Authors Notes: Two in one day!!! I'm feeling generous with my updates for once!!! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far!!! I hope you like this one too- it's a lot longer than what I thought it was going to be- which is good sometimes!!!
Harry had never thought that Hermione would be the sort who could win on computer games until that night. He knew he should've figured it out before hand; Hermione strived to win at everything she did. Even now she still played chess with Ron and tried to beat him- unfortunately for her, Ron was getting better with age and no one seemed to be able to beat him now.
Turning the page of the album, he smirked at the folded sheet of blue parchment. He gently unfolded it and read the semi-faded words again.
As you're all aware, Hermione is the last of our year to turn the big 1-7. And we're going to celebrate.
The party will be in the DA room on Friday night, starting after dinner. Hermione doesn't know a thing about it- Harry will bring her. Make sure you're all in the room by 8pm.
Remember- it's a surprise. Don't ruin it for her!
Harry remembered organising the party- Hermione didn't talk to him for a few days because he refused to tell her why he stopped talking when she entered the room. He couldn't even remember how he got her to start talking again- but she had, and the party had been one of the best nights ever at Hogwarts…
Harry checked his watch as he entered the library. 7:50. Hopefully everyone had made it to the room of requirement- he couldn't stay away much longer. He found Hermione in her usual spot, the table that had been christened as hers during their sixth year. As he approached her he realised she had changed into her favourite studying outfit, a sure sign she planned to spend the night in the library.
He knew she'd protest, but Harry was determined that this would not be a normal Friday night for Hermione Granger.
'Hey,' he said, sitting down beside her and kissing her cheek. 'Happy birthday.'
'You've already wished me happy birthday every time you saw me today Harry,' she reminded him, leaning onto him.
'I know. And you know I'll do it again and again.'
'I know.'
'Say, why don't you put the books down tonight,' he said gently, closing the book she was reading. 'You don't turn 17 every day you know.'
She looked at him and her face broke into a smile.
'Fine. I won't study tonight.'
'Brilliant,' Harry said, standing up and taking her hands, helping her up. 'Come with me.'
He lead her out of the library and toward the room of requirement- she was weakly protesting, but Harry knew she'd follow him. They stood outside the door and she just looked at him- he looked into her eyes and he knew that she knew. They needed no words.
He opened the door and all the seventh year Gryffindor's, plus several of Hermione's Ravenclaw friends and several other Gryffindor's jumped out.
'Surprise!!!' they all called and Hermione held onto the door frame to hold herself up. She was smiling so hard that Harry was surprised that her ears hadn't fallen off.
'You!' she exclaimed, turning and facing Harry. 'You did this?'
'And Ron. And Ginny.'
'That's why you were acting so weird!' she laughed, throwing her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly.
'I thought I always acted weird,' Harry said with a laugh and she playfully hit him.
'You know what I meant.'
'I know,' he whispered, kissing her lightly.
Seamus had arranged for music and he started it now, magically amplifying it so it could be heard everywhere. Dean had done some banners which hung around the room- he'd showed Harry the one for the back wall several nights before and Harry had spent most of the night in laughter. He had done a timeline of Hermione's life, showing how bad it had been since she had met Harry- he even had a near experience death tally.
It would be several hours into the night before Harry would find Hermione again- Ginny had dragged her away almost instantly and Harry found himself in the middle of the Gryffindor men, all of whom were enjoying the delights of the Firewhiskey Fred and George had sent for the celebrations. He finally managed to get away and found Hermione over near the table they had set up with some drinks and food.
'Harry!' she shrieked as she spotted him, flinging her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. The group around them cheered and catcalled- none of them were used to seeing Harry and Hermione be physical with each other- Hermione tended to shy away from public displays of affection.
'Hello to you too,' Harry said when they broke apart, unsure what the strange taste in his mouth was.
'You know, I was just saying to these wonderful people here how wonderful you are- you did know how wonderful you are, didn't you?'
The strange taste in Harry's mouth became apparent.
'Hermione, have you been drinking?'
'Only some green stuff Ginny had- really quite nice. Fruity. It's not alcoholic but- Ginny promised!'
Harry looked at Ginny who was holding the bottle of green liquid and from the way she was standing, he knew straight away that she'd been drinking a bit of it too- and had suspicions that this was a present from Fred and George as well.
'I think you've had enough green drink,' he said gently, putting his arms around her waist and holding her close to him. 'I think you've had enough of the party.'
'No! We haven't done the cake yet!' She exclaimed, giggling. 'Harry- we can't go without doing the cake! We have to do the cake!'
'Ok, we'll do the cake!' He looked around the room to find someone to help him set up the cake, only to realise he seemed to be the only one left out of the drinking.
He gave Hermione to Padma Patil who was standing a little straighter than everyone else in the room and set the cake up himself- he'd arranged Dobby to make it for him. It was chocolate mud cake, her favourite, in the shape of a book. He lined up the seventeen candles and sent sparks into the air from his wand.
'Cake time!' he called and everyone congregated around them and Harry relived Padma of Hermione, who was giggling even more. 'Can you blow out the candles?'
'Uh-huh,' she said, grinning madly. 'On the count of three… one… two…'
She blew as hard as she could, but the candles didn't even flicker.
'Dang it!' she exclaimed, stamping her feet. She blew again and two of the candles went out. She went to blow for a third time, and standing behind her, Harry blew as well, causing them all to finally go out.
'Speech!' Someone called out and Hermione bounced up and down, before suddenly clutching her stomach.
'Harry,' she moaned, using the table to help lower herself to the ground. 'Don't feel so good…'
'I imagine you wouldn't,' Harry said, bending down and helping her up. 'C'mon, let's get you outta here.'
The music started to play again as Harry helped Hermione over to the door and they managed to slip out unnoticed. Harry just hoped that they wouldn't make too much noise- he had soundproofed the room when they had been setting up, hopefully it would be enough.
'Quidditch!' Harry told the fat lady when they finally made it to her portrait- sleepily she muttered something and opened up. Harry managed to get them both through the portrait hole, Hermione giggling madly.
It was only then that the humour of trying to sneak a drunk Hermione Granger, Head Girl, into bed struck him. He grinned to himself when he realised how much he could pay her out later.
He reached the staircase up to the girls dormitory's before his memory kicked in and he remembered Ron getting spat down the stairs in their fifth year.
'Sorry, but you're going to have to come up to the boys room,' Harry told her, changing direction and taking her up into his room. They bypassed the beds and he took her straight into the bathroom and as soon as she saw the toilet, she lunged for it and began to throw up.
Harry sat down beside her and pulled back her hair. When she finally stopped, she leant up against him and when he looked at her a few minutes later, he saw she was asleep. He decided not to wake her and several moments later, found himself asleep as well.