Disclaimer: Okay folks, brace yourself! I own nothing you recognize.
That belongs to J.K Rowling. I know, I know. it can be hard to remember
that I, a random girl, am in fact not J. K. Rowling. It happens to
the best of us.
* A/N * Thanks to all my reviewers!! I really appreciate it! You are all the BEST people in the world! I'm sorry for not doing the individual thanks thing again; I do really really appreciate the reviews, I just thought it would be better to get right to the story :D I'm sorry about all the crap that's been going on with the quotes. I think I'm just going to stick with what I was doing before, even though it means I can't center or bold anything. Thanks!!
Chapter Four: Good Girl
"Ron! Slow down!" Lavender didn't catch up with Ron until they were halfway down the Charms corridor. "Ron! Please, I can't run anymore!" Lavender leaned up against the wall next to her. Ron turned around and stopped.
"Lav, don't try and tell me to calm down, or - "
"Ron, please. Just listen! These are your two best friends. You can't just throw them away because they fell in love! Not talking to them isn't going to make Hermione fall for you. It's only going to bring you two further apart! And what about Harry? He's been your best friend since the train-ride during First Year! Ron, please, be sensible. These are your best friends in the world. They mean more to you than anyone else in the world. Don't push them away over something like this. Not just because they fell for each other." Lavender looked apprehensively at Ron.
"Jesus, Lav. I just don't know if I can take them together. I want to be happy for them, I really do." Ron fell off and looked up at Lavender.
"Try, Ron. For me, for them, for yourself." Lavender let out a smile.
"All right. I'll try. Just - " Ron stopped.
"Just what?"
"Help me? Don't let me say something I don't mean. I don't want to lose two of my best friends."
"Two of your best friends? I thought they were your two best friends." Lavender asked. Ron smiled and put his arm around Lavender.
"Nope. I've got another one." They began to walk down the corridor.
"Want to go to the lake? You know, maybe cool down a bit more."
"Sounds good to me. Hey, maybe you can read me some stars or something." Ron said sarcastically with a small laugh.
"Very funny. You better watch out or I will." Lavender threatened jokingly.
"I'd just better then." The two walked out toward the lake.
*~*~*~*~*
"Oh! Sorry, Harry!" Mandy said after she (entirely on purpose) bumped into Harry. "Let me help you pick up your books."
"Thanks, Mandy is it?"
"Yeah. So, how has your year been?" Mandy asked cheerfully. Now was her chance. As Mandy picked up Harry's Advanced Divination, she slipped a note with a message in tiny, perfect handwriting inside of it. A loud bell sounded.
"Oh! Guess I'd better go to Charms. See you around, Harry!" Mandy patted Harry on the back as she headed for the Charms room. Harry, all his books back in his bag, was heading up to the North Tower for Divination.
When Harry climbed the ladder he saw Ron sitting at a table with Lavender and Parvati. He wasn't sure if he should sit, since he hadn't talked to Ron since the common room last night. Ron noticed Harry's hesitation and waved him over to sit at their table. Harry collapsed into a giant pouf.
"Ron, I - " Harry began.
"Forget it, Harry." Ron interrupted.
"Just let me - "
"Harry, I'm happy for you. Really, I am. It was just quite a shock last night. Don't worry about it." Under the table, Lavender patted Ron's leg. Ron smiled discreetly at her.
"Thanks, Ron. Sorry we didn't warn you. We didn't really have any time."
"Already forgotten, mate." Harry felt an enormous relief to have his friend back.
"Take out you books, please, dears, and turn to page 296." Professor Trelawney's misty voice came from the shadows. Lavender and Parvati quickly tore open their books and looked at Professor Trelawney with awe. Ron and Harry also took out their books, but with more reluctance. A note slipped out of Harry's book as he flipped it open. It was in Hermione's neat and tiny handwriting.
"What's that?" Ron asked Harry in an undertone. "Love note from Herm?" he said in a joking tone. Harry kicked him under the table. Harry started to read the note. The more of the note Harry read, the more color seemed to drain from his face.
"What's the matter? What did she say?" Ron reached for the note; Harry let it fall from his hand.
Dear Harry,
We have been the best of friends since fall of out First Year, and it has been an amazing friendship. With all the adventures and wonderful times we have had together, I wouldn't change our friendship for anything. Anything. I have been thinking about it, Harry, and while I did very much enjoy our kiss in the rain, maybe we shouldn't rush into things. Let's meet in the Astronomy Tower tonight at 8:00. We can talk, and see if this relationship has a future. Please remember I do still wish to remain friends, even if we can't take it to the next level. .
- Hermione
Harry was staring at the note in disbelief. Ron looked at Harry uncertainly.
"Look, Harry - "
"Not now, Ron." Harry was beyond depressed.
"No! Harry, look at this! That's not Hermione's signature! Look at the note really closely, that's not even her handwriting!" Harry looked up at Ron with a new hope in his eyes.
"You know, you're right! Hers is curvier, isn't it?"
"Yeah! Let's check it to some homework of hers or something after Divination."
"Sounds good." Harry and Ron turned their attention (or some of it, anyway) to Professor Trelawney.
*~*~*~*~*
"Herm!" Ron called as he rushed into the common room after Divination. Harry had waited outside on the off chance that the note was genuine.
"Ron! You are as white as Nearly Headless Nick! What's the matter?"
"I need to see a paper of yours." Ron panted, out of breath from the run. "Any paper, it doesn't matter."
"Ron, you know I don't approve of copying." Hermione said seriously.
"I know. It doesn't have to be a class I'm in. How about Arithmancy? Or Runes? Can I see one of your Runes papers?" Hermione looked confused.
"Um, sure." She ruffled through her bag for and pulled out an old Potions essay they had gotten back three weeks ago. "Here. No point in copying it, yours has already been returned."
"I'm not going to copy it, Herm!" Ron snatched the paper out of Hermione's hands. He studied the hand writing carefully.
"Yes! I knew it!" Ron ran to the portrait hole leaving a very confused Hermione in the dust. Ron pushed open the portrait hole and popped his head out. "It's a fake, Harry!"
Harry rushed into the common room and ran straight to Hermione. He picked her up and swung her around in a loving embrace. As soon as he put her down he kissed her forehead.
"Hermione, I love you."
"Oh, Harry! I love you, too!" Hermione flung her arms around Harry and the pair began to kiss passionately, ignoring all the goings on of the packed common room around them.
*~*~*~*~*
"Harry, I'm worried a teacher will find us! We aren't supposed to be up here when we aren't in classes!" Hermione whispered forcefully to Harry from underneath the invisibility cloak. They were waiting by the Astronomy Tower, hidden, in order to see just who was trying to ruin their dream relationship.
The minutes passed in silence. At around 8:15, they heard a nearby door creak. Mandy Brocklehurst crept out and looked around. She cleared her throat.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Mandy asked.
"Harry, let's sneak around the corner, you go out of the cloak and see what she's planning. I'll watch." Hermione whispered into Harry's ear. Harry nodded. They went silently around the corner, and Harry slipped out from beneath the cloak. The walked back around the corner at the same time, so Hermione's footsteps were easily hidden.
"Harry! I thought I heard someone. What are you doing up here?"
"Um, I'm waiting for Hermione. She said we needed to talk about some stuff."
"Oh, poor Harry! Bad stuff?"
"Yeah." Said Harry, figuring that since he was faking anyway, there was no pint in beating around the bush.
"That Hermione is trouble, Harry. She's always having trouble committing to anything besides a good book!" Mandy patted Harry's shoulder sympathetically. "Maybe it's time for you to consider finding someone who can commit to you. Commit completely."
"Mandy, I love Hermione. You know that right? I love her more than anything in the world. I don't even know you." Harry tried to sound slightly sympathetic and stern at the same time.
"Harry! I know she seduced you! A freak like he could never get - "
"Stop it! Mandy, I'll never love you! I love Hermione! I know you sent the note to try and get me to leave Mione! She's here, you know! Herm, come here." Hermione pulled off the cloak.
"Mandy, I'm sorry." Said Hermione. "But I love Harry and he loves me. We want to be together." Hermione walked over to Mandy and Harry and put a sympathetic hand on Mandy's shoulder. Mandy immediately shrugged it off.
"He might think now that he cares about you, Granger, but once you fall out of the picture, it will be all about me. I promise you that." She glared at Hermione and stormed off.
"Whoa. Talk about your crazy stalkers." Said Harry, trying to lighten the mood. Hermione laughed, turned to face Harry and wrapped her arms around him.
"Well, Mr. Potter, is she right? Are you looking to throw me out of the picture anytime soon?" Hermione asked.
"Hmmm. Maybe. It depends if you're nice or not." Harry responded.
"Well, then I'll try to be a good girl." Harry put his arm around Hermione and Hermione leaned her head on Harry's shoulder as the couple walked back to the common room.
* A/N * Thanks to all my reviewers!! I really appreciate it! You are all the BEST people in the world! I'm sorry for not doing the individual thanks thing again; I do really really appreciate the reviews, I just thought it would be better to get right to the story :D I'm sorry about all the crap that's been going on with the quotes. I think I'm just going to stick with what I was doing before, even though it means I can't center or bold anything. Thanks!!
Chapter Four: Good Girl
"Ron! Slow down!" Lavender didn't catch up with Ron until they were halfway down the Charms corridor. "Ron! Please, I can't run anymore!" Lavender leaned up against the wall next to her. Ron turned around and stopped.
"Lav, don't try and tell me to calm down, or - "
"Ron, please. Just listen! These are your two best friends. You can't just throw them away because they fell in love! Not talking to them isn't going to make Hermione fall for you. It's only going to bring you two further apart! And what about Harry? He's been your best friend since the train-ride during First Year! Ron, please, be sensible. These are your best friends in the world. They mean more to you than anyone else in the world. Don't push them away over something like this. Not just because they fell for each other." Lavender looked apprehensively at Ron.
"Jesus, Lav. I just don't know if I can take them together. I want to be happy for them, I really do." Ron fell off and looked up at Lavender.
"Try, Ron. For me, for them, for yourself." Lavender let out a smile.
"All right. I'll try. Just - " Ron stopped.
"Just what?"
"Help me? Don't let me say something I don't mean. I don't want to lose two of my best friends."
"Two of your best friends? I thought they were your two best friends." Lavender asked. Ron smiled and put his arm around Lavender.
"Nope. I've got another one." They began to walk down the corridor.
"Want to go to the lake? You know, maybe cool down a bit more."
"Sounds good to me. Hey, maybe you can read me some stars or something." Ron said sarcastically with a small laugh.
"Very funny. You better watch out or I will." Lavender threatened jokingly.
"I'd just better then." The two walked out toward the lake.
*~*~*~*~*
"Oh! Sorry, Harry!" Mandy said after she (entirely on purpose) bumped into Harry. "Let me help you pick up your books."
"Thanks, Mandy is it?"
"Yeah. So, how has your year been?" Mandy asked cheerfully. Now was her chance. As Mandy picked up Harry's Advanced Divination, she slipped a note with a message in tiny, perfect handwriting inside of it. A loud bell sounded.
"Oh! Guess I'd better go to Charms. See you around, Harry!" Mandy patted Harry on the back as she headed for the Charms room. Harry, all his books back in his bag, was heading up to the North Tower for Divination.
When Harry climbed the ladder he saw Ron sitting at a table with Lavender and Parvati. He wasn't sure if he should sit, since he hadn't talked to Ron since the common room last night. Ron noticed Harry's hesitation and waved him over to sit at their table. Harry collapsed into a giant pouf.
"Ron, I - " Harry began.
"Forget it, Harry." Ron interrupted.
"Just let me - "
"Harry, I'm happy for you. Really, I am. It was just quite a shock last night. Don't worry about it." Under the table, Lavender patted Ron's leg. Ron smiled discreetly at her.
"Thanks, Ron. Sorry we didn't warn you. We didn't really have any time."
"Already forgotten, mate." Harry felt an enormous relief to have his friend back.
"Take out you books, please, dears, and turn to page 296." Professor Trelawney's misty voice came from the shadows. Lavender and Parvati quickly tore open their books and looked at Professor Trelawney with awe. Ron and Harry also took out their books, but with more reluctance. A note slipped out of Harry's book as he flipped it open. It was in Hermione's neat and tiny handwriting.
"What's that?" Ron asked Harry in an undertone. "Love note from Herm?" he said in a joking tone. Harry kicked him under the table. Harry started to read the note. The more of the note Harry read, the more color seemed to drain from his face.
"What's the matter? What did she say?" Ron reached for the note; Harry let it fall from his hand.
Dear Harry,
We have been the best of friends since fall of out First Year, and it has been an amazing friendship. With all the adventures and wonderful times we have had together, I wouldn't change our friendship for anything. Anything. I have been thinking about it, Harry, and while I did very much enjoy our kiss in the rain, maybe we shouldn't rush into things. Let's meet in the Astronomy Tower tonight at 8:00. We can talk, and see if this relationship has a future. Please remember I do still wish to remain friends, even if we can't take it to the next level. .
- Hermione
Harry was staring at the note in disbelief. Ron looked at Harry uncertainly.
"Look, Harry - "
"Not now, Ron." Harry was beyond depressed.
"No! Harry, look at this! That's not Hermione's signature! Look at the note really closely, that's not even her handwriting!" Harry looked up at Ron with a new hope in his eyes.
"You know, you're right! Hers is curvier, isn't it?"
"Yeah! Let's check it to some homework of hers or something after Divination."
"Sounds good." Harry and Ron turned their attention (or some of it, anyway) to Professor Trelawney.
*~*~*~*~*
"Herm!" Ron called as he rushed into the common room after Divination. Harry had waited outside on the off chance that the note was genuine.
"Ron! You are as white as Nearly Headless Nick! What's the matter?"
"I need to see a paper of yours." Ron panted, out of breath from the run. "Any paper, it doesn't matter."
"Ron, you know I don't approve of copying." Hermione said seriously.
"I know. It doesn't have to be a class I'm in. How about Arithmancy? Or Runes? Can I see one of your Runes papers?" Hermione looked confused.
"Um, sure." She ruffled through her bag for and pulled out an old Potions essay they had gotten back three weeks ago. "Here. No point in copying it, yours has already been returned."
"I'm not going to copy it, Herm!" Ron snatched the paper out of Hermione's hands. He studied the hand writing carefully.
"Yes! I knew it!" Ron ran to the portrait hole leaving a very confused Hermione in the dust. Ron pushed open the portrait hole and popped his head out. "It's a fake, Harry!"
Harry rushed into the common room and ran straight to Hermione. He picked her up and swung her around in a loving embrace. As soon as he put her down he kissed her forehead.
"Hermione, I love you."
"Oh, Harry! I love you, too!" Hermione flung her arms around Harry and the pair began to kiss passionately, ignoring all the goings on of the packed common room around them.
*~*~*~*~*
"Harry, I'm worried a teacher will find us! We aren't supposed to be up here when we aren't in classes!" Hermione whispered forcefully to Harry from underneath the invisibility cloak. They were waiting by the Astronomy Tower, hidden, in order to see just who was trying to ruin their dream relationship.
The minutes passed in silence. At around 8:15, they heard a nearby door creak. Mandy Brocklehurst crept out and looked around. She cleared her throat.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Mandy asked.
"Harry, let's sneak around the corner, you go out of the cloak and see what she's planning. I'll watch." Hermione whispered into Harry's ear. Harry nodded. They went silently around the corner, and Harry slipped out from beneath the cloak. The walked back around the corner at the same time, so Hermione's footsteps were easily hidden.
"Harry! I thought I heard someone. What are you doing up here?"
"Um, I'm waiting for Hermione. She said we needed to talk about some stuff."
"Oh, poor Harry! Bad stuff?"
"Yeah." Said Harry, figuring that since he was faking anyway, there was no pint in beating around the bush.
"That Hermione is trouble, Harry. She's always having trouble committing to anything besides a good book!" Mandy patted Harry's shoulder sympathetically. "Maybe it's time for you to consider finding someone who can commit to you. Commit completely."
"Mandy, I love Hermione. You know that right? I love her more than anything in the world. I don't even know you." Harry tried to sound slightly sympathetic and stern at the same time.
"Harry! I know she seduced you! A freak like he could never get - "
"Stop it! Mandy, I'll never love you! I love Hermione! I know you sent the note to try and get me to leave Mione! She's here, you know! Herm, come here." Hermione pulled off the cloak.
"Mandy, I'm sorry." Said Hermione. "But I love Harry and he loves me. We want to be together." Hermione walked over to Mandy and Harry and put a sympathetic hand on Mandy's shoulder. Mandy immediately shrugged it off.
"He might think now that he cares about you, Granger, but once you fall out of the picture, it will be all about me. I promise you that." She glared at Hermione and stormed off.
"Whoa. Talk about your crazy stalkers." Said Harry, trying to lighten the mood. Hermione laughed, turned to face Harry and wrapped her arms around him.
"Well, Mr. Potter, is she right? Are you looking to throw me out of the picture anytime soon?" Hermione asked.
"Hmmm. Maybe. It depends if you're nice or not." Harry responded.
"Well, then I'll try to be a good girl." Harry put his arm around Hermione and Hermione leaned her head on Harry's shoulder as the couple walked back to the common room.