'I don't fancy Harry.' Hermione said slowly and clearly to her reflection. 'Under no circumstances I fancy my fake boyfriend.' She stated trying to believe in her own words.
What had happened to her? Was it even possible? She should be into Ron. She was doing all of this to catch his attention, to win him over Lavender, to make him confess his true feelings towards her. Harry was just her friend, best friend, honestly her brother almost. She didn't even like kissing him, at least not until yesterday.
Maybe she's just got carried away. They won the game, she was excited, he was looking way too hot and athletic in his Quidditch uniform. Stop. She can't describe her best friend as hot. He didn't look hot. Just athletic and handsome with this messy hair of his.
'Damn it, Hermione, you're smarter than this!' She yelled at her reflection and left the bathroom.
It was going to be a long day. She was about to attend the Prefects Meeting with House Heads to talk about school rules and new ideas. She usually enjoys this opportunity to share her suggestions and she was going to try reorganize Muggle Studies once again but she just felt today is not her day.
'Merlin, you have ketchup all over your face, have you ever consider washing your face after breakfast?' Hermione was annoyed. Couldn't he give her one damn reason why she should fancy him over Harry? I don't fancy Harry! She screamed to herself, trying to calm down and failing badly.
'Someone got off on the wrong foot.' Ron said, wiping his face with his sleeve.
'It's disgusting.' She said, moving toward the Portrait Hole. 'I wish Lavender taught you some good manners.'
'It's a little to late for this.'
'It's never too late to make some good changes.'
'I mean it's too late for Lavender.' He said as they climbed another stairs. 'We broke up last night.'
'Oh, I'm sorry.' She was confused. 'I didn't know.'
'Yeah, like always you were right and I was wrong.' He said, taking deep breath. 'Lavender and I weren't meant to be.'
He surprised her with this confession. She looked at him but didn't say a word. Shouldn't she be happy? She got what she's wanted, right? But joy was the last thing she could experience right now. This was not what she once imagined would have happened if Ron and Lavender had broken up.
'So now you and Harry can stop your nonsense, you have nothing more to prove to me.' He said after a while making her blood boil.
'My relationship with Harry has nothing to do with you.' She was glad they almost reached their destination.
'Seriously? Do you really think I'm going to believe it?'
'Honestly, I don't care what you believe any more.' She said, turning towards the door. He grabbed her arm when she was going to enter the class.
'He's not the one for you.' He said, looking her in the eyes. 'You are too smart to not know it. Please, Hermione. I'm a thick prat but I've already learnt my lesson.'
Hermione and Ron entered the common room together. She looked around and noticed Harry and Ginny chatting cheerfully by the fireplace. He was smiling. He was happy. He was smiling and happy with another girl. Really pretty girl, who shared his interest in Quidditch and was obsessively into him for a long time. And she had Ron who almost told her he was into her. Everything seemed to move into right direction. But why all of a sudden she had to feel so bad about it?
'Hey you!' She said, trying to catch Harry's attention. He smiled at her and let her kiss himself before she took place next to him.
'I missed you today.' He said and put his arm around her. She relaxed against his body and rested her head on his shoulder. Did he say it because he meant it? Or maybe he was just playing his role?
'We've spent hours talking about boring school stuff.' Ron said rolling his eyes. He tried his best not to get angry at his best friends. They mastered playing a couple to the degree he couldn't accept. 'I hate prefect's meetings.'
'So I got something to cheer you up.'
'What's that?' He asked as Ginny handed him a red envelope. She encouraged him to open it.
'It's invitation for Valentine's party, which I'm hosting in the Room of Requirement next Saturday.'
'That's really stupid.' Ron commented, opening his envelope. Small, shimmering hearts popped out of it and flew in the air.
'It's the hottest event Hogwart's had in a long time. Everyone wishes for an invitation.'
'Really? So if it's so wanted, why on earth are you giving it to me?'
'Because you are in the team, stupid moron. And you are my brother.' She said like she was explaining to five years old that one plus one gives two. 'Oh, and how could I not invite the more beautiful part of the golden couple.' She said theatrically. 'Hermione, here's yours.' She handed her a red envelope as well.
'Umh, thanks Ginny.'
'So you are inviting Hermione without her boyfriend?' Ron asked dumb folded.
'I've already invited Harry.' She said, smiling. Harry lifted his enveloped and waved it.
'Mate, don't tell me you are supporting this stupid idea!'
'You don't like this only because you don't have a girlfriend any more and you know that you will struggle to find a date.' Ginny said before Harry opened his mouth. 'But don't worry! There'll be enough lonely girls impatiently waiting for someone to take care of them.'
'Harry and I are ditching it for sure!'
'Sorry, mate' Harry started. 'But it's Valentine's day and I'm taking my girlfriend to the party weather you like it or not.'
'Do you really want to go to that party with me?' Hermione asked curiously as she and Harry were left alone.
'It would be a nice end for us, wouldn't it?'
'What do you mean?'
'Oh, come on. Ron and Lavender broke up, there's no point in taking our fake relationship any further. We need to end this soon.'
'So you want to break up in Valentine's day.' She said a little surprised of how disappointed she suddenly felt.
'No, I want to take you to that party and have fun. We will break up later.'
'So, we still have like two weeks.' She said more to herself than to him.
'We can break up right now if you want.' He said, noticing her confusion.
'No, I don't!' She said hotly.
'But maybe we should so you will have a chance to go to that thing with Ron.'
'So you don't really care whether you and I go together or not.' She sounded way to angry for her to like it but she couldn't control it.
'That's not the point, I just want you to be happy.'
'So who do you really want to take then?' She asked before she was able to hold herself off.
'Nobody, I want to go with you!'
'Seriously?'
'Of course, Hermione. You should have already noticed that I'm not good with flirting and stuff. It's one thing to ask girl out but spending a whole evening with one is another story. Girls expect that I will know how to treat them, how to make them laugh, how to take an initiative but how do I suppose to know all of that? How would I know what a girl want me to do?'
'You are really sweet, Harry.' She said, smiling at him. How could she not notice earlier how amazing he was? 'And for the record you treat me right. More than right. You treat me exactly like every teenage girl would love to be treated by her boyfriend.'
'Really?'
'Yes, really' She said, looking him in the eyes. Her heart went crazy one more time. What was he doing to her?
'Ron is a lucky guy.' Harry whispered after a while. 'You are a real treasure so please don't ever let him mistreat you. You deserve greatness.'
