A.N. Hey all! One of you asked about the bold HARRY POTTER things I had in earlier chapters. Well, I forgot about it until. It was just my way of separating two scenes. Some people use stars or something like that.

Did anybody else see GoF and really want to dance with Neville, because I watched it today, and I did. He's so adorable in that one. Actually, he's adorable in all of them. Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 8: Burned Skin and Vindictiveness

"Hey, Ginny, can I tell you something?" Hermione asked Ginny while the two girls were getting ready for bed a long time after Starla left.

"Of course," Ginny said.

"Well, you know how I said that I'd had my fair share of summer flings?" Hermione said nervously.

"Yes."

"I kinda lied. I've only dated Viktor and McGlaggen." Hermione confessed, while putting a large tee-shirt and long sleeping shorts on.

"Why'd you lie?" Ginny asked, turning around from her seat at the vanity to face Hermione.

"Because it's embarrassing; I'm seventeen years-old and I've never had a serious boyfriend. And you're way more experienced than I am in the boys department and I was a little intimidated. I thought you might take the mickey out of me if I did tell you."

"I wouldn't do that. You're my friend no matter what. It doesn't matter if you're inexperienced; nobody wants you to be anything you're not." Ginny said sincerely.

"Thanks," Hermione said.

The girls finished changing and went back downstairs and got into bed. They had already said goodnight to Harry and Ron and were just in the mood for a goodnight's sleep.

The next day everyone got up early and went to the beach. Unfortunately, in the process of packing the car, Starla came outside in a skimpy yellow bikini and an enormous sunhat, laying on a chair in her front yard, insisting that she needed to "work on her tan."

"You do that," Ginny murmured. She was starting to really dislike this girl.

"Where are you guys, like, going?" The fake platinum blonde asked.

"The beach," said Ron.

"That's, like, so cute! You dolls have fun! And don't forget to put on sunscreen, Ginny, you wouldn't, like, want that skin of yours to, like, burn!" She said, putting on her fake smile.

"Oh don't worry about me, Starla. Lay off the baby oil, though. You wouldn't want your skin to burn." Ginny said with an equally fake smile.

The quartet got in the car and set off towards the beach. Hermione and Ginny started ranting about Starla. Harry looked mildly annoyed by this fact, and Ron was agreeing. It seemed as though Harry really wanted to say something, but was biting his tongue.

They got to the beach after a short drive, and set up a nice ways away from the water. Ginny was in a purple tankini and Hermione in a blue one. After seeing the horrible "lady of the night"-esque clothing that Starla wears, they mellowed out and started wearing slightly more modest clothes. They didn't want anyone to get the wrong impression about them, even though their usual clothes were classy.

They splashed in the water and tanned all day, having a blast. Everybody completely forgot about Starla. Even though she knew it was stupid, Ginny didn't put any sunscreen on, just to spite her. She was determined not to get burned.

At the end of the day, everyone sun baked and tired, they all climbed into the car. Ginny was examining her red cheeks on her face in a compact mirror and wincing.

"I'm burnt," she said. Her shoulders ached and her lips hurt…her skin was baked.

"Well, why didn't you put any sunscreen on?" Ron asked.

Ginny didn't answer, but looked at Hermione, "Do you have any Aloe Vera calming lotion?"

"I think so. I've also got this amazing mint body wash that is really soothing," she said.

"Would you mind letting me borrow it?"

"Of course not."

They arrived in the house and Ginny took a cool shower with the body wash and slathered copious amounts of Aloe Vera on her body. After watching the movie Coyote Ugly, they all went to bed, sleeping a sound and comfortable sleep.

Hermione stirred in the early morning darkness. It was only four AM. She got up and went to the bathroom. She wasn't sure what had woken her. She didn't even feel remotely tired, despite the time.

Going downstairs into the family room to watch a bit of television, she stopped suddenly when she saw a figure on the couch. The back of the head was clearly a boy, with fiery red hair. She went and sat next to Ron.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey. Couldn't sleep?" Ron asked her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah. What about you?"

"Couldn't sleep either," He looked down at her face. He thought her slightly disheveled appearance was absolutely adorable, and very endearing. He spontaneously kissed her. Thanking Merlin she had brushed her teeth, Hermione responded immediately. This was the first time they had really kissed since he told her how he felt about her…The spark was still there, if not stronger.

They continued kissing, her hands finding his hair and his hands on her waist again. Some people were just made for each other, and I think we can all agree that Hermione and Ron are two of those people.

Hermione and Ron ended up falling asleep after their activities (get your mind out of the gutter!) and were on the couch. Harry and Ginny woke up soon after ten thirty, and Ron and Hermione were awoken by Ginny's endless giggling at seeing her brother and her best friend on the couch in a slightly compromising position.

While they ate breakfast, the phone rang. Hermione answered it.

"Hello?" She said into the phone.

"Hermione? It's Christine," Christine said. (A.N. if you don't remember who that is, go back to chapter one.)

"Hey! How've you been?"

"I've been great! How about you?"

"Fantastic," Hermione said.

"That's good," Christine said.

"Oh, I've just remembered! When is that dance you told me about, again?"

"This Saturday, silly! How could you forget? It's going to be the highlight of the summer!" (It is Wednesday)

"I know. I've got to tell my guests about it. Have you got a date?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Yeah. You know that really good-looking guy from the movie store?" Christine asked.

"Yes."

"Well, we got to be sort of friends, and he asked me to it a few days ago! Isn't that great?!" Christine was obviously very excited.

"Excellent, Christine! I've got to go, though. I'll talk to you later!"

"Yeah. Bye!"

"Bye!" And with that, Hermione hung up the phone.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny decided to wander around town, today. Before they were able to get ready, however, the doorbell rang.

Hermione went and answered it, and was surprised to see Starla. Her face was tearstained and she was clutching a tissue. "Hermione!' She wailed, "Dean just broke up with me!" she threw herself at Hermione, and hugged her, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ginny went into the foyer and saw Starla crying. She had a feeling it was all an act…a "clever" ruse to get Harry to comfort her in her time of need.

Ginny's a sharp girl, because that's exactly what this tart named Starla was doing. Oh, the vindictiveness of the female species.

A.N. End of chapter 8! I know it seems like this story isn't really going anywhere, and this was a bad chapter, but it was necessary. It reminds you of the dance, and it starts something with Harry's mannerism. I hope you liked it!

R&R

Franchesca