I own nothing but the plot.
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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: My Version
Chapter 2: So It's True
Harry rushed downstairs sprinting towards the kitchen and stopped abruptly as he saw Hermione. Hermione hum as she set the table for 13 people and Mrs. Weasley bustled in and out of the kitchen setting things here and there on the table. Harry gawked, in the middle of the table was a three layer chocolate cake with the icing saying 'Happy Birthday Harry!' Harry was puzzled, he had forgotten today was his birthday. Unexpectedly Hermione stopped humming and glanced up only to find Harry starring at her.
"Harry you're not suppose to be down here! Where's Ron? He was suppose to been keeping you busy." Hermione said as she grabbed Harry's arm and rushed him out of the dinning area and into the living room. Hermione threw Harry down onto the furnished couch and sat down next to him. Harry gazed into the fire; shocked that Hermione had been rough with him. "So Harry, where's Ron?" That one question brought Harry out of his gaze of pleasant thoughts and quickly into a fierce mood. Many thoughts raced through Harry's head, ....how Ron had almost raped Hermione....Ron lying upstairs unable to move.
"Hermione, Ron told me the most outrageous story and I need to know if it's true." Said Harry as he looked into Hermione's eyes and took her hands. Hermione's expression changed quickly from angry to worried. Harry took the silence as that she was ready for him to tell her what Ron had said. Harry went on how Ron said he kissed her and how she slapped him; how Ron had almost rapped her. When Harry was done telling her what Ron had said, she turned her head away from Harry and gazed into the fire. Nobody spoke, neither of them dared to move a muscle.
"Harry, Ron only said that to keep you occupied so we could get you birthday dinner ready. Ron has never made any move on me and if he did I would hex him to high heavens. Anyways, I have a crush on someone else that's not Ron." Hermione said gazing back into Harry's emerald eyes. The fire reflected off her face; her eyes gleamed in the dim light. Harry squeezed her hands reassuringly and she lowered her gaze.
"Are you sure Ron never touched you? He sounded so convincing and you took a while to answer. Hermione, you know you can tell me anything right?" Harry said gently taking Hermione's chin and forcing Hermione to look at him. Hermione wouldn't lock eyes with him and kept struggling to get loose. Harry lowered his hand from her chin and clasped both her hands again.
"H-Harry....Ron did try to kiss me and I..I told him no! But he kept coming on to me and I finally slapped him. Besides that everything been fine between us. I think Ron had too many butterbeers and didn't realize what he was doing. I told him I didn't like him that way and I told him I had a crush on someone else in our house. He's been mad about that and he keeps giving me these loving glances. It's making me sick, Harry." Hermione said as tears slowly slipped from her eyes. Harry pulled her toward him allowing her to cry on his shoulder. Harry rapped his arms around her and let her cry onto him.
"It's alright Hermione. It won't happen again. Ron still shouldn't have acted that way, even if he had too much to drink. Shh---it's alright." Harry said soothingly as he gently stroked her wavy hair. Hermione sniffled, sat up and wiped her eyes on her cloak. The fire flickered on romantically and Hermione moved in closer towards Harry. Harry didn't break eye contact with her as she moved closer to him.
"You know Harry, my crush is in our grade and we take practically all of the same classes. We even went on some adventures together." Hermione said, now leaning in towards Harry. She licked her lips and closed her eyes.
"Your crush is...." Harry never had the chance to finish his sentence because at that time Ginny came bouncing into the room. Hermione pulled back away from Harry and quickly stood up.
"Hey you two, dinner's ready." Ginny said skipping all the way upstairs to alert the others. Harry blushed, to nervous to look at Hermione. Harry slowly brought his gaze up to Hermione's face; they stared at each other like time was forever frozen. Hermione was the first to break the awkward silence.
"We'll finish this later Harry. I think we better head to dinner." Hermione said smiling at Harry and turned towards the kitchen. Harry watched her walk away for a moment, taking in her sweet smell, and then followed her path towards the kitchen. Harry sat down next to Hermione and glanced around the table to see who had arrived. Tonks was sitting next to Professor Lupin, who was blushing and talking away. Snape sat back in his chair, glaring at Lupin as he flirted with Tonks. Moody glared at Snape, while his magical eye was zooming around the room. Mr. Weasley was busy whispering quietly to Bill and Charlie. Harry supposed it was Order business. Fred and George were looking out for Mrs. Weasley as they pulled out new sweets. Just as Harry's gaze fell onto the cake and his mouth watering, Ginny popped into the room muttering something about Ron not being hungry. Harry was glad he took the precaution and made Ron look like he was sleeping. Harry looked down at his empty plate, and he couldn't help but to feel kind of guilty that it was his fault Ron wasn't down here for dinner. Yet, he still wasn't going to go up there and let him off of the curse.
Mrs. Weasley set down the last bowl of food on the table and sat down. Everyone fell silent and watched hungrily as Mrs. Weasley put food on everyone's plate. Harry sighed; noticed that Mrs. Weasley had given him double portions of chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits. Harry grabbed his fork and started wolfing down his food. The faster he finished the faster he could talk to Ron and more importantly Hermione. Harry was getting annoyed with everyone telling him 'Happy Birthday' and 'you're finally Sweet Sixteen'. Harry was appreciative that Snape hated him and didn't wish him any 'Happy Birthday'. Harry graciously accepted the piece of cake Mrs. Weasley handed him. After everyone...except Snape who had slipped out of the room, finished two slices of cake and they all stared at Harry. Harry gulped, he wondered if they...especially Mad-Eye Moody knew what he done to Ron. Harry didn't realize the Lupin and Mrs. Weasley had left the room nor that Moody's magical eye was frozen on him. Mrs. Weasley, with the help of Lupin brought in packages with scribbling of "Happy Birthday Harry" on them and sat them down in front of Harry. Harry blushed; he hadn't expected to get so many gifts.
"Thanks." Harry said shyly as Mrs. Weasley nodded and sat down at the head of the table. He picked up a squared box that was from the Weasley. Harry slowly ripped off the wrapping paper and revealed the box being full of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and homemade sweets. "Thanks, Mr. 'nd Mrs. Weasley. Fred, George, Ginny." All of the Weasleys' nodded and watched Harry eagerly as he turned to the next package and glanced at Lupin and Tonks. The package turned out to reveal a small red box; Harry once again glanced at Lupin then Tonks then at the box again. Harry cracked open the box and inside laid a silver necklace with a pendant of a wolf's face with a wand dangling out of it's mouth hanging from the chain. Harry gasped, he hated to admit it but it was unusual. Harry swiftly put it around his neck and mumbled 'You shouldn't have' toward Lupin and Tonks. After Harry open several more parcels from the D.A. and Hagrid, he became aware of Hermione fidgeting in her seat. Harry assumed the last parcel was from her. Harry pulled the package towards him; and he felt whatever was inside bumping up against the sides of the package. He felt kind of nervous, wondering if she had gotten him anything dangerous. Harry laughed at himself, 'Come on this is Hermione we're thinking about!'
Harry took a glance at Hermione and started to tear the wrapping off. Harry was stunned, his mouth hung open...a small golden ball with wings hovered in front of him. 'A snitch!' Harry slowly moved his hand toward the ball, only to notice that his name was engraved upon it. While his hand was inches away, Harry grabbed the ball. The wings fought in struggle to get loose out of his hand. Harry turned towards Hermione; he was speechless. He knew how much Snitches cost and how much Hermione had gone out of her way to get one. Before Harry realized what he was doing, he was out of his chair and giving Hermione a death-straddling hug. Hermione gave him a hard shove and gasped for air when she managed to get Harry off of her. Harry stood there grinning and was relevantly happy, until a nagging thought popped in his head.
Harry took the stairs two at a time and quickly raced to his and Ron's bedroom door. Harry paused and listened, trying to hear Ron's muffed voice through the door. Harry managed to hear little grunts and moans that appeared to be coming close from the ground. Harry turned the doorknob and pushed opened the door. He was right Ron was on the ground, trying to slither in the direction of the door. Harry laughed and did the counter curse. Ron moaned even louder and struggled to get up. 'I guess I should help him up, it's the least I could do since I did this to him.' Harry thought as he pulled Ron to his feet.
"Bloody hell mate, what you do that for?" Glared Ron; rubbing his back of his head and stretching his joints.
"Sorry Ron. I didn't realize that you, your family, and Hermione were giving me a birthday dinner and that you were suppose to be distracting me." Said Harry sarcastically as he still laughed. "Next time mate, try a different story."
"Yeah, sorry about that Harry. I didn't know you would go off like that." Ron said as he dusted off his cloak. "I mean...some of it was true."
"Hermione told me you tried to kiss her and that she told you 'NO'." Harry said, his smile turning into a frown and as he struggled to keep his anger down.
"Harry, mate. I didn't mean for it to get out of control....Don't get me wrong, I fancy that know-it-all bookworm." Said Ron sighing. "And yet after what happened with the kiss and all, I know that I don't have a chance with her. But you see Harry, I'm not giving up on her and I need your help for that." Harry was astounded, not only did he fancy Hermione too, but now he was asked to help Ron make Hermione fall for him too. Harry considered this for a bit; he knew that no matter how much he fancied Hermione...Ron was his best mate. Harry frown; he knew what he had to do.
"Alright, what's the plan?" Harry asked as he looked at Ron. Ron was ecstatic and mumbled on about what Harry needed to do; not taking notice of Harry whose heart was breaking into pieces.