[a/n]From #77 Can't totally knock the Umbridge/Malfoy argument.

[a/n]From #76 a severe ponytail? One that's tied so tight, the wearer might appear to be bald. Can't remember where I got that.

Harry Does Different CDXCI

Is That What It's Like For You?

"Weasley is our king! Doesn't let the quaffle in!" the chant filled Gryffindor's Common Room. The game had been a tremendous victory and there was only one hero. Even the Seeker was largely forgotten. But he was wearing a pleased grin. He joined in the uproar when Lavender Brown engaged in an enthusiastic effort to swallow his redheaded friend's head. A devastated sob, however, drew him away.

It took time, much time, for Harry to find his best witch friend. In fact, it was only the sound of shock and outrage that enabled him to locate her. Lavender and Ron were fleeing a flock of conjured birds. In a low tone he quipped "Should get you a good grade. Even from Snape."

"Is That What It's Like For You?" she asked as he sat beside her. Under other circumstances Hermione might have scolded her friend for not using the honorific "Is it, Harry? When you see Ginny with Dean?"

Reflexively, he drew back "Don't know what you mean!"

"Really Harry?" she emitted a half-snort, half-sob. "Maybe Pansy Parkinson doesn't know of your interest in Ginny, but she's blinded by Malfoy's seeming beauty. To me, it's almost as obvious as Cho."

He shivered violently then chuckled "Guess so. Yeah, guess It is. Com'ere." It was a near-miracle, him initiating a hug.

"I'm being stupid." Hermione sniffed into his shoulder, and just stayed there a few minutes. When she looked up, bleary eyed and muss-haired "Oh look Harry! I stained your shirt!"

To that he scoffed "Please! Really? Troll boogies, basilisk venom. Blood? Some of it my own. Bit of slobber is… pfft!" He brushed the hair from her face, and grinned "There all better. I'm reminded of something Mr. Ranger-of-a-Teaspoon once concluded. You're a girl. One without a boyfriend. By coincidence, I'm a boy without a girlfriend."

"What are you saying, Har—mmmphf." Her question was interrupted by the answer. This in the form of a kiss that started dryly enough, but quickly deepened as Hermione went from surprise, through acceptance, to eager participation. Some minutes later, grinning like a loon, after a last peck she asked "Okay, why did you do that?"

He shrugged lightly, sliding his hand down her side, answering "Seemed you needed it. And, two, I wanted to."

"Valid points." She answered thoughtfully "But considering we were talking about Ron and Ginny, what plan do you have when …or if, rather… either of them break up."

That question, Harry didn't like. To buy time, he leaned in for another kiss. With no real answer a minute later, he just laughed "When do we plan? And when we do …heh… even if we win, do you notice it's not really what we planned?"

"Is that what you propose? Just make it up as we go along?" her tone was mild, her look incredulous. "Besides, I thought I was like a sister to you."

Here, Harry gave a sour look "Wouldn't know what to do with a sister. My only example of even a brother is Dudley. So? Wha'd'ya say? Boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Well, not that I am any great expert… but you seem a decent kisser." She seemed to be sizing him up, though the tone was light. She did have a concern "And if it doesn't work, would we still be friends?"

Again kissing, he answered seriously "I could see us arguing, like with the broom thing. But really? Not friends with YOU?"

"Well we won't know until we try, I suppose." Replied Hermione, not even realizing she'd already approved the idea just by how she framed her answer. "And Ginny and/or Ron, how can they complain when they have their own relationships going on? If they would, that is." Not bothering with verbalizing, Harry just leaned in for another kiss.

Abcij

Back in the Gryffindor Common Room just two students were present this late. Boy and girl had acted as though deep in study, and perhaps they had been; though were currently involved in nonacademic activities. Hearing the outer door open, they made every attempt to speedily make themselves presentable.

"Oh, it's you Harry." The Indian girl was much relieved to see fellow student instead of a professor. And, going on the offensive, pointed out "Hair a little mussed and looks like a shirt misbuttoned. Very interesting."

He blushed quite a bit, not knowing how to respond except looking down at the evidence.

Hermione rescued her recently christened boyfriend, noting "I see mussed hair and wrinkled clothes on both you, McClaggen, and you Parvati. Well, at least you're not Padma, she would be long past curfew. Don't get your panties in a twist at me. Might interest you to know just last week Cormac was begging me to go out with him. More pathetic than some of the hens trailing Viktor around."

"Excuse me?" demanded the Indian girl in high dudgeon. Ire directed not at her dormmate, but at her snogging partner.

Hermoine dragged Harry to a nook by the girls' dorm stairs, pushed their faces together for a last kiss before skipping away.