A/N: Ok, guys, this is by far my favorite chapter so be sure to tell me what you think after reading it…thanx

Chapter 8 – Girl Power

It had spread around the common room rather quickly that Harry Potter was dating Ginny Weasley, and that her brother, Ron, was finally dating Hermione Granger. Seeing as Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were the main messengers of gossip throughout the school, and they were Gryffindors, they were among the first to hear the news.

They did their job of spreading this news to other houses fairly well, yet by midday next, Harry had heard some pretty twisted versions of the original story.

Hermione was speaking during lunch that day, recounting the different stories she had heard.

"And then, some snippy Ravenclaw came up to me and said 'Congrats on dating Harry Potter…again. Shouldn't you check if he's playing you or something?' Then she went into a fit of giggles with her friends as if she knew exactly what she was talking about and I didn't. And she thought it was hysterical!"

She continued after she caught her breath, "Honestly, these people do read too much Rita Skeeter. It's a good thing I took care of her when I did, she's stayed away from stories about us since. Of course, Harry, everyone still thinks you're two timing with every girl you date since that article. And it came out two years ago!" She said this casually, as if everyone knew that Harry was cheating on his girlfriends.

"What? I'm not two timing anyone! That article said that you were two timing me!"

"Exactly my point, isn't it?" Hermione asked, "People really should actually read the article before they start going around making references to it as if they know what's going on."

Harry felt like it was just one blow after another. He hadn't known the extent to which people gossiped about him, but he figured it was just a few meaningless rumors. As for this situation, he was completely oblivious to the fact that people thought that he was cheating on his girlfriends. It actually explained a lot. No wonder he couldn't keep a girlfriend in fifth year.

Halloween came and went. There were no troll incidents but Neville had managed to transfigure his head into a jack-o-lantern. It would have been pretty clever, had he done it on purpose.

They were actually supposed to be turning their pets into pumpkins, but Trevor got away and Neville's wand was facing the wrong way, towards his face. He left his head that way all through dinner, seeing as class ended quickly and Neville didn't want to miss the feast by waiting for Professor McGonagall to reverse it. It was quite festive anyway.

Ron and Hermione turned out to make a great couple. They were also good at keeping things between the three of them as normal as possible. Harry had given Ginny some chocolate frogs for Halloween, as well as a necklace with an amber colored locket. Inside, there was a picture of the two of them, with a note that read:

Ginny,

I picked this out in Hogsmeade for you on our first real date. I hope you will cherish it and remember it as a token of…us.

Much love,

Harry.

He had bought it while she was looking for a quill in Hogsmeade and had known that it was just right for his first gift to her. It matched her hair and brought out her eyes. He'd known he'd done well when the tears (of happiness) once again returned to her eyes.

Ron, who turned out to be quite the romantic, gave Hermione a box of pumpkin pasties (which he didn't tell her he'd swiped from the kitchen) shaped like hearts. He had also bought something, not as romantic, but a more appropriate gift for Hermione. It was a book called Goblins, Ghouls, and Ghosts: A Hogwarts Guide to Halloween. It was a historical journey trough the many haunted aspects of the Hogwarts castle. So Hermione. He signed the inside cover:

No matter what happens,

You will always be mine, Mione.

Love always,

Ron

Harry figured that he and Ron were now even on the dreamy factor. Ron's note had been really well written but Harry was no good with words. Plus, Harry's gift was much more romantic than a book. Hey, wasn't jewelry a girl's best friend? Or was that shoes?

Either way, Hermione and Ginny were now swapping notes, "Ooo"ing and "aww"ing and giggling with each other. Harry thought they'd done well.

He turned to Ron, "You know, I don't think we'll ever understand them completely."

"Me neither. I'm just glad we didn't get beat up or something. I heard some girls get touchy if they don't get their way."

Harry smirked but all of a sudden, something collided with Ron's head and his face almost landed in the cake in front of him on the table. Hermione had taken a swing at him, so hard that it was actually causing him pain. He was now rubbing the sore spot profusely.

"Hermione! What was that for?"

"For saying that girls would throw temper tantrums if they didn't get the gift they wanted from their boyfriend. Do you honestly think we're that shallow?"

"Well, I proved my point didn't I? You did smack me!"

"Not because of the gift though, you git! Because of the remark!"

"Geez!"

Harry was now laughing so hysterically he was surprised he could still breathe. Ron continued to rub his head and glare at Hermione. Harry laughed even harder until Ginny poked him hard in the side. Then he stopped immediately.

She spoke next, "Well he's actually kind of right, Hermione. Some girls would stoop to that sort of level during, you know, that time of the month."

A wide smile was forming on Ron's face as Ginny finished. "Oh, I see, well, Hermione, next time warn me when you're PMSing so I can remember to bring an ice pack."

Hermione glared at Ginny and turned so red even the tips of her ears were tinted.

"I am not PMSing, thank you Ronald! I'm just aggrevated! Exams are only-"

"Seven months away Hermione, relax." Harry said, "Here, have a Bertie Botts."

She sighed and took the candy from him, popping it in her mouth. Only a second later, she was coughing and sipping her pumpkin juice speedily. Ron pat her on the back as she continued to spit out the candy bits. When she had caught her breath, she glared at Harry.

"You gave me vomit!"

"I know."

Harry laughed and Ron, who had abandoned his efforts at helping Hermione, joined in. That was obviously a bad idea because they were both stopped suddenly by blows to the head.

"Ow! Not again!" Ron bellowed at Hermione.

"You wanna give me another scar, Ginny? Geez!"

Harry's head was now throbbing so hard he felt like he had a migraine. Ginny and Hermione just laughed and handed the boys two ice mice.

"That's what you get." Ginny said to Harry. She nodded at Ron as well.

When they arrived back at the common room Ron and Harry sat down to a game of chess as Hermione and Ginny talked in the corner and played with Crookshanks. Harry looked back on the night's events and realized they were in good comparison with the chess game at hand. The Queen always reigns supreme.

A/N: How was it? I just love the concept of Hermione and Ginny whipping the boys into shape…tell me what you think….ta ta, CherryTomato26