A/N: Thanks for reading. Kept my promise though, didn't take that long for me to get this chapter out. Interesting developments. Please Review!

Harry's New Fan

Hermione felt her feet had been floating in mid-air as she strolled her way back to the dorm. She still couldn't believe what had just happened. Harry Potter had asked her to the dance. Even the students couldn't help whispering about Hermione's odd behaviour as she passed by. But she remained oblivious to her surroundings.

Ginny and Parvati were gossiping on the steps as Hermione entered the Gryffindor house.

"So, I told her if that's what she— " Ginny stopped in mid-sentence as her eyes followed a dazed Hermione now making her way up the stairs. "Hello….Hermione," she greeted after her.

Hermione turned around slowly, her mind obviously someplace else, and uttered, "Oh, hello."

"Hey, Hermione!" Lavender, who had just appeared from the kitchen called out. "The sink, it's acting up again."

"Oh it is?" she replied, a big grin on her face, "How nice." With that, Hermione continued upstairs.

The three girls stared after her, confused. They were not really sure what to think. "How do you like that?" asked Lavender.

"Hermione," Ginny called out again.

"She must've gone crazy," Parvati concluded.

"Overworked," Lavender agreed.

A worried Ginny looked over at the two of them, "She's having a breakdown, poor girl. I have to do something!" She followed Hermione up the stairs and into their room where Hermione absentmindedly dropped all her books on the floor.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Ginny asked.

"Ginny," said Hermione with the same vacant expression, "guess what?"

"What?"

"I'm going to the dance tomorrow," she answered blissfully.

Ginny smiled as a wave of relief swept over her, "So that's it." She propped herself on Hermione's bed and switched to gossip mode.

"How wonderful! Who are you going with?" she asked enthusiastically.

"You'll never guess," Hermione reponded excitedly.

"Alright, then you better tell me," Ginny egged on.

Hermione sat down next to her, "Oh, I know it seems impossible, but … he likes me," she beamed cheerfully at the thought.

"Who?"

"Harry," she answered, "Harry Potter."

"Harry?" Ginny's face fell, "Oh." She looked away with a troubled expression on her face, "Look Hermione, I think I ought to warn you. Cho---"

"Oh Cho!" Hermione interjected as she started picking up her books from the floor, "He told me all about that. It's all over."

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked, still frowning.

"Oh, of course, I'm sure," Hermione got up from the bed, with pleading eyes, "Don't spoil my fun, Ginny." She smiled, "What do you think I should wear?"

"A suit of armor," replied Ginny doubtfully.

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The next day, the entire school was out on the Quidditch Pitch, watching the Gryffindor team play against Slytherin. Unfortunately, but typical for Hermione, she took on too much work in the library that had to be finished before the dance. Distracted however, she caught herself looking through the windows toward the direction of the Quidditch Pitch. Her heart leaped each time her house team scored.

With Gryffindors leading 60 to 50, Harry scanned tediously across the pitch for the snitch. Suddenly, a glimmer of gold caught his eye and in a split second, he was on it. Zooming past the bleachers, Harry flew faster and faster until the tiny ball was within his grasp. He was only 8ft off the ground when he reached out and made a grab for it. He tumbled onto the ground, and gasps were heard all around. Harry recovered and held up the golden snitch victoriously. The students erupted into cheers and applause as his teammates picked up him and triumphantly carried him on the shoulder back to the locker rooms.

Low and behold, the person waiting for him by the entrance of the locker room was none other than Cho Chang herself, enthusiastically showing her support for the Gryffindor team. As soon as the team let Harry back onto the ground, she promptly grabbed a hold of his arm and led him into a corner.

"Oh, I was so thrilled!" Cho told him ardently, "You made a Quidditch fan of me overnight!"

A surprised Harry, caught up in all the excitement was unable to react.

"Oh, Harry, I was so mistaken about you," she continued passionately, "But then today, when I saw you on the pitch…I suddenly realized that maybe I was so rude to you…because I really like you!" Cho smiled adoringly at him. "But I didn't want to like you as much as I could like you…if I really let myself!"

"Oh, Cho!" Harry cried happily, "This is crazy! It's wonderful! I don't know what to say!"

"I know what to say," Cho answered, moving up closer to him and playfully touching his chest, "Can I go with you to the dance tonight?"

Harry was shocked. "Can you! Oh, this is terrific!" he exclaimed cheerfully, "But hang on a minute, what about Malfoy?"

"He doesn't really matter," Cho assured him, "Poor Draco, he's really so stuffy."

An exultant look appeared over Harry's face, "I should've known the minute you saw me play a match," he said, slightly gloating. "This is wonderful!" Harry repeated, taking a hold of Cho, "It's the greatest day of my life! I win the opening match and you at the same time."

"Mademoiselle," Harry bowed, "voulez-vous accompany moi a la dance ce soir? He extended his hand.

"Your French is beautiful," Cho remarked, accepting his hand, "Enchantee, monsieur, enchantee."

"See you tonight then," said Harry.

"Tonight," she replied, leaning in. The two shared a passionate kiss before Cho strolled off in one direction while Harry, in a drunk-like state, entered the locker room.

He was still whistling merrily as he took off his uniform before the sudden thought hits him like a tidal wave.

"HERMIONE!"

Stepping into high gear Harry rushed to change before running his way over to the Gryffindor's house to find Hermione. The house was empty due to the fact everyone was at Hogsmeade celebrating his victory. He knew he wouldn't have enough time to search all over Hogsmeade, and get ready for the dance. He also knew how horrible it would be if he simply stood her up. There was only one solution, Harry decided, and he started making his way towards the Owlery to find Hegwig.

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It was nearly eight, and the Gryffindor house was in a stir, as all the girls were getting ready for the dance. Potions, powders, and beauty spells were flying across the rooms, and down the hall while the girls admire themselves one last time in the mirror donning in their dress robes. The majority of conversations amongst the students were either on the subject of their dates or complementing on each other on their appearances.

"How do I look?" Hermione asked as she checked herself in the mirror one last time. Her dress was periwinkle, strapless yet elegant, and forming to her figure very nicely.

Ginny was dressed in a simple but cute satin red dress, and is now applying the final touches of makeup. Never seeing her friend this happy before, she smiled, "You don't look like a librarian."

Hermione beamed back, "I don't feel like one."

Parvati knocked slightly before opening the door to their room. "Hermione, there's a message for you downstairs."

"Thanks Parvati," said Hermione as she left the room.

Parvati entered. "Ginny, I was working on that dance step you were doing the other day. I know it starts like this with the hip," she demonstrated.

"No, no, you're all wrong" Ginny stopped to show her, "You throw your hip out like this. Then that's where it comes in."

"Oh," Parvati nodded, "Oh, that's cute like that."

The two practiced the dance step until Ginny spotted a no longer happy Hermione she had seen just moments before going down the stairs. She merely stood there by the doorway

"Go on and finish getting ready okay Parvati?" Ginny said, trying to get her out of the room.

"Sure, I'll see you later," Parvati glanced a worried look over at Hermione before leaving.

Hermione stood facing the doorway, unable to move, her eyes practically in tears. Ginny puts her hand on Hermione's shoulder to comfort her, "Don't tell me," she said solemnly, "I know."

"He broke the date," Hermione told her, barely in a whisper, "He's going with Cho." She rested her head on the doorway and closed her eyes, "Ginny, I feel so awful."

"Oh Hermione, don't cry, please," Ginny pleaded. She gently shoved Hermione into the room and closed the door behind her.

"How could he do that?" Hermione cried in disbelief, "Send an owl at the last minute? He's horrible."

"He's just so dumb," Ginny remarked.

"He's not dumb," Hermione defended feebly, barely able to get her words out, "He got a perfect mark on his first French exam."

Ginny turned away, ashamed, "It's all my fault. I sicced her onto him. I had to open my big mouth!" she admitted regretfully, "Gee, Hermione, I didn't know you liked him." She sat down on the bed, "Fine friend I turned out to be."

"Oh don't blame yourself," Hermione replied, "He didn't have to change his mind the minute she came running." She shook her head, "Not if he didn't want to." She sat down next to her, "Guess he wanted to."

"HEY GINNY! ARE YOU READY?" Parvati called out from the next room.

Ginny looked at the door, and then back to her friend, "Hermione, I won't go. I'll stay here with you."

Hermione gave a weak smile, touched by her gesture, "Oh that's sweet," she choked, "but it really wouldn't help either one of us."

"Well, there must be a way of fixing this," Ginny stood up, "I'll try."

"No don't." said Hermione, "don't try to fix anything." She stared ahead, out into space, "I don't want him anymore," she muttered bitterly. Wiping back her tears, she told Ginny, "You have a good time."

Ginny looked at her uneasily, "Well, what will you do?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "Oh, I don't know. Read my favorite book I guess…Les Miserables."

Ginny felt incredibly sorry for her roommate, but now there was nothing she could do to help her. Without a word, she grabbed her cloak. Glancing back at her friend one last time, she headed for the door.

"Have fun." Hermione called out to her.

As Ginny left, Hermione stood up and made her way over to the window. From there, she could see her excited housemates happily being escorted by their respective dates to the dance. Slowly, she closed the curtain, and spent the rest of the evening crying herself to sleep.

A/N: Oh, I know I'm a bitch. But you know my style. Things have to get worse before they can get better. So please take the time review!