Love or Infatuation?
By
Cherished Dreams

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.


Chapter Three

I felt like the world didn't exist.

Riding with Harry was one of the best experiences in my life. He didn't ride with me like he would by himself. It made you free but didn't get too far out of hand. He still remembered that I was scared of heights. Harry was right. When you flew, it felt like nothing else mattered. Once we touched back down to Earth, I got off and grinned at him happily. "Oh Harry you must take me flying more. Oh please?" Harry thought about it and then said, "Alright on one condition." I eyed him suspiciously and asked what the condition was. He grinned and ran his hand through his hair before smiling sheepishly. "Help me court Ginny?"


That afternoon after helping Harry with his Transfiguration essay, I smiled humming to the tune of "I Wanna Know", while writing down plans for Harry's wooing process. As another thought came into mind, I scribbled furiously on the piece of parchment I had.

"What's that 'mione?"

Ron's voice behind me said. Not looking up from the parchment, clinging to the plan inside my head, I answered half enthusiastically, "Just something for Harry, Ron." I could practically see him shrugging his shoulders and finding something else to do or someone else to bug, but instead he growled, which surprised me because he sounded like a grim. I looked up to see a few first year students looking at him and then running towards their dormitories, while the other older students shrugged and went back to what they were doing.

Sighing deeply, knowing very well that I had forgotten the other part of the plan that I had been scribbling down, I stood up and stretched. "Are you Ronald Weasley jealous that I'm spending more time with Harry Potter, our best friend? Or is this growling thing another problem, that I am totally unaware of?" I mocked him with a playful tone, a grin on my face, as my eyes scanned the paper in front of me. Satisfied I turned around to face him, his lips were set into a frown, his face and ears red. And that's when I knew that I had touched the issue that he was well.. not quite happy at the moment.

He slumped down in front of the fireplace. I sat next to him and tugged on his robe sleeve. He snuck a glance at me and sighed, staring back into the fire. "I'm just upset because Parvati and I are having a fight about me spending more time with you guys than her." He looked at me and my heart skipped a beat. "Seems like you and Harry are spending lots of time together." His eyes saddened a bit. "Harry and I are just planning something that's all." I said biting my lip, remembering Harry's warning about older brother complexions. He looked at me curiosity seeping through.

"What is it?"

I swallowed nervously, trying to think up something quickly. I had opened my mouth, when Harry came to me rescue and answered, "Quidditch strategies." Harry smiled at me and sat down next to me on the couch. I returned his smile, and turned to Ron half expecting him to ask whether I knew a thing about Quidditch anyway. Instead, he stood up, muttered a lame excuse about spending time with little sisters, and crossed the room to where Ginny was reading a magazine.

I shared a look with Harry and we shrugged. "Well, I'm spending time with my little sister." Harry said with a grin, which I shared. "Got any ideas so far?" I nodded my head and produced the piece of parchment I had been writing on earlier. He smiled and read. "Flowers, take her flying…" He muttered going through the list.

"JEALOUSY?!"

I jumped and whole common room turned their heads towards us. I smiled sweetly and explained that we were fine. Hesitantly, they shifted back to what they were doing and I let out a sigh or relief. Then I whacked Harry across the back of his head. He rubbed it with a sheepish grin on his face but asked seriously, "You're joking right? I mean how does that help me 'mione?" I grinned, my eyes traveling to where Ginny was sitting. "Well let's just say that, before spring is through, you'll have Virginia Weasley as your girlfriend."

Ginny was glancing at us subtly ever now and then, and her brother was staring broodingly at the ceiling. Harry followed my gaze, and blushed when his eyes came into contact with Ginny's. They both turned away and Ginny hid behind her magazine again. Guys were soo dense. I smiled and an idea struck my mind. "Harry, put your arm around my shoulders." He looked at me weirdly before understanding and obliged. I casually rested my head on his shoulder and heard papers being slammed down on a table roughly. It was followed with a rough chair being pushed away angrily and Ron complaining about little sisters as he was dragged out the portrait by his ear.

Harry must have heard it too, because we both burst out laughing and gave each other high-fives.


I could feel someone watching me as I ate my breakfast the next morning. I frowned and Ron asked me what was wrong. I shook my head and told him it was nothing. I continued eating my toast until a familiar sound reached my ears. The mail had arrived. Surprisingly, I had received mail that day other than my weekly subscription of the Daily Prophet. A small ivory-coloured card, had been dropped by my plate and I read it with suspicion and curiosity. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I opened the card.

'You are beautiful, Hermione.'

Heat settled on my cheeks and my heart fluttered. I looked up and scanned the Great Hall. It was when I locked eyes with gray stormy ones, that I knew who had been watching me that morning.



A/N:
hehe.. WHO has stormy gray eyes..!? hmm.. welperz.. looks like this story is going to turn around. But wait! What's up with Ron? Hmm… maybe everything isn't what it seems.. XD e v i l n e s s.. :D eekk..!! sowies for keeping you all for soo long.. No matter.. I'll make it up to you guys by getting the 4th chapter out soon.. Maybe next week..:D It depends on how much criticism I get.