ADMIRE YOU

CHAPTER 3

By: hermioneeeeeee

"I want you to set me up, Ginny." Hermione said.

"Seriously? This is great! I won't let you down." Ginny squealed. Halloween was right around the corner and it was the perfect time to get Hermione to start dating, in Ginny's humble opinion. Ginny had the perfect idea, she would hold auditions and whoever seemed the most interested would be the one to start dating Hermione. She put up posters and by the next week, a large amount of boys were waiting outside the Room of Requirement.

"First person, please step in! I will ask you a series of questions and you will answer completely honestly. Question number one..."

"How did it go, Gin?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"Fine, I guess. There was one boy who really stood out. Apparently, he's actually a Hogwarts graduate but he retook this year to get a chance to be with you. So, do you know Cormac McLaggen?" Ginny said. Hermione's eyes widened. Of course she remembered! He was the one who Hermione took to Slughorn's Christmas Party in the sixth year. He was rude and annoying but, maybe he'd changed. Hermione really hoped that he had.

"Hey, Granger. Long time no see." Cormac greeted. Hermione smiled and looked at Ginny.

"Well, go on! Go to the Room of Requirement and catch up. I didn't realize that you were that helpless." Ginny said, earning a look from Hermione. She watched as the two walked off.

"So, Ginny told me you graduated from Hogwarts but came back to start a relationship with me. It seems a little bit much." Hermione started.

"Not exactly. You see, I only told her that so I'd get a chance with you. In reality, my parents wanted me to come back because they still thought that I was too stupid to come into the real world. Honest but, not that encouraging." Cormac admitted.

"Thanks for telling me. My parents don't even remember me. They're still in Australia because of my spell that I cast over a year ago. It's for the best, though. I don't want to confuse them."

"You're a hero, Hermione. You're always doing things for the better of others. I guess that's a big reason why I've had a crush on you for all of this time. Your kindness, cleverness, and strength. Not to mention your beauty. I mean, beauty goes deeper than the surface but you're just beautiful in and out. Sorry, that was really cheesy."

"It was nice, though. That's all I needed to hear." Hermione smiled. Cormac looked into her expressive eyes. They closed their eyes and leant in for a kiss.

Harry tugged on Ginny's hand as they charged up to the seventh floor.

"Come on, Gin! What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Maybe we should just go back to the dorms." Ginny suggested.

"Why? The Room of Requirement's better." Harry said, waiting outside the wall. He closed his eyes and wished for the room to appear. The door came into vision and he reached out his hand.

"Harry, no!"

"What's the matter?" Harry said, utterly confused. He pushed open the door and gasped.

"That's why." Ginny said, shaking her head.

Hermione and Cormac looked up and broke apart.

"Ginny, Harry. I didn't expect to see you here." she said sheepishly. They turned red and Cormac motioned for Hermione to follow him and leave.

"Sorry, Hermione. I told Harry not to." Ginny said, emphasizing on the word 'told'. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and smiled at them. Once they left, Harry began to question his girlfriend.

"That's why?" Harry asked.

"Yes, and if you would have listened to me, we wouldn't have had to ruin their moment." Ginny scolded.

"Seems like they were having a little more than just a moment." Harry laughed. Ginny smiled and kissed his cheek. Harry kissed her back on the lips and put his arm around her.

"Sorry about that." Hermione apologized to Cormac.

"It doesn't matter, Hermione! Besides, we can go to the Gryffindor Tower corridor." Cormac said. Hermione smiled and grabbed his hand.

"Why didn't we see you on the first night?"

"I wasn't there. I was in Dumbledore's office, talking to him about my coming back."

"Oh, that explains it." Hermione said, stopping at the corridor. Cormac pulled her into a hug.

"Won't everybody look?" Hermione whispered into his ear.

"Let them." he answered.

"Are you sure you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"That was easier than I expected! Of course I want you to be my girlfriend. Nothing can stop us now." Cormac said, starting to snog Hermione. She snogged back and the two embraced warmly.

Ron walked to the Gryffindor Commons with some books to study with when he came across an unexpected sight. Cormac McLaggen was kissing someone very heatedly right in the middle of the corridor.

"Excuse me." he shouted. Cormac and the girl separated and let him walk past.

"Hermione?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Hey, Ron. Ginny helped me find a new someone: Cormac!" Hermione blushed.

"Fantastic, I'll have to get her to help me, too. Bye." Ron said, a hint of jealousy creeping over him. He could see them continuing to make out out of the corner of his eye and marched through the portrait hole.

"GINNY!" he shouted.

"What's up?" she asked, coming out of the girls' dormitory.

"Matchmake. Go on, do the same thing you did with Hermione."

"What? You know? She told you?"

"Not exactly. I saw them sucking each other's lips like mad. I guess I'm jealous."

"Yeah, I guess I did a good job with those two. I can help you too, I think."

"If you can't..."

"I can."

"I'll leave it up to you."

"Did you find anyone?" Ron asked for the fifth time that week.

"Actually, I did. She's in Slytherin but, don't freak out." Ginny said, tucking her pencil behind her ear.

"Who? Who is she?"

"Daphne Greengrass, Astoria's sister."

"What's she like?"

"Like you. I'm surprised that a Slytherin actually showed up. She seemed nice enough. Fun, outgoing, honest, and kind. You'll like her. I've arranged for you to meet at the Room of Requirement today at 3:00 pm."

"Wow, you're a natural at this! Thanks, Gin." Ron said, going to tell Harry.

"Ron, hello! I'm Daphne, Astoria's sister." Daphne smiled.

"Hi." Ron said awkwardly.

"I know I'm a Slytherin but, not all of us are mean. My parents actually disagreed with the whole pureblood thing in the first place but they had to fake it so they wouldn't be dismembered or killed."

"It's alright."

"I'm glad. Now, let's actually get to know each other."

"So, mate, have you snogged yet?" Harry asked wide-eyed.

"Yeah, but I'm still jealous. I need to talk to Ginny." Ron replied. He ran off in search of his sister and left Harry wondering what he would do.

"Do I know how to spread a rumor?" Ginny repeated.

"Yeah. Make it seem like Cormac cheated on Hermione. Please?" Ron pleaded.

"I think that this is a bit much. If you want to do this, you're going to do it alone." Ginny said, going up to her dormitory. Ron thought for a moment and then ran to the Room of Requirement.