Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with Harry Potter but a poster and a few DVDs and books. And soon, I will own the 5th book.(4 DAYS!!!) And yet...I don't own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.

Chapter 4: The Plan

Lavender and Parvati pushed Hermione back into their dormitory room with Ginny following suit. "Oh-mi-GOSH, did you SEE the look on Ron's face when he saw you!? He looked like he was going to drool all over his chess board!" Lavender laughed gleefully, hugging Parvati while they jumped up and down. Hermione gave them a small smile. Yes, she had seen his face when he had first glimpsed her. What troubled her was his face when he left the room. He had looked so angry. She pointed this out to Lavender and Parvati, who simply shrugged. "He was just jealous Hermione! Honestly, why shouldn't he be? You could have any guy you want and he knows it."

Parvati rubbed her hands together and grinned. "Now, remember what comes next? We've got to prove to Mr. Weasley that you aren't a bore. Now, Hermione, tell us. What are you good at?" Hermione stared at Parvati. "Uh...books. Reading. Studying. Getting good grades. Spells. Helping other people with studying. Making charts...for..." Hermione shut her mouth as she watched Lavender and Parvati roll their eyes. She didn't understand why they looked so disappointed! After all, it should be clear by now what was she good at.

"Hermione. Sit down." Hermione sat as she was instructed her to do. Lavender paced back and forth. "Now, we all know how smart you are and that you are good at studying, but come now! There must be SOMETHING you can do well that doesn't have to do with books! Didn't you have any hobbies as a child, Hermione? What did you like to do when you weren't studying?"

Hermione stared out the bedroom window at the fading light outside, trying to think of her life before Hogwarts. Was she really a bore, just as Ron said? She couldn't think of anything she had done well...that is, besides -

"Music." Hermione turned toward the three girls and smiled. "I was very interested in dance and music." She thought Lavender and Parvati were going to explode with excitement. "THAT IS PERFECT!" Lavender proclaimed. "Now, what kind of dancing did you partake in?"

Hermione expelled the breath she was holding. She had been hoping they wouldn't ask. "Well..." she spoke softly, "ballet." Lavender's face fell. "Oh. Well, what kind of music do you sing?"

"I usually just took my guitar and played some of my own ballads"

Lavender frowned and stared at Hermione. As Lavender turned away to discuss this with Parvati, Hermione noticed Ginny had seated herself beside her. "Ginny..." Hermione began, "What do you think of all this?" Ginny, who had been looking at the floor, raised her eyes to meet Hermiones. "Well Hermione, I think you should do whatever you think is best. But do you really believe that Ron will like you more if you become someone else?" When Ginny noticed Hermione looked sad, she smiled reassuringly at her. "Don't worry, dear. It will be all right in the end. Whatever you decide to do Hermione, I will be by your side and I will support you."

Hermione smiled at Ginny through moist eyes and hugged her tight. "You won't tell Ron about this plan or my feelings, will you?" She whispered. Ginny smiled. "Hermione, I will never tell unless you want me to." Ginny sat back, suddenly looking serious. "However, I do think you should tell Ron how you feel and talk to him. Communication is key in any friendship, or relationship for that matter."

Hermione bit her bottom lip and thought about this. Finally, she looked at Ginny and spoke quietly. "Thank you, Ginny. You're a good friend...but I have to prove to Ron that he is wrong about me. I've got to show him that life with me wouldn't be boring, and that I'm simply perfect for him." Ginny smirked and shook her head, "Ahh Hermione. If only you'd understand...you already are perfect for him. Give it time, and he'll come to see." With that, Ginny stood and made her way to the bedroom door.

"Ginny..." Hermione said suddenly. Ginny turned around to look at her. "I love you. You're a wonderful friend." Ginny smiled and nodded as she walked back toward the common room. Hermione sat in silence for a few moments, thinking to herself. What if Ginny is right? What if all Ron needs is a bit of time to see me for who I really am? What if I'm pushing him into too much, too soon? What if -

"HERMIONE! EARTH to Hermione!" She blinked to find an amused Lavender waving a hand in her face. "Daydreaming about Ron, were you? Well, give it a rest and listen to us. We've got it." Lavender grinned widely at Parvati as she ran to her trunk.

Parvati continued where Lavender had left off. "Yes! Well, you can't very well go about in ballet slippers doing bits of Swan Lake for Ron! Is there anything more boring than classical music and ballet to a man? I think not. We've got to show that you are hip, fun and sexy...and what is sexier than pop music and freak dancing on your man? They positively love it! My muggle friend, Megan, tells me they do it at all the latest clubs. She showed me a bunch of moves when she came to see me last summer. Come on, Hermione, I'll show you how to do them!"

Hermione was frightened. What if she messed up? What if she looked like a fool? As Hermione was dragged from her bed to the middle of their floor, a feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach.

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Ron punched his pillow repeatedly. It has been a couple hours since he had seen Hermione in the common room, but he was still every bit as angry. What the hell was Hermione thinking? She had come downstairs with this cool look on her face, dressed like Lavender and Parvati. Just the thought of seeing her belly button while at least twenty others looked on filled him with rage. She's mine! He punched his pillow as hard as he could. There was a slight knocking on the door and Ron scowled as Harry walked in, closed the door and plopped himself down on the end of Ron's bed.

"Ron, what's going on? You were fine during our game, but as soon as I got up, you ran up here! Look, I'm sorry if I pissed you off by leaving you there, but I really wanted to see what was going on. Hermione looked so hot and -" Harry swallowed hard as Ron sent him a look that could kill. "Really Ron, I am terribly sorry!"

Ron sighed, "Harry, it wasn't you. It was Hermione. I don't know what she was playing at, coming downstairs like that, but it just pissed me off. She's usually not like this! She's usually sweet and innocent and doesn't care what people think of her. And then everyone was staring at her, as if she were a piece of meat, when really, she's..."

"Yours." Harry finished.

"Right, she's mine and...no, wait a tic! She is NOT mine, Harry! Shut up!" He growled as Harry continued to laugh. Harry calmed himself.

"Ron, I'm sorry...but I just wish you could see yourself, pretending that you don't give a whit about Hermione when really, she's the one person you care for most! I've seen the things you've done, the way you've acted. You don't think Hermione is boring one bit...in fact, I believe she excites you in every way possible!" Harry leaned forward and dodged the pillow Ron had just thrown at him. Harry chuckled. "All right Ron, I'll let it go...wouldn't want to end up like your Viktor Krum action figure." He said with a knowing smiled. Ron just shook his head and looked up in surprise as the door burst open.

"Ron!" Dean's breathing was rapid and on his red face was a huge grin. "Come on you guys, you've gotta see!" Ron's eyes flickered toward Harry, who looked worried. Together, they ran with Dean toward the common room.