Chapter Five
Being A Trooper
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Love them all! And to those of you who weren't sure why Harry and Hermione didn't know each other, that's my fault I don't think I made it clear enough that it was AU(Alternate Universe) Sorry! Hope you like the next chapter, a little like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Thanks so much to gl2004 for the idea for this chapter! Here it is!
No? No way in hell! You're making the lobster? Neville gaped at Harry.
he laughed.
But that's usually after like at least a month! Ron interupted.
Harry laughed again, I know, but if I'm going to make her fall in love with me I have to be appealing. A man who can cook is appealing.Since when? Ron demanded.
Since if they see this they think, Oh if we get married he'll cook too!' Harry answered, knowingly.
Oh he's got a point, Neville turned to Ron.
Don't worry guys, she's already fallen in love with me, he grinned.
Ron snorted, Right, keep telling yourself that.
...
Knock Knock
One second!
Knock Knock
Be right there!
Knock Knock
Coming! Chill out! he muttered under his breath, hurrying to the door.
He opened it and was greeted by Hermione's cheerful face.
she squealed and smiled even brighter.
Hey, how are you? he asked, gesturing for her to come in.
As she walked in she answered, Good thanks, she looked around.
You can sit down at the table, he pointed to a small table, laiden with a table cloth, fine china, and two flickering candles. And dinner will be served in two seconds.
she said sitting down at the table.
Soon after he came back with two plates with steamed lobster tails on them.
Lobster tails! This is gonna be reeeeally hard to turn down! she thought to herself as she played a face of nausea.
After he had set the plate in front of her and he had sat down, she let out a high-pitched, forced sob that startled Harry so much he nearly knocked his chair backward, instead his fork went flying behind him.
What? What is it? he asked, hurrying over to her.
I'm sorry! her shoulders shook as she sobbed. I'm so sorry, she looked at him as she covered her face.
What's wrong? he asked again, placing a comforting hand on her arm.
Boom, boom, she began in a weak voice.
he asked totally confused.
Diddum, daddum, waddum cho-o-o, she sobbed again.
I don't get it-The little fishies a-a-and the baby lambs, and the moo-moo, m-moos! a new herd of sobs racked her body.
He just stared at her.
I'm sorry, I just- I can't eat anything that could once look at me, she finally looked at him. Boom boom, diddum daddum, waddum choo, and they swam and they swam, she sniffed. Right over the d-d-dam! she wailed.
He finally came to his senses and tried to convince her to eat the lobster he had worked so hard on.
But this isn't like those fishies, see these could once hurt you, snap their claws on you, bad lobster, good fishies, see there's a difference! he smiled weakly.
She shook her head sadly, I'm sorry, she pressed her lips together then said. It was really sweet of you and I appreciate it all b-b-b-but the little fishies! she balled.
Shh, shh, shh, no it's okay, it's fine, you don't have to eat it.
She looked at the lobster tail and started wagging the shell of the tail around, See now he can't even TRY to swim over the dam! I'm so sorry, she whimpered as more tears flowed down her cheeks. This was really amazing of you, I should of told you, I'm such a bitch, she looked at the plate regretfully. Boom, boom- she began to sing again.
No, no it's fine! I'll just take it into the kitchen and, and we'll go out and eat, you're choice, he smiled, picking up the plates.
You are a beautiful person! she said, another tear gliding down her cheek.
As Harry disappeared into the kicthen she asked.
Do you mind if I just touch up my make up before we go?No go right ahead, the bathroom's right next to the bedroom down the hall.Thank you, she called and headed towards the door.
Once inside she took out her mobile phone and a eyeliner pencil and immediately punched in Lavendar's number.
she whispered into the phone, holding it to her ear against her shoulder as she began to reapply her eyeliner. It's me, Hermione.Hey, how's it going? she asked quickly.
I'm standing in his bathroom-Oh. My. God! Hermione asked.
You're going to sleep with him aren't you! Lavendar hissed.
What the fu- No! See he made lobster tails and it looked like he worked really hard so I had to pretend I was a vegeterian and act like I couldn't eat it... I felt kind of bad though, she said a little regretfully.
Are you actually, she paused. Falling for him?
Hermione lowered her eyeliner pencil as she thought, after a few seconds of gut-wrenching silence for Lavendar Hermione answered, N-No of course not. I'm trying to lose the guy remember?
Silence from Lavendar.
Lavendar answered shortly.
I'm serious I mean he's not my type, at all!Oh you mean tall, sweet, and down right sexy? she asked.
Yes-No, I mean, no, Lavendar began laughing. Shut up!Uh huh...Ya know what, I'm just gonna hang up, that's what I'll do. I don't need this abuse.
Lavendar only laughed more as Hermione snapped her phone shut.
Shaking her head mumbling, Doesn't know what she's talking about, not a clue... she trailed off.
she heard outside the door.
She was snapped out of the thoughts as she said, One second, finished her make up and walked out of the bathroom. She took a deep breath, it was going to be a LONG night.
...
What's in the Barley Leaf Rice Dish? Harry asked the waitress in front of him.
Barley Leaf and rice, she answered flatly.
Right, then I guess I'll have that, he handed her his menu.
Do you want the Barley chopped, tossed, or steamed? she asked.
He just stared at her.
Surprise me, he smiled.
When Harry had said where they ate was Hermione's choice he had no idea she would pick Carlee Harlee Barlee Hut.
This place is great isn't it? she asked him.
he lied.
She smiled brightly.
...
After quite some time later their food had arrived and Harry was beginning to sift through the rice and green sprouts.
Hermione looked down at her bowl of brown rice with chopped up tofu burger in it and she hesitantly picked up her fork.
Harry quickly noticed and asked, Is something wrong?
She looked at him a little startled, No I'm fine, it's just...What, what is it?Do you think I'm ugly? she asked, looking up.
No, of course not, he took a hold of her hand.
No seriously, she held up a curl of her hair and said, My hair is completely frizzy, I'm Sally Saddlebags! she gestured to her hips. My feet are disgusting-
He looked a little caught of guard but was quick to respond, No, no are you kidding me? You're beautiful, he squeezed her hand.
He's reeeeeeeeally not making this easy, she thought to herself.
No, no let me finish, she began again. When I make a mistake I never apologize, I can't admit to my own stupidity... And I'm fat! she was now mustering up crocodile tears.
No! Hermione, no, you have to be crazy to think that! he tried to cheer her up.
Now I'm crazy! she looked alarmed. I need to go to the bathroom! she declared and hurried to the back of the restaurant.
Not long after the owner of the restaurant came up to Harry and asked, Is everything alright?Yeah, I just called her crazy, Harry said absently.
the owner said, then he added. Enjoy your meal, and walked away.
...
Once Hermione was in the bathroom she leaned herself against a sink and thought for a minute.
How could she get him to think she was being ridiculous, she had tried with the Heffalump movie, she had to come close with the lobster, what could push him over the edge?
She turned from the mirror above the sink and looked around her bathroom, a smile soon ran onto her face.
...
Excuse me sir? a young waitor, came up to Harry and said, A Hermione Granger wants to see you, he pointed to the bathroom door where Hermione's head was sticking out.
Oh thanks, he stood up and walked over to Hermione. What's up?I have a problem, she bit her lip.
What is it? he asked.
she looked around. It's that time of the month, she whispered. Do you think you could just get me a box of tampons I mean otherwise I just can't come out of this bathroom.
His eyes bulged a little, Don't they have those little machine things in there where you can get them?
Hermione pouted, Hermione, you want me to drive around and find a store to buy a box of... he lowered his voice, ...Tampons, for you?Look Harry there's a drug store right across the street, she paused.
He took one look at her quivering(forced) bottom lip and groaned inwardly, Thank you so much! I'll pay you back I promise!Yeah, yeah, yeah, he muttered under his breath as he headed to the front of the store.
...
What's the difference! he hissed at no one in particular as he picked up a pink box of tampons.
An elderly woman walked passed him, sending him a questioning look and he shook his head exasperatedly.
A few minutes later of just staring at the different brands of ladies' necessities'.
Sod it! he said to himself, grabbed the first box he saw, and headed toward the cash register.
...
Hermione stood, looking outside the bathroom, soon Harry walked in holding a plastic shopping bag.
She was going to make this much harder.
Which kind did you get! she screamed for the entire restaurant to hear, they all looked at her as Harry stopped in his tracks.
I'll come and show you, he said loud enough for her to hear him.
No, because it might be the wrong kind and if it is what's the point of coming all the way back to here to go back out? she finished.
(A/N: You could see the bathroom door from the front of the restaurant.)
He sighed, I can never win with her.
He opened the bag and looked inside, Vlvt Trnqilty, he mumbled.
Velvet Tranquility, he said louder.
Hermione bit away a smirk, even though she could hear him perfectly she asked, VELVET TRANQUILITY! EVERYONE in the room turned to look at him. Why do I always have to do that? he muttered under his breath.
Hermione played a face of disappointment, I can't use those!Why not! he asked, clearly outraged.
You don't understand! she whined.
Try me, he pressed.
That brand's so uncomfortable-Oh I know! a woman sitting at a table next to where Harry stood cut in.
Harry offered to the woman.
Please Harry, she pouted. Can you get a different brand?Yeah come on, old chap, a bald man that sat a few tables away from him said.
He shook his head and turned around heading for the door, muttering, Never again, never again.
...
After that Harry finally got the right brand and they soon left the restaurant.
As they walked down the street with no exact destination Hermione couldn't help feeling guilty.
Not only had she shot down the guy's cooking, she had also made him embarass himself in front of a bunch of people while screaming a tampon brand to her; and it happened all in one night, she couldn't feel more guilty. The worst part was Harry was being a trooper about it.
But she couldn't say she was sorry because she would never lose him that way.
There was an awkward silence that was becoming sickening yet no words seemed right.
Finally Hermione decided she couldn't deal with it anymore so she grabbed the back of Harry's neck and pulled him into a fierce kiss, again.
She ran her tongue along his bottom lip and once again took him commpletely by surprise.
He had no problem with welcoming her tongue into his mouth as he cradled her face with his hand.
Before they could go any further Hermione pulled away and sent him a sly smile, That's all for now, and she began to walk down the street.
He looked at her breathlessly.
Sure she had her moments (making him watch a movie about purple elephants running around in a cartoon, refusing to eat his steaming lobster because of a song about fish swimming over a dam, or making him buy ladies necessities' for her) but what woman didn't have moments like that? And he had to admit he couldn't help wanting more of her.
...
You kissed him? again! Luna shouted at Hermione.
Hermione looked similiar to a dog getting hit after having an accident' on the carpet.
I couldn't help myself! she tried to get Luna to stop glaring daggers at her.
What's wrong with you? Luna shouted again. You'll never lose the guy at this rate!Give her a break, Lavendar sat down across from them in her living room.
Yeah really, not only had I refused to eat this lobster he had been working so hard on, I also embarassed him in front of room full of people. I figured he needed a little reward, she shrugged.
Luna nodded and scoffed, At this rate you'll never lose him and I'll win the bet.I'm telling you Hermione wants to lose the bet, she's falling for him, Lavendar said.
They both looked to Hermione who was silent.
Then she laughed, Don't be ridiculous.
They just looked at her.
I can't- No, cause I dont- she stuttered.
Their penetrating glares were beginning to sting, but she stayed silent.
She wasn't falling for him, she couldn't be.
Author's Note: Yey! Who spent all day jogging and playing tennis! ME! Then I came home and now I'm updating! YEY! What a productive day! Lol. Hope you liked it! Oh by the way- The boom, boom diddum daddum wadum choo is a song... A long forgotten song... Lol. Just so ya know!