Sorry it took me so long to update again! I've come down with the flu (it's that time of year here) so I've been a little sleepy. BUT I managed to find some time to write this up (took me 2 hours!). Also, thanks so much for all your wonderful reviews! They sure help to keep me focused on this. So here's the update and I hope you enjoy it!
P.S. Check out my site…it's lots of fun! http://s3.invisionfree.com/MichieFiles
The night drew on very slowly, having Harry and Hermione both tossing and turning in their beds for some reason unexplained.
Hermione finally gave up on trying desperately to fall asleep and rose from the comfort of her queen-sized bed. The clock on the wall in front of her made her realize it was already morning. Her eyes were heavy, lacking restful sleep, and her body felt very weak. Something inside her told her a very big event would take place in just a few hours, but her rational mind wouldn't pick up on it enough to care.
It was seven in the morning, the sun just barely coming up over the horizon.
Hermione's head rested against her cherry-wood headboard, refusing to move. She patted the blankets over her stomach and pouted at the memory of Peter staring at her while at dinner with Harry the previous night. Without any uttered words, she stared out the window, watching the crystal blue waters of the ocean grow steadily clearer as the sun finally burst fully into the sky.
The arrangement of islands from Hermione's view would suggest they reached their second destination: Honolulu. It was definitely a beautiful day. Hermione still didn't want to move, but then realized her early morning date with Harry. Automatically she shot out of bed and ran to the back door. With a quick glance outside, it appeared no one was up yet. In conclusion, she pulled her clothes out of her dresser and frantically locked herself in her bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, there was a solid knock on Hermione's door. Her head popped out of the bathroom, her hair soaking wet. Hermione slumped her body against the door frame in defeat for trying to get ready before Harry arrived. Soon though, a smile formed on her soft pink lips.
Hermione quickly wrapped her white robe around herself and twisted her matching towel around her dripping hair. Excitedly, but at the same time, embarrassed, she rushed to the door and stopped. One thought crossed her mind. In a very quick moment, Hermione adjusted her robe to be sure everything was situated and she took the silly-looking towel down from the top of her head.
The door opened quickly. Hermione stood in her doorway, still totally clad in her white fluffy robe. However, the person standing just inches in front of her wasn't Harry. In fact, it was the one person she wished never to see again for the rest of her life: Peter.
"What are you doing here," Hermione growled.
Peter looked at her, truly astonished by her behavior. His hand came up and flatly pushed back the door from Hermione's grip, letting himself inside her room.
Hermione felt defeated once again, but in a bad sense. She knew that at any moment, Harry would come flying through that door to see her. Still, she didn't stop Peter from making his way in. Just the thought of what Harry could do to him calmed her nerves and almost made her laugh. A smile crossed her face and she folded her arms, not letting Peter's entrance bother her one bit.
Peter was standing in the center of the room with his back to her, admiring her taste in choice rooms aboard the ship.
"So let me guess, Harry is paying for your room, right?" he asked amusedly.
Hermione's mouth dropped and for the first time since he walked in, she felt total malice toward him. "Even you should know better than that. But I really shouldn't have to answer this question," she answered annoyingly.
Peter turned back around and looked at her, almost narrowing his eyes at what he had just said. "You have some nerve leaving me, you know."
Hermione folded her arms defiantly and almost seemed amused. "Is that so?"
Peter glared and inched closer, making Hermione feel eerily endangered. "You shouldn't have done what you did."
"And what exactly did I do?" she asked, still hanging on to the amused tone in her voice. Clearly she wasn't threatened by his words. It was the fact that he moved threateningly closer with each sentence he uttered. "Hmm," she started. "From what I remember, it was you that initially did the leaving. I only disappeared from the picture when I sensed you were cheating on me. It's a pity though-" Hermione shook her head and bit her bottom lip sarcastically.
"What's a pity?" Peter asked dumbly.
A small sigh escaped Hermione's mouth and she looked him directly in the eyes, never blinking to make her point a serious one. "It's a pity that you and Cho hooked up. I think it's a shame but for you, it's a perfect match." Hermione stopped to observe the look on Peter's face. "I mean, think about it. When I first found out about you two, I couldn't imagine what either of you would get out of it. Then it hit me. You're both incredibly controlling. You can control each other and neither of you will complain about it."
"You think you know everything," Peter said insultingly.
An obvious smile finally made its way on Hermione's face. "And I thought I knew you. Too bad though. Don't expect me to take you back because I'm totally over the two of us. To me, it's like nothing ever happened." She turned away nonchalantly and walked over to her dresser. Her small fingers traced the design on a thick muggle ash-tray.
"Well you're only perfectly fine with our break up because of your Harry. What's up with you two anyway?"
Hermione picked up the ash-tray and examined it closely. "I don't see how that's any of your business. No matter what I say about it, you'll find some way to twist my words to make it sound like I planned this all along, to clear your conscience. Like I said, you did the leaving, not me." She let go of her new muggle toy, turned to him and saw a fire-y look in his eyes. It was the same look he had when she broke off all ties to him.
His voice was always smooth and steady when he was mad. His light brown hair hung into his eyes, but couldn't hide the look in them from the world. "It's always been clear to me you two had a thing for each other. At least now, I can say I knew it all along. Who are you to say what I can or can't think anyway?"
Sensing something was about to explode, Hermione slowly inched her fingers back to the ash-tray, but didn't lose eye contact with Peter. "That's real funny. This time I didn't have to say anything and you twisted my 'words.'" She lifted the ash-tray from the dresser and tossed in her hands as she circled around her bitter ex, and soon-to-be enemy.
"You know, you were always satisfying in bed, but not up to my standards," he said coolly.
Her eyes widened with her back turned to him. If the ash-tray in her hands was a living thing, it would be losing all circulation right now. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she slowly turned around. "How dare you even say such a thing? You know perfectly well that I refused to ever sleep with you. Heh I guess that's a good thing because I honestly was never attracted to you in that physical sense."
Peter turned around and walked through her room some more, making his way further away from her. "Hmm well would anyone else believe you never slept with me? Cho believes me, and from what I understand, she's talking to Harry right this moment."
Hermione gripped the marble ash-tray between her hands even harder, becoming fully aware of how heavy and solid it was. "You are too much of a coward to do anything like that to me. But then again, you did cheat on me with Cho, who happened to be Harry's 'committed' girlfriend at the time."
Peter chuckled insultingly. "Well I don't think you'll have any problem showing Harry just how 'good' you can be, if you know what I mean."
"Peter Harlow! If you ever come near me again on this trip I'll have you thrown out into the depths of the ocean to be eaten alive by the sharks!" Hermione's voice rose several decibels and she was now shouting at him. "I'm not sorry that I wasn't the kind of girl you wanted me to be! You're just a genuine scum bag!" She paused for a moment to gain back her self control. "Now get out of my room before I call security."
Peter shrugged as if it didn't matter to him. He took one small step toward the bed. "How about we have just one more romp on the bed for old-time's sake?" he laughed insultingly, knowing how mad it would make her.
Hermione turned her back, gritting her teeth with each of Peter's insulting comments. "And then we can have Cho bring Harry in here! Then we'll see just how loyal he is to you when he sees you with me!"
That was all Hermione needed. In one swift movement, she whipped around, pulled back her arm and launched the heavy marble ash-tray in his direction. As if in slow motion, Hermione caught each second of the look on his face before the thing hit him square in the forehead. He dropped off the bed and rolled on the floor, holding his head in his hands. Hermione watched with amusement, her arms crossed, as the ash-tray slid across the floor before hitting dead into the wall; the very wall that separated her room and Harry's. A feeling of utmost victory filled her within. Just as expected, Harry came strolling through her doorway, obviously surprised to see Peter rolling on the floor in pain.
Harry stepped over Peter with one large stride and questioned Hermione with the look on his face. She smiled and ran to him, jumping on him to wrap her legs around his waist.
She hugged him tight and locked her ankles to keep herself around him. "Harry I'm sorry! I wasn't doing anything with him. He just came in and-"
Harry pulled back to look at Hermione. Seeing the undying truth in her eyes, he knew she was telling him the truth. Where it came from, he didn't know but judging by the pained words slipping out of Peter's mouth, it was a big thing that just took place. Harry smiled and kissed her softly on the forehead before realizing just how close he was holding her. He smirked and blushed at the same time, feeling Hermione's bare legs locked around his waist. "Do you mind explaining to me why you're wrapped around my waist in only a robe?"
Hermione jerked her head up off of Harry's shoulders and smiled. "What's the matter Harry? It's not like I'm completely naked under here. I made sure to put most of my clothes on."
Harry laughed and walked with Hermione to the bed to put her down. She refused to let go of him, resulting to Harry falling on top of her. Harry rested his forehead against hers and stared at her while on the bed, his arms holding her firmly as they looked at each other admiringly. Neither of them cared that Peter was still on the floor, now passed out.