Chapter 2
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Right, here it is; chapter 2.
Dedicated to: lilacbookstar. Happy Birthday in advance, girlie!
And btw, this isn't humour as in completely laugh out loud, roll on the floor humour, but a subtle humour. Enjoy!
(Hermione's pov – 2am – in the common room)
I had come to the common room to think. I sat with my head in my hands looking into the dying fire.
Had I just made a huge mistake?
OK, all I'd done was agree to go to the stupid ball with George. It doesn't really help that he happens to be the brother of the love of my life.
I picked up a parchment-ball and threw it into the fire.
"Damn ball," I said as I watched it burn.
"Did you just swear?"
I spun round so quickly I nearly cricked my neck. Then I sighed with relief. It was only Harry.
"So what?" I said, knowing he would not let me live this down.
"So," he said teasingly, and came to sit next to me, "maybe this is a start of a new Mione."
"Mione!" I snorted, laughing loudly now. "No one ever calls me that!"
Now I think about it, it's a lot nicer than 'Hermy', isn't it?
"Ron does," Harry said so seriously that I stopped laughing.
"No, he hasn't," I said, though a part of me kind of wished that he did. That way I could be his Hermione. I blushed bright red at this thought, and tried to conceal it with my hands. I know I must have looked like the 'scream'.
"Well, not to your face, he hasn't," Harry said with a small laugh. "You know," he began, and I knew it would have something to do with this stupid ball, "he didn't eat dinner last night."
"WHAT?" I practically yelled, even though I knew it was early morning. I lowered my voice. "Why?" I whispered.
"My head says that it's something to do with you dating his older brother," Harry said with a huge smirk. My face twisted into a look of horror.
"Is – is that w-what he thinks?" I stuttered. I was certainty not dating George; he was just taking me to the ball, just as friends. Is that what everyone thought – that I was dating George? Oh no, I had to get out of this...
"That's what Ron thinks, but don't worry; the rest of the world knows you're just friends."
"Except Ron," I said quietly, and I don't know why, but a tear came from my eye. I tried to blink it away, but they kept on coming. Why did Harry have to be here?
He held me in a half-hug on the sofa. I somehow think he's guessed that I like Ron. I'm not exactly discreet, am I?
"Maybe this is a good thing," Harry said, stroking my hair. How can he be so understanding?
"Are you kidding me?" I asked through tears, hardly believing what he said. I pulled back from him a bit and looked him in the face. This had to be a bad joke...
"Yes, well, maybe after the ball, he'll admit how much he likes you so you don't go running off with any other brothers of his."
"I am not running off – did you say that he likes me?"
"Well, he hasn't exactly told me," Harry said, and I felt another tear drop down my face. "But he is so obvious; I don't know how you could even miss it."
"Really?" I asked, daring not to believe it.
"Really," Harry said. "Honestly, for the smartest witch of our age, you're not that bright."
I slapped him playfully on the arm. Where would I be without Harry? He's like the brother I've always wanted.
"So, just to clarify," Harry said, and it sounded like this was the question he had wanted to ask, "Do you fancy George?"
I sighed with relief; I thought he was going to say Ron, I really did.
"No," I said, smiling. Harry smiled back. I think he knows that I like Ron.
"Night, Hermione," Harry said, and I bade him goodnight back. I watched him go up the dorm stairs and I smiled widely to myself. Harry said that he liked me!
Then I realised my situation. Ron thought I fancied George. Ron (hopefully, anyway) likes me, and I really like Ron.
I think Ginny was right; Ron might have asked me. I suddenly felt sick. I sat back on my chair, and I nearly dozed of there and then, but I heard the dorm door open. Thinking it was Harry, I opened one of my eyes, and I was about to ask him what he wanted, but instead I opened them both and nearly jumped out of my seat.
"Ron!" I exclaimed, probably a bit louder than I should have.
"Mi–Hermione!" he said, equally surprised. I gestured for him to come over and sit down next to me. After a bit of a pause, he did.
"Listen, Hermione," He said, and I noticed his voice crack a bit. I smiled anyway, hoping he wasn't going to yell. "Ah, um, nothing."
Oh. That's a tad disappointing, my head was saying.
"OK," I said. Say it, my head was screaming. Say you and George are only friends!
"Look, Ron," I said. "George and I are –"
"Going to the bloody ball together! Don't you think I already know that! Don't you think that I don't know that my best bloody friend is going to the ball with my brother! Well, I do know that!"
I can't help it. I snapped.
"Do you have a problem with that?" I yell back, forgetting that it was nearly 2:30 in the morning.
"Maybe I do!" Ron shouted back, and I have to admit my heart flipped round.
"Oh yes, and why's that?" I yelled, my heart thumping hard against my chest.
"Because – because George only, only uses girls, Hermione! Do you really think he actually fancies you? Well, I know he doesn't! He doesn't even like you like that, Hermione!" he said the next bit with particular emphasis on each word, "He – is – using – you!"
SLAP!
I had whacked him hard round the face, and he held his cheek whilst I looked at him.
I can't lie. I went mad. Does he think that he really can't like me? Am I really that unlikeable, that undesirable?
I swear I was so angry; steam must have come out of my ears. Picture that with the frizzy hair and I must have looked at my best.
"He doesn't like you," Ron muttered under his breath, loud enough for me to hear, but quiet enough so I didn't hit him again. I was mildly pleased to see his cheek redder than his other flaming one.
"Is that it? Do you not want me to get a date? Do you not want me to be happy and get a damn date! Maybe he hasn't shown any outwards feelings towards me, but in the three minutes when he asked me, he was more of a gentleman than you've ever been to me!" Now I knew I was throwing caution to the wind. And I had sworn out loud again. Oops. "And you know what?"
"What?" Ron yelled, standing straight again.
"Maybe," I shouted, knowing I might regret this, "Maybe I like him too!"
Ron snorted so hard I think he might have damaged his nose. What was so funny about me liking him?
"Well, maybe he's changed, Ron. But you know what?" I yell, not giving him a chance to yell back. "You haven't, and you never will, change one bit!"
I could barely conceal my grin as Ron opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish. I was going to tell him that, when he shut his mouth and walked up to his dorms, slamming the dorm as he went.
Serves him right.
But a little part of my head knew Ron was right. I knew George didn't like me like that (and let's face it – who would?), and I definitely knew I didn't like him like that. So why on earth did I say it?
Hold your breath. I know why.
I had had enough thinking for that night, so I just slumped back and fell asleep on the chair, hoping tomorrow would never come, knowing it would.
Bit of a dark ending for this chapter, but I have a vague idea of where this is going, and you can probably see it, too! Only a few more chapters left!
If you liked it, Review. If you didn't, please review anyway.
autumnlover
