And You Thought It Was Fame

                                                            Chapter 2

                                                            By Shankz

                                    Hermione absent mindedly fell out of bed the next morning.  Immediately woken up by laughter.

                                    "You owe me exactly a galleon and two sickles, you do Harry."  Ron said, doubling over in laughter.

                                    "For what?" Hermione asked groggily. "What are you two prats doing here? It's only-"

                                    "Eleven thirty in the morning.  Ginny said you were asleep, so I bet Harry you'd wake up later than nine."

                                    "I never sleep in!  It's not right!  Oh, you two get out of here! I've got to get dressed! Shoo!"

                                    "It's a conspiracy, Harry." Ron muttered, trying to keep a straight face. "We've known her for five years, almost, and she's never slept in.  Sad, really."  And they walked out the door.

                                    By the time Hermione had gotten dressed, brushed her hair (which was a daily struggle) and brushed her teeth, she joined her family and friends for breakfast.  Or rather, lunch.  That afternoon, Hermione took Ron, Harry, and Ginny to the park for a walk.

                                    Ron gave Ginny a look, and she understood immediately. 

                                    "Er…Harry, see that bench over there?"

                                    "Right there?" Harry asked, pointing to a bench about three feet away from them.

                                    "No, that one all the way over there." She said pointing to one, very far in the distance. 

                                    "Oh.  Silly me."

                       

                                    "I'll race you."  Harry looked as if he was going to say 'No' but he turned and saw Ron mouthing, 'Just Go, you Stupid Git!'.

                                    "Yeah, alright."

                                    Ron turned to Hermione and smiled, trying, honestly, to say he didn't know what was going on.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

"I guess not only Harry and Ginny could speak Ron-ish." She laughed, sitting down on a bench.  "So, what were you going to tell me?"

"Huh?" Ron blinked in confusion.

"At the Third Task."

"You remember that?" Ron asked, as though it was only his own imagination that night.

"Well, I think I didn't. But yesterday, before you came, it just popped in my head. I think because you didn't mention Viktor once that night and once in any of the letters."

"Oh, that.  Well, that was just really stupid of me."

"But, if it was so stupid of you; then would you mind telling me why you were so horrid around him?"

"Well, you're my best friend, well, technically, you weren't then, and Viktor's my, well, not anymore, idol.  I'm just sick of it.  My other best friend's famous, and my best friend is 'going out' with someone famous."

"But I'm not going out with Viktor." Hermione said, looking at the ground.

"You're not?" Ron said, trying to suppress in surprise.

"Nope.  Mad at me.  I spent more time with Charlie and his Dragons, than him in his country!" Hermione laughed.  "I'm happy anyway.  I never did like him that much.  The age difference is a major factor as well, of course.  But mostly because, well, you and Harry and my friends.  If you don't approve, if it really makes you two unhappy, then, I'd do anything for you two."

"It's in honour." Ron laughed. 

"Ron," Hermione asked, looking up.  "What happened at the Third Task?"

"Well, Harry, Viktor, Cedric and Fleur went into this Labyrinth, plant, maze thingy-"

"That's not what I meant." She laughed.

 "I know.  Humour's a way for me to not answer that."

"Please…?"

"Nope.  Top secret information."

"So something happened?"

"I can't answer that."

"I'll push you in the lake." Hermione said, pulling Ron up.

"You wouldn't dare." But it was too late.  Hermione pushed Ron into the small man-made lake in the park.

"I wouldn't?"

"You'll pay!" Ron yelled, jumping out of the water, and pulling her in by her feet.

"Hey!"

Hermione and Ron had lost it.  The two were splashing water, and throwing mud at each other like they were three year olds.  Ron's freckles were barely visable through the mud on his face and Hermione's hair was slicked down by the pool of water her head was ducked into. 

"Ha!" Hermione laughed.  "This is the best fun I've ever had."

"I know." Ron said, clapping the water with his hands. "Hermione, forgive me."

"Wha-" Hermione's words were immediately stopped by Ron's lips, as he kissed her.  When he pulled away, Hermione was in utter shock, and happiness.

"Having fun?" The two turned around and Harry and Ginny were behind them.

"What is this?  Some sappy Muggle movie?"

A/N- That was pointless. I got  the mud stuff off 'The Real World: New Orleans'. So sue me.  Julie rocks, that was funny though.  Except the point of that was Mud Wrestling, and Julie didn't kiss what's-his-name, because Melissa likes him.  I can't help it there was a marathon!