A tingly feeling jumped up Hermione's spine. She tried to act very nonchalant.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, we all know only too well that you're crazy about Harry and that you've been pining for him for these past six years!" Lavender exclaimed angrily.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Hermione snapped back.
"Oh, don't I?" Lavender replied, very haughtily.
"That's right! You don't!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Of course. How could I forget? Hermione's always right. She's just, 'Little Miss Know It All', aren't you Hermione? Aren't you?" Lavender asked furiously.
Hermione screamed inside, but she was determined not to let Lavender get the best of her. "Look Lavender. I don't want to argue with you. I'm not even going to the dance, and for the last, final time... I do NOT like Harry in that way! We're friends, for Flamel's sake! Pure friends! That's all we've ever been, that's all we'll ever be!"
"Sure Hermione. You keep on thinking that," Lavender snapped. Then she ran out the door.
~*~
"Ron! You've got to help me! I can't believe it! I never thought I'd see the day!" Hermione exclaimed anxiously.
"That's what Ron's here for. To save the day..." Ron teased again.
"No time for jokes. No, not now," Hermione mumbled in a crazy voice as she paced the deserted common room.
It was Monday evening and everyone had gone out to see the Quidditch team practice. Hermione and Ron were left in their by themselves. Hermione was going practically insane, and Ron was trying to comfort her.
"When Lavender told me that Harry and Parvati had broken up, I was so happy! I can't believe it, but I was! You're his best friend Ron! You have to find out if he likes me!" Hermione pleaded.
Ron nodded, already knowing what Harry would say. "I'll try, but he'll probably blush and keep his mouth shut. You know Harry."
"I've known Harry for over six years, but I've known myself longer and I just figured something out about me today," Hermione said seriously.
"Alright," Ron replied.
"Make sure he doens't know that I like him at all! Just ask him what he thinks of me in the most subtle manner!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Can do," Ron replied.
"I'm sorry Ron. I know you like me and all..." Hermione trailed off.
"No, really. I actually like Parvati. Can't imagine why... But I do. There's something about her... At any rate..." Ron said.
Hermione developed a sly smile. "You only like her for her looks and you know it."
"Too true. Well, I'll be off to see Harry now," Ron said as he left the common room.
"I can't believe I just did what I did," Hermione said outloud in the empty common room. "Well, I suppose it's all for the better... We must face the truth at one point or another. I just hope Harry likes me as well..."
~*~
Harry was in the Gryffindor Quidditch locker rooms after another hard practice. He had a towel around his neck and was polishing his Firebolt when Ron Weasley came in.
"Hey Ron. How're things going?" Harry asked.
Ron looked around to make sure no one was in there.
"Do you still... you know..." Ron trailed off.
"Like her?" Harry supplied.
Ron nodded.
"Of course," Harry said shortly.
"But you liked..."
"I know. I couldn't help it. But then I thought I liked the other girl... I'm confused. It's probably the one I'm closest too..."
"Well, it's apparent both girls are crazy over you. Now you're just going to have to choose..."
"Right..."
"Well, the big dance is this Friday. You have four days left to make your final decision..."
"It's not enough..."
"You know which one I think you should go with..."
"Ron. I don't know yet. Don't pressure me please. This needs to be a decision I make by myself!"
Harry stood up abruptly and left the locker room. Ron shook his head and stared out into space.
"I've been playing match-maker for two years now. How long will this go on?"
~*~
"The object," Professor McGonagall said with a pause, "is to turn this mouse into a snuffbox. The first to complete it will earn a free trip to Hogsmeade and twenty points for their house."
It was another horrible day of Doubles Transfigurations. Normally, Gryffindor had Transfiguration Class all to themselves, but every other week they had to take it with Slytherin.
Hermione listened with rapt attention to Professor McGonagall. She helped pass out the mice.
"On the count of three, you will be permitted to transfigurate your mouse. One... two... three!"
And after only a few seconds... "Congratulations Miss Granger! It seems as though you were the first to transfigurate the mouse. Everyone, look here! See how she has perfectly transfigurated the mouse into the snuff box. It is nothing like yours, Finnigan, where the snuffbox has a moving tail... Or like yours, Mr. Malfoy, where the snuffbox has four paws. It seems as though everyone but Hermione has failed to grasp the art of Transfiguration. Therefore, I will give you all a little bit of extra homework so that you properly learn how to perform the act and produce a better, if not perfect, snuffbox for the test next week."
The whole class groaned. Well, all but Hermione... of course.
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes. "Class dismissed," she said sharply.
Harry and Ron ran after Hermione who left the classroom quickly to get to Herbology.
"Hermione. What are you doing tonight?" they both asked nicely.
Hermione grinned. "I suppose I'll be helping you two with your Transifguration homework?" she guessed.
They both nodded. Then Ron added, "and I need some help with my Potions too!"
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Very well then. I'll help you with that too," Hermione said.
Herbology flew by quickly and then Wednesday was over. Harry realized he only had two days left to ask Hermione to the dance. He wanted to, but he was nervous and afraid of what she would say. Finally, he decided to go up to her room - although it was not allowed - and ask her after dinner.
"Hermione?" Harry said slowly as he opened up the girl's dormitory door.
Hermione was sitting on her bed, finishing up her Potions essay. She was surprised to see Harry and squeezed her pink robe tighter around her body.
"Harry! What are you doing in here? You're not supposed to go into girl's dormitories!" Hermione exclaimed, blushing as pink as her robe.
"Well, I know I'm not. I was thinking though..." Harry trailed off.
"Yes?" Hermione prompted.
"Well -"
Just then Parvati Patil walked through the door.
"Harry! What on Earth are you doing in here? Were you looking for me? That is just the sweetest thing!" Parvati exclaimed.
She threw her arms around Harry and gave Hermione a smirk.
"So, Harrykins... Did you come up here to ask me to the Dance? That's great! I can't wait to go. Super! So, I'll go with you. Lavender can go with Seamus. Hermione... you can go with Ron. Everyone knows you've liked him for ages," said Parvati.
Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"Well, see you later Harry! You shouldn't be in here, after all. No matter how much you wanted to see me!" Parvati exclaimed.
She showed Harry out the door and then walked back to Hermione.
"Looks like I beat you again Hermione. Too bad, too bad. You may be better in Transfiguration, but you have no street sense. Try again later," Parvati snapped.
Then she walked off to take her shower.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, we all know only too well that you're crazy about Harry and that you've been pining for him for these past six years!" Lavender exclaimed angrily.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Hermione snapped back.
"Oh, don't I?" Lavender replied, very haughtily.
"That's right! You don't!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Of course. How could I forget? Hermione's always right. She's just, 'Little Miss Know It All', aren't you Hermione? Aren't you?" Lavender asked furiously.
Hermione screamed inside, but she was determined not to let Lavender get the best of her. "Look Lavender. I don't want to argue with you. I'm not even going to the dance, and for the last, final time... I do NOT like Harry in that way! We're friends, for Flamel's sake! Pure friends! That's all we've ever been, that's all we'll ever be!"
"Sure Hermione. You keep on thinking that," Lavender snapped. Then she ran out the door.
~*~
"Ron! You've got to help me! I can't believe it! I never thought I'd see the day!" Hermione exclaimed anxiously.
"That's what Ron's here for. To save the day..." Ron teased again.
"No time for jokes. No, not now," Hermione mumbled in a crazy voice as she paced the deserted common room.
It was Monday evening and everyone had gone out to see the Quidditch team practice. Hermione and Ron were left in their by themselves. Hermione was going practically insane, and Ron was trying to comfort her.
"When Lavender told me that Harry and Parvati had broken up, I was so happy! I can't believe it, but I was! You're his best friend Ron! You have to find out if he likes me!" Hermione pleaded.
Ron nodded, already knowing what Harry would say. "I'll try, but he'll probably blush and keep his mouth shut. You know Harry."
"I've known Harry for over six years, but I've known myself longer and I just figured something out about me today," Hermione said seriously.
"Alright," Ron replied.
"Make sure he doens't know that I like him at all! Just ask him what he thinks of me in the most subtle manner!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Can do," Ron replied.
"I'm sorry Ron. I know you like me and all..." Hermione trailed off.
"No, really. I actually like Parvati. Can't imagine why... But I do. There's something about her... At any rate..." Ron said.
Hermione developed a sly smile. "You only like her for her looks and you know it."
"Too true. Well, I'll be off to see Harry now," Ron said as he left the common room.
"I can't believe I just did what I did," Hermione said outloud in the empty common room. "Well, I suppose it's all for the better... We must face the truth at one point or another. I just hope Harry likes me as well..."
~*~
Harry was in the Gryffindor Quidditch locker rooms after another hard practice. He had a towel around his neck and was polishing his Firebolt when Ron Weasley came in.
"Hey Ron. How're things going?" Harry asked.
Ron looked around to make sure no one was in there.
"Do you still... you know..." Ron trailed off.
"Like her?" Harry supplied.
Ron nodded.
"Of course," Harry said shortly.
"But you liked..."
"I know. I couldn't help it. But then I thought I liked the other girl... I'm confused. It's probably the one I'm closest too..."
"Well, it's apparent both girls are crazy over you. Now you're just going to have to choose..."
"Right..."
"Well, the big dance is this Friday. You have four days left to make your final decision..."
"It's not enough..."
"You know which one I think you should go with..."
"Ron. I don't know yet. Don't pressure me please. This needs to be a decision I make by myself!"
Harry stood up abruptly and left the locker room. Ron shook his head and stared out into space.
"I've been playing match-maker for two years now. How long will this go on?"
~*~
"The object," Professor McGonagall said with a pause, "is to turn this mouse into a snuffbox. The first to complete it will earn a free trip to Hogsmeade and twenty points for their house."
It was another horrible day of Doubles Transfigurations. Normally, Gryffindor had Transfiguration Class all to themselves, but every other week they had to take it with Slytherin.
Hermione listened with rapt attention to Professor McGonagall. She helped pass out the mice.
"On the count of three, you will be permitted to transfigurate your mouse. One... two... three!"
And after only a few seconds... "Congratulations Miss Granger! It seems as though you were the first to transfigurate the mouse. Everyone, look here! See how she has perfectly transfigurated the mouse into the snuff box. It is nothing like yours, Finnigan, where the snuffbox has a moving tail... Or like yours, Mr. Malfoy, where the snuffbox has four paws. It seems as though everyone but Hermione has failed to grasp the art of Transfiguration. Therefore, I will give you all a little bit of extra homework so that you properly learn how to perform the act and produce a better, if not perfect, snuffbox for the test next week."
The whole class groaned. Well, all but Hermione... of course.
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes. "Class dismissed," she said sharply.
Harry and Ron ran after Hermione who left the classroom quickly to get to Herbology.
"Hermione. What are you doing tonight?" they both asked nicely.
Hermione grinned. "I suppose I'll be helping you two with your Transifguration homework?" she guessed.
They both nodded. Then Ron added, "and I need some help with my Potions too!"
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Very well then. I'll help you with that too," Hermione said.
Herbology flew by quickly and then Wednesday was over. Harry realized he only had two days left to ask Hermione to the dance. He wanted to, but he was nervous and afraid of what she would say. Finally, he decided to go up to her room - although it was not allowed - and ask her after dinner.
"Hermione?" Harry said slowly as he opened up the girl's dormitory door.
Hermione was sitting on her bed, finishing up her Potions essay. She was surprised to see Harry and squeezed her pink robe tighter around her body.
"Harry! What are you doing in here? You're not supposed to go into girl's dormitories!" Hermione exclaimed, blushing as pink as her robe.
"Well, I know I'm not. I was thinking though..." Harry trailed off.
"Yes?" Hermione prompted.
"Well -"
Just then Parvati Patil walked through the door.
"Harry! What on Earth are you doing in here? Were you looking for me? That is just the sweetest thing!" Parvati exclaimed.
She threw her arms around Harry and gave Hermione a smirk.
"So, Harrykins... Did you come up here to ask me to the Dance? That's great! I can't wait to go. Super! So, I'll go with you. Lavender can go with Seamus. Hermione... you can go with Ron. Everyone knows you've liked him for ages," said Parvati.
Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"Well, see you later Harry! You shouldn't be in here, after all. No matter how much you wanted to see me!" Parvati exclaimed.
She showed Harry out the door and then walked back to Hermione.
"Looks like I beat you again Hermione. Too bad, too bad. You may be better in Transfiguration, but you have no street sense. Try again later," Parvati snapped.
Then she walked off to take her shower.