Chapter 4

The Study Date

"Ron, stop it!" Harry said, coughing as Ron spritzed him with cologne after cologne.

"Ugh, I smell like a freakin perfume counter! Take a whiff!" Harry held out an arm to Ron who backed away.

"Wow. You're right. Here, stick it in the shower," Harry rolled up his sleeve and allowed Ron to wash away the horrid stench.

Ew, it's not going away!"

"Here, Ron, use a cleansing charm."

"I don't know any!"

"There's your brothers, ask them!

"Harry, no."

"Why?"

"You know…."

"Ok fine, I'll do it. Fred, George!" He waved them over and the twins soon joined them in the bathroom.

"What's up midget and friend of midget?"

"We need a cleansing spell," Harry told them.

"A cleansing spell? For what?"

"For this," Ron said, and he shoved Harry's arm in George's face.

"Whew! Guess you do! Let's see…you could try a sterilizing charm."

"How do you do that?"

"Here, gimme your arm. Stidoperious Incantara! There you go, all better."

"Thanks!" Harry said, admiring his arm.

"Now, Harry, if you've got a date just try some love cologne. I think I've got some…" Fred rummaged around in his pocket. "Yep, here ya go." He tossed a small bottle covered in hearts to Harry.

"Thanks, but no thanks." He handed the bottle back to Fred. "I wanna win this girl on my own."

Fred shrugged. "Your choice." They turned to leave. "Oh, and let me know if you find a way to get Malfoy, will ya?"

"Of course," Harry said.

"Ok, well, I guess you'll just have to go as you are. Hermione's probably waiting."

"Ok." Harry took a deep breath. I'm ready. Books?" Ron handed him his Transfiguration book, a roll of parchment, and his quill from Hermione.

"Let's do this," Harry said and he left the bathroom and began walking down the stairs.

"Youch! Don't pull so hard!"

"Sorry 'Mione, but it's gotta be tight or it'll fall out."

"Ugh. I don't see what I'm getting so dressed up for. I'm sure Harry's just going to wear his school robes or muggle jeans and a sweater."

"Then he has no respect," Ginny lectured her friend. She giggled. "Although you're probably right, you know. With Ron and his non-existent sense of style Harry's bound to look like just stepped out of dumpster."

"That's impossible. Harry could never be that ugly." She sighed. "He's so dreamy…"

"Girl, you're way in love with this kid. You better not screw this up!" Hermione stood up and threw a brush at Ginny.

"Hey! Ow! Ok, ok, I'm sorry!" Hermione walked over to the mirror to admire herself. She had to admit Ginny had done an excellent job. She had chosen a short jean skirt and a red camisole for Hermione with a tan jacket zipped up halfway. Her front hair was up in a ponytail with a few wavy bangs on either side hanging loose.

"Cool but casual," Ginny said, coming up behind Hermione and leaning on her shoulder.

"It does look nice," Hermione admitted.

"Of course it does! I did it!"

"Shut up!" Hermione smacked Ginny with her Transfiguration book.

"Ok, you better get going," Ginny yelled, running away from Hermione.

"You're just saying that to get away," Hermione said slyly.

"That too. But seriously, Harry's probably waiting."

Hermione sighed. "You're right. See ya!"

"I'll be up!" Ginny called as Hermione walked over to the stairs. "Be sure to give me every last detail!" Hermione waved her off and began to descend into the common room. Across from the room she caught Harry's eye, also on his way down. She grinned then shyly looked away.

"Ok, relax," she told herself. "It's not like this is a date or anything, just a little homework help. But she could see that Harry hadn't thought of it as just a study date either. He did wear jeans but they looked brand new, his shirt looked way sexy showing off his strong biceps, and he had gelled his hair forward, spiking it up slightly at the front.

"Hey 'Mione,' he greeted her. "Wanna sit over there?" He pointed to a small couch and a coffee table in the corner near the fireplace. She nodded. It was a good thing he was doing all the talking because she wasn't sure she could say a single syllable right now. They walked over to the couch, laid their books out on the table, and began to study.

"Look at those two lovebirds," Ginny said dreamily to her brother.

"Why did they even bother with the books?" Ron agreed. "We all know they're gonna need a fire extinguisher by the time they go to bed."

Ron and his sister had met up on the balcony overlooking the common room to watch the study date take place. They had both anticipated something hot and heavy but, to their large disappointments, it looked like a normal study session so far.

"C'mon, Harry, kiss her already!"

"Ron, it's only 8:00. There's still people down there. They're not going to do anything with people watching."

"True…I guess we should give them some privacy anyway." Ginny and the two left for their separate dorms.

"Ok, I get that, but how do you get rid of the tail? Ever time I turn a mouse into a cookie it's still got this ugly snakelike thing coming out of it."

"I guess so," said Hermione with a laugh. On the coffee table lay a dozen sugar cookies that looked perfectly edible- aside from the mouse-tails protruding from them.

"I think you need to annunciate more on "pastrious." It's not totally getting that you want a cookie; if you don't emphasize it enough it'll think you want a part-mouse, part-cookie."

"Ok. One more try." Harry picked up his wand, aimed it at the last mouse, and said loudly, "mousicious to pastrious!" The mouse's torso became flat as a pancake. The head was sucked in and the cookie began to take form. Then, to Harry's delight, the tail wound around the cookie, disappearing as it spun until only a tasty looking sugar cookie remained.

"Harry, you did it!" Hermione planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Harry suddenly realized how quiet it was. The common room was empty. He stared into Hermione's sparkling eyes, cupped her chin is his hand, and kissed her. Her lips were soft and sweeter than sugar. Her body quivered in anticipation and he knew she wanted more. He removed his hand and allowed her to kiss him back, harder this time.

Harry allowed his free hand to slide down her back, pulling her down onto the couch with him. His mouth opened wider and he let his tongue out. Surprisingly, Hermione let him in and the kiss became even more passionate.

Harry let go of all thought and let himself become lost in the kiss. He had never felt more alive. After a few minutes they broke apart, Harry lying on the couch and Hermione wrapped around him.

"Harry," she whispered.

"Hermione," he said hoarsely. "You have no idea how long…" His voice was lost in another deep, searching kiss. He has waited four long years to tell Hermione how much he loved her. But it was worth the wait, he decided. He would have waited a hundred years to be here, holding Hermione in his arms.

His had crept up her back and he found himself undoing her bra strap. Harry was shocked at his own daring but even more amazed that she let him. He kissed her harder and harder, moving his hand up her shirt.

This was why he had come to Hogwarts. He had come for Hermione.