disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter, please hold all charges.

Thanks to all who are still reading. Im so sorry it took me this long to update. I never thought I would be away this long but school does take up alot of my time and I'm very busy on the weekends with other things. Im trying my best to make time for my ff but it's proving to be very difficult. Im not going to quit writing it, Im just warning you it might be a while before Im able to update. Thanks again to all who still read and support, my uber thanks to you all.

I usually thank all my reviewers for their reviews and comments but I really can't tonight. I really wish I could but if I do theres no telling how long it will be before I update. My computer changes it's mind every few minutes. It's decided to like me for now so please forgive me in not thanking you all for your support. I really do appreciate it and I feel horrible about not thanking each and every one of you but like I said, it's impossible for me now. I will thank you in the next chapter. Please forgive me!

This chapter was changed several times before it was suitable enough to be posted. It isn't one of my favorite chapters and I know it's crappy but it's okay for now. It will get me to the next chapter anyways. And for all of you who are anxious for Harry and Hermione to make up, I think you'll get a hint at the end of this chapter.

chapter twenty...Something Romantic?

Harry slowly made his way back to the castle, still shocked at what just happened.

I can't believe I almost kissed her..

Just then Harry ran into something. Looking up, he stared into the face of Professor Lupin.

"Hey, Harry," he greeted.

"Sorry Professor..:" Harry mumbled.

Lupin smiled down at Harry."Since when did you start calling me Professor? Makes me sound old."

"Sorry Moony," Harry corrected himself. He was just about to walk off when Lupin called him back.

"Harry, is something bothering you? You look upset?"

Harry was on the verge of telling him 'nothing' and continuing up the stairs. He just wanted to be alone so he could think for a while, work everything out. But he felt a need to talk to Lupin. Harry sighed.

"What isn't the matter?" he asked.

Lupin chuckled. "Nothing a cup of tea couldn't cure," he said, starting off to his office.

Harry followed. "In the middle of the day? Shouldn't we have like...I dunno...something besides tea...don't you ever get tired of tea? I mean, once you start drinking it, just one little sip, just to try it out, it gets attracted to you and it won't leave you alone when you didn't even mean for it to get attached in the first place when all you wanted was to stick with your good old pumpkin juice and-"

"I take it this has more to do than tea and pumpkin juice?"

Harry grumbled as he climbed the stairs.

"It wouldn't have anything to do with Hermione would it?" Lupin asked.

"How'd you know?" Harry asked in a monotone voice. He really didn't care how Lupin knew. Everyone probably knew.

"Lucky guess. It also helped that you were staring at her the whole class period the other day and didn't pay attention to a word I said," Lupin said.

"Yeah well if she won't talk to me I guess I'll look at her from a distance.." Harry muttered.

Lupin chuckled. Harry shot an angry look at him.

"What?" he asked. But Lupin just continued up the stairs.

"What?" Harry persisted.

Finally they arrived at Lupin's office. Lupin reached out his hand for the handle but the door opened before he had a chance to open it himself. Professor Vonnel stood before them, a barn owl on her arm.

"Oh! Lupin, Im so sorry! I came by your office to drop off your letter. It was delivered to me by mistake..but you weren't in your office so I dropped it on your desk..I hope that's alright.."

Lupin smiled warmly at her."Of course it's alright. Won't you come in for a cup of tea? Harry and I were just about to have a cup."

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to intrude-"

"But I insist-"

"No, I would really like to but I can't..Professor McGonogall is expecting me in her office...but maybe later? I would like to take you up on the offer," she said.

Lupin smiled."Of course. Another time."

"Soon," she added.

"Soon," he agreed.

"Alright then. I'll be seeing you soon..goodday Lupin..Harry.."

Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked down the corridor. Harry turned to face Lupin, his eyebrows raised.

"What?" asked Lupin, turning to go inside the office.

Harry snorted."Of course it's alright. Won't you come in for a cup of tea?" Harry said. "Could you be any more obvious?"

Lupin rolled his eyes as he searched the office for cups. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled.

"Really Moony, how are you suppose to help me with my problems if you don't realize what's going on in your own life?" Harry asked, sitting down.

"If you're talking about Lori-"

"On first name terms are we?" Harry propped his feet on the ottoman.

"-then you're being ridiculous. There's nothing going on. I was simply being friendly-"

"And Grawp actually knows how to be civilized," Harry said.

"As a matter of fact how is he? I haven't had a chance to talk to Hagrid about him. Did he ever-"

"Don't try to change the subject. It won't work. Now, back to Lori-"

"Professor Vonnel,"

"Let's not get defensive-I don't need someone else going at me-"

"Aren't we here to discuss your problems?"

"That's besides the point-"

"Oh is it? How so?"

"That was before I knew about you and Miss Vonnel,"

"There is no 'me and Miss Vonnel'. Our relationship is strictly bussiness," said Lupin.

Harry gave him a long hard look. Then, shrugging his shoulders he said,"Fine. If you don't want to tell me then you don't have to."

"Thank you," said Lupin. He pushed Harry's cup of tea across the desk. They sat in silence for a minute drinking their tea. Then Harry looked across at Lupin, his eyebrow cocked in a seductive way and said, "I'll be seeing you soon, Professor Lupin."

"Oh really Harry!"

"Alright!" Harry said. "But you know it was funny..."

Lupin rolled his eyes. Then after a moment he changed the subject.

"So, about you and Hermione.."

"I don't want to talk about it," Harry took a sip of his tea.

"Oh really? You were so keen to talk a minute ago.."

Harry stared moodily at his cup.

"It's not my fault she won't talk to me,"he said finally. "I don't know what to do. How can I make it up to her if I don't know what I did? I don't like fighting with her. But how am I suppose to get her to talk to me? Curse her?"

Lupin looked at him a while before answering. "Harry, do you know why Hermione isn't talking to you?"

Harry shook his head.

"You know your father was the same way. He tried for ages to get Lily to talk to him but she ignored him for years before they started dating."

"I'm not asking to date Hermione. I just want her to talk to me," said Harry.

Lupin continued as if he hadn't heard his remark. "I think Lily did find something attractive about your father but for the longest time she wouldn't admit it. Even though she did dispise him for his arrogance and the pride he took in causing caos. He always acted so stupid around her, always trying to show off. It got on her nerves and I don't blame her. But your father wouldn't give up. He could've had any girl at Hogwarts and I think that made Lily jealous sometimes. But she needn't worry. James was taken with her, and she him. It just took them long enough to realize how perfect they were for each other."

"How did he do it? I mean, how did he finally get her to date him?" Harry asked. He was always wanting to find out more about his parent's past, since he knew them for so little time.

Lupin smiled."He finally started to pick up his act a little bit. It killed him, but he would've done anything for Lily. It drove Sirius crazy. He thought he was losing his partner in crime along with a best friend when your father started acting like a good boy. But he did it. He proved to your mother he could be charming as well as a prankster. I think he had Lily from the beginning but she never would admit her feelings for him because of his attitude about things. But fate took hold in the end. All it took was for James to act his age and a few romantic acts for Lily swept her off her feet."

Harry sat considering this for a moment. He opened and closed his mouth several times as if he wanted to talk but nothing came out. Seeing his confused face, Lupin spoke.

"Harry, I think Hemione's just jealous," he said.

At this comment, Harry looked at Lupin and started laughing."Jealous?Jealous? Are you kidding me? What's she got to be jealous about?"

"Harry, I know you're not that thick. Hermione's only human. She can't help but get a little angry when she sees you and Alexa spend time together when it use to be you and her. I think she's worried she's losing you aganist her and it's scaring her."

Harry stared at Lupin.

"Hermione, jealous?" he asked. "Of me and Alexa? Jealous?"

"I'm glad to see you're finally getting the picture," Lupin said.

Harry just sat there. "I think you've gone totally bonkers. Hermione isn't jealous of me and Alexa. There is no me and Alexa to begin with so there's nothing to be jealous about. She's just mad because....well, I don't know what she's mad about but I'll figure it out."

But the more Harry thought about it the more it made sense. Hermione was fine before Harry and Alexa started hanging out. But ever since then, she had been mad at him. Could it be true? Was Hermione mad at Harry for seeing Alexa? But if she was jealous, then wouldn't that mean she liked Harry? As more than a friend? But this is Hermione we're talking about, he told himself. We're best friends..she doesn't like me. But just the thought of Hermione liking him made Harry smile. Could it be true? Could she like him?

Lupin saw the apparent smile on Harry's face. "See what I mean? She's just jealous, that's all. Then again you can't blame her because you get the same way-"

"Wait a minute! You're not saying I like Hermione, are you? Now that's bonkers. I don't like Hermione. That's crazy. We're just friends, that's all. Too much tea, that's your problem. Way too much tea," Harry said as he set his cup down on the desk.

"Whatever you say," Lupin said from behind his cup. "So how are you going to get her to forgive you?"

Harry considered this. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it. I mean, I want to talk to her.,but how are you suppose to apologize for someone's jealously?"

Lupin looked at him seriously."Don't tell her you know she's jealous. In fact, she may not be, but that's how I figure it. You can't just go up to her and apologize for making her jealous either. Women take this kind of thing very seriously. You have to let her know you're really sorry. Don't just tell her, let her know. They're very sentimental, women are. Something sweet goes a long way with them. They love all the romantic mush."

"How am I suppose to do that? I've never done anything like this before-I don't know what to do!" Harry said.

Lupin thought for a moment. "Back in our seventh year, Lily accused your father of cheating on her with a Ravenclaw girl when she found the two of them in a deserted classroom. Your father hadn't known the girl had planned it all along but it still upset your mother greatly when she walked in on them. She refused to talk to James after that. Then your father filled her dormitory with white lilys' and he begged for her forgiveness. She forgave him but she still teased him about it afterwards."

Harry had his eyebrow's raised. "Dad was caught cheating on mom?"

"It seemed that way to Lily. James knew the Ravenclaw girl had a crush on him but he didn't think she'd go as far as to what she did to try to make him go out with her. But after he apologized to Lily it was all okay. Your father was quite the charmer. No girl could stay angry at him for long, not even Lily. Now Sirius was a different story," Lupin started to chuckle. "He would be caught with two or three girls who claimed he was theirs. Never alone Sirius was. He was quite the Romeo too. He and James were quite the heartbreakers back in the day."

Harry sat thinking for a bit until he looked up at Lupin."Romance?"

"They love it. Any woman does," he confirmed.

"Sentimental mush?"

Lupin nodded.

"Right. Well, I'd better be going. Thinking of something romantic might take a bit of thought I suppose." Harry stood. "Thanks Lupin. And tell Miss Vonnel I said 'hi'." he called as he walked out the door. Lupin smiled as he watched him climb the stairs. "Just like his father," he muttered as he closed the door.

Harry lay face down on his four poster bed, thinking of something that would persuade Hermione that he was sorry for all that happened. Hermione meant alot to him, and losing her would mean alot to him. So how does he make her see this? How can he prove to her she means something to him? He racked his brain but nothing came to mind. He wished his father or Sirius were here to tell him what to do. Or even his mother. Anyone.

Harry rolled over and looked at the ceiling, thinking.

"Come on Harry...something simple..something romantic...it can't be that hard.." he told himself.

And then he had it.

Harry jumped out of bed and looked outside. The sun was nearly setting, darkness was almost dominant. Dinner would be served soon.

"Good, there's still time.." he muttered and stood up, running for the door.

Sorry it wasn't that long but school is very time consuming and I do have a lot of other things that take up my weekends and afternoons. But Im trying to make time for my fanfic. I just installed an anti-virus for my computer so hopefully it will start working properly. I just suffered a major writer's block for a while, as you all know. I had a whole other chapter besides this one for chapter twenty and I absolutly hated it so I didn't post it. This chapter was hard to write because I didn't know where to go from the last chapter. This isn't a very good chapter but I had to post something. It will do for now, I hope, and keep my readers with me until the next chapter. Im so sorry guys for making you all wait this long but you must understand how hard it is to work with a busy schedule and a retarded computer. I can't apologize enough for your patience. Thanks for reading,

Ashton