Too Real To Be Pretend

A/N: Machiiiine! I am a machine! I've been pumping out chapters (which could be why they're all so bad.). Anyways, last chapter, Harry 'accidentally' fell asleep in Hermione's bed somehow…yadda yadda. So…more fluff and another quidditch match!

Chapter Six

          For the next couple weeks, the charade remained in place, usually following the same pattern: an escort to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all classes, studying in the library where the occasional snog would take place, and then an evening in front of the common room fire. After a while, it had just become natural.

          Hermione sat sullenly in the library…alone for a change. Harry had late night quidditch practice and wouldn't be coming in until late. She tapped her quill on the paper she was staring at. Once again her attention was on Harry. Geez, even when I do 'have' him, I can't stop thinking about him, she thought bitterly. Curse hormones. She sighed and repositioned herself, attempting to concentrate once again on her homework. She sighed, knowing that her efforts to concentrate on anything other than Harry was futile. She knew he was in the middle of running through drills out in the rain in preparation for the big Gryffindor vs. Slytherin game taking place the next day. She had to admit she was slightly worried for Harry's safety. He had been injured in the Hufflepuff game on accident, but the Slytherins were a vicious lot, she hoped that they wouldn't try to injure him on purpose. She sighed and once again tried to regain her focus. The pages simply blurred and she threw down her pen and let out an exasperated cry. The librarian turned to look at her in surprise.

          "Sorry," Hermione muttered. She laid her head down on the table. Just gonna rest my eyes for a bit, she told herself.

          "Hermione, wake up!" Harry whispered in her ear, shaking her gently. Hermione looked up at him confused.

          "Harry? What are you doing back so early? Don't you have quidditch practice?"

          "Hermione, its already midnight, quidditch practice just ended. Why are you still here?"

          "Its what?!" she cried loudly. "How can it already be midnight? I was just resting my eyes for a minute…"

          "Well, you must've dozed off. Come on, let's get you back to your room. We're gonna have to use the invisibility cloak, Finch and Mrs. Norris are prowling around here." Hermione nodded and began packing. Once she was done, Harry took the heavy bag from her and tossed it over his shoulder.

          "Oh its okay, Harry, you don't have to carry those for me, nobody's watching," Hermione said softly. Harry turned his face away so she wouldn't see him blush.

          "Sorry, its habit. I don't mind carrying it though." Hermione shrugged and took the cloak from him, draping it over their bodies. They left the library and tread softly down the corridors toward the Gryffindor tower. They had to squeeze together in a corner a couple times to avoid contact with Mrs. Norris and her owner. As they entered the common room, they let out a sigh of relief. "Made it," Harry said with relief. Hermione nodded as she yawned. "Now lets get you to bed, you look like you're about to fall over." Harry led her up the stairs to her dorm room and opened the door for her. He closed the door softly behind her and put her bag on the floor. Hermione immediately removed her cloak, sweater and blouse as Harry stood by and blushed in shock. She was apparently very tired…too tired to even care about modesty. She pulled a huge night shirt over her head, it fell to almost her knees. She unzipped her skirt and let it drop to the ground before stepping out of it, yawning as she did so. Harry simply stared at her, his face burning. Hermione jumped into bed and snuggled under the covers with another giant yawn. "You must be really tired," Harry said, trying to brush the situation off. Hermione simply nodded, almost asleep. Harry carefully tucked the edges of the blanket snuggly around her, finishing off with a kiss on the nose. Hermione wiggled her nose at the sensation and smiled sleepily at him. She reached her arms up to him for a hug, which he obligingly gave her. As he was pulling away she gave him a small peck on the lips before yawning once more and falling asleep. Harry smiled softly and exited the room, making sure to close the door quietly as he left.

          Hermione smiled happily at Harry as she descended the stairs into the common room the next morning. He hugged her and kissed her on the top of her head before escorting her once again to breakfast in the Great Hall. She apparently doesn't remember what happened last night, Harry thought gratefully, she would be acting weirder if she did. They had a quick breakfast, most of which Hermione spent coaxing Harry to eat some toast. After breakfast, Hermione walked with Harry down to the locker rooms to prepare for the game. Harry greeted the few other teammates that were already in the locker room before stopping before his locker. He tapped the lock with his wand and it immediately sprang open. He opened his locker door and pulled out his quidditch stuff. He already had his quidditch pants on, but he had forgotten to bring his sweater up with him the night before. Hermione sat on the bench watching him. Harry unclasped his black cloak and hung it neatly in his locker. Then he rid himself of his uniform and shirt, hanging them as well. Hermione gaped at him, her eyes grazing over the taut muscles she saw before her. He gave her a questioning look then looked down at himself. Apparently she didn't know how much he had buffed up over summer. He smiled at her dashingly, causing her to blush. He drew a t-shirt and his quidditch sweater over his lean body before donning the crimson outer robes. He grabbed his broom and then slammed his locker door shut. He checked himself thoroughly before locking his locker once again.

          "Ready?" he asked. Hermione nodded and followed him towards the field. She could hear the fans cheering from the locker room tunnel to the field.

          "Harry," Hermione said, stopping. He turned around and looked at her expectantly. "I just wanted to tell you…be careful, you know those Slytherins." He nodded at her and smiled warmly. She hugged him and he turned to continue onto the field. "Hey Harry," he turned again and Hermione ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his. "A kiss for luck," she whispered before darting away to find a spot in the stands. Harry turned around to look for his teammates, but there was nobody around…(a/n: dundundun! That sorta blows her cover I guess because…the charade wasn't really necessary because nobody was watching them! Mwahaha. But boys are usually too thick to understand these sort of things….and Harry is no exception.)

          Harry mounted his trusty Firebolt, waiting for Madame Hooch to begin the game. He looked up into the stands and saw Hermione waving a Gryffindor flag like mad. The whistle blew all of a sudden and everybody leapt up. Harry circled the game from above. Flitting here and there, hoping to keep Draco off his tail. He dodged a bludger, rolling in midair. Another one hurtled at him which he dodged in the same manner. He rolled his eyes as he heard Draco snigger a little ways behind him.

          Hermione bit her lip as she watched Harry dodging those crazy bludgers. He began circling the field again, searching for the snitch. He dove, seeing something gold, but it was only somebody's wristwatch. He began circling again, watching, waiting. Draco was still following behind him, though at a greater distance this time. Suddenly, Harry caught sight of it…the snitch…it hovered near the opposite end of the stadium. His broom shot forward at his command as he headed towards the small golden ball. Draco was behind him, but it was obvious he wouldn't be there in time. Harry easily caught the snitch and held it aloft to display for the cheering crowd. Draco was still coming at him though. Hermione bit her lip, wanting to scream for Harry to get out of the way. At the last second, when it was apparent that Draco was not going to slow down or turn, Harry jetted off to the side and Draco entangled himself in one of the giant hoop-goals. Harry flew over the Gryffindor stands amidst the cheering fans before landing on the field and returning the snitch to Madame Hooch. Hermione cheered and ran down the steps to the field along with some of her other house-mates. She leapt at Harry and enveloped him in her arms. Harry smiled, holding her to him with his strong arms. Hermione angled her head back just enough so that she could kiss him squarely on the mouth. He laughed as they broke apart and quirked his eyebrow at her.

          "Just wanted my luck back," she explained with a wink.

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A/N: OK…another crappy quidditch game…of course Gryffindor won *cheers*! They're the coolest. Anyways, another craptastic chapter, but I hope it was mildly entertaining for you. Uhh…I don't think there's anything here for me to explain, if you have any questions, tell me in your review or email (ravendreamcatcher@yahoo.com) and I'll try to get back to you or put it in the next chapter or something. R/R – no flames! My ego might evaporate if you're mean to me.