DON'T PRETEND YOU LOVE ME

CHAPTER 02

THE VISITOR

Hermione and Ron arrived at the Gryffindor Tower. After telling the password to the Fat Lady, they went inside the secret passage hidden behind the portrait. Hermione bid Ron goodnight before making her way up the girls dormitory. Entering the room, she noticed Parvati and Lavender already asleep. It's a good thing they were, she didn't feel like talking to anyone at the moment. All that she wanted to do was rest. After changing in to her P.J.s, crawled in to her bed and slept.

Hermione arrived at the Great Hall that morning, along with Parvati and Lavender. She then saw Ron already busy on his plate as Dean and Seamus were talking at the Gryffindor table.

"Hey Ron!" Hermione greeted.

Ron looked up to Hermione and swallowed his mouthful of food with difficulty.

"Hey Hermione!" said Ron who is now gasping for air.

Hermione sat down beside Ron as she helped herself with breakfast. "Good morning Neville." She added as she saw him. He looked a little weak. "Is everything alright?" she asked?

"I'm just tired," Neville replied, stabbing a piece of bacon to his plate.

"What's the matter?" asked Lavender.

"I cleaned Lupin's classroom after class yesterday after he asked me too." Neville told them.

"Why didn't you just say no?" Dean asked.

"I guess I got so used to doing detention by Snape, I lost my will to say I don't want to." said Neville.

Neville had never had a whole area feel sorry for him. He blushed, he wasn't used to this kind of attention. Then he heard questions flying at him, suddenly an owl came swooping down the window above them.

The owl was big and of black and grey. It stood broadly like a soldier after landing. Hermione was surprised when she saw the owl. She wasn't expecting a letter from anyone. She found the owl familiar but just couldn't remember. Realizing that just looking at the owl wouldn't help her, she took the letter tied with its leg.

Once free of its burden, the owl flew left Hermione with her letter. She read the note once… twice… three times. After reading it, Hermione sighed in discomfort.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked absentmindedly.

"Nothing good." she answered.

"Okay." said Ron still clueless.

"Crap! Crap! Double crap!" Hermione muttered silently, it would seem like she's praying from afar.

"Who's the letter from?"

Hermione jumped in surprise. She turned around and there was Harry smiling down at her.

"Harry!" Hermione bowled over. "Me and Ron were just going to pick you up after breakfast" said Hermione.

Gryffindors near them greeted Harry and made him sit down to eat with them.

"How are you mate? Does your chest still hurt?" asked Dean Thomas who was sitting near Seamus and Ron.

Harry sat down and grabbed himself with some bread and pumpkin juice. "It's actually getting better Dean, thanks for asking." said Harry.

Hermione pocketed her mail and faced Harry. "Just remember about what Madam Pomfrey said, your not suppose to push yourself too hard." said Hermione.

At first, Harry snorted after this mother–like affection from her, but when she shot him the look of THE-GIRL-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-SNORTED-AT, Harry's lionheart fled in fright.

"By the way, you didn't answered my question earlier, who's the letter from?" Harry asked.

She then leaned to Harry and whispered something in his ear. "I need to ask you about something later, and don't tell Ron." whispered Hermione. Harry then smirked and nodded at her with the look of agreement on his face. Exchanging grins, they both got back to their plates.

After breakfast, class was just dismissed in Transfiguration. Harry was walking down the corridor when he heard Hermione call him from a corner. There's no reason to think why, he knows it's about the thing she asked him this morning. So, Harry came over to Hermione.

"So? What's it about?" asked Harry.

Hermione was blushing as she bit her lip in embarrassment. Harry found this refreshingly cute for her.

"Well, I was about to ask you if you could..."

"I could what?" Harry asked.

"I was wondering if you could be my boyfriend?" Hermione continued, still blushing.

Harry chuckled, "And Ron said you don't have a sense of humor."

Harry continued on laughing, but when he noticed Hermione not laughing with him and remaining perfectly still. Harry was slapped by the possibility that Hermione really doesn't have a sense of humor.

Harry's eyes widened. He can't believe what Hermione had just asked him.

"What!" Harry shouted, "You want me to be your boyfriend?" asked Harry, apparently choking between words.

"We're just going to pretend you are Harry!" Hermione said quickly. "It's my Uncle, he's going to visit Hogwarts and he doesn't know I'm single again" Hermione added quickly.

"BUT WHY?" Harry asked, his volume rising.

"Well, after I broke up with Viktor, I told him that I was seeing someone else. Someone better than him." said Hermione.

"And that would be me, right?" said Harry, his left hand currently holding his forehead for support.

Hermione nodded.

Harry was growing paler every minute. Although he was still shock and speechless, he knew why Hermione told her uncle that he was her boyfriend. After all, he is famous as the boy who lived and his reputation about him defeating the dark lord would bring attention to any wizard.

Harry walked a few steps away and leaned on the nearest wall to him "I think I'm going to have a headache" said Harry.

"I'm way ahead of you." said Hermione, rummaging something in her bag. "I have a potion for headache here. Do you feel drowsy?"

"Hermione!"

"It's just one time Harry. We'll only have to pretend until he goes back to Brighton" said Hermione.

Harry was silent for a while. He sighed as the sign of defeat. He paced towards Hermione. "Okay, I'll go along with you're scam. but only until he goes back" said Harry.

Hermione's face brightened, her smile was giving Harry a smile as well. She leapt at Harry and embraced him.

"Oh thank you Harry. You'll never regret it. Count on me to make it up to you after this whole thing is over." said Hermione cheerfully.

Harry crossed his arms. "You might say that I'm the best guy that you ever had in you life."

Hermione laughed. "You're the best guy I ever had in my life."

"And…"

"And you're king of awesomeness."

"And…"

"You rule all."

"And…"

"Were going to be late for potions, let's go." she said grabbing his arm.

"Well, well, it's nice of you to join us today" said Snape with a raised eyebrow as Harry and Hermione opened the door of potions classroom. "Twenty points from Gryffindor" Snape turned from them and headed to his desk.

Harry and Hermione went to their seats and placed their materials and equipment on their desk. Ron leaned close to Harry while Harry was setting up his things.

"What took you two so long?" he asked

Harry smiled "It's nothing important." Harry replied, without looking at his friend.

After all classes were over and after dinner, everyone headed back to their common rooms to do their homework and go to sleep.

Hermione was about to go up the stairs that leads to her room, when she felt someone grab her left hand, she turned around and she saw Harry holding her.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked

"I forgot to ask you something about our...scheme." Harry replied. He let go of Hermione's hand. "I forgot to ask, when will your uncle arrive here?" asked Harry

"Tomorrow."

"WHAT?"

"He will be here in time for lunch." said Hermione.

"It's so sudden!" said Harry.

"I know Harry, but you have to remember, you have to be convincing."

"But if you want us to be convincing, then, that would mean us to…"

"To........?" Hermione tilted her head.

"Doing what couples do." said Harry going slightly red.

Hermione began to blush. The both of them avoided each other's eyes. "Well if..." she paused for a second then glanced at Harry "If it's necessary you have to do what ever it takes."

"Oh," Harry cleared his throat.

"We have to keep it a secret from the others, Harry. Especially Ron." said Hermione. "My uncle was a Ravenclaw here at Hogwarts back then, so we have to be convincing".

"Oh yeah, cause Ron's a blabbermouth."

"You don't know my Uncle, Harry. He has one of those piercing looks that will scare the truth out of anyone. Ron's not going to last a minute." said Hermione.

"Well it's certainly nice to see you having faith with your friends." said Harry.

"Shut up." said Hermione as she playfully punched Harry on the shoulder.

"Hang on, I forgot something." said Harry. "How would you have a wizard for an uncle when your Muggleborn?"

"Well, I've never told you that my Grand Dad adopted him from an orphanage when he thought his wife isn't going to have a baby. Two years before he could be admitted to Hogwarts my Grand Dad's sister decided it was best that they would take care of him since my Grand Mum gave birth to my Dad"

"Oh, So that explains one thing, but why don't you want to your uncle to find out about you being single again?" said Harry now sounding. "I mean, what's he going to do? Spank you?" he teased.

Once again, Hermione tried to avoid Harry's eyes. She was sure she was really embarrassing herself too much by now… as if she hasn't embarrass herself enough. Hermione was finally able take her eyes back to Harry who is still waiting for an answer.

"If he finds out I'm single again, he's going to set me up to anybody he thinks would qualify to his standards the first chance he gets. To his own strange mind, he thinks he's doing me a favor." she answered.

Suddenly they heard Ron's voice calling out Harry's name.

"I think you should go. You don't want to let Ron to keep looking for you." said Hermione.

Harry nodded "Okay, so we'll see you tomorrow morning." he said before going to where Ron was.

Saturday morning, everyone was eating at the Great hall. Harry and the others were at their usual seats at the Gryffindor table discussing about things what Snape would do to get a girlfriend. But all of their attention had turned to a man who had just walked in the room.

He was an elegant looking Wizard with white hair. Like Hagrid, he man sported a bushy beard, but he kept his clean and neat. He was wearing a customized wizard fur coat of white a brown color. His shoes looked expensive, along with his gloves and jewelry.

"Hello Hermione" the man said as he reached them.

Hermione stood up and went to him "Hello Uncle Waynard." greeted Hermione.

Hermione's Uncle glanced at Harry and the others. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" he said.

"Oh, I'm sorry Uncle" she said. "These are my friends, these are Harry, Ron, Neville, Parvati, Lavender, Dean, Seamus and Ginny—Ron's younger sister." said Hermione pointing at them one by one.

"Oh, good to meet you all." he turned to Hermione then right back at them. "So tell me, who among you is Hermione's boyfriend."

It was almost like someone had broken a time turner and frozen the Gryffindor table still for three whole seconds. Their faces quickly turned to Hermione who insisted that the floor was very interesting at that very moment.

But right at that moment, Harry stood up. "That would be me sir, I'm her boyfriend," said Harry.

Everyone's jaws dropped except for Ron who sprayed his pumpkin juice from his mouth.

"WHAT DO YOU BLOODY MEAN YOU'RE HER BOYRIEND?"

All the noises inside the Great Hall broke into silence after Ron shouted. All eyes were at the Gryffindor table looking at Harry and the others with curiosity. Over at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy was staring at them with a look of shock ay his face and a whole piece of bread hanging on his mouth.

"Oh! So you mean you kept your relationship secret?" said Waynard now turning back to Hermione.

"Yes Uncle Waynard, we did. You see, we didn't want to make much of a big deal about it." said Hermione sounding confident.

"That's preposterous! You're a Granger, it should be a big deal." said Waynard pretentiously. He turned to Harry, his eyes narrowed. "The famous Harry Potter; my niece has written many great things about you. Quidditch captain, smart, brave and many other things."

Going back to the Slytherin table Draco turned to Crabbe and Goyle "Those are me, he's talking about me, I'm Quidditch captain, smart and brave, I'm many other things. He's talking about my profile."

Harry cleared his throat, and before he could answer they heard someone's voice.

"Ah! Waynard it has been a long time since you graduated from Hogwarts. I'm glad you were able to take the time to visit us."

Hermione's uncle turned around and found the Headmaster of the school Albus Dumbeldore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He was standing behind him with his usual pleasant smile, wearing his stars and moon printed elegant looking red robe.

"Headmaster! why, it's great to see you again too. It has been a long time hasn't' it." he greeted back.

"Why don't you have a couple of drink with me in my office and we can talk about your trip from Brighton." asked the Headmaster.

"I'd love to Headmaster." he said goodbye to Hermione and the others then followed Dumbledore to his office.

"Harry went over to Hermione while wiping the sweat on his face "You're right, he does have a scary look on him."

"Eeeeeeehhhhh!"

Parvati and Lavender screamed and jumped off their sits and lunged Hermione to hug her.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"When did it all started?"

"How good of a kisser is he?"

"You need to tell us all the details."

"Have you guys done it yet?"

"I'll answer your questions later when we go to Hogsmeade." said Hermione ending Parvati and Lavenders questions. "Harry I'll just catch up with you and Ron later.

Harry nodded "Okay. Ron and I will meet you in front of Three Broomsticks later, right Ron? Harry turned around and saw his friend still gawking at him. He might have been like that since he yelled at them "Ron?" asked Harry again.

"Well, well, Potter and Granger what a surprise." all their attention was now on the blonde boy who's now glaring at Harry. It was Draco Malfoy with his cronies behind him.

"What do you want Malfoy?" asked Harry returning the glare.

"Nothing, I just want to say that you two are a perfect match. The Freak, and the Mudblood. You know Granger, if you wanted to be famous you could have gone to me." said Draco with an evil grin on his face.

Just as Hermione was about to slap Draco, someone's fist struck Malfoy's face first. Draco would have met the ground if it weren't for Crabbe and Goyle who caught him. When Draco looked up, he saw Harry standing in front of him massaging his fist.

Crabbe and Goyle were just about to attack him when they stopped dead. It seems that all the wands pointing at their direction made them think twice about their move.

Draco stood up. He seemed to be fighting the urge to hit Harry back. He looked at him one more time.

"This isn't over Potter. You haven't won yet." after that he turned around and stormed off.

"Good for nothing git." said Ron who now seemed to be able to talk again while pocketing his wand as the others were.

"Good thing Snape didn't see you. You would have gotten detention for sure." said Neville.

All of a sudden, Snape came walking towards them with his hands behind his back "Potter! Detention! Tonight! Nine!" bellowed Snape as he passed by.

Harry moaned heavily as a result.

"Well at least he didn't take points this time." said Neville cheering Harry up.

"Ten points from Gryffindor." shouted Snape reaching the door of the Great Hall.

Harry moaned more louder.

"Hermione, that's so sweet. Your own personal Knight in shining armor." Lavender giggled.

Hermione didn't respond, she just went back to what ever is left of her breakfast. Harry and the others did the same.