Beginning of spring term, after Christmas holidays:
"Harry I don't understand why the Professor wants to see me, I already handed in my essay," Hermione complained as Harry dragged her back to the classroom.
"Harry? There's no-one here," Hermione observed suspiciously.
"Exactly," Harry replied, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him.
"Oh, I see," Hermione replied as she reached up for his lips. She'd really missed those lips over the Christmas holidays; Harry as usual had stayed on at Hogwarts, but Hermione's parents had wanted her home, and for good reason too. A relative from America had come to stay, and she was actually joining them at Hogwarts for a term, although she'd be in the year below. She was the daughter of her Mum's old college friend, and since she was a witch also, Hermione's parents had suggested she spend a term studying at Hogwarts. 'Great!' Hermione thought; an annoying little brat following round after her, that was the last thing she needed. Oh well, she reasoned, she wouldn't be starting for another week so at least she had a whole week of Harry first.
In their next lesson, Hermione couldn't resist passing Harry a note under the table; "I missed you so much," she wrote on a slip of paper. Harry glanced up from his work to give her one of his irresistible smiles. Ron was sat on Harry's other side, trying to concentrate on his work also, but Lavender's hand was resting suggestively on his leg under the table, and she was doing something she really shouldn't be doing in the middle of a lesson. Ever since the Yule Ball when Ron had said they should wait a little longer before having sex, she's become this nymphomaniac almost; always trying to get him aroused, and she was doing a pretty good job if it lately!
"Lav," Ron muttered under his breath, "Leave it a bit will you?" She smiled sweetly at him, and stopped what she was doing, but her hand remained on his leg. Harry noted Ron's uncomfortable position, and smiled to himself; they were all pretty obsessed with sexually orientated stuff lately; him and Hermione hadn't been able to keep their hands of each other since the term started again, and Ron and Lavender seemed headed down that road too, although it seemed to Harry that Ron wasn't quite as keen.
"Hey, we have another weekend at Hogsmeade soon," Hermione told Harry over dinner that evening. Ron heard also and groaned.
"What's up?" Harry asked quietly.
"It's Lav," Ron muttered, "She's become really, you know, full on all the time, it's embarrassing, and she'll expect us to, you know." he added.
"I don't see the problem," Harry said frowning at Ron. He thought Ron wanted to sleep with Lavender, but now it seemed that Ron was having second thoughts.
"It's not that I don't fancy her, I do, she's great," Ron was saying quietly so as Hermione couldn't hear, "It's just that I feel guilty about lying to her about, it," he finished looking at Harry.
"So tell her the truth then," Harry suggested simply.
"Mmm," was all Ron said in response to Harry's idea. Ron had been thinking lately about him and Lavender; he really liked her, it was just that after his experience over the summer, he didn't want to rush into anything; they were only 15 after all. If he was honest with himself he wanted what Harry and Hermione had; a meaningful relationship where they were on the same level. They understood each other are weren't hastening into anything they weren't ready for. But Lavender didn't exactly feel the same way. He'd tried talking to her buy she was always with her group of friends, and whenever they were alone together she pounced on him! Not that he minded that much, he just wanted there to be m ore feeling between them.
"What's up Ron?" Hermione questioned him as they were walking back from their Care of Magical Creatures lesson; Harry had stayed behind to help Hagrid clear up the mess; his latest project hadn't gone down to well with the students. Draco's loud comment about "my father having something to say" was heard all too clearly by Hagrid who groaned inwardly.
"Nothing why?" Ron replied, staring at the ground as they walked.
"Oh come on Ron, I know that when you don't eat much for lunch, something must be up!" she added with a grin. Ron grinned half-heartedly back, but remained silent. He wanted to talk to someone about it, and he supposed that Hermione being a girl might be able to give better advice than Harry.
"It's Lavender isn't it?" she guessed.
"Yeah," Ron sighed. They stopped beneath a tree and Ron swung himself up onto the lowest branch. Hermione propped herself against the trunk and looked up to listen to what Ron had to say. He remembered that Hermione didn't know about what happened with Amy, so he'd either have to tell her or avoid it somehow; the latter he didn't' think would be easy.
"It's all because of what happened over the summer with this girl," and so Ron proceeded, for the next half hour, to recount the story of Amy, and then to reveal to Hermione the problem he was having with Lavender. Hermione couldn't help but blush when he asked her if it was the same with her and Harry. She'd never talked to anyone about their relationship, and she wasn't quite sure how much Harry would want her to divulge.
"With me and Harry it's different because neither of us have before," she said as Ron stared down at her.
"Yeah I know, but you must want to," Ron replied, frowning. "I mean, how is it that you understand each other so well."
"I guess it's because we talk about things," she replied, adding extra emphasis on the 'talk', giving Ron a knowing look, which always irritated him, especially since he knew she was right.
"Look Ron, I know this will sound harsh, but once you talk to her about it, you'll know where each other stands," Hermione said.
"Yeah, but what if she doesn't understand?" Ron questioned.
"Well then maybe it's not meant to be," Hermione said a little more gently. Ron looked at her. He hadn't actually considered that. Maybe they weren't meant to be together.
"Cheers Hermione," he said as he swung back down from the branch and headed up towards the school.
"Ron! Don't do anything to hastily," she called to him. He turned to wave and mouthed a reply that she didn't catch. Hermione had a feeling another couple was set for break-up in the near future.
"So you're officially single again?" Harry asked as Ron returned to the common room after dinner that evening.
"Yep! And it feels great!" Ron replied. He'd spoken to Lavender; he hadn't exactly told her the real reason, he had a reputation to keep after all; he couldn't afford to have rumours spread about him- unlike an unfortunate Malfoy! Although on that front, he seemed to have gained some rep back after he'd bragged to everyone what had happened with Pansy the night of the Ball.
"Well let's hope you have better luck next time," Hermione offered as she gave him a hug.
"Yeah! Plenty more out there," he laughed, "speaking of which, when's this girl arriving?" he was of course referring to Hermione's visitor from America. "I love the American accent," Ron continued, "sexy, right Harry?" he added with a wink.
"Ron, I thought it was great to be single." Hermione questioned, feigning annoyance, "And you're NOT going to hit on Faith, she's only here for a term."
"Faith? That's a cute name," Ron said teasingly. He was intrigued as to what she'd be like. He imagined another Hermione; studious and sensible, maybe not though he mused.
"Ok," Hermione said as they awaited Faith's arrival the following week, "Behave yourselves please," she pleaded with them, "My parents are counting on me to set a good example." She directed this more at Ron than Harry, as they knew the trouble Ron could get up to. They waited in the entrance hall along with Professor Dumbledore, who had joined them to welcome the visitor. A carriage was heard pulling up outside and the sound of footsteps approaching. The doors swung back to reveal a fairly tall and tanned girl, weighted down with suitcases.
"I'll give you a hand there," Ron offered as he took a couple of cases off her. "Wow! You'd think you were coming to live with us forever!" Rin commentated jokingly, as more suitcases appeared from the carriage.
"I hate to travel light," she returned warmly, a slight American intonation evident in her speech. Ron was surprised, having expected a stronger accent. He smiled back at her and proceeded to carry the suitcases up to the girl's dormitory. Harry grabbed a couple also and followed Ron up.
"So, how was your journey?" Hermione asked, feeling a little awkward. Dumbledore had greeted Faith, and then returned to his rooms.
"Great actually," Faith replied, "But let's not talk boring stuff, I wanna know everything about that guy!" Hermione smiled an awkward smile and asked her which one she meant.
"The dark one obviously!" Faith answered, "That red-haired one's cute too, but it's the quiet one's I go for." Hermione stared at her, not knowing how to tell her that the 'dark one' was in fact her boyfriend.
"Um, actually, he's kind of taken," Hermione said, not looking Faith in the eye.
"Oh my gosh! He's yours isn't he?" she said, spinning round to look at Hermione.
"Yeah, sorry," Hermione answered back.
"Oh well, maybe it'll have to be the red-haired one then!" she replied laughing. Hermione didn't reply as she led Faith up to the Gryffindor; Hermione sighed as she foresaw a difficult term ahead of them. As she showed Faith around the common room, Ron and Harry rejoined them for the tour. Faith lingered back with Ron as Hermione showed her where she'd sleep, eat, work etc. Ron loved the attention, and flirted back, not realising quite what he was letting himself in for.
"Harry I don't understand why the Professor wants to see me, I already handed in my essay," Hermione complained as Harry dragged her back to the classroom.
"Harry? There's no-one here," Hermione observed suspiciously.
"Exactly," Harry replied, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him.
"Oh, I see," Hermione replied as she reached up for his lips. She'd really missed those lips over the Christmas holidays; Harry as usual had stayed on at Hogwarts, but Hermione's parents had wanted her home, and for good reason too. A relative from America had come to stay, and she was actually joining them at Hogwarts for a term, although she'd be in the year below. She was the daughter of her Mum's old college friend, and since she was a witch also, Hermione's parents had suggested she spend a term studying at Hogwarts. 'Great!' Hermione thought; an annoying little brat following round after her, that was the last thing she needed. Oh well, she reasoned, she wouldn't be starting for another week so at least she had a whole week of Harry first.
In their next lesson, Hermione couldn't resist passing Harry a note under the table; "I missed you so much," she wrote on a slip of paper. Harry glanced up from his work to give her one of his irresistible smiles. Ron was sat on Harry's other side, trying to concentrate on his work also, but Lavender's hand was resting suggestively on his leg under the table, and she was doing something she really shouldn't be doing in the middle of a lesson. Ever since the Yule Ball when Ron had said they should wait a little longer before having sex, she's become this nymphomaniac almost; always trying to get him aroused, and she was doing a pretty good job if it lately!
"Lav," Ron muttered under his breath, "Leave it a bit will you?" She smiled sweetly at him, and stopped what she was doing, but her hand remained on his leg. Harry noted Ron's uncomfortable position, and smiled to himself; they were all pretty obsessed with sexually orientated stuff lately; him and Hermione hadn't been able to keep their hands of each other since the term started again, and Ron and Lavender seemed headed down that road too, although it seemed to Harry that Ron wasn't quite as keen.
"Hey, we have another weekend at Hogsmeade soon," Hermione told Harry over dinner that evening. Ron heard also and groaned.
"What's up?" Harry asked quietly.
"It's Lav," Ron muttered, "She's become really, you know, full on all the time, it's embarrassing, and she'll expect us to, you know." he added.
"I don't see the problem," Harry said frowning at Ron. He thought Ron wanted to sleep with Lavender, but now it seemed that Ron was having second thoughts.
"It's not that I don't fancy her, I do, she's great," Ron was saying quietly so as Hermione couldn't hear, "It's just that I feel guilty about lying to her about, it," he finished looking at Harry.
"So tell her the truth then," Harry suggested simply.
"Mmm," was all Ron said in response to Harry's idea. Ron had been thinking lately about him and Lavender; he really liked her, it was just that after his experience over the summer, he didn't want to rush into anything; they were only 15 after all. If he was honest with himself he wanted what Harry and Hermione had; a meaningful relationship where they were on the same level. They understood each other are weren't hastening into anything they weren't ready for. But Lavender didn't exactly feel the same way. He'd tried talking to her buy she was always with her group of friends, and whenever they were alone together she pounced on him! Not that he minded that much, he just wanted there to be m ore feeling between them.
"What's up Ron?" Hermione questioned him as they were walking back from their Care of Magical Creatures lesson; Harry had stayed behind to help Hagrid clear up the mess; his latest project hadn't gone down to well with the students. Draco's loud comment about "my father having something to say" was heard all too clearly by Hagrid who groaned inwardly.
"Nothing why?" Ron replied, staring at the ground as they walked.
"Oh come on Ron, I know that when you don't eat much for lunch, something must be up!" she added with a grin. Ron grinned half-heartedly back, but remained silent. He wanted to talk to someone about it, and he supposed that Hermione being a girl might be able to give better advice than Harry.
"It's Lavender isn't it?" she guessed.
"Yeah," Ron sighed. They stopped beneath a tree and Ron swung himself up onto the lowest branch. Hermione propped herself against the trunk and looked up to listen to what Ron had to say. He remembered that Hermione didn't know about what happened with Amy, so he'd either have to tell her or avoid it somehow; the latter he didn't' think would be easy.
"It's all because of what happened over the summer with this girl," and so Ron proceeded, for the next half hour, to recount the story of Amy, and then to reveal to Hermione the problem he was having with Lavender. Hermione couldn't help but blush when he asked her if it was the same with her and Harry. She'd never talked to anyone about their relationship, and she wasn't quite sure how much Harry would want her to divulge.
"With me and Harry it's different because neither of us have before," she said as Ron stared down at her.
"Yeah I know, but you must want to," Ron replied, frowning. "I mean, how is it that you understand each other so well."
"I guess it's because we talk about things," she replied, adding extra emphasis on the 'talk', giving Ron a knowing look, which always irritated him, especially since he knew she was right.
"Look Ron, I know this will sound harsh, but once you talk to her about it, you'll know where each other stands," Hermione said.
"Yeah, but what if she doesn't understand?" Ron questioned.
"Well then maybe it's not meant to be," Hermione said a little more gently. Ron looked at her. He hadn't actually considered that. Maybe they weren't meant to be together.
"Cheers Hermione," he said as he swung back down from the branch and headed up towards the school.
"Ron! Don't do anything to hastily," she called to him. He turned to wave and mouthed a reply that she didn't catch. Hermione had a feeling another couple was set for break-up in the near future.
"So you're officially single again?" Harry asked as Ron returned to the common room after dinner that evening.
"Yep! And it feels great!" Ron replied. He'd spoken to Lavender; he hadn't exactly told her the real reason, he had a reputation to keep after all; he couldn't afford to have rumours spread about him- unlike an unfortunate Malfoy! Although on that front, he seemed to have gained some rep back after he'd bragged to everyone what had happened with Pansy the night of the Ball.
"Well let's hope you have better luck next time," Hermione offered as she gave him a hug.
"Yeah! Plenty more out there," he laughed, "speaking of which, when's this girl arriving?" he was of course referring to Hermione's visitor from America. "I love the American accent," Ron continued, "sexy, right Harry?" he added with a wink.
"Ron, I thought it was great to be single." Hermione questioned, feigning annoyance, "And you're NOT going to hit on Faith, she's only here for a term."
"Faith? That's a cute name," Ron said teasingly. He was intrigued as to what she'd be like. He imagined another Hermione; studious and sensible, maybe not though he mused.
"Ok," Hermione said as they awaited Faith's arrival the following week, "Behave yourselves please," she pleaded with them, "My parents are counting on me to set a good example." She directed this more at Ron than Harry, as they knew the trouble Ron could get up to. They waited in the entrance hall along with Professor Dumbledore, who had joined them to welcome the visitor. A carriage was heard pulling up outside and the sound of footsteps approaching. The doors swung back to reveal a fairly tall and tanned girl, weighted down with suitcases.
"I'll give you a hand there," Ron offered as he took a couple of cases off her. "Wow! You'd think you were coming to live with us forever!" Rin commentated jokingly, as more suitcases appeared from the carriage.
"I hate to travel light," she returned warmly, a slight American intonation evident in her speech. Ron was surprised, having expected a stronger accent. He smiled back at her and proceeded to carry the suitcases up to the girl's dormitory. Harry grabbed a couple also and followed Ron up.
"So, how was your journey?" Hermione asked, feeling a little awkward. Dumbledore had greeted Faith, and then returned to his rooms.
"Great actually," Faith replied, "But let's not talk boring stuff, I wanna know everything about that guy!" Hermione smiled an awkward smile and asked her which one she meant.
"The dark one obviously!" Faith answered, "That red-haired one's cute too, but it's the quiet one's I go for." Hermione stared at her, not knowing how to tell her that the 'dark one' was in fact her boyfriend.
"Um, actually, he's kind of taken," Hermione said, not looking Faith in the eye.
"Oh my gosh! He's yours isn't he?" she said, spinning round to look at Hermione.
"Yeah, sorry," Hermione answered back.
"Oh well, maybe it'll have to be the red-haired one then!" she replied laughing. Hermione didn't reply as she led Faith up to the Gryffindor; Hermione sighed as she foresaw a difficult term ahead of them. As she showed Faith around the common room, Ron and Harry rejoined them for the tour. Faith lingered back with Ron as Hermione showed her where she'd sleep, eat, work etc. Ron loved the attention, and flirted back, not realising quite what he was letting himself in for.