You Don't Know Me Chapter 2: Realization, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 2: Realization

Days had passed. Ron got Dobby and Winky to agree in helping them put up a special table by the lake on the night of the Yule Ball. The only things they had to worry about were the Astronomy Essay, a match with Slytherin and the singer for Harry's little Yule Ball Serenade.

The day of the Quidditch match arrived. Playing against Slytherin was the nastiest of all the games played by the Gryffindor team. Ron, Harry and Dean are the oldest members of the team. The rest are fifth year to second year Gryffindor students.

At the stands Hermione was beside Ginny cheering for her friends. Hagrid would have been there if he wasn't sent to Beauxbatons to meet Madame Maxime for an important convention. Hermione's heart leaped every time she saw Harry get in a very edgy position or if he seemed to be on the verge of falling off his broom, which wasn't so because he's very good at Quidditch but she still felt worried most of the time. She remembered in their first year, the time when Harry's broom was jinxed and he almost fell, she set professors Snape's robes on fire and the commotion knocked Prof. Quirrell who was the one jinxing it. On their second year Harry was hit by a rouge bludger and got his poor arm broken. No thanks to Gilderoy Lockhart the boy had to grow his bones back because instead of mending them the so called 'all-knowing -professor' made all the bones in the right arm disappear. And there was the third year incident when poor Harry fainted because a dementor came in the fields. She hoped that no accident would happen to her friend this year. On their fourth year on the first Triwizard challenge, Harry had to fly around a Hungarian Horntail to get the golden egg, it wasn't Quidditch but he did one hell of scary flying on that one.

The game started. Ron was one hell of a keeper. He always blocked Blaise Zabini's attempts to score. Colin one of their Chasers scored 3 times. Harry and Draco had a head to head fight to get the snitch. Malfoy had almost got it but he was over powered by his smugness that he didn't realizes that he was about to hit one of the rings then bang Malfoy fell off his broom. Harry rushed to get the snitch but also went after the limp motionless body of Malfoy. He must have been knocked off by the impact on his head. Gryffindor won 180 points to 20.

Harry laid down Malfoy on the ground then he ran off and held the snitch the Gryffindor fans applauded. Ron and the rest of the team went to him and waved to all their friends. Harry scanned the field Hermione was coming their way with Ginny.

Ginny went straight to Colin and gave him a big hug and they kissed she didn't even mind her brother who was staring at them.

Hermione ran towards her friends. "You guys were great," she said as she held her hands out to both of them. "Good keeper maneuvers Ron," she commended. "Harry, you were brilliant and it's a good thing you save that Malfoy from getting any concussions. Now he owes you one," she beamed. Then she gave Harry a hug and he embraced her back.

Hermione saw Cho as she moved towards them. She quickly pulled away from Harry. "See you guys in the . We have an essay to finish," she yelled back as she moved out of his sight.

Cho tapped Harry's shoulder. He was still trying to look for Hermione. "You were great," she said and then she planted a kiss on his cheeks. Harry was caught off guard.

Ron was already with and they were walking off the field.

"Aren't you excited," Cho asked intently as she held Harry's hand and moved him out of the crowd, "the Yule Ball is in two days."

"I.I am," Harry replied awkwardly. There he was again, he's never like this with Hermione, he was confident with being himself. Cho was as lovely as ever but he's so nervous around her. Cho was his object of affection since he was in his third year. And on his fourth year he had to compete with Cedric Diggory, Cho's boyfriend, in the Triwizard Tournament. He witnessed the death of Cedric in the hands of the evil wizard who murdered his parents.

"Why are you so quiet," Cho asked Harry.

"Uhmm.nothing," he told her. They reached the lakeside.

"This is where Cedric asked me to be his girlfriend," she said, " He was a friend of mine for a long time. Even if we belonged to different houses he was very nice to me. He was very quiet but when we do talk he's very funny and light-hearted. I miss him dearly," she sighed, and her tears started to cascade down her cheeks.

"Sorry, I couldn't save him," he said, as he felt very apologetic.

"It wasn't your fault," she assured him. "At least he died staying on our side. He's such an honorable young man. He's principles came first and I love him for that and deep inside I still do."

Harry was silent. He was the reason for all these grief. She could have been so happy if it wasn't for that blasted Portkey of a Trophy. He made up his mind he would help her forget. He would help her move on.

"Don't worry, everything will be okay," he assured as he gave her hand a squeeze.

Ron and Hermione were up the . Harry was still out probably still with Cho walking around the grounds. Hermione went up the tower as soon as she finished her Prefect responsibilities.

"Hermione, do you think this whole dating plan would work," he asked as he looked up at the stars with the telescope.

"I think it would," she answered but deep down in her heart of hearts she wished it wouldn't, "Harry's putting a lot of effort on this one, I bet he'll pull this one out," she assured him.

"Not if you do something about it," Ron smirked.

"And what do you mean by that Ronald Weasley," she asked with a confused look in her face. She moved to her friend's side to confront him.

"Hermione.Hermione, just because I don't state the obvious, doesn't mean I don't know," Ron retorted, " I know you love Harry. I know you to well not to see through all the actions."

"Seriously, Ron is that what you think," she replied as tried to sound cool about the whole confrontation.

"No matter how you deny it Hermione you can't lie to me without me knowing it. You're like Harry you're not very good with lies. Remember the time when I asked you out on our fifth year. I knew I didn't have a chance. You just said yes, because I'm your friend and you had to cut me some slack," he said. "I appreciate all of that Hermione but it all made everything clear to me. You love Harry but our dear boy isn't as receptive as he is courageous. We weren't meant for each other and you made me realize it in the most painless way, by knowing it myself."

Hermione couldn't say anything she didn't know whether to deny or to agree with him.

"Don't worry I won't say anything to him. He has to figure this one on his own but I have to say one thing to you, he needs a little prodding," he whispered. "Well, what do you know it's the main man himself, Ron said, as he saw Harry come up the steps to the Astronomy tower.

"Hey, guys I'm really sorry I had to walk Cho to the great hall. How far have you gone with your essays?" he said apologetically.

"Don't worry, I'm about done with my paper but you know Hermione, she would love to add a couple of more pages for her essay," Ron said. " Oh Hermione, I still can't find anyone to sing for Harry so well, you got to do it."

"Ron, you can't do this to me after all." she paused.

"After all the what?" Harry asked with questioning look.

"You have to sing or you would have to explain your last statement," Ron reminded her.

"Ok, ok, I'll do it but just one song," she agreed.

Ron scribbled a few more words then left the astronomy tower and went off to the .

"Hermione, what was Ron talking about?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, we were just talking about.uhmm.it's not important," she answered while she wrote a few additional sentences on her parchment.

"I hate it when you leave me out on something," Harry said as he started on his own essay, "like when you said I was insensitive."

"I didn't mean to do that," she said she looked into his eyes and tried to assure him.

At times like this, Harry felt no worries. As he looked into her eyes it made him feel safe. Being with her made him feel the tranquility of the moment. It's like not even Voldemort concerned him. No other girl ever made him feel that way.

"It's okay," he replied, "I'm just wondering have you ever kissed anyone before?" he said inquisitively.

"I don't think I should answer that," Hermione said as she felt her face blushing.

"Well, because I haven't kissed anyone and it's going to be awkward kissing Cho two nights from now knowing she had kissed other guys before me. What if I make a fool of myself?"

Hermione stopped herself from laughing, "Harry is worrying about kissing! Well, what can I say to him even I haven't kissed anyone yet, but I can pretend to have kissed someone," she told herself.

"That's a revelation," she said teasingly.

"Well, it's not like you have," Harry blurted.

"What, do you mean by that of course I've already been kissed," she lied.

Harry's face was indescribable, "What do you mean? Who kissed you? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us?" the questions were continuous.

Hermione had to stop herself before she would burst into laughter.

"Summer when I went to , and it was Krum, but it was just goodbye," she lied again.

Harry didn't know what to say. The picture of Hermione and Krum kissing gave him a very strange enraged feeling.

"Well, since you're an expert at it then I guess you can teach me," he challenged her.

She couldn't back out now she would look like a fool if she took back the stuffs she said. Although it was true that Viktor tried to kiss her goodbye but she didn't let him.

"Okay, since you asked for it", she said as she moved closer to him and instructed him what to do as if she really knew what she was saying.

"Imagine, I'm Cho and you're about to kiss me," she directed him, "put your hands around my waist."

Harry did as instructed, "like this," he said as he awkwardly placed his hands around her.

"Then I'll put my hands around your neck, like so," then she did what she said. "Close your eyes and just let the magic do its job."

Harry closed his eyes and Hermione after seeing his expression closed hers to. Without any prodding, there lips touched and a weird sensation flowed in both of them. Truly it was magic. Harry wasn't imagining it was Cho. He knew pretty well, it was Hermione. It was the most beautiful feeling, as if fireworks were shooting out from all direction and then poof! Hermione pulled away.

"Harry, you'd do great, trust me," Hermione ran off grabbing her parchments and quill as she run down the stairs.

Harry didn't know how to react. It was as if he was torn out of heaven. "How can it happen now?" he told himself, "Why did I realize it just now." He promised to help Cho recover and now he recognized his feelings for his best friend. He would be hurting Cho for the second time, how can he do that to her. He would cause her another heartbreak.

"Stupid, stupid, Hermione!" she told herself, "How can you let him kiss you or was it you who kissed him?" The sad thing was it felt so right but who was she kidding he was imagining it was Cho not her, she reminded herself.

A day before the Yule ball but everything seems to be normal. Hermione was relived from her duties for a while Harry said he had to make up for all the times she had to fill in for him. She went straight to the library. She carried along her CD player. She was so engrossed with her reading that she didn't notice Cho in front of her.

"Hi Hermione," Cho greeted.

She looked up and saw the seventh year Ravenclaw girl Harry was raving about for the past few years. "Oh, hi," she answered her.

"Can I talk to you?" she said as she took a seat right in front of Hermione.

"Okay, what is it about?" she asked, as she took the earphones off so she could hear Cho clearly.

"It's about you and Harry," she said, "I know you have been very close for as long as I don't know, since you guys have been here."

"What about us?" Hermione said trying to focus on her reading.

"I just want to know if you have feelings for him," Cho blurted out. She knew that the question maybe a bit out of line but she told herself that she had to know.

"Why, do you ask such silly questions?" Hermione said defensively. " I wouldn't be helping him if I had feelings for him."

"Or your helping him because you love him enough to sacrifice your own feelings," Cho said.

"You know we shouldn't have this conversation, you have a date with Harry for tomorrow's Yule Ball and I'll be singing for the two of you for crying out loud, and I just blew the surprise, anyways just do me a favor and don't break his heart," and with that Hermione left after she stuffed all her things in her bag and half carried, half dragged it out of the library.

Cho knew exactly what she had to do. She wouldn't blow off the date with Harry but she would help him realize his true feelings and whose it really for. He had been trying to make her feel a lot better after all. She owed him that much. He must have gone to many lengths just to make tomorrow night a perfect date for both of them.

Sean was in the library again and she really wanted to talk to him no matter what her friends said about him.

"Hey, Sean, I've been looking for you," she said as she approached him. " You're coming to the ball tomorrow, right?"

"I don't think I should I wouldn't be doing anything there, might as well, just stay in the Ravenclaw common room and read books," he answered.

"Please come, I'm helping out in organizing the Ball and I think you should be there, after all it is our last year at Hogwarts," she tried to convince him.

"I don't have a date and I would just look stupid in a dress robe," he tried to argue.

"Just be there I promise it will be great," she said, she patted his shoulder and left.

"Cho we saw everything," her friends cornered her right outside the library.

"Guys, stop spying on me," she argued.

"I can't believe you're still talking to that freak after all the stuffs we told you," Halley blurted.

"He is not a freak, ok," she raised her voice, "He's just a regular student just like the rest of us and he's actually a very smart and kind." she was interrupted.

"Oh my gosh, did you just say those things about sorry-excuse-for-a-boy to us. We are your friends, and we're arguing about some lame and dorky person," Stacy retorted.

"Actually compared to both of you he's a lot better. He's not judgmental and he has no pretenses," Cho defended Sean. "You guys are too busy judging him that you never got the chance to know what he is like. He is a good person and he's no smug like the popular guys you hang out with."

"Whatever! Do what you will, I guess your popularity isn't that important to you and by the way we can manage preparing the Yule Ball without you. We just hope you won't cancel your date with Harry or maybe you can dump him in the party so we can cut in," Halley blurted.

"You're worse than any Slytherin I know," Cho said as she stormed off to their common room.

"What will I do?" Harry asked himself over and over. The Yule Ball was tonight. He's alone in his room. He already got everything he needed. The table by the lake would be taken cared of by Dobby and Winky, they were both so anxious to help. Ron got the fireworks prepared. Hermione would be singing and he already got the perfect gift. This whole plan had gone smoothly, he didn't expect the problem to come from him. "Why didn't it dawn on me before?" he told himself.

Hermione was singing for him and Cho, the girl he thought was the one meant for him. All this time he wished of this dream date and finally it would take place he's confused. "I love Hermione but can I risk hurting Cho again?" the question kept popping in his head.

"I have to stick to the plans I can't hurt her again. I'm not even sure if Hermione loves me, but the night she was crying she said I'm so insensitive, does that mean she has feelings for me to and that she was jealous of Cho?" he got even more confused.

"The honorable thing to do is go on with the date and whatever is meant to happen will happen," he told himself.

Hermione was looking at her dress robe, "this is it," she sighed. "I'm going to sing for him. Hope this would make him happy, that'll be enough for me. At least I have one kiss to remember him by." Harry Potter was the first boy who ever kissed her, her first real kiss but it probably didn't matter to him but it surely did to her.

"I love you Harry," she said holding a picture of the three of them she, Harry and Ron, "and too bad you love someone else." The kids in the picture were just chattering.

Everyone was in the Great Hall. It was transformed into a very beautiful ballroom with beautiful glittery objects like the Northern lights.

Ron entered the ball with and Ginny with Colin. They were seated together holding each other's hands and gazing dreamingly in each other eyes.

"I wonder where Hermione is," Ginny asked her brother.

"Haven't seen her either," he answered.

"She was still in her room when I left," Ginny said.

They saw Harry and Cho enter the hall. She was wearing a golden sparkly dress robe that looks really lovely on her. They moved to their direction.

"Hi, everyone," Harry greeted, "You all know Cho."

"Yes, it's a pleasure finally meeting you," Ginny said as they shook hands and so with the rest of Harry's friends in the table.

The ball started with a few words from Dumbledore. Then Parvati Patil who was the host of the show announced that the dance is to begin and she introduced a very special opening song number that everyone was welcome to dance to.

And with that Hermione appeared on stage with her beautiful Lavender Off- shoulder dress robe. The music magically filled the room and Hermione started to sing.

You give your hand to me

Then you say hello

And I can't hardly speak

My heart is beating so

And anyone can tell

You think you know me well

But you don't know me

Harry asked Cho for a dance. For a while they were the only people in the dance floor and then the other couples went to dance along the beautiful song Hermione was singing. Harry, even though he was holding Cho in his arms as they danced was looking at his best friend singing on stage, very beautiful in her dress.

No. you don't know the one

Who dreams of you at night

Longs to kiss your lips

Longs to hold you tight

Oh I am just a friend

That's all I've ever been

Coz you don't know me

As she sang on stage she saw Harry and gave him a warm smile. "He is going to be happy and that's what's important," she told herself.

I never knew the art of making love

Know my heartaches with love for you

Afraid and shy I let my chance go by

A chance that you might love me to

You give your hand to me

And then you say goodbye

I watch you walk away

Beside the lucky gal

Oh you will never know

The one who loves you so

Well, you don't know me

Harry listened to the song intently, the message was clear to him now, but what should he do. He's with Cho, what would he tell her.

You give your hand to me

And then you say goodbye

I watch you walk away

Beside the lucky gal

Oh you will never know

The one who loves you so

Coz, you don't know me

Oh. no.. you don't know me

Hmm..You don't know me

The song ended and every one roared into applause. Hermione gave a bow and went to Ginny who was clapping and cheering for her beside Colin.

Cho asked Harry to go out in the school grounds. They moved out across the crowd and got out when they reached the door of the Great hall.

Hermione saw them as they left. A stab of jealousy clogged her chest and it gave her a hard time to breathe.

"Hermione, you're brilliant," Ginny congratulated her, and gave her friend a hug. "What's wrong, are you okay?"

"I'm fine", I just feel dizzy," Hermione answered. "I think I should go back to my room," she said.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with us," Ginny asked as she tried to figure out what was wrong with Hermione.

"No, you guys enjoy. I've done my part. I think I should go," Hermione said with a sad expression on her face.

She went out of the hall and was at the entrance hall when she heard someone call her.

"Granger," the familiar voice called onto her.

"I didn't know you have some hidden talent. I'm quite impressed," the voice said.

"Draco, I can't believe you are lost of bad things to say to me that you actually resorted into praising me," Hermione retorted.

"Very touchy, Granger, I just thought you were great back there," he told her. "To bad Potter didn't appreciate it but hey, I did."

"I know you, this conversation will lead to another insult," Hermione grunted.

"What made you think I'll insult you," Draco moved closer. "I just want to show you how I appreciate your performance tonight," he moved even closer as if he was to kiss her.

"Don't you ever try to pull that stunt on me again," she yelled as she shoved his face off her sight and she ran to the grounds heading straight to the astronomy tower, tears forming in her eyes. Draco was on the floor when Pansy walked up to him to ask what happened.

Harry led Cho by the lakeside and told her to close her eyes. She did as instructed and felt him putting something around her neck.

Cho opened her eyes and saw the necklace with a heart-shaped locket with the emerald stone in the middle. "Harry it's so beautiful," she said then she gave him a hug, "And this dinner settings is really nice."

"But all these aren't really meant for me," she said as the expression on her face changed.

"What do you mean?" Harry said pretty confused with what she said.

"You know pretty well, what I'm talking about," she said. "All this is not for me but for the person you really love. This locket is for her, not me. Stop feeling sorry for me Harry. You don't have to burden yourself with making me feel better. I don't blame you for everything that happened to Cedric and it got you all obsessed with making me happy."

"But I thought." Harry tried to say.

"Harry, thanks for making me realize I have to move on. You're lucky you have real good friends. Well, I have to find real friends. I was kidding myself for a long time. I need to know myself first and find people who will accept me, for the person that I am and not judge me by the people I'm with. Harry, If there is one thing I have learned from you that would have be to follow my heart and this time I want you to do the same. Go to her Harry tell her how you feel and I assure you, you're not hurting me by doing so."

Harry was silent and no words escaped from his mouth. Cho gave the locket back and told him to find Hermione and he did. He ran off to find her. Cho told him that she wanted to be alone for a while.

"Cho," a guy called her.

"Sean is that you," she asked the stranger.

"I thought I'd find you here," he said, " You weren't inside so I assumed you took a walk with your boyfriend."

"He isn't my boyfriend," she said, "He's just a friend. I'm glad you came."

He held out his hand to her and she took the offer. They walked side by side under the moonlight.

"Sean do you like dancing," Cho asked.

"I'm no good at it," he admitted, "but I'll try not to step on your feet."

"So are you saying you'll dance with me?" Cho said.

"Are you kidding," he couldn't believe his ears.

"I don't have anything to do all night so we might as well dance and tomorrow we can read books together in the library," she said as they walked back inside the castle.

Harry saw Ron and Elizabeth and he ran up to them, "Have you seen Hermione?" he asked.

"Ginny said Hermione was going back to her room," Ron replied.

"No, I think she went of to the grounds I think I saw her went out of the castle," said.

"Thanks I'll look around for her," Harry said.

He looked everywhere and he couldn't figure where Hermione went. He was holding the necklace in his hands he intended to give it to her and tell her that he loves her.

He remembered the , that's where they shared a kiss.

Hermione was up the Tower singing to herself and reminiscing the night they were up in that place and they shared a kiss. It was her first and Harry didn't know it. He was her first love and her first kiss and now he was also her first heartbreak. Tears welled down her cheeks. Now she was only sobbing she hoped that all the pain in her chest would go away.

Harry went up the tower as fast as he could. He could hear her singing then all he heard was her sobs. He can't believe what kind of a jerk he had been to her. She loved him and he was too stupid not to notice.

"Hermione," he called.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, "Aren't you suppose to be with your girl friend?"

"She's not my girlfriend. She's not the one I want to be with," he answered as he moved up to her.

"The girl that I want to be with was with me all along. I was so dumb not to know that she was just by my side helping me out through everything. Accepting me just as I am and reminding me when I get a bit over board with my actions," he told her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"What I mean is. I love you. I have loved you for so long but I never really had the nerve to realize it. I guess I was scared you didn't love me back but my stupidity caused you so much pain that I don't know if you'll ever forgive me," he told her as he held both her hands in his.

"I think this belongs to you," Harry said as he placed the necklace around her neck.

"You're giving this to me?" she said as more tears fell down her cheeks but this time it wasn't because she was heart broken but because she's filled with happiness inside.

"It looks a lot better when it's on you," he said looking at his best friend admiringly.

"Harry please hold the locket and open it," Hermione instructed him.

Harry saw his and Hermione's face inside the locket. The thought of them together made him smile.

"Honestly Hermione when you picked out this locket were you thinking that it should have been for you?" He asked.

"Actually I kind of figured I'll be the owner of this necklace in the end," she joked.

"Hermione, I owe you my life. You're like the air that I breathe and I neglected you. I should have died last year if it wasn't for you. I love you Hermione," he said as he pulled her close in an embrace.

"Harry, you just don't know how happy I am," she replied, "I love you too."

Harry held her close and they shared a very long and wonderful kiss, when suddenly Hermione looked up at him. "Harry, the kiss last time I want you to know that it was my first. Viktor and I never kissed, well, he tried but I didn't let him. You're my first kiss Harry."

"And you're my first kiss to and I promise you will be my last," he told her, "I will never love anyone else. You're the only one for me. You complete the missing pieces of my life. Hermione you make me whole."

And with that she cried holding him closely her head against his chest. And once again they kissed and in some magical moment they were levitating from were they stood.

"Hermione I want to show you something", Harry said, "Accio Firebolt!" The broom came flying towards them and landed in front of Harry who was still hugging Hermione.

"Shall we," he offered.

"You know I hate flying," she retorted.

" Trust me your safe with me," he held her hands tightly. And they flew out of the when the fireworks went off.

Hermione was holding on to Harry real tightly. She looked at his face that was gleaming with happiness.

They were flying above everyone else, fireworks, going off from all side and the full moon shining on them. They shared a wonderful kiss and professed their love for each other, a promise that they swore to keep for the rest of their lives.

The End