Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters, spells, places etc. The only thing I own is the plot of this story!

Chapter Four

Harry's eyes opened slowly and he looked around. Hermione still had her head resting on his chest, fast asleep. He looked at his watch. They still had half an hour before everyone started coming back from Hogsmeade. Trying not to wake Hermione up and avoid an awkward conversation, Harry gently lifted himself up. It didn't take much to wake Hermione though and her eyes quickly fluttered open. She looked around and blinked a few times before rolling over so she could see Harry. She turned bright red and quickly pulled away, sitting cross legged.

"Nice sleep?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded without meeting his gaze. An awkward silence filled the room.

"I-I shouldn't have fallen asleep-" Hermione started.

"Don't be silly. You deserved a good sleep." Hermione stood up from the sofa and looked round at Harry.

"We have half an hour," Harry said, already knowing what she was going to ask.

"Well, we might as well leave now, nothing better to do," Hermione replied.

"Snuggle up on the sofa again?" Harry hoped. Hermione blushed again and looked away. Harry sighed.

"Fine, let's go," he said, defeated.

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"God mate, you look like crap," Ron said, looking Harry over.

"I didn't have time to change before coming here," Harry replied. Seamus, Dean and Neville appeared behind Ron. The Entrance Hall was almost empty, except for a few 7th years who were taking advantage of their late curfew.

"So, what did you and Hermione get up to while we were at Hogsmeade?" Ginny asked, appearing with Hermione.

"Well, we were at the Hospital Wing for an hour and then we went back up to our dorm where we had a nice nap on the sofa," Harry explained as they began walking to the Heads Dorms. Seamus raised an eyebrow.

"We?" he asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied.

"You mean both of you? Together? On the sofa?"

"Err…yeah…" Harry replied. Seamus smiled and Harry suddenly got what he was implying.

"Oh, come on Seamus. We're best friends!"

"Ah, but that's what it starts out as, Harry my friend," Dean said, trying his best at sounding like Professor Trelawny and failing miserably.

"So," Seamus said, lowering his voice so that Ginny and Hermione couldn't hear. "Think you'll get lucky this year?" Harry felt the blush rising to his cheeks and Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville all burst out laughing. Hermione and Ginny looked at the boys suspiciously.

"What's so funny?" Ginny asked. Ron looked round.

"Harry's love life has nothing to do with you," he retorted. Seamus smiled.

"Although it may have something to do with Hermi-" Seamus was cut short by Harry, who clamped his hand over his friends mouth, but it made no difference. Hermione knew what he was about to say and for the 3rd time in the last hour turned bright red. Seamus, once let free, continued.

"So, you had a nice snuggle on the sofa, went to sleep for about 2 hours and had some lovely dreams…" At this everyone, except Harry and Hermione, burst out laughing. Everyone stopped walking so they could laugh and Harry avoided Hermione's gaze. Ginny straightened up and soon the boys followed suit.

"Have you noticed," Ginny said, smiling evilly. Harry dreaded what was coming and closed his eyes. "How they aren't actually denying it?" This brought on a new wave of laughter and Harry groaned.

"Come on guys, just drop it," Harry pleaded. Seamus stood up straight, looking very serious.

"Yes, sir. Of course, sir." Again with the laughter. Seamus was laughing so hard, Harry thought his head might actually fall off. No. Harry hoped his head would fall off. After about two minutes of non-stop laughter, they started off for the Heads Dorm again, Seamus and Ron still dropping in the odd comment.

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Dumbledore, realising that his students hadn't really anything better to do, decided to treat them with a 4 hour visit to Hogsmeade the next day. Everyone was shocked when he announced it at breakfast, but soon everyone was cheering.

"See," Harry said to Hermione over the noise. "I still get to go to Hogsmeade."

Deciding to go as a group, the Gryffindors set out to Hogsmeade, Harry and Hermione leading the way. It wasn't long before they were all seated round a table in a new restaurant, waiting for their drinks. The place was packed and the dance floor was full of couples, swaying to the slow music. Harry looked over at Hermione, who was deep in conversation with Ginny and Luna.

"Just ask her to dance for bloody hells sake," a voice hissed in his ear. Harry jumped and turned to face Ron. Seamus, Dean and Neville were all looking at him too.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Ask Hermione to dance," Ron repeated. Harry looked at each boy in turn and frowned.

"Like she'd say yes."

"Of course she would!" Seamus cried, causing the girls to look round at them.

"You better ask her, before someone else does," Dean added.

"Yeah, like ol' 'Eyeing Ewart' over there." Harry looked round at the boy Seamus was pointing to. He looked about a year older than Harry and his hair, unlike Harry's ever would, sat neatly on his head. Harry looked back round at Seamus and smiled.

"Eyeing Ewart?" he asked.

"Well, I had to think of something to call the guy, considering I don't know his name or who the hell he is," Seamus replied.

"So, you don't think he goes to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.

"Nah," Ron interrupted. "Looks to old." Harry looked back round at 'Eyeing Ewart' and frowned. He was walking towards their table.

"Ask her now!" Ron hissed. Harry looked between Hermione and the teenager who was now approaching them, all the while hearing, "Go on, Harry," and "Do it now mate," and "It'll be to late," and "Quick, he's gonna ask her." Harry put his hands on the table and lifted himself out of his chair slightly.

"Would you like to dance?" Eyeing Ewart asked, holding his hand out to Hermione. Her head snapped round and she smiled.

"Sure," she replied. Harry sunk back into his chair and watched as Hermione was led onto the dance floor.

"Stupid Twat," Harry mumbled under his breath.

"Yes, you are," Ron said.

"I was talking about your bloody Eyeing Ewart."

"That doesn't change the fact that I'm talking about you."

"Yeah mate, she was right there, you could have just bloody asked, what's the matter with you?" Seamus added.

"You're an idiot sometimes, Harry," Ron added. Harry felt his temper rising and jealousy boiling up inside him as 'The Stupid Twat' put his arms around Hermione's waist. They boys were still going on about how stupid he was so he turned round to look at them.

"Just piss off," he said, his voice laced with venom. Standing up he walked away and stood in a corner where he had a much better view of Hermione and her dance partner. They were talking. Harry could see their lips moving. His eyes narrowed again and he snorted.

Stupid bloody twat…he thought again. His anger hit exploding level as the guy kissed Hermione and Harry clearly saw her pull away, but still the idiot tried to kiss her again. Harry bunched his fists and pushed through anyone in his way to get to Hermione. By the time he got there, Hermione was pushing the older boy away, with no luck at all. He tried to kiss her again, but this time it was Harry who stopped him. The boy looked round.

"Can't you see she doesn't want you bloody kissing her?" Harry snarled.

"Who the bloody hell are you?" the boy asked.

"Harry Potter, pleased to meet you. Now piss off," Harry replied acidly.

"Oh, shove it up your-" the boy didn't finish his sentence. Harry's punch hit the boy square in the face and he fell to the floor. Hermione slowly backed away. Everyone was looking at them now, but the music was still playing in the background.

"You need anger management classes you prat," the boy spat, coving his eye with a hand.

"You need psychiatric help," Harry replied.

"What are you on about?"

"You could bloody well see she didn't want you kissing her, what's your problem? Can't get a girl to go out with you so you think you'll just try and get lucky at a restaurant with some unexpected girl who only wants a dance?" Harry shouted. The rest of the Gryffindor group were there now, staring wide eyed at Harry. The boy on the floor shook his head and smiled before standing back up.

"Well, at least she danced with me," he said, dusting his clothes, although they cleary had no dirt on them.

"What?"

"Well, you weren't getting very far, you looked at her every two seconds since you walked in and didn't ask her to dance once!"

"That's got bloody well nothing to do with you!" The boy laughed.

"All she would have been good for was a good shag anyway." Harry had, had enough. He jumped forward, sending himself and the boy crashing to the floor. He felt one of his punches hit something and the boy cried out in pain. Two pairs of hands grabbed Harry from behind and dragged him off the bleeding teenager.

"Let me go!" Harry shouted at Ron and Seamus. "I'm gonna bloody kill him!"

"Harry, calm down," Ron said.

"Calm down? Calm bloody down?" Harry shouted. "Let me kill him!"

"Harry, stop, please," it was Hermione that spoke this time. Harry stopped struggling and looked round at his best friend. Tears were streaming down her face and Harry instantly regretted even starting this off.

"Hermione…I-I'm sorry," he whispered. The music had stopped, so everyone heard his apology. Harry stood up and shrugged off Ron and Seamus before walking over to Hermione. Two adults appeared out of nowhere and looked at the scene before them.

"Unless you want to be charged with assault, Mr Potter, I suggest you leave this instantly," one of the two adults said.

"Gladly. Come on," Harry said, grabbing Hermione's arm and pulling her through the crowd, that parted to let them all past. They didn't say a word until they were outside, where everyone watched as Harry took out his remaining anger on a lamppost, kicking it with his left foot and swearing.

"Little piece of shit…stupid ignorant prat…bloody moron!" he shouted. He threw himself down on a bench and buried his face in his hands. Hermione sat down beside him and everyone else stood nearby.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said, looking at the ground.

"It's not your fault," Harry replied, not lifting up his head. Even with his head in his hands and his eyes closed, Harry knew Hermione was still crying and looking up at her confirmed his suspicions.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that," he apologised, pulling her towards him. She leant her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. After a few minutes of sitting like that, Harry pulled away and stood up.

"Now," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "What's say we cheer everybody up with a visit to Honeydukes, and I'm buying anything anyone wants." A smile spread across everyone's face, even Hermione's and they set off for the small sweet shop.