Summary: Ron thinks out what he should do about Hermione and him for the next couple of days. Hermione debates whether to keep wearing makeup and act differently like Ginny taught her, or to be her normal self.
Disclaimer: Yeah yeah yeah, I don't own these characters…
Chapter 3
Just to be Normal
By happythoughts
Ron went to bed that night feeling miserable. And Ginny and Harry's criticism didn't make him feel better. Some friends they are he thought. Wait a minute, if I was a good friend, I wouldn't have said that rude comment to Hermione. I'm such a prat Ron thought, smacking himself on the forehead. After a few more minutes of thinking, Ron fell into a deep sleep.
Ron had a terrible dream, or even nightmare, that night. Here's what happened:
Hermione sat down next to Ron and asked him, "So, Ron, do you notice anything different about me?"
Ron gulped and thought of what to say. Yes, he didn't notice something, but what was he to say? Feeling very confident with himself, he replied, "You look very pretty, Hermione. I like your new look."
Hermione's reaction was not what he expected. Her face filled with fury and she stood up, smacking Ron in the head. "What are you saying Ron?! That I was never pretty before I started putting make up on?! Well that shows what kind of friend you are, only liking girls because of their looks! Ha! Well let me inform you, Mr. Ron Weasley, no girl whatsoever will ever go out with you if that's all you like in girls … looks!"
And with that, she stalked off, leaving Ron in a terrible state of embarrassment.
Ron woke up the next morning, trying to forget about the dream that he had had that night. When he told Harry about it, all he said was, "Ron, you know that Hermione would never say that. You're just being paranoid. Let it go."
At breakfast, Hermione completely ignored Ron. This time he was the one who was trying to make conversation with her, either by asking her politely to pass the butter, or to ask her what class they had next. But nothing worked, even when he told her that he liked way she had put her hair up that morning.
"What's that supposed to mean? For your information, Ron, I wear my hair like this every single day, and you're JUST noticing?" snapped Hermione.
Ron shut up after that. He could tell that Hermione was not in the mood to talk with him that day. But what made him extremely mad was that she had gone to talking to Harry more than ever, almost like she was flirting with him.
"Harry, can you please help me with my necklace? I can't seem to get to clip," Hermione asked Harry, batting her eyelashes. Harry looked at Ron with uncertainty, whose face showed extreme anger. Harry reluctantly clipped Hermione's necklace, with such quickness that it happened in a blink.
With satisfactory, Hermione grinned and thanked Harry. She caught Ginny staring at her with confusion. She mouthed, "What's wrong with you?" Hermione shrugged and smiled affectionately at Harry. Harry was really confused. Why is she doing this? I thought she wanted to impress Ron, not me. "Is this some sort of trick?" he thought aloud, although not meaning to.
"I was thinking the same exact thing," added Ginny.
Hermione laughed. It didn't sound like the usual laugh of hers, it was more of a giggle. "What ever do you mean, you two? A trick?"
Ron shifted uncomfortably. He knew where this conversation was heading to. "Guys, I'm gonna head towards class now, it's almost time. See you there." And with that, he bolted out of the Great Hall as fast as he could. Surprisingly, Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, he's gone."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other with perplexity, as they watched Hermione turn back into her normal self. "Er—Hermione?" asked Harry cautiously.
"Yes Harry?"
"What was up with you just a couple seconds ago? It kind of seemed like … like, you were uh … flirting with me," he said stuttering.
"Oh, that," she said, waving it off, "I was just trying to make Ron jealous, to get him back from last night, you know."
Ginny burst out. "Gosh! Why don't you guys just go out? It's SO obvious, I mean, last year at the Yule Ball … everyone knows that Ron was jealous just because you went with Krum, and then you just had to add that he should have asked you first, not as a last resort, and now you guys are just making each other mad at each other … just go out! It's making so mad, me and Harry have been doing all of this work just to get you two together, and all you're doing is throwing it down the drain." She shoved her chair back and stalked out of the hall angrily.
Hermione sat in shock. She had never seen Ginny get that mad so fast. And it was all because of her. Harry seemed to agree with Ginny, because after she left, he followed her; which left Hermione in a very difficult position. She stole a glance around the room, and fortunately no one had witnessed what had just happened. She could breathe again. After a few moments of thinking, she left for class.
A/N ~ Everyone, here is what happened with Ginny and Harry, after they walked off from Hermione at breakfast.
Ginny stalked away from the Great Hall, fuming. She had to get out of there before she had another burst about Hermione. She needed some air. Over to the nearest window she walked, opened it, and breathed in the cold icy air. Unexpectedly, she felt a tap on the shoulder. She gave a startled jump and turned around.
"Oh, hi Harry, you startled me," Ginny said.
"Sorry, didn't mean to. You okay?" he asked her sympathetically.
"Yeah, of course," she said, but after a few seconds, "actually, no, I'm not."
Harry sat down on the ground near a suit of armor. He motioned for her to sit down with him. "We need to talk."
Ginny hesitated, but she followed him. "Okay … what's up?"
Harry didn't talk for awhile, it looked like he was searching for words to say. Finally, he began, "Well, you know, I've been hearing some rumors about us and –"
"Us?" Ginny asked bewildered.
"Yeah … you and I. And well, they kind of think that we are … you know, a couple," Harry said, breathing a sigh of relief. It sounded like he had wanted to get this out of him for awhile.
Ginny sat in shock. "A couple? Why would they think that?"
"Er—I don't have the faintest idea. But that's not the point. I was just going to tell you that I hope you didn't think that we actually were, because I didn't want you to be hurt or anything. You're like a sister to me, you know that."
Great, I'm a "sister" to him, is that all? Ginny thought.
"Yeah, of course, I didn't think that we were at all, no way," she said, laughing it off.
"Good … okay, well I have to go to class now. See you later," Harry said, standing up and walking away. Ginny watched him leave her and after about a minute, she left for charms. But what she saw on her way there made her stop dead in her tracks.
A/N: Hey guys, sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger, but hey, that's what makes it exciting. Also, sorry if this chapter was a little disappointing. I just finished it after doing my homework, and I was definitely not in a writing mood. Review please. No flames! J
