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"See, there's still hope for you to become the Captain." Ron said as the great hall started emptying. Harry couldn't help but to agree.
"I suppose," he shrugged slightly. "And now that that Co-Captain position is open, you could become it! After winning us the Cup last year, is the least they could do."
"I think that was great of Victor to come up with such a thing!" Hermione said this and ignored Ron's grumbling.
"Hermione!" a voice called from behind them and they all turned around.
"Pierre!" she greeted the handsome boy as he came over to her. He grabbed her shoulders and placed a kiss on both of her cheeks in turn. She blushed and Ron looked like he was about to beat him.
"It's so great so see you again, Mione." Pierre said giving her a charming smile that revealed all his perfect teeth. His voice had a hint of an accent but regardless of that, his English was perfect.
"You don't sound very French." said Ron furrowing his eyebrows, his voice with a tone of suspicion that was very evident and quite rude.
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione with wide eyes.
"No, its okay," Pierre said carelessly and turned to Ron. "Actually my parents are both English and so am I. We moved to France not too long ago." He explained to Ron politely. Ron raised his eyebrows and Hermione looked at him disbelievingly. Harry tried to break on the awkward pause.
"I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you." He said extending his hand at Pierre Luc. Pierre smiled once again and shook Harry's hand.
"Quite a pleasure to meet you, Harry," He said giving a little bow of his head. Harry looked at Ron expectantly.
"And I'm Ron. Ron Weasley." Ron finally said, his face straight and he shook Pierre's hand with more strength than it was required at the moment.
"Very nice to meet you, Ron," he said, his polite smile a little faded now.
"Well, we better get going Harry, Hermione," said Ron.
"Er. yeah. I guess we should get going.," said Harry awkwardly.
"I'll just stay here for a moment. I'm gonna go say 'hi' to Victor after I'm done talking to Pierre." Hermione responded forcing a smile. Ron turned around and headed out the great hall.
"I'll see you around Pierre," Harry said to Pierre before following Ron.
..::..
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"Mate you have to calm down, you know?" Harry said to Ron as soon as he caught up with him.
"What are you talking about?" Ron said not looking at him.
"Well, you almost squashed Pierre's hand back there. a cheering charm wouldn't do you harm right now."
"Whatever. There's just something about that French guy I don't like.," he said and Harry noticed his knuckles were white as his fists were clenched at his sides.
"So when are you gonna tell her?" Harry asked him.
"Tell who what?" Ron answered as they took a shortcut that would lead them faster to the common room.
"Hermione, and that you like her." Harry answered containing a smile.
"I don't know," he answered distractedly. Harry raised his eyebrows and Ron looked at him with wide eyes. "I mean, I don't like her! Who told you I liked her?!" he said uneasily, laughing nervously.
"Right, you don't.," Harry said shaking his head.
"I don't!"
"Whatever you say, Mate."
"I don't!!" He said loudly. A small group of second years looked at him with raised eyebrows and he snapped at them. "Okay, I like her!! Is that what you bloody hell wanted to hear?!?! I - like - her!!" The second years scattered quickly.
"Who do you like?" asked another voice from behind them and they both turned around.
"Nobody." Said Ron quickly. Harry thought better about saying otherwise.
"Oh, I thought you were talking about Hermione." Ginny Weasley giggled satisfactorily as Ron's ears turned scarlet.
"You're too nosy then." He snapped at her.
"So, do you like her?" she asked ignoring Ron's last comment and giving him a knowing wink.
"What makes you say that?" Ron said, his ears reddening once more.
"Well," -she faked concentration- " you just made a group of second years run off by shouting 'I -like -her!' at them. what could that possibly tell me?!" she looked at Ron only to see him shrugging confusedly at Harry. "Honestly Ron, no offense, but you're such a bloke." she said shaking her head.
"Geez, thanks a lot Ginny." He said sarcastically.
"No problem, what are sisters for?" she said laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just don't tell Hermione." he said reddening slightly.
"Oooohh." she exclaimed, smiling knowingly "So, let me see if I understand. You're not talking about her, yet you don't want me to tell her? Well, that's very considerate of you, Ron." She said with a hint of sarcasm.
"For Merlin's beard, Ginny!" said Ron rolling his eyes.
"You could have always been talking about that new girl you were drooling over at the feast."she seemed to be in deep thought- " what's her name?? Er. Barbara? Nah. It's something like-" and she was cut off mid sentence.
"Bonnie," Said Hermione Granger as she approached the group, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression grim. "Bonnie Mason, if I'm not mistaken."
"So that's her name." Ginny said nodding slowly. "I knew it was something like 'Muffin', 'Fanny' or some ditzy name like that. Hah" she laughed despite the fact that both Hermione and Ron looked very serious.
Hermione still hadn't uncrossed her arms and Ron was staring at the floor.
"Victor all right, Hermione?" asked Harry, this, his best attempt on making a quick conversation.
"Just charming." She said briefly. She didn't really look angry; Harry could have sworn he saw a hint of misery on her eyes. Ginny seemed to notice the gloominess on her eyes as well.
"Hermione, why don't we go up to the dormitories? I'm so tired." She yawned widely and it came out looking a little too fake.
"Yeah. I'm exhausted." She said rather unconvincingly. "See you tomorrow, Harry. Ron." she added as an after thought. She waved unenthusiastically and turned around. Ginny looked at Harry and shook her head sadly. She turned around and jogged to catch up with Hermione.
"Why didn't you tell her the truth, mate?" Harry asked Ron quietly as the girls turned in the corner and out of view. Ron looked at him.
"You wouldn't understand, Harry" he said gloomily. " She's so much better than me." Harry was completely taken back by his friend's words.
"That's not true, Ron." He said comfortingly. "You're as good as everybody else. except maybe Malfoy. since he's such an exceptional human being. Heh." He said, trying to cheer Ron up.
Ron chuckled. "It's just that she's so smart. so talented and so pretty. and I'm not. She deserves someone like. I don't know. like that Pierre guy." He shrugged miserably.
"But I'm pretty sure it's not him she likes, Ron." Harry said knowingly. Ron looked at him again; this time, his eyes were wide and he was smiling coyly.
"You think. you think that maybe. she likes. me?" He asked, his voice a little high pitched.
"Well, why don't you ask her?" Harry said trying hard not to laugh. Ron said nothing. They walked to the Gryffindor common room in silence, and Ron seemed to be thinking about the prospect of him asking Hermione if she liked him in any other way besides just friends. And from the looks of Ron, it seemed like that prospect was to him as appealing as going back to the Forbidden Forest and paying Aragog a little visit.
