Title: Beyond Friendship

Authors: Jaycee and Marga

Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to us, blah, blah, and more blah.

Note: Hey, Marga here. So here it is, chapter 12. Thank you to all the people who kept on reviewing, and look! We're almost at the 200th-review mark! Thanks guys! We love all the people who read and review this, and we also love all the people who read and don't review, and we love all the people who gave this fic a chance and read it and gave bad reviews. As some people say, we can't please everybody.

Jaycee here! Happy New Year everyone!

Leo2002 and usha88 – of course it's an H/Hr fic! We wouldn't want it in any other way.

Animegirl123 – you said:

HOW DARE YOU!!!!!

Harry has black hair not brown. Duh!

I say: how dare us what? What did we do? And we changed Harry's hair from brown to black – duh!

And for everyone who we sent the url to the pictures and wallpaper to – what do you guys think? Comments please, and again, if you want to see the pictures and wallpaper, please leave your email address with your review. The more reason to review right?

Thank you again to everyone who reviewed. And please don't think that just because we didn't comment on your review specifically, it means that we don't care about what you say. Au contraire! We appreciate each and review that comes our way. We just don't want to sound too redundant.

Here we go! Enjoy and don't forget to review!

* * * * * * * *

"Wannagototheballwithme?" Harry asked Ginny as soon as he and Ron saw her sitting beside a long table in the library a few minutes later.

Ginny looked at him in surprise. "Excuse me?" She asked.

Ron rolled his eyes and nudged his friend at the ribs. "Don't talk so quickly, Harry! My sister won't understand you if you keep on talking like that!" He pointed out.

Harry took a deep breath and smiled slightly at Ginny. "I said, do you wanna go to the ball with me?" He asked slowly this time.

To his surprise, Ginny's freckled cheeks turned a bright shade of red. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth again, but all that came out was an undistinguished sound.

"Bloody hell! She's in shock!" Ron exclaimed.

Harry glared at his friend and looked at Ginny. She was looking at him with a glassy look in her eyes. He placed a soft hand on her arm to gather her attention. She jumped at the feel of his palm against her skin. "Ginny?" He said softly.

She swallowed nervously and exhaled slowly. "Yes." She answered finally.

Harry sighed in relief. "Oh thank you Ginny. Thank you so much for saying yes." He said happily.

Ginny finally grinned and nodded. "You are more than welcome Harry. Now, excuse me because I have to tell Lavender something." Without another word, she ran out of the room and went up the stairs towards the dormitory.

Ron stared at his sister in confusion. "You would think that she would stay here for a few seconds to talk about the ball…" He trailed off.

Harry shook his head. "Don't think about that." He plopped on the chair that Ginny previously occupied and sighed again. "Thank God she said yes."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Like she would even think of saying no." He said blankly.

Harry stuck his tongue out at his friend and was about to say something else when a familiar figure passed by them. He looked at Hermione in surprise, not expecting to see her again so soon.

"Hey Herm." Ron greeted cheerfully.

Hermione smiled. "Hey Ron." She replied and then turned to look at Harry. She has this look in her eyes that he can't seem to understand. "Hi Harry." She greeted softly.

"Hi." Harry said, ordering his heart to stop its rapid beating. He felt like he's going to have a heart attack.

Hermione sat on the chair facing the boys, placed her books on the table and tucked a lock of her brown hair behind her ear. Harry felt his heart skip a beat at the simple gesture. He knows he's in love with her, but until now, he can't understand why she can affect him this much.

"What are you guys doing here?" She asked expectantly.

"Harry was just talking to Ginny about that ball." Ron supplied.

To Harry's amazement, Hermione's face fell at Ron's words. He looked at her curiously and something dawned on him. Something that was too surprising for words. 'It can't be…" He thought to himself.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked.

"To study. The ball seems to be the only thing that everyone is talking about these days." She commented.

Harry tried to catch Hermione's eyes, but it seems like she was consciously avoiding eye contact from him. "Herm? Is everything all right?"

Hermione looked up and smiled. "Of course it is. Why do you ask?"

Harry stared at her. "You're acting…" he stopped talking and averted his eyes. "Nothing, nothing."

Hermione breathed out audibly and jumped up. "I'll be going now, you guys. I'll see you later."

"But I thought you were going to study…" Ron said in confusion.

She shook her head. "I need to pick out what I'm going to wear for the ball so I could tell Viktor what corsage he has to buy. Bye." Hermione collected her books and went out of the library.

"That's weird. Hermione never picked anything over studying before." Ron commented.

Harry nodded and sighed sadly. 'Snap out of it Harry! Hermione will never ever look at you in that way.' He scolded himself.

* * * * * * * *

Hermione looked at Harry and Ginny, who were seated together at one of the big armchairs in the Common Room. She felt something gnawing at the pit of her stomach and although she tried to ignore it, she knows what that feeling meant.

She's jealous.

"I'm jealous?!?" She asked herself indignantly. "I am not jealous! So what if Ginny and Harry have been hanging out a lot lately? I don't care." She whispered, trying to concentrate on the book in front of her.

"You talking to yourself again, Herm?"

She turned her head and saw Ron smiling at her curiously. "Ron. Hey." She said, wrenching her eyes away from Harry and Ginny.

"You didn't answer my question. Are you talking to yourself again?" He asked in amusement.

Hermione looked at her friend and forced a smile. "I'm just… reviewing, that's all." She told him, and she again took a peek at Harry and Ginny, who is obviously his new girlfriend, she added sarcastically in her brain.

Ron followed her gaze and saw who she was looking at. He bit back a smile as he put on his poker face and posed a question to his friend. "Harry and Ginny are getting along nicely, huh? I have to tell you, I was not sure if my sister should be with Harry… but well, he is Harry and he is my best friend, so I guess its okay. And Ginny seems to be having a great time so…" He trailed off and checked Hermione's expression. He grinned as he saw her eyes flicker at the couple angrily.

"Looks like it." She said in between clenched teeth. "I've always known that Ginny has a crush on Harry… but I never thought Harry would act on it." She whispered.

Ron was surprised at this new information. Making a mental note to himself to talk to Ginny later, he continued at the project on hand. "What do you think of Harry and Ginny, Herm?" He asked.

Hermione looked at him and shrugged nonchalantly. "What should I think about it, Ron?" She asked as she returned to her book.

Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know… I was just asking." He cheered inwardly. He knows that Hermione's jealous… and if he played his cards right, Harry and Hermione will finally be together by the time the Christmas Ball is over.

"I think… I think its great. I think it's about time for Harry to be with someone who likes him back." Hermione said, even though deep inside, she's thinking the opposite about this blooming relationship.

"Uh-huh…" Ron whispered. He knows she's lying. Hermione's a terrible liar, and besides, her brown eyes, which is shifting from side to side with this unreadable expression, was a dead give away.

"Besides… he can't wait for me forever, right? I'm happy with Viktor." She added firmly.

He nodded again. Everything's going according to plan… Ron thought to himself mischievously. He reached out and grabbed her hand. "Let's go to Harry, Herm. They look like they're having fun."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so Ron… I'll um… I'll just stay here and read." She said, and Ron can actually see her look nervous at his suggestion.

"Come on Herm." Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her all the way to where Harry and Ginny were laughing.

By the time that they made it to where Harry and Ginny was, Hermione's face was almost as pale as Sir Nicholas' face. She stood before them, nervously chewing her bottom lip and gave them a small wave. "Hey, Harry, Ginny." She greeted them weakly.

Ginny was, however, in the brightest of spirits. "Hi, Hermione!" She smiled at them joyfully. "Did you know that Harry asked me to the ball?" If Ginny were a dog, her tail would be wagging ecstatically by now.

"Um, yes. Harry told me all about it." Hermione answered. She wanted to leave. The way that Ginny's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Harry adoringly was really getting her nerves, and the worse of it was that Harry seemed to be gazing back at her in the same manner.

It deeply irritated her. The way that Harry looks like now…like he was in love isn't really something that Hermione wanted to see. Harry's green eyes were shining with something that Hermione was able to see in his eyes the night he kissed her; his green eyes were shining with happiness. She realized that she wanted to be the one who is putting that look of happiness in his wonderful eyes. Not Ginny.

Hermione's eyes squinted as she continued to look at Ginny who was hanging at Harry's every word. She normally liked Ginny, but now, the younger girl just irritated her. Everything that she does is suddenly very irritating to Hermione.

Like the fact that she kept on tucking her hair behind her ear, or the way she kept on laughing at everything that Harry is saying.

And the fact that Ginny's the one who is sitting beside Harry right now, and that he's the one taking her to the ball.

Hermione was surprised when she blinked and felt tears prick her eyelids. 'NO! I won't cry!' She told herself firmly.

"Hermione?" Ginny said laughingly.

Hermione looked at her and smiled slightly. "Yes?"

"Can I borrow your quill for a while. Harry broke mine." Ginny replied.

Harry placed a finger on his lips. "Don't tell them that Gin! They might think I'm this big clumsy oaf!" He exclaimed.

'Gin? He actually has a nickname for her now?' Hermione asked herself angrily. "You know… I remember that… I have to do…" She wracked her brain for an alibi but her mind was blank.

"What do you have to do?" Harry asked curiously, smiling at her.

Hermione felt her pulse race as Harry smiled at her. She was staring at him for a while that she didn't even realize that she haven't answered his question. She ignored the fluttering in her stomach and flashed Harry a smile of her own. "Um, I just remembered that I have to write a letter to my parents." She replied, her voice deadpan from the jealousy that was ripping through her. She walked towards the dormitory without a backward glance.

"Goodnight Hermione!" Ginny's cheerful voice reached her ears and it took Hermione a lot of self-control not to turn around and kiss Harry to rid of the happy smile on her freckled face.

* * * * * * * *

"Have you noticed Hermione's weird behavior?" Harry asked from his seat across Ron's. Ginny had left and they were passing the time by playing some Wizard's chess.

"Hmm? Hermione's weird behavior… Maybe she is acting a bit weird…" Ron smirked as his knight descended from its perch from the horse and crushed Harry's pawn with its sword.

Harry grimaced and pushed the remains of his pawn onto the side of the chessboard. He ordered his bishop to move 3 blocks to the right and his frown was replaced with a smirk of his own when his rook reduced Ron's knight to pieces.

"Did she have a fight with Viktor or something? She was pretty disturbed a while ago…" Harry wondered out loud. If he finds out that Viktor had hurt Hermione, he didn't know what he'd do to him. He didn't care if Viktor was a lot bigger than him! Nobody hurts Hermione and gets away with it!

Ron hid a smile behind his hand. "Probably not. I think that if they did, Hermione would've told us by now." He answered easily.

"She sounded a bit annoyed when Gin said that I asked her to the ball…" Harry scratched the back of his neck, then stopped and his green eyes widened. "Do you reckon that she's jealous of Ginny?"

If only Ron weren't working on this plan alone, he would've already spilled the beans. "I dunno." He shrugged and looked at his friend. He suddenly reached out and smacked Harry upside the head.

Harry glared at him. "Argh!" He yelled and rubbed his head. "What the hell was that for?"

Ron smiled innocently. "I was just helping you back down to earth." He ordered his queen and cheered when it succeeded on destroying Harry's bishop. "C'mon Harry. Can't you go through an hour without thinking about your love life?" He joked. "You're so lucky you even have one!"

Harry chuckled. "I'm not the only one here who has one. I see how Mildred Arsen looks at you. I think she fancies you." He wiggled his eyebrows at Ron.

"Shut up Potter! Mind your own beezwax!" He brought out his wand and pretended to hex Harry.

Harry chuckled and looked back down at the board, trying to strategize his next move. 'Come off it Potter! Hermione thinks of you as her best friend. Only as her best friend.' He told himself sadly.

* * * * * * * *

As soon as she was in the safe haven of her room, Hermione covered her mouth with a pillow to muffle her sobs. She can't believe she's crying over Harry. Again.

"Why am I even feeling this way?" She asked herself as tears continued to pour down her cheeks.

She closed her eyes and she felt her stomach turn over as soon as she envisioned Ginny and Harry flirting with each other.

"Why is he even with her? I thought he liked me! I thought he cared for no other girl than me! How can he be with Ginny now? Has he already forgotten about me?" She asked out loud, her crying coming out in hiccups.

Hermione shook her head violently at her words. She was surprised that she was thinking this way.

"Harry's my best friend. I shouldn't be thinking about his relationship with Ginny this way! I should be happy for him, right?" She mused.

But although she uttered those words, nothing stopped her tears from coming down in cascades.

* * * * * * * *

Ginny walked down the hall of the Girls' Dormitory, a skip on her step. Its been a whole week, but she just can't get over the fact that Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter has asked her to the ball.

"He's the best guy any girl can ever have. He's sweet… brave…" She remembered the time on her first year in Hogwarts, when she was under the spell of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He saved her life then, and since then, she's been somewhat infatuated with the famous young wizard. "And maybe… just maybe, he feels the same way about me." She mused dreamily, imagining Harry's green eyes and adorable smile.

Ginny was about to go into her room when she heard someone crying. She tilted her head to the side, determining where the sound came from. She walked towards the farthest room and recognized it as Hermione's room. Ginny opened the door quietly and gasped when she saw Hermione crying her heart out on her bed.

"Herm!" Ginny exclaimed and rushed forward to envelope her friend in a hug.

Hermione was surprised when she heard a voice and the feel of someone hugging her. She looked up and saw Ginny smiling softly at her. Part of her was grateful at Ginny's evident concern for her, but another part, a bigger part of her was angry with the girl. Angry at the apparent affection that Harry's showing her, angry at the obvious crush Ginny has on her best friend, angry at everything about Ron's little sister, dear Ginny.

Before she knew what she was doing, she yanked herself away from Ginny's grasp and pushed the girl away. "I don't need your help!" Hermione exclaimed and brushed her tears away.

Ginny looked at Hermione in surprise. "He-Hermione?" She stammered. "I just wanted to know how I could help you."

Hermione stood up and walked away from Ginny. "I don't need your help. And most importantly, I don't want your sympathy! I can tend to myself, thank you very much." She said sarcastically.

Ginny stared at Hermione. "What in the world are you saying? What has gotten into you?"

"Why don't you just get out of my room and go back to your precious Harry? Huh? I don't want you here!" Hermione almost shouted.

"What is your problem with me? I don't reckon that I did anything wrong towards you!" Ginny retorted, starting to get angry herself.

"Just get out of my room Ginny! I want to be alone!" Hermione cried out, pointing towards the door.

"Fine!" Ginny replied just as loudly and banged the door shut.

Hermione sank on her bed, her chest heaving with exertion. "Good riddance!" She whispered angrily and covered herself with her comforter.

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