The hilarity ensues...

Chapter 3: Rain, rain, go away

"Hermione, welcome back! We just got in and-OH MY GOD!" Ron yelped as they all piled in and saw Hermione and Neville on the bed. "Wha- who-"

"Damn Hermione, I knew you weren't a nun but still..." Ginny trailed off, inspecting Neville with her eyes. "Well, at least he's hot."

Ron was still sputtering as Harry spoke up. The Twins couldn't talk, being as they were rolling on the floor laughing their heads off.

"Maybe we should leave you alone right now...You look a little busy."

At this the Twins roared, clenching their stomachs.

"NO, no, this isn't what it looks like! I was just helping him and- and..."

"Helping? Is that what you call it?" Ginny said teasingly.

Hermione struggled to get off of Neville but the blanket was pulled tight. She apparated off of Neville, only to stand in front of all of them without a shirt on. Ron suddenly shut up and the Twins stopped laughing. All were staring goggle eyed at her chest, even Neville on the bed. She screamed and apparated into the bathroom. Merlin's beard, what must they be thinking of me !?

Out in the bedroom, Neville was trying to do damage control. When she had apparated off of him, he was only mildly startled, but when she had stood there without a shirt on, his jaw dropped. Sure he had been staring at breasts moments earlier, but that was his imagination supplying the images. It was a whole different story when they were right in front of you in real life.

"Uh- Hi Harry, Ron, um, I guess you guys would like to sit down." Neville gestured toward the chairs by the window. Being nervous, his voice shook. Harry suddenly looked at him with recognition on his face.

"NEVILLE?!" He yelped as it hit that this was the guy that Hermione had been on top of. Hermione was shacking up with Neville? Ron's eyes popped out as he realized who it was and Ginny gasped, as she too realized that this handsome stranger was none other than Neville Longbottom. Fred and George took one look at his face and they went into hysterics again.

"So uh, how long have you guys been together? Hermione hasn't mentioned you in any of her owls. Why did you guys want to keep it a secret?" Harry asked.

"What?! I don't know what you guys are thinking, but I would never get together with Hermione!" Neville cried.

Harry looked at him, offended. "So, what? Are you using her?! Is that why you and she didn't say anything?" He took a menacing step towards Neville and raised his wand.
"What, do you think Hermione's not good enough for you? Is that it?!"

Neville stumbled back and he realized that his wand was still on the chair where he had left it.

"Uh, no...No I didn't mean it that way, I was just-"

"Oh I see, you guys got together and you didn't tell us because you wanted to surprise us!" Ginny interrupted Neville. "How romantic!"

"What! I - uh, I think I better get Hermione." Neville started towards the bathroom, only to be interrupted by Ginny.

"No need, we'll leave you two alone to finish up things," Ginny said as she winked at him.

Neville gaped at her, stunned that they thought he and Hermione were an item. Ginny ushered all the guys out of the room, Fred and George already running out the door for fear of wetting their pants. This was the funniest thing that had ever seen! Ron was still sputtering and Harry looked like the proverbial older brother who had discovered his little sister making out with her boyfriend and ready to kick some ass. Ginny gave Neville one last wink as the door shut.

Neville stood there stunned as the previous moments were replayed in his head. When Hermione came out of the bathroom with a new shirt one, he did something he shouldn't have. He took one look at her and started laughing hysterically. The absurdity of the past moments got to him and he laughed as he thought about how everyone downstairs must now think, thanks to Ginny Weasley, that he was Hermione's boyfriend. The thing he wanted the most as a teenager had now happened and he didn't even know how to react.

Hermione, however, was NOT amused. First she set herself on fire and then she flashed her best friends and Fred and George. If that wasn't bad enough, then, when she came out of the bathroom looking decent, Neville had the nerve to laugh at her. It was too much and she reacted irrationally.

The muggle in her took over and she tackled him down, slapping and punching him. She forgot about his muscles though, and she was easily pinned.

"Hermione! Calm down. I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at something else!"

"Fine, whatever! Let me up now!" Hermione ground out between clenched teeth. She had been having a bad day and this wasn't helping. She bit her lip to stop the sudden tears that welled up from frustration. And all she wanted to do today was read her book! Instead she had been laughed at, burned, and humiliated.

Neville saw the sudden tears and immediately felt contrite. He didn't mean to laugh at her, he was just feeling...well, it was funny when you thought about it. He wiped away her tears.

"Hermione, don't cry! I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, it was something else." He turned her face towards him and stared into her eyes. "I would never laugh at you or make you feel bad. Please, stop crying."

"I'm sorry! It's just that, I was laughed at and I wanted hic-to read and you shouldn't have be-hiccup-een staring at my boobs, an-hiccup-and then I flashed Harry and Ron!" she wailed.

"Shh, it's okay. Don't worry. I'm sure they were too shocked to really look. At least you were wearing a bra...sort of. It was only semi-burnt off." Neville consoled Hermione as she wailed even more. He didn't want Hermione crying. But it seemed that everything he did made her cry harder!

Hermione let out the whole day's frustrations. It had started even before she caught Neville staring at her chest. She had given her report to the Phoenix Council and had been questioned. That had been an ordeal because she had seen Kevin there. Sure she knew he was in the Order but it still hurt every time she saw him and remembered how much she loved him. And then at the end when she had said "Hello", he had stared at her and left without a word. That cut her deeply.

Neville's hands stroked her face as she finished sobbing. An occasional hiccup would escape but at least there were no more tears. He smiled at her and when she smiled back, a tad watery, he couldn't help himself. He reached his head down and he brushed his lips over hers.

Hermione was shocked. As his lips swept over hers, she gave in and closed her eyes to intensify the feelings he stirred. The tip of her tongue invaded his mouth and Neville moaned in the back of his throat. Hermione knew she shouldn't lead Neville on, but it felt so good. His hands wandered down her side, sliding beneath her shirt to feel her satiny skin.

Suddenly she pulled away. They stared at each other as they gasped for air.

"Neville, I can't do this. I-I have to go now." And with that she apparated out from beneath him.

Neville hit the floor and hurt a vital part of his anatomy. Great, what had he done now? He rolled onto his back and sighed. Well, he'd talk to her when she came back.

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Hermione walked in the rain, feeling confused. She still loved Kevin but when Neville had kissed her, she felt something that she never felt before. Was it just lust? Powerful, powerful lust? Or could something start between them? She sighed. Well, when she got back, she'd talk to him.

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YAY! I finished Chapter 3!! PLEEZ PLEEZ PLEEZ Review! How else am I supposed to get better and how will I know if I need to make it steamier? I take requests!