Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N: Now, the pick up lines were inspired from what many PK mates know as the infamous Gutter Saturday. It was a wonderful day and I decided to honor its memory. So this fic is dedicated to Aramas(You flirt! Where ae you, by the way?), Jack(Maker of one of the best HP pick up lines), Kalie(Scarlet Woman! :p) and Daniela(Vanilla puf), since you made me a nifty arm warmer. Nitya for enduring my rants on how I was losing my sanity over this chapter. Let's not forget Lauren(Tic Tac)! My review partner in crime! Shh, keep it on the down low... :p And MD for being my beta slave. Also this goes out to all the Wonks!

Inevitable: Part Three

Okay, maybe she was being a tad vicious. Blame it on the pain, blame it on the unfairness of it all. Usually she wasn't so aggressive. Regularly she was the opposite of this person she would transform into monthly, well for the past two months, including this one.

Perhaps this huge change was the result of her being so submissive and tolerant of all the things that came her way. Maybe all those snarky comments, pressure, and sheer tension made her feel so aggravated, that her emotions and hormones no longer could manage keeping it all in.

Hormones, she recalled, were really quite a remarkable thing.

And so she paced around the minuscule space surrounding her four-poster bed. Of course it was rented so it really wasn't hers per say, but she wasn't supposed to think about semantics.

At least not concerning her lack of property at the moment. That thought process can come after her NEWTS so full-fledged panic can hit once again. After all she can't cope without the constant stress that seemingly inhabitated her life. Stress-free Hermione? Talk about unnatural.

But it would have been nice to just have one less thing to agonize over.

Again she must remind herself to send a letter to that special someone up there. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY LIFE HELL, PLEASE CONTINUE DOING SO! YOU ARE DOING A BLOODY FANTASTIC JOB!

Grumble, grumble.

She rubbed her wrist unconsciously. It still hurt even after an hour of what happened. Who knew that the mirrors had a protective charm? Bloody Dumbledore... it was his fault she couldn't demolish Gracie properly.

Nevermind that it was there(the charm) to protect these defenseless objects from psychos like her.

Sure mirrors got protection, but what the House Elves? Biased bastard... Meddlesome bastard as well, she still had not forgiven the old man for that.

Again with the grumbling, she was entitled to it. She deserved to throw a pity-party. After all the trauma she had endured...

Time of the months, getting a huge spot on her nose, the unrequited love she had going on for ages... and who can forget Harry being so tactless? He should thank his lucky stars that she liked him a lot.

Honestly!

Asking someone on a date thirty-four hours before and clueing everyone else in but her. Talk about her pride...

She needed a pity-party badly. What else was there to grieve over?

Oh yeah, there was the whole almost-dying-every-year issue. Bah, nevermind her pity-party... Harry needed one badly as well.

Especially after tonight. The horror the boy will go through with her at this kind of temper, and without her potion too...

Maybe after their date? No, no... it was going to be all right. Everything was going to go okay.

She would make sure of that. Ha! No period was going to come between her and her man...

Right?

______________________

Hormones would be the death of him.

Yes, he had finally decided on that outcome. How could he not when Hermione would go off in these hissy fits? He didn't really see what he did wrong.

To his credit, he asked her if she would accompany him on a date without using any of those cheesy pick-up lines that Dudley's favorite programs would churn out constantly. He didn't go via the Lockhart route(i.e. acting like the greatest prat to walk the earth) nor did he command her to go on a date with him like she was some cow.

And don't forget, he didn't use any pick-up lines. To name a few:

* Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

* I think I must've got hit with a Bludger, because I've been dazed since you walked in the room...

Not like he really concentrated on remembering them... they-they just stuck on like leeches. Yes! Great analogy, he should applaud himself on his originality.

Plus the Muggle ones were great blackmail material to use on Dudley to remind him that he knew that he watched soap operas...

However there was no use denying that some of them were drawn out with great thought, like:

My wand is made for more than just charm work, you know...

The author of that was brilliant. Haha! More than just charm work! Brilliant, pure genius.

Enough that maybe, just maybe if he used it... it could work? He could just imagine it now:

There he would be, leaning casually against the Gryffindor couch, running a hand aloofly through his hair. Hermione would be sitting with her legs stretching to the left on top of the arm rest of her armchair. She would be rapidly reading Hogwarts: A History ( The most boring book to ever be published. Guaranteed sleep in five minutes...) but would stop at the sense of his presence.

Her wide eyes would then look up and gaze at him questionably, this would be his cue.

Him: Hermione... you know that my wand was made for more than just charm work...

Hermione: Well of course Harry, there's always Potions!

He then blinked once and then twice more, shaking his head slightly. Instantly Snape's greasy head filled his head. He grimaced as he remembered the time that he actually listened to those giggly girls and their own imaginative analogies of Snape and his wand.

ERLACK!

He really needed to block that out from his mind. Of all the times to overhear them...

But it was all Hermione's fault. Yes she was the one to blame. For some reason these past weeks were so arduous for him to not be distracted by her that he sought to have other interferences distract him from her, but it was no use.

Everything she did made him ogle in admiration. The way she blinked, held her quill in an odd way or even how she scrunched her nose when a strand of her bushy hair would trickle down her face...

As Seamus would say, "You stuck yourself in this one mate." And he did... how he was regretting it now.

Why, why for the love of Merlin did he start to fall in like with Hermione of all people?

Sure in some logical sense he could understand... but it still puzzled him. Annoyed him to no end during the night when he could clutch at his pillow and wonder why he thought kissing Hermione would be a much better exercise rather than flying on his Firebolt.

His dreams would make his affection for her rise to an unbelievable pitch that he found it bewildering that she could cause such a stir within him.

Feelings that made him realize that yes, Harry Jr. had other functions and a one-track mind.

Instantly he slapped his forehead. No, no... he wouldn't start thinking those things tonight. He came out here for a purpose and that was to know what the heck was going on.

But he was finding that communicating with her at two in the morning in the middle of a desolate common room with no warning was sort of not working.

He looked to his right and pouted before he set his eyes on some scattered Gobstones. Instantly he grinned.

Perfect.

___________________________

Tick. Tock.

It mocked her. The hands twisting beneath the surface of her pocket watch moved too slowly for her liking. Enough that each second felt like it was a minute.

She shook the watch in her grasp tightly, willing it to hurry up with its job.

Tick.

She stared maniacally.

Tock.

A sudden rageful noise vibrated past her throat. Her hands found themselves whacking the pocket watch at her bedside.

"Stupid... (whack) ... damn... clock. Can't. You. Hurry. Up. FOR ONCE!"

She paid no mind to the sudden shuffling and "what's Hermione on now"'s that were sounding off in the background.

No, she was off in her own little world reprimanding inanimate objects. Ah, all was normal.

"Do you mind?" the watch's small face screeched, irate. "Would you like being smacked around when it is 2 o' clock in the effing morning?"

Hermione blinked once and twice again at the indignant object. "I thought so," the watch replied with a jeering tone.

"So rude," Hermione muttered under her breath. After all, what was so wrong with being awake at this time? Besides, she thought, depriving her roommates of sleep that could consequently lead to some artful revenge, that is.

She was just gathering some breath to prepare a logical rant on why it was a bad idea for the gadget to argue with her since it was she that had the wand when a sudden thud was heard near the outside of the dormitory door. Startled, she quickly slipped on her slippers and padded her way around the four posters of those nameless girls.

Her hand turned the knob slowly and as she stepped into the small space before the entrance of her room and the staircase she heard one of the nameless girls finally speak, "She left!" in a much too bright tone for Hermione's taste. But she cheered up at the prospect that at least she had somehow contributed to making one of those girls talk.

A job well done on her part.

Her contented facade though soon slipped off as the darkness of the night enveloped her. Her hands grasped thin air in a gesture to remind her that she forgot her wand.

Regardless she followed the sound of the erratic raps against who knew what. Her foot was about to step on the final third step of the staircase when the sole of her slipper made contact with a slippery box of some kind.

She only thought that it might be a box of a board game before gravity won over and she tumbled down. Her body, on reflex, curled itself into a ball as her body rolled on the shaggy carpet of the common room.

She had no doubt that new bruises would kindly surface in a few hours. Bloody marvelous! Just another thing she needed the day Harry and her would be off on their first date.

"Hermione?"

Speak of the devil...

Wincing, she blearily opened an eyelid and watched as Harry made an imposing figure with the dying flames of the fire playing on his features. His two eyebrows furrowed in the middle, looking over in concern at her.

She glanced down and saw that he had a few Gobstones in his hand. Quickly he let go of them and crouched down by her side.

"Are you all right?"

What did it look like? He winced as if he heard her thoughts.

"Right, right, stupid question to ask..." He pulled her up to her feet, clumsily she leaned against him.

"Ooh... ouch," she prattled. He guided the both of them to the nearest couch and he laid her there.

She avoided his eyes, partly because of her embarrassment. She smoothed out her night gown and prayed that Harry did not get an eyeful in that tumble before.

"What are you doing here at two in the morning?" she asked.

He frowned and moved her feet aside, to make room for him on the couch. She blushed at the thought that he could have sat in that arm chair across from her, but no... he chose to be in the same couch as her.

"Well I... I couldn't sleep." Sheepishly he looked down at his hands. Her mouth opened to reply but she was stopped short as he raised his hand.

"No wait, let me finish. " He looked at her, full on. "I couldn't sleep because of you."

A sickening lurch was felt in the pit of her stomach. "Oh," she distantly said.

He sighed and looked down at his hands again. "I kept thinking on how you reacted when I asked you to you know..."

"And?" she inquired.

"Well, you kind of ruined my fantasies."

Affronted, she sat up straighter against the arm rest and crossed her arms. "Oh... it was my pleasure then," she replied, coolly.

He took one look at her face and started chuckling. "I don't see how insulting me is amusing."

"Hermione, you know you're very good at emotional issues and understanding them, but when it comes to you... you're as blind as Ron. And that's saying something."

"Is this suppose to cheer me up?"

He smiled at her and started massaging her legs. What was it with his fetish on massaging her? Not that she minded, mind you, but it was hard to continue being mad at him when he distracted her this way...

"You see, you ran off not in the brightest of moods. So I thought that might not be a good thing..."

Her lip quirked upwards. "At least I wasn't acting like a human housepipe."

His eyes twinkled. "I'm never going to live that down, am I? Anyway I was worried on what... er, or if we were still going on the date..."

He stared at the dying embers. Her smile grew larger, as she finally understood.

"Oh Harry, you are tactless."

"Thanks," he said drily.

"It's just... well I get moody sometimes and hormones get the best of me." She raised her eyebrows at the stressed part, but he paid them no mind. "And you just got under my skin because -- oh it's childish really -- but because you told other people first and not me. Now that I think about it, it's flattering in a way."

She grinned as he rose up and grabbed her by the shoulders. His eyes were wide in hopeful disbelief.

"You mean we are -- you are going to Hogsmeade... with me?"

She giggled as she nodded. He raised his fist and pumped it in the air.

"I told you I was... now, you still haven't answered my question, what are you doing down here?"

He paced around as he stroked his chin.

"Well being the impatient bloke that I am, I was going to get a real confirmation about the situation."

She leaned forward. "Now?! Meaning, you were going to wake me up?"

He looked at her. "I am guessing that wasn't a good idea?"

She bit her lip and instead of answering she questioned him even more. "How were you going to do that? I told you that Hogwarts: A History quotes one of the Founders that they thought boys were more untrustworthy than... "

" ...girls so they made some extra wards for their dormitories... I know, I know, you told me that two years ago." He shoved his hands in his thin cotton pajama bottoms. She only shot a weird look at him, telling him he better start explaining what she questioned previously.

"Well I hit a rock at that point, so I started thinking on what to do. When I happened to look at the Gobstones, " he pointed to the scattered wizarding marbles, "I got an idea."

Her eyes grew wide after a moments pause. "Noooo! You don't mean, you -you threw them? You made the racket?"

"You're too smart for your own good Hermione (she was pleased at this comment), yeah that was me." He looked down at her form and muttered a quick "sorry."

She gazed down at the spots where a mass of purple tinged skin was. He did the same.

"It was pretty stupid of me, once again you're hurt on my cause... and I'm really starting to hate the color purple..."

She didn't say anything but just looked on as Harry placed his hand over the biggest bruise. With his eyes closed so tightly in concentration, she was transfixed. Her breath hitched in her throat as warmth radiated from his hands and the pain dulled in that area.

He let out a big sigh and reclined against the couch. "Forgot my wand, but couldn't just do nothing..." he replied to her unasked question.

"But Harry, you know that takes a lot out of you. You shouldn't have done it!" She swatted at his bicep in a pathetic attempt to show she was admonishing him.

"It's my saving-people thing, hero complex. Unavoidable."

She wasn't impressed.

"Look it's nothing a night's sleep can't cure. Speaking of sleeping, what are you doing awake?"

She let go of the issue and decided to play along.

"What does it look like? Joining you in a slumber party."

They looked around at the desolate and messy common room. "Lively, isn't it?" Harry commented. "No seriously, why?"

She shrugged her shoulders in what she hoped was an off-hand manner. "Just something woke me up, 'tis all. I couldn't sleep because I need to meet Madam Pomfrey for something important..."

He raised his eyebrows at her general tone.

"Anyway," she yawned, "we better go off to bed -- Harry wipe that look off your face -- so you can whisk me away tomorrow in whatever it is you plan to do."

Harry, still with a goofy grin plastered on his face made Hermione lean against him as they walked to the dormitories.

"I'll walk you there."
________________________

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

Hermione whipped the curtains covering the glass pane of the dormitory to the side. Instantly the sun's golden rays eased their way through. Right into the sleeping girl's faces.

Murphy's law.

"It will no longer be beautiful once I wring my hands around that smart-alec throat of yours," Lavender threatened. Parvati concurred from underneath her pillow. The nameless girls remained quiet. Damn. She thought she made a breakthrough with them this morning.

"Lavender, life is too short to not appreciate the sun when it decides that maybe it would be a nice change to not have shitty weather."

The blond girl quickly was shocked. "Did you just curse? Merlin! What happened to you?"

Hermione looked flattered. "Well isn't it about time? I hang around boys everyday, it's expected. Plus it isn't as if I am some nun." Hermione's eyes gleamed. "No, I think it's time for a change, live life on the edge..."

Parvati rubbed her eyes and smirked at Lavender, "Listen to her, date hasn't even started and she's the new social butterfly." Parvati stretched her arms and continued. "Watch out, here comes Hermione Granger and she wears some bloody lace knickers!"

Parvati soon shut up as her pillow floated upwards and smacked her. "Oof! Hey Hermione! I was joking..."

Hermione started digging through her trunk. Lavender, now fully awake, looked curiously on. "Seriously, what brought this mood on? Usually at this time you either are growling like a cave woman with your lion's mane (Hermione shot her a look and patted her hair affectionately) or reading, which by the way, you really need to find a new hobby to occupy you... besides saving the world."

Parvati walked over to her vanity and started brushing her hair. "I don't know Lavender," she called over her shoulder. "I'd say she got down and dirty with her quill last night." She wiggled her brows playfully.

Hermione huffed as Lavender laughed.

"Oh that is just witty, both of you really are. You'll be up on the BBC in no time."

Lavender grinned cheekily. "Thank you darling... we'll thank you as one of the little people when we make it."

Hermione (surprise, surprise) rolled her eyes. "Really you two!" She grabbed a flask from her trunk and walked quickly away from them.

"Where are you going?" Parvati called after her.

"Pomfrey's!"

Lavender shrugged her shoulders at Parvati's puzzled expression. Meanwhile over in the other part of the dormitory an unnamed girl bunked next to another.

"Hell, you think she found out we took her potion?" she whispered to her companion.

______________________

"Hermione! Hermioneeeeeeeeee!"

Desperately she propelled her legs to dive past the crowds that were starting to gather in the morning. If only they could conceal her from him, that would be nice.

"Hermione Jane Granger! Stop!" A hand tugged at her robes, she froze. Closing her eyes, she willed Merlin to grant her the patience she would surely need.

"Bloody hell, are you deaf?"

She pivoted around on her foot and gave Ron her level two glare. It was labeled by Lavender after she came back from the States as the 'back off biatch' one.

"Weasley, I suggest you get new greetings if you still wish to procreate in the near future."

Ron smiled and ruffled her hair. "Using the surname, eh? Aren't you feisty?"

She grunted and shoved past him. Clearly she was not in a joking mood. Especially if he was going to start on the teasing that he seemed to go on continually since Harry bit the gun.

"What is it with you?"

She didn't answer but walked faster.

"Geez, at least tell me where you are going?" She bit her lip and shot him a nasty look. He continued to stroll beside her with his too damn long legs.

"Hermione, Hermione," he chided. She snorted and replied, "Do you harbor some fascination with my name? Because you've been repeating it incessantly."

He did not appear miffed but instead grinned widely.

"Oh it is a nice name, but my admiration pales in comparison compared to Harry. He moans it all the time..."

She felt her face flushing a deep red as she poked Ron. "Sod off Ron... or else I'll let everyone remember the new version of 'Weasely is Our King.'" She smirked as Ron froze. "I might even give Malfoy some of those poems you wrote about Luna's lunar eyes, you know for creative fodder."

Ron gaped at her. "You wouldn't, even you aren't that evil."

She placed her hands on her hips. Her smirk was openly beaming. "Go on and try me!"

Ron pouted in a childish way. "Alright, I'll let you off the hook for now. But where are you going?"

Hermione continued walking down the corridor. "Pomfrey's." She opened the Hospital's doors.

"Great I'll join you."

To avoid confronting an awkward scene in which Ron would question why she wanted that potion, Hermione furiously came up with an excuse.

"Oh no, I wouldn't if I were you."

Ron frowned. "Why?"

"Well..." Hermione drawled out. "You know how I wish to become a Healer, right?"

He waved his hand for her to continue.

"You see, I wanted to ask Madam Pomfrey some questions concerning anatomy..."

Ron mouthed the words and looked confused.

"It means..."

"I know what it means!" He shouted, insulted. "But why would you -- what part?"

Hermione grinned evilly to herself. Oh he just was playing right into her hands. Carefully she stepped right in front of him and made her face appear innocently masked.

"Madam Pomfrey was more than willing to oblige to my request on observing how to prod my wand properly near the lower regions of the male body... and I don't mean the legs."

She gestured at the area between his. "But what is between them, you know, hanging about."

Harry would have been proud at how fast Ron when from a normal hue to blanch white.

"Hermione, how can you be so vulgar?"

She made her eyes open widely, innocence shinning through.

"Vulgar? Whatever do you mean Ron? I just want to apply theory with practicality."

As an after thought, she added:

"Harry was always good at the practical sort, wasn't he? Maybe I should get pointers from him..."

In a flash, Ron disappeared from sight. She supposed she crossed the line with the last bit, but it was worth it.

Hermione Granger: 1, Ron Weasely: 0

Go her!

So with her ego boosted she proceeded to confront Madam Pomfrey who watched her with her eyebrows raised. She just looked down sheepishly, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

"Request on prodding the male body, Miss Granger? Surely I would have remembered that conversation."

Hermione bit her lip and sighed. "I had to get rid of him somehow..."

Madam Pomfrey made a tutting noise with her tongue and started organizing her potions on a bedside table. Hermione wrung her hands around, trying to come up with a way to word what she wanted.

"Madam Pomfrey," she looked up, "I was wondering if perhaps you had a spare potion bottle on... you know."

The nurse carefully took her time arranging the bottles. Just as Hermione was going to ask the question again (just in case the woman had not heard) the nurse shook her head. "I'm afraid I ran out."

Her indifferent tone made her clench her fists. She ran out? For -- what was it now? -- the second time in a row?

Hermione bristled. "Look I know we haven't been on the best terms lately, but I would have thought you would have gotten past this immature thing you have going on between us."

After the words flew rapidly out of her mouth, she regretted them. Madam Pomfrey's eyes flashed with rage.

"Miss Granger I feel insulted that you would think that personal matters would affect my business relationship with the students! This is an outrage against my character! I should report this to your head of house!"

Hermione snorted, "Oh please, get over yourself." What effing demon was possessing her?

The nurse's lips drew thin and her neck went taut. Hermione prepared herself for a verbal backlash when a group of Hufflepuffs ran in.

"Madam Pomfrey! MADAM POMFREY!"

The older woman glared at her one last time and quickly walked to the group of kids gathering around an injured one.

"Yes, yes, what is it?" The nurse questioned.

A girl with pigtails wailed, "Oh it's horrible! Sean thought himself brave enough that he flew on a broom! For the FIRST time!"

Madam Pomfrey looked alarmed. "He fell?"

A companion of the girl nodded. "Yeah, from a broom my seven-year old brother uses. You know those training ones that only go 15 feet off the ground? Pathetic... I never would have thought you could actually injure yourself with them..."

Hermione tried vainly to prevent the snickers threatening to come out. Oh she was terrible... But at the same time she couldn't help but think that she was saved by a Hufflepuff.

Would the world ever cease to bring wonders?

Discreetly she eased her way out but as she passed Pomfrey's office she halted. A sense of rebellion bubbled her insides and she couldn't shake it away.

Quickly she looked Madam Pomfrey's way and calculated that the woman would be distracted for some time. Her sudden rebellious nature encouraged her thoughts in sneaking inside the nurse's office. After all she was sure that potion she needed was there since the nurse could not have run out two times in a row. No... this was no coincidence. Madam Pomfrey just did not like her and was making the best of it.

Well, thought Hermione, not anymore...

She slipped inside the office in a heart beat.
___________________

Lavender was just agonizing over which sweater to put on (the pink or blue one?) for her date with Seamus tonight when the door burst open. She only caught the look of a brown tumble weed in midair before that disappeared in the loo quickly.

Hermione...

"Hey! What's the rush?"

A muffled response came from behind the door. Lavender frowned as she heard the bathroom mirror scream "NOT YOU!"

"Hermione? What's going on?"

Lavender leaned close to the door to hear clearly. "Nothing Lavender! Would you stop the whining? I swear I am not going to use my wand against you!"

Puzzled, the blond girl did not relent from eavesdropping.

"Only because of the protection wards! But you cracked them haven't you girl? I swear if you have I'll sic Violet on you!"

Was that Gracie? The sweet darling mirror that gave her those wonderful tips on how to curl her lashes the right way?

"Oh hoho! Look at me, I'm shaking in my bootsies! News flash mirror, your threat is worthless. Violet is a middle-aged woman past her prime that is eternally a bloody object in portrait! What can she do to me at best?"

There was a silent pause and then Hermione chuckled. "Oh and don't get me started on you! You can't even move from this spot!"

Wow, that was cold of Hermione. Hit them right where it hurts. Poor Gracie...

"Why you insensitive little girl!"

There was sound of shuffling and... what was that? She pressed her ear against the door even more.

"Lavender?" Quickly she looked up to only face Parvati's dubious expression. She frowned at her and put a finger to her lips.

"Why are you making a potion? What is it for?" A loud gasp was uttered behind the door. "The protections! You are going to destroy them, aren't you? You evil girl! I knew it!"

She heard Hermione tutting. "If you don't mind, I have a name that isn't 'evil girl.' Plus I can get the Headmaster to throw you out if you keep making false implications against an innocent student. It's against protocol and according to Hogwarts: A History --"

"I think I've had enough about your bloody book. No one cares about it if you haven't noticed!"

Parvati put a hand to her mouth in shock. She mouthed to Lavender, 'is that Gracie?' Lavender hesitantly nodded, hardly believing the conversation going on next door.

"You know what?"

"What?" Gracie snarled out, nastily. Lavender recoiled.

"I'm rubber and you are glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!"

By this time Parvati was neck to neck with Lavender, against the door. She whispered in awe, "She didn't!"

"You did not just say that to me!" Gracie uttered in outrage.

"Oh I did and I'll do it again!" Both girls could practically see Hermione's sneering face.

Lavender shook her head and took out her wand. She whispered an "alohomora" before Gracie got real into a rant why Hermione's hair resembled a bird's nest.

Parvati did not stop her but stepped in to drag a sputtering Hermione out.

"The pure nerve of the bloody mirror." Hermione managed to say through her anger as Parvati made her sit down on the four poster. The girl shook with suppressed fury.

"Lav, did you get her potion?" Parvati yelled out.

"It's still simmering!"

Annoyed the Indian girl shouted, "Well take it out!" There was a sudden crash and Hermione looked up, worried.

"What happened?"

Both girls heard a series of thuds and the sound of a flask breaking. Hermione's eye twitched and she could have sworn Lavender said "oh no."

Parvati looked anxious. In came Lavender with her wand making the potion flask float midair.

"There it is, no harm done!" Lavender said this too brightly. Hermione quickly became suspicious. She plucked it from the air and inspected it closely.

"Why is there some white powder in there?"

Lavender's pupils dilated. "What?!" She looked at the potion. "Hermione you need to get your eyes checked! I see no powder!"

Parvati leaned over her friend's shoulder. "Odd I can " --Lavender jabbed her elbow in Parvati's gut -- "not."

Parvati doubled over, glaring at her friend. Hermione rubbed her eyes and sighed. "I suppose it doesn't really matter. As long as I drink the bloody thing..."

Hermione grabbed the flask and raised it like she was proposing a toast. "Bottoms up!" And so she gurgled it down.

Lavender frowned as she watched. "What is that for anyway?"

Hermione shivered in revulsion. "Nasty thing... what was that? Oh, turns out it's my time of the month, great timing eh?"

Parvati gazed at what appeared to be a worn out girl. "Hermione, have you slept at all?"

"Yeah," Hermione inspected her nails, "Four hours."

"Have you ate even?" Lavender questioned her as well.

Hermione looked towards the window. "The potion..."

Lavender and Parvati exchanged looks. "You are going to fall over your feet in this condition." Parvati walked over to her vanity and got out her supplies. "I can't just stand here and watch a disaster in the making."

"Disaster?" Hermione furrowed her brow.

"Yes. I mean, do you even know what you are going to wear?"

Hermione crossed her arms. "Of course. My Weasley jumper and trousers."

Both girls started chortling. She didn't find this amusing. "What, what's wrong with that?"

Lavender started. "On your first date? What, are you a milkmaid's daughter?"

_________________________

Harry had never wanted to go to the loo so badly before.

Not only for the obvious reasons though but to freshen up. He must look like a real horror at the moment.

With his hair askew (what was new?), his hands defying the laws on how clammy you could get and he could only wonder at which color his skin was now. White? Green? Well at least it would match with the turtleneck Lavender insisted he put on so that it would bring out the green of his eyes.

As if he gave a damn on whether they did!

But maybe that would at least be something he could count on tonight? Suddenly he felt tired and just plopped down on the couch. Colin strolled right over.

Just what he needed, a bloody integration from a hyper teenage boy.

"Harry!"

He could only grunt out a "Hello." It was either that or squeaking and that isn't very manly.

"So you waiting for Hermione? I must say, good catch!"

He narrowed his eyes at the younger boy. But Colin didn't seem to notice the less than welcome stare Harry was directing at him.

"-- I mean with her being Head Girl and not to mention from some glimpses I've seen, her curves..." Colin winked over at him.

Was the kid seeking suicide?

"What glimpses have you been seeing?" Harry barely noticed his growl.

Colin only beamed. "Don't worry mate, I'm only appreciating her."

Somehow Harry did not like the sound of that. He clenched his fists unconsciously.

"Appreciating who?" A female voice asked.

Harry automatically turned around to be faced with an amused Hermione. She had her hands resting on hips that were covered with what happened to be a knee-length dress that seemed to show off her legs very well. But then again those school skirts she put on regularly did the same...

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. Colin only whistled lowly as he left.

He stood up awkwardly and wished that his hands were not sweaty as he grasped her arm. She tucked a straightened lock behind her ear and smiled at him.

"Let's go."

His throat produced what he hoped was a welcoming grunt. Embarrassed he looked down at his black shoes willing that at least they will not fail him today.

_____________________

Calmly she told herself to breathe. After all it wasn't that hard. But she was proving that wrong as Harry tightened his hold on her hand.

Inhale, exhale. Rinse and repeat.

With much gusto she nudged his fingers and intwined hers with his. Oddly they both relaxed at this intimate gesture.

He looked over at her and gave her a lopsided smile. She did the same.

"We're being silly really, there is nothing to be so jittery about!" Her whisper carried to his ear. He snorted.

"Speak for yourself. Let us review my dating history... First there was Cho and I think the date being in my fifth year explains how that went..."

She turned to the side and tried to not ridicule him. "So you got on a bad start."

He started swinging their arms. He only chortled as he pulled her closer so she wouldn't trip on that lonesome branch in the pathway.

"Bad start, what an understatement! I can't even count how much things went WRONG on that date. Maybe an indication would have been that our conversation stopped after we cursed Umbridge to the seventh hell."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but chuckle. "Well my past dates were not all peaches and cream, if that's any consolation."

Harry squeezed her hand and grunted, "It isn't."

She was about to reply when over by the Hogsmeade Center a group of Slytherin girls walked towards them. Both groaned as they realized that Pansy lead the pack.

"Well now I feel welcomed!" Pansy shrieked as she crossed her arms and snorted. "Potter and Granger, so the rumors were true."

Harry could just hear Hermione speaking inside him 'ignore her.' He planned to, that was if she did the same. Fat chance. Pansy somehow was a female version of Malfoy and if Draco was good at anything it was pushing people's buttons.

"Potter I actually had hope for you, dating wise." Pansy made her pug-like face show contempt. "But sadly you've dashed them."

Harry frowned at her. Hermione only shifted from one foot to the other, her fists clenched.

"-- After all you do have some qualities that would attract a worthy partner for your romantic interest. Surely some people are into the rich, famous and powerful thing you have going on." Pansy tutted. "You started off well, I mean Chang was at least attractive. Now Granger is another story--"

Hermione pursed her lips. "Oh bugger off Pug face! (Pansy looked bewilderedly in Hermione's direction, surprised.) It is not our fault that all the male population has tired of you and that you've turned to some deranged form of an agony aunt to live through others and integrate them. If only so you can be involved in some way. "

Harry looked between both girls, wide-eyed.

With a flick of her hair Hermione made her face express sympathy. Pansy started to look flustered at the show of pity, from an enemy of all people.

Hermione found Pansy's reaction encouraging to allow her to continue.

"However I heard Millicent talking about the breakup a fortnight ago, in the girl's lavatories. Devastating, really... She sounded all broken up." Hermione made a show of inspecting the other girl and sighed. "You don't look all that peachy either."

A group of Hogwarts students started gathering around them. Pansy seemed to be speechless at the moment. Unfortunately for her Hermione seemed to go on. She placed a hand on Pansy's shoulder and patted it.

"Maybe," Hermione said with concern, "You should go over and have a talk with her; it might work on getting you guys back together."

By this time Harry grabbed Hermione by the shoulder before things got out of hand. Just in case.

But by now Pansy had taken out her wand. Shakily, she pointed it in their direction. "Why you little --!"

Words had failed the poor girl.

Hermione quirked her eyebrow. "I only wish you both the best, send my condolences to Millicent anyway..."

The small crowd roared with laughter. Pansy already was mouthing the words to a nasty hex.

Quickly Harry took Hermione's hand and started running towards the opposite direction. If only to prevent an out of character Head Girl from being expelled.

Hermione's laughter echoed as she tried to keep up with Harry's long strides. As soon as he deemed it safe, Harry stopped. Looking over his shoulder he made both of them hide behind a wall.

Right then Harry grabbed her by the shoulders and whispered: "Are you insane?!"

She lightly punched him. Hermione did not seem concerned on what could have happened in the slightest. "Some say I am. Sanity is overrated, you know?"

He shook his head mystified and dragged her to a tucked-in restaurant across the street. Hermione followed with a satisfied smile present on her lips.

"Why did you provoke her? And so crudely as well?"

Her response was a lame shrug. "Oh I've just have grown tired of her barbs. Seven years of listening to her ridicule Eloise about her acne and me about my hair... It's about time I took her down a peg or two."

Quietly the slipped inside what seemed a semi-casual place to dine. The walls were adorned with Gryffindor scarlet drapes and the floor was polished a dark black. Both teenagers marveled at the simplicity and slight elegance of it.

"I've never seen this place," Hermione commented as they waited by the entrance. "Where are we?"

As soon as she said that a waiter apparated right in their faces. He seemed to have a 19th century butler appeal to him. Robotically he greeted them.

"Welcome to the Dancing Dove, if you will follow me, I'll show you your table."

Stiffly the waiter walked quickly to the end of the restaurant. Harry tried to suppress his chuckles. Hermione only giggled in her hand. The waiter abruptly stopped at a small table fit for two. His thin mustache quivered as he snapped his fingers. Two menus floated in their view.

Harry pulled out Hermione's chair for her. She only smiled at him, impressed.

"I will leave you two to decide what to dine tonight. Also I would offer today's special but no one pays attention to it so I won't waste my breath. Good day."

He disappeared from sight. Harry stared at the spot oddly.

"Reckon Snape and him were good mates?"

Hermione was inspecting her menu closely. Every few minutes she would make a humming noise. Harry picked up his and only crossed his eyes at the titles of the meals.

"Hippogryff on the cob?" He said silently. "I don't even want to know what that's about..."

Hermione's eyes observed him over her menu. "Dancing Dove?"

He put down his and smiled sheepishly at her. "Parvati told me about it. No actually she said this is where we would go tonight. Seemed rather demanding about it..."

A curious look crossed over her. She tapped her fingers on top the table.

"And here I thought that you knew I liked places like these... You should have kept quiet and that would have won you brownie points." She winked.

"I'll keep that in mind, lying to you. So what are you getting?"

Hermione outright laughed at the frightened look on his face as he eyed the contents of the menu. She creened it out of his grasp.

"How about we just get steak and chips?"

He slouched down in his seat, relieved. "You mean they serve that? Oh I was starting to think I would starve tonight!"

She had a bemused expression. Calmly she took her wand and tapped it to her menu. The waiter popped by their side.

Hermione looked up and smoothly ordered their meal along with two butterbeers. The waiter snapped his fingers looking disdainfully at it. As if ordering such simplicities was an insult to his restaurant.

"Enjoy your meal." The waiter's lip curled. Harry almost wanted to smack his menu across the arrogant face when he handed both their menus.

Hermione elegantly sipped her drink. After a long sip she set her glass down and blinked oddly, as if she was dazed. He asked her if everything was alright.

"I'm fine, just think the Butterbeer is a bit strong."

He was uncertain about her excuse. His tasted like Madam Rosmerta just handed it to him from the Three Broomsticks.

"So," he dismissed the previous subject, "What's with the straightened hair?"

______________________________

She bit her lip as another unsettling slosh was felt in her stomach. With great concentration she focused in on Harry. Nervously and suddenly self-conscious, she tugged at a strand.

"Like it?" she said coyly.

He only smiled and reached for her hand across the table. Slosh. It was her nerves...

"It looks nice on you but I prefer your curly mass of hair better."

Her cheeks colored. "Yeah well, you are its only fan."

He didn't seem to mind. His hand left hers as he reached for his glass. The lurch in her stomach did not stop. She felt queasy.

"Are you sure you're okay Hermione?"

No she wasn't.

"Anyway enough about me. So a turtleneck and black trousers?"

She knew she was embarrassing him by drawing attention to his attire. He looked down at his hands and muttered, "Not to mention incredibly tight trousers."

Her mouth shot off "That's what I like about it" before she could think. Mentally she slapped herself. He only looked up to give her a quirky smile.

"Hermione! What's gotten into you? Checking out my..." He shook his head.

Thinking that if she already crossed the line she might as well rampage across it, she played along.

"Your arse? Its very nice," she used his wording. He choked. "Pansy couldn't take her eyes from you. I had to bring out Millicent so she would remember her sexual preference."

Her hands started shaking. Puzzled she only sipped more of her Butterbeer.

"That was really nasty of you. Bulstrode is going to jump you once we return to Hogwarts."

She couldn't resist. "In what way?"

This only resulted in Harry spitting out part of his Butterbeer. After gasping he turned his eyes to her in what she hoped was an admiring way.

"Are you trying to kill me today?"

Of course she wasn't... at least not yet. She grinned evilly and only raised her glass. Cheers indeed.

___________________

He wished she would stop drinking her Butterbeer. If only so he wouldn't feel so uncomfortable when she did.

She had an unusual way of sipping things. With some grace she would lift the glass and make her cupid-bow shaped lips pucker up to receive the liquid sloshing over the rim. Then they would part slightly and oh how he wished he was that sweet glass she clutched so.

And judging from that smile she was shooting his way, she knew exactly what she was doing. The little minx! If he gave himself a moment to not look at her lips he would have seen Hermione's eyes wash over with worry.

"So Potter somehow during this date we get to reveal some things about one another that the other couldn't possibly know. Despite being best friends for some seven years."

Well he was getting to know a very different side of Hermione today. He didn't doubt that there might be some more things unveiled during the next 15 minutes. How right he was, the poor boy...

"Well," he tapped his fingers. "I don't really know where to start. Her eyes lit up.

"How about we make a proposition? You ask me something and then we trade off. If you don't answer truthfully you'll have to answer to a dare."

He should have known from the way her eyes gleamed this was a bad idea. But instead he answered with an enthusiastic "Okay."

How typical of two 17-year olds playing a game of truth or dare in a restaurant... The waiter watched them from the kitchens. If the boy was anyone other than Harry Potter he would have kicked both of them out by now. I mean, was that a drop of Butterbear in his precious table mantle?! The nerve!

"Alright," Harry stroked his chin. "Miss Granger, what is your favorite color?"

Hermione tapped her wand against the salt shaker. Quietly she said "Yellow" and it started shaking. Great it was working. She looked up.

"My favorite is green, green like a fresh pickled toad."

Both started laughing. Hermione leaned forward and quietly whispered, "So Potter, ever been skinny dipping?"

Harry repeated an earlier scene but enhanced it by spitting out a piece of steak. Hermione wrinkled her nose but had her hands folded atop the table, waiting for an answer.

Harry blinked once or twice.

"Where in -- What possessed you to say that? I ask your favorite color and you ask me whether I've been in the nude?"

A few diners turned towards the couple. Hermione paid them no mind.

"Inquiring minds want to know."

Harry stalled. Did she know about that one time during the end of sixth year and Seamus brought a Firewhiskey out? Of course not, he tried to convince himself. She would have had no idea that all the boys started having randy thoughts about the Giant Squid and decide to dive inside the lake, to be one with nature.

"A simple yes or no will do."

No it wouldn't. He eyed the salt shaker.

"No." Salt spread wildly over their table. The waiter cringed from afar. Hermione laughed as she clapped her hands.

"I can't believe it. When did this happen?"

Embarrassed, Harry looked away. "I refuse to say. I was blocking out that memory from my mind. Too bad my being drunk did not dismiss my remembrance of Ron's thing."

Visibly he shuddered. Why did he remind himself of that mental image? Hermione could not stop chortling. "What was this? Some orgy?"

"Am erasing said memory..."

Hermione took his hand and cocked her head to the side. "Don't be a bad sport! C'mon! How could have I missed this?"

Momentarily he was distracted from her soft perfume. He opened his mouth to answer but quickly he shut it. No, he was strong and she would not coax it from him. So his pride was telling him.

She battered her lashes. "Fine, but you have to do a dare then."

Anything was better then revealing what happened that night. "Alright, go on and dare me."

She smirked and took her wand out. He eyed it with fear. She wouldn't make him tell her? He gulped.

"Calm down, I am just going to --" Her hands suddenly went to her mouth. The wand she previously held, skidded down the tabletop. "Her-" She scooted her chair and leaned on the table. Her eyes shut and her knuckles turning white.

Automatically he went by her side as she stood up. Her hands were not leaving her mouth.

"Hermione?" What else was there to say?

The commotion they made some caused some patrons to stir. A middle age man came waddling his way. Hermione doubled over, her hands clutching at her belly. What was happening?

"Alright there Miss?" Harry rapidly turned his head looked at the man. Did she look all right? The man's companion shouted from across the room, "maybe she's choking?!"

But the man did not look at Hermione instead he gazed in wonder at Harry.

"Harry? Harry Potter?! Oh this is such an honor!"

No, no. This was not happening. Hermione made a sickening noise and looked at him desperately.

The snotty waiter ambled right over. He crossed his arms and approached Hermione. "What seems to be going on here?"

From the corner of her eye she saw Harry shake his head. The lurch she had ignored minutes ago tore at her insides. Her eyes squeezed themselves tightly.

"Maria! Do you have your camera? Or a pen?! Look at me, I'm shaking!"

She was shaking. Another painful slosh, bile rose in her throat. Vaguely she felt Harry's arms wrap around her, but even that did not stop her from the pain that was rising within her. She pried Harry's hands away.

"Maria, your quill will do! Mr. Potter, sign my napkin?"

The man's voice sounded so loud. She really wished he would shut up. Harry tried to explain that right now wasn't a good time.

Lurch. Cramp. How she hated this.

"Miss Granger maybe wants to use the lavatories?" The waiter offered as a suggestion.

Yes, yes. Going to the loo sounded like a good idea. She turned to thank the waiter but as she did the lurch grew too strong. Her mouth opened as it was desperate for oxygen that did not taste so bitter.

What a bad move.

She only saw the waiter's astonished face as the bile erupted and tore itself out of her throat, right into his face. Her body swayed and black dots danced in her view. Vainly she tried to keep conscious, but it was no use. Her body was drugged and she was falling into its whims. At least the pain was receding, but she felt so dizzy...

As her mind started blacking out and her body fell into Harry's arms, she heard the waiter shout: "My new robes!"

TBC... (The way I am going, a year from now. :p)

A/N ( Or the part where I clarify things that I think everyone is wondering about): The story takes place seventh year and no, I don't know who I picked as Headboy. Surely not Draco though... *ducks Draco lovers* Pansy is not gay. Hermione was only teasing. Ron is not a jerk as what could have been interpreted in chapter one. The guy was just flustered over the new version of 'Weasley is Our King' and came off like that, poor bloke. When Ron is angry he can shoot off things he will later regret, especially from a hormonal Hermione. Contrary to the laws of H/Hr fics(even though I heart many of them!*tries in vain to get back readers*), Ron is not a jealous prat that will shout "I keel you!" at any bloke that shows an interest towards Hermione. In my universe he got over his infatuation and is viewing Luna in a different way. Also he is accepting to the idea of H/Hr since Harry talked to him about it like a month ago from this chapter. Anymore questions, put it in your review and I'll reply if I'm not lazy. Oh and I might write out some missing scenes(Like the Talk between Harry and the rest of the world in which he thinks about a date with Hermione. Lavender and Parvati's plans and maybe even one of Hermione's stories!) in the future, so watch for that. Please leave a review, I like feedback. :D