Disclaimer: I own nothing…
A/N: Well, thank you guys for the reviews! *Hugz* Check out my other fic "Unconditional Love" and "Prophecy" … They're a Lily and James fics… Anyway, hope you like this chapter…
"Hermione, I just thought of someone that you forgot to put on the list for the dinner party," Harry said, later that night when he and Hermione were chopping vegetables for salad. Hermione liked to cook the muggle way. The two of them had just gotten back from the grocery store.
"Harry—" Hermione began.
"We didn't even think to invite Trelawney. I think this is a careless mistake on our part. I mean her saying how my death is long overdue would really lighten up the atmosphere." Harry told her sarcastically as he angrily chopped onions. He felt tears rushing to his eyes… Damn onions…
"Harry, would you stop being a prat and go check on the lasagna?" Hermione asked in a cheery voice as she finished shredding the lettuce.
"So, where might Victor be tonight?" Harry asked of Hermione's fiancé as Harry opened the oven door and discovered the lasagna, bubbling pleasantly. The smell it was giving off was making him hungry. His eyes were still tearing up… Damn onions…
"I thought I told you, he's training." Hermione said, slightly annoyed. Harry sighed as he shut the oven door. He really felt that Victor was a bit… Untrustworthy.
"You mean to tell me that he can't apparate here when he's done? Training surely doesn't run all night, does it?" Harry asked. He hated the way Victor was never around. Harry thought Hermione deserved better.
"He's tired after practice." Hermione said shortly. "Can you watch the food? I wanted to zap home to shower and change before dinner."
"Sure… I can't promise it won't burn though," Harry said. He's a horrid cook.
"It won't," Hermione said, taking out her wand, pointing it at the oven, and muttering a spell. "There. I suggest you at least change before dinner."
"What's wrong with the way I look?" Harry asked, annoyed as he looked down at his clothes. He thought he looked fine.
"Harry—" Hermione began in a know-it-all voice. Harry had been fully intending not to cooperate and make this night horrible for everyone involved, but his can't say no to Hermione instincts kicked in.
"Buh-bye," Hermione said and with a crack, she was gone.
Harry glanced at the clock. Twenty to seven. He decided to take Hermione's advice and go change. Not because he wanted to look good, but because his work robes weren't very comfortable. Harry walked into his room and opened his closet. He pulled out a black, long sleeved, button down shirt and a pair of jeans. He changed. A quick glance in the mirror revealed that he looked somewhat decent. After debating for a few seconds, he decided to change into a dark green t-shirt. He then pulled on a pair of trainers. Looking in the mirror revealed that the shirt brought out his eyes. Not that he cared.
Walking out of the bedroom, he looked at the clock. Ten to seven. He decided to pick up in his flat. It was beginning to get quite dirty. He picked up the old newspapers and threw them away. He fluffed the pillows on the couch. He picked up the dishes on the coffee table that may or may not have been growing something. He cleaned them with magic. Looking at the clock revealed that it was five until seven. There was a loud pop. Harry turned around to find Hermione there.
"Oh, good, I was hoping Lexi didn't get here before me. The two of you might tear each other's eyes out." Hermione said with a smile as she walked into the kitchen and took the lasagna out of the oven to check it. She was wearing tight, boot cut blue jeans, a dark red, baby t-shirt and her usual old-school trainers. Her hair was down and perfectly straight. Stupid Victor.
"Shucks. I was hoping to eliminate her tonight," Harry said with disappointment as he got up and followed her towards the kitchen. The food was calling his name.
"She's not a very punctual—" Hermione began. She was cut off by a loud crack.
"Hey guys," Lexi said warmly. She was wearing a blue jean mini skirt, a rather low-cut black peasant top, and spike-heeled, knee high, black boots.
"Nice to see you," Hermione said pleasantly giving Harry a look.
"Hi." Harry said shortly. He didn't have to pretend he didn't want to be here.
"So… What's for dinner?" Lexi asked Hermione looking awkward.
"Butterbeer, salad, lasagna, and chocolate cake for dessert." Hermione said with a smile. "Are you guys ready to eat yet?"
"Sure, it sounds great," Lexi said.
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Why the heck not?" Harry asked. Hermione shot him a look. He stuck his tongue out at her. Hermione cursed the dishes to fly to the table. Harry, Lexi, and Hermione all sat down at the small, circular table in the kitchen; he didn't have a dining room. After a couple of minutes of awkward silence—which Lexi didn't seem to notice—Hermione tried to make conversation.
"So, Lexi… How do you like the auror training program so far?" Hermione asked, smiling.
"It's… Interesting… Harry's a good teacher," Lexi responded. Harry grunted and helped himself to some bread. He was never much for salad; this one had onions… Damn onions…
"So… Anyone got any interesting stories?" Hermione asked, visibly trying to keep the conversation going. Harry and Lexi just stared at her blankly.
"No, but I've got a question." Harry told Hermione.
"Um… Ok… Shoot." Hermione said.
"What do you get when you—" Harry began. He loved this joke which involved a hippogriff mating with a thestral and their semi-visible offspring.
"So, Hermione, I hear you're engaged?" Lexi asked, cutting Harry off. Harry grunted, that had been one of his better riddles. He wasn't a very funny guy and had been reading the comics in hopes of finding a couple of jokes.
"Yes," Hermione said, beaming as she brought her forkful of lasagna to her mouth.
"Is it to Harry?" Lexi asked, looking towards Harry as though expecting him to blow up. He, in turn, began viciously cutting the lasagna with a knife, imagining Lexi's head on the plate.
"I thought I told you… We're not dating." Harry told her, now annoyed that she had ruined his joke and didn't listen to him in class.
"His names Victor Krum," Hermione said, still beaming and ignoring Harry's comment.
"That sounds really familiar," Lexi said with a confused look on her face as she cut the lasagna, calmly. Harry took a deep breath and began counting to ten in his head.
"Oh, you know who he is, but not me," Harry muttered under his breath; he had gotten sidetracked at four.
"Perhaps you've heard of him… He's a professional quidditch player," Hermione said… surprisingly enough, she was STILL beaming as she ate her bread. Harry wondered if it was hard to beam and eat at the same time.
"That must be it. I simply adore quidditch. What position does he play?" Lexi asked with interest.
"Seeker. Harry loves quidditch too," Hermione added.
"Really?" Lexi said, turning to Harry who was currently attempting to see how long he could go without opening his mouth. "You like quidditch?" Harry grunted, trying very hard not to open his mouth.
"Harry—" Hermione began with a look of warning.
"Have you played?" Lexi asked. Harry grunted as though she should know.
"Tiny bit," Harry said sarcastically, annoyed that his please Hermione instincts had ruined his no speaking game.
"Harry—" Hermione warned.
"What did you play?" Lexi asked seemingly oblivious to the bad vibes Harry was sending her.
"Seeker," Harry said shortly. He was now trying to see how long he could go with using one word answers.
"Were you any good?" Lexi asked, looking interested.
"Bit," Harry responded. He was now two for two in the one word answer category. He was quite proud of this accomplishment. He smiled to himself smugly and congratulated himself. Right before he could pat himself on the back--
"You're being modest Harry," Hermione argued. Harry grunted in response. "He played for our house team. Only lost two games in seven years. He was the youngest player in a century. He's quite a bit better than my fiancé." Harry raised his eyebrows in disbelief; Hermione was STILL beaming.
"Wow, my personal favorite position is beater," Lexi told them. Harry snorted... He didn't mean it to come off as an insult. "I'm sorry, Harry, you seem to have some sort of problem with me."
"What would give you that idea?" Harry asked. Damn, he broke his streak. Damn Lexi wasn't good for anything!
"Well, you've been very short with me all night." Lexi answered, raising her eyebrow.
"Cake, anyone?" Hermione asked, trying to avoid argument. "It's really yummy."
"No, I'm a man of few words," Harry told her with a fake smile, ignoring Hermione.
"When you don't like someone, you sure as heck are." Lexi said with a fake smile. Hermione looked defeated.
"Do you have any liquor in the house, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking depressed.
"What ever gave you the idea I didn't like you?" Harry asked, ignoring Hermione who was now frantically searching Harry's cabinets for what he could only assume was liquor.
"Hmmm, let me see—" Lexi began. Harry felt anger boiling inside of him. He tried to push it down. He tried to count to ten.
"You see, to not like you would mean that I cared enough to think about you and figure out that I don't like you and I simply don't care enough to give it a second thought." Harry said. There went the bubbling anger he had tried to push down.
"You think pretty highly of yourself, don't you?" Lexi asked looking across the table at him in annoyance.
"Not nearly as highly as you think of yourself," Harry said shortly with a fake smile.
"Oh, my, look at the time. Harry must be getting to bed before he makes a complete ass of himself." Hermione said shooting a dark look at Harry. Harry shrugged in response.
"Yes, I should be going," Lexi said, standing up. "See you Monday, Harry. Hermione, thank you so much for inviting me. I had a splendid time and the food was superb."
"Thank you so much for coming! I'm sorry if Harry's been a bit of an ass. He is one. It's hard for him to pretend for extended periods of time that he's not." Hermione said apologetically. Harry looked at her.
"Hello, still here," Harry said, annoyed.
"Goodbye, thanks," Lexi said and with a pop she was gone. Harry knew that it was coming to him now. Maybe he could avoid it by stunning himself…
"I ask you to do one thing! One thing! You can't even attempt to be nice for one night!" Hermione screamed at Harry. Harry sighed, his head told him to argue back, but his heart told him that he was wrong and that he should not disappoint Hermione.
"Hermione—I—I'm sorry." Harry apologized.
"Don't apologize to me, you prat, apologize to her!" Hermione said. Yeah… When pigs fly…
"I will, next time I see her," Harry said, trying to smooth things over.
"You'd better! I have to go," Hermione said, looking sad and mad at the same time.
"Good-bye," Harry said, standing up and giving her a hug.
"Goodnight," Hermione said and disapparated leaving him hugging air.
Harry sat down on the couch and thought about what he had just gotten himself into. It was all because of his need to please Hermione. When had that started? "When her boyfriend stopped pleasing her" A little voice in Harry's head told him. Harry was not very fond of Victor, but had no reason to suspect that Victor was not good to Hermione other than the fact that he was rarely around, but that didn't seem to bother Hermione very much. A loud popping noise caused Harry to turn around.
"Sorry, I left my purse," Lexi said, picking her purse up of the chair. Harry had promised Hermione he'd apologize next time he saw her. Harry wanted to leave it until Monday, but the little, good voice in his head—that had been speaking in Hermione's voice for years now—told Harry that he had to apologize now.
"I'm sorry I was such an ass tonight," Harry apologized. Lexi looked at him in surprise.
"Is the great Harry Potter admitting he was wrong?" Lexi asked, much to Harry's annoyance.
"Don't rub it in," Harry said.
"I accept I suppose," Lexi said.
"Ok, then, goodbye, I guess," Harry said.
"Later," Lexi said and with a pop, she was gone.
~~Hope you liked this chapter!! Now go review!!~~
Potterchick1~My most loyal reviewer!! Hugz and thanks for always reviewing no matter how much that chapter/story sucks!
Shh2010~I have my reasons for killing Ron… You'll see, it's part of the plot… Hope the dinner party lived up…
Hpfan5244~I hate Cho… Well, I don't hate her, I just hate she and Harry together… Harry will eventually lighten up, once he finishes being an ass
Katarina Phillippe~I'm glad I wrote the Ron thing well… You'll find out why Harry thinks it's his fault… I know Lexi is cocky, but she's not as bad in this chap, it's more Harry who's cocky… Hope the dinner party lived up! Thanx for putting me on your favs!
Ginny_24~Thanks!
Learning Disability~Thanks!
MetallicVerb~I never thought Hermione would become an auror either, it's just crucial to the plot that she and Harry see each other every day… Yeah, I love that Harry finally has someone who isn't all going out of their way to be nice… As for Victor-Hermione… wait and see…