Disclaimer: You know that none of this belongs to me. It does belong to J.K. Rowling.
Hermione pitched another Exploding Snap card into the fireplace. Ron was going to kill her because they were his cards, but Hermione didn't care. Ron owed her anyway, so she might as well count these moments of remorse revenge. She had been so excited about the Young Magical Achievers weekend, then -- THEN, Professor McGonagall informs her that she needs a date - for the whole weekend! That had been the icing on the cake. That topped off Hermione's misery, and now she was sprawled out in a chair, tying knots into the hair that was beginning to turn back into her own, and throwing cards into the fire for amusement. This was dead end.
She heard the portrait swing open and a loud "OW!" from the person entering. That was definitely Ron. He was always hitting his head on the top frame of the portrait hole. Rashly tossing the rest of the deck into the fire, Hermione grabbed a book beside her and tried to look inconspicuous.
"Hey, Hermione."
Drats.
"Hello, Ron."
Ron slouched onto the couch beside Hermione's chair and started talking. Hermione wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying, but when he started ranting on about Harry, she decided to listen a bit.
"I told him not to do it. But no! He's a gullible fool if there ever was one."
"What did he do exactly?" Hermione always worried about Harry.
"Agreed to help that Slytherin in Defense Against the Dark Arts! Now I imagine that Slytherin will be giving him a crash course in the actual Dark Arts!"
Hermione frowned, "Which Slytherin did he agree to help?"
"Oh, some third year kid named Amory," Ron spat the name out in disgust.
"Aw, Amory's a good kid," Hermione smiled.
"What?! I don't believe this! First Harry, now you! He's a -- ."
"Ron, not all Slytherins are bad. Harry understands that, and you should too. Now, if you don't mind, I'll just be going back to my book," Hermione stared down at the pages. She had forgotten about Harry. She needed to talk to him about this convention thing. He'd understand, he'd help.
"Uh...Hermione, is something bothering you?" Ron asked, shifting closer.
"No, why would anything be bothering me?" Hermione replied, sticking her nose in the air.
Ron cleared his throat, reached out, and turned Hermione's book right side up.
"I got invited to the Young Magical Achievers CONVENTION!!!" Hermione wailed, hiding her face behind her hands.
Ron blinked several times, "I'm sorry."
Hermione muttered a "thanks" and continued to cry into her hands.
"Er, but wouldn't you be happy about that?"
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"Because, because -- they're making me take a, a -- DATE!!!" Hermione sniffed, pulling the book she'd had in her lap in front of her face.
Ron got a familiar gleam in his eye, "Well, we can solve that! I'll get started on the possible candidate list immediately!" And Ron raced up to the dormitories, knocking down a couple of first year boys in the process.
()()()()()()()()()()
"This is RIDICULOUS!" Hermione snatched the poster from off the bulletin board and threw it in the fire as if it were a mere playing card.
Harry laughed under his breath.
"I heard that!" Hermione cried, hovering over Harry's slumped figure.
"Herm, Ron's just trying to help. Really, he means well. It's just -- ."
"He's putting advertisements up all over the school! Who wants a date with Hermione Granger! It's embarrassing and I'm going to, to -- ."
"That's enough. Why don't you just choose someone to go with you?" Harry stood up and pulled Hermione into a friendly hug, "Sleep on it, will you? You've still got three days before Friday afternoon. It'll be all right."
Hermione rested her head against Harry's shoulder for a minute then told him she was going to get some sleep.
"Good," he said, releasing Hermione.
"See you in the morning," she whispered, reaching for her bag and wand.
"Yeah."
()()()()()()()()()()
Harry and Hermione headed to the Great Hall earlier than usual the next morning. Normally, they waited for Ron to get up, but he was out of bed before Harry awoke, so they went on, thinking that Ron might have had homework to finish.
But as soon as they turned the last corner before the Great Hall they saw what had drawn Ron from his bed so early. There was a line of roughly twenty boys, each wearing a number, and Ron was scurrying around, giving them orders.
"Now when she turns the corner -- ."
"Er..." A blonde boy pointed behind Ron.
Ron turned around to see an extremely angry Hermione. Harry didn't look so happy either.
"Ron!" Harry hissed, marching over to his friend and pulling him into a corner by the stairs, "What do you think you're doing! You know Hermione doesn't like it when -- ."
"Listen, Harry. I think it's very noble of you to come to her defense and all, but she needs a date, and this is the easiest way for her to have any pick of guys."
Harry stared at Ron for a moment, then threw up his arms in frustration and went back over to Hermione who was busy convincing one of the "contestants" that she was certainly not his cousin from Dublin.
"Harry!" Hermione quickly joined Harry in storming back up to the common room, forgetting about breakfast.
()()()()()()()()()()
"Now it's getting out of hand!" Harry fumed, "Ron is such a dolt! He knows you hate it when -- ."
"Harry," Hermione pulled her knees up to her chin, "Ron doesn't know. You know, but he doesn't realize that I don't like his...uh...help."
They were skipping first class, Herbology, and were alone in the common room.
"I guess you're right, as usual," Harry sighed.
Hermione patted Harry on the back, "Thanks for helping me down there. If you hadn't gotten me out, I would have a date right now."
Harry furrowed his brow, "But you need a date."
"Yes, but I don't want one," Hermione clarified.
Hermione could see it in his eyes, a sudden idea had come to Harry, "Herm, if all you need is someone to accompany you, I'll go."
It dawned on Hermione that she hadn't considered asking Harry to take her once. It didn't make sense. She knew that if she had asked he would have said yes just to be friendly, but the fact that he was offering to go seemed to seal the deal.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Hermione squealed, giving Harry a quick kiss on the forehead and a tight hug.
"You're welcome. But one thing," Harry looked uncomfortable about what he was going to say next, "Will I have to dance?'
()()()()()()()()()()
"One, two, three, one, two, three, one -- OWW!!!" Hermione clutched her foot and did a one step around the common room. Teaching Harry to dance was going to be difficult.
"Sorry," Harry winced.
Hermione stopped hopping around, "No, I'm fine. We'll just give this another go, shall we?" She stepped up to Harry, who took her hand and laid his other hand on her waist.
"Now, one forward, one over, one back -- Harry, I just realized something."
"What?"
"I'm leading."
"You're the one that knows how to dance..."
"I'm not supposed to lead!" Hermione laughed, clutching Harry's arm for support.
Harry smiled and tugged at a strand of Hermione's hair, "I'm taking a break while you sort out your place in this world."
Hermione punched him lightly in the back. A pillow hit her in the face. She threw it back. Then the worst came. Harry advanced and...tickling began.
"Harry, no! No! Harry have mercy!" Hermione coughed between laughs.
Harry was grinning like a madman as Hermione tried to break loose but couldn't quite manage. She did manage to grab her wand and put the tickling charm on him so that they were both laughing hysterically and falling back into chairs.
"Take it off!" Harry cried, swatting at invisible hands around his neck.
Hermione, who was now free, twirled the wand in her fingers, "Repeat after me..."
Harry rolled his eyes and kicked at Hermione.
"I, Harry Potter, will serve Hermione Granger at her every whim -- ."
"I, Harry Potter, will seek revenge on Hermione Granger -- ."
"Say it right!" Hermione demanded, putting on a pouting face.
Harry didn't the chance, however, because Ron walked into the common room at that moment.
"What did you do to him?" Ron asked, gesturing at a cackling Harry.
"Tickling charm."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"HE started it!" Hermione folded her arms defiantly.
"Yeah...anywho, I have good news!" Ron smiled cheerfully, "I've got you a date for this weekend!"
Hermione took the tickling charm off, "Thanks Ron, but Harry agreed to -- ."
"Harry? You're going to take Harry?!" Ron shook his head, "That's rock bottom, Hermione, rock bottom."
"I'm still here," Harry interjected.
"But I want Harry to come -- ."
"Hermione, you need a date, a REAL date, and I've got just the person for you!"
(A/n: Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter one. I hope to get chapter three up soon!)