A/N: Does anyone know the best time to post to generate the most reviews? Fridays? Saturdays? Evenings? Afternoons? Not that I'm not receiving enough- 47 reviews total for 4 chapters from WONDERFUL, MAGNIFICENT, EXCELLENT, FANTASTIC readers! To all those who reviewed chapter four, a huge, deliciouschocolate chip cookie! (Sry the folowing is abit long- please don't complain about it and get my story removed!)
LadySimone123- Yes, I am waiting for the perfect moment for everyone's favorite witch and wizard to share their first kiss (I also want to continue writing this fiction for a long time, and the chapter in which they finally snog would have to be one of the last, which would sadden me greatly since I've had such a blast writing this story!). As for shoe sizes? It's a size nine in England (though I didn't plan that, it would make her feet even smaller- size 7-by our American standards!). Love ya lots, "Miss S"- one of my good friends!
Phillyactress- I agree one hundred percent- Hermione is way OOC at times- but there is an reason for my madness- in the actual book series, though JK Rowling is an excellent, talented writer, all we see of 'Mione is one side- a bookish, clever, bushy-haired witch. However, impressions can be misleading- we never learn her thoughts or her other possible "face." Almost everyone can have two different personalities perhaps this is Hermione's wild, sassy side. I love believing that she isn't as stuffy and goody-goody (no offense meant at all- she's one of my fave characters and I can totally relate to her bookish, slightly nerd, know-it-all personality) as she appears to be sometimes in the books. Thanks to a loyal, encouraging reviewer who provides a bit of excellent constructive criticisim which I desperately need!
suckr4romance81789- Thank you very much; I love endearing compliments! (By the way, I read your profile and have to agree that Ron and Hermione totally belong together (and I'm easily a angered by HHr romances)- Harry and Hermione dating would be INCEST!)
TheDaughterOfKings- I'm happy you like the other side of Hermione and Percy- I strongly believe that somewhere, inside of the two, those "fun" personalities are struggling to break free from their confines in the actual book series! Thanks for the great review! (By the way, an excellent poem, "Smile": All LOTR fans, read and review this beautiful literary work, written by TheDaughterOfKings!)
aishteru- Mmwwhaha! (evil laugh!) Just for that question I will make them never, ever kiss and instead Harry and Hermione will snog! Just kidding, of course. Thanks!
I AM EOWYN- Your stories are very good, too! Thanks for the great compliments- you are an excellent writer! I'm thrilled you found this story to your liking.
EponineWeasley- So am I! The next installment is here, in (ahem) all of its...humorous? glory.
Robyn- So close, yet no kiss! Hermione is all for praising Percy for his great timing- who'd want to share her first kiss with the object of her affections in front of an audience? Penelope (and his siblings) have taught him well in how relationships work- pity he can't find a girl of his own!
Alli-Baby- You gotta luv Percy- their first good snog can't be the result of a dare- it has to be a romantic, sweet moment of tender kisses! Love your story about George/Tonks: Are you going to ever update it? Thank you very much to one of my most loyal reviewers, a gal who has been there since the beginning!
LaraPotter- (Blushing) I don't deserve such great praise!Thanks anyways- you rock! I'm happy you think so highly of my story!
scubagurl- An excellent suggestion, but I'm trying to keep the whole story from just one point of view- Miss Granger. Thanks for pointing this out, though!
MysteryALASKA- I'm hurrying...I'm hurrying! I cranked this out as quickly as possible- hope you enjoy it and good luck with the new story you posted today- I'm going to read it right after I load this chapter!
NeVeRmInD2- Flair Verona- you don't know how much a sweet review like this means to me! Two extra-large cookies to you- glad you're enjoying this story!
My jaw dropped at the enormous amount of people standing in a large knot that came into view as I struggled to keep up the fast pace Ron and Harry set walking – perhaps sprinting in their case- down the stairs. Blimey, you would think those two never were fed in their life!
"Membership has really grown," I whispered happily to Ron, noticing more than a few unfamiliar faces and some new but recognizable. Nearly half the Hogwarts staff was in the secret organization - Flitwick, Sprout, Hooch, Sinistra- even the stern librarian, Madame Pince- had joined.
"Pork roast," Ron drooled almost deliriously.
"Almost there, Ronald. Almost there," I patted his arm soothingly as a few greetings came our way as we passed the group of chatting witches and wizards.
"Hello Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley," Professor Flitwick acknowledged us jovially in his high-pitched voice.
"Good evening, professor," I answered for all of us, seeing as certain males in our little traveling party were occupied with thoughts of other matters.
By the time the interminable, exhausting journey to the kitchen was finished, Harry and I were supporting Ron on either side.
"Ronald dear, are you all right?" his Mum asked distractedly, attempting to silence a loudly whistling pot of boiling water, remove the pork roast from the oven (A/N: Who says witches can't use stoves?), and yank the currently burning vat of mashed potatoes off of the burner all at the same time.
"Here, Molly. I'll lend you a hand." Professor McGonagall, my favorite teacher at Hogwarts suddenly materialized and, pointing her wand at the oven, shot the pork roast onto the table in three seconds flat, almost colliding it smack into Snape, who, I guessed with distaste, was actually staying for dinner for once- no matter that about half the occupants of the room would consider killing him with their bare hands even before what happened earlier the evening!
"Bloody good bit of magic," Fred beamed as Snape threw his colleague a nasty glare.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said briskly, flashing him a rare grin. I looked around the crowded table three minutes later with great satisfaction. Lupin, Tonks, Mundungus, McGonagall, (unfortunately) Snape, the whole Weasley gang (including a frazzled Mr. Weasley), and Harry were all helping themselves from the myriad of plates covering the table as far as the hungry eye could see. As usual, the far end of the table was full of the typical immaturity as Fred and George roared with laughter at Dung's heroic deeds of swindling, cheating, and stealing. One key figure normally joining in one the fun was clearly missing, however. Sirius. Reluctantly, Harry had permitted the Order to continue using the house, though his godfather's death was obviously beyond devastating to him. Heck, it hit all of us hard- I'd grown to really like the lighthearted, mischievous personality of Sirius in the short time I'd known him- but Harry the worst of all, as his last close link to his parents-save Remus- was gone. Forever. He was doing a bloody good job of wearing a mask of normalcy, fortunately. I watched as he half-heartedly joined in the animated discussion flowing between Ron, Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie concerning (what else?) but Quidditch. ("I reckon Denmark has a fair shot this year...bloody shame though, what happened to Bulgaria! Creamed, 300 to 20. It wasn't their fault, really, Krum was knocked off his broom in the first five minutes and couldn't finish the game. Poor chap, had to stay in St. Mungo's for two weeks ..."). (I noticed a look of grim satisfaction on Ron's face at this news). Across from me, Tonks and Ginny were talking hairstyles and hair potions (God knows I could use an excessive amount of the latter) while Mrs. Weasley gazed worriedly off into space. ("There is one that completely straightens your hair, but I wouldn't advise using it, Ginny, because your waves are much too pretty."). I caught snippets of Percy and Lupin's debate about trolls ("Nasty little buggers, they are- the usual Stunning spell doesn't even touch them."). Professor Snape was staring sullen-faced at his heaping plate (quite surprising, really, his huge appetite- I thought bats only dined on blood and insects!), as if daring it to call him a slimy git. I debated between fixing my eyes on Ron or joining in the Quidditch talk with my secret knowledge of what really happened to Viktor (he'd written me a letter from the hospital).
"So, Miss Granger, how has your summer been so far?" Professor McGonagall asked from my right, stabbing a potato. Blimey, I had almost forgotten she was there- very quiet, McGonagall can be when she wants- even sadder considering she's the witch I admire most in the world, and is basically my mentor.
"Not bad, considering the circumstances,"I replied nonchalantly, throwing a casual glance the raven- haired, bespectacled wizard's way.
McGonagall is one smart feline. "I understand, Miss Granger," she said sympathetically, all traces of her usual sternness and briskness gone. "My husband, Murdo, has simply been living at the Ministry these days- he's an Auror."
"You have a husband?" I barely managed to stutter, as a wave of total astonishment threatened to throw me from my chair.
She chuckled. "Don't be so shocked, Miss Granger. Most of us working at Hogwarts have spouses- except for Severus," she lowered her voice to a whisper and beckoned for me to lean my head closer. "He chooses to walk the road alone. However, there was one DADA teacher he rather fancied...and young, vivacious witch-"she abruptly broke off as Snape glanced suspiciously in our direction. "Nothing much ever came of it," the older witch finished hastily. "His personality isn't that endearing to most women."
I practically spit out my pumpkin juice at her last words. "You've never spoken a truer word, Professor."
Winking at me, with an unusual mischievous glint in her pale blue eyes, Professor McGonagall said in a low voice, "Has a certain redhead admitted his obvious affections for you?"
This was simply getting to be too much. I mean, really, how much can a sixteen-year old witch handle in one day? First Ginny, then Fred and George, Percy- and now Professor McGonagall!
"Who, Fred?" I played dumb, which never, ever works in my particular case, seeing, as McGonagall knows bloody well that I am (to be blunt and arrogant) one of the cleverest witches Hogwarts has ever seen, and could possibly even challenge her intellect given a few more years. "He's not really my type- a rather lazy and mischievous bloke."
"Ah, Miss Granger, but I do believe you are particular towards one lazy, mischievous redhead- a brother of Fred's, to be specific."
"George?"
"To be young again," Professor McGonagall said almost wistfully, "and in a state of denial..."
"I am not in a state of denial!" I hissed, forgetting just whom I was arguing with. As my hair started to frizz out, as it normally does when I am an irate witch (which explains why my fights with Ron are some of my worst moments, appearance-wise- and the times I am closest to Ron's freckled little face- i.e., screaming about 2 millimeters away from him), I knew a big explosion was coming on- one in which I might accidentally reveal my deepest, dirtiest secret to all the inhabitants of the dinner table.
"Yes you are, dear," Mrs. Weasley piped in quietly, finally finished with her melancholy ponderings and decided to put in her two cents worth.
Dear Lord. Just what I needed. Another witch who was way too smart for her own good.
"Molly, that son of yours, Ronald, is rather ugly, with his gangly frame and that obnoxious red hair," Tonks butted into our conversation, obviously falsely believing that this confession was one I absolutely needed to make now or I would simply die. (I knew what game the older witches were playing, but I still took the bait).
"He is NOT!" I shrieked indignantly, thankfully remembering to lower my voice when everyone suddenly stopped talking, and, quickly turning around in his or her seat, attempted to locate the owner of the very angry voice. I lowered my voice, (unfortunately not soft enough, as I would later learn), and snapped, "I happen to like Ron's locks of red- I think he's rather adorable, gangly frame (which had filled out considerably, but I wasn't about to start discussing his sexy chest and toned body at the dinner table) and all!"
"Then you do fancy him!" Mrs. Weasley said triumphantly, shaking a bit of pepper onto her mashed potatoes. Bloody. These women were just a bad as Parvati and Lavender, with their incessant chatter on the most eligible bachelors at Hogwarts.
"Harry's rather handsome," I smiled wickedly at Ginny, who had a lovely blush slowly creeping up her face. "But there is nothing between us but a bond resembling that shared by a brother and sister!"
Professor McGonagall had just opened her mouth to give what I would expect to be a witty reply when a familiar voice drawled in my ear, "This conversation just keeps on becoming more and more interesting." I shivered as Ron's breath tickled the delicate skin of my ears. I slowly turned around in my seat, dreading to see what would meet my eyes. His partner in crime (Harry, of course) was making little attempt to hide his guffaws as Ron calmly stood there, ears bright red but a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Just how much had my bloody best mates heard?
"I wonder if this sentence seems familiar to you," Harry snickered. In a horrible imitation of my voice- extremely high-pitched and breathy- he trilled, "I happen to like Ron's locks of red- I think he's rather adorable, gangly frame and all!"
"After hearing Ron's name mentioned," he continued with a small nod from the object of my affections, who seemed to have lost the ability to speak and any earlier courage he had, "We were curious. With a little help from Fred and George, who placed a Silencing Charm on us, we were able to sneak around the table and catch the tail end of quite a statement!"
"Hermione," he said seriously, "I never knew you'd thought that way about me. We've wasted so much time..."
"Harry-" Ron and Ginny said in unison, both looking like they had seen something particularly revolting, such as Pansy and Malfoy snogging. Out the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Ron clenching the back of a chair until his knuckles turned white as he glared daggers at his best mate.
"As I was saying," the-Boy-Who-Lived cleared his throat, inconspicuously winking at me. "I feel the same way!" Pulling me to my feet, he embraced me in his muscular arms. 'This isn't so bad, being enfolded in the arms of one of the sexiest men alive,' I snickered as I inhaled the scent of the wonderful cologne I'd randomly bought him at Hogsmeade last year.
"Pretend you're enjoying this," Harry whispered, his breath hot on my ear. "I have a plan."
"Well, I must say this is a surprise!" Mrs. Weasley said in total disbelief, wringing her hands anxiously. We know had the attention of all the diners- even Snape had taken a break from stuffing his slimy face to watch what has happening.
Pretending to be embarrassed, I said softly, "It was a surprise to me, too! I guess I really have been in denial- and for a long time! I love you, Harry James Potter," I gazed into Harry's vivid emerald green eyes, seeing for the first time a hint of the usual life, the happiness, and the glimmer of hope, as I tried to look like a lovesick teenager.
Daring a quick glance in Ron and Ginny's direction, I noticed both of them were doing quite a poor job of hiding their disgust...and deep anger. "Just how far are you going to take this, Harry?" I cringed, panicking when a new thought hit me: was he going to kiss me? Not that I would really mind- I'm sure Harry is an excellent kisser- but, REALLY! I seriously harbor no feelings greater for him than that of a sister to a brother- and kissing your sibling full on the lips is INCEST. Harry and I wouldn't last for a minute after a snog- the way Ron and Ginny were about right now, within three seconds-forget wands- they'd kill us with their bare hands. And Ron! Ron would NEVER snog a girl who had been in a lip-lock with his best mate, for goodness sakes! And me! Sixteen years old, never been kissed- I wanted my first kiss to come from the object of my fancying!
Luckily, I needn't had worried. Harry's an extremely intelligent wizard. He knew exactly what to do to make both Ron and Ginny so jealous they were seeing red- and yet stop before all saw the red of a certain wizard and witch's blood. Pressing me even closer to his body, as if that was even possible, he pressed a feathery light kiss on my cheek and was making moves for my pouty red lips (yeah right!) when...
"I've bloody lost my appetite!" Ron stormed out of the room with his younger sister hot on his heels. Bloody. Perhaps we had made a mistake.
"Please excuse us, Mrs. Weasley." I literally dragged Harry by the hand and up the stairs where, by the loud stampeding and stomping I had heard seconds earlier, I had assumed the two youngest Weasleys had gone.
"Ronald! Open this door right now," I snapped, pounding hard on the bedroom door.
"Make me," was his muffled response. Fudge nut. It almost sounded as though he was crying- definitely NOT a desired effect of this little escapade.
"Out of the way," Fred materialized- and, well, if looks could kill I would have been dead. Grrrr. "It's obvious you two were joking- but not to my dear brother, Ron, who is currently sobbing his heart out in this bedroom," he said angrily. "Not a very funny joke, Harry and Hermione. Not at all. A wizard's heart is not to be toyed with- especially in this time of war. Alohomora!" The door swung open revealing a red-faced, sniffling Ron.
"I'll take care of this," I mouthed to Harry, who walked determinedly in the direction of the bedroom Ginny and I shared.
"Er," I began awkwardly, closing the door behind me, "Harry and I don't love each other any more than a brother would love a sister."
"As if I should believe that," Ron snorted, advancing towards me.
"You should believe that," I said as calmly as possibly under the circumstances, remembering this was my- well, and Harry's- fault. I edged my way back, as Ron kept on moving closer and closer.
"Frankly, I don't bloody know what to believe," he said furiously, taking a few more long strides until I was practically backed up against the grimy wall. "I thought I could trust you two- my best mates in the whole world! Obviously, I was wrong," he spat, blue eyes alight with fury as he stood a mere two inches away from me, arms crossed.
"Ron, you have to trust me," I pleaded, resisting the urge to run my hands through those silky locks knowing now was definitely not the time. "It was just a joke. Not even planned, mind you. Harry and I were just trying to see if Ginny-and you (fudge nut! I DID NOT want to say that) would become jealous." Stupid, stupid, stupid! I did not just mention making Ron jealous!
Some of the anger seemed to drain from him. Looking a more than a wee bit bewildered (hate to say it, but quite a normal expression for Ronald Weasley) he said slowly, "I know Ginny likes Harry, but..."
Bloody. It was coming now. I inwardly groaned, cringed, and mentally thought about a thousand naughty words- all at one time! (They always say women can multitask!). He was going to stare at me with those luscious blue eyes and ask the dreaded question as the pieces would finally fall together in that little (did not just say that!) brain of his. I had to do something- and fast! It was now or never. Summing up all my non-existent Gryffindor courage (I could not even handle a boggart in my 3rd year DADA test- it changed into Professor McGonagall saying I failed all of my examinations and I ran out of the room, SCREAMING!) I leaned forward and said as seductively as possible (which really wasn't much, considering I am the nerdy, bookish Hermione Granger), "Do you really believe I would do this if I was in love with Harry?" as our lips were about to meet in a sweet, tender, passionate kiss.
I know, I know- extremely wicked on my part, leaving this chapter just dangling like that. However, who doesn't like a good cliffhanger? Stick around to find out what happens next!
