This Game of Love

            “WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY’RE TOGETHER!?”  Ron exploded at his sister.  About fifty heads in the crowded corridor turned towards him.  Ginny smiled at them sheepishly, clamped her hand over his mouth and tugged him roughly out of the hallway and into an empty classroom.

                “Shut up, you idiot!”  Ginny hissed, shutting the door and pulling the shade down so no one could peek in through the window.  “So I’m guessing you didn’t know?”

                “NO I DIDN’T!”  Ron continued to fume.  Ginny punched him hard on the shoulder.

                “Do you not understand ‘shut up’!?  How do you say shut up in Ron-ese?  Do I need to punctuate it with ‘- and I’ll give you food’?”

                Ron scowled.  “Why didn’t they tell me!?”

                “Because you would act like you are now, most likely.” 

                “I’M NOT ACTING LIKE ANYTHING!”

                Ginny forced him roughly into a desk and pointed her finger at him threateningly while he just steamed red.  “You are acting like a stupid, overgrown baby.”

                “How long!?”  Ron demanded, ignoring her.

                “How long what?”

                “How long have you known!?  And how long have Harry and Hermione been together!?”

                Ginny blinked at him.  “Well, I’ve known about a week – “

                “A BLOODY WEEK – “

                “And I believe they’ve been together for about a month.”

                “A BLOODY MONTH – “

                Ginny slapped her hand over his mouth again.  “Will you shut the hell up, please!?”

                “What, they just thought they could keep this from me?  Keep this from me!?  Their best friend?  ME!?”  Ron ranted right through her hand.  Ginny pulled her hand away wet with Ron spit and glared at him, disgusted.

                “Actually, us.”

                “Us?”

                “They don’t exactly know that I know…”  Ginny admitted.

                “Then how do you know?!”

                “Caught them snogging in the on my way up to meet Dea – “  Ginny coughed and Ron narrowed his eyes.  “ – Deah stars.  In the deah sky.  You know, deam stars…dat twinkle…and stuff…?”  She finished lamely.  The vaulted ceiling of the classroom was suddenly of much interest to her.

                Ron blinked absently, and shook his head.  “I can’t believe it.  I never noticed…”  He thought for a moment.  “But you know, they have been sneaking around and making themselves unavailable a lot.  I just figured Hermione was busy with school rubbish and Harry was busy with Occlumency and training and stuff.”

                “Yes, well.  I guess when Hermione says she was off doing ‘homework’, she really meant she was off doing  - “

                “Don’t say it.”  Ron made a face and shut his ears with his hands.  “Don’t say it or I will hurt you.”

                Ginny smiled sweetly.  “ – Harry.”

                “Bloody hell.”

                “Mmm-hmm.”  Ginny nodded.  “I’ll bet it’s their code word.”

                “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”  Ron demanded, still cringing at how many times he remembered hearing Hermione say she was going to go to the library to do “homework”.  And how Harry usually decided to go along with her.  Gah.

                Ginny sat at the desk next to him and tapped nervously.  “Well…I figured they wanted it to be a secret…”

                “But you just spilled the beans five seconds ago in the hallway!”  Ron pointed out.  “I was just walking along, minding my own bloody business when you come up and say ‘Hey Ron! Harry and Hermione are going out.’”

                Ginny blushed again.  She wished it wasn’t, but what Ron said was the complete and non-exaggerated truth.  For once. 

“Okay!  Okay, fine!”  She threw her hands up in the air.  “It was KILLING me inside!  Do you know how big this secret is!?  And only three people on this ENTIRE planet knew!  The couple and ME.  It was eating away at me!  Making me little more than a shell of a human encasing nothing but ‘THE SECRET’.  It was consuming my soul!  I had to tell someone!  I’m a horrible person!!”

                Ron couldn’t help but laugh as Ginny thunked her forehead against the desk in shame.  “Okay, easy there, Dobby.  You shouldn’t beat yourself up over this.  They’re the ones who were stupid enough to make out in the .”

                “Yeah…”  Ginny said slowly.

                “And they’re the ones who were daft enough to try and keep something this big from their friends.”  Ron suddenly looked as if he just had a light bulb moment.

                “True…” she looked up at her brother.

                “Their best friends, I might add.”  Ron said thoughtfully.

                “Uh-huh…”  Ginny wondered where he was going with this.

                “One might even say that some sort of come-uppance is due for their behavior…”  Ron went on.  Ginny looked blankly at him.

                “Okay, you lost me.”

                “I’m saying – “ Ron grinned oh so mischievously.  “That we get back at them.”

                Ginny tried to look appalled, but she could not keep away the tiny smile creeping up on her face.  “Hmm.  Revenge.  For keeping us in the dark and insulting our intelligence?”

                “Right.”

                “How?”

                “I think…”  Ron leaned into Ginny’s ear and whispered something deviously genius just as another loud mass of students passed the closed door.  A few moments later they were both standing with huge grins on their faces.

                “I never thought I would say this, Ron.  But that is brilliant.”

                “Well, I am an undisputed genius.  I just hide it so as not to freak everyone out.”  He polished an imaginary apple on his robes.

                Ginny laughed.  “So when are you going to start?”

                “Actually…”  Ron cleared his throat.  “I don’t think it should be me.  I mean…”

                Ginny lifted one eyebrow.  “You’re not still crushing on Hermione, are you?”

                “No!”  He said quickly.  “Of course not.  But, you know.  It was there.  It’s kind of like…we have a sort of history…”

                She rolled her eyes.  Stupid boys. “So you’re saying you want me to do it?”

                “Yeah.”

                “Hmm…”  Ginny considered it.  “Sure, why not.”  She walked over to the door and pulled it open. 

                “Everyone’s heading to lunch.”  Ron observed as all the students were running past.

                “Yes.  And what better time than now?”  Ginny winked and headed out the door.

                “Take no prisoners, Gin!”  Ron jogged gleefully after her.  Ginny swung her hips seductively for her target and Ron scowled.

                “Hey now, don’t have too much fun…!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                Harry looked nervously at the doors of the Great Hall.  Hungry students were already pouring in, which meant it was too late now.  There were too many people.  He sighed and glanced at his watch.  Hermione must have been reading and lost track of time again.  Harry slumped glumly and stared at the lines on the wooden table.

                “Hey, Harry!”  Ginny called happily.

                “Hi, Ginny.”  Harry mumbled.

               

                “What’s eating you?”  Ginny leaned over and rested her chin on Harry’s shoulder.  He blinked confusedly and she daringly began to rub comforting circles onto his back.

                “Ummm…nothing.”  Harry said, looking like a scared deer.  “Ummm, Ginny…?”

                “Oh come on.  You can trust me.”  Ginny whispered into his ear, making sure her breath was grazing upon it.  Harry cringed.  He was definitely not used to this much contact from her.

                “Really, Ginny, it’s nothing.  Umm….would you mind – “

                Suddenly Harry jumped up out of his skin as Ginny’s rubbing hand descended into an area that was just slightly south of what most people would call his “back” and squeezed.

                “Oh, I’m sorry Harry.”  Ginny winked.  Just then Hermione walked through the Great Hall, looking flustered and very guilty at forgetting to come to lunch early.  Ginny saw her and straightened herself.  “See you later, Harry.”  She blew him a kiss and made her way to the other end of the table were she joined her other friends from her own year.

                Harry stared after her, bewildered beyond all belief.

                “Harry, I’m so sorry!”  Hermione gasped sincerely as she took her seat next to Harry and put down her bag. “I was reading and I was so into it I completely forgot to get here early and – “

                She looked down and noticed she was sitting entirely too close to Harry.  Hastily she moved over a few inches.  The standard platonic four inches.  She blushed, hoping nobody saw her practically sit in Harry’s lap.

                “I – it’s okay.”  Harry shook off his discomfort from Ginny.  “I just wanted one kiss…since it’ll be a whole six hours until we’re together again…” he whispered with a smile.

                “I wish we could just do it now…” Hermione whispered back, trying hard not to look into his eyes. 

                “Yeah…but…”  Harry looked guiltily at her.

                “I know.  It’s all right.”  Hermione discreetly placed her hand on his.  “Tonight then?”

                “You bet.”

                Hermione smiled, and then looked over his shoulder.  “I saw Ginny talking to you.  Is something the matter?”

                Harry looked back and forth between Ginny and Hermione.  Ginny caught his eye and winked, but Hermione didn’t seem to notice.  He grew flustered again.

                “Hermione I – um – I think Ginny…fancies me…”  Harry squeezed out, embarrassed.

                “What?”

                “I think she fancies me.”

                Hermione laughed dismissively.  “Harry, she was over that girly crush years ago.”

                “But she just…”  Harry coughed into his cup.  “Tushmahass”

                Hermione stared at him.  “Excuse me?”

                Harry cleared his throat, trying hard not to look up, lest he see Ginny blow him a kiss through his peripheral vision.  “She touched my…hindquarters.”

                To Harry’s utter surprise, Hermione burst out laughing.  He scowled. 

                “What’s so funny?”

                “Hindquarters.  And Harry, Ginny’s one of our best friends.”  Hermione insisted.  She looked over at Ginny and waved.  Ginny smiled angelically and waved back. 

                “One of our best friends who doesn’t know we’re together.”  Harry informed her.  Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry unfortunately chose that exact moment to look over at Ginny.  She licked her lips seductively and Harry blushed.

                “What?”  Hermione looked over at Ginny, who appeared now to be engaged in conversation with one of her friends.  “Harry?”

                “Hermione, I’m telling you!”  Harry insisted.  “She copped a feel!  I swear she did!  And she just licked her lips at me.”

                Hermione squeezed his hand under the table.  “Harry, people lick their lips all the time.  It indicated dry lips, not flir - “

                “Hi guys!”  Ron swept into their presence and sat roughly at the table, making the silverware bounce up.  Harry and Hermione shot away from each other as if jolted by cattle prods.  Ron grinned as he watched Harry and Hermione quickly avert to “platonic mode”.  He really was a fool for not noticing this.  But no matter, he and Ginny were going to make up for it. 

The “couple” avoided each other’s eyes and both started to talk animatedly.  Way too lively.

                “Hi Ron!”  Hermione greeted with excessive enthusiasm.

                “Hey, mate.  So Quidditch.  Um.  Crazy, huh?” Harry twiddled his thumbs on the table.

                He simply nodded and caught sight Ginny out of the corner of his eye.  They both smirked.  This was going to be fun.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                Harry rolled out of his bed, groaning softly at the dull pain in his neck.  Apparently last night he had slept the wrong way and it had gone stiff.  A wonderful way to start off the day.  Which just served him right.  After a night as wonderful as that, it was only fair that his morning would be completely horrible.

But he smiled as he remembered last night.  With Hermione.  After a moment of reminiscing with a goofy grin on his face that he was glad none of his sleeping dorm mates saw, he slid his feet into a pair of old slippers and…

                …bumped directly into Ginny.

                “Ginny!?”  Harry hissed.  Ginny shushed him with a finger to his lips.

                “You don’t want to wake everyone up, do you Harry?”  she whispered, running a hand down Harry’s pajama sleeve.  “Good morning.”

                “What are you doing here!?”  Harry demanded.

                “Shh…What’s the matter with your neck?”  Ginny breathed in his ear again.  Did she really think that was sexy?  He was likely to get an ear infection now.  Or at least form sort of inner-ear chemical imbalance.

                “Ginny…” 

                She let her hands wander to his neck and she began to massage it.

                “Ginny!”  Harry broke away, beet-red.  “Ginny, I’m fine.  You want to get out of here and let me change please?”

                “Okay, Harry…how about we meet later this evening?  During supper, in the Common Room.  While everyone is gone having dinner.” Ginny winked and left.

                Harry stared after.  “She’s mad.  Raving.”  He muttered, getting ready for the day.  He did not see the corners of Ron’s mouth perk up into a smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                “Harry, are you sure?”  Hermione asked, trying hard not to glare at Ginny, who was innocently eating her breakfast at the other side of the table.

                “Positive!” 

                “Why would she do that?”  Hermione wondered, looking at Harry.  Then her eyes wandered again to Ginny.  To her shock she just caught a kiss being blown at Harry.  The redhead saw Hermione and returned briskly to her food.  Hermione’s jaw dropped.

                “Did you see that!?”  Harry hissed.  “She just air-snogged me!  And she wants me to meet her tonight in the Common Room!  Alone!”

                “I don’t believe it!”  Hermione whispered incredulously.  “I thought she was over you!”

                “It’s true.”  Harry insisted.

                “Unbelievable…”

                “Hey…”  Harry feigned a scowl.  “Let’s not be insulting my manhood now.  Girls can still have crushes on me, you know.”  He laughed.

                Hermione didn’t think it was very funny.  She was frowning.  “It’s not that.  It’s just that I’m sure she’s over you.”

                “How?”

                “I just am.”  Hermione said simply.  Harry had quickly learned to accept Hermione’s hunches as fact.  She was wrong as often as Snape walked through the halls in a neon pink g-string and tube top.  Which only happened once, and that was because he had taken his own Confusion Potion, courtesy Neville Longbottom.

                “So…what are you talking about?”  Harry asked, confused.

                Just then Ron entered the Great Hall for breakfast, late as usual.  He spotted Harry and Hermione and smiled broadly strolling over with an uncharacteristic “I know something you don’t know” swagger.  Harry noted that lately Ron had been smiling way too widely.  Hermione turned to him and they shared a significant look.  They smiled back at Ron and pretended to be concentrating on their bacon and eggs.  Out of the corners of their eyes they saw Ron discreetly brush against Ginny’s back.  Ginny turned nonchalantly and softly nodded.  He looked quite satisfied.

                Harry furrowed his brow.  What was going on?

                Suddenly Hermione sat up straight, her eyes wide.  She stared at the Weasleys then her eyes met Harry’s. 

                “What?”  Harry mouthed.

                “Hi guys!”  Ron sat across from them and proceeded to shovel mountains of food onto his plate.

                “Harry, I think I accidentally grabbed your essay last night by mistake.”  Hermione said, grasping Harry by the elbow.

                “Huh?”

                “You’re ESSAY.”  Hermione repeated pointedly.  “We need to go get it.  You need it for class.”

                “Hermione – “

                Hermione squeezed his arm painfully and pulled him up.  Harry yelped.

                “Oww, Hermione.”

                “Essay, Harry.”  Hermione forced a smile at Ron.  “We’ll be right back.  He can’t go up into the Girls Dorms himself, you know.”

                She dragged him by the arm with her freakishly strong grip outside into the hallway.  Ron looked after them, puzzled. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                “They know!”  Hermione cried urgently as soon as they were out of the Great Hall.

                “What?” 

                “They know!  About us!”  

                “What!?”

                “Yes!”

                “How!?”

                “I don’t know!”  Hermione wrung her hands and smiled nervously at a confused second year going in to eat his breakfast. “But I’m positive they know!  This is all some sick game!”

                Harry stared at her.  “What’s a game?”

                “Ginny.  Feeling up on you and stuff.  She’s trying to psyche us out and get us to admit ourselves!”

                “You got all that from…?”  Harry wondered skeptically.

                “Harry, think about it!  It all makes sense!  Why else would Ginny suddenly be all over you?”

                “My boyish charm?”

                “Harry!”  Hermione smacked his shoulder.

                “Oww.  Hermione you should know that you really don’t hit like a girl!”

                “Why else do you think Ron has been so giddy?  Why Ginny let me see her air-kiss you this time?  She wants me to know she’s been hitting on you!  They want us to know.  Harry they are messing with us!!”

                The two of them moved aside to let a small third year Hufflepuff into the Great Hall.  She looked disappointed at having to miss their conversation.  Harry shot her a look and she scampered off.

                He thought it over.  “Hermione don’t you think you’re jumping to conclusions?  Maybe Ginny’s not over me.  And as for Ron, who knows?  Maybe he just ‘got some’ the other night.”  He grinned jokingly.

                Hermione slapped him again and Harry winced.  “That’s not funny!”

                Harry pretended to fall into a faint.  “Hermione…that hurt…the room is spinning.”

                “Shut up Harry.”

                “But…but…oh no…”  Harry fell to the floor.  “Ohh, everything is going dark…”

                A hint of a smile was threatening to emerge on Hermione’s face.   She raised an eyebrow.  “Blind?  Oh I’m sorry, I thought I slapped your arm.  I didn’t realize I slapped you in the eyeballs.”

                “No I’m not going blind.  It’s just really dark under your skirt…”

                “HARRY!”  Hermione grabbed him and pulled him to his feet, laughing.  “We have to be serious!  They’re trying to mess with us!  We can’t let them get away with that!”

                Harry dusted himself off.  “I’m not so sure that’s what they’re doing.”

                “Have a look for yourself.”  Hermione tugged her secret boyfriend towards the doors and cracked them open.  They watched as Ginny got up and sat next to her brother.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                “Where’d they go?”  Ginny asked discreetly scooting over to Ron’s side of the Gryffindor table.

                “Hermione needs to get Harry’s essay in her room.”  Ron said in between mouthfuls of eggs.  “She took it by mistake.”

                Ginny raised an eyebrow.  “What essay?”

                “I don’t know.”

                “Aren’t you taking the same classes?”

                “Sure.”

                “Did you have an essay due?”

                Ron rolled his eyes.  “Like I would know.”

                Ginny glared.  Ron cringed.  “Umm….I don’t…actually, no.  I don’t think we have any essays due…”  His eyes widened. 

                “D’you think…?”

                “They know!”  Ginny groaned.  “Bloody hell.  I bet it was Hermione.  I shouldn’t have let her see me that time.  I should’ve known she was smart enough to figure this out!”

                “Great.”  Ron grumbled.  “What do we do now?”

                Ginny thought for a moment.  “We keep going.”

                “What?”

                “They don’t know that we know that they know about what we know.”  Ginny elaborated.

                “Huh?”  Ron looked at his sister, mouth hanging slightly open giving her a good look at the fate of food after it enters the mouth of Ron Weasley.

                “Listen….”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry pulled his eye away from the door.

                “Those bloody bastards!”  he whispered.  “They bloody set the whole thing up!”

                “Exactly!”  Hermione nodded.

                “What do we do?”

                Hermione looked thoughtfully into blank space.  “Hmmm…”

                “Did I ever tell you that thinking look you get on your face makes me want to snog you senseless…?” Harry moved to kiss Hermione, but she pulled away suddenly.

                “We give them a taste of their own medicine!”  Hermione declared.

                Harry stared.  “Um.  What?”

                “They don’t know that we know that they know!” 

               

                Harry was confused.  He was just about to try kissing her again when -

                “I mean you start flirting with her!”  Hermione clarified.  “We’ll see who gets the last laugh!”

                “Uhh, Hermione…”

                “Come on Harry!  They think they can play around with us?”

                Hermione’s enthusiasm was getting a little scary.  Sort of like when O.W.L.s rolled around and she bit the head off of everyone who ‘breathed too loudly’ or ‘didn’t walk in a straight line’.

“Uhh…Hermione?  You want me to hit on Ginny?”

                “Yes!”

                “That’s weird.”

                “It’s pretend, Harry.”

                “It’s weird pretend.”  He insisted.  Hermione ignored him.

                “Come on, Harry!  We need to beat them!”  Hermione declared.

                “Why?  Wouldn’t it be much easier to just – “

                Her look shut him up.

                “Okay.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                Harry sat in the common room, the soft red velvet couch suddenly feeling like cold stone.  He looked nervously at the clock.  Five fifty-nine.  Then he turned his head to the Girls Stairs, where he knew Hermione was watching silently.  He sweated.

                DING!  The clock struck exactly six o’clock and the usual wave of Gryffindors flowed through the common room and out the portrait hole for dinner.  At 6:04 Harry relaxed a bit, thinking maybe Ginny was late and he wouldn’t have to do this after all.  But to his dismay he spotted a long mane of shiny red hair enter the portrait hole.

                “Hello, Harry.”  Ginny cooed in a deep, seductive voice.

                “Hi.”  Harry squawked.  “Erm…where’s Ron...and Hermione?”  He added so it wouldn’t seem too obvious.

                Ginny raised an eyebrow.  “Probably stuffing his face at dinner.  Hermione’s probably with him.”  She narrowed her eyes.  “Why?  Did you not want to see me alone?”

                “No, it’s not that!”  Harry loosened his tie.  It was getting startlingly tight around his Adam’s apple.

                “Okay then.  Shall we…?”  Ginny sauntered over, making sure to move her hips.  Harry’s jaw dropped and he swallowed hard.  When the bloody Hades did she learn to walk like that?!

                “Shall we…”  Harry repeated dumbly.

                Ginny took his hand and pulled him up from the couch.  It was now Harry’s turn to do something.

                “Uh…” he placed a hand on her shoulder.  Ginny unwaveringly did the same to him.  His turn again.

                He cautiously placed a hand on her lower back, taking care to look every single place his eyes could possibly look besides at Ginny.  He felt Ginny smile.  Then, to his complete horror, Ginny firmly grabbed his rear and squeezed.

                “Ahh!”  Harry jumped back as if he were scalded.

                “What’s the matter?”  Ginny questioned, feigning surprise.  “Don’t you like me?”

                “I…I…I…I have to get something.  I’ll be…I’ll be right back.”  He darted away and ran to the Girls Stairs and disappeared around the corner.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                Ginny looked after him curiously, and then made her way to the Boys Stairs where she knew Ron was watching.

                He had a scowl on his face.  “Wow, I know you’re supposed to seduce Harry but bloody hell, Ginny.  That was downright scarlet-womanish!”

                Ginny rolled her eyes.  “Relax.  He’s cracking so easily.  Did you see him run off like that?”

                Ron grinned.  “That was so brilliant.  We are such geniuses.  I wish I had Colin’s camera.”

                “I know!  And I also know how to make this go a bit faster…”

                “How…?”

                At that, Ginny opened the top few buttons on her blouse.  She patted her collar down to accentuate her -

               

                “Ginny!”  Ron gasped and backed up a few stairs, scandalized.  He pointed noiselessly.

                “Shut up, this is fun!”  Ginny said gleefully.  “He’s gonna wet his pants!”

                Ron’s jaw was still scraping the floor.  “You wear a bra?!  You’re only sixteen!!!”

                “Ron, I am sorry, but you are hopeless.”

                “It’s…red!”

                “Yeah…?”

                “A scarlet woman’s bra!!”

                Ginny huffed and made her way back down the steps, ignoring her brother’s protests of “B-b-b-b-but, Ginny!”.

                “Do you want to win this or not?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

                “What are you doing!?  You’re messing up the plan!”  Hermione scolded him as Harry panted up the steps.

                “Did you see?!  She grabbed my arse!!”  Harry gasped.

                “So!?  Grab hers!”

                Harry stared at her, mystified.  “Have you gone mad?”

                “No, I just hate to lose.” Hermione answered.  “Um Harry, you better go…”

                “Hermione – “  Hermione leaned forward and silenced her boyfriend’s protests with a kiss.

                “Do you love me?”

                “Yes, but – “

                “Then we’re going to win!”  Hermione declared.  Harry shook his head in amusement. 

                “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

                “Thank you.  Now you should go back.”

                “I don’t think I can go back down there…”  Harry pouted.  “Not without reassurance from my girl.”

                Hermione laughed and kissed him deeply on the lips.  Then she grabbed a hold of the banister with both hands.

                “Now you’re gonna have to go.”  Hermione insisted.

                “Make me.”  Harry leaned forward for another kiss.

                “Harry, did you forget you’re on the Girl’s Staircase?”

                His eyes widened as the stairs flattened themselves into a slide.  Hermione blew him a kiss and tightened her hold on the banister as he slid down feet first on his stomach.  He slid down and across the floor, where he came to a stop in the middle of the Common Room.  Right at Ginny’s feet.

                He stood up hastily and brushed himself off.  Then his eyes made contact with Ginny’s red lacy bra.  Holy crap.

                “I-I-I….uhhhh…”  Harry stammered.  Ginny’s got breasts.  Little Ginny Weasley’s got breasts.  Good Merlin.  Not just little breasts either…they were breasts breasts!

                “Like what you see?”  Ginny asked, making sure to wriggle a bit.  Harry thought he heard something on the Boys Stairs.  Just as he went to look, Ginny grabbed him by the shoulders and pressed up against him.

               

                The sound again.

                “What was that?” Harry looked at the stairs curiously.  It sounded suspiciously like gagging.

                “Not sure.”  Ginny answered and turned his face back to hers.  They stood there, face to face for several moments.

                “Umm…I’m…I’m gonna kiss you now.”  Harry announced lamely.  Ginny gaped at him.

                “Wh-what?”

                Harry noted her discomfort and this inspired him.  He grinned at her.  “Let’s kiss now.”

               

                “K-kiss!?”  Ginny backed away.  “Ummm…”

                Harry feigned bewilderment.  “You don’t want to kiss me?”

                “No!  I mean, yes!  I mean…uh…”  Ginny felt their plan melt into a pathetic little puddle.  She hadn’t counted on actually kissing him for real!  She had no desire to do that to Hermione, or herself.

                Harry was emboldened.  He and Hermione were going to win!  No way would Ginny kiss him.  He held her closer.  “Shall we?”

                Ginny’s eyes narrowed at his smugness.  “Yes we shall.”

                Harry stared.  “We shall?”

                Ginny nodded and smiled.  She moved her lips so close Harry felt them graze against his own.  Another sound on the Boys Staircase and Harry was almost sure someone was having a seizure.

                “Ummm…umm…”

                Ginny shushed him.  “Kiss me, Harry.”

                “Yeah…uh…here we go…”  Harry squeaked.

                “H-here we go…”

                They kissed.  Their lips connected and the both squeezed their eyes shut.  As soon as their mouth made contact their bodies pulled away, connected only by their lips.  Both of them seemed to grimace in pain or disgust.

                “MmmmmmALLRIGHT!”  Harry pulled away gasping.  He wiped his arm on his sleeve.  “ALL RIGHT!  YOU WIN!! YOU BLOODY WIN!!”

                Ginny looked about to rejoice, but maintained her composure.  “What do you mean?”

                “I can’t kiss you!”  Harry declared, practically shouting.

                “And why not?”  Ginny asked.

                “BECAUSE I LOVE HERMIONE!”

                Ginny gasped and held her hands over her mouth.  Hermione descended the Girls Stairs, grinning from ear to ear despite the fact that she just lost the game.  Ron staggered from the Boys Stairs, looking as if he had been strangling himself.

                “You-you what?”  Ginny said in wonder.

                “I LOVE HERMIONE!”  Harry roared again.  Fellow Gryffindors were coming in now through the portrait hole.  “THAT’S RIGHT!  I LOVE HERMIONE!  I LOVE HER!”  he pointed at Hermione.  “I LOVE HER!”

                And then, in front of the entire Gryffindor Common Room, he cradled a glowing Hermione in his arms and they engaged in the longest, deepest kiss in all of Hogwarts history.  After a moment of silence, the Gryffindors began to clap.  The scattered clasp because applause, and soon people were whooping.  Some Gryffindors even allowed their friends from Houses to get a look, and they too where clapping.

                “I thought you guys were just dating!”  Ginny clapped gleefully.  “I didn’t know you were in love!”

                “We are.”  Hermione said.  “Game well-played, Ginny Weasley.”  She put out her hand.

                “I thought so.”  Ginny smiled and shook it.

                Hermione laughed.  “Oh, and your bra is still showing.”

                “Oh!”  Ginny quickly started to button her shirt.

                “Wow, Ginny, what are you doing this Saturday?”  Seamus called.

                “Sod off, idiots!”  Ron swept his rob over his little sister. “Go upstairs and get dressed, Gin!  And the rest of you, GET YOUR DIRTY EYES OFF MY SISTER!!!”

                Harry and Hermione laughed and Harry touched his forehead to hers. 

                “Sorry we lost…”

                “It’s all right.  I don’t really feel like I lost anything.”  She assured him.

                “Really?”

                “You make up for any loss.”  Hermione kissed him again.  “You were great out there, by the way.  You should be an actor.”

                They laughed as Ron tried to punch Dean Thomas in the face.

NOTE: Yeah, I know I have stories in progress.  But seriously, freshman year is killing me.  I hope this was okay enough though.  Sort of rushed.  And as most of you know, this was totally based on a “Friends” episode.  I freaking LOVE that show!!  And that’s my all-time favorite episode I just watched, and I was so inspired I wrote this thing off in less than an hour. 

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it and Happy Regular Day to those who don’t :)