Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter's characters. Everything
belongs to J. K. Rowling. Everything unfamiliar is mine. 6/20
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. By the way, I need to know if there's someone still interested. If there were anything you'd like me to change or add, do it in the reviews. I'm open for suggestions. If you're asking why I did what I did last chapter? All I can say is Hermione is not the type who'll fall in love just like that. She has to understand that she cannot choose the person to whom she'll fall in love with. Besides, I don't want to end it yet. I'm having so much fun playing with them.
Title: Models
Chapter34:
Friendships
The Gryffindor trio was sitting in their usual table eating their usual breakfast. But their usual racket was replaced with silence. Harry told Ron what he saw the other night and didn't feel like talking to their friend. He felt like he was betrayed. Hermione on the other hand was feeling the pressure of having 2 extra classes plus her rendezvous with Draco Malfoy wasn't helping. Still she didn't like the silence that came over them.
She flashed them a warm smile to try and catch their attention. "What have you guys been up to?" She desperately needed a distraction.
"Oh nothing, we've been out making friends." Harry was being sarcastic.
"Good, so when will I meet this new friend? Is this person a she or a he? From what house?" She didn't seem to notice the hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Ron shook his head and smiled at Hermione. "Forget it Herm, he's just pissed at something."
Hermione put her hands on his shoulders and started rubbing him. "You know, you're muscles are pretty tense. I know a spell that can ease it."
"No thanks." He smiled. "I like it traditionally."
"I'm not an expert on it but maybe I can still help." She continued massaging Harry's back.
Ron smiled at his two friends. Harry was beginning to turn red as he felt Hermione's gentle fingers running in his back. He looked embarrassed and pleased. He noticed that Hermione seemed distant. She may be giving Harry a massage but her eyes were looking far away. 'Is she thinking about that slimy git?' He realized he didn't want to know the answer to that question. 'They look good together. Besides, she's his best friend and she wouldn't hurt him. There must be a reason why she offered friendship.' He decided to talk to her. They are after all best friends too.
~~~~~~~~~~
Draco Malfoy tried his best to fall asleep but the memories of what happened last night keep on haunting him. He needed her. She seemed to be the only one who understands him. He wanted to talk to her and decided that he'll do just that at breakfast. With that thought he got up early, accomplished all his morning habits and waited in the Great Hall wishing that she'd get there early.
But she didn't. He was occupied by the over eager Pansy Parkinson. It was hard concentrating on the people entering the Great Hall with all the giggling. 'Maybe she won't be eating breakfast today?'
As if to answer his question, the Gryffindor trio entered the Hall. He did his best to make eye contact but it was difficult with her two bodyguards on her side. Every now and then he would stare at her to try to get her attention but it seemed like she was thinking of other things. He decided to watch her eat. She was graceful and tired. 'She badly needs a rest.' Then she smiled. His world suddenly stopped and everything focused on the girl sitting at the Gryffindor table. Her smile to him was something similar to a smile a baby gives to the mother. He eyed each detail in her face, how her lips form a smile, how her eyes glitters as she talks. What he liked the most is when her eyes glittered that night in the forest.
He held his breath as he watched her place her hands on Harry's shoulder and started caressing him. He turned red when he saw pleasure written all over Potter's face. "Lying #itch!" He stood up and left the hall leaving an astonished Pansy.
~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Hermione arranged to meet in their room in the library. Harry wanted to tell her that he saw her with Malfoy but decided not to tell her before they were inside their little sanctuary. Hermione was first to arrive since the Quidditch captain still had to attend a meeting.
Harry sent Ron to warn her about the delay. Ron found Hermione sitting in a chair with a thick book in her hand. "You preparing to fight the dark lord again?"
Hermione barely dropped her book as she looked at the person who entered the room. "We can never be too careful. You should be doing the same."
"What, with all the classes and extra classes?" He shook his head.
"That's still not an excuse to skip on reading helpful books."
"I thought the reason that we took extra classes was to prepare us. Don't you think it is redundant to read some more?"
Hermione just rolled her eyes. Ron just doesn't understand. "Have you seen Harry?"
Ron sat down beside her. "That's what I came here for."
"So?" She put a marker on her page determined not to lose the page she's reading.
"He told me that he'd be late with your date."
"Date? As if! We're just friends, you know it, I know it, everybody knows it."
"Everybody but him?"
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. That's not the reason I wanted to speak to you."
"What is it then?" She raised her eyebrows curious at what he'd say. "I thought Harry asked you to."
"Yes, yes, yes but before that, I already wanted to talk to you, since you're my friend and all. I don't want any of you to think that I've chosen sides or anything."
Hermione was getting nervous. "Does that mean Harry's angry with me?"
"He's just confused, just like you."
"What do you mean?"
"You still don't know what you feel about him and he to you. You guys are having a hard time distinguishing or let's say, separating you're friendship to another kind of relationship."
"Wow, I didn't think that you could be so perceptive."
"I'm not finished."
"Soooo-rry!" She said sarcastically trying to tease her friend.
Ron shook his head. "Last night."
Hermione's heart started racing praying that the conversation would not lead to Draco Malfoy.
"Last night," he repeated. "Let's say, somebody saw two people fighting near the forbidden forest."
"Are these people male and female?"
"You guessed it!"
"Are they blonde and brown haired?"
"Right again."
"Did that somebody hear what the 2 people were fighting about." She was wishing real hard for him to say no.
"Actually at first, they seemed like they were arguing about something but they ended with a hand shake. You do the math."
Hermione went pale. Somebody saw her talking with Malfoy offering friendship. "Do you have a clue on who this somebody is?"
"Do you know what Harry wanted to see you about?"
This time Hermione couldn't speak. She remembered that she talked to him about her relationship with Harry. She felt nauseated and wanted to die but Ron wouldn't let her.
"Hermione are you alright?"
"I'm not feeling well. Maybe you could tell Harry to postpone this meeting."
"Hermione you can't hide from him. He's your best friend."
"Don't mention that again. I think I'm gonna puke. You said about not siding with anyone, I seem to know where you're siding with."
"I said I wouldn't be siding anyone. I wanted to warn you so that you'd be prepared." He paused for a while. "I also wanted to know why?"
"Why?"
"Why did you offer friendship with him?"
"Something's change with him ever since his mother died. I just thought that if that happened to me I would like to have someone to wallow to."
"You've got us."
"I know, the question is does he have anyone?"
"Crabbe and Goyle."
"They're just subordinates and Pansy's just too full of herself."
"You pity him."
"Yes."
"What makes you think that this is not some plot he's."
"I know."
He sighed. "It's your shot. Harry won't like the answers but please don't lie to him."
Hermione could see the concern in his eyes and nodded. Ron left the room and suddenly the room literally became cold.
~~~~~~~~~~
Harry didn't want to make Hermione wait so as soon as they were dismissed he directly went straight to the library. He found her hung up with reading a book. She looked incredibly amazing even when she's not doing anything. He knocked before entering. "What are you reading?"
Hermione looked up and stared into his eyes as if pleading. 'Please don't start. It would only hurt our relationship.'
Harry saw her eyes but it didn't register to him what it was for. "I'm sorry I got hung up with Quidditch." He raised his robes as if trying to tell her that he rushed as soon as the meeting was over.
"It was nothing." An awkward silence followed. They were having a hard time starting with the real conversation so Hermione started a different one. "Do you still need some massage?"
"I'm feeling much better now thanks."
"Glad to hear it. Ron came over earlier."
"I asked him to."
"He said more than what you asked."
Harry's eyes widened. 'I wanted to be the one to tell her. Maybe it was something different. "What did he say?"
"Oh, nothing. He told me of a story about 2 people hanging near the forbidden forest with a third person eavesdropping." She wanted to take control in the conversation and decided that it would be best if she could accuse him of something. Thanks to Ron she was able to think of something.
Harry bowed his head. "I merely overheard."
"Staying and watching doesn't qualify for overhearing."
"What are you so mad about? You should be thankful since I was covering your back."
"Whatever! That was a private conversation and you should have respected that."
"Since when did you and Malfoy have private conversation? No don't answer that, what happened on that one night?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" Hermione was getting annoyed. What's so wrong with talking to somebody even if that somebody was an enemy?
Harry was having second thoughts. "I'm sorry, I just."
"Harry, I don't want to ruin our friendship. Believe it or not it's the most important thing to me. Without you guys I would've been alone all my years here in Hogwarts." She went closer to Harry and caressed his face.
"I don't either." He sighed. "But I want something more."
"You heard me last night."
"I didn't think you were serious."
"I'm getting stressed out with everything, the extra classes, patrolling, other Prefect duties and responsibilities. I just don't know how or where to put a time for romance."
"Right, future first."
"Harry, please try to understand. I'm not betraying you or anything. I offered friendship to him and that's all."
"Why?"
"He has no one else. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy aren't his friends. They're just acquaintance. Besides, he's changed. You of all people should know how he feels."
"Big deal, his mother died, he should just move on."
"Did you do that? Oh wait, I forgot, you didn't remember living with them. Draco did really love his mother and."
"Draco?"
"Malfoy then. Look Harry, nothing has changed. We're still best friends no one can change that. You don't even have to talk to him, this is my decision, respect it."
'I want more.'
"Harry, I believe in destiny. If we're destined to be together then nothing's gonna stop us." She was having second thoughts about not taking the next step.
Harry just nodded his head and left the room.
'Did he hear the thing about attraction and lust? If he did then he would've said something. Would he?'
~~~~~~~~~~
Draco was eyeing Harry Potter as he shifted in his chair eager to leave. He knew these meeting were boring but he couldn't think of anything that could make Harry this eager to leave unless. Hermione!
'Blast that #itch! All those friendship crap! Let's see how strong their friendship is. I'll tell him some business his best friend has been doing. Let's see if he doesn't stay away. Hey Potter your best friend's been kissing with your enemy. That should perk things up.' He wore his most famous smirk as he planned the perfect time to drop the news.
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. By the way, I need to know if there's someone still interested. If there were anything you'd like me to change or add, do it in the reviews. I'm open for suggestions. If you're asking why I did what I did last chapter? All I can say is Hermione is not the type who'll fall in love just like that. She has to understand that she cannot choose the person to whom she'll fall in love with. Besides, I don't want to end it yet. I'm having so much fun playing with them.
Title: Models
Chapter34:
Friendships
The Gryffindor trio was sitting in their usual table eating their usual breakfast. But their usual racket was replaced with silence. Harry told Ron what he saw the other night and didn't feel like talking to their friend. He felt like he was betrayed. Hermione on the other hand was feeling the pressure of having 2 extra classes plus her rendezvous with Draco Malfoy wasn't helping. Still she didn't like the silence that came over them.
She flashed them a warm smile to try and catch their attention. "What have you guys been up to?" She desperately needed a distraction.
"Oh nothing, we've been out making friends." Harry was being sarcastic.
"Good, so when will I meet this new friend? Is this person a she or a he? From what house?" She didn't seem to notice the hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Ron shook his head and smiled at Hermione. "Forget it Herm, he's just pissed at something."
Hermione put her hands on his shoulders and started rubbing him. "You know, you're muscles are pretty tense. I know a spell that can ease it."
"No thanks." He smiled. "I like it traditionally."
"I'm not an expert on it but maybe I can still help." She continued massaging Harry's back.
Ron smiled at his two friends. Harry was beginning to turn red as he felt Hermione's gentle fingers running in his back. He looked embarrassed and pleased. He noticed that Hermione seemed distant. She may be giving Harry a massage but her eyes were looking far away. 'Is she thinking about that slimy git?' He realized he didn't want to know the answer to that question. 'They look good together. Besides, she's his best friend and she wouldn't hurt him. There must be a reason why she offered friendship.' He decided to talk to her. They are after all best friends too.
~~~~~~~~~~
Draco Malfoy tried his best to fall asleep but the memories of what happened last night keep on haunting him. He needed her. She seemed to be the only one who understands him. He wanted to talk to her and decided that he'll do just that at breakfast. With that thought he got up early, accomplished all his morning habits and waited in the Great Hall wishing that she'd get there early.
But she didn't. He was occupied by the over eager Pansy Parkinson. It was hard concentrating on the people entering the Great Hall with all the giggling. 'Maybe she won't be eating breakfast today?'
As if to answer his question, the Gryffindor trio entered the Hall. He did his best to make eye contact but it was difficult with her two bodyguards on her side. Every now and then he would stare at her to try to get her attention but it seemed like she was thinking of other things. He decided to watch her eat. She was graceful and tired. 'She badly needs a rest.' Then she smiled. His world suddenly stopped and everything focused on the girl sitting at the Gryffindor table. Her smile to him was something similar to a smile a baby gives to the mother. He eyed each detail in her face, how her lips form a smile, how her eyes glitters as she talks. What he liked the most is when her eyes glittered that night in the forest.
He held his breath as he watched her place her hands on Harry's shoulder and started caressing him. He turned red when he saw pleasure written all over Potter's face. "Lying #itch!" He stood up and left the hall leaving an astonished Pansy.
~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Hermione arranged to meet in their room in the library. Harry wanted to tell her that he saw her with Malfoy but decided not to tell her before they were inside their little sanctuary. Hermione was first to arrive since the Quidditch captain still had to attend a meeting.
Harry sent Ron to warn her about the delay. Ron found Hermione sitting in a chair with a thick book in her hand. "You preparing to fight the dark lord again?"
Hermione barely dropped her book as she looked at the person who entered the room. "We can never be too careful. You should be doing the same."
"What, with all the classes and extra classes?" He shook his head.
"That's still not an excuse to skip on reading helpful books."
"I thought the reason that we took extra classes was to prepare us. Don't you think it is redundant to read some more?"
Hermione just rolled her eyes. Ron just doesn't understand. "Have you seen Harry?"
Ron sat down beside her. "That's what I came here for."
"So?" She put a marker on her page determined not to lose the page she's reading.
"He told me that he'd be late with your date."
"Date? As if! We're just friends, you know it, I know it, everybody knows it."
"Everybody but him?"
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. That's not the reason I wanted to speak to you."
"What is it then?" She raised her eyebrows curious at what he'd say. "I thought Harry asked you to."
"Yes, yes, yes but before that, I already wanted to talk to you, since you're my friend and all. I don't want any of you to think that I've chosen sides or anything."
Hermione was getting nervous. "Does that mean Harry's angry with me?"
"He's just confused, just like you."
"What do you mean?"
"You still don't know what you feel about him and he to you. You guys are having a hard time distinguishing or let's say, separating you're friendship to another kind of relationship."
"Wow, I didn't think that you could be so perceptive."
"I'm not finished."
"Soooo-rry!" She said sarcastically trying to tease her friend.
Ron shook his head. "Last night."
Hermione's heart started racing praying that the conversation would not lead to Draco Malfoy.
"Last night," he repeated. "Let's say, somebody saw two people fighting near the forbidden forest."
"Are these people male and female?"
"You guessed it!"
"Are they blonde and brown haired?"
"Right again."
"Did that somebody hear what the 2 people were fighting about." She was wishing real hard for him to say no.
"Actually at first, they seemed like they were arguing about something but they ended with a hand shake. You do the math."
Hermione went pale. Somebody saw her talking with Malfoy offering friendship. "Do you have a clue on who this somebody is?"
"Do you know what Harry wanted to see you about?"
This time Hermione couldn't speak. She remembered that she talked to him about her relationship with Harry. She felt nauseated and wanted to die but Ron wouldn't let her.
"Hermione are you alright?"
"I'm not feeling well. Maybe you could tell Harry to postpone this meeting."
"Hermione you can't hide from him. He's your best friend."
"Don't mention that again. I think I'm gonna puke. You said about not siding with anyone, I seem to know where you're siding with."
"I said I wouldn't be siding anyone. I wanted to warn you so that you'd be prepared." He paused for a while. "I also wanted to know why?"
"Why?"
"Why did you offer friendship with him?"
"Something's change with him ever since his mother died. I just thought that if that happened to me I would like to have someone to wallow to."
"You've got us."
"I know, the question is does he have anyone?"
"Crabbe and Goyle."
"They're just subordinates and Pansy's just too full of herself."
"You pity him."
"Yes."
"What makes you think that this is not some plot he's."
"I know."
He sighed. "It's your shot. Harry won't like the answers but please don't lie to him."
Hermione could see the concern in his eyes and nodded. Ron left the room and suddenly the room literally became cold.
~~~~~~~~~~
Harry didn't want to make Hermione wait so as soon as they were dismissed he directly went straight to the library. He found her hung up with reading a book. She looked incredibly amazing even when she's not doing anything. He knocked before entering. "What are you reading?"
Hermione looked up and stared into his eyes as if pleading. 'Please don't start. It would only hurt our relationship.'
Harry saw her eyes but it didn't register to him what it was for. "I'm sorry I got hung up with Quidditch." He raised his robes as if trying to tell her that he rushed as soon as the meeting was over.
"It was nothing." An awkward silence followed. They were having a hard time starting with the real conversation so Hermione started a different one. "Do you still need some massage?"
"I'm feeling much better now thanks."
"Glad to hear it. Ron came over earlier."
"I asked him to."
"He said more than what you asked."
Harry's eyes widened. 'I wanted to be the one to tell her. Maybe it was something different. "What did he say?"
"Oh, nothing. He told me of a story about 2 people hanging near the forbidden forest with a third person eavesdropping." She wanted to take control in the conversation and decided that it would be best if she could accuse him of something. Thanks to Ron she was able to think of something.
Harry bowed his head. "I merely overheard."
"Staying and watching doesn't qualify for overhearing."
"What are you so mad about? You should be thankful since I was covering your back."
"Whatever! That was a private conversation and you should have respected that."
"Since when did you and Malfoy have private conversation? No don't answer that, what happened on that one night?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" Hermione was getting annoyed. What's so wrong with talking to somebody even if that somebody was an enemy?
Harry was having second thoughts. "I'm sorry, I just."
"Harry, I don't want to ruin our friendship. Believe it or not it's the most important thing to me. Without you guys I would've been alone all my years here in Hogwarts." She went closer to Harry and caressed his face.
"I don't either." He sighed. "But I want something more."
"You heard me last night."
"I didn't think you were serious."
"I'm getting stressed out with everything, the extra classes, patrolling, other Prefect duties and responsibilities. I just don't know how or where to put a time for romance."
"Right, future first."
"Harry, please try to understand. I'm not betraying you or anything. I offered friendship to him and that's all."
"Why?"
"He has no one else. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy aren't his friends. They're just acquaintance. Besides, he's changed. You of all people should know how he feels."
"Big deal, his mother died, he should just move on."
"Did you do that? Oh wait, I forgot, you didn't remember living with them. Draco did really love his mother and."
"Draco?"
"Malfoy then. Look Harry, nothing has changed. We're still best friends no one can change that. You don't even have to talk to him, this is my decision, respect it."
'I want more.'
"Harry, I believe in destiny. If we're destined to be together then nothing's gonna stop us." She was having second thoughts about not taking the next step.
Harry just nodded his head and left the room.
'Did he hear the thing about attraction and lust? If he did then he would've said something. Would he?'
~~~~~~~~~~
Draco was eyeing Harry Potter as he shifted in his chair eager to leave. He knew these meeting were boring but he couldn't think of anything that could make Harry this eager to leave unless. Hermione!
'Blast that #itch! All those friendship crap! Let's see how strong their friendship is. I'll tell him some business his best friend has been doing. Let's see if he doesn't stay away. Hey Potter your best friend's been kissing with your enemy. That should perk things up.' He wore his most famous smirk as he planned the perfect time to drop the news.