Pseudo Cinderella and the Slytherin Prince

Chapter 13 I DON'T WANT TO BE CINDERELLA ANYMORE!

Hermione's POV

Just a warning: There is much fluff in this chapter. And unfortunately, it's not Draco/Hermione fluff. I promise you that will come later. But those of you who are Harry/Hermione fans, you'll LOVE this chapter! Once again, this is just setting up for when the story really gets rolling and into the DM/HG stuff.

BTW, Hermione-Granger-420: Eaxh reviewer is only alowed one guess. So pick one, just to make it fair.

Everyone else: THANKYOU REPEADTEDLY FOR READING AND REVIEWING! I feel soloved! Hope you're not too mad at me for this chapter. but like I said, there will be a whole ton of twists and turns throughout this story. And don't forget to guess on who you think Hermione lost her virginty to! Whoever guesses right will get to contribute to the story! This contest will end in a couple of chapters, so get guessing! I;I

We come out of the fireplace in the kitchen of Grimauld Place, facing six confused faces.

"What happened to you two? Are you alright?" Mrs. Weasley is the first to speak, thus spewing questions of concern, ever the mother thing to do.

"We're fine Mum. Dunno why it took longer than usual to get here." Oh, playing it smooth, twinny. Wait until they find out the real reason why we were late.

"Actually –" I shoot Fred a devious look, which he returns with one of shock and fear. Oh yes. That's right; I could rat you out right now. "- We left right after George and Ginny." But I won't. Ha! And now you're even more surprised, eh Fred?

Wow. I think something happened last night. Well, obviously something happened last night, but I meant in my mind. Something must have snapped out of place to give me this bizarre change in attitude. And, well… I really hate to admit it, but…I kinda like it. Just as long as it doesn't interfere with my schoolwork.

"Oh. Alright then. Albus isn't here right now, Hermione," Mrs. Weasley informs me.

"But he'll be back later. Not sure exactly when. One never can be too sure with a man as busy and important as Albus Dumbledore." Lupin has a point. But that's okay. I guess there's been a change in my priorities, because right now, finding my parents doesn't seem as important as… taking care of some things. But first I should say hello to everyone who wasn't also at the Burrow ten minutes ago.

"Oh, okay. Um, hello, professor." Except he's not really my professor anymore. Oh well; someone as insightful as Remus Lupin should still be teaching.

"Hello, Hermoine! I told you you can call me Remus. It's alright now that we're not in school, you know," oh, how kind.

"Oh yeah, sorry Remus." Okay, I'm sorry, but there's just something odd and uncomfortable about calling someone who used to be your professor by his first name. He beams at me and I politely smile back, before turning my attention to a woman about my height with a silver nose ring and shoulder-length neon purple hair. "Hello, Tonks!" She blows a bubblegum bubble and burst it expertly, before pulling me into a hug.

"'Mione! How are ya? I'll tell ya Harry'll be down right glad to seeyou." He will?

"I'm fine, thank you. But why will Harry be so excited to see me?" Unless she's already said this to Ron…

"Well, he's been…he's been…" She looks to Remus for help. He sighs and rolls his eyes.

"He's been kind, well, depressed, for lack of a better term, lately. All summer actually. You know how feels about being in his godfather's house without his godfather…" Lupin continues for Tonks. He says the last part in an undertone. Poor Harry.

"And he's been talking about you almost constantly!" Tonks whispers this excitedly in my ear. And I excitedly exclaim:

"What?"

"Now Tonks, you're as bad as a teenager!" Ooh, tonks just got reprimanded by Lupin!

"But that doesn't make the fact that every other sentence Harry says contains the word 'Hermione' not true!" WHAT? What is going on here? I mean wha – Oh. Shit. That would be Harry coming down the stairs. And pausing. And staring death towards Tonks. And embarrassedly at me. And running back up the stairs. Oh, Harry. I look at Tonks, who is now a bright shade of reddish-pink that clashes with her hair.

"Oops…?" She says in a squeaky voice. I can't believe this. It's true, isn't it?

"Ron – " I can't finish what I was going to say, because Ron is trying desperately to cover his fuming rage. Well, at least that's not a surprise. Everyone knows Ron's had a crush on me for, like, ever. But what is surprising is that his sister matches him. Uh-oh. Ginny's pissed. Everyone knows about her crush, too. On Harry. "Ginny, I –"

"No. Hermione. It's okay, really. You didn't really do anything. He likes you… and, and, that's what matters!" It is most definitely NOT okay, since she just ran out of the kitchen. I should go try to calm her down.

"Yeah. It's not really you're fault, 'Mione." Oh for Merlin's sake! I just got here and already I'm the cause of all my best friends' problems!

"Yeah, thanks Ron. Listen, everyone, I'm going to go up to room, alright? I promise I'll avoid Harry completely." And hopefully that's manageable.

"Alright, dear. And I suppose I should go talk to Ginny." Good. Her mother can probably get through to her better than I could in this case.

I head upstairs to what is reserved as mine and Ginny's room. Thankfully, Ginny isn't here. I throw a locking charm and a silencing charm on the door and the room and immediately flop face-down on my bed and let the tears flow. This ISN'T FAIR! All my life, I've wanted some attention for something other than my intelligence! And now that I finally get my wish, it comes in the most overwhelming way possible! My two best friends, the brother of one of them, and not to mention every pureblooded Death Eater-born teenage male in wizard England!

"AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGH!" I pound at my pillow to get out at least some of this stupid frustration. Ginny probably won't want to be around me anymore; Ron probably hates Harry; and Harry's probably never going to speak to me again! Not to mention what happened with Fred right before we left the burrow. And then there's everything that was originally my problem. "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH THE BLOODY WORLD!"

"Well, that's something you don't hear everyday; good girl Hermione Granger cussing at the top of her lungs." What the – Harry?

"Harry…?" My voice comes out hoarse from my screaming and crying. But there he is; under the invisibility cloak. I relax a bit when he takes the cloak off to reveal his vibrant green eyes. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry… I didn't – what the bloody Hell are you doing in here!"

"Whoa, calm down, Herms. I figured you'd come up here sooner or later. And I… I need to talk to you." But do you have to wait until I'm bawling my eyes out to show yourself?

"Alright. What is it?" Even though I can make an educated guess.

"Well, I guess Tonks already said… something. And I wanted you to hear the validity of what she said straight from me." Okay. Keep talking… "And I just want you to know that it is 100..." Oh thank God. (Please say false!) "True." WHAT?

"Harry James Potter!"

"What? Hermione, you know that… well… after everything… do you know what I mean?" Oh yeah, because your meaning's just as clear as day.

"Yes, Harry." I let out a sigh of defeat. I actually do know what he's trying to say. "But… we promised not let things get in the way… and - wait. What did you say about me, exactly?" Because if you let anything slip; I don't CARE if you're the Boy Who Lived!

"Um, I dunno. Why?" WHY? I'll tell you WHY, Harry Potter!

"Harry! If you said anything… personal, I can't be held responsible for…" I had to stop. His face just fell. Harry I HATE it when you play with my emotions like this.

"But… doesn't that… don't I…" Oh. '…Mean anything to me'? Well, yeah, but…

"Harry." My tone is slightly louder than a whisper, and certainly less harsh. "I didn't mean anything like that. I just…" Things sort of changed last night. But I can't tell anyone that. Almost especially not Harry. "I wasn't planning on… something happened." What? Why did I just that? Think, 'Mione, think; how can I cover that up?

"What happened, Herms?" His eyes are wider with fear now. "Did somebody… Hermione?" Oh no, he's assumed the worst. Harry, why do you always have to jump to conclusions?

"NO! It's not… that serious." Yeah, it's a bit more serious since it was our archenemy! Oh my goodness, what do I say? OH! I've got it! But that might get Fred in trouble… "It was… someone… came onto me, I guess you could say." Oh shit. Now he's mad.

"WHAT? Who? Tell me Hermione." Oh crap.

"It's nothing bad! He just kissed me, is all!" okay, now I may have to run with this…

"WHO. WAS. IT. Hermione?" MERLIN! It's not I belong strictly to Harry!

"WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? I'M NOT JUST YOURS, Y'KNOW!"

Oops. I guess I said that out loud, judging by the awkward silence. Oh great, now he looks crestfallen.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to shout that in your face." I really didn't. "Come here," I stretch out my arms for hug, and he tries to seem reluctant in accepting the hug. Only he comes across as a bit too eager. He pulls me down so that we're now sitting on the bed, me in his lap, both of us facing the same direction. I just let him hold me. This silence is nice. I really didn't mean to hurt anyone, and I can't believe I did. I hurt my friends. And it just occurred to me that I may have hurt my enemy, too. Oh no. I've never been able to stand myself if I ever hurt anyone, regardless of if they've ever hurt me.

"I really am sorry, Herms." Harry's the only person that can call me 'Herms' without getting hexed. At first, I didn't know why I let him call me that. But right now, in this very moment, it's the most sentimental thing. And it's so comforting.

"I know you're sorry. And I'm sorry too, Harry." I crane my neck around to let him know that I really am sorry. Harry takes this as an opportunity. He leans forward to kiss me. Honestly, I can't figure out why I don't want to pull back all the way. I try to, but he catches the back of my head ever so gently and pulls me back to him. He starts the kiss slow, and I try to break it before I mess anything else up, but his tongue coaxes my lips open. It still seems kind of weird; me kissing my best friend. But right now I just feel so safe. I always feel safe with Harry. The worst part is that I don't know whether that's a good or a bad thing. But I'm almost getting lost in this kiss. Just like I got lost with…

"No. Stop. Harry, please." He was going towards my neck, but stopped when I asked him. I give him a stern stare, which breaks when the tears decide to continue flowing. I immediately start crying into Harry's chest, since he's holding me in a supporting embrace.

"Shh, it's okay Herms. I'm here. Just let it all out. Shhhhhh…" Oh Harry. What would I do without you? I take his advice and 'let it all out.' Well, most of it, anyway. Through sobs, I decide to tell him all that's bothering me, except for a few major details.

"Well, I came home last night and my parents weren't there and I called their office and asked the neighbors and checked the house and there was no note so I flooed to the burrow and I was still in my dress and everyone was staring at me so I changed and then I was supposed to floo herewith Ginny but Fred pushed her and George in so he could 'tell me something' and then he kissed me and then we came here and Tonks said that stuff she said out loud and Ron and Ginny are really mad at me right now and you were too and now I'm crying on your shoulder and I CAN'T BELIEVE MYSELF I DON'T WANT TO BE CINDERELLA ANYMORE!" Wow. Did that all come out in one sentence? Oh crap. I said the Cinderella bit, didn't I? Hopefully Harry didn't pick up on that part.

"Whoa. Feel better?" Okay, good. He didn't.

"Yes. Thank you, Harry." I look into his deep emerald eyes. I remember how I used to get lost in those eyes. "For everything." This part comes out as a faint whisper, and I close my eyes as I lean back against his chest. And before I know it, I'm drifting to sleep at the warm words in my ear;

"G'night, Herms. I love you."