Title: Beyond Friendship
Author: Jaycee and Marga
Disclaimer: As always, nothing is ours!! Hehe…
Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed! We really appreciate it.
Qwert - For what we know, Viktor only told Hermione in Book 4 that he likes her – we don't know if they are already boyfriend and girlfriend. Anyway – we're sorry if you got confused but it's so great that you still liked it.
Anyway, this chapter is by me, Jaycee. I hope that you like this one as much as you guys liked the first chapter. The next chapter will be written by my sister – okay?
Have fun reading!
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Hermione grabbed her black robe, fuming. She can't get the argument she had with Harry only a few hours ago out of her mind. Even though she already slept for no less then five hours, she can't shake off the feeling of anger that's still emanating from her.
She understands that Harry can feel disappointed at her about the fact that she didn't tell him anything. But the part that she doesn't understand is why he was so angry at her. He's never been that angry before – well, he's been that mad at Draco Malfoy – but never at her nor at Ron. Harry was more collected than that.
Hermione looked at herself at the mirror for a while, running a quick hand through her hair. She grabbed a brush and a scrunchie. Brushing her hair as quickly as she could, she placed her long locks into a half-ponytail. She nodded at herself briskly and went out of the room and walked towards the grand dining hall of Hogwarts for breakfast.
She went in and smiled as she saw Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, waving at her and gesturing for her to sit with them. Hermione nodded, knowing that she doesn't want to eat breakfast with Harry and Ron this morning. She was about to take a step towards Ginny, when she felt a firm grip on her right arm. She turned around swiftly and saw Ron smiling at her.
"Hey 'Mione. Come on. Let's eat." Ron invited, leading her towards their usual place on the long Gryffindor table.
Hermione tried to squirm out of her friend's grip but he was too strong for her. "I want to eat with Ginny, if you don't mind." She said in a clear voice.
Ron shook his head. "I don't think so Hermione." He released her arm and sighed. "Look. I know that you and Harry had a fight. I don't know why because Harry won't tell me. Everytime I ask, he tells me to ask you. I want you two to be with me for breakfast and you are both going to explain to me what the hell happened. All right?" Ron finished in a commanding tone of voice.
Hermione crossed her arms in front of her, and took a deep breath. "Fine. But don't expect me to talk to him – okay?" She said firmly.
"Fine." Ron replied and they walked towards the spot where Harry was seated, eating his scrambled eggs.
"Harry. Here's Hermione." Ron announced. Harry looked up momentarily from his plate. He nodded at Ron, but completely ignored Hermione.
Hermione scoffed at that and sat down beside Ron. She grabbed a fork and served herself some chocolate chip pancakes. She ate in silence, completely ignoring her friends.
Ron looked at Harry and then at Hermione, and then back again. He scratched his head for a second, and then sighed loudly. He put his fork on his plate and pushed it away. "You two are going to tell me everything, or…" He turned to look at Hermione. "I'm going to make you late for class." He threatened.
Just as he expected, Hermione looked at him in alarm. "Oh you wouldn't do that. Its our first day back!" She said, shaking her head.
Harry just looked at Ron, not caring what his friend is saying. Ron looked at Harry. "And if you don't talk, Mr. Potter – I'm taking your Firebolt for a ride. And we both know that you wouldn't want that to happen." He said in a serious voice.
Harry looked at Ron in shock. "You wouldn't dare." He said.
Ron smiled. "Oh yes. I will do it. Now spill!" He turned to Hermione. "Both of you. Now."
Hermione looked at Harry, her brown eyes glinting angrily. "Well, if you must know. Its Harry's fault." She said with conviction.
Harry shook his head vigorously. "My fault? How did this become my fault? You were the one keeping the secrets!"
Hermione stood up. "I have the right to keep secrets! I don't have to tell you two everything! Don't I deserve some privacy?" She asked heatedly.
Harry stood up too. "You can't keep something as important as this from us! Not this! You should have told us about this!" He replied just as heatedly. He can hear the validity of Hermione's words, and he has to admit that his argument is getting to be a little weak. But for the life of him, he can't understand why he's feeling this way towards one little letter.
'Because it's not just about the letter, and you know that.' A small voice at the back of his head told him as a matter of factly. "Shut up." Harry whispered.
"Shut up? Why am I going to shut up? I'm not saying anything." Ron said indignantly.
Harry looked at Ron. "Sorry Ron. I wasn't talking to you." He said apologetically.
Ron nodded and stood up too. "What is wrong with you two? Come on, tell me! I can't stand being left in the dark anymore. You two are confusing me." He complained. "And please, sit down – both of you!" He ordered as he sat down.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and then the two of them sat down. "Harry found a letter from Viktor. He found out that Viktor's my boyfriend." Hermione explained.
Harry felt his anger resume as he heard Hermione's explanation. He opened his mouth to explain his side to Ron, but his friend beat him to talking.
"You and Viktor Krum? THE Viktor Krum?" Ron asked excitedly.
Hermione's anger was washed away by Ron's words. "Yes Ron. He asked me to be his girlfriend at the Yule Ball." She explained, glad that Ron was more accepting than Harry was.
Harry looked at Hermione, rolling his eyes, and then turned to Ron in disbelief. "You're not angry?" He demanded.
Ron looked at him in surprise. "Angry? Why should I be angry? I mean. Viktor Krum is the BEST Quidditch player in history." He explained matter-of-factly.
For the first time since the fight, Hermione smiled. "Thanks Ron." She turned to Harry. "See, that's supposed to be a friend's reaction." She announced triumphantly.
Harry glared at them. "I don't believe this! Ron, shouldn't you be angry too? Hermione kept something like this from us. That should make you feel something!" He argued, trying to win Ron to his side.
Ron stared at him. "Okay fine. So I guess I should feel a little ticked off that 'Mione kept something like this from us. But come on, Harry! You shouldn't keep feeling this angry with her. She deserves to keep some secrets to herself too. And besides," He turned to look at Hermione. "You are going to tell us about this, aren't you?" He asked.
Hermione smiled. "Of course. I wasn't going to keep this from you two forever." She looked at Harry. "I'm sorry if you felt like I don't trust you two enough, Harry. But please understand, that I wanted to keep this to myself for a while." She explained, looking at her friend pleadingly.
Harry sighed and looked at Hermione. "All right. I'm sorry too. I guess I just blew up or something like that." He replied, smiling slightly at his friend.
Their eyes met and Harry felt his heart skip a beat as Hermione's smile grew, making her brown eyes twinkle happily. She broke off their eye contact as she turned to look at the big clock. "I have to get going now, you two. I'll see you later." She stood up and did something that she did that time when they got home to Platform Nine and Three Quarters for the summer before their fifth year.
Hermione leaned across the table and kissed Harry on the cheek. "Thank you for forgiving me." She grinned and then bestowed a kiss on Ron's cheek. "And thank you for understanding so quickly." She told him. "Bye, you two." She called out as she joined the stream of students exiting the hall.
Harry just nodded in response, his hand on his right cheek. She's done that kiss before, but it never affected him more than it affected him now.
Ron groaned. "Are you going to do that everytime we part ways, huh Hermione?" He called out, grumbling a little as he resumed to eating his breakfast. "Hermione sure has changed, hasn't she Harry? She's not the Hermione we first met. Of course, she's still obsessive about school and all that stuff, but she has changed. I can't pinpoint on how exactly – but she did." Ron mused.
Harry barely heard his friend as he watched Hermione talk to one of their friends, Neville Longbottom. He watched her as she smiled and laughed. Watched her until she disappears from his sight.