Chapter 7:

Harry was amused at Severus' reaction every time he saw another photo of Hermione and Jason together, or even just a photo of Jason. He knew she had informed Snape that the two were just friends and were only pretending to be dating. Severus was obviously jealous and Harry had to use all his self restraint from calling him out on it. He was glad that Hermione was having a good time pretending to date this guy. As far as Harry was concerned, anything that got Hermione away from studying for a few hours was worth it as long as it wasn't dangerous.

Hermione was glad she had the distraction of pretending to be Jason's girlfriend to keep her sane. She was at an impasse with her current potions research and she was studying way too hard. She had just tested out of her second transfiguration class as well as her third potions class and was studying for two more classes to test out of. She was ahead of schedule school wise but that didn't mean she was going to let up. Her only break from research or studying came when she had to go out with Jason. They were getting to be very good friends. She enjoyed his company and was glad she had agreed to the ruse. She was worried though about how familiar Jason was becoming. He would just drop by from time to time and would write to her when he was away for a match. She couldn't be sure if it was all for the cover-up or if he was beginning to have feelings for her.

Minerva,

Everything is going well here for me as far as school is concerned. I just passed that second class to push me ahead of schedule again. I need some relationship advice, or rather non-relationship advice. I am concerned that Jason is starting to develop feelings for me and I first don't know how to tell if he really is and second I don't know what to do if he is. Please advise!

Hermione

Hermione was glad that Minerva was quick to respond, as she had no one else to ask and she definitely was not going to ask a guy!

Hermione,

It would not surprise me if the boy had feelings for you as you are an amazing young woman. I think you underestimate your appeal to the opposite sex. I am sure it helps that you see him for himself and not as some famous Quidditch player, much as why Harry was attracted to Tonks in the first place. Additionally you are very attractive and have been acting like his girlfriend for months now… perhaps he has grown fond of the idea. My question to you is: would it be such a bad thing to have him like you? You are not in a relationship; you have never even mentioned the desire for one. Would it be such a bad thing to give the boy a chance? Perhaps it could become something wonderful. I know you are completely focused on your schooling right now, but it couldn't hurt to give it a go could it? The worst case scenario is that you find out he is not someone you can see yourself with. Who knows, he could be the one for you. You're so young, stop acting my age and go out and live a little! Girls your age are supposed to date loads of boys!

Good Luck,

Minerva

Hermione laughed at the response and thought that perhaps Minerva was right. How was she going to find her Mr. Right if she never even dated a few Mr. Wrongs first? She decided that if Jason asked her out, for real, she would give him a chance. She just wondered why thinking about doing so made her feel like she was betraying someone. She shrugged it off and went in search of Vivek as they had some more research to do.

It only took Jason another 2 weeks to ask her out for real. He admitted that he liked spending time together and wondered if she would agree to try dating. She warned him that she would not give up any more of her study time than she already did but did agree to give it a go. Their first real date was interesting as they had to pretend it was nothing new to them, although it felt totally different. He had brought her flowers and everything.

Hermione could tell that Jason was not 'The One' but he was a nice enough guy so she decided to give it a try. Minerva had been right that she had never tried to seriously date anyone. She figured it would be good practice.

"May I kiss you goodnight?" Jason asked her after their second real date. She was hesitant but gave him a nod of approval. The kiss was pleasant but there were no fireworks, she just knew that when she found the right guy their kiss would set fireworks off.

"Thank you, I had a nice time," she told him with a small smile before apperating out of his house back to the dorms.

After a few more dates she was beginning to get the feeling that he was a very materialistic person. He was always trying to buy her affection, which she thought odd since she had as much money as he did.

"I would like to take you away for the weekend," he told her two months later, touching her face affectionately. "I want to spend some quality time with you away from Quidditch and AIMAE."

Hermione was very hesitant to go with him as she knew exactly what he was hoping for when he said quality time. "I don't know that I am ready for that yet," she told him honestly. "Perhaps if we have separate rooms." She offered when she saw how upset he looked. They agreed to go away the next weekend as he didn't have a match.

Hermione,

I can't believe you agreed to go away with him! You do realize that he will spend the entire weekend trying to get in your pants. Make sure he doesn't get a copy of your room key or he will try sneaking into your room in the middle of the night hoping you are just playing hard to get. With everything you tell me about this guy I don't see him as your type. But then no one ever saw Tonks as my type either! Just be careful and don't give in to him. He hasn't even told you he loves you… which he may try and use this weekend. Just warnings from your best friend who knows how men think!

Harry

Hermione had been having second thoughts about going away with Jason since she agreed and the letter from Harry hadn't helped things. She was also beginning to feel guilty for not telling Severus about Jason. For some reason she hadn't told him that they were really dating now, he was still under the impression that she was doing it for the press. She had attempted to write him several times, but it never sounded right. Their letters had been becoming more and more personal, bordering on flirtatious and she loathed stopping them. She knew that she was experiencing a side of Severus that no one had access to and she didn't want that to change. They had so much in common that it was a nice relief to be able to write about anything she wanted to him and not only would he understand but be able to respond intelligently.

"Are you ready?" Jason asked her with a wide grin, he was sure this weekend away was the ticket to breaking through her thick shell. "If you hang on I'll apparate us there." A second later they were in the lobby of a posh wizarding hotel suspended in the air above the Great Barrier Reef. It was a marvel of magic that held the hotel afloat above the ocean. The basement of the hotel was a large observation room with large glass sections in the floor and full length windows on every wall.

"This place is wonderful," Hermione told him with a smile. "I can't wait to go to the observation area and I already pre-booked us an ocean tour for tomorrow so we can go swimming and see the marine life. There is a lecture on care of both magical and non-magical marine life later this evening as well!"

Jason tried to sound excited about her plans but he really just wanted to spend time staring at her in her bikini near the pool on the roof. "Let's get checked in," he told her and led her to the front desk. As Hermione had expected, thanks to Harry's warnings, the clerk at the front desk claimed that they must have lost their reservation for the second room and they only had one available now. The young man, an obvious fan of Jason's was stuttering all over himself with apologies but swore they were fully booked for the weekend and there really were no additional rooms. "I guess we will just have to share then," Jason said, unsuccessfully hiding his smirk.

"No we won't," Hermione told him with a glare. "You will find a reservation for Hermione Granger for the weekend in your system." She told the desk clerk. "I also know how men's minds work," Hermione told Jason coldly. "I knew you never would have bothered reserving the second room and took care of it myself."

Jason gulped and knew he was deep in the dog house now. She had been testing him to see if he would actually get her a room and he failed. Not only was she not going to be tricked into sharing a room with him, she knew he was going to try it and beat him at his own game. He knew a lot of groveling was going to be necessary or she would never speak with him again.

Hermione loved the room she had reserved for herself, it had a very large whirlpool tub and breathtaking views. It was one of the top of the line rooms the hotel offered, without moving up to a full suite. She had found out that Jason had registered for the cheapest type room in the place so she had made sure that hers was nice. She took her time getting ready for dinner, making sure that Jason had to wait for her a good long time. She also made sure she looked fabulous. She knew there would be reporters at the restaurant and she wanted Jason to squirm knowing he was not going to have her that night, or any night as far as she was concerned.

She was the talk of the town that night in her Gryffindor gold dress. She had all garnet jewelry and garnet studded shoes, her take on Dorothy's ruby slippers. She had made sure she looked breathtaking. Jason was beside himself with how beautiful she looked and was proudly parading her in front of every camera and reporter he could see. Hermione was finally asked the question she wanted to be asked, 'What is with the red and gold as well as the shoes?' one fashion reporter asked.

"My slippers are my tribute to Dorothy who finally realized there was no place like home. I miss my home and the dress is my little way of showing my pride in being a Gryffindor." She told the reporter who was clueless about everything other than fashion.

"Who is Dorothy?" She asked and Hermione noticed too many other people were wondering the same thing.

"I thought that Australia was more in touch with the muggle world," she said sadly. "Dorothy is a character from a muggle movie and she finds her way to Oz. That's all I will say as you will have to find the rest for yourselves."

The lecture later that night on marine life was fascinating. Hermione purchased the lecturers complete written works as well as the offered DVDs and CD learning tools available on the other non-magical creatures in the reef. "I was hoping someone would be interested in more than just the magical creatures," the lecturer told her with a smile as she picked up the muggle materials as well. "I have been using muggle electronics for years now and always wonder why more wizards don't use them." He and Hermione spent and hour discussing different things after the lecture. She got his business card, with the intention of sending him one of the first 'magic laptops' she produced once she passed her masters test.

"Come on Hermione," Jason whined for the third time that evening. "Can't we go do something more fun?"

"This is fun for me," She told him coolly. "But I am sure you can go entertain yourself somewhere if you are that bored."

"But I want you to entertain me," he told her in what he thought was a winning seductive voice.

"Well too bad," Hermione said with a glare. "I am still disgusted with what you tried to pull with the room situation. You're lucky I am speaking with you at all." She them returned to looking out the observation window and trying to identify the different species of marine life passing by below.

Harry,

I had a wonderful weekend, despite Jason being there. He tried the one room mix-up like you said he would and used suggestive comments he must have thought were charming all weekend. He's lucky we were in public most of the time or I would have hexed him. The lecture on marine life was fascinating and the professor who gave it likes muggle electronics and we got into an hour long discussion on the benefits of muggle components in wizarding society! My tour of the reef was magnificent, you would love it Harry it is breathtaking! You will have to come visit it someday. As much as I miss home there are so many things I am getting to experience that I never would have been able to there. I miss you, say hello to Tonks and Remus for me!

Love,

Hermione

Harry was not surprised to find the note from Hermione in his box that morning but was glad that she had taken his advice. The mail arrived at the head table at Hogwarts, where Harry was crashing breakfast again. Severus was in a good mood that morning as he had gotten a fascinating letter from Hermione the night before telling him all about her weekend on the reef. Therefore he was greatly surprised by seeing her photo in the paper again. She had failed to mention that reason she was at the reef was for a romantic weekend with Jason. He was stunned by her beauty in her Gryffindor dress and quickly understood her reference to the Wizard of Oz. He was confused even more when Minerva gushed about what a cute couple they made.

"I don't think they will be a couple very much longer after the stunt Jason pulled this weekend." Harry told Minerva what Jason had done and watched her go into livid Gryffindor mode. One thing you could always count on Minerva for was righteous anger when one of her lions was in jeopardy.

"When were they ever a couple to begin with?" Severus grumbled, feeling very left out.

"For almost 4 months now," Minerva told him. "He asked her out for real and she agreed to give it a try. Although she hasn't been entirely happy with him and after what he pulled this weekend he's lucky he can still walk. I would have hexed him to the moon and back."

Severus didn't know what to think, he felt like his chest was shrinking and the world had been pulled out from under him. Hermione had not told him they were dating and he felt left out and lied to. He also felt heartbroken; he had been sure from the more intimate letters they had been sending there was a connection between them. He stumbled towards his chambers to think things over and nurse his sore heart.

Minerva, Albus and Harry all watched his exit with smirks. They knew that there was something developing between their friends. Harry was hoping that Hermione liked Severus as much as he obviously liked her. Minerva knew Hermione also had budding feelings for the potions master and Albus knows everything… or so everyone believed.