Lilly03 - thanks for your review, I wrote this as fast as I could.
Chapter 3
Ron was just at the foot of the staircase to the boys' dormitories when Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room.
"Ron, wait!"
"Go away, Hermione."
"No, really Ron. Please wait."
Ron turned to face her. His eyes were red and he watched her with an angry look.
Hermione's heart melted for him. "I'm sorry Ron. I...I'd love to say that it was all Fred and George's fault, but it's not. I went along with it. I'm so sorry," she dropped into an armchair next to him, "Fred and George overheard our conversation last night, and they came to me with an idea. I was still a little pissed at you for laughing at me yesterday."
Ron sat next to her, "I...I just can't believe that you would do something like that to me. I mean...in front of the whole school! You made a fool of me in front of the whole of Slytherin!" he sighed, "I get that you were angry but...this is pretty big considering all I did was laugh at you. I...I don't know if I can forgive you for this." He turned and headed for the staircase again.
"Ron?"
Ron didn't respond.
"I didn't really write that owl to Erin. And the responding one was from me."
The only reply was the sound of the dormitory door slamming.
***
Hermione felt miserable for the next two hours. It was at about ten to four that she remembered she had to meet Erin in Hogsmeade in ten minutes.
Ron had emerged from his room to attend Double Potions, but refused to speak at all. The bell to end classes for the day went at 3.45, and the trio was five minutes towards the Great Hall when Hermione realised where she was meant to be.
Harry and Ron agreed to come, though Ron didn't meet Hermione's eyes when he replied.
After a quick dash to the Entrance Hall, Hermione, Harry and Ron were clambering into the carriage Dumbledore had provided.
Hermione watched the scenery pass.
"Alright. Erin will be here in ten minutes," began Harry, "and it's not going to be very welcoming if you two won't talk to each other. So let's end this right now. Ron, Hermione said she's sorry and you survived double Potions with all the Slytherins and Snape going on at you. Everyone will forget from here. The worst of it's over. So Let's all make up, shall we?"
Ron met Hermione's eyes for the first time since Lunch, "Alright," he said finally, "so long as she promises never to do anything like that ever again."
Hermione nodded fervently and reached across to give him a quick hug.
The passing landscape suddenly didn't look so grey.
***
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station at four o'clock on the dot. Hermione watched eagerly for Erin's face.
After half the train had exited, a girl of about fifteen came struggling with her enormous trunk.
"Erin!" called Hermione, rushing over to her friend. The boys hung back.
Erin was about five feet tall with a slim build, short golden curls bobbing as she moved and piercing blue grey eyes.
"Hermione!" Erin grinned at her friend, the smile lifting high cheekbones and dimples, lighting her entire face.
After a quick hug, both girls dragged the enormous trunk from the train. Hermione glared at the two boys.
"You know guys, the two of you might like to help us here."
Harry and Ron hurried over, "Erin Mouse, I'd like you to meet Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. Ron, Harry, this is Erin."
"Harry Potter?" asked Erin immediately. Harry glared at Hermione, who shrugged.
"Yeah, that's me," replied Harry. Erin shook his hand excitedly.
"I've heard so much about you. And you, too, Ron. You're almost as famous as Harry over at Beauxbatons. Do you remember Fleur Delacour? She talked a lot about you in particular after last year."
Ron went red.
Hermione grinned to herself. Erin was saying just the right things. Both boys were already relaxed and chatting easily with her. Now, how to get Ron to ask her to the Ball?
The four lugged the trunk to the carriage and climbed into it.
"So...tell me about Hogwarts."
"It's a castle."
Nice start, Ron, thought Hermione.
"It's got lots of teachers."
Even better. At least he didn't say...
"They teach classes."
Oh God.
"Ron's joking. Well, all that is true, of course."
"Hogwarts is a lot of fun, Erin," interjected Harry, "What in particular did you want to know about?"
"What are the teachers like?"
"Mostly pretty good. McGonagall is pretty strict, but she can be nice. Snape's a shocker. Hagrid's cool. Flitwick's...small. The rest are all OK."
"Hermione could argue with you though, Harry."
Hermione glared at Ron. He took the hint, and shut up.
"Cool."
"So...Erin. You're from Beauxbatons, right? So how come you have an American accent?"
"I've lived in L. A. all my life. I only went to Beauxbatons for three months. Before that, I was at the A. A. W. W. I got kicked out of there a couple of years after my best friend left to come here. He kept me out of trouble. You probably know him. James Colonel?"
Both Harry and Ron grinned at Hermione.
"Anyway. He left three years ago. I only got expelled at the very end of last year, even though they had been threatening to do since my second year there. I've been at Beauxbatons since the start of the school year, but I wasn't really interested. The girls were all snobs. I caused a bit too much trouble." Erin shrugged.
Hermione sighed, "Are you planning on staying here?"
Erin grinned, "My mom would kill me if I got kicked out of here. She and my step dad moved all the way from America to make sure that I stayed here. They're living in London."
Hermione nodded, "Mum told me. She's planning on inviting you all up to us for summer."
The carriage jolted to a stop outside Hogwarts.
"Wow." Was all Erin said as she climbed from the carriage.
Ron and Harry heaved Erin's case from the carriage and carried it up to Gryffindor tower for her.
***
The next day dawned to reveal a foot of freshly fallen snow. Since it was Saturday, Harry, Ron and Hermione took the opportunity to show Erin around the school. They entered the Great Hall, ignoring the calls from the Slytherin table aimed at Ron and Hermione. They did however note the catcalls coming from the Gryffindors, namely, Fred and George Weasley.
Ron glared at his brothers and ate without talking to them. This, however did not seem to bother them. They introduced themselves to Erin immediately.
"You must be Erin. I'm Fred - "
" - and I'm George. We're Ron's brothers."
"Oh, yes, I've heard about you. You're the ones who pretended to be me." Erin told them with a savage grin.
"Erm, yes, that would be us." Hermione was amused to see that both Fred and George looked slightly embarrassed.
"Nice to meet you."
***
Midway through breakfast, they were interrupted by a visitor, none other than James Colonel. Erin looked up when he tapped her on the shoulder, gasped slightly, then stood and threw herself into a hug with him. Hermione felt herself becoming slightly jealous after the hug went on for just a little too long. Mentally shaking herself, she grinned at James when they did finally break apart.
"It's soo good to see you!" Erin cried, "You have no idea how much I've missed you!"
James grinned back at her, "I've missed you too, Mouse."
Hermione turned back to her breakfast a little grumpily. Despite the fact she hadn't seen Erin for over five years, she was a little jealous that James was now Erin's best friend, when she and Erin had been so close before she had come to Hogwarts. She was also jealous that Erin was so close to James when James had just asked her out.
She shook herself again and finished her breakfast hurriedly and offered to continue Erin's tour of Hogwarts. She was unsure whether she was happy or not when James asked to come along.
Nevertheless, all five of them headed out on the trip. Hermione was glad, however, when Harry - winking as he passed - and Ron settled themselves on either side of Erin and drew her slightly ahead, leaving James and Hermione to bring up the rear.
I love my friends, thought Hermione, mentally reminding herself to do something especially nice for them.
"So. I take it the reason you backed out of our library trip yesterday was to set up for that little show at lunch?"
Hermione blushed, "Yeah. Sorry. It sort of backfired on me anyway."
"Ah well. It was very entertaining, nevertheless. Fred and George didn't really get Erin quite right, though, did they?"
Hermione grinned, "not quite. Look, James, I really am sorry I had to back out on you yesterday. It wasn't very studious of me, was it? Did you get much done?"
"Nah. It was kind of hard to make a start without you."
Hermione grinned again. James linked arms with her and they continued to stroll after Harry, Ron and Erin.
"What about we both go to the library at lunch? We could make up for the time we lost yesterday. Unless you have something else to do," he added, eyes twinkling mischievously. Hermione felt herself blushing again.
"Nothing I can think of. Lunch is good."
She hit herself mentally. And she had thought Ron's answers to Erin's questions had been dumb.
It was after that last thought that she realized what the connection was.
She had answered James' question with a pretty dumb answer because she was nervous and James' side was touching hers as a result of their linked arms, and she really liked him.
Ron, however, had not been touching Erin, and couldn't have been flustered because of that. Ron was not, usually, as dumb as his answers could have led you to believe which really only left Hermione with one answer.
Ron liked Erin. Really liked her.
"Hey James? What do you think of Erin?"
James grinned at her, "she's been my best friend ever since I can remember," that hurt Hermione, just a tiny bit, "she's one of the most amazing people I've ever met."
Hermione grinned. From what she could remember of Erin from her own childhood, Erin would be perfect for Ron. However, there was something in James voice that made her pause.
"Do you like her?"
"Of course. Oh," he added, realizing what she meant, "not like that. She's more like a sister than anything else."
Hermione mentally let out a breath of relief.
"What do think about her and Ron?"
James gave her a sly grin.
***
"Ron are you going to ask her or not?"
Ron blushed, "What do you mean?"
Hermione sighed, "to the Ball, Ron."
"Oh."
"It's in six days' time. If you don't ask her soon, someone else will. She's really pretty, in case you didn't notice."
"Hermione, maybe you'd better let me handle this one," interrupted Harry, "Ron, I happen to know that you like her a lot. And Hermione's right, she's really pretty. Just 'cause this whole Erin business got off on the wrong foot doesn't mean that you can't go with her to the Ball. No one will know the connection between Fred and George's Erin and the real one."
Ah, thought Hermione. That was what was wrong. She mentally slapped herself again for how dumb she had been about Fred and George's practical joke. Oh well. Damage is done. No use beating yourself up about it, she told herself.
"Ron, I'm sorry. I didn't really think about that whole ... episode too hard in advance. But really, Harry's right. It is pretty obvious that you like her, to us at least, so don't make it my fault that you miss out on any chance with Erin. You'd be a really cute couple and I've beaten myself up enough over that one, so please don't make me do it any more."
Ron wrinkled his nose at her, "so...now you are the victim out of all that? How does that work?" Hermione was relieved to see he was smiling, "Alright, I'll ask her."
He walked over to where Erin was chatting to Lavender and Parvarti.
Harry winked at her, "that was brilliant."
"Glad you liked it. She'll say yes, by the way. Me and James had a chat to her earlier when you and Ron went to Quidditch practice."
Harry grinned at her, "you and James seem to be getting on really well."
Hermione also grinned, "we do. I really like him."
"You appeared to be turning slightly green at breakfast this morning."
She blushed, "You're very observant, Harry. By the way, how did you work out about Ron and Erin?"
Harry's grin broadened, "I've known Ron for even longer than you. When we took Erin for the tour she asked a lot of questions. He turned a little red and became incomprehensible every time one of those questions was aimed at him."
"Sounds like Ron," she paused, "Did I go that green?"
"I was really surprised you managed to keep the writing off your face. That was why Ron and I pulled her off, to give you some space. Well, that's why Ron thinks we did it. We also did it to get Erin to pay less attention to you two and more to Ron."
Hermione laughed, "you really should get a job as cupid when you finish school, Harry, you'd be perfect."
"Cupid?"
"Yeah. You know the Muggle myth about Cupid? It's not actually a myth. Some ancient Muggles sighted the real Cupid and he wasn't able to mind-wipe them before they left," she shrugged, "The job of Cupid's not widely known, even among the wizarding community. You fly around in a Cupid costume uniting people who are perfect for each other to ensure that both Muggles and Wizards don't die out. I was joking about the costume," she added, seeing Harry's look of horror, "You wear an invisibility cloak. It's actually one of the jobs as part of the Unspeakables from the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic."
Harry's facial told Hermione louder than any words that the job of Cupid was the last thing he wanted to when he left Hogwarts.
Hermione shrugged, "it was just an idea."
***
Ron came back to the table with Erin, both smiling easily, which told Harry and Hermione that Hermione's prediction regarding Erin and Ron had been correct.
Stretching and yawning, they all left for bed about fifteen minutes later.
Erin and Hermione headed up the girls' staircase to their dormitory.
"So what did you and Ron come up with?"
"He asked me to the Ball. I'm glad, it probably would have been pretty awkward if I'd had to ask him, seeing as this is his school, and I'm new and all."
"Do you like him?"
"Of course. He's so sweet and he goes to pieces every time I so much as look at him. That tells me that he likes me too. He does, right?"
"Yeah. He likes you. We practically had to hex him to get him to ask you, but he does like you."
"Good. Seeing as you chose to divulge that particular piece of information to me, I guess that I can feel completely guilt free about what I'm about to tell you."
"What?"
"James is totally into you."
"He's what?"
Erin sighed, "He's like, what's the Pommy word?"
"For what?"
"You know. He digs you."
Hermione gave her a blank look.
Erin sighed again, "Let's put it this way. He really, really likes you. We had a chat about you this afternoon. I think that was the first time I've ever seen words fail James. He normally won't shut up."
Hermione blushed furiously, "I really like him too."
"Harry told me that only a couple of days ago you were telling him how much you didn't like him."
"Disliked," corrected Hermione.
"Whatever. No offense, but you can correct all you want, but it ain't going to get a scrap of Pommy grammar in me. Like I said, no offense."
"None taken. Isn't."
"Isn't what?"
"Isn't, not ain't. Is not is even better, but I'd settle for isn't."
"You are not going to get it out of me."
Hermione hid her grin. She'd get there. Eventually.
***
The next week crawled by. Hermione and James made a very large and promising beginning on their project, Erin succeeded in aggravating Snape to the point where he stormed out of the classroom and didn't come back, suprising everyone by not taking a single point off Gryffindor. Besides, Erin had answered all his questions correctly; she just had done it in such a way to annoy Snape at the same time. Hermione however, suspected that Snape had strict orders to mind Erin's behaviour at least until she settled in a bit more.
What Dumbledore didn't know, was that Erin had settled in perfectly well even before she had set foot inside the castle.
Fred and George's - and Hermione's - practical joke was still legendary amongst the students of Hogwarts. According to the rumours, any person who could make herself as well known as Erin supposedly did, was someone who was going to fit in well amongst the general population of Hogwarts. Perhaps the joke had not backfired as much as Hermione had originally thought; Erin was accepted, Erin and Ron had a 'history' they could laugh about.
Also, Hermione herself often received grins or pats on the backs as she walked Hogwarts' corridors and, to top it off, James had spent much more than the originally twenty minutes catch up time with her. Not to mention the fact that it had got Ron back once and for all for teasing her constantly about her supposedly unhealthy love for books and rule keeping.
***
A/N Well, that's Chapter 3 done. Not much happened, I promise it'll get juicier next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Please review, I love getting them. I'll put up the next Chapter ASAP, some suprise is in store. Lotsa Luv, Lawwwren.
Chapter 3
Ron was just at the foot of the staircase to the boys' dormitories when Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room.
"Ron, wait!"
"Go away, Hermione."
"No, really Ron. Please wait."
Ron turned to face her. His eyes were red and he watched her with an angry look.
Hermione's heart melted for him. "I'm sorry Ron. I...I'd love to say that it was all Fred and George's fault, but it's not. I went along with it. I'm so sorry," she dropped into an armchair next to him, "Fred and George overheard our conversation last night, and they came to me with an idea. I was still a little pissed at you for laughing at me yesterday."
Ron sat next to her, "I...I just can't believe that you would do something like that to me. I mean...in front of the whole school! You made a fool of me in front of the whole of Slytherin!" he sighed, "I get that you were angry but...this is pretty big considering all I did was laugh at you. I...I don't know if I can forgive you for this." He turned and headed for the staircase again.
"Ron?"
Ron didn't respond.
"I didn't really write that owl to Erin. And the responding one was from me."
The only reply was the sound of the dormitory door slamming.
***
Hermione felt miserable for the next two hours. It was at about ten to four that she remembered she had to meet Erin in Hogsmeade in ten minutes.
Ron had emerged from his room to attend Double Potions, but refused to speak at all. The bell to end classes for the day went at 3.45, and the trio was five minutes towards the Great Hall when Hermione realised where she was meant to be.
Harry and Ron agreed to come, though Ron didn't meet Hermione's eyes when he replied.
After a quick dash to the Entrance Hall, Hermione, Harry and Ron were clambering into the carriage Dumbledore had provided.
Hermione watched the scenery pass.
"Alright. Erin will be here in ten minutes," began Harry, "and it's not going to be very welcoming if you two won't talk to each other. So let's end this right now. Ron, Hermione said she's sorry and you survived double Potions with all the Slytherins and Snape going on at you. Everyone will forget from here. The worst of it's over. So Let's all make up, shall we?"
Ron met Hermione's eyes for the first time since Lunch, "Alright," he said finally, "so long as she promises never to do anything like that ever again."
Hermione nodded fervently and reached across to give him a quick hug.
The passing landscape suddenly didn't look so grey.
***
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station at four o'clock on the dot. Hermione watched eagerly for Erin's face.
After half the train had exited, a girl of about fifteen came struggling with her enormous trunk.
"Erin!" called Hermione, rushing over to her friend. The boys hung back.
Erin was about five feet tall with a slim build, short golden curls bobbing as she moved and piercing blue grey eyes.
"Hermione!" Erin grinned at her friend, the smile lifting high cheekbones and dimples, lighting her entire face.
After a quick hug, both girls dragged the enormous trunk from the train. Hermione glared at the two boys.
"You know guys, the two of you might like to help us here."
Harry and Ron hurried over, "Erin Mouse, I'd like you to meet Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. Ron, Harry, this is Erin."
"Harry Potter?" asked Erin immediately. Harry glared at Hermione, who shrugged.
"Yeah, that's me," replied Harry. Erin shook his hand excitedly.
"I've heard so much about you. And you, too, Ron. You're almost as famous as Harry over at Beauxbatons. Do you remember Fleur Delacour? She talked a lot about you in particular after last year."
Ron went red.
Hermione grinned to herself. Erin was saying just the right things. Both boys were already relaxed and chatting easily with her. Now, how to get Ron to ask her to the Ball?
The four lugged the trunk to the carriage and climbed into it.
"So...tell me about Hogwarts."
"It's a castle."
Nice start, Ron, thought Hermione.
"It's got lots of teachers."
Even better. At least he didn't say...
"They teach classes."
Oh God.
"Ron's joking. Well, all that is true, of course."
"Hogwarts is a lot of fun, Erin," interjected Harry, "What in particular did you want to know about?"
"What are the teachers like?"
"Mostly pretty good. McGonagall is pretty strict, but she can be nice. Snape's a shocker. Hagrid's cool. Flitwick's...small. The rest are all OK."
"Hermione could argue with you though, Harry."
Hermione glared at Ron. He took the hint, and shut up.
"Cool."
"So...Erin. You're from Beauxbatons, right? So how come you have an American accent?"
"I've lived in L. A. all my life. I only went to Beauxbatons for three months. Before that, I was at the A. A. W. W. I got kicked out of there a couple of years after my best friend left to come here. He kept me out of trouble. You probably know him. James Colonel?"
Both Harry and Ron grinned at Hermione.
"Anyway. He left three years ago. I only got expelled at the very end of last year, even though they had been threatening to do since my second year there. I've been at Beauxbatons since the start of the school year, but I wasn't really interested. The girls were all snobs. I caused a bit too much trouble." Erin shrugged.
Hermione sighed, "Are you planning on staying here?"
Erin grinned, "My mom would kill me if I got kicked out of here. She and my step dad moved all the way from America to make sure that I stayed here. They're living in London."
Hermione nodded, "Mum told me. She's planning on inviting you all up to us for summer."
The carriage jolted to a stop outside Hogwarts.
"Wow." Was all Erin said as she climbed from the carriage.
Ron and Harry heaved Erin's case from the carriage and carried it up to Gryffindor tower for her.
***
The next day dawned to reveal a foot of freshly fallen snow. Since it was Saturday, Harry, Ron and Hermione took the opportunity to show Erin around the school. They entered the Great Hall, ignoring the calls from the Slytherin table aimed at Ron and Hermione. They did however note the catcalls coming from the Gryffindors, namely, Fred and George Weasley.
Ron glared at his brothers and ate without talking to them. This, however did not seem to bother them. They introduced themselves to Erin immediately.
"You must be Erin. I'm Fred - "
" - and I'm George. We're Ron's brothers."
"Oh, yes, I've heard about you. You're the ones who pretended to be me." Erin told them with a savage grin.
"Erm, yes, that would be us." Hermione was amused to see that both Fred and George looked slightly embarrassed.
"Nice to meet you."
***
Midway through breakfast, they were interrupted by a visitor, none other than James Colonel. Erin looked up when he tapped her on the shoulder, gasped slightly, then stood and threw herself into a hug with him. Hermione felt herself becoming slightly jealous after the hug went on for just a little too long. Mentally shaking herself, she grinned at James when they did finally break apart.
"It's soo good to see you!" Erin cried, "You have no idea how much I've missed you!"
James grinned back at her, "I've missed you too, Mouse."
Hermione turned back to her breakfast a little grumpily. Despite the fact she hadn't seen Erin for over five years, she was a little jealous that James was now Erin's best friend, when she and Erin had been so close before she had come to Hogwarts. She was also jealous that Erin was so close to James when James had just asked her out.
She shook herself again and finished her breakfast hurriedly and offered to continue Erin's tour of Hogwarts. She was unsure whether she was happy or not when James asked to come along.
Nevertheless, all five of them headed out on the trip. Hermione was glad, however, when Harry - winking as he passed - and Ron settled themselves on either side of Erin and drew her slightly ahead, leaving James and Hermione to bring up the rear.
I love my friends, thought Hermione, mentally reminding herself to do something especially nice for them.
"So. I take it the reason you backed out of our library trip yesterday was to set up for that little show at lunch?"
Hermione blushed, "Yeah. Sorry. It sort of backfired on me anyway."
"Ah well. It was very entertaining, nevertheless. Fred and George didn't really get Erin quite right, though, did they?"
Hermione grinned, "not quite. Look, James, I really am sorry I had to back out on you yesterday. It wasn't very studious of me, was it? Did you get much done?"
"Nah. It was kind of hard to make a start without you."
Hermione grinned again. James linked arms with her and they continued to stroll after Harry, Ron and Erin.
"What about we both go to the library at lunch? We could make up for the time we lost yesterday. Unless you have something else to do," he added, eyes twinkling mischievously. Hermione felt herself blushing again.
"Nothing I can think of. Lunch is good."
She hit herself mentally. And she had thought Ron's answers to Erin's questions had been dumb.
It was after that last thought that she realized what the connection was.
She had answered James' question with a pretty dumb answer because she was nervous and James' side was touching hers as a result of their linked arms, and she really liked him.
Ron, however, had not been touching Erin, and couldn't have been flustered because of that. Ron was not, usually, as dumb as his answers could have led you to believe which really only left Hermione with one answer.
Ron liked Erin. Really liked her.
"Hey James? What do you think of Erin?"
James grinned at her, "she's been my best friend ever since I can remember," that hurt Hermione, just a tiny bit, "she's one of the most amazing people I've ever met."
Hermione grinned. From what she could remember of Erin from her own childhood, Erin would be perfect for Ron. However, there was something in James voice that made her pause.
"Do you like her?"
"Of course. Oh," he added, realizing what she meant, "not like that. She's more like a sister than anything else."
Hermione mentally let out a breath of relief.
"What do think about her and Ron?"
James gave her a sly grin.
***
"Ron are you going to ask her or not?"
Ron blushed, "What do you mean?"
Hermione sighed, "to the Ball, Ron."
"Oh."
"It's in six days' time. If you don't ask her soon, someone else will. She's really pretty, in case you didn't notice."
"Hermione, maybe you'd better let me handle this one," interrupted Harry, "Ron, I happen to know that you like her a lot. And Hermione's right, she's really pretty. Just 'cause this whole Erin business got off on the wrong foot doesn't mean that you can't go with her to the Ball. No one will know the connection between Fred and George's Erin and the real one."
Ah, thought Hermione. That was what was wrong. She mentally slapped herself again for how dumb she had been about Fred and George's practical joke. Oh well. Damage is done. No use beating yourself up about it, she told herself.
"Ron, I'm sorry. I didn't really think about that whole ... episode too hard in advance. But really, Harry's right. It is pretty obvious that you like her, to us at least, so don't make it my fault that you miss out on any chance with Erin. You'd be a really cute couple and I've beaten myself up enough over that one, so please don't make me do it any more."
Ron wrinkled his nose at her, "so...now you are the victim out of all that? How does that work?" Hermione was relieved to see he was smiling, "Alright, I'll ask her."
He walked over to where Erin was chatting to Lavender and Parvarti.
Harry winked at her, "that was brilliant."
"Glad you liked it. She'll say yes, by the way. Me and James had a chat to her earlier when you and Ron went to Quidditch practice."
Harry grinned at her, "you and James seem to be getting on really well."
Hermione also grinned, "we do. I really like him."
"You appeared to be turning slightly green at breakfast this morning."
She blushed, "You're very observant, Harry. By the way, how did you work out about Ron and Erin?"
Harry's grin broadened, "I've known Ron for even longer than you. When we took Erin for the tour she asked a lot of questions. He turned a little red and became incomprehensible every time one of those questions was aimed at him."
"Sounds like Ron," she paused, "Did I go that green?"
"I was really surprised you managed to keep the writing off your face. That was why Ron and I pulled her off, to give you some space. Well, that's why Ron thinks we did it. We also did it to get Erin to pay less attention to you two and more to Ron."
Hermione laughed, "you really should get a job as cupid when you finish school, Harry, you'd be perfect."
"Cupid?"
"Yeah. You know the Muggle myth about Cupid? It's not actually a myth. Some ancient Muggles sighted the real Cupid and he wasn't able to mind-wipe them before they left," she shrugged, "The job of Cupid's not widely known, even among the wizarding community. You fly around in a Cupid costume uniting people who are perfect for each other to ensure that both Muggles and Wizards don't die out. I was joking about the costume," she added, seeing Harry's look of horror, "You wear an invisibility cloak. It's actually one of the jobs as part of the Unspeakables from the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic."
Harry's facial told Hermione louder than any words that the job of Cupid was the last thing he wanted to when he left Hogwarts.
Hermione shrugged, "it was just an idea."
***
Ron came back to the table with Erin, both smiling easily, which told Harry and Hermione that Hermione's prediction regarding Erin and Ron had been correct.
Stretching and yawning, they all left for bed about fifteen minutes later.
Erin and Hermione headed up the girls' staircase to their dormitory.
"So what did you and Ron come up with?"
"He asked me to the Ball. I'm glad, it probably would have been pretty awkward if I'd had to ask him, seeing as this is his school, and I'm new and all."
"Do you like him?"
"Of course. He's so sweet and he goes to pieces every time I so much as look at him. That tells me that he likes me too. He does, right?"
"Yeah. He likes you. We practically had to hex him to get him to ask you, but he does like you."
"Good. Seeing as you chose to divulge that particular piece of information to me, I guess that I can feel completely guilt free about what I'm about to tell you."
"What?"
"James is totally into you."
"He's what?"
Erin sighed, "He's like, what's the Pommy word?"
"For what?"
"You know. He digs you."
Hermione gave her a blank look.
Erin sighed again, "Let's put it this way. He really, really likes you. We had a chat about you this afternoon. I think that was the first time I've ever seen words fail James. He normally won't shut up."
Hermione blushed furiously, "I really like him too."
"Harry told me that only a couple of days ago you were telling him how much you didn't like him."
"Disliked," corrected Hermione.
"Whatever. No offense, but you can correct all you want, but it ain't going to get a scrap of Pommy grammar in me. Like I said, no offense."
"None taken. Isn't."
"Isn't what?"
"Isn't, not ain't. Is not is even better, but I'd settle for isn't."
"You are not going to get it out of me."
Hermione hid her grin. She'd get there. Eventually.
***
The next week crawled by. Hermione and James made a very large and promising beginning on their project, Erin succeeded in aggravating Snape to the point where he stormed out of the classroom and didn't come back, suprising everyone by not taking a single point off Gryffindor. Besides, Erin had answered all his questions correctly; she just had done it in such a way to annoy Snape at the same time. Hermione however, suspected that Snape had strict orders to mind Erin's behaviour at least until she settled in a bit more.
What Dumbledore didn't know, was that Erin had settled in perfectly well even before she had set foot inside the castle.
Fred and George's - and Hermione's - practical joke was still legendary amongst the students of Hogwarts. According to the rumours, any person who could make herself as well known as Erin supposedly did, was someone who was going to fit in well amongst the general population of Hogwarts. Perhaps the joke had not backfired as much as Hermione had originally thought; Erin was accepted, Erin and Ron had a 'history' they could laugh about.
Also, Hermione herself often received grins or pats on the backs as she walked Hogwarts' corridors and, to top it off, James had spent much more than the originally twenty minutes catch up time with her. Not to mention the fact that it had got Ron back once and for all for teasing her constantly about her supposedly unhealthy love for books and rule keeping.
***
A/N Well, that's Chapter 3 done. Not much happened, I promise it'll get juicier next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Please review, I love getting them. I'll put up the next Chapter ASAP, some suprise is in store. Lotsa Luv, Lawwwren.