A/N: I wasn't going to finish this tonight, but some people have been so insistent that I thought I'd do it just for them! Yay!! Go me! But in turn you must feel sorry for me falling asleep in Trig tomorrow! So there are probably a lot of mistakes, and that's why. I just wanted to get it up. I'll fix it later.

Chapter Two: The Quidditch Match and Then Some

Once inside the portrait hole, Hermione made a beeline for her room. It was the one place she knew she wouldn't run into Colin. She walked into her dormitory and slammed the door a little louder than she anticipated. Hermione gave an exasperated sigh as she dropped all her belongings on her dresser and fell backwards across her bed. She was trying to stretch by arching her back against the bed when she her a noise and turned her head. Someone else's head popped out from under Hermione's bed.

What's happening hot stuff?
~~~~

Meanwhile, Colin Creevy was in the Gryffindor locker room before the game started. He had tried out and been denied every year, but he still thought that by hanging out around the players they would take him back.

Hey Harry? How's it going? Do you feel ready? Should I go try to listen to the Slytherins' plans? Colin bombarded Harry as he walked through the entrance to the locker room in full Quidditch regalia.

Colin, calm down. Everything is great, Harry said calmly. He picked up his broom and began to polish it with the new polish Ron had bought him for his birthday. He stopped, remembering something he had seen earlier. Hey Colin...

Colin looked up from polishing all the other brooms.

Are you and Hermione together?

Not at the moment, but you never know! he said with a smile.

Harry just looked confused.
~~~~

Oh my god Lavender! Did you hear how we were getting an exchange student from that Wizarding school in China? Parvati told her friend anxiously as she entered the common room from her previous class. I didn't even know they had wizarding schools there!

Of course they do, you dimwit! Where do you think Tokyo is? Anyway, don't bother. He's extremely weird. In fact, Long Duck Dong in our dorm room right now, which is why I'm out here. I told him that he wasn't allowed to be in there. He just called me hot stuff and climbed in a closet. Lavender's gaze never lifted from her Teen Witch Weekly as she blew on a wet nail and turned a page.

Parvati opened her mouth to speak, but at that instant, Hermione came bursting out of the dorm room and down the staircase. Did you know there's a weird guy currently UNDER MY BED?? she asked incredulously.

That's Long Duck Dong, Lavender said knowingly.



Long Duck Dong. The weird guy under your bed? Parvati turned and faced Hermione. He's that foreign exchange student McGonagall said would be here.

Parvati, what are you doing? Is that ballet? Hermione asked as Parvati stretched out her arm and her leg like a ballerina.

Nope, just stretching incase—

—we meet any cute Ravenclaws at the game, Lavender finished.

Since when does snogging involve having flexible legs? Oh... Hermione realized and blushed a bit as Lavender giggled back at her.
Parvati walked over to the window and gazed with a purpose outside. Aren't you going to the game, Hermione?

she replied slowly.

Parvati said glancing down again, It looks as though they have just started.

Oh great! she said, rushing back up the stone stairs for her scarf. The steps always seemed to take longer when she was in a hurry. Ignoring Long Duck Dong who had moved from under her bed to trying on Lavender's dress robes, she quickly grabbed her scarf and headed back out again. She had never missed a game of Harry's before, and even if he had forgotten her birthday, Hermione still felt obligated to go see him. She was going so fast that when she ran by one of the long red couches, Hermione stubbed her toe.

Parvati said shocked. We'll see you there. Lavender and I are going for fashionably late.

She kept going out the portrait hole, but turned around at the last second and added, Lavender, I do believe Long Duck Dong is trying on your dress robes. And the portrait hole swung shut.

Hermione ran down four sets of stairs, whizzed through the Fat Friar (to his and Hermione's surprise), skated through the dining and entrance halls, tromped through the field next to Herbology, and finally made it to the quidditch pitch (in record time). Out of breath and physically drained, Hermione climbed up to the top of the Gryffindor stands, where she found Ginny sitting (and shamelessly flirting) with Seamus.

Hey guys, she managed to squeak out before collapsing on Ginny's unoccupied side of the bench.

What happened to you? Ginny asked eyeing her up and down.

Ah, nothing, I just ran here.

At that moment, someone else sat down next to Hermione and her heart sank as she turned to face Colin Creevy.

I'm back! he announced.

So I smell.

That's my after shave! Come on, don't you want to feel a clean close shave? He reached out and grabbed a hold of her wrist.

I'll pass, thanks, she said shortly, and yanked her wrist away from his grasp.

Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends? he said moving an eyebrow in the direction of Ginny and Seamus.

Oh I'm sorry, she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. This is Ginny Weasley and this is Seamus Finnigan. Guys, this is Colin Creepy.

Colin Creevy.

Whatever geek, Seamus said, looking rather annoyed.

Colin said, turning to Hermione and then looking down again. I came here to ask you something. I don't normally do this sort of thing, but my dad always says If you want something, you've got to ask.' Actually its a bit embarrassing, you see... Colin had finally looked back up to see that Hermione had left and the other two were staring suspiciously at him. Hehehe. Heh.
~~~~

Cho Chang walked with her other friends down the hallways as Harry's game was on. Frankly she didn't care. Hey guys, there's going to be a huge party in Gryffindor tonight to celebrate their obvious victory. You guys should come, the password is
~~~~

Hermione had had enough. This is it. I can't take it anymore. I don't care if it means leaving Harry's game. There was really only one place she could go, so she ran.

She finally reached the Astronomy Tower finding it, as usual, empty, leaving her favorite spot in all of Hogwarts all to herself. She sat down on the bench and put her head in her hands. How do I seem to get myself into situations like this? What did I do to deserve this? No sooner had she asked herself these questions than Colin Creevy had tripped over a loose stone and lay sprawled out in front of Hermione. He quickly stood up and brushed himself up before looking Hermione in the eye.

May I sit down? Hermione motioned to him with her hand and he took a close seat next to her.

Sorry if I was a jerk to you earlier, I'm just really having a bad birthday, she said solemnly.

Der ner ner ner ner ner! You say it's your birthday! Der ner ner ner ner ner! It's my birthday too—

STOP! Stop, enough already.

Hey Jude... Colin began to sing with his eyes closed.

Look, I really don't need a serenade right now.

What, you didn't get anything good from your friends?

I got nothing, no cards, not even a Happy Birthday.'

You know, I'd flip if my best friends forgot my birthday.

I mean, I'm sixteen! This is supposed to be a brand new year! I should be happy. But that's the problem, I can't get happy, it's just impossible. Hermione looked over at Colin, trying to read his facial expression without luck. she added, I must be boring you with all this personal shit.

No really! I do care! he said enthusiastically. The suddenly, he looked over at Hermione, deep into her eyes, and rolled on top of her trying without luck to kiss her. Hermione realized what he was trying to do in time and held him back at his shoulders while he puckered up with his eyes closed.

GET OFF OF ME!

Taking the hint, he moved back into an upright position and smoothed back his hair, trying to keep his cool. Look I'm really sorry...

Hermione chuckled. She had to admit, it must have looked pretty funny. That's ok, she said warmly.

That's ok? A light went on inside Colin's head as he took it as a green light for a snog. He rolled back on top of her, only to be held back by a very irritated Hermione. She finally got him restrained and they both sat back down.

You know? I just felt how much you liked me just then, she said, still obviously upset.

Probably zoning in on my brain waves.

No, I felt it on my leg.



After that, a long period of tense silence followed. The two Gryffindors just kept staring straight in front of them.

Would it be totally out of the question he asked, breaking the ice, if I asked if I could have sex with you?

Hermione turned to face him and just giggled. How could she not? After all that, he still wanted to have sex. she said, It's stupid but I'm kind of saving myself for...someone.



Hermione frowned.

Come on, who!

Harry Potter? she said a bit nervously.

Harry? Harry's my boy! He just asked me you right before the game! He asked if you were seeing anyone!

No way!

He did! Colin said, adolescent voice squeaking.

Hermione jumped up from the bench. Oh my god! What should I do? Should I go to him? Or should I wait for him to come to me? Oh my god!

Well, I'm a gambling man by nature. I'd go for it.

This sounds crazy, but I think I'm going to do it! Thanks so much! You're the best, Colin. She started to walk away, but Colin called back out to her.

Can I ask you a favor? She nodded. Can I have one kiss? I, I've never kissed a girl before, he said, sounding a bit embarrassed. She sighed and walked over to him. Hermione did feel a bit of an obligation. She leaned in and gave him a soft but short kiss on the lips and left.
~~~~

A/N: Dun dun dun dun!!! Does Hermione get up the courage to tell Harry how she feels? Does she decided to just go with Colin? What about Cho? I know you already know, but just play along!!!