly does any of this have to do with me?" Harry asked.
"Well I know that You're Hermione's closest friend," said Barnaby kindly. " and I thought it'd be best if you heard from my own mouth that I plan on proposing to Hermione."
"What?!" Harry exclaimed. "Are you serious?'
"Very much so yes."
"You can't propose to her." Harry said simply.
"Actually Harry, I only came here out of politeness, so that you could see that I am aware of how important you are to Hermione." said Barnaby. "I didn't ask for your permission or consent."
"Hermione's not going to like this." said Harry smugly.
"I think you're confusing Hermione with yourself." Barnaby argued. "You're the one who dislikes me. Hermione is my girlfriend so I'm pretty sure she's fond of me."
"I Think I know her better than you do. Just heed my warning when I say you might not like the outcome of what your planning to do." said Harry daringly.
"I'm willing to risk it." said Barnaby with bravado. "I suppose I can't say the same for you."
"What are you trying to say by that?"
"I'm just saying that it's not a secret that you fancy Hermione like mad." Barnaby explained. " and it defiantly not a secret that you are now aware of it."
"However," Barnaby continued. " just know that your time may have run out."
"Don't be so sure of it." Harry replied.
A/N: Was it too short? If it was I apologize, but the last chapter will make up for it. After all you know I had to leave this chapter this way. I just wanted to clarify that Barnaby is not a bad guy. He genuinely loves Hermione and is a bit put off by Harry's obvious dislike for him. Just understand his position, here's a guy who's girlfriend's best friend who just so happens to be a guy knows her better than he does. Barnaby is feeling a little insecure and Hermione isn't really helping matter when she's always thinking of someone else. So the next chapter is most likely the conclusion of this story. Just for your information the chapter will be set on Ron and Luna's wedding in France, where the final showdown will happen. Who will Hermione choose? Tune in to find out…
