DISCLAIMER : I'm Queen of the world and I own Harry Potter..muhahaha.
Chapter Two : Herm's Determination
It was getting quite late. Hermione was busy scratching away with her quill. She was pouring out to her diary her feelings over the past few days.
Hi dear diary,
Ron is such a moron.Why can't he just open his mouth and say that he likes me.Isn't it as obvious as daylight that I like him back . I could tell him too but he wouldn't like that …..I mean he is that "girls don't make the first move " kind of guy. It took him soo long to accept the fact that Ginny told Harry first. So I guess I'll just have to wait.
The other day, I was in the common room, studying of course, when Ron turned up. It was quite late and I really had to finish that extra assignment for Professor Binns. He started fidgeting around, rearranging things etc…. You know how much that irritates me, so I snapped at him "Do you have anything to say?", to which he blushed. Oh well I should have known. Of course he had something to say … a very big, important something like "I like (if not love) you ". He finally sat down on one of those big, squishy, red bean bags in front of the fireplace. He started ,somewhat nervously , "Hey 'mione , I'd like you to know that..", "that I love you, please God let him say that" , I thought. But NO he wouldn't say anything like that, instead, I was told that he wanted to go to the library with me every evening. ".. to catch up with the stuff I miss in class while fooling Harry….." So he says …. But I know better ….well it's at least a beginning.
The first few library "dates" were fine but then after a few days he started complaining that he was missing Quidditch practice. Well honestly I was quite happy about that. At least it kept him away from the sight of those yelling, screaming girls who went to Quidditch practice only to watch the guys. Okay I know I sound a leeetle bit jealous .. but I can't help it .It was so much better before he became part of the heart throb trio . Now there were at least half a dozen girls just waiting to do him favours like his homework, cleaning up after potions etc. ….. Before all that I was his sole homework source. Of course it is the same with Harry but then Harry is totally different. I don't care if a dozen girls date him .. because he'll just be my other best friend always.
When I'm writing to you, diary, the time just flies. I never feel sleepy or tired. Well tomorrow is another day. Lets see what Ron does. Bye for now.
End of entry ….. and back to their real lives)
The next morning , it was breakfast time already and everyone was at the table waiting to begin. Ron was quite animatedly discussing Fred and George's new trick, when Hermione walked in. Ron clammed up instantly. "Oh great! .Why does he have to do that whenever I pass by. It's not like I'm inspecting every word he says", thought Herm. "Hi people. Sorry I'm late. Lavender was having a little trouble finding her brains…. Er … I mean books. Just kidding".she said and smiled at Lav, her best female friend. They had their differences but once you are with a person for six – seven years you are bound to like them. " Very lazy weekend wasn't it?", she asked. Hearing this Ron's mouth lost its clam like appearance and he was quick to reply "Lazy for us not you ma'm. You are up studying late whether there is an exam or not . So weekends aren't really different from weekdays for you". "Hey ! You know that's not true", countered Herm. "I go out on Hogsmeade weekends……"."..which come twice a month ….",interrupted Ron. "…….I watch every Quidditch match that's is held …". Ron: " That's because we are your best buddies and just happen to play in these matches So you have to come whether you like it or not". Their argument went on till the "end of breakfast" bell rang.
On her way to her Runes class, Herm couldn't help smiling. That had been a real nice long argument. I really love it when Ron's in that mood. He could become a great lawyer or anything that involved verbal attack skills. He has a knack of putting his finger on the right spot. True I don't go out much on weekends, but I had to say something …. to save face …. and …… also to keep him talking. To most normal people , an argument a day isn't exactly romantic…. but to Herm it was special because it was more of a friendly banter to them than a real ugly fight. On the whole she had loved every minute of breakfast today….. well almost every. That girl from Ravenclaw , Estelle , came over to flirt with Ron… ohhh how she hated that.(little green monster showing up again?)……
It was the afternoon already. Runes was done with. And so was Arithmancy. Just before lunch Herm was called to Prof. McGonagalls office. She couldn't help wondering what was up. Was something wrong with her Transfiguration HW …blah …blah. She walked and walked and was finally in front of the prof's office. She gave a short , smart rap on the door and after hearing a clear voice call out "come in" , she stepped into the office. The prof. began immediately in her crisp , businesslike tone " Hermione , I know you are a really hard working student. But since this is your last year at school you should be a little more social, considering the fact that you are the elected Head Girl of this school. So to ease your load I shall scrap that project we began last week. Any questions?" . "Oh that's no problem ma'm . But then what happens to the extra credit I was supposed to get from it,asked Herm. "I appreciate your eagerness ,but I think you already have more credit than the rest of your class put together", assured Prof McGonagall.
Herm literally hopped, skipped and jumped her way to the Great Hall. Scrapping of that project meant that she would have at least four free weekends. Ha! She would show Ron she too could "socialize". She was just giving this piece of good news to Harry and Ginny, (who seemed inseperable, by the way. Wonder how they made it through their classes without seeing each other..),when Ron arrived with their lunches , neatly wrapped. They had made it a habit to go down to the lake for lunch at least once a week.
Once there they found a shady spot to settle down for lunch. All of them were done in about 20 minutes. With food that delicious, you really felt like eating quickly. The squid in the lake was giving its "fountain" performance again. It kept squirting jets of ink, which being magical, turned from purple to pink : from pink to red and red to purple again. Each one of them was lost in their thoughts when they were disturbed by the warning bell. During school hours it could be magically heard all over the grounds. "Thank God for the warning bell " said Hermione ,"It gives us students scattered all over the grounds enough time to assemble in our classes before lunch hour is over"
Just as they were about to enter the castle, a group of three , very giggly girls came up to them. Of course if you hung around with Harry and Ron this was quite common. Though Harry painstakingly pointed out to them that he wasn't single anymore , indicating Ginny They just wouldn't leave. Instead they turned to Ron . This irritated Herm soo much. She hated giggly girls anyways and now that they were all over Ron her dislike doubled.
Then slowly an idea began to form in her mind. If girls fawning over Ron bugged her , then surely she going out with other guys would irritate Ron too……and maybe irritate him just enough to goad him into saying that he liked her. She remembered the way he had behaved when she and Victor were going out . To add to that she was relatively free for a few weeks all thanks to Prof McGonagall . After all it was she who told her to "socialize" ……"Oh I'm gonna socialize alright !...". thought a very determined Hermione.
Author Notes : Thanks a million to the people who reviewed last time.
hermionegarner: Your review made my day!
