Author's Note: It has been graciously pointed out to me that I did not clarify that this fic is a non-magic (a.k.a. muggle) fic. So now you have it. Thanks so much for the reviews so far. It really inspires me to keep going. Some of you guys have even had some predictions for the story already, which is great! We will see how your predictions pan out as the fic progresses. Now, on to the next chapter!
Warning: To those Cho lovers, be prepared for major bashing in this story. Honestly, I did not hate her in the books I just found her extremely annoying and sort of full of herself for the most part. So for those Cho shippers, it is definitely going to be a bumpy ride.
CH. 3 Challenges
School went by slowly and uneventfully as usual. I had received perfect marks on my physics exam and calculus assignment. I told my physics teacher that more extra credit should be provided on the next exam. It was definitely too short of a test as well, but I did not bother to get in to that. Currently, I was in my advanced literature class, reading my new book that I picked up from the library yesterday while I waited for class to start. I was completely engrossed in my book until I heard a high-pitched voice ring out behind me.
"Harry, you are coming to my tennis match today aren't you?" the high-pitched voice known as Cho asked.
"I think so. It depends on when football pratise ends of course," Potter replied softly.
"You think so? Shouldn't it be an automatic yes? I always go to your matches rain or shine. I am your girlfriend you know," Cho responded in a whiny voice.
"Yes I know that but I don't ask you to go to every match. You just decide to. I would completely understand if you had an assignment to do or something."
"You always take precedence over silly class work you know that. As it should be. You have a duty as a boyfriend—"
"Oh Cho please don't start with that again. I don't want to deal with that right now."
"Excuse me?"
I sighed out loud rolling my eyes at their irritating banter. They went through this stupid argument it seemed like at least twice a week. I wondered why they had to pick their seats near my side of the room. It was complete and utter torture. I still didn't understand why Potter ever appeared to be surprised by Cho's personality. Of course school did not matter to her, she was after all a part of Rebecca's crowd since age 14. All that mattered to them was boys, make-up, clothes, oh and did I forget to mention boys?
I closed my book impatiently knowing that I would never be able to enjoy it at this rate. I glanced to my side to see Cho and Harry still arguing over something. At this point, she now managed to contort her face in to a big, almost pathetic pout. How she managed to get in to this class was beyond me. I knew that Cho was making passable marks in our class and Harry surprisingly was doing well above average. I like to think that my school work ethic rubbed off on him as we were growing up, but then I remembered that I absolutely did not care. My attention was suddenly drawn to the front of the room as our teacher walked to the front desk. This was by far my favourite teacher and every word that came out of her mouth was filled with incredible knowledge. Her name was—
"Ms. McGonagall, is it true that we are being paired off for our end of the term assignment? Do we have a choice in the matter?" a girl named Susan Bones announced.
Immediately all eyes turned to the front of the room at McGonagall. Where did she hear about this? Surely, I would have been one of the first students to hear about this.
"I do not know how you have come upon this bit of information Ms. Bones, nonetheless, it is true. For your end of the term assignments, you will be paired off according to a list that I have drawn up. The task will involve for you and your partner to pick an author from the approved reading list, write a 6,000-word research paper, and present your findings to the rest of the class. This will be due at the end of the term, so in two months time. Are there any questions before I move on? Yes Ms. Chang?" Ms. McGonagall said with a nod at the raised hand.
"So I know that you said that there is already a list, but I was just wondering that if we do not like the person we are partnered with, could we maybe swap?" Cho asked excitedly.
"Absolutely not. Any other questions? Good. Now, be mindful of the list for I will not read it off again. Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones, Neville Longbottom and Padma Patil…"
My mind started to wander as I thought about that list. All I could think was "please not Harry Potter". I remembered the last time we were paired together for something. It was a disaster. It ended up with me punching Draco in the face and biting Harry's arm. He still had the mark on his arm if I recalled and that always made me feel better about the situation.
"Cho Chang and Justin Finch-Fletchley…" McGonagall's voice continued down the list.
"Oh bloody hell," Cho mumbled under lips in dismay.
I tried to not laugh at the idea of those two working together. Fletchley was definitely a prick. He sort of reminded me of Draco in the female department. Cho and Fletchley would be highly entertaining.
"So Cho…" Justin trailed off with a wink towards Cho.
"Don't even think about it. Harry, did you just see what he did to me?" Cho whispered angrily towards Harry.
"What? No. Oh Fletchley, keep your eyes to yourself," Harry responded in a clearly bored tone.
"Arg! Seriously?" Cho said with a frown before a full out argument broke out between the pair of them quietly.
Cho and Harry have only been together for I think about a year now officially, but with their constant bickering, it felt like 50. I ignored their quiet fighting as I turned my attention back to McGonagall.
"Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."
"What?" Harry and I both exclaimed at the same time looking at each other with disbelief on our faces.
"I said I would not repeat the list again. Not even for you Ms. Granger. Now where was I…" McGonagall replied looking back down at her list.
Later that day—
"And that ends the story of my horrific day," I finished with a sigh turning towards my locker.
"Honestly Hermione working with Harry cannot be that bad. Look on the bright side, maybe this will be an opportunity for you to work things out between the two of you. God forbid maybe you even become friends again after this," Ginny replied teasingly.
I shook my head as I zipped my book bag closed with all of my necessary school supplies for tonight's homework inside. I had just finished telling Ginny about being paired off with Harry for our literature assignment. To say she had been understanding would be a total lie. She thought the whole thing was amusing as well as a possible turning point for Harry and I's non-existent relationship. I still didn't tell her about the reason we were no longer friends for that simple reason. She probably would say that it was just a "misunderstanding" that we needed to work it out. That was Ginny for you: the problem solver.
"Ginny, you alright?" Harry said in greeting as he approached Ginny and I from across the hallway.
"I'm doing fine and you?" She responded with a smile.
"Great. Do you mind if I talk to Hermione alone for a few minutes?" He asked looking between the two of us.
"Sure, I needed to go see Ron anyway about when he was ready to go home. I will ring you later?" She asked pointedly at me.
I gave her a look telling her not to dare leave me but all she did was smile knowingly and wave goodbye before walking off. All I could do was stare at her long red hair whipping behind her.
"Listen. I know that you probably do not want to work with me and the feeling is completely mutual. So I suggest that we just make the best of it and get a good mark on our assignment. What do you say?" Harry said looking at me with his arms crossed.
"I say that you are right about me not wanting to work with you," I responded before I started to walk down the hallway away from him. He reached out a hand pulling me back and I impatiently shook his hand from my arm.
"This is exactly what I thought would happen. You are so stubborn in your ways that you can't even act civilized to finish a damn project together!"
"Civilized? I assure you that I very well know how to act civilized you conceited jerk!"
"Could have fooled me."
"Well if you have nothing of importance to say besides insult my intellect I will be going now."
"No, wait. Look I didn't want to get in a row with you. Can we just agree to disagree and work together for one bloody project?"
"Fine, but under one condition."
"Why does there have to be a condition involved? Do I get to make conditions as well?"
"No, now are you in or not."
"Fine, what is the condition?"
"You have to promise that you will not think that this will lead to a friendship or something else," I asserted crossing my arms across my chest.
"Well you are quite full of yourself aren't you? I do have a girlfriend named Cho, maybe you have heard of her?" He answered with a shake of his head in disbelief.
"I'm serious Potter. You either agree to this or I cannot work with you."
"I agree with your ridiculously unnecessary condition. Good enough?"
"I don't really care, you agreed is all I am concerned about. We should meet two days from now to work on general ideas for the project. If you were to prepare a list of ideas that would be very beneficial as well," I said positioning my book bag higher up my shoulders.
"I can tell this is going be a great assignment already," He said sarcastically with a shake of his head.
"See you in two days," I answered before continuing my walk down the hallway.
I did not have particularly high hopes for us working together cohesively but as long as we worked hard and got the perfect mark that was necessary, I could care less about becoming friends again. That ship had long set sail and I really didn't see it ever coming back.
Author's Note: I think that I may have made Hermione seem a little heartless in this chapter but I assure you all that a change in her personality is definitely on its way. I wonder how their project is going to work out…Click to the next chapter to find out more!