A/N: Thank you so much to my reviewers: Dr Huff Puff, Victoria Winters, loveablechick213, Broken Wings...you guys are awesome!!

Chapter Eight

A Question and A Confrontation

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"Where were you last night?" Ron asked Hermione through mouthfuls of his porridge at breakfast the next morning. "I really needed your advice on my transfiguration essay, and I couldn't find you anywhere. Took me bloody ages to finish it".

"You mean you really needed to copy my essay" Hermione replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah well... y'know" Ron grumbled "You'd think in seventh year they'd lay off on the homework a bit, I mean we're practically out of school, you'd think that they'd..."

"So where were you then?" Harry interrupted, cutting off Ron's monologue about homework.

"Ron, don't you think you need to start getting serious this year? I mean it's our last chance to show future employers how well we can perform. And our NEWTS are just around the corner." Hermione said ignoring Harry.

"I can perform!" retorted Ron, "Did you see that last save I made in the match against Slytherin? Malfoy was nearly crying"

Hermione rolled her eyes and gathered up her books. She could see Harry trying to attract her attention but carefully avoided looking at him as she quickly stood up.

"I've got a spare period next, think I'll just brush up on some of those charms that will probably be on our NEWTS....so see you later" she said hurriedly, turning to leave the hall.

"Hermione – wait!" Harry called, but she didn't look back.

"So do you have any idea where she was then?" Harry asked Ron.

"Yeah, bloody great it was, I just swooped down and reached out my hand, Slytherin didn't have a chance, exactly like that French player in the last World Cup it was...." Said Ron still reliving his last Quiddtich match.

Harry sighed and turned back to his toast. Glancing around the hall he saw Lavender at the other side of the table. He quickly looked away but not before Lavender had noticed him.

"So – Harry!" Lavender called out across the table "I think we need to have a little chat".

"Yeah whatever" Harry muttered.

Lavender got out of her seat and walked confidently over to where Harry was still sitting staring down at his now cold piece of toast.

"How are things?" she asked in a friendly tone. Harry wasn't fooled.

"Fine".

"Seen Hermione lately? Or more to the point – seen Hermione with Lockhart lately?" she asked with a small laugh. "Because I certainly haven't" she added smiling nastily. "I'm really looking forward to watching you ask Professor Amos out".

"Look, give it a rest would you" Harry said pointedly, and deliberately took a large bite of his cold toast.

"Yeah, if anyone's asking anyone out it's going to be you asking Snape" Ron interjected, finally realizing that the conversation wasn't about Quidditch. "Hermione's got it in the bag with Lockhart".

Harry looked up at Ron with a frown and shook his head slightly.

"Oh really?" said Lavender in tones of phony amazement. "Just a small reminder then, she actually has to go on date with him, and I seem to remember that the time frame was a month. She's already had two weeks so she better get moving". And with that Lavender marched off out of the hall.

"Great Ron" Harry sighed running his hands through his hair and causing it to look even more disheveled than usual. "This is turning out to be worse than studying for our NEWTS."

"C'mon mate, Hermione will pull it off" Ron replied in a very unsure tone of voice.

"Yeah, great, Hermione and...and that idiot end up together..." Harry muttered.

"Hang on, isn't that what you want? To win the bet I mean?" Ron asked in surprise. "And honestly if Hermione wants to date Lockhart then I say well good luck to her. Come to think of it isn't it about time she got a boyfriend since Vicky dumped her?"

"He didn't dump her" Harry retorted.

"Ok mate whatever you say" replied Ron soothingly, but giving Harry a measured look. "Since when are you so worried about who Hermione dates anyway?"

"Who said I was worried" Harry shot back, abruptly getting out of his seat. "I'm going to go and practice for my NEWTS as well, see you later" And with that Harry quickly made his exit leaving Ron to stare at a rather unappealing bowl of porridge and shake his head in exasperation. Sometimes he just couldn't understand his best friend, even after seven years.

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Harry walked down the corridor that lead out of the hall, not really caring where he was going. His thoughts were a jumble of confusion.

"Hermione can't end up with that stupid git, Lockhart" Harry though angrily as he walked. "She needs someone more...more....well someone better, someone who knows her, someone who can look out for her, who understands there's more to her than books and exams. Someone who really cares about her. I've got to tell her she can't do the bet".

"Hang on, you're the one that made the bet" said a small voice in his head.

"Well I was only trying to defend her" said Harry out aloud.

"What's that Potter? Trying to save more people again?" said a familiar voice with a sneer.

Harry looked up to see Malfoy lounging against a column, his arms crossed.

"Get lost Malfoy."

"Well it just sounded like Mr. Defense Against the Dark Arts was thinking up new heroics again" Malfoy said with his usual smirk "Or maybe he's just going a bit potty and has started talking to himself".

"Maybe you should brush up on your defensive skills Malfoy, you might need them when they come to drag you off to Azkaban, to join your father" Harry slung back.

Malfoy's smile vanished. His eyes narrowed.

"Heard about your little bet, Potter. That ugly Mudblood couldn't get a Flobberworm to go on a date with her".

"Harry felt familiar rage build up inside him. He pulled his wand out of his pocket.

"I'd tell Dumbledore, I mean students and teachers together, tut tut" said Malfoy shaking his head "But it's going to be too much fun seeing you lose". He laughed loudly.

"So long Potter".

Before Harry could collect himself Malfoy had turned a corner and was gone. Harry slowly slipped his wand back under his robes. Things were definitely going from bad to worse. He didn't want Hermione to do the bet, but it looked like it was going to be very hard to back down now. Damn Lavender and Malfoy. Harry kicked angrily at the column against which Malfoy had been leaning.

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