*'Ginny & Harry's Plot'*
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, its characters, and the whole Hogwarts deal isn't mine; it belongs to the wonderfully gifted J.K. Rowling. So, all I've done is this story that I hope you enjoy!
Short Summary: Ginny and Harry create a plot to set up their two stubborn friends, but they realize something else along the way
PG: for possible MILD language (Ron's mouth..though I haven't even figured out whether or not there will be ANY foul language at all in this story. Maybe not.)
.::fic by AngelwingS::.
*Chapter 2: The Greater Cause*
Chapter Summary: The official plans are now made, and Ginny starts them off by going to Hermione for "Help with Harry."
*'Ginny & Harry's Plot'*
The following day, after the finer points of the plan had been discussed, Ginny had Harry take Ron out to the Quidditch field to work on game tactics ("and to discuss girls, of course," Ginny had helpfully reminded him as he went off to find her brother). This allowed Ginny to begin her part in the matchmaking. She knew her friend would be found doing some sort of research; so in her excitement and eagerness, Ginny left for the library almost immediately after Harry left with her brother.
As would be expected, Hermione Granger was found doing the tedious work of a Potion's essay at a secluded table with the necessary books neatly placed before her.
Ginny concealed her excitement to play matchmaker and masked it with a slight frown as she seated herself across from her studious friend and allowed a sigh to escape her lips.
Hermione's quill didn't even stop moving.
Ginny heaved a second sigh, larger and longer.
"Um, something wrong, Gin?" Hermione tactfully questioned.
"Boys," Ginny grumbled, hoping to sound gloomy.
"Oh?" Hermione began writing again, as though the topic was not of high importance, "What about them?"
"They're difficult," the fifth year shortly replied.
Hermione snorted, "I should know, I do have two boys for my best friends!"
"I know," Ginny bit her lip. "That's why I was kind of hoping you could... um, help me out."
Hermione stifled a laugh, "Just because I'm best friends with them does not, by any means, denote that I understand them. They bewilder me probably more than they do you."
"Oh," Ginny's face faltered; why couldn't things just go according to plan?
"Though I suppose if I could I would help you out. Honestly, I could use a bit of help myself," Hermione offered, still reading and writing.
Ginny brightened with her statement and said, "Well, I guess I have to start by telling you who this is really all about."
When she observed her friend's change in face colour, Hermione had to suppress a minute grin as she nodded in agreement and finally ignored the work that lay before her.
The freckled girl was vaguely aware that she did not have to fake the blush nor the steadily growing nervous feeling of telling a secret while she managed to whisper, "Harry." Hermione raised an eyebrow, silently questioning her, "Oh... um, yeah, I guess I still have a bit of a crush on him." She watched her friend carefully; Ginny knew Hermione never truly believed that she had gotten over her childhood crush but was kind enough to keep the thoughts to herself. The reason for her silence was still unclear to Ginny.
Hermione nodded once more, though more to herself, and she appeared to be deep in thought, "Well, you know Harry doesn't talk to me all that much about girls," she spoke unhurriedly, thinking about what she was saying, "Thus, I am not entirely aware of his own feelings... on the other hand, I am conscious of the fact that both of you seem to spend a good amount of time together, and I honestly don't think he sees you so much as a little girl anymore... hmm," Hermione bit her lip in puzzlement, "I must ask, what can I do Ginny?"
The fifth year looked down, suddenly very intrigued by the material of which the table was made. "I know this may sound like a lot," she mumbled, "but maybe if I had more time with Harry, maybe if we were in a more romantic... um, situation... might not something happen?"
Hermione's eyes widened slightly as the thought crossed her mind, Ginny Weasley wanted Hermione Granger to play matchmaker. "Well, I suppose, um, well," Hermione sputtered, "I mean -"
"You don't think he'd ever date me?" Ginny questioned with an air of despair.
Hermione sighed, collecting her thoughts, "That's not it, I just don't want you heartbroken if nothing... turns up."
Under the table, Ginny crossed her fingers and hoped her next statement would do the trick, "But I have to at least know I tried, Hermione."
The studious witch pondered on the last statement before taking a breath and giving in, "So what is it i must do?"
"Oh, Hermione, thank you oh so very much!" Ginny exclaimed, her brown eyes twinkling with delight as Hermione returned the smile.
With her hopes renewed, Ginny followed through with her idea, "Just a date... that's all I'm really hoping for right now."
"Well, I guess I could talk to Harry if you want me to," Hermione guessed, still unsure of what Ginny was specifically expecting of her.
Ginny chewed the inside of her lip then replied, "Might it be more comfortable between us if we weren't alone?"
Again, puzzlement crossed Hermione's face, "You want me to go with you?!"
"Oh no, no!" Ginny instinctively answered, "I mean, yes, but not just you. Couldn't you have a date as well?"
"I don't know about this..."
"Just ask Ron?"
"Excuse me?" Hermione muttered; Ginny's response was obviously not something she had been expecting.
Ginny gulped, "Well, he is the other of Harry's two best friends. I just thought it was only reasonable. Why? I mean, is there a problem with that?"
Not really wanting to flat out lie, Hermione answered, "Ron is my friend. Do you really think he'd be fine going with me?"
"Do you know how silly that sounded?" Ginny giggled, "Of course he would! First of all, he is your friend, anything for a friend, right? Besides, it's for the greater cause!"
Hermione forced a small laugh before she echoed, "Yeah, only for the greater cause."
Taking careful note of the disappointed tone in Hermione's voice, Ginny decided to sincerely add, "Of course, I personally think he'd take you without a greater cause."
Hermione smiled before she hastily told Ginny, "Don't be silly, I'm only willing to go on this 'date' because of the greater cause." Her eyebrows furrowed before she abruptly asked, "Ginny, why do you want me to go with your brother? Don't you think he'll be a bit protective of you -especially on a date?"
"It's for the greater cause," Ginny said under her breath; she also had to remind herself exactly why she wanted Ron with her on her first date with Harry, even if it was a pretend date.
"What?" Hermione seemingly hadn't heard.
"Um," thinking quickly she spoke up, "Well, who am I to break up the famous trio?" She nervously fiddled with her fingers in her lap; why did Hermione have to ask so many questions? Then, her eyes lit up and a grin tugged at her cheeks, "Besides it's your job to keep my brother preoccupied."
"How am I supposed to do that?" was her quizzical response, fortunately no longer focused on Ginny's rather unusual reasoning of the choice of Hermione's date.
Ginny shrugged, "You're a smart witch Hermione, I'm sure you'll be able to think of something." She was careful to not giggle, which was difficult because she was mindful that Hermione's presence was solitarily enough to distract her big brother.
"I don't know," started Hermione. However, realizing that Ginny only returned her statement with a pleading look, the brown haired girl finished with, "I'll talk to Ron."
Ginny almost squealed with delight as she happily got up to give Hermione a hug, "Thank you, you're the best!" She stifled another giggle while thinking and I'm sure Ron thinks so too.
'*'*'*'
After practice and talking with Ron, Harry met Ginny in the Common Room as planned, and she pulled him aside. He could tell by the way her eyes were glittering and the excited smile she wore that Ginny had had more luck with Hermione than he had had with Ron.
"So?"
Harry sighed, "I can't get a thing out of him."
Ginny frowned, "Nothing, nothing at all?"
"Well," he looked thoughtful, "It was hard enough to even talk about girls with him, he kept avoiding the subject, and when we did talk, he managed to change the subject within minutes. It wasn't much of talk, Gin. Besides, we were practicing Quidditch, so it wasn't such a great time to have a nice chat."
She placed her hands on her hips and said, "I know my brother is a stubborn git, but you must have noticed something he did or said."
"Well Ginny, it seems highly unlikely that he fancies another girl, but I think we both have known that for awhile now. He did sort of blush when I brought up Hermione into the talk, but to be honest, I don't think he even realizes that he fancies Hermione. That, or he's trying to figure out how he does feel for her."
"How he can be so thick?" Ginny retorted.
Harry smiled at her frustration in spite of himself... she was sort of cute when she was so determined. "So what did Hermione say?" He asked, and was pleased to watch her immediately brighten up.
"She's going to talk to Ron. She's doing enough denying when it comes to feelings just like Ron, but I think she's already sorting things out," she smiled, "She's not as much of a dunderhead as my brother."
Harry laughed, "Well, maybe her talk with Ron will be more productive than mine."
"I hope so," the red head replied softly, then a thought struck her, "Harry, did you talk to Ron about me?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, although he knew perfectly well what she had meant.
"Well, when you were talking about girls. You can't very well like some girl one day and then date me the next," she matter-of-factly said, but her eyes were on the floor.
"Oh," Harry felt his cheeks heat up, the truth was that he didn't even have another girl on his mind. Oddly enough, he found himself a bit pleased to be spending so much time with Ginny and then to be going on a date with her, "Well, not very much. I didn't say I fancied anyone, but he looked at me a bit funny when I threw your name into the conversation but his mind was elsewhere the rest of the time. I tried to keep the focus on Hermione."
Ginny looked up and said quickly, "Well, that's good, then."
"Answer me this, Ginny," Harry smiled, "how did you convince Hermione that you wanted Ron to be with us on the date? I'm scared Ron's going to give me a punch in the face if I were to as much as hold your hand on the date, which I have to or they'll see right through the plan. I might be his best friend, but he's your big protective brother, and now I'm the bloke trying to date his baby sister."
Ginny laughed, "Don't worry about that, Harry, Hermione knows she has to keep his attention."
Harry raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, I guess I'm safe because I'd bet all my Chocolate Frogs that if there's anyone that can keep Ron distracted, it's Hermione."
A/N: So what do you think? I wasn't going to add Harry and Ginny's last conversation, but then I decided I might as well to give you an idea of how Harry and Ron's conversation went. FF.net went into read-only mode fairly soon after I submitted my first chapter.. so I apologize that this chapter will be taking so long to get out. Should this be posted under R/Hr or H/G?
Thanks: Berty 'n Beans, buckbeakbabie, emily, anonymous: Thanks so much! Reading your reviews was the main reason I finally sat down and continued to write again to get out the next chapters faster, and I'm really glad that you liked the first chapter so much; I hope you like the ones to come as much, if not more. I have every intention of finishing this story, otherwise I wouldn't post it. Of course still a HUGE thanks to the people I mentioned in the chapter, though it seems kind of redundant to post the same thanks again (but still: thanks Hil, Melodi, and theultimatesora!!).