Hiya readers! The next part is here! And even those who have hated the series can't stop reading it, so I must be doing something right!
Ron entered Gryffindor tower with a smile on his face, which hadn't happened all year. He sat down in an armchair near the fire, and smiled some more. "I've never been so happy!" he thought.
"What's happened?" asked Harry, confused. It had been a long time since he'd seen Ron like this.
"Oh, nothing!" he grinned. "Just don't feel single anymore. I'm going out with Cho Chang, you know, the Ravenclaw that left last year."
"What? Since when? When did you ever get to talk to her?" Harry asked, jealous as ever. Only he knew of his crush on Cho, which he had had since the third year, and had lost hope on in the sixth.
"We met the other day, and she asked me out. Why are you so surprised? Aren't I capable of getting a nice girl?" he asked, offended. Why would Harry be so nasty to him?
"No, of course you are, it's just, well, I like her. And I never got to go out with her." he said, walking away, to stop Ron seeing his red face. But Hermione did.
"Who do you like? Am I your second choice?" she said, upset and angry.
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Hermione lay on her bed in tears. "How could he do this to me?" she sniffed, and Ginny gave her a hug.
"It's OK Hermione, he didn't mean it I'm sure! And, well, he loves you!" she said, comforting her, personally believing that Harry was a good for nothing idiot, that didn't know how good he had it.
There was a knock at the door of the Seventh year girl's dorm.
"Who is it?" yelled Ginny.
"It's me. Can I come in please? I want to talk to Hermione." said Harry's voice, guiltily.
Ginny looked at Hermione, as if to ask what she should say. Hermione said "Yes." to Harry, who entered quietly and looked shy.
"Ginny, can I talk to Hermione alone for a minute?" asked Harry, and Ginny looked enquiringly at Hermione and left the room.
"What do you want? You've already made your point. You don't love me. Why don't you just leave me alone?"
"I love you Hermione, not Cho. I used to like her, yes, but I don't now. I'll prove it, I'll get Ron to bring Cho on our date on Saturday. If you come with me, that is?"
"How can I be sure I trust you?"
"You know me! I'll not give Cho a second glance! I promise!"
Getting up, Hermione hugged him. "I trust you. I so hoped I wasn't going to lose you!" and then she cried again but this time with happiness.
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"Ron, please bring Cho on our date!"
"Why? Won't it be awkward, like, Hermione and Cho together?" Ron asked, confused. Had Harry gone mad?
"Please! I have to prove to Hermione that I love her, and only her! Just ask her!"
"OK! God, anyone would think you were a married couple!" laughed Ron, and Harry joined in. Ron knew that it would be hard for Harry, like it would be hard for him. Going on the same date as Hermione, but with Cho. And Harry had the opposite. Why hadn't it worked out the way their hearts had wanted?
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"So where are we taking them?" asked Neville, the night before the date. "Oh, god. Umm, how about the ice-cream parlour?" said Ron, nervously. He'd never had to organise a date before, and he didn't have a good imagination. Then again, he was better than Neville. Well, who wasn't?
"I vote for the new club opened at the end of Diagon Alley. It's supposed to be really good, and I heard the Vampyres are playing on Saturday. It's Hermione's favourite band, so it's perfect." Harry offered, hoping they'd agree. After all, he really needed to treat her, after everything that had happened between them.
"Cool! Ginny's into them too. Or is she just into the lead singer, What's-his-name?"
"Anna Mazinman?"
"Yeah, that's the one! God, that sounds like a girls name!" laughed Neville.
"Umm, that's because it is!"
"Really?" said Neville, in disbelief.
"No, you idiot!" said Harry, before bursting into fits of laughter. Neville was so gullible!
"So it's sorted then?" asked Ron, and Harry nodded.
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"Harry, can I talk to you?" asked Professor McGonagall later that night. She looked serious.
"Yeah, sure. Excuse me Hermione!" he said, getting up. They walked to the other side of the crowded common room, and McGonagall spoke.
"Harry, what is happening about Quidditch? You haven't had a single practise, let alone picked the team! We're playing Hufflepuff in less than a month, and we're just not sorted. Is it possible you organise a practise as early as tomorrow? I've booked the Quidditch pitch for Saturdays from now on,"
"But Professor, I'm going out with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Cho! We can't practise Quidditch tomorrow night!"
"I don't think you've got much of a choice. I want a team in the next few days, and Slytherin have got the practise slot on Sunday! Your social life can wait till next week, unless the house means that little to you. I'm disappointed that a Head Boy, and Quidditch captain such as yourself, does not think of his responsibilities as important." and with that, she left, looking unsettled. Harry just looked at her retreating figure in confusion. Which was more important? Hermione's trust in him, or McGonagall's? And Quidditch?
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So? What do you think will happen? Any suggestions? Or is it a load of rubbish? Review!!