"The Sickness"
A few more weeks had passed after the couple's first argument and were still not on good terms. Hermione began to fear that this was the end of their brief affair. On some occasions she could have sworn she had seen Ron make eyes at Lavender Brown, another perky Gryffindor sixth year. This had thoroughly infuriated Hermione. Her last chance, as she felt, to get him back was to make him jealous. She had began warming up to Harry. She did it subtly as to not let Harry to catch on; just enough to get Ron a little heated. Though not to the point of breaking up. She just wanted him to pay more attention to her.
Try outs for the Gryffindor Quidditch team were to be held today. Harry was feeling a little down, for he thought he wouldn't make a good captain and he couldn't see why the team was a little more popular this year. This was preposterous. He's the best damn Seeker this school has seen in ages. Hermione thought. To cheer up her chum and stir up Ron, Hermione began to illuminate all of the wondrous things Harry had done. If he could do those things, he could easily be a grand Quidditch captain, and she laid it on thick.
"And you've been through all that persecution from the Ministry when they were trying to make out you were unstable and a liar. You can still see the marks on the back of your hand where that evil woman made you write with your own blood, but you stuck to your story anyway…"
To her pleasure and surprise, Ron had cued in, "You can still see where those brains got hold of me in the Ministry, look," while pulling back his sleeves, exposing his pale arms.
Playing a little further, Hermione strategically stated, "And it doesn't hurt that you've grown about a foot over the summer either," pretending toignore Ron's comment.
"I'm tall," he finished.
This had sprouted a new hope in Hermione's heart. She must have been imagining the looks he gave Lavender. He's not a girl-crazy bastard. Her disposition was improved even further when the post owls had arrived. Harry's new potions book had been set before him by his beautiful snowy owl, Hedwig. But that soon changed. Harry had switched the covers of the new and old books. Hermione didn't want to admit that she was jealous of Harry's find, but to tell the truth, she was really annoyed Harry was Slughorn's top potion brewer. She could care less about Sluggy, but it just wasn't right for her not to be top of the class. Turning her irate thoughts to something else, Hermione had began to read the wizerding news paper that had been delivered to her.
After looking in the Daily Prophet to see if anyone they knew died or been arrested (unfortunately Stan Shunpike was in custody; it was very plain to see he was more than likely put under an Unforgivable Curse), the three of them headed for the pitch. On their way they passed Parvati and Lavender, at the sight of which gave Ron a wide grin. Just a trick of the eye. she tried to convince herself. She attempted to look unconcerned but was only able to pull off a look of coldness. Just when the day seemed to be turning up.
There had been some terrible tryouts and annoyances from other houses before Ron took his position as Keeper on his Cleansweep Eleven. Hermione wanted to shout some words of encouragement but Lavender had beat her to it. She had sunk back into her seat not saying a word as a storm brewed in her chest, compressing her airways almost to the point of not being able to breathe. Despite her anger with Brown, Hermione was still excited to see Ron block wonderfully. Cormac McLaggen was going red in the face; growing ever more crimson with each saved penalty. He demanded another go from Harry but was refused. He had unknowingly been Confunded to fly the completely opposite direction of the oncoming Quaffle by Hermione. He had been saying nasty things about Ginny and Ron and she had figured if Ron had done well, he would be in better spirits for them to make up.
"Well done. You flew really well--"Harry strained. His voice was hoarse from all the yelling he had done.
"You did brilliantly, Ron!" Hermione put in, running towards her two best friends. She was enthused to see him smile at her for the first time in the past few weeks, even if it wasn't exactly directed at her. She gazed over her shoulder, satisfyingly to see a sulky Ms. Brown linked arm-in-arm with Parvati.
When a date was set for the first practice of the year, the friends strode to Hagrid's hut. Hermione's heart was so elated that she felt as though she were walking on the icy air. Her joy was spreading through her body as though she had just taken a large dose of Pepper Up in defense of the cold. The chilling drizzle that had plagued them the entire day had lifted. The sun was even making a feeble attempt to show itself.
What a perfect day. she thought as she ambled down the stony path with her best mates to visit another dear friend.