Chapter Six – Nicknames & nightmares, one in the same…
Hannah Holt – Cool to be a Fool
"Ron, are you always this stupid?" Hermione's accusing tone made Ron wince and Harry just sat there trying to suppress his laughter, showing a small grin instead. It was so funny to watch his two best friends bicker back and forth. They thought that he had no idea they'd recently confessed their love for one another after these six years of being great friends. They were trying to act normal around each other in front of him, but it definitely wasn't working.
"What was I supposed to do?" Ron tried not to laugh either, meeting Hermione's threatening gaze.
"You let that beast LOSE in Snape's room!" She slammed her quill down on the open Arithmancy book in her lap and pointed her finger at her "boy [space] friend". Harry still tried not to laugh, he was really having a difficult time, and he definitely didn't want her on his bad side this time.
"You can't say he didn't deserve it, Mione! C'mon, loosen up a bit." Ron said before standing up and picking up his books. He leaned over to whisper something in her ear. From what Harry could hear he said, "Like you did last night."
Harry couldn't hold it back any longer. He let out an incredibly loud laugh. "You two don't get it, do you?" Hermione's eyes widened and Ron grinned, standing behind her.
"Get what?" Hermione snapped.
"The whole school knows. Not like anybody couldn't tell anybody. We've known since first year, geez," Harry looked down at his homework like it was nothing. "Just thought I'd let you know: it's no secret."
"What exactly is 'no secret', Harry?" Hermione looked at him with a serious expression on her face and Harry smirked again.
"The fact that you two are madly in love." Harry replied calmly, closing his homework in front of him and laying it on the table casually.
"I don't understand..." Hermione started.
"That's just it. You guys don't have to hide it anymore. We all know. Here, watch this." Harry stopped and looked across the room to where Parvati and her friends were sitting.
"Hey, Parvati?" Harry practically yelled across the noisy common room. Parvati turned around to look at Harry.
"Yeah, Harry?" She responded.
"How long have we known about Hermione and Ron?" Harry asked, still laughing.
"Gosh, how many years has it been, girls?" Parvati asked the girls sitting around her they all started counting on their fingers. "I'm going to have to say since second year!" She responded before turning around and going back to their conversation.
Hermione looked horrified.
"Just look at it this way, Mione. We don't have to hide it anymore..." Ron touched her shoulder affectionately. Hermione grimaced.
"Don't touch me."
Ron rolled his eyes, making Harry chuckle again.
~*~
"I remember that like it was yesterday." Harry laughed, clasping his hands behind his head and relaxing in the overstuffed arm chair placed in one of the corners of the large lobby. He was seated adjacent to Ron and across from Hermione who was on the couch. He noticed she kept crossing and uncrossing her legs like she always did when she was antsy about something.
"Yeah, the look on your face was priceless, princess," Ron smiled, too, looking rather comfortable laid out with his feet propped up on the ottoman, cup of steaming coffee in hand. Hermione cringed at the nickname he hadn't used in awhile. She'd always hated it when he called her that. Made her feel... dependent on him and she sure didn't need a man in her life, especially not Ronald Weasley.
"Shut up, you two." Hermione said seeming rather agitated thinking the boys were laughing at her. "How about the time you two thought something was 'evil' about that new Charms professor... what was her name? Professor... Belleza? Yes, that was it... I remember all too well..."
~*~
"There is something really suspicious about that woman," Harry looked at Hermione with pleading eyes. "C'mon, Herm, you know it, I know it."
"I agree," Ron said looking pathetic like he always did. Hermione wasn't about to be fooled. She knew full well nothing serious was weird about the Professor she just liked to have fun. Maybe a little too much fun, but Hermione couldn't exactly voice her opinion to a Professor, even if the Professor was only two years older than she.
"Oh, please, you guys. You're just mad because the gorgeous, Spanish-descent young Professor doesn't look at you two like she does at Remus. I, personally can't blame her." Hermione smiled to herself and continued to read as the boys gave her incredibly disgusted looks.
"Gosh, Hermione, sure didn't want to know that." Harry commented and Ron almost looked envious. Hermione just ignored it as the boys' plot developed.
"Well I know I see her walking towards the abandoned dungeons after last period," Ron started. "That's where her headquarters is! She's developing the nasty potions right in our very school. We should tell Dumbledore, Harry."
"No, we shouldn't, Ron. We can handle this ourselves." Harry looked at Hermione one last time. Hermione didn't notice until he cleared his throat to get her attention.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What now, boys? Another stupid plot?" She paused and Harry opened his mouth to speak before he was interrupted again. "If this has anything to do with Professor Belleza than the answer is no." Hermione winked at Ron. "Better luck next time." And went back to reading her book.
"We're going have to do this alone." Harry stated after a few moments of silent.
"Tomorrow night?" Ron asked. Harry nodded in conformation. "Tomorrow night."
...
The next evening Hermione sat snuggly by the fire in her cute Gryffindor shorts and tank top, studying. She did notice, however, that she kept glancing at the clock. As it grew later and later she kept worrying more and more about where Ron and Harry were. They'd eaten dinner in a hurry and practically run out to cause whatever mischief they were up to. Hermione convinced herself she didn't care and that they were fine and actually shut her book and was going up to bed when the portrait swung up and seconds later revealed a very exasperated Harry and rather embarrassed Ron.
"Something wrong?" Hermione eyed them suspiciously. Harry and Ron seemed stunned and went to sit on the couch across from her chair.
"We..." Harry stopped and looked at her blankly. Hermione's eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"You what?"
"We walked in..." Harry couldn't finish.
"We saw her and Remus..." There was silence and Hermione stifled a giggle. "Definitely not a nasty headquarters for deadly potions." Was all Ron could say before Harry stood and Ron followed him, both walking solemnly up the stairs.
Hermione laughed out loud as she walked up her own staircase to her dorm. Tomorrow would definitely be a day to say 'I Told You So'.
~*~
"That was definitely one of my funniest Hogwarts' memories... the look on your faces was absolutely priceless." Hermione laughed at herself and relaxed a bit against the vacant couch. Ron felt the urge to walk over and sit next to her. 'That would probably make things even more awkward if possible,' he thought.
"Okay, so it was one of our worst ideas, but, seriously, I've been scarred ever since." Harry said seriously, they same look of disgust from that night in the common room slowly etched across his face making Hermione giggle harder. "No, Ron, I've got the winner... What about the time Ginny gave you a make-over, Herm?"
Hermione tried to hide her blush and rolled her eyes, remembering when...
~*~
"Come on, Hermione... your look is so... last year!" Ginny exclaimed, pacing in front of Hermione who was sitting rather nonchalantly on the biggest couch in the common room. Harry and Ron sat idly by watching the two argue on whether or not Ginny could help Hermione with a 'new look'. "You are a fifth year and you still look like a first year!" Ginny tried to think of every excuse in the book, but Hermione was not buying it.
"God forbid," Hermione replied sarcastically. "Ginny, I have no interest whatsoever in the way I look. I'm here for my education, not my love life." She shot a deadly glance at Ron who gulped in confusion. Harry didn't want to know.
"Please, please, please? For me?" Ginny gave her a very pathetic puppy-dog face that Hermione had seen from Ron one too many times and never could quite refuse to anything he asked her for when he made that face...
"Fine, fine. But you are not dying my hair any other color PERIOD." Hermione said, standing up as an ecstatic Ginny took her hand and started towards the staircase to the girls' dormitories and bathrooms. "Be back in a few, boys!" Ginny threw a wink at her brother of her shoulder and pulled Hermione up the stairs.
"What do you think she's going to look like in the end. I mean, really, Ron, how good is Ginny with a wand?" Harry asked, letting out a bit of laughter.
"She's actually pretty talented, but she says she prefers muggle make up and hair products for whatever reasons." Ron rolled his eyes and relaxed into his recliner, propping his feet up on the small table in front of him. "Maybe she'll even make her wear something..." Ron stopped at the look Harry was giving him.
"Just stop, okay?"
Ron nodded his head. "Yeah, that'd be too much to ask." Harry laughed and rolled his eyes. Ron was getting rather ridiculous with this crush that he would not admit for the life of him.
Harry and Ron went on to discuss the new Quidditch plans that they'd read about in their new Quidditch magazine and before they knew it, it was time for dinner with no sign of Ginny or Hermione.
"Wonder what they're doing up there..." Harry looked up as he heard footsteps coming down the steps. Ginny appeared and started to sing what seemed to be some type of intro song. "Dun dun dun..." Harry laughed and so did Ron until they saw the girl coming down the stairs. Ron stared as Hermione appeared looking ... Ron couldn't think of the words. He just watched. She was wearing a pair of Ginny's jeans and a rather snug black sweater. Her hair was straight and shorter, with light blonde highlights accenting the dark brown of her natural color. She looked... amazing. 'And was she wearing make up?' Ron thought. Ron's thoughts were soon interrupted by the hooting and hollering coming from the other end of the common room where a few fifth, sixth, and seventh year boys were sitting. They were whistling and the girls next to them were clapping. Hermione turned bright red as she walked over to her two best friends.
"Why did I let her talk me into this? This is so not me," Hermione shifted looking more uncomfortable than Ron had ever seen her look before.
'Oh, but it should be so you,' Ron thought looking her up and down. He noticed Harry doing the same and wanted, for the first time, to hit his best friend. He noticed the evil glare that Harry was getting from Ginny and decided she'd let him have it without him getting involved.
"Good turn out, no?" Ginny asked holding her hand above Hermione, making her twirl.
"Wow, Hermione... I don't know what to say," Ron laughed standing up. "May I walk you to dinner?" He held out his arm and she took it, feeling her face flush red as the eyes from the common room watched them all the way out the door.
~*~
"Oh, yeah, Harry, I always did mean to ask you... how did Ginny handle that one?" Ron asked curiously, looking over at his best friend.
"Handle what?" Harry looked at his best friend, obviously baffled.
"The way you were looking at her work of art," Ron said gesturing towards Hermione was sitting rigid on the couch. "Oh, don't look so mad, Princess, you know you liked all the attention." He smiled evilly and Hermione scowled.
"I wasn't looking at her in any way other than that of a best friend..." Harry's voice trailed off at the look Hermione was giving him. "No offense, Herm. I didn't really fancy being beaten up by my best friend or my girlfriend."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron replied looking at Hermione. There was a moment of silence.
"Well, this stroll down memory lane has really worn me out, I think I'm off to bed." Harry stood up and so did Hermione. Ron followed suit.
"Good night, Harry. See you tomorrow. It's been fun," Hermione whispered as she hugged him.
"Don't keep him out too late, Herm," He grinned and she smirked.
"You got it," is all she said.
Harry shot Ron a look and Ron gulped nervously. How could he possibly tell Hermione about Maley? How would she react? The thought alone made his palms sweat and he rubbed them on his pants. "See you in the room," was all Ron managed to say.
Harry walked off towards the elevator leaving Ron and Hermione standing there... very alone.
"Where to?" Hermione asked.
"The front deck?" Ron asked.
"Sounds nice." Ron turned around to walk out of the sliding glass doors when he felt Hermione's hand in his as he led the way. He knew this would have to be put off at least another night, even if Harry did kill him.
[AUTHOR'S NOTE—thanks to my reviewers! You have no idea how much it means to me for people to actually say how much they enjoy what I'm writing and PLEASE continue to read and tell your friends – this fic will ONLY get better and I'm CONSTANTLY working on it! Hope you like… We still don't know who Maley is, eh? Soon enough, soon enough. Cute memories, too, huh? I thought so. I hope they weren't too OOC. Love you guys! 3Hannah Holt]