Disclaimer: Are you joking? You actually think I'm trying to steal the work
of J.K. Rowling? Are you feeling okay?
A/N: Well, my keyboard is a bit messed up, so I'm sorry this is taking so long to post. I'll try to go as fast as possible! Wait a second. . . .I just fixed it. Yay!!!!! I'm so happy. I still dunno how soon this'll be out though. Well, I'll hurry. Thanks for the reviews, Jishka!
The way Hermione saw it, she had him cornered. He had to accept those galleons, because of his debt to her. Then, she could either demand he keep them, or find some way to trick him into it, without him losing his pride. How, she didn't know, but she'd thing of something. . . .
Upstairs in the boys' dormitory, Ron was pacing furiously back and forth. "She beat me, she beat me, I can't believe she beat me," Ron said to himself, in time with the rhythm of his footsteps. "She beat me, she beat me. . . ." It was becoming some sort of mantra.
"Ron?" Harry stuck his head through the door. Ron's head whipped around. He scowled.
"Go away." Harry ignored him.
"Oh, come on Ron, it was just a game of chess. No big deal." Ron looked at Harry as if he were an angry Snape, and Harry was Neville just after melting his three hundredth cauldron.
"JUST a game of chess?" He whispered menacingly in a perfect impression of Snape. "JUST a game of chess? What are you talking about? Didn't you see? She did it again, she tricked me. Stupid GIRL, always outsmarting me. . .how do you STAND it, Harry?" He was back to just plain old Ron, and he was furious.
"Erm, Ron?" Harry managed to get a word in.
"What?" he demanded. Harry took a deep breath.
"Um, is it possible that you're overreacting?" Ron's jaw dropped and he made a strangled noise of indignation.
"Overreacting? OVERREACTING? Stop trying to play the peacemaker, Harry! Either you're on my side or hers, make up your mind." Ron tapped his foot impatiently as Harry looked torn.
"Look," Harry said finally, "I'm not on anyone's side. I'm sick of being in the middle of you two; I'm sick of Hermione getting mad at me when I side with you; and I hate having you mad at me when I side with Hermione. So I'm just. . .not on a side. I'm . . . .neutral."
"Fine," Ron huffed at him, and went back to pacing. Harry backed out of the room. Had he just blown it? Was he in big trouble with his best friend now? He sure hoped not.
Harry walked down to the common room, where Hermione was curled up with her book.
Hermione looked anxiously up at Harry when she noticed him standing beside her. "What's wrong?" she asked.
He sighed heavily. "Not much, I guess." That made Hermione laugh.
"You look about as miserable as a fish out of water. Come on, tell me. Did you have a fight with Ron or something?" Harry shook his head.
"Not exactly. He got mad when I didn't side with him, and I just KNOW you'll be mad when I don't side with you, which leaves me all alone. Honestly, I'm always in the middle of you two when you fight, and I'm really sick of it. REALLY sick of it." Hermione looked at him curiously.
"But why? I mean, I know it's hard when Ron and I aren't talking, but you can still talk to both of us, and it never lasts very long, so. . . .why?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Because it's so STUPID," he said. "I mean, it's obvious to everyone BUT you two that you like each other, and. . ." Harry blushed bright red and his eyes darted nervously around the common room, which had gone silent. "Erm. . .did I just say that out loud?" He asked tentatively.
Seamus walked up to Harry and Hermione and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Yep, Harry my mate, you did say that out loud. And Hermione? Hate to break it to you, but it's true. Trust me, it really is." Hermione glowered at him, and then, after he left, at Harry.
"Maybe we could finish this discussion elsewhere?" she hissed at him. "Like, maybe somewhere where no one will hear us?"
"Meet you in the library after dinner, then," Harry whispered back. She nodded and went back to her book, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Now the entire house thought she had a crush on Ron, thanks to Harry. Well, she'd just have to set him straight. She, Hermione Granger, most certainly did NOT have a crush on Ronald Weasley, of all people. Harry was just a little confused, is all, she decided. Once he heard her out, he'd talk sense.
That settled, Hemione continued to read about the life of Rowena Ravenclaw, which was really quite fascinating.
Fool, Harry berated himself. Idiot, mug, imbecile. He hadn't MEANT to say it out loud; it had just. . . . . .slipped out. By accident. Furthermore, now his two best friends were both angry with him. Absolutely spiffing.
Ron sat on his bed, feeling much calmer. If he could just make it through dinner without having to talk to either Harry or Hermione, he could sleep it off. Things always looked brighter in the morning. Ron got up. Ignore him, ignore her, he repeated over and over in his head. Ignore him, ignore her. Ignore him, ignore her, ignore him, ignore her. . . .
Hermione watched from under her eyelashes as Ron descended the stairs, his eyes carefully focused on the portrait hole. Ignore him, she reminded herself. Ignore him, ignore him. Fighting with him again would only make it worse. Ignore him, ignore him, ignore him. . . .
Harry chanced a sideways glance at Hermione. She seemed to be scowling. He mentally slapped himself. Why had he gone and said that? He asked himself for what seemed like the thousandth time in the past half hour. If he could just make it through dinner, he could talk to her in private. Until then, he'd just have to ignore her. He looked over at her again. Ignore her! Ignore her! Ignore her. . . .
Harry jumped up and followed Ron out the portrait hole. He didn't bother saying hello; Ron was quite obviously not talking to him, so Harry kept his distance. As he was walking, he passed Professor Dumlbedore in the hall, who reached out a hand to stop him.
"I have been meaning to congratulate you," the headmaster said. "You did very well on your N.E.W.T.S. Thirteenth in your year, I believe." Harry nodded his thanks and continued down the hall, reminded of why this whole argument had started. It was all so ridiculous, really. If Hermione hadn't tried to act all noble, and if Ron could've just accepted the galleons, none of this would've happened. Ron and his pride, his stupid, stupid pride. Then Harry thought of something. Hermione had pride too, a lot of pride. So why had she so willing given up the galleons to Ron? It wasn't like her. . . sure, she probably would've given Ron half or something in the end, but to say right away, you take them, I don't want them? It wasn't like her.
Come to think of it, Hermione had been acting kind of odd about the whole thing. Winning the galleons back again in that chess match. . . .Harry shook his head, completely confused. He'd just have to ask her in the library.
Dinner was a quiet affair, as neither Ron nor Harry was talking to Hermione, or her to them, or them to each other. They ate in complete silence, except for one rather unfortunate incident when Neville sat down by them.
"Hi, Hermione," he said eagerly. "Can you help me with that Potions essay? I really don't understand why the archinoke reacts with the ethereall." He looked at her helplessly. Hermione shook her head.
"Perhaps you should ask Ron. After all, HE won the galleons, not me." Neville looked quizzical, then turned to Ron.
"Ron?" He asked tentatively. Ron, too, shook his head.
"Tell Hermione that I did NOT win those galleons." Neville looked utterly confused.
"Why don't you tell her?"
"I don't talk to people like her."
"Neville, please inform Ron that I do not talk to people like him either," Hermione cut in. Neville got up.
"I think I'll go ask Seamus. Are you sure there wasn't any kind of potion slipped into your dinners?" With that, he got up and left in a hurry.
At last Hermione couldn't take it any longer. She pushed her plate away from her, and got up. Harry gulped. Time for his talk with her in the library. Oh joy.
A/N: Well, I've got to go to bed. Hope you all are liking this, I promise there WILL be fluff. I swear. Also, in case you're wondering, the first chapter, from Hermione's POV, was like a prologue. The rest is third person. Review!
A/N: Well, my keyboard is a bit messed up, so I'm sorry this is taking so long to post. I'll try to go as fast as possible! Wait a second. . . .I just fixed it. Yay!!!!! I'm so happy. I still dunno how soon this'll be out though. Well, I'll hurry. Thanks for the reviews, Jishka!
The way Hermione saw it, she had him cornered. He had to accept those galleons, because of his debt to her. Then, she could either demand he keep them, or find some way to trick him into it, without him losing his pride. How, she didn't know, but she'd thing of something. . . .
Upstairs in the boys' dormitory, Ron was pacing furiously back and forth. "She beat me, she beat me, I can't believe she beat me," Ron said to himself, in time with the rhythm of his footsteps. "She beat me, she beat me. . . ." It was becoming some sort of mantra.
"Ron?" Harry stuck his head through the door. Ron's head whipped around. He scowled.
"Go away." Harry ignored him.
"Oh, come on Ron, it was just a game of chess. No big deal." Ron looked at Harry as if he were an angry Snape, and Harry was Neville just after melting his three hundredth cauldron.
"JUST a game of chess?" He whispered menacingly in a perfect impression of Snape. "JUST a game of chess? What are you talking about? Didn't you see? She did it again, she tricked me. Stupid GIRL, always outsmarting me. . .how do you STAND it, Harry?" He was back to just plain old Ron, and he was furious.
"Erm, Ron?" Harry managed to get a word in.
"What?" he demanded. Harry took a deep breath.
"Um, is it possible that you're overreacting?" Ron's jaw dropped and he made a strangled noise of indignation.
"Overreacting? OVERREACTING? Stop trying to play the peacemaker, Harry! Either you're on my side or hers, make up your mind." Ron tapped his foot impatiently as Harry looked torn.
"Look," Harry said finally, "I'm not on anyone's side. I'm sick of being in the middle of you two; I'm sick of Hermione getting mad at me when I side with you; and I hate having you mad at me when I side with Hermione. So I'm just. . .not on a side. I'm . . . .neutral."
"Fine," Ron huffed at him, and went back to pacing. Harry backed out of the room. Had he just blown it? Was he in big trouble with his best friend now? He sure hoped not.
Harry walked down to the common room, where Hermione was curled up with her book.
Hermione looked anxiously up at Harry when she noticed him standing beside her. "What's wrong?" she asked.
He sighed heavily. "Not much, I guess." That made Hermione laugh.
"You look about as miserable as a fish out of water. Come on, tell me. Did you have a fight with Ron or something?" Harry shook his head.
"Not exactly. He got mad when I didn't side with him, and I just KNOW you'll be mad when I don't side with you, which leaves me all alone. Honestly, I'm always in the middle of you two when you fight, and I'm really sick of it. REALLY sick of it." Hermione looked at him curiously.
"But why? I mean, I know it's hard when Ron and I aren't talking, but you can still talk to both of us, and it never lasts very long, so. . . .why?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Because it's so STUPID," he said. "I mean, it's obvious to everyone BUT you two that you like each other, and. . ." Harry blushed bright red and his eyes darted nervously around the common room, which had gone silent. "Erm. . .did I just say that out loud?" He asked tentatively.
Seamus walked up to Harry and Hermione and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Yep, Harry my mate, you did say that out loud. And Hermione? Hate to break it to you, but it's true. Trust me, it really is." Hermione glowered at him, and then, after he left, at Harry.
"Maybe we could finish this discussion elsewhere?" she hissed at him. "Like, maybe somewhere where no one will hear us?"
"Meet you in the library after dinner, then," Harry whispered back. She nodded and went back to her book, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Now the entire house thought she had a crush on Ron, thanks to Harry. Well, she'd just have to set him straight. She, Hermione Granger, most certainly did NOT have a crush on Ronald Weasley, of all people. Harry was just a little confused, is all, she decided. Once he heard her out, he'd talk sense.
That settled, Hemione continued to read about the life of Rowena Ravenclaw, which was really quite fascinating.
Fool, Harry berated himself. Idiot, mug, imbecile. He hadn't MEANT to say it out loud; it had just. . . . . .slipped out. By accident. Furthermore, now his two best friends were both angry with him. Absolutely spiffing.
Ron sat on his bed, feeling much calmer. If he could just make it through dinner without having to talk to either Harry or Hermione, he could sleep it off. Things always looked brighter in the morning. Ron got up. Ignore him, ignore her, he repeated over and over in his head. Ignore him, ignore her. Ignore him, ignore her, ignore him, ignore her. . . .
Hermione watched from under her eyelashes as Ron descended the stairs, his eyes carefully focused on the portrait hole. Ignore him, she reminded herself. Ignore him, ignore him. Fighting with him again would only make it worse. Ignore him, ignore him, ignore him. . . .
Harry chanced a sideways glance at Hermione. She seemed to be scowling. He mentally slapped himself. Why had he gone and said that? He asked himself for what seemed like the thousandth time in the past half hour. If he could just make it through dinner, he could talk to her in private. Until then, he'd just have to ignore her. He looked over at her again. Ignore her! Ignore her! Ignore her. . . .
Harry jumped up and followed Ron out the portrait hole. He didn't bother saying hello; Ron was quite obviously not talking to him, so Harry kept his distance. As he was walking, he passed Professor Dumlbedore in the hall, who reached out a hand to stop him.
"I have been meaning to congratulate you," the headmaster said. "You did very well on your N.E.W.T.S. Thirteenth in your year, I believe." Harry nodded his thanks and continued down the hall, reminded of why this whole argument had started. It was all so ridiculous, really. If Hermione hadn't tried to act all noble, and if Ron could've just accepted the galleons, none of this would've happened. Ron and his pride, his stupid, stupid pride. Then Harry thought of something. Hermione had pride too, a lot of pride. So why had she so willing given up the galleons to Ron? It wasn't like her. . . sure, she probably would've given Ron half or something in the end, but to say right away, you take them, I don't want them? It wasn't like her.
Come to think of it, Hermione had been acting kind of odd about the whole thing. Winning the galleons back again in that chess match. . . .Harry shook his head, completely confused. He'd just have to ask her in the library.
Dinner was a quiet affair, as neither Ron nor Harry was talking to Hermione, or her to them, or them to each other. They ate in complete silence, except for one rather unfortunate incident when Neville sat down by them.
"Hi, Hermione," he said eagerly. "Can you help me with that Potions essay? I really don't understand why the archinoke reacts with the ethereall." He looked at her helplessly. Hermione shook her head.
"Perhaps you should ask Ron. After all, HE won the galleons, not me." Neville looked quizzical, then turned to Ron.
"Ron?" He asked tentatively. Ron, too, shook his head.
"Tell Hermione that I did NOT win those galleons." Neville looked utterly confused.
"Why don't you tell her?"
"I don't talk to people like her."
"Neville, please inform Ron that I do not talk to people like him either," Hermione cut in. Neville got up.
"I think I'll go ask Seamus. Are you sure there wasn't any kind of potion slipped into your dinners?" With that, he got up and left in a hurry.
At last Hermione couldn't take it any longer. She pushed her plate away from her, and got up. Harry gulped. Time for his talk with her in the library. Oh joy.
A/N: Well, I've got to go to bed. Hope you all are liking this, I promise there WILL be fluff. I swear. Also, in case you're wondering, the first chapter, from Hermione's POV, was like a prologue. The rest is third person. Review!