*'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 honestly 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. Probably not.)
.::fic by AngelwingS::.
*Chapter 4: Lies and Surprises*
[Beginning] Chapter Summary: Harry and Ginny come back to meet a made-up Ron and Hermione.
*'Ginny & Harry's Plot'*
Both Hermione and Ron threw Ginny and Harry meaningful looks when they walked back to the Gryffindor table and sat down together. Whatever Ginny had been discussing with her other friends before she had been interrupted was now plainly forgotten.
"So where have you two been?" Hermione said, hoping to sound offhand as she took a small bite of her toast.
Ginny didn't answer; she hadn't been prepared for the question, and Harry noticed, so he said casually, "Ginny's just invited me to join her on a date during our next Hogsmeade visit this weekend."
Ron noticieably winced, and Hermione shot him a glare which, much to Ginny's relief, made him keep whatever thoughts he had about her, Harry, and date being said in the same sentence to himself.
Ginny curiously looked from one to the other; it was quite clear that something had happened while Harry and she had been absent. Though they were still fighting, it was definitely different than the fight they had been previously ruffled over, and, by the looks of it, that seemed like a positive thing.
Ginny mused over the thought until something else struck her: now that Harry had already said that they would be going on a date, it was evident that Hermione wouldn't have to help her ask Harry, and Ron and Hermione really needn't play matchmaker any longer. She was a bit relieved; she didn't particularly want Hermione to ask Harry out for her on their first date, or to have Ron asking Harry about her -even if it was just pretend. She needed another excuse for the two to come as a couple, but in her time limit, she found none. She concluded that their own attachments were sufficient and felt that now that their "fight" was over so she optimistically asked, "We were wondering if you two wanted to come. Though, of course, you'd both probably want to bring along you own date." Ginny and Harry exchanged hopeful looks, and she crossed her fingers under the table; she really hoped they wouldn't find excuses to get different dates.
"But I thought Hermione and I were going together," Ron said frankly. His ignorance seemed to earn him a kick from Hermione because the next thing to pop out of his mouth was "Ow!"
Rubbing his abused shin, he was about to tell her off for her sudden impulse to kick him ("Hermione! What the -") when she said, "Oh, don't be silly Ron, dear," Dear? "It's not like all this has been planned out, of course Harry -and Ginny- wouldn't know who we'd like to go with."
Ron suspiciously thought he saw Ginny mouth "Thank you."
"Right, Ron," Ginny agreed, smiling innocently (feigning innocence, Ron decided), "Neither of you ever suggested you might want to go with one another."
Ron blushed furiously and made no comment. Harry, who had started it all, but hadn't said much else, was trying his best to not flat-out start laughing. In his opinion, Hermione and Ron had given a great many suggestions that they fancied one another, but he'd never mention that with both of them there to get mad at him for voicing the obvious.
"Er," Ron started, "I just meant, um."
Noting his difficulty, Hermione took a breath and said very quickly, "I'm sorry we haven't told you, but Ron and I believe we might fancy each other. It just happened right now, actually, so please don't be hurt. Besides we were just so happy," she threw Ron a threatening look, "about the two of you, I guess it just slipped our minds."
The many that had begun to listen to their conversation gasped, and Harry heard Parvati tell Lavender huffily, "That doesn't count. They never said anything! I was listening to everything." Lavender shook her head and told her, "We all know how they feel, there's nothing more to say. They're going to go on a date." He also noticed Seamus begin to count out a fair amount of Sickles and a handful of Chocolate Frogs, which, Harry figured, he had lost in his bet with Dean Thomas over when Ron and Hermione would get around to admitting their feelings.
Ginny was the only one that didn't seem dazed as she squealed, "That's great!"
Harry agreed, "Yeah, that's great, you guys."
Ron didn't speak, he was still goggling at the brown-haired, brown-eyed girl beside him. "Well," she spoke staring him straight in the eye, "I figured we couldn't keep it from them for very long."
Ron remained speechless. Hermione had a look of determination on her face. Harry and Ginny looked at one another, not entirely sure of what had just happened.
*'*'*
The day passed relatively quickly for the foursome with only minor surprises (the new terms of endearment expressed between Ron and Hermione even though they still weren't holding hands, more people taking up bets, and random people occasionally walking up and asking "Who said what first?").
Ginny talked quickly to Harry before his Quidditch practice, and discovered she wasn't the only one uneasy about Ron and Hermione's new found relationship that was hardly what they had expected. Her worries, though, were tossed aside when he gave her a quick, reassuring hug and told her that things were going to work out just fine right before he winked and sprinted to practice, but then she felt a twinge of guilt knowing that if he were late, it'd be her fault.
That night, in the girls' dormitories Hermione was getting a head start on writing an essay for Professor Binns (to no one's surprise) When there was a knock on the door. Being the only one currently in the sixth years' dorm, she removed herself momentarily from her studies to answer the door. Waiting outside was a rather antsy Ginny.
"'Lo, Hermione."
"Oh, hi Ginny. I was just working on an essay for Professor Binns..." Hermione said, retreating back to her bed.
Ginny stepped inside and said quietly, "I'm sorry for coming so late."
Hermione snorted, settling herself amongst her books and picking up her parchment and quill to continue writing. "Lavender and Parvati are elsewhere, most likely gossiping; it isn't like you've woken anyone up," Hermione declared.
"Oh," Ginny said, looking at her feet.
The red-haired girl didn't find the patience to weave her thoughts into the conversation, so she said bluntly, "So... are you and Ron a couple now?"
"Don't be silly Ginny," Hermione replied, her quill had come to a sudden stop when her friend had spoken but had hastily gone back to writing, "Of course not. I should think that you would have figured out that I had only said that as an exploit to cover up Ron's error."
"Oh," Ginny bit her lip in thought; that explained a lot. She was a bit relieved because she had definitely pictured her brother's relationship to be different than what she had witnessed throughout the day. Now, she felt confident that she had simply been witnessing poor acting. Still, she was becoming irked by the way Hermione made it sound as if the idea of a relationship with Ron was entirely inconceivable, and so she stated flatly, "Well, I mean, when you said you both thought you might fancy each other... It made sense, you know."
Hermione looked up and questioned, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, isn't it obvious?" Ginny said, frowning.
"What?"
"You mean, you still don't know?"
"Don't know what?" Hermione answered tersely, annoyed. "Honestly, Ginny, you mustn't go on like this. Just say what you must and get on with it. I do have an essay to complete, you know."
Ginny needed no more provoking, and seized the opportunity to say what she had wanted to tell her for over a year, "Think about it Hermione, my brother's fit over Krum," Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Ginny shook her head, "Which was, mind you, jealousy, his protectiveness over you when Malfoy's around, the way you fight over the silliest things just because the other is the only person that can work you up so much, and the way... well, Hermione, the way he looks at you. Don't deny it and tell me you haven't noticed, and that you haven't figured out what it all means because I know you, Hermione, and I know you're not anywhere close to being an idiot. I know we, Harry and I, have let you both pretend that nothing's going on and maybe it's because we don't want confrontation or that we think you'll stop dancing around you're feelings and figure it out on your own, but there is something between you two. I really wish both of you would take the time to finally do something about it."
Ginny waited for Hermione to say something, but when she didn't, she sighed, said she was tired, and bid her goodnight before leaving.
Hermione remained in silence. After a few minutes, she closed her book and set aside her utensils to follow Ginny's suit and try desperately to fall asleep. However, that would not be feasible as Ginny's lecture was like a slap in the face, and the truth hit hard. In all honesty, she had noticed, and she had figured out what it all meant, but she hadn't figured out what to do with the knowledge, and she suddenly didn't feel very brilliant anymore.
On the other hand, in the boys' dormitories, Harry and Ron's conversation was a tad more drawn-out. Harry, who knew both of his friends very well as they had been best friends for five-going-on-six years, guessed his two friends had to yet to admit their feelings. However, he also knew that Ron had likewise taken up a role and couldn't deny having any "feelings" for Hermione as long as he was pretending to be her boyfriend. Thus, Harry could state what practically all of Hogwarts knew and Ron would be unable to say a word in protest.
Dean, however, was the first to mention anything about the newest Gryffindor couple. He came by and gave Ron a pat on the back, "Congratulations to you and Hermione, mate. I told Seamus you would have the nerve before the end of the year."
Ron chose to ignore Dean and his statement altogether and sat on his bed facing Harry. Dean shrugged, not understanding why Ron wasn't ecstatic now that he and Hermione weren't so entirely platonic, and walked to his own bed.
"So, Hogsmeade, eh?" Ron said to Harry, as he lay down.
"Yeah," Harry replied, placing his glasses down. He looked at his friend and cautiously inquired, "You don't mind me dating Ginny, do you?"
He could tell Ron had tensed and he hesitated before he said, "I suppose not. I reckon if you both like each other then it's for the best. Just, Harry, she's my little sister... try to not break her heart. I mean, if you break it ...I dunno, I'd have to break you or something. Nothing personal, it's just, I am her big brother."
Harry looked at Ron and nodded. Though he wasn't truly dating Ginny, and it was all a huge scheme to open their friends' eyes, he nodded honestly. He cringed more at the idea of Ginny crying, all because of him, than Ron beating him to a pulp. No, he couldn't ever allow that to happen. She may have just been Ron's sister a few years back, but Harry realized that she had unexpectedly become a great deal more to him. He wondered if she knew that.
"You know, Harry, I didn't know you liked Ginny like that. You do... don't you?"
"Yeah," Harry whispered automatically. "So when did you realize you fancied Hermione?"
Ron could feel his ears heat up, "I don't know." He was less than enthusiastic about lying to Harry; he was obligated to act out all this couple business just because of Hermione and her need to help Ginny. Because he thought he heard Harry faintly snort, he looked over at his friend and asked shortly, "What?"
"Nothing, I just think it's about time you realized it."
Rolling his eyes, Ron said, "And what? You knew?" How ridiculous, Ron couldn't help but think, that Harry would say something like that. Of course, Harry didn't know that it was all a staged performance, or so Ron believed.
"Yes, yes I did," Harry said, leaning up on one arm, "I may have never told you so, Ron, but I've known. Like, for example, back in fourth year, remember that row you and Hermione had? Right after the Yule Ball?" Harry didn't have to ask, he knew he did, "When she left -and you remember what she told you, right?- you said she completely missed the point, but I thought Hermione understood more of what was going on than you did."
Ron was still staring up when he grunted, "And what might that be?"
"You were jealous."
"What was there to be jealous of?" Ron answered testily.
"Viktor. Hermione getting dressed up for him, dancing with him, and him trying to sweep her off her feet while you had to stand back and watch. You were just allowed to be Viktor's date's best friend. The one who didn't get to see her like a girl, and treat her like a girl," Harry said. He watched Ron carefully; Harry was unable to predict how his friend would react to his statement in spite of the fact that it was true.
"Oh." Ron said, feeling very uncomfortable. His instinct told him to deny it, to say that he had been upset because Viktor was against Harry, and Harry was their best friend. How could Hermione fraternize with the enemy? He couldn't do that though, he had to agree with Harry and listen to his mind remind him in that nagging voice that Harry was right. Whether he liked it or not, he had seen Hermione in an entirely new light the night of the Yule Ball. Now, it was all a very complicated situation. He told himself he was merely pretending that fancied Hermione, and staging all he said. In truth, if Snape had slipped Veritaserum in his pumpkin juice that evening, he would undoubtedly be admitting much more about how he felt about Hermione than he was just then. He slipped into these thoughts and didn't know how much more time had passed before Harry spoke up once more.
"I feel guilty that Ginny had to do all this work," Harry said, referring to Ginny's matchmaking, though Ron didn't know it.
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "I wish I had plucked up the courage to plan things out myself."
"Maybe we should do something about it," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Like what?"
Harry shrugged, but Ron knew that he had been laying there thinking about something just as he had; Harry had something in mind. It was a long time before Harry suggested, "Maybe we should surprise the girls."
"How?"
Harry stared back up at the ceiling, "Maybe we could change up the date...just a bit."
"We could have it in the library, Hermione would like that," Ron joked.
The green-eyed boy seemed more in thought, though, and he said, "How about by the lake? What if we set up a picnic? Do you think Ginny and Hermione would like that?"
"Yeah, I reckon they would," Ron muttered. Then, he thought aloud, "At sunset."
Harry smiled at the thought of how beautiful Ginny would look with the sunset setting off her red hair, and how happy she would be that Ron and he had thought it out themselves.
"Do you think Dobby would mind if we asked him to provide us a bit of food?" Ron asked, unknowingly interrupting Harry's thoughts.
"We can always ask," Harry offered, yawning. Since he had thought of a way to make their date a little better, and Ginny a little happier, he was beginning to relax and realize he was a bit tired, "But I bet he won't mind."
"I can find some socks," Ron said, closing his eyes.
Both of the boys had forgotten that they were supposed to be pretending when they fell asleep.
A/N: Sorry it took so long...minor writer's block (you know, I think chapter 3 was probably the most fun to write) and my beta was a bit busy. Well, I'm pushed myself out of it because of the really sweet ppl that took the time to review, and maybe you can tell because I don't particularly like this chapter (weird though, it's the longest so far)... I know I said I would be posting everything under H/G from now on, but I've already written chapter 5, and that will be posted as R/H; I THINK chapter 6 will be posted as H/G.
Thanks: Of course, Hil for beta-reading, and Melodi for almost beta reading ^^
and theultimatesora for actually offering to read this chapter and then giving me your input!/putting up with my R/H even though you believe in H/H.
and the reviewers: Nicole (haha, loved the review! How could I not continue writing knowing you had to know?? =P), Flameraven (who I totally agree with, these ARE the RIGHT couples ^_^), Rosa (surprisingly enough, this is almost what happened with some of my friends too..kinda inspired it, actually), Adnap Nottap (awww, I was sooo happy you reviewed every chapter!! OF COURSE I had to e-mail you), Len (aw, thanks bunches!), and Alcamenes (okay, I have to admit, I was really happy to see this review b/c Alcamenes is on my favorite authors list...and like, yeah).
Okay, can't you tell I really *love* my reviews? Hehe, just my way of asking... please review?