A/N: Chapter 3 is here!! Yay.. Okay, anyway. Hope you like it. There are more chapters! Don't worry. I'm just putting them up gradually. It's not all fluff either. There is trouble in paradise (as it says in the summary). So read on… OH and if you like Cho, so sorry, because she's the 'bad guy' in this story as well as Draco Malfoy. So here goes…

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. J

The Hogsmead Trip

Hermione lay in her bed, thinking about what had happened earlier. She smiled at her thoughts and closed her eyes, knowing that the dance would replay over and over in her dreams and she couldn't wait to get to sleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------

She awoke to the sun streaked across her face and glanced at the clock. It was Saturday so she didn't have to get up but she didn't want to miss breakfast so she quietly lowered her feet to the floor and started to get ready. She quickly dressed and tiptoed out so as not to wake the other girls.

Walking down the stairs, she saw Harry and Ron sitting talking by the fire. She stepped off the landing and walked over.

"Hey guys!" she said as she sat on the arm of Harry's chair, sliding an arm around his shoulders.

"Hey!" Ron said, " We've been waiting for you! If not for Harry here, I could've been sitting here full, but instead, I chose to starve."

Ron embellished on the last part and valiantly bowed toward Hermione. Hermione just sat there, smirking.

"Well…I'm up now! So stop complaining!" Hermione cried, grinning at Ron.

He jumped up and started to pull the other two up, whining about not even having enough energy to make it down to the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione finally got up and followed Ron down, joining their friends at the Gryffindor table. After breakfast, Harry told Ron that he and Hermione would meet him before the Hogsmead trip that day so they could walk together.

The couple walked outside of the castle and towards the lake, where Harry had asked Hermione a few days earlier.

Hermione laced her fingers with his and looked around at the fall colours. The air was crisp and cold but the sun was bright. Tell tale signs of autumn were everywhere. Caramel colored leaves littered the ground, crunching underneath their feet. The trees above were multi-colored with greens, reds, oranges and browns. Hermione loved this season because of that.

As they walked, Hermione picked up leaves and twirled them with her fingers, showing Harry the colours. He nodded and smiled, breathing in the fresh air. Hagrid's hut was up ahead and they could see him working in his garden out back. As they got closer, they spotted crates in a corner and Harry tensed, remembering the last things that were in crates.(A/N: Blast ended Screwts, if you don't remember.)

"Hello, Hagrid!" Hermione yelled, waving her hand furiously.

" Alright, Harry, Hermione?" Hagrid bellowed, looking up and shading his eyed from the sun.

" What's in the crates?" Harry asked warily.

"Oh, nothin'." Hagrid said, grinning deviously, "You'll find out soon enough."

Harry laughed nervously. He had Care of Magical Creatures on Monday with the Slytherins. He was not looking forward to it. Especially since Malfoy would be there. He had been wary every time a new creature was introduced to that class since Malfoy's Hippogriff incident.

"I can't wait!" Harry cried, forcing a grin on his face. He liked Hagrid to much to tell him the truth.

" Come in fer some tea?" Hagrid asked, raising his bushy eyebrows.

" No thanks." Hermione said politely," We just ate and are trying to work it off a little."

She grinned and they waved goodbye, continuing the walk. As they made their way along the edge of the forrest towards the lake, they watched the giant squid lazily propel itself across the placid surface, and watched the ripples it left behind as they spread.

"Let's go sit down over there." Harry suggested, leading Hermione towards the water's edge.

He sat down and looked up at Hermione. Hermione lay down in the grass and put her head on his lap. She started to unconsciously play with her hair and noticed Harry laughed at her.

"You look so cute like that!" He chuckled as he looked down at her.

Hermione stuck out her tongue and sat up, gazing out at the lake. Then, she turned to look at Harry and met his eyes, looking back at her. He bent forward and kissed her. Hermione's stomach filled with butterflies, like the first time she kissed him and she returned his kiss. He moved his hands to her back and scooted closer. He pulled back his head and kissed her on her nose. She crinkled it and brushed the hair out of his eyes, letting her hand rest on his cheek. She smiled and took her hand away, putting it on his hand.

She lay her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist so they were side by side. She sat there and ran her fingers over his hand. He then turned and kissed her forehead.

"We had better get back to Ron!" He said gently

They stood and held hands, starting back to the castle. Reaching the doors, they pulled them open to find people lined up, waiting to be check off for the trip. After signing in with Professor McGonagall (sp.), they scanned the crowd, searching for Ron's fiery red hair.

They finally spotted Ron, standing beside the twins, Seamus, and Dean and they pushed their way through the crowd to them.

"Hey!" Ron cried, smiling at them." I thought you weren't going to make it! You know….you had more interesting things to do.."

He arched his eyebrows and laughed because of the expressions on the other two's faces. Hermione's was one of shock and embarrassment but Harry's said 'You know I could have!' Suddenly, someone knocked roughly into Hermione, pushing her onto Ron, who caught her by the arms. Before she turned to glare at whomever had done it, she heard the familiar voice of Cho Chang.

"Harry!" Cho grinned," I heard you and Hermione were going out! Is this true?"

She stuck out her bottom lip and raised her perfect eyebrows.

" Yeah, we are." Harry said, smiling proudly

"Oh.." Cho frowned," well, I'm sure it's just a phase!"

Cho laughed and looked at Hermione, reading her expression. Hermione had on a look of utter disgust, no smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She just stared right back.

" I'm just joking!" Cho snorted, smacking Hermione's shoulder, a little harder than Hermione liked." Learn to lighten up!"

Hermione stepped back, away from Cho's reach. She didn't like Cho ever since that brief period that her and Harry went out in the beginning of 5th year. Harry broke up with her because she tried to get him to stop being friends with Ron and Hermione. She said it was bad for his "reputation". But for some reason, Harry was still nice to her.

" Anyway, maybe I'll see you at Three Broomsticks for some Butterbeer?" She trailed off suggestively, turning her attention back to Harry.

"Yeah, maybe.." Harry said uncomfortably, blushing.

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Ron, who wore an expression of equal distaste. But Harry had seemed not to notice.

" Okay, bye now!" Cho smiled as she trotted away.

Harry smiled back and looked over at the other two. For the first time, he saw their expressions. He could see Fred and George shaking their heads behind Ron.

" What?!" Harry cried.

"Oh, don't "what?" me!" Hermione scowled, turning away from Harry and crossing her arms.

She noticed Draco looking over and pointing her way, snickering. She scrunched up her face and looked down at her shoes.

"Look, Hermione. I'm sorry, okay?" Harry said from behind her, "I didn't know it made you mad when I talk to her."

"I'm not mad that you talk to her!" Hermione cried as she turned to face him." I'm mad at the way you talk to her."

Ron nodded and looked away, suddenly interested in the ceiling.

"It's true, Harry. You seem to just focus everything else out except Cho." Ron mumbled, chewing on his lip, his eyebrows raised slightly.

"Well, I don't!" Harry said defensively.

He looked at their faces, both showing disbelief.

" I don't." He pouted, a sour expression on his face

Hermione, deciding to be the bigger man, or woman, decided to put aside her pride and suspicions. She didn't want to fight and she trusted Harry so she spoke up.

"Forget about it." She sighed as she put her hands in his," just don't let it happen again!"

She laughed and Harry smiled weakly and squeezed her hand back. Finally, the large group of students started moving across the Hogwarts grounds. Hermione noticed that Draco still seemed very interested in what just happened and was staring back at her.

"I wish he would stop staring at me!" Hermione said, annoyed.

Harry looked over and furrowed his brows. Draco just smiling loathsomely and looked away. Hermione didn't like the way he looked at them, let alone him looking at her normally. She dropped her eyes to the ground and continued to think about it.

"Let's just have a good time today!" Ron said, patting Hermione on the shoulder awkwardly.

Hermione smiled warily at Ron and decided that he was right. She was going to have a good time and forget about Malfoy.

"I want to get a dress for the Fall Ball!" Hermione said as they entered to village.

Hermione looked up and down the street of shops and decided on a dress shop near Three Broomsticks. Leading Harry and Ron inside, she cast her eyes upon the dresses lining the aisle. Harry and Ron helped her pick out a few and she tried on most of the dresses (Harry picked out a really weird one and Ron pulled out a very revealing dress she refuses to even take in with her). Finally, she found light blue dress that just sort of fell around her. It clung slightly to her hips, then rippled around her ankles. It had small straps that just covered her shoulders and a sloping back. As soon as she stepped out of the dressing room, she heard Harry suck in his breath.

"It's perfect…wow!" He said, taking in the way the dress looked on Hermione, like it was made for her.

Ron had a similar expression but more like a friend look.

" It look absolutely right on you. It's beautiful." Ron said sincerely.

Hermione blushed and twirled, looking in the mirror. She smoothed her hands over the silky material and across her stomach, standing a little straighter and throwing her shoulders back. Harry and Ron were right, she thought. This is the one. As she changed out of it, she carefully folded it over her arm and placed it on the chair beside her. She finished dressing and walked out to the register. After purchasing the dress, she and the boys went over to Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. They entered the restaurant and it was packed. The atmosphere was warm and cheerful, full of happy people grateful to be out of the chill. Ron went over to get the drinks as Hermione and Harry got a table. Finally, they spotted one in the back and started to walk to it.

"Harry!!" A girl cried from across the room.

Harry turned to see who it was and saw Cho waving excitedly, her friends gathered around her smiling. Hermione frowned immediately and sat down at the table, watching as Cho made her way through the crowd. She tried to prep herself, not to betray her word to Harry earlier, and pushed back her ill feelings to spare argument with Harry. Cho glided through people and reached the table, taking a seat next to Harry without even questioning her welcome.

"Hey cutie!" Cho grinned and playfully punched Harry's shoulder, then turned to Hermione." Hello."

Hermione could see Ron making his way back to them and she forced a small smile, stood up and went to help Ron carry the drinks and warn him of the situation.

" I would walk the other way if I were you." Hermione said as she grabbed a drink." Cho's working her magic on Harry again."

She nodded her head in the direction and looked over, anxious to see any new developments.

" I swear, she must have veela in her." Hermione scowled." I bet she just dyes her hair black.

Ron snickered and they walked reluctantly back to the table.

" So anyway, the girls and I want to go the London for a weekend on Christmas break and I wanted to know if maybe, you too want to come, seeing as you live near there." Cho smiled sweetly as she inched toward Harry.

Harry saw Hermione's face drop as she heard Cho say it and he knew how stupid he must have seemed.

"Cho, I promised Hermione I would do something with her over Christmas Break." Harry said, shrugging.

This time, it was Cho's face that dropped. Hermione looked up from her butterbeer and smiled at Harry. Cho sneered at Hermione when Harry wasn't looking then put on a fake smile.

"Are you sure, Harry?" Cho tried." We could really use you!"

" Nope, I'm positive." Harry said, smiling.

Cho stood up, a hurt expression on her face.

"Let me know if you change your mind." Cho smiled as she walked away, trying to hide her resentment and rejection. But she knew he would soon change his mind.

Harry turned back toward Hermione and Ron again.

"So what are we doing over Christmas Break?" He asked, a huge smile on his face.

Chapter 4 will come soon but be sure to R/R for not so long a wait. Notice a little foreshadowing???hehehehe