Authors Note:  Okay, here is Chapter Four of our story.  I really hope you like it.  Again, I have to thank Laura for helping me out so much (she really is a better writer than me, although she keeps arguing with me about it, hehe). 

Disclaimer: Laura is right.  Whatever winnings I may have won while on a gambling trip are now gone.  However, on a second gambling trip I did quite well, winning $1,100.00 on a dollar slot machine.  But you still aren't getting it, whether you sue me or not, because I'm going gambling again tomorrow night and by that time it will definitely be gone.  Unless of course I have a winning streak, in which case, if you sue me I'll probably win that too so you still wouldn't get anything.  In short, don't bother suing us, we're just borrowing J.K. Rowling's characters for a while and having some fun with them

***Harry's POV***

Not bad, was my first coherent thought after the first wash of anger drained out of me.  She wrapped her arms around my neck and dragged me closer, doing something very interesting with her tongue.  I ran my fingers through her fiery red hair, wondering when she had learned that little trick…wait a minute...

I was snogging Hermione for all I was worth.  She was now clasping my face between her hands and….I jerked back out of her reach.  Bloody hell, this was HERMIONE! 

I whirled around just in time to see the furious look on Ron's, er, my face.  Without another word he turned and stalked up the stairs.  A door slammed in the distance, causing me to flinch. 

I've done it now, I thought.  I wanted to explain what had just happened, but then I remembered that he had completely destroyed my relationship with Ginny, making me furious all over again.  Prat!  How was I going to explain to her what was going on?  It was no use.  All I was coming up with was a picture of Ron and me in straightjackets at St. Mungo's.

I didn't know what to do about our problem but then I realized that I had an even bigger problem to deal with at the moment as I felt an arm slip around my waist.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked, still blushing a bit after their public display.  "You don't think he feels like a third wheel, do you?" 

She had no idea.

********

Dinner that evening was pure torture.

Ron sat as far away from me as possible and of course, Hermione sat as close to me as she could possibly squeeze.  Ron shot death glares at both of us, not that Hermione noticed, busy as she was trying to get closer. 

This wasn't even the worst part.  Oh no. 

The worst part was that Ginny was squeezed just as close to me on the other side.  And that was the torture.  The urge was almost overwhelming to pull her close and kiss her fervently all over the place.  She looked beautiful tonight, but then, she looked beautiful every night, although the looks she was giving my body weren't anywhere near as deadly as the looks Ron was giving Hermione and me.

Scarier even than that, were the smug looks Fred and George were giving all of us in between conspiratorial whispers.  This did not ease my mind.  Not even close.

****RON'S POV****

This was turning out to be the worst day of my life. 

I shoved food around on my plate, glaring at Harry and Hermione.  They were sitting so close they were practically using the same chair while Mum smiled at them every once in awhile.  I glared at her too.

Traitor.

When I saw Hermione's hand slip underneath the table to clasp Harry's, I couldn't stand to watch anymore.  I glared down at my plate, wishing badly that whatever had happened to cause Harry and me to switch places hadn't. 

All I wanted was to escape from the torture of seeing my girlfriend maul my best friend.

Although I knew she thought it was me she was hanging all over, it still hurt like hell. 

*~*

"Harry?  Harry?" I turned around after finally realizing that the voice was calling me.  Hermione was chasing me up the stairs and my heart skipped a beat.  Alone at last, I thought, wanting to drag her to my room for a quick snogging session. 

"Are you okay, Harry?" she asked hesitantly.

Am I okay?  Let me see, my best friend is furious with me for ruining his relationship with my little sister, said little sister who was sneaking into his bedroom in the middle of the night, I've lost my body, and on top of all that, my girlfriend is doing her best to force herself on my best friend who isn't even attempting to stop her.  But am I okay?  Hell no!

"I'm fine, Hermione.  Life is perfect." I answered sarcastically.

She stared hard at me for a minute and then abruptly asked "What is going on between you and Ginny?"

"Nothing."

"Well, something is.  Harry," she said softly, laying her hand on my arm, "I'm one of your best friends.  I want to help.  I know something is going on between the two of you.  You two were so happy and now, Ginny has practically become our shadow.  I've noticed that something was wrong.  You're even snapping Ron's head off every time he even looks at you."

While Hermione was speaking to me, she had moved closer.  The sweet smell of her perfume and the familiar tickle of her hair on my neck was driving me insane.  I couldn't resist. 

She was just getting warmed up in her lecture when I leaned forward, cupped her face with my hands, leaned forward and planted my lips on hers.  She didn't react for a minute and I knew that she was startled. 

I didn't care.

I was lost in the familiar taste of her lips that always made me feel like I had died and gone to heaven.  I was. . .

"Ooof!"  Breathless.  Now.

"You bastard!" 

No, that wasn't Hermione screaming at me.  It was Ginny.

"Gin. . ." I cringed as I saw her swing her hand up and felt the stinging slap across my cheek before she stalked off down the hallway.

I wasn't anticipating the second slap.  I never saw that one coming.  But after delivering it, Hermione hissed "What did you think you were doing?" before she too stalked off down the hallway. 

I put my hand to my aching cheek, cursing furiously.  Where do they learn that?

I stood in the hallway, still leaning against the wall for support.  I turned and saw Harry, standing at the top of the stairs, watching me and looking definitely amused.

I gave him my best "Go-To-Hell" look.  I deeply hoped he would take the advice.