'I love my boyfriend.' Hermione said to her reflection. It was anything but convincing. She tried again and again but how can she convince anybody to believe in something she doesn't believe herself?

'I'm madly in love with Harry Potter.' Yet another confession escaped her mouth but it was her eyes which were saying the truth. And the truth was she was anything but in love with her raven- haired best friend.

She left the bathroom and joined Harry in the common room. He was writing his essay but as soon as she arrived he gave it up.

'Should we sit closer?' He asked when she took place on the other side of the couch. She shrugged but moved towards him. 'Someone is in a great mood, huh?'

'Oh, let me be!' She said clearly irritated.

'Hermione, I will tell you one more time, we don't have to do this.'

'You've already agreed!'

'That's not the point! The point is that this is too hard for you and you can't hide it.'

'I just... I'm really trying here!'

'I know but maybe it's not worth it. I'm sure you and Ron can be together without all this drama.'

'Let me remind you that this drama started with your not so brilliant idea!'

He had no answer to it. She was right. All of this madness wouldn't have started if he hadn't proposed her to kiss him. He took a deep breath. He hated himself for doing it to Ron. He should have told him the truth. It was stupid. What if Ron wouldn't be able to forgive him? Would he be understanding enough to see that he is doing this for his two best friends future happiness?

'I'm sorry, Harry.' Hermione said after a while. 'I shouldn't take my anger out on you all the time.'

'Well, it would be nice if you didn't.' He admitted.

'Can you hold me or something so we look cosy together?' She asked moving towards him a bit more. He put his arm around her and let her lean her head against his chest.

'One would think sitting like this would be more comfortable.' He said trying to stretch his muscles after a moment.

'Maybe when you really into someone it is.'

'I doubt it.'

'Why?'

'When I went on a date with Cho I was so stressed up that I couldn't even hold her hand or something. I was too nervous, too tense. Believe me it's much easier with you.'

'Because I'm not pretty?'

'What?'

'I think you heard me just right.'

'I just can't believe you've just said something this stupid.' He explained quickly. 'It's easier because you are my best friend and I'm sure you won't laugh at me when I do something that doesn't suit your expectations.' She just nodded. Maybe he was right. Maybe it's easier when emotions aren't involve. But if it's the easiest version how will look like the harder one? 'And for the record, I think you are really beautiful.'


January was snowy and freezing. Days were still short and dark and Spring seemed to be far, far away. Upcoming match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor made Harry focuses on his team so Hermione had more time for herself and fewer opportunities to involve in her fake relationship.

'What are you doing here?' Harry asked as he landed on the stands next to Hermione.

'I'm a good girlfriend and I support my boyfriend's passion.' She stated, closing her book.

'By reading a book?'

'Oh, come on. You've been practising for almost three hours.'

'Go back to the castle, it's freezing here and we are far from being over.'

'If she's staying so am I.' She said looking towards Lavender.

'She's cheering for her boyfriend and you are bored.'

'Oh, please. Would you really like me to jump like an idiot and scream your name?'

'What's wrong with that?'

'What's not?'

'Why are you so stubborn?'

'I'm persistent at best.' She said, searching in her bag. 'And maybe I'm not the best cheerleader but I brought you some toasts as you started this before breakfast time.' She handed him a nice smelling package.

'Merlin, I'm starving!' He realized as he grabbed the food. She smiled.

'So am I a decent girlfriend after all?'

'You're the best!' He said, quickly brushed his lips with hers and jumped on the broom. 'BREAK IS OVER!' He announced flying towards the centre of the pitch.


Hermione tried her best not to stare at Ron and Lavender one more time but her eyes travelled from her essay to them involuntary.

They were sitting on the sofa quite casually. He was playing chess with Dean, his left hand entwined in Lavenders hair and she was leaning on him writing her essay on her laps.

Hermione couldn't be just mad at Ron as he was acting normal. He was not sucking into his girlfriend's face. He was not moving his hands across her body in a very inappropriate way. He was just hanging out with her.

She took a deep breath, trying to control her jealousy but she felt tears forming under her lids. She closed her eyes and count to ten, trying to relax. When she opened them she saw Harry crouching down in front of her.

'Are you alright?' He asked softly, taking her hand into his and squeezing it. She just nodded. He took out his wand and cast a spell. In a second a bouquet of red roses appeared in his hands. He smiled and gave it to Hermione. Some fourth-year girls sitting nearby squealed with excitement.

'For me?' Hermione asked clearly surprised. 'They are amazing, Harry. How did you learn this? It's really hard to make something over nothing.'

'I guess I just wanted to impress my girlfriend. It's not easy with this brain of yours.' He admitted not even trying to hide the pride from his voice.

'Oh, ekm thank you... that's really... nice of you.' She said confused. She felt many pairs of eyeballs watching them carefully.

'One would think I deserve a kiss.' He whispered, looking in her wise eyes. She got nervous. Kissing Harry was the hardest aspect of their fake relationship. She tried her best to avoid this as much as she can but apparently it wasn't one of her luckiest moments. She took a deep breath and leant down to join her lips with his. She entwined her fingers on his neck and closed her eyes.

She was surprised as nothing really happened. He just brushed his lips against her cheek and sat down next to her. She gave him a puzzled look.

'Relax, I was just joking.' She exhaled realizing she held her breath. 'I know you don't like this.'

'It's not like I... I mean... It's just confusing.'

'Confusing?'

'How could it not be? We are doing this for all the wrong reasons.' She said shuffling her roses from one hand to the other. 'And all of this people are staring at us, I just feel intimidated.'

'So you do this for people to stare but actually you don't like doing this because they're staring.' He said trying his best to understand her. 'Is this what you mean?'

'I mean' She started. 'I mean I know that if we were in this for real I would want to kiss you in private. I would want it to be an intimate moment between us not between us and the whole Gryffindor tower.'

'So you would like to have a relationship with all of this private moments but you fancy a guy who snog his girlfriend senseless in front of all his classmates?'

'He's not really like this.'

'Oh, he's exactly like this. So honestly, Hermione, I don't get it. Why do you fancy him after all?'

'Excuse me?'

'Just tell me one reason.'

'He's your best friend, how can you ask me something like this?'

'Right, he's my best friend and he's a good, caring, brave person with great sense of humour and I'm sure this is why he's your best friend too but why do you fancy him?'

'I...' She started but no more words came up. She glanced at Ron across the room and realized she had no idea why she fancied him at all.