Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or plots that are in the original book series; those belong to J.K. Rowling, although she totally fucked up the last two books. But that's neither here nor there. I don't own the songs I use those belong to those artists; I am making no money from this.

A/N: I really appreciate the response I got from my last update. Over 3000 hits in less than 24 hrs, that is mighty impressive to me. Thank you to those that reviewed. I've had this idea in my head for awhile and I'm gonna throw it out there, if y'all don't like it throw it right back. I want to start a petition that JK Rowling should either give us an alternate ending to book 7 or completely rewrite it the way it should be because we all know her reasoning behind Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione is bullshit. Let me know what you think. On with the show.

Chapter 8: Nothing Else Matters

They had just arrived to Minute Maid Park and were walking up to it. Ginny and Susan had never seen anything like it. They were in awe of the building and its architecture. It looked old school with the color scheme but it had a modern feel to it.

"Well ladies this is Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros" said Harry when he saw the looks on the girls' faces. Hermione was in awe but not as much as Ginny or Susan because she had already seen the building when she had confessed her feelings to Harry.

"Its amazing what the muggles can do without magic" said Susan. "So this is where they play, what was it, baseball?"

"Yeah" replied Julian as he started to explain the history of the park. "The Astros moved in here after the 1999 season, before that they played at the eighth wonder of the world the Astrodome. So this is there fourth season here. It used to be called Enron Field but there was a scandal with the company so they lost the naming rights. Part of the building used to be Union Station and the railroad tracks actually ran where the field is now."

Hermione, whose thirst for knowledge had never diminished, was enraptured by the history of the park. She then looked at the box office and saw that the lines were extremely long. "It's going to take forever to get a ticket with those lines" she commented.

"Never fear" replied Harry. "The tickets are here" he said pulling out the tickets from his jeans. "I bought them ahead of time because I know how crazy the lines can get here" he commented as he started distributing the tickets.

"Where are we sitting?" asked Hermione as she saw a picture of a player with a crouched batting stance on the ticket. His name was Jeff Bagwell.

"Well, we will be sitting in two different spots. Julian, Ginny, and Susan will be sitting in the field boxes. While you and I sit in the club level. I had already bought our tickets before we decided to bring them and I couldn't find some that were nearer, I hope that's alright" replied Harry.

"It's fine. Susan and I wouldn't want to interrupt yours and Hermione's alone time", said Ginny teasingly.

Harry and Hermione started to blush. At seeing them blush, the other three started to laugh at them before Julian stopped and decided to end their misery, "Alright guys let's go in. So we can catch at least the tail end of batting practice."

After they walked in they split up and went to their separate sections of the park. When Harry and Hermione got to the club level she was amazed. There were restaurants and bars all over the place. The floor was carpeted unlike the ground level, and also like the ground level there wasn't as many people walking all over the place. When she and Harry got to her seat the view of the stadium took her breath away. The grass on the field was the greenest she had ever seen and there were designs cut onto the field, something she hadn't seen anywhere else. One of the first things that she noticed was the replica train that was above left field. I guess it's a tribute to the Union Station Julian was talking about earlier she thought to herself. She also saw the biggest screen she had ever seen in her life. Overall she was just amazed at the whole stadium.

Harry noticed the look on Hermione's face as she took in the view. When he was sure she was done processing most of view he asked, "It's amazing, isn't it?"

All she could do was nod. Then she realized that although she had read many books, she had never really read much about sports other than Quidditch Through the Ages. She knew a bit about cricket and football, or soccer as it was called in the United States, because of her father who loved those sports. But her dad had never been a fan of baseball saying that it 'was for little girls'. She never understood why. "Harry, I don't know anything about baseball, I'm afraid I'm gonna be a bore" she confessed.

Harry chuckled. He figured that she didn't know much about it. "Don't worry 'Mione. I'll walk you through the basics and if something comes up during the game that you don't understand then let me know and I'll explain it to you" before he started to explain the basics of the game. Then it came time for the game to start and as the lineups were announced Harry booed the opposing teams players that he disliked and cheered his favorite player on the home team, which Hermione followed him in doing, not really knowing much about them.

Before the game started she asked, "Harry, why did everyone cheer so loudly for the Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio and not as much for everyone else?"

"Well they are Houston legends. They have spent there entire career here in Houston, which is an extremely rare thing to do. Everyone in Houston loves them for what they have done for this city. They are personally Julian and I's favorite player, hence the number fifty-seven on your jersey. Five for Bagwell and seven for Biggio" said Harry.

Harry's answer satisfied Hermione and she instantly became a fan of the players. As the game went on Hermione started to really get into it and saw why Harry loved the game as much as he did. The things they did during the breaks in between innings really entertained her. During the middle of the fifth inning Harry got up and asked Hermione if she wanted anything to eat, when he noticed she was about to decline, he said, "Come on 'Mione. Ballpark hot dogs are the best thing the world" giving her puppy dog eyes which she couldn't say no to.

"Alright but it better be good Harry" she said chuckling at his expression.

When he returned he had four hot dogs and two sodas. He waited for Hermione to bite into her hot dog so that he could see whether she liked it or not.

Hermione was not disappointed. When she took a bite out of her hot dog, or star dog as they were called there, she instantly fell in love with the food. "This is great!" she told Harry.

Harry chuckled and said, "I told you so." This statement earned him a playful slap on the arm from Hermione.

This rest of the game went by in the blur. The Astros had beaten the Cubs nine to nothing. Jeff Bagwell had hit two home runs and Biggio had scored four times. Overall it was a great game for the Astros faithful.

"The game was great Harry. I had a really good time. I don't understand why so many British people belittle baseball. I mean they are trying to hit a small, white ball that is coming at them at about ninety-five miles per hour. I'm sure that's harder to do than hitting a ball traveling thirty miles and hour lesser that is bounced" she told Harry as they were waiting for Julian, Ginny, and Susan at the gates.

"I don't understand it either", said Harry. He then spotted Julian and the girls and said, "There they are." When they walked up he asked Ginny and Susan, "Did both of you have a good time?"

"We sure did. At first we were kind of worried since we didn't know anything about the game but Julian explained it to us and we got really into it" replied Ginny.

"Julian did they cause you any trouble? I know how they are" said Hermione teasingly.

"No. They were very well behaved" he replied chuckling when he saw the two girls mock affronted looks.

"Well we better get them back. Ginny and Susan have to pack for their trip back tomorrow" said Harry as he grabbed Hermione's hand and walked out of the stadium.

When they got back to the hotel, Julian bid them goodnight, wished the girls well and apparated home. Ginny and Susan bid Harry goodnight and thanked him for a great time.

After they walked in the suite Harry said, "I'm so glad your going to stay here for a month. Nothing else matters but that I get to spend that time with you 'Mione" before he gave a passionate kiss.

Hermione responded eagerly. She had been waiting to kiss him all night. But eventually they had to come up for air, "Thank you again for the great time Harry. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Of course. We're taking them to the International Portkey Terminal and then we start our month together" he replied.

"Well goodnight Harry. I love you" she said as she gave him a goodnight kiss.

"I love you too" responded Harry. She then went in and Harry walked to his car.

When he got home he couldn't fall asleep, he was thinking about his month with Hermione. He soon felt drowsiness and his last thought before he went to bed was This is going to be a great month.

A/N: Alright guys chapter 8 in the books. Next chapter we'll see what the backstabber is doing and of course Harry and Hermione. Chapter was inspired by Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. Amazing song. Reviews make me update faster.