Disclaimer: None of the character except Bethany belong to me.
Ginny stood in the centre of the room staring at the three Hogwarts students. She shook her head, how on earth could they have let it get to this stage. She could not work out who she was most surprised at, Hermione for coming up with the plan in the first place or the boys for their reaction to it. She did feel a little sorry for Neville who had been porn in Hermione and Harry's little game. Why the pair of them just could not get together she did not understand.
"Right who wants to go first? I think the best way to sort this out is to talk about it and say how you feel."
Ginny glanced around the circle. Neville looked like he was going to be sick, his face had turned an awful green colour. Harry rolled his eyes. Why did Ginny have to stick her nose in? She saw him doing this and was not impressed.
"Right Harry you obviously want to go first."
Harry snorted, not likely he thought.
"Now Harry!"
He jumped up shocked by the force in her voice. For a moment she had sounded like her mother and everybody knew it was not wise to cross Mrs Weasley. Harry reluctantly took his place in the centre of the room. He had not felt this embarrassed since Ron had turned his hair pink and he had been forced to attend lessons including potions. Snape had of course teased him about it for weeks and Malfoy had also used the event as yet another excuse to dig at him.
Ron was nearly at the common room when he heard talking. He was sure that it was Bethany but the other voice; well he was sure that it was Draco. He poked his head out from round the corner and he could see the pair of them deep in conversation. So that had been why she had not met him she had had another run in with Draco. He felt a little better inside. He had been wondering if perhaps she had found someone else. This feeling was however to be replaced with despair as he continued to watch the pair. Rather than fighting they were now kissing. Ron could not contain his anger and rushed out from his hiding place. The pair pulled apart and looked startled.
"Ron what are you doing here?"
Bethany's face was bright red and she moved away from Draco. Draco was smirking and Ron rushed over to push him but he was to fast and tripped him up. As Ron fell to the ground he dragged Draco down with him. The pair began to scrap on the floor neither being able to get their wands. Bethany stood back; she was slightly amused at the thought of two boys fighting for her attention. The truth was she did not really want to go out with either of them. As they continued to scrap it was obvious that if she did not do anything one of them would be seriously hurt.
Harry stood tall. If he had to do this he was going to do it properly.
"Hermione I was a tiny bit jealous when you started seeing but if it's him you want to be with..."
He sniggered slightly, much to the annoyance of both Hermione and Ginny.
"Then I won't stand in your way."
He smiled; there he had said it. If Hermione really wanted to be with Neville then who was he to stand in her way? He was however bluffing and could not think of anything worse than Hermione and Neville as a couple. After all Neville had taken on his place in the team, his intended girlfriend, next he would probably be defeating Voldemort.
Hermione wanted to believe Harry but at the same time she longed for him to admit that he wanted her to split up with Neville. A few hours ago he had been trying to split them up what had changed so dramatically?
"Well Harry you certainly did a good job of trying to split Neville and I up for someone who doesn't care!"
She jumped up suddenly feeling very angry. Ginny stood between the pair. She suddenly felt very small. Neville, who for the vast majority of the time had been cowering in his chair, jumped up to assist her.
"Lets all try and calm down."
Harry was mad with Neville why did have to take on all the blame. After all Neville had wanted to dump Hermione for Ginny. Perhaps it was time Ginny found out.
"Ginny I think Neville has something to tell you and Hermione."
Both Ginny and Hermione looked perplexed, what on earth could Neville have to say to them? Neville on the other hand knew exactly what Harry was talking about and began to shake.
"Go on Neville tell them,"
Bethany pulled out her wand and prepared to separate the boys. She stood staring for a few more seconds and wondered exactly why so many girls wanted boys to fight over them. It was amusing for the first few minutes but it soon got boring. She muttered a few words under her breath and the boys separated. Both looked a little startled.
"Look I'm flattered and all but I'm not really in to this kind of attention. If the pair of you don't mind I'm going to my common room now."
She began to walk away. Ron and Draco looked at each other with surprise then both headed off towards her.
"Hang on just a minute I think you have a bit of explaining to do to both of us."
Bethany turned, slightly amused by the situation. She did like to play with people. She raised her eyebrows waiting for a response from one of the boys.
"Look her missy."
She sniggered at Draco's use of the term "missy". He on the other hand was not amused.
"You've stringed us both along and now you're going to dump us. What are you up to?"
She exhaled slowly not really wanting to have to explain to the boys what she had been doing.
"I didn't lead either of you on. Ron I promised to help you with your work, which I will tomorrow. And Draco I kissed you because my boyfriend dared me too, I never promised you a happy ending. He owes me three chocolate frogs now and I'm going to go and claim them."
She left the two boys alone in the corridor to ponder what she had just said. A boyfriend, but Ron had been sure she was single. Still on the bright side she had only been kissing Draco for a bet. That made him feel much better. Draco could tell what Ron was thinking and he was not impressed.
"If you tell anyone and I mean anyone about this Weasley and I will kill you!" he snarled and walked off leaving Ron alone in the corridor.
All eyes were on Neville who tried to back away. He stumbled into an armchair. Ginny approached him first.
"Really Neville it's okay just tell us."
She was sure that what ever it was could not be that bad. Neville swallowed, he would never get a better chance to let her know how he felt.
"Ginny the truth is I…I…"
He began to stutter, angry with himself he accidentally shouted.
"Ginny it's you I want to be with not Hermione!"
Ginny's faced turned scarlet and Neville's green. The pair of them ran out of the room in different directions leaving Hermione and Harry alone. The silence seemed to last for a lifetime, neither knowing what to say to the other. Both were slightly shocked at what had just taken place. Hermione decided that she should break the silence, as most of the mess had been her fault and Harry had actual been telling the truth for a change.
"Look Harry I didn't mean for any of this to happen everything just got out of and well…I never meant it to"
Harry let her stew for a few moments. He wanted her to feel guilty but at the same time he knew that it was his fault as well, well only a tiny bit, the vast majority had been her fault. There again at least she had admitted to it.
"I understand and I accept your apology."
Hermione smiled and waited for Harry to apologise to her. She would be waiting a long time, as he had no intention of saying he was sorry.
Ron walked back to the common room. He was very confused by the whole thing. At least she had not decided to go out with Draco but still he was upset. He had really liked her and she had trampled over his feelings. He smiled to himself; she had trampled over Draco's feeling too. Ron entered the common room just as his sister went rushing past him. She looked bright red but she also had a giant grin on her face. He shook his head, the youth of today His friends evening could not have been as eventful as his.
Hermione and Harry were about to embark on a long and rather embarrassing conversation when Ron entered the room. They both sighed; sometimes the boy did have a purpose. Harry glanced at the clock and was shocked to see how late it was.
"Right guys I'm heading to bed."
Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement. The three friends headed to bed. It had been a long day and they all needed to sleep. Harry wondered if he and Hermione would ever actually get together. Perhaps it was just not meant to be but then again perhaps the time just was not right yet. He smiled at least he still had her as a friend. There was plenty of time for other things to develop. Ron had decided that the whole idea of love was a pointless waste of time and that he would certainly never fall in love with a girl. It was silly and it got in the way of other things. No he would concentrate on quidditch and other vitally important things. Hermione decided that she was far too tired to think about anything and instead went straight off to sleep. If she had been in the common room she would have seen a very red faced Ginny sneaking back in.
Authors note: Should I carry on a new story with Neville and Ginny or leave it?
