Author's Note: Well there are a few chapters left for this story. I'm hoping to have the whole story done before Christmas but let's see how kind Time would be with me. As always, cheers and jeers are always welcome.
Disclaimer: I make no claims of ownership over JKR"s characters or storylines. I am just borrowing a little of each ingredient for a new kind of pizza.
Without further delay…
"It's about time you two came down from your quarters," Hermione fumed. "It takes you two both longer than several girls I know to get ready for an outing."
"Don't look at me. Lover boy here was painfully trying to unruffled his hair. I told him he looked fine. But now it seems he might chance on some hair sculpting spells after we're done." Ron shrugged and pointed towards Harry behind him.
"Sod off, Ron! I was not. And you were the one who couldn't decide on what to wear. Trying to impress someone, maybe?" Harry glared at him.
Hermione rolled her eyes on both of them. "Honestly! Just hurry up will you? I still want to have a chance at some breakfast."
"Look at you! All huffed up. Aye, A—WHOA!" Ron horribly misjudged the distance between the step he was on and the bottom step. Upon landing after leaping off near the middle of the stair way, his right foot landed awkwardly on a step and was twisted unnaturally. "OOOOOWW!"
"Ron!" Both Harry and Hermione rushed to him at the bottom of the steps.
Hermione wasted no time in scolding him. "You nutter! What possessed you to do something so…so stupid! Look at you now! Where's my wand? Did you break something?
"Can you sit up, Ron?" Harry went down on a knee and offered an arm to Ron. "Should we take him to see Madame Pomfrey? Or do you think you can fix him up?" He asked Hermione.
"I'm not certain. I'm not that skilled with bone mending spells. And judging by the fall, I'm positive he broke something. I think it would be better if we take him to the hospital wing."
Ron groaned painfully as Harry and Hermione tried to help him up. Thankfully Neville spotted them in the Common Room and helped Harry with Ron to the hospital wing.
"Looks like you two…ow…ow…ow…have to go Hogsmeade today without me," Ron winced. "Could you just do me a favor and buy me some stuff from Honeydukes? And Harry, my robes…Could you-?"
"Well if you weren't such an eager beaver this morning, you wouldn't have to ask Harry for favors," Hermione gave him a disdainful look. "You'll be alright though, won't you?" Harry noticed how sudden Hermione's tone softened.
"Don't worry about a thing, Ron. I'll get you some treats and…your robes." Harry stood. "You sure you'll be alright though?"
"I won't be here for too long, so yeah. I'll just see you both when you get back."
Hermione stood up and moved to Harry's side. "Well, don't do anything reckless while we're away. And we have to get going now or McGonagall will leave us. Justin wo-"
"Fincher!" Ron shot up from the bed. "Ow..ow ow...You have a date with that Hufflepuff?" he asked painfully.
"Oh shut it, Ron. It's not a date. Get that though your thick head. C'mon Harry. I want to leave before he goes on and on about my meeting with Justin." Hermione ushered Harry out.
Ron just harrumphed his displeasure and crossed his arms over his chest.
*****
"He likes you, you know," Harry said casually as he walked next to Hermione on the streets of Hogsmeade. He turned his head slightly toward her direction.
Hermione, however, kept silent and avoided his look. She just tightened her coat over her and walked briskly next to Harry.
Harry decided not to pursue the subject any further. "So where do you want to stop by first? Get some sweet treats or…?"
"Let's stop by Honeydukes first. I have a craving for something chewy and sweet at the moment," she replied.
"All right. Lead the way then."
Once Harry and Hermione entered the store, It was soon apparent that they weren't the only ones who had a craving for something sweet that Saturday morning. Hogwarts students left and right lined up the aisles full of sweets and treats. Whether it was for a potential holiday present or just something to munch on, Honeydukes was definitely the place to get the goodies.
"It's mighty busier this time round, isn't it?" Hermione asked as she clutched on to Harry's arm. "Could you reach up and get that lolli up there for me, Harry?"
Harry reached over a high shelf and grabbed several suckers for Hermione. "No kidding. It's almost like they haven't been here before. It's a mad rush."
As they traipsed down one aisle, they saw Dean and Seamus with arms full of sweet things. "You're getting all that?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Of course. It's better to have a stockpile than to have none at all. Besides, I was thinking of bringing some home with me for my friends during our break," said Dean as he reached for more cream puffs. "Where's Ron by the way? Buried in a heap of cho'lit frogs somewhere?"
Hermione fumed. "He went and sprained his ankle this morning so he had to stay at the hospital wing for a bit."
"Oh that's too bad then. I guess you and Harry here are shopping for him as well?"
"The Mudblood and Potter, eh?" Draco's voice suddenly drawled in from their backs. Hermione and Harry turned around to face him. "What's the matter? Finally decided to ditch the Weasel and making your move on the Mudblood while he's away, Potter? Still got no taste at all, have you?"
Harry moved forward to have a go at Draco but Hermione's hold on his arm held him back. "Forget it, Harry. He's not worth it," she whispered.
"What's that Mudblood? Whispering sweet things to your boyfriend? I wonder what Weas—" Malfoy's retort was cut off when once again he found his lips tightly clamped on each other, making him unable to open them.
Harry didn't have to look up to know who did it as he could hear Fred's and George's snickering noises not too far from them.
"Quite a handy spell now, ain't it George?" Fred put his wand away.
Draco turned around and his eyes widened.
"Right you are, Fred. Now, Malfoy. Fancy for some more of that? I know a couple more tricks up my sleeve," George winked mischievously at the Slytherin.
Draco tried to make a growling sound before rushing out of Honeydukes. Harry guessed he might try to look for some prefect or professor to tell on the twins. Harry grinned. Telling may be a hard task for him already as it is.
"That wasn't really necessary, you two. But thanks anyway." Hermione gave the twins a smile.
"It was nothing. I'm sure Ron would have loved to have the honor to do that but well..."
"Hermione!"
Harry and Hermione turned around to see Justin trying desperately squeeze in between other students to get to them.
"Thank Merlin I found you! Listen," Justin tried to catch his breath. "I can't make our meeting today. I just remembered that I had to meet up with a couple other folks for some tutoring in Arithmacy. Could we reschedule perhaps tomorrow? Or sometime else next week? I'm really sorry about this."
Hermione blankly stared at him. "All right. Just catch me in the hallways then?"
"Thanks Hermione! Again I'm really sorry about this." Without another moment, Justin was as gone as hurriedly as he first caught Harry and Hermione.
"I guess no more date then?" Harry asked as he watched Justin disappear into the crowd.
"It wasn't a date! Oh well. At least that ought to make Ron happy. Honestly, what is up with him?" She asked with a slightly annoyed tone.
Harry led Hermione toward the counter where they paid for their purchases. Harry offered and took the heavier things from Hermione as they exited the store.
"Well where to now?" she asked.
"Ron wanted to um...well have me get some new robes for the formal. I guess it's good you're here because you're his date. You can help me pick out what to get for him," Harry grinned at his best friend. "But you can't tell him that you're helping me pick it out. I think he wanted it to be surprise for you. Also, you can help me pick out a robe even though I'll go stag."
Harry almost missed it but he would have sworn he saw a faint smile on her lips. "Oh all right then. I'll help you and Ron out."
The Boy Who Lived pondered for a moment his decision to go with a date. Considering what happened the night before, part of him had wanted to ask Cho if she would like to go with him. But as it is right now, things aren't exactly clear between them. At least not yet.
*****
"Honestly Marietta! You aren't planning to get that much are you?" Cho gave her friend a doubtful look once she spied the armful of treats that Marietta held.
"Why not? And mind you, they aren't all for myself." Marietta reached for another sweet mood ring with great difficulty. "How come you haven't had much shopping done at all?"
Cho grabbed the ring that Marietta reached for and handed it to her friend. "Here. And I just haven't seen anything that I want that bad. Plus, I still have some more treats left in my quarters. I'm more interested in shopping for other types of presents."
"Oh after this, we have to meet up with Abigail and Samantha to buy new robes for the ball. Speaking of which, have you decided on who to go with yet?" Marietta asked casually.
Cho bit her lip and thought for a moment. She knew who she would like to go with but she very much doubted that he'd ask her. Besides, she figured that he might have asked someone else already. But then last night...she and Harry..."No actually. I think I might go by my—"
"The Mudblood and Potter, eh?" Draco's voice a few feet away disrupted her train of thought. Did he say Harry? "What's the matter? Finally decided to ditch the Weasel and making your move on the Mudblood while he's away, Potter? Still got no taste at all, have you?" Cho heard Draco continue. At this point, she (and several other people) couldn't help but turn to the source and listen in on the conversation. About fifteen feet away stood Harry with Hermione holding onto his arm. Cho went up on her tiptoes to get a better view and spied Hermione whispering something to Harry which seemed to calm him slightly. "What's that Mudblood? Whispering sweet things to your boyfriend? I wonder what Weas--" A few moments later, the Weasley twins showed and soon had Draco running out with his hands once again clutched over his mouth.
"Served that git right," Cho heard someone next to her mutter. "Can't seem to leave Muggles alone, can he?"
She heard another student, a Gryffindor sixth year, saying something about Harry and Hermione looking good together and that Harry has got good taste.
"I guess Rita Seeker was right about those two after all," Marietta commented. "C'mon Cho. I'm done looking around and just need to pay up front."
The raven-haired girl finally realized that she had been staring too long at Harry and Hermione's figures moving out of the store. She nodded slightly at Marietta and followed her friend to a counter, the image of Hermione clutching on to Harry's arm burned in her mind. The image bothered her tremendously and she had this weird feeling at the pit of her stomach. She and Harry shared a kiss last night and she was certain that it was anything but a platonic kiss. Yet today, Malfoy had gone and pointed out that Harry and Hermione were together. And he referred to Harry as Hermione's boyfriend.
"Cho? Did you find something that you wanted?" Marietta, who was already by the exit, called out to her.
Cho hurriedly caught up to her friend and exited to the cold weather outside. "Sorry about that. Got caught up in a thought."
"Well we're running a bit late. Sam, I forgot, said that she and Abigail were gonna be there early."
"All right, all right. Who are you going with anyway?" Cho asked nonchalantly. The majority of her thoughts were still focused toward a green-eyed wizard.
"Cameron Hennessey. He's from Hufflepuff," said Marietta with a small gleam on her face. "He asked me two nights ago."
"Oh good for you then."
Tightening her cloak more about her, Cho shivered slightly at the chilly temperatures of early December. She followed Marietta to Reilly's Formal Robes hardly noticing the pining looks from several wizards who were trying to garner enough courage to ask her to the ball.
"Marietta! Cho! Finally you're both here!" Samantha called to them. She had an armful of various designs of formal robes. Cho guessed that her blonde witch friend would spend at least an hour trying all the robes out. "Look at all these wonderful robes! I can't decide on which to wear. Oh and they have a fabulous special today for Hogwarts students! Twenty percent off the price!"
"Don't mind her. She's on a high right now. Somewhere up above the skies." Abigail appeared behind Samantha holding two robes in her arms. "You should have seen how much her eyes bulged after we stepped in."
"Well pardon me! I was just so excited. How can you not be?" Sam said in response to Abigail. "Oh Cho! You need to see this wonderful royal purple robe!"
Cho flashed Sam a forced smile. "I hope you're not planning to get all of those robes, Sam. The ball is only for one night." In her mind, she wondered what robe Harry will be wearing to the ball. With Hermione as his date.
Sam made a face at Cho and turned to Marietta. "Come Marietta! I want to show you this robe that will look fantastic on you!" She took Marietta's hand and they both soon disappeared in an aisle near the back of the store.
Abigail just shook her head on her disappearing friends before moving next to Cho. "Okay. Spill. You seem awfully distracted right now. Sam could have dressed you up in an awfully pink robe and I''m sure you still would have thought you looked great in it."
Tucking a loose tendril of black hair behind her left ear, Cho wandered her eyes against a wall that had several expensive robes hanging on display. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just overwhelmed by the robes just as Sam."
"Harry's in here too you know," Abigail casually mentioned. "And that girl…Hermione…came in along with him."
"He's what?" Cho asked too quickly. She knew that Abigail caught her red handed.
"I believe they're looking to purchase robes for the ball as well. They're on Aisle 6 if you're interested."
Cho touched the sleeve of one forest green robe and looked it over. "Why would I be interested? It's not like he's my date to the ball or anything." The color of the robes reminded her of his intense emerald eyes. The same eyes that bore into her the night before when they shared that kiss.
"Suit yourself," Abigail shrugged. "That robe will look great on you. Why not try it on?"
"I don't know. Green? Doesn't it remind you of Slytherin?"
Abigail examined the robe more closely and shook her head. "Not really. This is a much darker forest green. It will do well to complement you, I think."
Cho took the robe from where it hung and held it in front of her. "I think I'll tr—"
"Cho! It's great to see you here," a male voice called from behind them. Cho and Abigail turned around to see Sean Wright and two other boys made their way towards them. Cho couldn't help it but she slightly cringed at having to see Sean again.
"Hi Abigail," Sean gave her friend a smile then turned towards her again, "I'm in a bit of a rush so I'll make this quick. I know that well you haven't got a date yet for the ball and I'm in the same predicament. I was wondering if you would like to go with me." Sean ran his right hand through his sunshine blonde hair "You don't have to give me an answer now since this is a bit sudden. Just let me know once you've decided."
Cho felt Abigail tug light on her cloak but she ignored it. She faintly returned Sean's smile. "Thanks for asking Sean. I haven't decided yet if I'll go to be honest. But I'll let you know."
"Great! Well I'm off now. I have to meet up with some other folks. I hope to hear from you soon." After giving her one more, seemingly flawless smile, Sean turned and hurriedly followed after his friends who exited the store a little earlier than he.
Abigail opened her mouth but Cho cut her off. "Not a word, Abigail." At this, Abigail shrugged. "I'm going to try this robe on. I'll be right back."
Abigail only nodded and just busied herself with looking at more robes while she waited on her friend.
The nearest dressing rooms were extremely crowded so Cho had no choice but to opt for the ones near the back of the store. After searching for several minutes in the surprisingly massive store, she finally saw a crowd-free dressing room. As she was about to enter a stall to try on her robe, a very familiar voice caught her attention.
"I don't know. Do you really think it suits me?"
Cho stopped and moved toward the direction of his voice. Around a corner by the dressing room where the viewing mirrors were located, she spied the wizard who had hardly left her mind in the last 24 hours. He had put on a midnight blue robe and was trying to decide whether or not it suited him. If anyone asked her opinion, the robe suited him perfectly she thought. He looked hands—
"You look great, Harry. Quit fussing." The second voice caught her attention as well. Cho moved several feet closer as she couldn't help but listening in more on the conversation.
"Really? I thought you said I looked great in the dark red robe." Harry turned slowly to view himself again in the mirror.
Hermione moved closer to Harry and placed her hands on his collar, fixing it for him. Cho didn't fail to notice the small distance between the two Gryffindors. And it unnerved her to no end that Hermione was that close to him.
"Right well this was before you put on this robe and I say that this definitely looks better on you."
"All right. If you say so then. After all, you would probably be stuck with me for the whole night at the ball," said Harry as he stood still while Hermione adjusted his collar.
So he is going to the ball with her. A slight pang of hurt tugged at Cho's heart. After last night, she had hoped that maybe…that maybe…
But watching them right now, so comfortable with each other, Cho couldn't help but feel jealous. Last night, she was that close with Harry but now he was like that with someone else. A girl that she had always thought was only his best friend.
Quietly Cho backed away from the painful scene before her. She paced quickly to the front of the store and found Abigail. Quickly she handed her the green robe she was holding and headed for the exit. "Hold on to that for me. I'll be right back."
Cho stepped out in the chilly air once again and looked around. Squinting her seeker eyes, she saw among the busy crowd the man she was looking for.
She hastened towards his direction. Cho Chang had an answer to give Sean Wright.
- TBC