A/N: Well here's the next part of "Falling Star" Hope you guys like it and I'm sorry for that cliffhanger in the previous chapter! Depending on how many reviews I get for this one, I'll see how soon I'm going to post the next chapter … thanks :)
Chapter Four
Harry was really nervous about asking her this. `Don't!' his mind screamed. `I've got a better idea! Instead of telling her how you feel, ask her to the dance,' it offered. `Great idea! Ok that's what I'll do and we'll see how it goes on from there,' he decided so proceeded to tell her.
"Hermione I was wondering if-" was where he managed to reach, because suddenly a pillow came out of nowhere and smashing into his face. He was confused at first but then heard Hermione's giggles trying to be kept under control.
"I'm so…so… sorry Harry! But…but… you were just so serious I thought I could… lighten the…mood," she told him between suppressed giggles but then couldn't hold it any longer she burst laughing. She was laughing so much that she clutched her sides as they ached. Harry was just looking at her with mock anger when he got an idea. He quietly got off his chair and grabbed a pillow. He came behind Hermione and struck her behind her back.
"AA! What the?!" she questioned and turned around to see Harry burst into laughter.
"Ahahah! You should've seen your face it was-" but then a pillow came smashing into his face. "Oh I'll get you for that!" soon the two of them were engaged into a mega pillow fight with no mercy! Back blow, front blow, side blow. Pillows were coming down on the duo from everywhere! Their shouts and laughter could be heard from a mile down but they didn't seem to care. Finally, Harry got Hermione cornered on the couch and was trying to persuade her to give up.
"Say it! Come one! Beg for mercy!" he told her and let out a laugh that he tried to make it sound menacing and crazy. He had his head tilted upwards and was laughing crazily. Hermione took this as an opportunity to turn the tables. She bolted up and started tickling Harry's sides. Harry was taken at surprise and started laughing. She was tickling him all over, and as much as he tried he couldn't tickle back.
"Aha Harry Potter! You have been tickled by the tickle monster, Hermione Granger!" she told him with a smirk. "You're turn, beg for mercy!" she had him lying down on the couch and she was on top him, so he had no means of escaping.
"Oh no you don't!" Harry said and not realizing his own strength, he pushed him off her. He pushed her so hard however, that she flew into a wall with her back. Her little frame smashed into the wall and she gasped in surprise and pain. Her eyes had shock written all over them and Harry heard himself gasp as well. He quickly scrambled to his feet and went over to her.
"Hermione oh my God I am so sorry! Oh I am really ever so sorry! What have I done? Oh dear Lord what have I done?" he said as he put an arm around her shoulder and led her to the couch.
"Harry I'm ok don't be sorry, it's just that you took me by surprise. I didn't know you were that strong," she informed him and trying to reassure him that it wasn't his fault.
"No it's my fault! I shouldn't have pushed you off that hard. I knew that you weren't that heavy but still. Oh my God please tell me Hermione that you know that I would never hurt you on purpose. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to the one that I lo- I mean to you," he said, hoping that she wouldn't notice the slip he made.
"Oh Harry I know that. I know that you would never hurt me intentionally. It's ok really. Look I'm fine! A little sore of course, but other than that, I'm ok really!" she told him. If she did notice Harry's slip she didn't show any signs of it but carried on telling him that she was okay.
"Are you sure?" he asked her, giving her a hurt and desperate look that melted her heart.
"Oh honey of course I'm sure!" she replied, noting the happy glint in his eyes as she called him honey. "Come here," she said and opened her arms, inviting Harry in to hug back. He gave her a big toothy grin and hugged her tightly.
"Thank God you're alright," he said while enjoying the tingling sensations that went through his body as he was hugging Hermione, as was herself and she didn't give any signs of wanting to break away. `Wow he smells like pine in the early winter,' she thought to herself as she took a sniff of his soap. `Dear me, she smells heavenly. What is it? Coco butter,' he self-answered.
Finally, they broke apart and smiled to each other that made the other's heart leap with excitement.
"So… Harry I think we won't be doing any more homework tonight, don't you think?"
"I know for sure that I won't be doing any! As for you, I don't think I've ever seen you stop doing your homework before twelve!" he teased her.
"Oh really? Well, you seem to think that you know me pretty well,"
"Yeah I think I do!" he replied, not giving any signs of backing down.
"Uha… so I guess you're up to a little test?"
"Anything Granger,"
"Alright then. Answer me this, What do you think that I do when I finish my homework every night?" she asked with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Hmmm… well I'd say you get your books, go upstairs to your dormitory and put them in your trunk. Then just as you're about to change to go to bed you seem to remember one little thing that you forgot to put in your essay or whatever, so you get your hall pass that McGonagall gave you and go to the library," he finished, slightly out of breath.
"Well well well, I am impressed. Alright then Harry Potter, last one. What to I have under my pillow?" He seemed to look shocked and defeated, but then an idea crept into his mind.
"I'd say that you keep a picture of me under there so you can dream of me every night!" he told her with a wink. She took a sharp breath and then turned crimson. `How does he know that I keep a picture of us two?' she thought. Harry sensed he got something right, but seeing the look of discomfort on her face he decided to drop it. `Although I really do wonder…' he thought, a smile tugging at his lips.
"So khm, Herm. You going with anyone to the dance?" he asked her, noting the hurt in her eyes.
"No Harry. The person I want to go with probably doesn't even like me." She said, sadness creeping into her voice.
"Oh Hermione, that guy is a real jerk if he doesn't like you! You're really pretty and have a great personality," he said getting excited, but totally missing the look of hope that went through her. `He think I'm pretty! Dear me, you are blind Harry Potter!'
"Well, I don't know. I might go alone. How about you? Going with anyone?" she asked, trying not to sound too eager.
"Me? Nah I don't think so. The girl I want to go with will probably say no anyway. Although she hasn't got a date yet, I don't see why she would want to go with me," he said, looking down on the floor instead at her, knowing that if he looked into her pretty eyes, he would have confessed everything right there, right now.
"Harry how can you say that?! Any girl would be lucky to go with you! And if they don't, then they are really stupid!" she finished looking pretty worked up at the thought of anyone not seeing the great person that Harry truly was.
"You really think that Hermione?" he asked disbelief showing in his voice, yet her words triggered hope in his heart.
"Of course I do!"
"Hermione? Listen um, would you want to go together to the dance?" `There I did it!' he thought, but seeing the look of surprise on her face he quickly added, "I mean, since you don't have a date, I don't have a date. We could um, you know." He said, wishing that she would accept.
"Yeah sure Harry. I mean, since we don't have anyone else to go with. I'd be happy to go with you. My best friend," she added. Granted she nearly chocked on the words, but she said them none-the-less.
"Yeah, as best friends," he replied. `Now was there a sign of hurt and sadness in his voice or did I just imagine it?' Hermione thought, `Oh no my dear, it's there!' her mind told her excitedly. That thought brought a slight smile to her mouth.
Wondering what she was smiling about, he started to ask her when the portrait hole opened. A redhead boy of their age came stumping in and plopped angrily on the armchair next to Hermione.
"No luck finding a date Ron?" Harry inquired, trying very hard not to shout I GOT A DATE WITH HERMIONE!
"No mate. Lavender wouldn't go with me she said that Seamus had already asked her but she was really sorry. I think she fancies me!" Ron informed them happily but all too soon the sad look returned to his face.
"Ah cheer up Ron, I'm sure there are several girls left without a date," Hermione offered.
"Hey I got an idea! Hermione you don't have a date to the dance so we could go together!" Ron said getting excited, missing the glance that Hermione shared with Harry.
"How do you know that I don't have a date?" she asked, being sort of angry with Ron because he had taken for granted that she hadn't had a date.
"Well because you never said that you had one so I just figured-"
"Well you figured wrong! I do have a date," she told him, so fumed at him that she missed the heated look that Ron gave her.
"Who?!" he asked, suddenly feeling very jealous and getting up from the armchair he was slumped on.
"Me," Harry finally spoke up. He fought down the urge to punch Ron when he saw the look he shot him. "We decided since we don't have anyone else to go with, we would go with each other. I mean if we knew you'd react that way then we would've asked you first," he said mockingly, hoping to cut down the tension. Which worked once he saw the grin that Ron offered him.
"Yeah of course I'm really sorry you guys. It's just that I got upset that I don't have anyone to
go with,"
"I've got the perfect person for you to go with Ron! Oh this is so good! Just meet her at the entrance of the
Great Hall at 7 o'clock sharp ok?" she told him, hardly waiting for Ron to answer and hurrying upstairs,
leaving the boys alone to figure out what she was up to. Ron looked at Harry bewildered and he just shrugged, getting
up and going to his own dormitory where Seamus and Dean were getting ready for bed and Neville was already asleep.
A/N: Liked what you read? Review please !! :)
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