5th year love
Part Two
Confessions
Hermione was sitting in a far corner of the Gryffindor common room, working on an essay for Snape. Books were open all around her, and she was on her 3rd and final piece of parchment. The room was basically empty (and quiet for that matter (except for a few first years studying at one of the tables. Harry was at Quidditch, Ron was God knows where, and Ginny was helping her friends in the library.
Hermione let out a sigh. Nearly finished with her essay, she glanced out a nearby window. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was practicing. The wind was blowing gently, rustling leaves of the whomping willow. The autumn air was cool and refreshing. Hermione could smell the sweet scent of fall. She couldn't take it anymore. Pushing aside her books and parchment, Hermione stood up and headed towards the portrait hole.
Once outside, Hermione took a deep breath. She let it out and smiled, heading down towards the lake. There she found a tree and propped herself up against it. She closed her eyes and pulled her hair out of its usual ponytail.
"You should wear it down more often."
Hermione's eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice. She looked up at him; he flashed that great smile of his and plopped down beside her.
"Ron! You startled me!"
"I'm sorry," he was still smiling," so whatcha doin out here? Last I saw you, you were working on Snape's essay."
"Well I almost finished it, but I'd had enough. I just needed to come outside for some fresh air." She looked back towards the lake. "Its so peaceful out here. I've never really notice how beautiful it is. I've always been up there (she motioned towards the castle). I need to come out here more." She said almost wistfully.
"I know what you mean." He paused and looked at Hermione. Wow, she's really pretty. What! Don't think that! "We should come out here more often. We could do homework, or something. Well at least until winter gets here." He looked at her again and noticed that she was shivering slightly. "You're cold."
He put his arm around her, she scooted towards him and they sat in silence. In the distance, they could see the Quidditch team practicing. "I'm worried about him". Ron suddenly broke the silence.
'So am I". Hermione didn't need Ron to say whom he was talking about. She knew.
"Its not fair to him! He's only 15. He shouldn't have to worry about stuff like this. It's had enough having to live with the Dursleys and being a teenager, but for him to be hunted by You-know-who, it's just too much." Hermione could hear concern and frustration in his voice. "I mean, I'm having a hard enough time dealing with watching him deal with it all -"
"I know what you mean. I worry about him so much. How does he deal with it all? School, Quidditch, fame, Snape, the Dursleys, You-know-who. I couldn't do it. I stress out enough as it is."
"Yeah, but ya gotta admit, life wouldn't be the same without the famous Harry Potter. We wouldn't have had all those adventures and near death experiences without him."
She looked at him, "yeah, and we would probably still hate one another." He laughed and rubbed her arm. She smiled. This is so nice.
Just then…
"There you two are!"
Hermione shrieked and jerked around as Ron nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Harry! Don't do that!" Ron yelled.
"Don't you know how to make noise when you walk! Hey, why are you even here? Shouldn't you be at practice?" Hermione pretended to be angry, but Harry just laughed.
"While you two were caught up in your own little world, (he noticed how quickly they scooted away from one another), Quidditch practice ended."
Ron felt his ears go pink, and Hermione tried to cover up her blushing face. Harry smirked. "C'mon you guys, lets go eat dinner."
Ron jumped to his feet, brushed himself off and offered his hand to Hermione. She looked from his hand to his freckled face and back to his hand. Smiling to herself, she grabbed his hand and Ron helped her up. Harry had already started walking towards the castle. "Let's go." And they walked hand-in-hand all the way to the castle.
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"So when are you gonna tell him?" Harry inquired.
Hermione who was sitting next to Harry in front of the fire, looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Tell who what?"
"Oh don't act all innocent. You know what I'm talking about." Hermione in fact knew what Harry was talking about. That's why she was blushing. Should I tell him? He's shared a lot with me. It's only fair that I tell him. What am I going on about? I can trust him!
"I'm not going to tell him." Hermione looked coyly up into Harry's green eyes. They were sparkling. "And neither are you!!"
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it! But you are admitting it? Admitting that you have feelings for him?" He was smiling now.
She just smiled and turned pink. It's hard to admit to something like that. It's hard to actually come out and say that you have a crush on one of your best friends. But it's also hard NOT to say anything, not to tell anyone. When its inside, it just kind of eats away at you until you feel that if you don't tell anyone, you'll go mad and burst! That's exactly how Hermione felt! And now finally, she had someone to talk to. Of course she'd always been able to talk to Harry, but now their relationship was at a new level and she felt as if she could trust him wit her inner most secrets and like she didn't have to hide anything from him.
Looking into the fire she said, "I realized I had a crush on him last year. When Victor asked me to the ball. Victor had been so sweet to me and c'mon who's gonna turn down a world famous Quidditch star, but the moment I said yes, I realized my mistake." She shook her head, "I didn't want to go with him. I wanted to go with Ron." Pausing, she looked down at Harry who was lying on the floor with his hands behind his head, looking at her. "And it's kind of developed into this maddening…beast! He cannot walk into a room without my stomach doing flip-flops! Stop laughing! It's actually really frustrating! I need to focus on my studies! We have O.W.L.s this year and all I can think about it him. I think Lavender and Parvati have had too much influence on me."
"I know…they've got you wearing makeup!"
Hermione's eye's widened. "You noticed! I didn't think it was that obvious."
"Only as obvious as you crush on Ron."
Hermione slapped him on the shoulder for that one. They laughed. It was nearly 12:00 A.M. They night was crisp, but the crackling fire kept them warm.
"Harry, " Hermione began, with a questioning tone, "Can I ask you something? And you have to be completely honest."
"Ok, you have my honor." Harry crossed his heart.
"She hesitated, but then asked, "How do you feel about Ginny?"
Harry was totally unprepared for that. He looked shocked and mouthed silently for a few seconds until he could collect his thoughts. He had to be honest with Hermione.
"To be completely honest, Mione, I'm not quite sure…Remember on the train, you said she's out of her "little girl" phase? I began to notice that last year, actually and then, when I stayed at the Wesley's' the week before term, she acted, well, differently." He shifted around thinking of how to explain what had been in the back of his head for so long. "She still blushed whenever she saw me, but she wasn't afraid to talk to me anymore. We actually had real conversations and had fun together. And well, she is really pretty, but I don't know. I guess I *do* like her." Hermione was trying to conceal her laughter. "Please don't tell her. I know you and her are pretty close now, and girls tell each other EVERYTHING, but -"
"I wont! Trust me! But Harry…what about Cho?"
He tilted his head to one side, thinking, and then said, "I dunno. I mean, it doesn't seem very plausible does it? A 6th year girl going out with ME, a 5th year she hardly knows! And he was practically in love with Cedric, and it would just be rather awkward…I just don't see that happening. But it doesn't really bother me. I don't KNOW her. It was just a far away thing I guess."
Hermione understood. She looked at her watch and stood up. Yawning she said, "Guh nigh 'arry."
He stood up and hugged her. "Good night, Mione." They smiled and headed up to their respective dormitories.
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Everything was fine and dandy for the next week of so. Everyone got along for the most part, except for a few trivial squabbles between Hermione and Ron, but everyone ignored those. They weren't important and as Hermione noticed, not as frequent as they used to be. Maybe it was because they were older and could talk out their problems. Maybe they just had gotten tired of picking at one another. But it didn't matter. Everyone was basically happy.
Ginny and Hermione, both realized they were teenage girls and needed some "girl time" would leave Ron (much to Hermione's disappointment) and Harry in the common room. Hermione really enjoyed having another girl to talk to besides Lavender and Parvati; Ginny, besides really liking Hermione, liked the fact that she had a 5th year girl friend. They hung out reading magazines, doing makeup or nails (oh no! What has happened to our dear and beloved Hermione! Don't worry; she usually just helped Ginny with her! J) and talked about everything from school to family to friends to …boys!
It didn't take long for Hermione to trust Ginny. She told her about her secret crush on Ron. Ginny wasn't at all surprised that Hermione felt this way.
"Its about bloody time you fessed up to it!"
Hermione was shocked to find out that Finny had known (or at least thought) this.
"Mione, its only as obvious as my crush on Harry." Ginny felt her cheeks go pink.
Hermione chuckled. "Speaking of that, do you still have a crush on him?"
Ginny bit her lip. She was debating whether or not to reveal her feeling on this subject. "Its more than a crush. I mean, that's how it started, but it's developed. Yes, he is VERY cute, and I wouldn't mind kissing him, but I care for him so deeply and a wonderful friendship has evolved. All I can hope is that maybe one day it could be more." Ginny grinned and raised her eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Hermione laughed at their silliness. Ginny joined in and pretty soon they were rolling on the floor laughing hysterically for no reason at all.
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"Here we go!" Ron said, taking a deep breath as the trio entered the potions dungeon. Potions was everyone's FAVORITE class (cough cough yeah right, especially since their FAVORITE person was it).
"Malfoy," Ron growled to himself as he saw the bloody wanker (sorry, did I say that?).
"Well isn't it Potty, Weasel and Mudblood, " at that, Ron had his fists clenched ready to fight, "Its really a pleasure to see you once again this week, "he drawled on. Then he looked at Hermione with an evil smile, "Especially you, Mudblood," he put his hand up to her scowling face and brushed away a stray hair. She quickly jerked her head away and spat out, "Don't touch me!"
"Riiiiiiiiiiiight. I'll leave that for the Weasel."
Harry was holding on to Ron's robes just in case he went in for the kill Malfoy continued:
"But wait! Why would Weasel wanna touch you! Even HE could find someone better. Smarter…Prettier."
That did it. Ron was on top of him before he could blink an eye. Harry and Hermione were frantically trying to pull him off before Snape saw them…too late.
"WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS GOING ON? I LEAVE FOR ONE MUNUTE AND ALREADY POTTER! YOU'RE CAUSING HAVOC!" They were off the floor in a flash. Luckily no on was hurt; robes were battered and town, but nothing serious. Malfoy looked down at his robes as Snape was lecturing them, and whispered loud enough for Ron to hear, "Damn, now my robes are as pathetic as Weasley's". Ron's eyes widened, but he didn't (and couldn't) do anything.
"25 points from Gryffindor! Each! Get to your seats! NOW!"
They didn't have to be told twice. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down at a table that was unfortunately next to Malfoy.
While Snape was giving his lesson, Hermione was trying to concentrate but was distracted by Malfoy. There was a dish of seeds on his table. Malfoy has bewitched the seeds to spell out UGLY, WENCH and several other rather nasty terms. Just ignore him. He's doing it to get a rise out of you. Just. Ignore… She tried to avoid it, but her eyes welled up. Quickly, she brushed away her tears hoping no one notice, but someone did…
That asshole! Just because he's rich and his dad has the ministry under his thumb, he thinks he's so high and mighty. Can insult anyone! ARGH! He makes me so angry! And to insult Mione like that. Beautiful Hermione. Sweet, beautiful, WHAT! Stop! Ron tried to push the thoughts of Hermione out of his head, but did he really want her out of his head? She really is pretty. And such a good friend. But she'd never "like" me like that, would she…if I could punch Malfoy and make him apologize for every nasty thing he's ever said about her - he then noticed that tears were streaming silently down her face. Trying to be discrete, he took her hand and gently rubbed her fingers. She looked at him with surprise. Ron smiled and mouthed, "It'll be ok". Breathing out, Hermione thought of Ron's hand on her and how she wished he would never take it off…
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Dinner that night in the great hall made up for the mishap in potions. The meal was superb! And the seating arrangement wasn't bad either (Ginny was talking next to Harry; Ron was on Harry's right next to Hermione. George was next to Hermione and Fred and Angelina were so close they might as well have been connected at the hop). Ron was till fuming about the events in potions and was going on about what a bloody git Malfoy was.
"If I ever get him alone, I'll make him sorry-"
"Oh Ron, it doesn't matter. I'm quite used to it. I don't even know why I was crying. Stupid really. It just doesn't matter, ok?"
George chimed in, "Of course it matters Mione. That prat could use some sense knocked into him. Honestly, to be talking to you like that." He was shaking his head and patted Hermione affectionately on the back. "Really Mione, you shouldn't have to put up with crap like that!"
Ron, chomping on his turkey, was in total agreement, "Thas wha I'b bin sayn".
George looking Hermione in the eyes and flashed the bright Weasley smile. "If you ever want me to take care of him, I can always whip up some Ton Tongue Toffees. You just say the word!" he smiled again and went back to eating.
Was it just her or was George acting rather oddly? Since when does he sit so close to her? Since when is he so eager to "take care" of Malfoy? Maybe she was reading too much into the situation, but it sure seemed like -
"Hermione!" Harry was looking at her with a strange expression on his face. Hermione snapped back to reality.
"Mione, c'mon. You said you'd help us make up some crap for divination." Ron was laughing.
Oh that smile, that wonderful smile. "Sure, lets go".
As they left the great hall, Hermione turned around to find George looking at her with the very smallest of smiled upon his lips. They made eye contact and he went back to his dinner leaving Hermione very confused.
Weird, very weird.
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Part Two
Confessions
Hermione was sitting in a far corner of the Gryffindor common room, working on an essay for Snape. Books were open all around her, and she was on her 3rd and final piece of parchment. The room was basically empty (and quiet for that matter (except for a few first years studying at one of the tables. Harry was at Quidditch, Ron was God knows where, and Ginny was helping her friends in the library.
Hermione let out a sigh. Nearly finished with her essay, she glanced out a nearby window. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was practicing. The wind was blowing gently, rustling leaves of the whomping willow. The autumn air was cool and refreshing. Hermione could smell the sweet scent of fall. She couldn't take it anymore. Pushing aside her books and parchment, Hermione stood up and headed towards the portrait hole.
Once outside, Hermione took a deep breath. She let it out and smiled, heading down towards the lake. There she found a tree and propped herself up against it. She closed her eyes and pulled her hair out of its usual ponytail.
"You should wear it down more often."
Hermione's eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice. She looked up at him; he flashed that great smile of his and plopped down beside her.
"Ron! You startled me!"
"I'm sorry," he was still smiling," so whatcha doin out here? Last I saw you, you were working on Snape's essay."
"Well I almost finished it, but I'd had enough. I just needed to come outside for some fresh air." She looked back towards the lake. "Its so peaceful out here. I've never really notice how beautiful it is. I've always been up there (she motioned towards the castle). I need to come out here more." She said almost wistfully.
"I know what you mean." He paused and looked at Hermione. Wow, she's really pretty. What! Don't think that! "We should come out here more often. We could do homework, or something. Well at least until winter gets here." He looked at her again and noticed that she was shivering slightly. "You're cold."
He put his arm around her, she scooted towards him and they sat in silence. In the distance, they could see the Quidditch team practicing. "I'm worried about him". Ron suddenly broke the silence.
'So am I". Hermione didn't need Ron to say whom he was talking about. She knew.
"Its not fair to him! He's only 15. He shouldn't have to worry about stuff like this. It's had enough having to live with the Dursleys and being a teenager, but for him to be hunted by You-know-who, it's just too much." Hermione could hear concern and frustration in his voice. "I mean, I'm having a hard enough time dealing with watching him deal with it all -"
"I know what you mean. I worry about him so much. How does he deal with it all? School, Quidditch, fame, Snape, the Dursleys, You-know-who. I couldn't do it. I stress out enough as it is."
"Yeah, but ya gotta admit, life wouldn't be the same without the famous Harry Potter. We wouldn't have had all those adventures and near death experiences without him."
She looked at him, "yeah, and we would probably still hate one another." He laughed and rubbed her arm. She smiled. This is so nice.
Just then…
"There you two are!"
Hermione shrieked and jerked around as Ron nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Harry! Don't do that!" Ron yelled.
"Don't you know how to make noise when you walk! Hey, why are you even here? Shouldn't you be at practice?" Hermione pretended to be angry, but Harry just laughed.
"While you two were caught up in your own little world, (he noticed how quickly they scooted away from one another), Quidditch practice ended."
Ron felt his ears go pink, and Hermione tried to cover up her blushing face. Harry smirked. "C'mon you guys, lets go eat dinner."
Ron jumped to his feet, brushed himself off and offered his hand to Hermione. She looked from his hand to his freckled face and back to his hand. Smiling to herself, she grabbed his hand and Ron helped her up. Harry had already started walking towards the castle. "Let's go." And they walked hand-in-hand all the way to the castle.
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"So when are you gonna tell him?" Harry inquired.
Hermione who was sitting next to Harry in front of the fire, looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Tell who what?"
"Oh don't act all innocent. You know what I'm talking about." Hermione in fact knew what Harry was talking about. That's why she was blushing. Should I tell him? He's shared a lot with me. It's only fair that I tell him. What am I going on about? I can trust him!
"I'm not going to tell him." Hermione looked coyly up into Harry's green eyes. They were sparkling. "And neither are you!!"
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it! But you are admitting it? Admitting that you have feelings for him?" He was smiling now.
She just smiled and turned pink. It's hard to admit to something like that. It's hard to actually come out and say that you have a crush on one of your best friends. But it's also hard NOT to say anything, not to tell anyone. When its inside, it just kind of eats away at you until you feel that if you don't tell anyone, you'll go mad and burst! That's exactly how Hermione felt! And now finally, she had someone to talk to. Of course she'd always been able to talk to Harry, but now their relationship was at a new level and she felt as if she could trust him wit her inner most secrets and like she didn't have to hide anything from him.
Looking into the fire she said, "I realized I had a crush on him last year. When Victor asked me to the ball. Victor had been so sweet to me and c'mon who's gonna turn down a world famous Quidditch star, but the moment I said yes, I realized my mistake." She shook her head, "I didn't want to go with him. I wanted to go with Ron." Pausing, she looked down at Harry who was lying on the floor with his hands behind his head, looking at her. "And it's kind of developed into this maddening…beast! He cannot walk into a room without my stomach doing flip-flops! Stop laughing! It's actually really frustrating! I need to focus on my studies! We have O.W.L.s this year and all I can think about it him. I think Lavender and Parvati have had too much influence on me."
"I know…they've got you wearing makeup!"
Hermione's eye's widened. "You noticed! I didn't think it was that obvious."
"Only as obvious as you crush on Ron."
Hermione slapped him on the shoulder for that one. They laughed. It was nearly 12:00 A.M. They night was crisp, but the crackling fire kept them warm.
"Harry, " Hermione began, with a questioning tone, "Can I ask you something? And you have to be completely honest."
"Ok, you have my honor." Harry crossed his heart.
"She hesitated, but then asked, "How do you feel about Ginny?"
Harry was totally unprepared for that. He looked shocked and mouthed silently for a few seconds until he could collect his thoughts. He had to be honest with Hermione.
"To be completely honest, Mione, I'm not quite sure…Remember on the train, you said she's out of her "little girl" phase? I began to notice that last year, actually and then, when I stayed at the Wesley's' the week before term, she acted, well, differently." He shifted around thinking of how to explain what had been in the back of his head for so long. "She still blushed whenever she saw me, but she wasn't afraid to talk to me anymore. We actually had real conversations and had fun together. And well, she is really pretty, but I don't know. I guess I *do* like her." Hermione was trying to conceal her laughter. "Please don't tell her. I know you and her are pretty close now, and girls tell each other EVERYTHING, but -"
"I wont! Trust me! But Harry…what about Cho?"
He tilted his head to one side, thinking, and then said, "I dunno. I mean, it doesn't seem very plausible does it? A 6th year girl going out with ME, a 5th year she hardly knows! And he was practically in love with Cedric, and it would just be rather awkward…I just don't see that happening. But it doesn't really bother me. I don't KNOW her. It was just a far away thing I guess."
Hermione understood. She looked at her watch and stood up. Yawning she said, "Guh nigh 'arry."
He stood up and hugged her. "Good night, Mione." They smiled and headed up to their respective dormitories.
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Everything was fine and dandy for the next week of so. Everyone got along for the most part, except for a few trivial squabbles between Hermione and Ron, but everyone ignored those. They weren't important and as Hermione noticed, not as frequent as they used to be. Maybe it was because they were older and could talk out their problems. Maybe they just had gotten tired of picking at one another. But it didn't matter. Everyone was basically happy.
Ginny and Hermione, both realized they were teenage girls and needed some "girl time" would leave Ron (much to Hermione's disappointment) and Harry in the common room. Hermione really enjoyed having another girl to talk to besides Lavender and Parvati; Ginny, besides really liking Hermione, liked the fact that she had a 5th year girl friend. They hung out reading magazines, doing makeup or nails (oh no! What has happened to our dear and beloved Hermione! Don't worry; she usually just helped Ginny with her! J) and talked about everything from school to family to friends to …boys!
It didn't take long for Hermione to trust Ginny. She told her about her secret crush on Ron. Ginny wasn't at all surprised that Hermione felt this way.
"Its about bloody time you fessed up to it!"
Hermione was shocked to find out that Finny had known (or at least thought) this.
"Mione, its only as obvious as my crush on Harry." Ginny felt her cheeks go pink.
Hermione chuckled. "Speaking of that, do you still have a crush on him?"
Ginny bit her lip. She was debating whether or not to reveal her feeling on this subject. "Its more than a crush. I mean, that's how it started, but it's developed. Yes, he is VERY cute, and I wouldn't mind kissing him, but I care for him so deeply and a wonderful friendship has evolved. All I can hope is that maybe one day it could be more." Ginny grinned and raised her eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Hermione laughed at their silliness. Ginny joined in and pretty soon they were rolling on the floor laughing hysterically for no reason at all.
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"Here we go!" Ron said, taking a deep breath as the trio entered the potions dungeon. Potions was everyone's FAVORITE class (cough cough yeah right, especially since their FAVORITE person was it).
"Malfoy," Ron growled to himself as he saw the bloody wanker (sorry, did I say that?).
"Well isn't it Potty, Weasel and Mudblood, " at that, Ron had his fists clenched ready to fight, "Its really a pleasure to see you once again this week, "he drawled on. Then he looked at Hermione with an evil smile, "Especially you, Mudblood," he put his hand up to her scowling face and brushed away a stray hair. She quickly jerked her head away and spat out, "Don't touch me!"
"Riiiiiiiiiiiight. I'll leave that for the Weasel."
Harry was holding on to Ron's robes just in case he went in for the kill Malfoy continued:
"But wait! Why would Weasel wanna touch you! Even HE could find someone better. Smarter…Prettier."
That did it. Ron was on top of him before he could blink an eye. Harry and Hermione were frantically trying to pull him off before Snape saw them…too late.
"WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS GOING ON? I LEAVE FOR ONE MUNUTE AND ALREADY POTTER! YOU'RE CAUSING HAVOC!" They were off the floor in a flash. Luckily no on was hurt; robes were battered and town, but nothing serious. Malfoy looked down at his robes as Snape was lecturing them, and whispered loud enough for Ron to hear, "Damn, now my robes are as pathetic as Weasley's". Ron's eyes widened, but he didn't (and couldn't) do anything.
"25 points from Gryffindor! Each! Get to your seats! NOW!"
They didn't have to be told twice. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down at a table that was unfortunately next to Malfoy.
While Snape was giving his lesson, Hermione was trying to concentrate but was distracted by Malfoy. There was a dish of seeds on his table. Malfoy has bewitched the seeds to spell out UGLY, WENCH and several other rather nasty terms. Just ignore him. He's doing it to get a rise out of you. Just. Ignore… She tried to avoid it, but her eyes welled up. Quickly, she brushed away her tears hoping no one notice, but someone did…
That asshole! Just because he's rich and his dad has the ministry under his thumb, he thinks he's so high and mighty. Can insult anyone! ARGH! He makes me so angry! And to insult Mione like that. Beautiful Hermione. Sweet, beautiful, WHAT! Stop! Ron tried to push the thoughts of Hermione out of his head, but did he really want her out of his head? She really is pretty. And such a good friend. But she'd never "like" me like that, would she…if I could punch Malfoy and make him apologize for every nasty thing he's ever said about her - he then noticed that tears were streaming silently down her face. Trying to be discrete, he took her hand and gently rubbed her fingers. She looked at him with surprise. Ron smiled and mouthed, "It'll be ok". Breathing out, Hermione thought of Ron's hand on her and how she wished he would never take it off…
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Dinner that night in the great hall made up for the mishap in potions. The meal was superb! And the seating arrangement wasn't bad either (Ginny was talking next to Harry; Ron was on Harry's right next to Hermione. George was next to Hermione and Fred and Angelina were so close they might as well have been connected at the hop). Ron was till fuming about the events in potions and was going on about what a bloody git Malfoy was.
"If I ever get him alone, I'll make him sorry-"
"Oh Ron, it doesn't matter. I'm quite used to it. I don't even know why I was crying. Stupid really. It just doesn't matter, ok?"
George chimed in, "Of course it matters Mione. That prat could use some sense knocked into him. Honestly, to be talking to you like that." He was shaking his head and patted Hermione affectionately on the back. "Really Mione, you shouldn't have to put up with crap like that!"
Ron, chomping on his turkey, was in total agreement, "Thas wha I'b bin sayn".
George looking Hermione in the eyes and flashed the bright Weasley smile. "If you ever want me to take care of him, I can always whip up some Ton Tongue Toffees. You just say the word!" he smiled again and went back to eating.
Was it just her or was George acting rather oddly? Since when does he sit so close to her? Since when is he so eager to "take care" of Malfoy? Maybe she was reading too much into the situation, but it sure seemed like -
"Hermione!" Harry was looking at her with a strange expression on his face. Hermione snapped back to reality.
"Mione, c'mon. You said you'd help us make up some crap for divination." Ron was laughing.
Oh that smile, that wonderful smile. "Sure, lets go".
As they left the great hall, Hermione turned around to find George looking at her with the very smallest of smiled upon his lips. They made eye contact and he went back to his dinner leaving Hermione very confused.
Weird, very weird.
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