Disclaimer: Come on people, if you've gotten this far you know the drill. But just to be on the safe side, the following characters are used without J.K Rowling's permission, but no money is being made off of such characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This is not my alone work. This piece of writing was made with a friend, Rosie and I give her any credit she wants. I'm just posting it as she doesn't have an FF.net account. This is also why writing styles may change, we take turn writing each chapter and then blend our own ideas into it.
Strange Temptations

Chapter Two
. Arrangements


Harry returned to the Great hall defeated and plopped down next to Ron. He propped his elbows on the table and stared at his empty plate. Ron turned to him and asked through a mouthful of food, "Huts 'ong 'ate?"

Harry turned to Ron, who was wiping the splattered food off of the side of his face.

"What?" Harry asked.

Ron swallowed. "What's wrong mate?"

Harry blinked. "Oh. . Nothing." He turned back to his empty plate and sighed.

Hermione looked up from the book she was reading and frowned slightly, "Did she say yes?"

Harry looked at her dully. "What do you think?" He sighed again and folded his arms on the table. "It was so humiliating!" Harry's head fell to the table and he buried his face in his arms.

Ron patted his back in a comforting manner and gave Hermione an exasperated, 'What?' look.

Hermione only said one word; "Cho."

Ron bit his lip and turned to Harry. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad mate."

Harry's voice was muffled when he replied.

"Err what was that?" Asked Ron.

Harry raised his head for a moment before letting it fall back to his arms. "It was." Harry answered with undoubtable certainty

Hermione sighed and looked worriedly at Harry. She hated to see him like this. She turned just as a certain black-haired girl walked into the great hall. After a moment of thought, she stood up abruptly. "I'll err. . Be right back."

She hurried away from Harry and Ron before they could stop her and made her way over to Cho. Her redheaded friend shot Hermione a rude look as Hermione grabbed Cho sharply by the wrist.

She smiled sweetly and asked with fake kindness, "May I have a minute, Cho?"

Cho nodded dumbly as Hermione pulled her from the hall and escorted her outside to the steps.

Hermione sat down on the first step and patted the place near her. Cho gingerly sat down and shrugged at Hermione. "So?" She asked with an uncertain smile.

"Why'd you turn Harry down?" Hermione asked, looking Cho right in the eye.

"Oh. . Err. . I don't know."

"Didn't you have a reason?"

"Sort of."

"Then why'd you turn Harry down?" Persisted Hermione.

Cho scowled slightly. "If you don't mind me asking, why is this any of your business?"

Hermione blinked. "Harry's my friend. I care about him a lot, so does Ron. I don't like seeing him depressed Cho. I'm not trying to be rude, I just want to know. He likes you a lot and is devastated that you keep continually turning him down for no apparent reason. He's a great guy, you should give him a chance."

"I tried giving him a reason, he left before I could continue."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? And was it the lame excuse of," Hermione paused for a moment before speaking again, her voice coming out more girly then before. She also put her hand on her chest and fluttered her eyelashes.

"Oh. . I'm so sorry but. . Honestly, Its not you, its me!" She said with an impersonated giggle.

Cho laughed lightly before looking guiltily down at the stone steps and nodding.

Hermione sighed, her voice returning to normal. "Well, us girls don't like hearing that now do we? How do you think he feels?"

Cho nodded. "Well I sort of have a reason."

"Oh?"

Cho bit her lip and wrung her hands in her lap. "Yeah. You see, he's the fourth person who's asked me out. And I'm sure he is a great guy. . And I'm sure the others were to. It's just. . " She paused before finishing lamely with, "It doesn't feel right."

"Oh. ." Hermione thought to herself a moment before turning to Cho and speaking again, "Can I ask you a favor?"

Cho looked at Hermione and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear and away from her eyes. She looked sideways at Hermione, uncertain of her motives. . "Err I guess."

"Great." Hermione smiled slightly, "Meet me in the library after Dinner, I'll explain then."

"Okay."

Hermione's smile widened and she abruptly stood, "Thanks!" She turned and ran into Hogwarts, leaving Cho on the steps. Cho watched her retreating back, her bushy brown hair flying behind her and smiled slightly. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt better then she had in days.
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