Author's Note - Bloody Hell! A month later and I finally get a chapter done! I'm so sorry. All I can say is that university and it's work load has finally taken it's toll, and I'm finding that I'm way way behind. But never the less, I finished another chapter, so here you go.
Gabrielle.
-The End of Christmas Break-
Look at her! Laughing and smiling at him… running her fingers threw his hair…
"Absolutely disgusting," muttered Harry as he sat, loathing in his chair.
Hermione heard the comment and paused her reading. She slowly lowered her book onto her lap and silently watched Harry's growing expression of disgust.
"Something bothering you?" asked Hermione gently.
Harry's head swung over to face Hermione, but his body stayed positioned over the arm of the chair.
"Yes. Some people have no respect for others. Like anyone needs to see those two sucking face all day long. It's embarrassing to be in the same room with them!" growled Harry seconds before he turned back to face the couple.
Hermione stared at Harry in disbelief.
"Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean. I too find it so hard to be in the same common room with Ginny and Dean, while they sit and kiss twenty feet away from me. Very uncomfortable," said Hermione as she raised her book to her face and covered the smirk that lingered there.
Harry shot Hermione a look of annoyance and then sat properly in his seat. He crossed his arms over his chest as he begin to huff and pout in anger.
The loud huffing continued on, and after five minutes of it, Hermione peered over the top of her book, and then threw it down in irritation.
"Alright, I've had enough!" she began impatiently, "What on earth is going on with you two?" she questioned as she gave Harry one of her more stern looks.
Harry looked up and snarled, "What do you mean?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Harry you know exactly what I mean. At the Burrow everything was fine between you two. And now… now it's 'Hermione can you please ask Ginny if she can pass the salt?'" mocked Hermione as Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well?" asked Hermione when Harry didn't respond.
"Well… why don't you go and harass Ginny about it? That is if you can ever get Dean to remove his tongue from her throat." Drawled Harry as he turned his head to the left and his gaze immediately fell upon the couple who where still locked in embrace.
"I did ask her." replied Hermione with more sympathy, "But she just sort of waved me off and told me that it was over something childish."
At the sound of that last word, Harry's head swung around so fast that his neck popped. He winced in pain and rubbed at the sore spot, "Did she really say that?" he asked in a more calm and nervous voice.
"Say what?" asked Hermione, startled by the sudden reaction.
"Did she say that it was something… childish?"
Hermione thought for a moment, "Yeah… but there was a lot of mumbling on her part, so I'm not really sure what she was talking abo—Harry!" called Hermione for Harry was now walking quickly and angrily towards the portrait hole.
Hermione raised up in her seat as she watched Harry make his way threw the swarm of excited students whom had arrived only hours earlier from Christmas vacation.
She watched as Harry nearly knocked down a large group of third years, and when he walked out of sight, Ron came into view instead.
Hermione watched Ron as he looked over his shoulder with furrowed eyebrows and seemed to be calling after Harry. But a few moments later, Ron walked towards her, alone.
"Hey there, beautiful!" smiled Ron as he took the seat which had been Harry's only moments ago. Hermione half-smiled in response.
"Everything alright?" questioned Ron.
"I was just talking to Harry before he stormed out on me."
"What were you talking about?" asked Ron.
Hermione made a face, "Well, haven't you noticed how weird he's been acting lately?"
"How do you mean?"
Hermione rolled his eyes, "Come on Ron. Last night at dinner was a perfect example. The way he was obviously ignoring Ginny… and how he spent all last night at dinner overly flirting and giggling with Luna, he just didn't seem himself.
"I wish I knew what was going on with those two…" she said, just before her eyes fell on Ginny and Dean in the corner.
Ron shrugged. "So, they had a row."
"Yeah but that's just it…" said Hermione distantly, "what did they fight about?"
Ron threw Hermione a look, "Well what ever it is, it isn't your business, and you shouldn't be worrying about it."
Hermione's jaw dropped as she turned and faced her fiancé. "I know it's none of my business, but that still doesn't mean I have to like seeing my friends fight!" defended Hermione.
Ron raised his hands in a motion of self defense, "I know, I know. I don't like to see them fight either. But there are just some things that you shouldn't get involved in."
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away from Ron, but Ron continued on, unfazed,
"Take last night for example… I didn't ask Harry why he was crying,"
Hermione slowly turned to face Ron, "Harry was crying last night?"
Ron nodded.
"Why?"
Ron shrugged, "Hermione, men don't ask other men why they're crying."
"But you're his best friend!" Hermione nearly shouted for she didn't see the problem.
Ron half smiled. "True. But when a man hides his tears, it doesn't matter if he's your best mate or not - you just don't ask."
Hermione let go of a deep breath and fell back into her seat. She knew there was no point arguing and so she slowly picked up her book to start her reading, but before she could even open it up, there came a loud scream from one end of the common room.
Hermione and Ron looked up to see Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown running towards Hermione, both looking absolutely devilish.
"Lavender, would you look at that diamond on her hand!" screamed Parvati in a high pitched voice which rang around the room. Hermione and Ron's eyes met for a second, and the Ron was quickly blocked out of sight by the bodies of the two giggling girls.
"My goodness Ron, you sure have good taste!" said Parvati over her shoulder while she rotated Hermione's left hand in her own.
Lavender leaned forward to get a closer look at the engagement ring as the light from the candles above shone into the diamond, making it sparkle like the moon's reflection on a deep, black lake.
Hermione sat back in her chair speechless, as the two girls stared at her hand and the ring; Ron simply laughed.
"So?" asked Parvati wide-eyed, as though waiting for an obvious reply.
"So, what?" asked Hermione, truly scared at this point.
"So… how did he ask you?" Parvati persisted.
Hermione opened her mouth, but no words came out as she tired to think quickly about what she wanted to be known.
Parvati couldn't wait any longer and so she turned and faced Ron, "So, how did you ask her?"
Ron's eyes widened. "And this is the point in which I leave. Have fun ladies." Ron smiled as he got out of his seat and began to walk away.
Hermione leaned over to the side of her chair and stared at him with an open mouth, shocked that he was leaving her all alone to these hungry jackals. But before she could beg for mercy, Parvati turned to her.
"So when's the wedding? Do your parents know? What did they say? I'm sure they were shocked - I mean I know that my parents would be shocked. Would your parents be shocked?" Parvati turned to ask Lavender.
"Of course my parents would be shocked. I'm not even dating anyone!"
Parvati and Lavender laughed at this, but Hermione was still too taken a back to speak.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so happy for you! You and Ron make such a good couple!" awed Lavender.
Hermione smiled genuinely, finally coming too, "Thanks. I'm really happy about it… but to tell you the truth," said Hermione suddenly sounding distant, "I've had so many other things on my mind that sometimes… sometimes I kind of forget." stated Hermione sadly as she raised her hand from Parvati's grip and stared at the ring from a distance.
This was the truth. The very sad but real truth. With the attack on her parents, their short stay at Hogwarts and the train ride to Sussex to stay with Aunt Heather, Hermione's thoughts about marriage and a wedding where the last thing on her mind.
"Forget?" squealed Parvati, pulling Hermione out of her own thoughts, "How on earth could you ever forget? If I was you I'd be spending every waking hour planning the perfect wedding ceremony. The flowers and the dress, and bridal party – oh Hermione do you know who your brides maids are?" asked Parvati with hope in her eyes.
Hermione gulped at this. No, she had never thought about who her bride's maids should be. Heck her and Ron hadn't even set a date yet, never mind get all of the little details in order.
"I – um – uh – " began Hermione as she tired to think of a nice way to let the two sappy-eyed girls in front of her down.
"Well, you see I – "
"What she means to say is that she really hasn't thought about it, and when and if she needs you, she'll get in touch." came a voice from behind Hermione that she recognized right away.
Hermione turned and saw Ginny standing there with a very stern look on her face; Parvati and Lavender looked like they had just had their bubble broken.
"Oh well, that's fine. We'll talk to you later, Hermione. I've got to go and met up with Padma to tell her the great news." giggled Parvati as she grabbed Lavender's arm and quickly walked away in the other direction.
Hermione turned back to Ginny and smiled, "Thank you."
Ginny smirked, "Like vultures, aren't they? Wanting to know every little detail; you can bet by the time classes start tomorrow, everyone will know that you're engaged."
Hermione watched as Ginny walked forward and sat down in the chair that had been Ron's only moments ago. Hermione smiled.
"How is everything?"
"Fine. Dean was happy to see me, but can you believe that I left that stupid necklace of his at home? Had to make one hell of an excuse to stop him from getting all sappy with me." Answered Ginny as she made a face. "You know, I'm getting really tired of him."
Hermione tested the waters, "Well, I had thought that you were re-developing feelings for someone else."
Ginny's eyes narrowed, "Yes well, that certain 'someone else' turned out to be a low-life git."
"Ginny won't you just tell me what happened?" pleaded Hermione.
Ginny signed in defeat. "Fine, but only because I know you'll never leave me alone on the subject."
Ginny took a deep breath and without thinking much about a rational story line, she simply began. "We kissed, the day we arrived at Hogwarts. You and Ron had rushed over to the hospital wing to be with your parents, while Harry and I slowly made our way to the common room.
"On our way we were flirting a little, and then Flich started to chase after us, but we ran and ran, and the next thing I know, Harry pulls me began a curtain on the fourth floor."
Hermione's jaw dropped and a small smirked appeared, as if to say "Whoa-ho-ho!", Ginny blushed and continued.
"Yes, it was great. There we were, so close to one another, holding one another, listening for any sound of Flich. And then after a few moments… he kissed me. It was short but sweet, and I thought it was over but then he kissed me again. And from there…" Ginny blushed even harder, "Well, we got so into it, that I tripped on his foot and brought the curtain to the ground."
"Awww!" Hermione moaned in sympathy and Ginny slowly nodded with a small smile.
"Yup, a classic move by Ginny Weasley. Well anyways, we were sure that we had caught Flich's attention and so we ran back up the stairs and headed here."
Ginny paused as she remembered it, "He was holding my hand Hermione. We were running, he was ahead of me… and he kept looking over his shoulder and winking at me… it was the greatest time of my life… and then, she came around the corner."
By this time Ginny's eyes were narrowed and all the bashfulness in her face had fled. Hermione's body perked up at the sudden change in emotion.
"The second he saw her, he let go of my hand, and then she ran up to him and kissed him and he… he didn't pull back. Well of course I thought this was strange but I was sure that he was about to break things off with her and so I left the hallway. But then I stayed listening outside of the door, and Hermione, he didn't break things off with her! If anything, he seemed to act as though nothing and happened between us at all. How could he do that?"
Hermione stared at her friend with the out-most compassion and simply shook her head in response.
Ginny looked up to the ceiling and tried to stop the tears that were forming in her eyes from falling down her cheeks. "And that's not the worst part. Later that night, after I told Ron to met you up stairs, I talked to Harry." Ginny spat out his name bitterly as though it tasted badly in her mouth.
"He said it was all just one big mistake. Never should have happened. Can you believe it? I was horrified. How could all of those sweet kisses mean nothing? And then now, to have to spend every night at dinner, watching him flirt so openly with Luna at the table is just the most disgusting thing."
Ginny's face at this point had taken on and completely hateful look, and Hermione waited in silence for her next words.
"And now that Dean is back…"