Title: Beyond Friendship

Chapter Five:

Authors: Jaycee and Marga

Disclaimer: As always, none of the characters are ours.

Note:

This is Jaycee: I am so glad you guys liked the scene at the Quidditch stadium. I was kinda doubtful about that. Thanks for everyone who reviewed!

Hey H/H lover! So that's why Krum has been limping all over the place for the past three days. You pushed him off his broom!!!! Tsk tsk tsk… you naughty gurl, you. But thanks for doing that. All of us H/Hr shippers are grateful for what you did. He deserved it.

Hey, Marga here thanks to all the people who reviewed. We really appreciate it!! Now we have reached the 30-review mark! Yay! Maybe we can reach the 45-review mark? The 2nd movie was better, wasn't it? With all the handholding and hugging…we'll be watching it again after the cinemas aren't crowded. And by the way, I wrote this chapter. Hope you like it!

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Harry was making his way towards the library on Thursday night. He wanted to study about some transfiguration spells that Professor McGonagall assigned them.

He pushed open the big double doors and walked in the library. And immediately the smell of old books wafted in his nose. He sneezed, he never really liked the smell of old books.

He looked around to see if any of his friends were here and face lit up with a smile as he caught sight of Hermione's sleek dark blonde hair. She was sitting on a table at the corner of the library, surrounded by books.

He strode towards her table, his heart pounding madly in his chest. Until now, he's still confused about these new overwhelming feelings he has for Hermione. Just a year ago, she was just Hermione. Nothing more, nothing less. What has changed?

Harry stopped in front of her table; she hadn't even noticed him yet. She looked really cute with her eyebrows scrunched together in concentration as she crammed every bit of knowledge from the book in her already intelligent brain.

"Hey." He greeted. Hermione looked up in surprise at the male voice and her lips curved into a smile. "Hi Harry." She said. "Why don't you sit down?" She started to arrange all the books surrounding her to give Harry some room on the table to place his stuff.

"Thanks." He replied and set down his notebook and quill on the table across from her. He sat down and placed his arms on the table. "So… what are you reading?" He asked.

Hermione picked up her quill and twirled it around her thumb and index finger. "Oh, I was just researching about the plants that Professor Sprout showed us. Did you know that sap droolers…" She chatted on happily as she told him all about what she had researched so far. Harry was content seeing her so interested in what she does, how her face brightened as he put in some of his own opinions.

A photo sticking out of her notebook caught his attention, and took it. His eyes narrowed into slits as he saw who was in the photo.

Viktor Krum and Hermione. They were surrounded by snow and they were hugging, both smiling happily at the camera. Jealousy gripped him and he had the sudden urge to rip the photograph into shreds and throw it in the fireplace.

Hermione noticed that Harry hadn't responded to any of her questions and turned to look at her friend. Her eyebrows rose in surprise as she saw Harry clutching the photograph of her and Viktor.

"Harry, are you okay?" She placed a hand over Harry's that was holding the photo. He was gripping the photo so tightly that his knuckled were white. She slowly eased the photo out of his grip and smoothed out the wrinkles. "Harry?" She repeated a little more loudly, hoping to get his attention.

Harry seemed to snap out of his reverie and flashed Hermione an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Hermione. I guess I'm just a little tired, with Quidditch and all." He grabbed his quill. "When was that photo taken?" He asked. He avoided looking into her eyes, he was afraid that Hermione might see the hurt and sadness in them.

Hermione didn't seem to notice his lack of interest and smiled again. "It was taken last Christmas." She responded. A dreamy look passed over her eyes and she sighed.

Harry frowned. What did Viktor Krum have that he doesn't? He was her friend first. Viktor was just some guy that had a crush on her. He knew how Hermione talked and cried, how she always twirled her quill whenever she was talking. She always helped him with his homework, and she had risked her life for him too many times.

By all rights he should be the one in the photo hugging her, not Viktor Krum. He should be the one that was giving her gifts. He should be the one who was being called her boyfriend.

As soon as Harry thought about this, he was instantly ashamed of them. He shouldn't be thinking this way. If Viktor Krum made Hermione happy, he was glad. All Harry ever wanted was Hermione to be happy, to see her beautiful smile.

Any man would be happy to be with Hermione. She was smart, pretty, and she wouldn't let anybody down. She was someone whom you could trust your life with.

He looked down at his notebook and was taken aback at what he saw. All the time he was thinking, his hand was writing involuntarily. Now a page of his notebook was filled with only one name. Hermione Granger.

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his unruly brown hair. As much as he wanted to deny it, he couldn't. Hermione's relationship with Krum bothered him.

He stood up from his chair. He just couldn't stand studying with Hermione after seeing that photograph. He picked up all of his things, reminding himself to rip a page of his notebook and throw it away or burn it.

Hermione looked up from the book she was reading. "Are you going Harry?" She asked, a little hurt. Was Harry mad at her? Everytime she talked about Viktor he would always be rude, like he wasn't the Harry she knew at all.

"Yeah. I'm really tired. Goodnight Hermione." He said and walked away from the table. He looked over his shoulder and saw Hermione looking after him, her face full of confusion and hurt.

Harry ignored the feeling of guilt that was threatening to swallow him. Hermione looked so pained that he almost ran back to her and sweep her into his arms and tell her how sorry he was.

He arrived in front of the portrait of the fat lady and gave the password. "Chocolate frogs." The portrait swung open and he walked in. "Thanks." He muttered and entered the Gryffindor common room.

The boisterous room was filled with laughter and talking, and he could've joined in the merriment if he weren't in such a bad mood.

He passed by Ron and his brother George playing Wizard's chess by the fireplace. Ron looked up after his knight destroyed George's pawn and waved to Harry. "Hey Potter. Want to join us? George is such a lousy opponent, you're even better than him." He called out, earning a swat from George.

Harry stopped, debating whether if he should join them and settle for some goofy fun or just lie in his four-poster bed and mourn about Hermione and Krum. He sat down on one of the comfy chairs beside Ron. Maybe he could forget about the photograph for a while.

"Okay, but I get to challenge Ron first. Maybe my unholy powers will rise and I'll beat him this time." He replied.

Ron clapped him on the back and arranged all of the pieces. "You wish." He teased. "Maybe we could forget all our troubles for a while." He said.

Harry smiled. Just what he was looking for.

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So what do you think? Remember to give us lots of reviews. My sister is the one who's going to write the next chapter, and she needs reviews to get her to start writing. So keep them coming!

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