Disclaimer: I've said it before and I'll say it again…I DO NOT own any of the original Harry

Potter characters…anything you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowling, and everything else belongs

to moi.  More specifically, I own Bill.  Oh, and this chapter was inspired by a scene in

"Phenomenon" starring John Travolta.

A/N: Only need to reach 30 reviews and then I'll post the new cast list…that is, if you're

interested.  School started again for me, NOOOO!! *Starts sobbing* But…life goes on…well,

my schedule will be getting pretty busy, but if I have the motivation…I'll make time to write and

post more chapters.  And you remember how I get more motivation??  THAT'S RIGHT!!!

REVIEWS!! (Hint...hint)  Well, I'm gonna go before I sound like I'm begging for reviews...hehe,

I forgot…I am.

Chapter 5

The shrill sound of the dinner bell destroyed the mood…

"Ahh," said Hermione, pulling away, "The dinner bell."

Harry muttered a word that made Hermione gasp and say, "Harry!  Come on, let's go eat."

"Fine," said a disgruntled Harry.

(A/N: I'm not including the dinner scene because I'm really bad at conversation that takes place

at tables…so I'm skipping to after dinner, and Harry and Hermione are in the living room of the

guest house.)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry and Hermione were both seated on the couch…on opposite ends.  It was obvious that

things were awkward between the two, seeing as how they were both wracking their brains for

something to talk about in order to break the uncomfortable silence.

Nevertheless, Hermione took a shot at restoring the conversation, "So, Harry, how's Sirius

doing?"

"Um…let's see, last I heard from him he was fine.  He was busing being an "adorable stray dog"

in order to get food, so he couldn't write much.  He also said that Buckbeak is fine."

"That's good…real good.  I'm so happy that he turned out to be innocent.  I just wish that we

could find some way to prove it."

"We just need Wormtail for that, but how to get him, I don't know."

"Yeah."

It was obvious that they were running out of things to talk about.  So, they just sat for a few

minutes without saying anything.  Hermione was watching Harry fidget, and tapping his knee when

his hair fell into his eyes.  It was then that Hermione suddenly had an idea.  She abruptly got up,

walked to the phone, and dialed a number.

"Yes…Bill?  I was wondering if you don't mind…could you bring over a pair of sharp scissors, a

comb, and some towels?  You will?!  Great!  Thank you so much!" 

After hanging up the phone, Hermione turned to Harry with a somewhat "evil" grin.

"Err…Hermione, what exactly are you planning to do with the scissors?"

"Oh, nothing really…just give you a haircut." Hermione replied matter-of-factly.

Harry's face went pale as she said that, "No…no…definitely not!"

"Oh, come on, Harry!  Why not?"

"I'll tell you why not!  I happen to like my hair the way it is and I'd rather keep it than to lose it,

Thank you very much!"

"You won't lose it!  Relax, Harry, you trust me!  I've done this millions of time!  I'm practically a

professional, if not better!" argued Hermione, but then she thought to herself, You never need to

know that it was just my doll's hair that I cut…

Harry looked torn with the decision of risking losing his hair…or his friendship with Hermione.

Finally…

"Fine…I'll let you cut it!  Just…be careful."

Hermione squealed.

"But you had better be telling the truth!"

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door and Bill entered the room carrying the item that

Hermione had requested.

"You rang, mademoiselle?" Bill asked with an amused tone of voice.

"Oh, shut up, Bill!  But, yes, I did and I appreciate your help so much!"

"Very well, then," Bill said, walking toward Hermione and handing her the towel, comb, and

scissors. 

"Well, thank you ever so much!" Hermione returned.

Harry just watched their friendly banter slightly amused, but highly apprehensive due to his

unexpected haircut.  Bill casually glanced over to Harry and noticed the uneasy look on Harry's

face.

"You alright there, Harry?" he asked.

Harry managed to say, "Yeah," in a squeaky voice.

Bill was a little confused before he remembered the items that he had brought to Hermione,

looked at Harry's hair, and put two and two together.

"Ha ha, I can't believe I've finally become Hermione's partner in crime," Bill laughed.  "I honestly

never would have thought she'd do something like this!"

Harry gulped. 

"Oh, come off it, Bill!  I'm only giving Harry a haircut!"

Bill smiled, "I see nothing, I hear nothing, I remember nothing!" and with that he turned and left the

room chuckling softly.

Hermione stood shaking her head, watching him leave the room, "I will never for the life of me

understand that man…"

"Err…yeah, I guess he's…different."

"Alright…let's grab that chair and move it to the bathroom sink."

Harry groaned.

"Come on, Harry.  I'm telling you, don't worry.  When I'm done with you, you'll look hotter than

Prince William!"

Harry whimpered and picked up the chair, following Hermione to the bathroom.  He placed the

chair in front of the sink and sat down.  Hermione set the scissors and comb on the counter,

unfolded the towel and gently placed it around Harry's neck.  Harry was so tense; his muscles

were practically in knots.

"Harry…relax and just trust me," she said softly, looking deep into Harry's emerald eyes.

As Harry looked into Hermione's eyes, he felt himself let go of his fears and he visibly relaxed.

"That's better."

Hermione reached behind Harry, turning on the faucet, and getting it to the right temperature

before she leaned Harry's head back into the sink.  She wet her hands and gently ran them

through Harry's hair, dampening it.

Harry started talking, "I just realized that my hair never grows when I'm at Hogwarts.  Wonder

why that is…"

"Honestly, Harry, are you ever going to read Hogwarts: A History?"

"Well, why would I?  You've already memorized the whole thing."

"Well, to answer your question, a charm was placed on the school grounds so that hair wouldn't

grow unless a person wanted it to because the teachers were finding it difficult to get students

haircuts.  So, they simply cast it to avoid such difficulties, not to mention allowing more time for

studying magic."

"Huh…makes sense.  Do you th-"

Hermione cut him off, "Harry?"

"Hmm…?"

"Shut up."

Harry smiled, "Okay."

Hermione had finally gotten Harry's hair wet enough to cut accurately.  She turned off the water,

and reached for the comb and scissors.

"Okay, you can sit up now."

Harry straightened up and looked at Hermione who had a very focused look on her face.  It was

eerily similar to the way she observed her homework at school before she began a particularly

difficult arithmancy problem. 

"God, she looks so beautiful…I really want to kiss her.  Whoa…kiss her?  She's my best

friend!  Exactly…she's my best friend…she understands me like no other girl ever has.

She's…different."

Harry found himself getting lost in the deep color of Hermione's eyes and the feel of her delicate

hands running through his hair.

Hermione found herself thinking about Harry as well.

"Wow…his hair feels really good.  Not too soft, but not too coarse, just…perfect.  I love his

hair, as messy as it can be.  It just suits him so well.  And his eyes…it's so easy to just get

lost in them."

As Hermione continued cutting Harry's hair, a feeling of contentment increased between the two.

A deep connection had been formed, the beginning of something much deeper…the beginning of

love.

As the two continued staring at each other, Hermione had slowly stopped cutting his hair,

forgetting what she was supposed to be doing, but kept her hands running through his hair.

Slowly, as they inched closer and closer to each other, she let her hands slide to the back of his

neck.  Just as they were about to kiss…a faint "Tap…tap…tap," came from the other room…

A/N:  Hehe, in case you can't tell, I really like doing this "evil cliffie" thing!  It's loads of fun!  I'm

really sorry I took so long to update.  I tried to make it up by making this chapter a little bit

longer!  And don't worry, you'll like my next chapter which is titled "Crash and Burn."  Until then,

remember this.  MORE REVIEWS =MORE MOTIVATION=FASTER UPDATE!

Special thanks section:

First off, 10 billion thanks to Snoopy511 and Miztiy!  You guys rock, and everyone else check

out their stories…err, on second thought, don't.  They make me look bad! *grins*

MaRiAn the LiBrArIaN – Well, thanks, I'm always glad to hear that!

Uglinessrox55- You know something, it's very ironic that I'm this evil, seeing as how my dad's a

pastor.  Hehe, well, thanks a bunch for reviewing!

Hoarse Swan- Thanks for reviewing (and for saying that my story's cute!)  Don't worry, I'm

continuing soon!

Wildgoldowl- Yeah, I like them falling asleep too!  I can't tell you how grateful I am that you're

reading this!

Lil' Hermione-  Hehe, it's a little weird putting you on here like this, seeing as how I talked to

you earlier.  But thanks for reading anyway!

Lamina Court- Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  (Err,

is that enough yet?)  And I'm trying to make them longer, they just seem to end by themselves,

haha!

Sk8er girl- Ahh, please don't yell!  I'm very sensitive, when people yell at me, I start crying!  It's

true!  Thanks for reviewing!

Coconut-ice agent h/h- Not to offend anyone out there, but I prefer H/H as opposed to R/H

too!  H/H always!! Thanks for reviewing, it means a lot to me!

Smirking Princess- The continuation, mademoiselle…and thanks for reviewing! *Smiles a huge

grin!*

Friendly-mione- Thank you so much!  You'll always be my first reviewer!  Quite an honor, eh?

Whew, that was exhausting!  But don't worry it was worth it to thank the people who read my

stories.  YOU MAKE ME SO HAPPY!  If I forgot someone, send me a howler (via e-mail) and

I'll thank you in my next chapter!   Remember… MORE REVIEWS =MORE

MOTIVATION=FASTER UPDATE!