Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.
Chapter 10 That Little Thing Called Jealousy
Hermione was in shock. It took her a while to realize that she was soaking wet and remembered what was going on.
"Take it," Viktor said.
With a shaking hand, she took a towel from him.
"Th… thanks," Hermione said.
Hermione looked around, but there was no sign of Harry and Ron.
"Where are they?" she asked.
Two figures then came up from the water. She recognized only one of them, however.
"Ron," Hermione yelled.
Ron helped Fleur's sister swim to Fleur.
"Give me your hand," he heard a voice said.
He couldn't believe who had been the one to help him up. She was standing beside Fleur, soaking wet.
"Hermione?" he asked.
"Come on," she said.
Ron looked around. There was no sign of Harry.
"Where's Harry?" Ron asked.
Hermione gave him a terrified look.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Harry then came soaring out of the water.
"Oh, thank God," Hermione said.
Hermione hardly even realized that Ron had grabbed her hand as they started running towards Harry.
"Come on, let's go," Ron said.
They both stopped as they witnessed Fleur kissing Harry on the cheek. Ron's eyes grew as Fleur then looked at him.
"And you," Fleur called.
Ron swallowed hard.
"Yes?" he asked.
"You helped save her. My little sister," Fleur said.
Hermione's mouth opened a bit as Fleur put both hands on Ron's shoulders.
"Well…" Ron began.
Hermione got the most evil look in her eyes as Fleur proceeded to kiss Ron on the top of his head. Before she could say anything to Ron, Victor called her. Ron started to talk to Harry as Hermione followed Viktor.
"You like this Ron?" Viktor asked.
She glanced down, not knowing what to say at first.
"Whatever are you talking about?" Hermione asked.
"I see the way you looked," Viktor said.
"I…" Hermione began.
Hermione turned as she heard her name being called.
"You coming with us to Hagrid's, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Coming," Hermione said.
She turned to Viktor and waved.
"You're mental for trying to save everyone. You do know that Dumbledore would never hurt us, right" Ron asked.
"I think he was very admirable," Hermione said.
Ron turned, not noticing Hermione had been behind him.
"Why, Hermione, Harry knows I'm joking," he laughed.
They were quiet for some time on the way to Hagrid's.
"How does it feel knowing you're the thing Krum will miss most?" Ron asked.
"Don't go there with me, Ron," Hermione said.
xxx
Ron curled his fist as Hermione walked over to Krum after he called her.
"Let's get back to the common room," he said.
Harry took a deep breath as Ron got up.
"Ron…" he began.
Ron turned as Harry followed him.
"What?" he snapped.
Harry didn't take this too seriously. He knew how Ron was about Hermione.
"I know it's hard," Harry said.
The two then began walking to the common room.
"This isn't working out," Viktor said.
Hermione didn't know how to react to this.
"Oh…" she began.
"I can't compete with your feelings for Ron," Viktor said.
Hermione, who had been previously looking down, looked up at him.
"I… I see," she said.
Hermione walked to the common room… deep in thought. She walked through the portrait door and went straight to Harry.
"Harry, can I have a word… alone?" Hermione asked.
Harry glanced over at Ron, who looked at him for only a second before returning his attention to the book in his hands.
"Um… sure," Harry said.
The two found a quiet spot where they could actually hear each other.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Hermione took a deep breath.
"Is it obvious?" she asked.
Harry honestly couldn't think of what Hermione was talking about.
"Obvious?" he asked.
"That I like Ron," Hermione said.
Harry had to think if Ron had noticed anything.
"If he does, he hasn't told me. Why?" he asked.
"That's what Viktor and I were talking about," Hermione said.
"He knows?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked down and nodded.
"Yes, he does," she said.
They stayed quiet for some time. Harry decided to break the silence.
"I take it he broke things off then?" he asked.
"It was bit of a relief, actually," Hermione said.
"When do you think you'll tell him?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked down, knowing he was talking about Ron.
"I don't know," she sighed.
Harry went back to Ron, leaving Hermione in deep thought.
"Is she all right?" Ron asked.
Harry didn't turn to Ron.
"Maybe you should ask her yourself," he said, pretending to be interested to book he had opened.
Ron became a little panicky as he saw Hermione walking up the stairs.
"Hermione," he called.
She turned as she reached for the handle to the girls' dormitory.
"Yes, Ron?" Hermione asked.
He took a few seconds to take deep breaths.
"Is everything all right?" Ron asked.
"I'm good," Hermione said.
Ron looked down as Hermione stared at him interest.
"Well, you know Harry isn't the only person you can talk to. You have me to talk to as well," he said.
When he looked back up, Hermione was smiling at him.
"Thanks, Ron," Hermione said.
"What are friends for?" Ron asked.
Hermione's mind immediately flashed to their first year after Harry and Ron had saved her from the troll on Halloween. He had said those exact same words to her then, too.
"I'll see you in the morning then," Hermione said.
Hermione quickly turned so that Ron couldn't see her face turning red.
"Goodnight, Hermione," Ron said.
Ginny lowered her eyebrows as Hermione seemed to float to her bed.
"What are you all smiling about?" she asked.
Hermione let out a sigh as she lay in bed.
"He cares," she said.
Ginny was getting somewhat annoyed that Hermione didn't seem to hear she what was saying.
"Who cares?" she asked.
"It's nothing, Ginny," Hermione said.
xxx
Things had gotten back to normal, or what was normal to Harry, with Ron and Hermione by the time the third task came along. On the day of the third task, Ron came running down the stairs. Seeing the look on his face, Hermione ran up to him.
"Ron, what is it?" Hermione asked.
"Take a look for yourself," he said.
She followed Ron back upstairs. When Ron opened the door of the boys' dormitory, Hermione found Harry walking the outline of his bed.
"Harry…" Hermione began.
"I've tried. He won't answer me, Dean, Seamus, or Neville," Ron said.
Hermione collapsed on Ron's bed.
"How long has he been like this?" she asked.
Ron took a deep breath and joined her.
"No idea. He was doing it when I got up," he said.
Hermione got up and crossed her arms.
"I guess this is really getting to him," she said.
"You think he's really that stressed?" Ron asked.
"Must be," Hermione sighed.
Hermione turned and Ron got up from his bed when Harry started speaking.
"It was just a dream… it was just a dream," Harry kept saying.
"Harry…" Ron began.
"Talk to us," a new voice said.
Hermione and Ron turned to find that it was Ginny.
"Ginny," Hermione gasped.
"I heard," she said.
They turned their attention back to Harry.
"It was just a dream," Harry kept saying.
"What was just a dream, Harry?" Hermione asked.
Ginny have a frustrated sigh like it was so obvious what had to be done.
"Oh, honestly," she said.
"Ginny?" Ron asked as he watched his sister walk turned Harry.
She walked straight up to him and slapped him. Harry stopped and put his hand on his cheek.
"That hurt," he said.
Hermione and Ron smiled.
"Someone had to do it," Ginny said.
Ron and Hermione walked over to Harry after watching Ginny walk out.
"You all right, mate?" Ron asked.
"I will be," Harry said.
Seamus and Dean then appeared at the door.
"Good to see you're back with us. It's time," Dean said.
Ron and Hermione looked at each as Harry walked out.
"Only Ginny could get away with that," Ron said.
Hermione nodded and they both followed Harry.
xxx
Arthur smiled and waved after spotting Ron and Hermione.
"Oh look, it's Ron and Hermione," he said.
Hermione looked down seeing the look in Mrs. Weasley's eyes.
"I'll be back," she told Ron.
Ron turned to his mother after he figured Hermione was far enough from hearing.
"Honestly, Mum," he said.
Molly crossed her arms.
"You like her and here she is with Harry," she said.
Ron opened his mouth, but nothing came out. She had obviously heard this from Rita Skeeter no doubt.
"They're not together," Ron said, fighting back a laugh.
He couldn't believe that his mother would believe anything from that Rita cow. Hermione was walking back to the Weasley when she knocked into Ginny.
"Sorry, Ginny," she apologized.
"Quite alright. You headed back up?" she asked.
Hermione then question herself whether or not she even wanted to.
"Oh, I… I…" she began.
Ginny laughed, knowing somehow the reason.
"Come on, don't let Mum spoil the day for you," she said.
When they got up to the stands, Ginny made sure Hermione sat next to Ron.
"Welcome! Now, since Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter tied for first, they will enter the maze first. Followed by Mr. Krum… then Miss Delacore," Dumbledore said.
Ron looked over at Hermione, noticing that she didn't clap when Viktor's name was announced.
"Aren't you supposed to be cheering for your boyfriend?" he asked.
She looked at him, a little confused.
"Oh, I didn't tell you it's over between me and Viktor?" Hermione asked.
"No, you didn't," Ron said.
They both looked away. Neither one noticed the smile on the other's face.
xxx
It had been an hour since Harry reappeared with Cedric's body. Harry walked into the hospital wing where Hermione and the rest of the Weasley's were waiting for him.
"Harry…" Molly began.
"We should let him sleep," Dumbledore suggested.
None of them argued.
"Here, take this, Potter. It'll let you have a dreamless night," Madam Pomfrey said.
Harry only nodded and took the cup. Ron noticed Hermione expression as they let Harry sleep.
"Hey, you all right," he asked.
Hermione looked at him, tears threatening to escape.
"I can only imagine what he went through," he said.
She looked down as Ron put a hand on her shoulder.
"This is Harry we're talking about. He'll be all right," Ron said.
Hermione looked up and nodded.
AN:
Aw!!! Finally I had time to finish.