"He's been looking at me funny. I think he's siding with Ron. I didn't know there were sides to us not being friends."

"Life sucks for you."

Hermione playfully shoved David's shoulder. "And just tell me about your wonderful life growing up down under."

Hermione was especially glad to have David as a friend. He knew when to be serious and the right time to make her laugh. She hoped she wouldn't lose him to some other girl. How could Jenna not want him back? She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but Hermione had a bit of a sweet spot for David. And judging from David's almost permanent smile, he had taken a interest in Hermione, too.

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I would be in my mansion, swimming in a pool full of money.

Chapter 11

David Plus Hermione Equals Love?

Ron and Jenna relaxed by the lake one sunny Saturday afternoon. Jenna had her head on Ron's chest and Ron had his arms wrapped around her. Jenna sighed contently.

"I love it when it's just the two of us. No one around to bother us."

"No classes. No homework… scratch that, we do have homework."

"Must you ruin this perfect moment with homework?"

"You're right, I'm starting to sound like… never mind."

Ron mentally slapped himself. He couldn't count the number of times he had almost mentioned Hermione's name. Jenna didn't say anything, but it did get very repetitive at times.

"Speak of the devils," Jenna muttered.

David and Hermione were walking across the Hogwarts ground talking and laughing. David held on to Hermione's arm and pulled her toward the Forbidden Forest.

"Wait," said Hermione when she realized where David was leading her. "The Forbidden Forest is off limits. Why do you think 'forbidden' is in the name?"

"That may be true, but I hear it's a great make-out spot," David said slyly.

"I will not make out with you!"

David pulled Hermione close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"And why not?"

Hermione's head leaned closer toward Daniel's. Just before their lips met, she turned her head, causing him to kiss her cheek.

"Who would want to snog you?" she whispered before pushing him away playfully.

Jenna scowled at Hermione and David.

"I shouldn't let David bother me. He is in my past, and you're my present and future, Ron."

Ron tilted Jenna's head up for a kiss, but it soon turned into many countless kisses.

David and Hermione were walking back across the grounds. David had his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Hermione was staring at the ground but looked up as she passed the lake. Then, she saw them.

Ron and Jenna snogging as if they were the only ones in the world. They did look good together. They looked so happy together, but for some reason it made Hermione feel miserable. She turned away and ran towards the castle.

"Hermione!" Davis called after her.

David walked into the library. Hermione wasn't at her usual table. In fact, she wasn't at a table at all. He heard a sniffle come from an aisle. Hermione was sitting on the floor leaning against a bookcase. David sat down next to her and put his arm around her.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" he asked softly.

"Ron replaced me," she sobbed. "He asked me not to replace him, and then he goes and replaces me. Before Jenna was his girlfriend, we were trying to work our friendship out, but I haven't spoken to him for weeks. Men are scum."

"Don't talk that way, Hermione. I would never replace you with anybody. I hate to see you so upset over something. I love when you smile. You have a beautiful smile."

Hermione shifted and rested her head on David's shoulder. "I love you, David. You are so great."

David looked down at Hermione. "Really?"

Hermione looked back at David and nodded. "Yeah, I do."

David and Hermione didn't realize they had fallen asleep until they were abruptly awaken a few hours later by Ginny.

"David! Hermione! Wake up! People have constantly telling me that you've been here together. I was looking for you for hours."

David hopped up and helped Hermione to her feet. He put one arm round her waist and stuffed his other hand back into his pocket. Hermione looked at Ginny sleepily.

"Can I borrow Hermione, David?"

"Uh, yeah. I should head back to my tower to start on my homework. See ya later, Hermione." He pecked Hermione on the lips and walked off. Hermione stared after him until Ginny snapped her fingers in Hermione's face.

"I heard the original version of what happened, but then the rumours started."

"What are you talking about, Ginny?"

"Harry came in earlier and saw you asleep on the floor. Then, twenty minutes later Parvati told everyone that you were snogging in the library. Lavender dropped the library part and said that you were off snogging. Then, I heard 5th years whispering to each other that you're sleeping with David. Now, the whole school thinks you two are intimate!"

"Intimate! That was the first time he's kissed me… on the lips, anyway."

"He kissed you before!"

"Yeah, a few hours ago near the Forbidden Forest. He was teasing about the Forest being a great make out spot. I told him that I wasn't going to snog him, so he pulled me close to him and asked me 'why not'. I pretended like I was about to kiss him, but I turned my head and he kissed my cheek."

"He really likes you, doesn't he? I see the way he smiles at you. And he's Australia which is an added bonus (a/n: that line is for you ginny-wannabee!)."

"Are you his personal ad or something? I'm aware of what you're saying. But he used to date Jenna! Jenna is perfect. I can't measure up to her."

"Everyone is special in their own way, and everyone likes different things. David is obviously into smart girls. He is in Ravenclaw."

"I enjoy talking bout David, but what am I going to do about the rumours? It doesn't help that we walk everywhere with his arm around my waist. He's protective of me. I think it's cute."

"Well, what's the worst thing that could result from the rumours?"

"Well, Ron and Jenna could find out and hate me forever. The Slytherins would insult me every chance they get. Everyone will think I'm easy. And parents could find out and tell their children to stay away from me. So, about everything could go wrong."

"Okay… but you'll have David."

"Technically, I don't have David. Sure, he kissed me twice, he hold me close to him, and we know that we like each other, but he's never asked me out."

"Then, why don't you ask him out?"

"What am I supposed to say? 'I like you; date me.'? I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," said Ginny, her eyes lighting up. "Use Harry's approach. He just grabbed me and kissed me. It pretty much got the message across."

"That's Harry. I'm not as forward like him. Oh, and there's no way I'm doing it in front of a full common room."

"You don't have to. Just do it when you're alone. You're in here a lot. While studying in here one afternoon, get his attention and do it."

"What if he gets mad?"

"He won't. He's smitten with you."

Hermione and Ginny walked back to the Gryffindor tower discussing how Hermione would do it. Ginny queued for a dramatic passionate kiss, but Hermione finnaly got her to settle on a sweet peck.

Harry was sitting in an armchair chatting animatedly with Dean Thomas. He turned and smile at Ginny, but he looked at Hermione oddly. Hermione noticed this, but still smiled and waved.

"Hey, Harry. We don't really see much of each other anymore."

"Hey, Hermione," he replied curtly. He invited Ginny to sit with them, but made no move to invite Hermione.

"Come join us, Hermione," Ginny called from the couch.

"Oh, it's alright. I have homework."

'And you feel like you're losing your other best friend,' her mind added.

Hermione pushed the thought to the back of her mind and proceeded to the girls' dormitory.

David and Hermione sat silently in the library Monday afternoon writing their essays on "Plants that Heal Vs. Plants that Kill" for Herbology. She already had tried to kiss him, but lost the nerve and had to build it up again.

In her nervous state, Hermione tipped over a bottle of ink. David smiled and cleaned it up with a flick of his wand. She sighed, relieved that he hadn't laughed.

The silence became very awkward for Hermione. She felt as if she would explode. She knew she would have to do it eventually or Ginny would become increasingly annoying.

"David?"

"Yeah, 'Mione?"

"What did you call me?"

"Sorry, it's just that your name is long. I won't call you that anymore." David blushed causing Hermione to melt.

"It's absolutely alright, David. Not many people call me that. It's sweet." David smiled and put down his quill. "I wanted to do something all afternoon, David, and if I don't do it now I will pop.'

"Wha-" David was cut off by Hermione's lips meeting his.

"W-well, tha- that w-was interesting," he stuttered out.

"I'm sorry!" Hermione cried. "I knew you would get mad. I should have-."

"Stop. It's perfectly alright. I didn't think you liked me that much. That day by the lake…"

"It's called playing hard to get, Aussie. Pick up the hints."

David scooted his chair closer to Hermione's, if possible. "Well, hint taken. What do I win?"

Hermione laughed. "I think a snogging session is in order, but not in here."

David packed up his books faster that she thought possible. As she packed her books she thought that she could live with the rumours.

David wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist as she led him out to the grounds. She stopped by the lake and lowered herself onto the ground. David sat down uncertainly next to her.

"Are you sure you want to be out here. It's a common place for everyone to come after classed. We're definitely going to be seen."

"Let them see," said Hermione before kissing him.

"'Mione? Earth to Hermione Granger."

"Huh?" Hermione looked up from one of her History of Magic book.

"You've been on that same page for twenty minutes."

Oh. I had a lot of things on my mind. I won't bore you with my problems."

"No, you will tell and I will listen. That's what boyfriends do." David closed his book and looked at Hermione seriously.

"Three days ago Ginny and I left here and went to the Gryffindor tower. Harry was in there talking to another Gryffindor. He smiled at Ginny, but he looked at me like I was out of this world. Then, he invited Ginny to sit with him and completely ignored me. He hates me! And… that's it."

"I'm glad you told me what's been bugging you. It's good to know we have no secrets from each other."

Hermione smiled guiltily and looked back down at her book. Actually, she did keep something from David. Secretly, she was extremely jealous of Ron and Jenna. She didn't know whether she was jealous of their intense relationship or just the fact that Ron was in a relationship. It seemed that every time she saw them, they were snogging or confessing their love for each other. But it was much different from Ron and Lavender. At least it didn't look like Ron was eating her face.

Hermione sighed sadly. She was much happier when David was just her friend. They talked then. All they seemed to do now was study. She slammed her book closed and pushed it away, frustrated.

"We spend so much time studying and we never talk anymore. I never thought I'd say this: I'm sick of studying!" She looked quite cross.

"I'm sorry. I thought you said you can't get enough of this place." He put his book in his bag, surprised by her sudden outburst.

"Why would I want to spend every waking moment in the library with my boyfriend?

"Are you saying you want me to leave?" Davis asked, slowly rising from his seat.

This caused Hermione to jump to her feet. "What I'm saying is that since Monday afternoon we've doubled our study time. I thought that we already were in here too much. I would break up with you right now, but it's been only there days and I would probably regret it. I need an hour of two to clear my head."

She jammed her book into her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "Yes, this is a fight if that was your next stupid question."

This time Hermione was the one to storm out.

Surprisingly, Ron was sitting at a table alone working on homework. He was interrupted by Hermione stomping in very red in the face.

"You're not working with Jenna?" she said in a tone that matched her expression.

"No, we don't really get anything accomplished together. I'd get much farther without her. Weren't you with David?"

"Mr. Singleton and I have just had our first fight. Just three days into our relationship! I hate him so much right now. He assumes that I want to spend every walking moment in the library just because I told him I liked the library!"

"That's not really anything to fight over. You could have just told him that he needed to lighten up on all the studying," said Ron, tentatively.

"Oh, what do you know," Hermione snapped even though she knew Ron had a good point.

Ron shrugged and returned to his work.

Hermione was taken aback. Normally, Ron would have responded and start another argument. She didn't mention anything about it; she had to do something else first.

"Ron?"

"Yeah, 'Mione?" Ron looked back up at Hermione.

"I need you to find Harry immediately and give him your two-way diary. I really need to speak with him."

"Sure. He put down his quill and went up to the boys' dormitory and returned with his diary in hand. He walked pass Hermione, then walked back to her. He threw his arms around Hermione and held her tight.

"I love you so much, Hermione," he whispered in her ear before releasing her and rushing out of the portrait hole.

I really have nothing to say… I'm planning to do a sequel after I finish with this story, but don't worry those of you who are faithful readers, this is not the end. I don't you don't think I'm going to leave it like this.

Last Tuesday, me and my best friend got left at the mall during a field trip, and we had to walk back to school. The school is only a mile from the mall, but we had gone to the Shakespeare festival before the mall and we were extremely dressed up.

Please review. I really appreciate those who have been reviewing and ya'll are awesome. Sorry, more southern slang…

If you want to be in my Ron/Hermione Community, please review and say so, or e-mail me.

Arrivederci!

Mrs.GerardWay14