More Than Just Friends (by ilukaiba who doesn't own HP...)

Chapter 4

"So... uh... what do you think?"

Hermione sighed. She looked Harry in the eyes and told him her answer. "No."

"But Herms! I am sure she'd..."

"No Harry!" She looked into his green eyes. Attempting to hide the fact that her heart was breaking, she made up an excuse.

"Uh... Harry, Cho... she obviously doesn't like you anymore... I mean, she just dumped you. For the like fifth time. Personally, Harry, I don't believe you have much of a chance with her."

Harry frowned. "Y'sure, Hermione?"

It was Hermione's turn to frown. 'Damn it Harry don't you see I'm falling in love with you?!' she screamed mentally.

"Harry... just... no... there are other girls for you."

"Like who?" he asked.

'Like me...' she thought.

~ ~ ~

Their next class was Double Defense Against the Dark Arts. The bad thing about it was they were with the Slytherins. But the good thing was they had a great professor.

"Class, as you know, the Dark Arts are becoming more and more dangerous, and now, with Voldemort still up to no good - yes Miss Brown I am positive he's still alive - we should learn about what to do when we face a Dark wizard. I understand that Professor Moody... er... the impostor, I mean... went over the three Unforgivable Curses with you... I do not really want to go into them since they are... disturbing. However, there are some other spells that you can use to defend yourself. Now can anyone suggest any?"

Many eager hands raised, since so many people were interested in D.A.D.A with this professor.

"Yes Harry?" said the professor with a hint of a smile.

"Expelliarmus." said Harry.

Many Slytherins around him snorted. They were busy thinking of ways to make their rivals turn into slugs and get trapped in pink bubbles. To many students, Expelliarmus was useless compared to other possibilities. However, since many of the Gryffindors had been in Dumbledore's Army (A/N from Book 5, a group of students), they nodded their heads in agreement.

Professor Lupin's reaction was very similar to that of the Gryffindors.

"Yes Harry, that is probably one of the best defensive techniques in existence. 5 points to Gryffindor. Now, class, we shall be practicing that spell today."

"But Professor, isn't that spell rather... weak?" asked Draco Malfoy, determined to prove Harry and Lupin wrong. He despised Harry and scorned Professor Lupin. As he always said, "If my father still had the power to, he'd make sure that bloody werewolf would never come back to Hogwarts."

Harry had always countered with "Well Malfoy, your father DOESN'T have the power, and that's all that matters."

"No Mister Malfoy, I am quite sure that it is an excellent method of defense."

Hermione and Ron looked at Malfoy triumphantly and then turned to pat Harry on the back. Harry, however, seemed very... lost. Perhaps it was because Hermione's hand was patting his back, sending shivering sensations up and down his spine.

He raised his hand once more. "Professor, may I please go to the bathroom?"

(A/N What the hell do they say in Britain? Aww well... close enough... I was gonna use the "loo" instead but I thought it sounded kinda... yeah...))

Remus Lupin looked at Harry with his eyebrow raised. It wasn't because students rarely left class to use the facilities; many Slytherins used it as an excuse to skip D.A.D.A. But Harry rarely missed a second of D.A.D.A. class if he could help it. Lupin smiled and nodded.

~ ~ ~

Harry walked to the boys' bathroom and locked himself in a stall. He really didn't need to use the loo (A/N There! I said it...) but he needed some time to think...

'Why do I feel so weird around Hermione?! She's just my friend, isn't she?' he asked himself.

'Are you sure?' said a voice inside his head. 'She's a girl, after all.'

Harry frowned. Surely he wasn't falling for her! 'That's wrong!' he thought. 'She'd be disgusted with me if she knew what was going on inside my head.'

'Go ahead. Just lie to yourself.' said the voice.

~ ~ ~

Harry made his way back to class, only to be greeted by Professor Lupin at the doorway.

"Harry," said the man, "class finished about ten minutes ago."

Harry gasped. "P-P-Professor I am... I didn't..."

"Harry... you have been acting very strange today. And I know why. James had girl troubles all the time. He used to do the exact same thing. He'd skip part of class to think things over. But there was one difference."

"What?" asked Harry. He was always eager to know what his father would do in the same situation.

"He told the people who mattered most... his friends. Me... Sirius... and yes... Peter too."

Harry frowned once more. "But Professor..."

"Harry... come inside. I see there's something really bothering you. Remember, if you ever need to talk and Sirius isn't available, just come to me, okay?"

Harry followed Lupin into the empty D.A.D.A. classroom.

"Okay... well what if the girl you are having troubles with... is... is... your best friend?..." he asked quietly.

Lupin smiled. Slowly that smile turned into a rather large grin. And then Lupin found himself laughing.

"So THAT'S what's wrong with you! I know you aren't feeling anything for Ron so you must like HERMIONE! Ha! Harry just tell her how you feel."

"But Professor-"

"Lupin." said the D.A.D.A. professor calmly. "We are talking about things that do not concern school, so you might as well call me by my name..."

((A/N I didn't use Remus because... I dunno it just doesn't seem right... -_-;))

"Er... but Lupin... I... what... what will she think of me? I can't!"

"You can!!"

"But if she turns me down, what will happen to our friendship?"

"She's not going to turn you down Harry."

Harry looked at Lupin with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Oh nothing... nothing at all."

Harry left the classroom. Remus Lupin went to the Owlery and scribbled a quick message.

"Padfoot- I think your plan is working. I told him he should tell her. More later. -Moony"

~ ~ ~

A/N:

This MIGHT be the last update for about 3-4 weeks! See, I am going on vacation so I can't go online! Sorry! Hope you don't miss me TOO much... *winks* I MIGHT get in one more chapter before I leave, but I can't guarantee it.

Anyway, about the fic itself, Lupin is also trying to set Harry and Hermione up sorta... Sirius told him everything (if you didn't figure that out). Lolz hopefully they'll be successful. But you never know...

Okay then, see you in a few weeks! (or sooner IF POSSIBLE!)

--Whoops no review responses this chappy. Too lazy... lol... but keep reviewing and I'll try to respond to all of 'em next chappy. Maybe I'll do responses every two chapters!--

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