Train Stations & Platonic Accusations

By FeesleyForDraco

[Harry Potter; Non-canon couples/AU; Rated M for Language and Explicit Adult Themes. Not canon compliant. No horcruxes/no yearly confrontations/no Voldy resurrections, etc.]

Part 2: Journey to Hogwarts Castle

Clutching her hand firmly, Harry managed to tug Hermione past student after student and finally tucked them into a compartment alone, tossing a locking charm at the door as he kicked it shut behind them. One spin was all it took, he had her back pressed against said door and spent the next several minutes kissing the hell out of his witch.

"Will anyone come looking for us? Ron?" Hermione gasped as Harry finally allowed her room enough to pull her lips away. His voice was rough as he responded while leaving sweet kisses along her jaw.

"Nope. I caught his eye just now as he got onboard down at the other end of the train. He's gone to find Lavender and knows we will come find him later."

"How could you possibly know that without actually speaking to him?" Hermione tried not to sound like such a swot, really she did.

"Hand gestures, facial expressions and general bro code. No talking necessary. And speaking of no talking…" Harry was back on her, the fingers of one hand grasping her throat, the palm pressing against her collar bone as his tongue caressed hers. His moan against her lips made Hermione's pussy tingle deliciously.

Surrendering, Hermione flicked her wand around the, casting a Muffliato and a Notice-Me-Not charm on the off chance that someone walked by. She squeaked in surprise when Harry lifted her easily and turned the two of them, dropping down onto the couch and pulling her down into his lap until she was straddling him. Brilliant green eyes met her rich brown gaze and they sat frozen for several breaths, just connecting, letting their combined magic drift through the small room around them. She ran her fingers through his unruly hair. His smile turned into a wicked grin, his eyes glowing with mischief.

"How long have you wanted to do that?"

"Too long." Hermione admitted and Harry smiled at her reply.

"Why haven't you done it before?" The silence was deafening. "Hermione?"

"I was scared. Still am." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Scared of what?" Harry pressed on, needing to know where her head was at that moment.

"Ruining everything… losing you." More whispers in the warm air of the compartment.

"Never going to happen. We're too close for that." Harry assured her, his grip on her and the tone of his voice both desperate. She rolled her hips against the growing bulge between her legs where she sat straddled in his lap. "Has anyone ever kissed you like this, touched you like this before?" Harry whispered against her swollen lips.

"No. Not ever. Just you." Hermione's voice had an edge of pleading that made Harry's heart ache. Did she think he might not believe her?

"Mmmm, my girl." He murmured against her hair. "Should we be trying to go slow and get to know each other? Isn't that what Witch Weekly says you witches are supposed to want?" Hermione shot that plan down hard.

"Oh please, we already know each other better than we know anyone else on the planet. There are very few things about you I don't know." She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I knew the first and second time you had a wet dream about me. You couldn't look me in the eyes for the entire day afterward and kept blushing like crazy. It was adorable." Another kiss along his jaw. "I know that your love of treacle tart borders on obsession and you likely have at least three full tins under a stasis spell in your trunk so you can sneak bits as a snack in the dorm." A kiss under his ear as she whispered her next secret. "I also figured out pretty quickly that the reason you like to stay late in the Quidditch locker room after games and practice is so you can wank alone in the showers. I don't need to know more about you, Harry James. I do need you to let me sit on your dick." Her fingers had begun to tremble as she tugged on the button fly of his trousers. Her heart was racing inside her chest and her stomach clenched. "Unless you don't-."

"I do." His fingers circled her wrists to keep her from pulling away. "I want you more than anything."

'Then just have me. I'll talk you to death later, I swear it." Their shared gaze was full of so many promises. They only lasted a few breaths more before they were on each other again, lips pressing and fingers clenching. Harry's fingers snuck up to cup and caress Hermione's breasts as they kissed. Support charms were one of his most favourite things. He leant forward to lick, suck and mouth at them through her knit top, soaking it with his tongue and as she rocked over his erection.

"I missed you so much this summer. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you." Harry groaned into her hair, loving the way she whined and arched against him. "I spent every single day with my hand wrapped round my dick while I imagined how amazing you'd look naked."

When they broke apart she was panting heavily, and Harry snagged his hands in the fabric of her loose-fitting jumper, meeting her hooded gaze questioningly as he began to lift it. Harry peeled her out of her shirt, his hands trailing over her skin and making her shiver at the rough feel of them. He palmed her perky breasts eagerly and Hermione tipped her head back with a moan, her cheeks ruddy with embarrassment at the first time a boy had ever seen her bare breasts. Harry could feel her arousal soaking through his trousers leaving a wet spot behind. He flicked his eyes down and groaned, slipping his hand around from her arse to fist at the hem of her skirt, he tugged it up. "Fuck," he hissed when he spotted the dark purple lace between her thighs. He tucked her skirt into the waistband and cupped her cunt, dragging the soaked lace over her clit, smirking when she hissed.

"You are so wet." He had an inappropriate amount of pride in the fact that she had soaked his hand with her want of him. Hermione let her tiny hands drop between them, popping the button on his trousers and slowly lowering the zipper tooth by tooth. She drug her palms up his chest, pulling his t-shirt along for the ride and lifting it over his head with Harry's help. The blazing look she gave his naked chest was nothing short of hunger. When Harry used his wand to cast a contraceptive charm at her abdomen, Hermione smirked and baldly asked if Sirius taught him that one as well as the lubrication charm, letting him know she heard their whispered conversation on the platform.

"Heard that, did you? Well the answer is no. Sirius is full of helpful information for anyone who likes to stir up trouble or break the rules. This handy little charm came from Remus, who is always good for helping you stay out of trouble, or at least not get caught." Harry didn't even feel bad admitting to such.

His free hand fished his cock from inside his boxers and he was guiding her down by her hips, back into his lap, this time determined to fill her up. Hermione went eagerly, holding his strong shoulders for balance. Harry groaned at the wonderful tightness of her slick pussy enveloping his mushroom head, but the feeling was quickly overshadowed by her attempt to swiftly take in all of him. Harry could see the grimace she was trying to hide even as his hands grabbed her hips to still her movements.

"Easy, slow down. I'm not going anywhere." Harry helped Hermione set a slow, grinding rhythm as she lowered herself onto his cock for the first time. By the time she was seated flush on his lap, her juices were running down his sack and her sweet little cries of pleasure are filling the compartment. Harry wrapped his arms around her body tightly, holding her close even as Hermione bounced herself on his cock. He buried his face against the side of her neck, kissing and licking at her skin, clutching her to him desperately. Hermione fucked herself on his cock until she couldn't stand it anymore.

"Be my good girl and come for me." He'd barely got the words 'good girl' out before she was shuddering beneath him, her eyes wide in surprise that the term of endearment had tipped her over the edge. A low, husky moan tore free of her lips when the fire in her belly ignited into a brilliant explosion of color and light and magic behind her eyes. Her pussy clenched, and her body trembled and shuddered with the power of her release, pulling Harry over the edge along with her. He came with a muted roar, his teeth sinking into her skin.

They sat for ages just breathing as one, letting the warm sweet magic circle around them, prolonging their pleasure. Eventually, Hermione lifted herself off Harry and moved to stretch her legs.

"I'm absolutely going to let your unnatural and irresistible charm take the whole entire blame for today's events. I swear, I have not a drop of self control to speak of when you're around. Even smart girls are slags just like all the other witches. Letting you into my knickers at the first available opportunity. This is all your fault, Harry Potter." Hermione told him as she went about redressing and sorting out the mess that was her hair.

"Hey, don't call my witch a slag." Harry exclaimed in false offense. Hermione fairly cackled in response. "Don't worry about it, baby. It's not your fault you have no hope of resisting me."

"I can't decide if I want to keep kissing you or stop so I can push you out of this moving train." Hermione said with an eyebrow raised, her arms crossed over her now clothed chest.

"Can I pick?" It was most certain at that moment that Hermione could solemnly swear Harry was up to no good.

Meanwhile, Ginevra Weasley, with her new Pygmy Puff in tow, was making her way quickly down the corridor through each train car. She occupied herself with peeking into the windows of the compartments, searching for the wayward Gryffindor Seeker. She'd heard some ridiculous and obviously insane rumors about her Harry and that slut Granger on the platform, which couldn't possibly be true. After searching the last train car and finding a single compartment locked with the shade drawn, Ginny pulled her wand and began trying to open the door, grumbling under her breath as none of the charms she tried worked.

"I better not find them together or I'm going to make that know-it-all wish she'd never gotten her Hogwarts letter. The Boy-Who-Lived is mine!" Ginny groused darkly under her breath.

"Well that's entirely false. Has an infestation of Nargles attacked your mind? Even your Pygmy Puff is finding you quite disagreeable at present." Ginny squeaked and spun around, jostling the disgruntled pink poof squeaking on her shoulder, to find Luna Lovegood holding a magazine smiling at her benignly.

"Luna! H-How long have you been standing there?" Ginny snapped nervously, glancing around wildly to see who else was lingering nearby but finding them quite alone.

"Longer than you'd like. Did you try knocking?" Luna was staring dreamily at something invisible about six inches to Ginny's left. "Perhaps the nargles are keeping you out here for a reason. That compartment must be full of Blibbering Humdingers, how exciting!"

"Ugh, what do you know?" The redhead huffed before abandoning her endeavor and moving past her one-time childhood friend toward the center of the train.

"I know Harry well enough to know he hates being called the Boy-Who-Lived," Luna called after the girl, then giggled to herself as she sat down in the empty compartment across the hall, pulling out the latest copy of the Quibbler and donning her spectrespecs.

It was fifteen minutes and several cleansing and freshening charms later that Harry and Hermione emerged from the once locked compartment to find their Ravenclaw friend most of the way through an article on Obscure Voodoo Practices in America and Canada.

"Luna! How was your summer? And also, have you met my girlfriend, Hermione?" Harry wore a cheeky grin as he sent Hermione a wink while pulling Luna into a warm hug. Hermione poked her boyfriend and leaned to give Luna a hug herself.

"You're so silly, Harry. Hi Luna, how was your summer, really?" She asked.

"Hi girlfriend-Hermione. Summer was great. Daddy and I went on heaps of adventures." Luna wore a placid smile but her eyes sparkled with delight.

"Did you find anything exciting on any of your trips?" Harry inquired.

"We foraged for lots of wild herbs for cooking and potions ingredients. Daddy also said this summer's exploration really helped him narrow down exactly where to find the Crumple Horned Snorkack. He'll be heading a formal expedition after the Autumnal Equinox."

"That's so exciting. Do you think he will write a book on the subject?" Hermione could always turn a conversation towards books and she wasn't even apologetic about it. It was insanely endearing in Harry's opinion.

"Oh yes, he's written several books in the field of Magizoology. I have copies of them all in my room at home. Maybe next summer you could come visit the Rookery, if the wrackspurts don't worry you too much." Luna sounded just as indifferent as always, but Harry was certain that was a defense mechanism. He doubted Luna invited many people to her home.

"I'd love to come visit you over the next break. We could make plans for you to visit my home as well." Hermione's offer was sincere and Harry found himself immeasurably grateful to his witch for being such an amazing person.

"Really?" Luna's response sounded much closer to hopeful rather than indifference that time.

"Really, really. I can take you into the muggle world. Maybe we will even let Harry tag along." Hermione's joke got a sweet little giggle from Luna even as she nodded in agreement.

"How generous of you ladies to include me. It's a good thing I adore you both." Harry was feeling quite jovial, and Luna chose that moment to catch him completely off guard.

"While we are on the subject of people you adore, is the position of little sister now available? The Wrackspurts tell me I'd be very happy having an older brother to look out for me." Her bright blue eyes blinked up at him through soft blonde lashes expectantly. Harry felt his heart clench at the thought of this sweet little witch even needing protection from anything. He pulled her in for another hug before releasing her with a silent promise.

"Of course, Luna-bug. You are the only witch I'd even consider."

"Oh good, though I'd prefer we don't have sex in train cars like you do with the last witch you called your sister, if it's all the same to you." Hermione was certain her eyes just barely remained in the sockets, so wide was her stare of surprise. Harry choked beside her before devolving into raucous laughter. He managed to collect himself and gave the blonde Ravenclaw a very solemn look, laying his hand over his heart in sincerity.

"You got it, no sex required. On my honor." Harry vowed.

"Oh good. Glad that's settled, and now that I've made it weird, I'm going to make my exit. Keep watch for swarms of Nargles once we arrive in Hogsmeade, they've really worked themselves into a tizzy!"

Hands covering her flaming cheeks, Hermione watched in stunned silence as Luna skipped down the corridor and into the adjoining train car.

"I don't think I've ever been so mortified in my entire life." Hermione admitted, turning to her boyfriend to see him wearing a smug smile. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything." Harry held up his hands in surrender to his feisty lioness.

"You didn't have too. Just… shut up."

As they made their way down the corridor in search of their Gryffindor yeartmates, Harry tossed a wink at Draco Malfoy who was seated in the closest booth to the end of the public seating car with the eldest Greengrass sister, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Draco sent him a truly filthy smirk and a naughty flick of his tongue that made Harry supremely glad Hermione hadn't seen the Slytherin.

"Well, if it isn't the reigning King and Queen of Gryffindor, come to grace us with their majestic presence. All hail!" Seamus' loud exclamation and wide grin was met with good natured laughter from most, including the open compartment of fourth year hufflepuffs across the corridor.

"Shouldn't the king and queen be seventh years?" Harry asked, looking thoroughly amused as he shut the door behind them and sat down in the corner by the window, pulling Hermione into his lap casually as if he'd done it a hundred times before. The witch herself looked unfazed and merely patted her skirt into an appropriate area of thigh-coverage before allowing her chocolate gaze to take in the room.

"Ya okay, who then? Katie Bell? Cormac McLaggen?" Seamus looks supremely unimpressed by the implication.

"They both defer to you as Quidditch captain. And what about the Snake's Den? You know Malfoy's leading that house unopposed, not any of the seventh years." Ron added, pulling Lavender up into his lap as well, to make more room along the bench.

"Parkinson likes to think she is the other top Slytherin." Faye Dunbar noted, her moderate tone holding just an edge of mocking.

"She's set herself up for disappointment all around. Her housemates don't respect her at all, and her would-be beau is entirely indifferent towards her. Daphne Greengrass caught Malfoy's eye years ago, but he's playing the long game because he's intelligent as well as cunning." Lavender passed her judgement as if it was law, and honestly around Hogwarts nobody was arguing with the Gryffindor girl's reign as gossip queen.

"I can see why," Parvati chimed in, "she's everything his parents would expect of his future wife. On top of that, she's a powerhouse magically, has a wicked sense of humor, a gorgeous face and a smoking body."

"Merlin, we should make more of an effort to befriend her this year. I bet she looks incredible naked." Hermione's suggestion was met with agreement by the other witches and confusion by the wizards around them.

"What does being her friend have to do with nudity? And speak very clearly, I'll be taking notes." Neville asked, looking at each of them intently as he fished one hand into his messenger bag presumably for ink and a quill.

"You prat." Lavender said with an eye roll, reaching across Ron to shove Neville playfully as they all descended into laughter. When the blonde caught her breath she gave them a naughty grin like she was up to no good. "Raise your hand if you've seen every single one of your female friends naked." Within seconds, all witches present had their hands raised.

"All of you have…?" Dean's voice trailed off as the heads of said witches bobbed up and down quickly in agreement.

"And not just because the four of you have shared a room for years?" Harry questioned.

"Nope." Parvati said, popping the 'P'. "We have plenty of friends outside of the dorm."

"Wait, so in fourth year during the Tournament when you got really close with Fleur Delacour…" Ron had turned toward Fay Dunbar expectantly, his tone serious. The witch smirked at him smugly.

"Absolute knockout and not at all concerned with modesty of any sort, which I mistakenly thought was a byproduct of her Veela heritage. Turns out, it's a good thing Beauxbatons allows boarding for witches only. Body shame apparently is not a thing for them at all. I went to their giant carriage once with Fleur to grab something from her room, and when I tell you there were naked witches in every single communal area of that place I am not exaggerating in the least." Faye intoned benignly like she hadn't just dropped a hormonal atom bomb on the room at large. Harry leaned across the aisle toward Seamus and Dean.

"How much do you think a pensieve would run me? I bet I could get Sirius to send us one."

"Not a chance in hell, Harry James." Hermione said threateningly, digging her elbow into his ribcage in punishment. Harry yelped, grabbing her around the waist and digging his fingers in relentlessly. Peels of laughter rang like bells throughout the train as Hermione tried in vain to wiggle away from her handsome wizard. As her giggling subsided, Harry pulled her close, bringing his lips close to her ear so only she could hear his words.

"I'm so sorry." His voice was pure honey.

"What for?" Hermione asked.

"For taking so long to realize it's you. It's always been you. It will always be you. It's never not been you. It's never been anyone but you. And I… am an utter prat." His eyes held such longing as they stared at each other for several moments before Hermione spoke.

"Are you done being an idiot now?" Harry huffed a laugh and leaned in to press a kiss to her temple.

Ronald Weasley smiled at his best mates, pleased that they were so happy. A flash of crimson caught his eye and he glanced toward the compartment window to find his sister passing by. He could tell the exact moment Ginny caught sight of Hermione seated comfortably in Harry's arms. The fire blazing in the witch's dark eyes could have set the entire train ablaze. Ron knew then that he would have to give his friend some warning. This wasn't going to end well.

As expected, Harry and Hermione endured some teasing and banter regarding their having made a scene on the platform before boarding. None of the other students seem even remotely surprised by the couple's change in relationship.

"So…Harry, I think we should have a rather frank discussion about brothers and sisters and what is and isn't allowed in polite Wizarding society. I fear you've been woefully misinformed." Lavender did her best to keep a serious face, but was wholly unsuccessful.

"Yeah, do you kiss all your sisters or is Hermione allowed because you aren't actually blood related?" Parvati said baldly, as most Gryffindor's had little use for politeness.

"Yeah well, I've never had a 'step' sister before. I must have misunderstood the assignment." Harry returned, still full of his usual level of sass.

"I feel obligated to point out that there's an entire genre of muggle porn that would disagree with your statement on a fundamental level." Seamus pointed out in his most solemn voice, his fingers steepled diplomatically.

"Annnndd on that note, you gentlemen will now have to leave the compartment so that us ladies may change into school robes and recuperate from having had to endure your caveman-like presence." Hermione looked sincerely sorry for their circumstances. Harry barked out an abrupt laugh and lifted her to stand before grabbing his robes from overhead.

"Bossy." He accused Hermione with a wagging finger. She just smiled, her arms crossed over her ample chest.

"Not bossy, aggressively helpful. You'd be lost without me."

"Too true." Harry agreed with a loving smile. And with that, the caravan of wizards departed.

"So Hermione, are you and Harry exclusive or just talking for now?" Parvati pried, glancing over her shoulder as she reached up to get her own robes.

"He said he was serious about being with only me, but maybe he was just telling me what I wanted to hear." Her voice was only the tiniest bit unsteady but her friends still noticed.

"Oh puh-leeze… I've seen that boy damn near break his neck because he recognized your laughter behind him and wanted to see why you were happy. He's been all about exactly two things since first year: Quidditch and Hermione Granger." Lavender could be quite convincing even on her worst day, so Hermione's insecurity folded almost immediately, thankful for the excuse.

"He did reintroduce me to Luna earlier as his girlfriend. It was adorable." The happiness on her face was contagious.

One car down, the boys had commandeered a large compartment and were swiftly joined by Draco Malfoy, Ernie McMillian and Theo Nott. It took no time at all for someone, namely Draco, to casually ask Harry about his 'intentions' with Hermione. With a wide grin on his handsome face, Harry looked Draco dead in the eyes and delivered his response.

"I'm going to do everything I can to marry that witch." His frank but joyful statement was met with whoops of celebration and calls of 'Go Lions!'.

Once the group had mostly finished dressing, Ron cracked open the door to head for the closest loo. He quickly caught sight of his sister walking down the corridor wearing a hateful scowl on her freckled face. Ron promptly backed away from the door, closing it behind him and turning to his friends with a grimace. Conversation had mostly ceased in the compartment already, so he was almost immediately the center of attention and getting some odd looks, from Theo, Neville and Dean especially.

"So, Harry, uhh.. about Ginny…" Ron began, clearing his throat as the whole cabin quieted completely. Nothing like the potential for drama to get everyone's undivided attention.

"What about Ginny?" Harry looked genuinely confused, earning an eye roll from Draco when Harry glanced around the compartment hoping for some context. Neville looked like he didn't want to be anywhere near this conversation.

"Well, the thing is… ever since we were little kids she's kinda been obsessed with those ridiculous adventure books that came out about you. She talked for years about coming to Hogwarts to meet her hero Harry Potter. My mum probably encouraged it more than she should have, especially after meeting you, mum thinks you're great."

"Why are you telling me this, Ron?"

"Because, while I am her older brother, I am also your best mate. I feel obligated to warn you that she is a spoiled brat who is not at all used to being told 'no' or not getting exactly what she feels she deserves. And she decided a long time ago that what she deserves is some demented fairytale romance with the Boy-Who-Lived." Ron's face screamed apology's for using the hyphenated term he knew Harry loathed. Harry's face, on the other hand, held genuine shock. Merlin's honest confusion and disbelief. More than one of them would have laughed if the situation was at all funny. It was a well known social norm in the Wizarding World that unrequited love or lust was dangerous on many levels. Magic makes hateful acts easy if one is properly motivated.

"Whaaa… she's barely had three whole conversations with me and they were all painful. Not to mention she's…" Harry trailed off, his cheeks pinking in embarrassment, like he thought better of what he was about to say in front of one of Ginny's six older brothers. Her tall, easily angered, older brothers.

"Just say it, Bro." Ron said sincerely, waving a negligent hand as he dropped doggedly onto the bench. He loved his baby sister, truly, but he was not blind to her many faults.

"Well, she's pretty self-centered. And she's… well…" Harry motioned with his hands straight down the front of his chest, no curving. Every bloke in the room understood his meaning. A few were brave enough to nod in agreement. Ron figured he should relieve Neville and Theo, who were slowly backing away, looking concerned for an incoming explosion.

"Flat as a board, that one. It's horrible to say aloud, but between you guys and me, I'm kind of glad she never really developed in that area. At least my brothers and I won't be running off tossers left and right, ya know." Ron leaned back and let his head lay on the top of the seat as a smattering of laughter broke out. He closed his eyes, rubbing his face with an open palm in frustration. "Look, I've tried for years to mitigate this shit. It has been pretty obvious from the beginning what witch would be getting your attention as we got older. My sister has never been any sort of competition for the Brightest Witch of the Age, no matter how arrogant and aggressively confident Ginny can be. But, she refuses to entertain any sort of opinion except her own where Harry Potter is concerned." The redheaded Gryffindor hazarded a glance toward his best mate and almost laughed at how uncomfortable Harry looked. "Yeah, sorry mate." Ron rubbed the back of his neck with a palm, a wince pinching his face. "I think we can all be prepared for her to be something of a nuisance at best and a huge pain in the arse at worst, about you and Hermione getting together."

Harry watched, feeling a bit bereft if he was honest with himself, as Hermione and Neville went off to help the other prefects wrangle the younger years into carriages. In his periphery, Harry could make out Lavender and Parvati, along with a few others meandering close by, seeming to linger near him waiting to head down the path to their thestral-drawn transport together.

"You lied to me!" A shrill but familiar voice screeched.

"Bugger." Harry muttered, looking up to see Ginny stalking towards him, her freckled face blotchy with anger. Plenty of students were close enough to hear the ruckus and stopped in their tracks to witness yet another altercation involving the star Keeper.

"I doubt that since we've had all of four interactions to date. But, I'm bored waiting around for Hermione, so I'll play along. When did I tell a lie?" He asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"You said you weren't interested in Hermione, that she was like your sister. You lied!" Ginny looked a tad unhinged as she delivered her accusations. Harry was honestly concerned for some kind of magical upheaval if she didn't get ahold of herself.

"It wasn't a lie at the time. Besides, you are acting like I said those things directly to you specifically to mislead you, which is untrue. I assume you overheard me say it to someone else because I said the same thing to anyone who asked, and when I said it I was being honest. But, people change. Feelings change. I'm allowed to change my mind about something or someone without having been lying before." Harry figured this was very similar to beating his head against a brick wall.

"I don't believe you. You just want to be able to string me along while screwing your little…" Ginny's tone was vicious and Harry cut her off harshly.

"Call me whatever you want. But, I'd be really careful what you call Hermione if I were you." Harry kept his voice level but forceful, even though he was seething inside.

"Of course you would take her side." The youngest Weasley had never looked more childish as when she was stomping her foot in front of an exasperated Harry Potter.

"There are no sides Ginny. Hermione doesn't need me to defend her, she could probably wipe the floor with me. That witch is exceptional on all levels. There is no single situation where Hermione would even consider you her competition in any way."

"Hmmph. You need to stop messing around with her, Harry. You were mine first." She demanded petulantly.

"Jesus Christ. Are you serious right now? Because I am honestly concerned that I have crossed into an alternate universe and my memories aren't from this timeline." Harry frankly couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ron had warned him on the train, but he really hadn't thought it would be this bloody bad.

"Should we do something?" Parvati stage whispered from a few yards away.

"You mean besides point and laugh?" Seamus responded at full volume, earning quite a bit of laughter. Harry stuck out his tongue petulantly at his friend before turning back to the ginger issue at hand.

"I want you to listen closely because I need to be very clear about this. I have a feeling having said this in front of witnesses will turn out to be quite pivotal to some sort of legal action in the near future. Ginevra, you do understand that you are not now, nor have you ever been my girlfriend, right?"

"Yes, but…" Harry cut Ginny's childish whining off before he could lose his momentum.

"And you recall that I have never attempted to ask you out, or flirt with you, or even go out of my way to spend time with you at all. There's not a single witch or wizard at Hogwarts who has witnessed me stringing you along as you claim, because it never happened." Harry's voice fairly implored the witch to see reason.

"Whatever. I know you were just building up the courage to make a move." She said dismissively with a smile that was more menacing than attractive. Harry thought maybe Ginny might be trying to look enticing, the whole 'come hither' bit. But, the fluttering of her blunt eyelashes and twisting of her stick-straight hair around her freckled fingers seemed extremely unnatural. "It would have only been a matter of time before you realized you're in love with me, but Hermione had to go and get in the way."

"I am NOT in love with you. I don't even like you much." Harry had lost his ability to be at all polite in this conversation.

"We are meant to be! We even look like your parents did!" Ginny shouted and more than one person hissed in response. Harry just stared at her, gobsmacked. The chit was completely delusional.

"What the fuck?! You think that's supposed to be some kind of sign from the universe? Seriously?" At this point, ripping his own hair out would get him farther.

"Yes, seriously. So, just tell Hermione that you were confused and don't really want her. I forgive you for being tempted, it's all her fault anyways for being such a tramp. Of course, you'll have to stop speaking to her altogether. It's for your own good."

"That's it, I've tried to be polite but you have obviously lost your bloody mind. First of all, I'm a Gryffindor. We have courage to spare! I made a move on Hermione at the literal first available opportunity, without giving a fuck who was around to witness, after deciding I wanted her. I didn't need time to build up any courage. I never asked you out because I have never once been attracted to you or wanted to date you. We have nothing in common apart from liking Quidditch. You have created this delusion in your cracked little brain that makes you think you have some claim over me and it stops today. If you keep going down this road, I'll owl, your father and demand you be evaluated by a mind healer.

"Secondly, having red hair does not mean you look like my mum. That's like saying Dean and I are twins separated at birth because we both have dark hair. And on the off chance that you did even remotely resemble Lily Potter, what bloke would want to date someone who looks like their own mother?!" Harry looked quite disgusted at the idea. The step-sister jokes on the train were one thing, but a guy fancying his mother… bleh.

"Gross." Faye chimed in from the sidelines, earning herself a truly hateful glare from Ginny.

"But, Harry!" The fifth-year Gryffindor pouted in what she probably thought was a cute way.

"No buts!" Harry snapped, having had enough of the delusional fool. "Seriously, if you can't get your head on straight and out of fantasy land, then just stay away from me. And keep your mouth shut about Hermione, I mean it. She's done nothing wrong and is so far from being a tramp it's laughable. If you try to go up against her, you'll only embarrass yourself more than you already have." Ginny let out a thoroughly unattractive squeal of frustration, complete with a childish stomp of her foot before angrily stalking away toward the Thestral-drawn carriages. Harry turned to his best mate.

"Ron, I'm sorry mate. She's..." he trailed off because, honestly, what do you even say after such a scene had been made.

"Don't worry about it. I've told her over and over that you're not interested. I am going to have to write to my Dad tonight about all this. She's truly off her rocker." The redhead rubbed the back of his neck with a grimace before giving them all a shrug and wandering off towards the carriage line with one arm wrapped firmly around his girlfriend, their other friends following behind. Harry looked past Ron to see Hermione standing off to the side. She had her arms wrapped around her middle, her legs crossed at the ankles and she was looking at him with an indulgent little smile that made his chest ache. He made his way down the path and she fell in step beside him, sliding her hand into his with ease.

"What is it with you and drama on train platforms today?" Hermione teased quietly, leaning her side against his and giving his hand a squeeze. Harry just huffed a laugh and shrugged as they approached one of the last few carriages. Hermione lifted one foot onto the first step, using Harry's hand to steady herself and leaned over to whisper so only he could hear.

"I think the red marks on my knees from riding you on the train bench would be considered evidence against your argument that I'm not a tramp." Harry barked out a laugh and pinched her arse as she disappeared into the cabin. Both feet still on the ground, he poked his head through the door with a naughty grin and met her gorgeous brown eyes.

"I'll wager my cock still tastes like you." He said with a smirk, pulling himself up with both hands on either side of the doorway before settling beside his witch. Hermione wore a smug grin of her own when she gave her retort, even as her cheeks flushed at his vulgar words.

"Keep anyone else from getting in this carriage with us and I'll be happy to test your hypothesis on the way up to the castle."

"Bet!"

I'll certainly be adding future-takes to this AU. But, for now I will be marking this fic as complete. Make sure to follow/favorite so you don't miss anything new.