A/N: Not much to say, just enjoy!
What She Thinks: Chapter 10: A Fairy Tale
It took Hermione a moment to realize the fact that Ron had said something. Then it took her a moment to endure what he had said. She realized her mouth was hanging open and quickly closed it.
Ron blushed scarlet.
"Yes--I mean--No--I mean--" She glanced from Harry to Ron--"Yes, yes I'd love to."
Ron grinned from ear to ear.
Hermione forced a smile. For what seemed like five minuets they just stared at each other.
"Who's Harry going with?" Hermione whispered to Ron over breakfast the following morning, "I mean, he seems awfully cheerful,"
"He's cheerful because Cho Chang said yes," Ron explained.
"Cho Chang?" Hermione asked pretending to be puzzled but picturing herself with her hands clasped firmly around Ms. Karate's neck.
Ron pointed, "Her, you know, the Ravenclaw seeker."
"Oh, her," Hermione smiled (Though not at Ron who obviously though she was) at the vision of Cho falling off a broom.
Hermione hopped out of bed and threw on her robes before dashing downstairs for her weekly Quidditch practice. Tryouts were in two weeks and Hermione felt she wasn't ready.
"You'll do fine," Harry assured her as she stopped him from scoring.
"Yah," Ron agreed while Hermione slipped the Quaffle past him and tossed it through the middle hoop. "I'll be surprised if you don't make it."
Ron had taken to practicing with them and the three could be found every weekend morning and weekday night, without fail, streaking across the Quidditch field.
"Hermione," Harry said suddenly, "Any luck with that rock?"
"You mean the medallion?" she asked, "No, not at all."
The medallion had completely slipped her mind in light of the recent events.
"I love this broom," Ron muttered dreamily for the thousandth time that morning.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron had received a brand-new Nimbus 2000, not to mention sleek new deep purple dress robes.
She streaked off to defend her goal from Harry.
It was with flying colors that Hermione made the house team. Yes she had been nervous at first but she reminded herself that she had flown around the Quidditch pitch a million times before and loosened up.
But Hermione believed that what had truly brought her through was the look of confidence on Harry face as she mounted her broom. Not only had she made chaser but Ron had now replaced Oliver Wood as keeper and could be seen walking along the corridors, a huge smile plastered on his face.
August slowly became September and October brought the smell of pumpkins and snow to the castle, the ball was soon to take place.
Hermione was getting sick of questions like, "What are you wearing?" and "Did you hear who Neville's going with?"
Even through all the kayos Hermione found herself lying wide awake at nigh, her mind lingering on one thought: Harry.
The ball was in two days, she told herself, getting to her feet and closing her hangings around her bed after her. It was her last chance to tell Harry how she felt and she had blown it. She stared out her window at the starry night sky. Now Harry would fall madly in love with Cho and it would all end like a fairy tail, for Harry at least. But if that's what it would take to make Harry happy then that's what she wanted…for Harry to be happy. Making up her mind she walked over to her trunk and pulled out parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink. She would write Harry a letter and leave it under his napkin when he left his seat at the ball. Dipping her quill in the bottle she began:
Harry-
I feel this is something I need to tell you. And I will feel so much better when it's all out. I love you Harry Potter, and always will.
She hesitated, her quill suspended over the parchment. Should she sign it? No, not if he opened it at the table and Cho saw it.
Folding the note up she slipped it into her Arithmacey book and lay back down.
Hermione sat the following morning in the locker rooms listening to Harry's usual morning speech on what made their team great.
"And when you work together like that--Are you listening?" He paused.
Hermione was listening, though she was the only one. As he said this Fred jerked awake as he was elbowed painfully in the ribs by George, causing him to let out a huge snort. Angelina Johnson turned her attention away from her fingers, which were covered with bubble gum because she had been playing with it and Ron looked up from his broom, which he had been polishing for the last hour or so.
"What are you wearing to the ball?" Katie asked Hermione, not understanding why her fingers began to flex and her jaw clenched suddenly.
Hermione spent 6 hours getting ready the next day. She had only seen two other girl's dress robes and was eager to know what everyone thought of her garments.
Twirling once more infront of the huge mirror Hermione felt satisfied. She was wearing robes of flowing material in a pastille lime green. Her hair was in a full bun and two curled strands of hair hung on either side of her face. She swept over to her pillow and slid the note out from under it. She began to squish tape on the back, lifting her sleeve she placed the note on her upper arm.
Slowly descending the steps she saw Harry and Ron waiting at the bottom, conversing. Ron stopped in mid sentence at the sight of her and allowed his jaw to hit the floor. Harry swore under his breath and continued to stare, wide eyed.
"Wow," Ron muttered vaguely as she reached them.
"You look wonderful," Harry said, merrily transfixed.
Ron led Hermione out of the common room, arm in arm, Harry striding along beside them. Only Ron noticed how as they passed that every boy stopped to goggle at Hermione.
Hermione on the other hand was thinking about how handsome Harry looked. His robed matched his eyes, making them glow.
Stepping into the corridor outside Hermione scowled.
A/N: Did you enjoy it? I hope so. Please review if you liked it and want to read more 'cause I'll only continue if I get 10 reviews! The next chapter is SOOO sweet! Some poetry and a letter hidden under Hermione's napkin. Thank you to those of you who did review and thank you if you're about to review this one. Happy Easter!
~Gabbi D.