A/N: If you haven't seen the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, then shame on you because it is one of the best comedies of all time, in my opinion. This fan fic follows up on some of the general ideas of the chick flick, only, of course, it is in the Harry Potter universe and things are a bit twisted around, situations are different, and so on, but you get the picture. I hope you like it and please review!
How to Win a Guy in 10 Days
Chapter 1 - Runaway Train
"Hermione, would you hurry up?" yelled Ginny.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Hermione mumbled to every single witch and wizard that she bumped into as she made her way toward Ginny, who was already on the train that was just about leaving.
"Watch it!" a witch mumbled as she pulled a small girl out of Hermione's way.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she gasped as she turned back to apologize.
No sooner had she done so than the train started up and several hands grabbed her from behind and she was lifted up and into the wagon. Harry and Ron had grabbed her aboard just as the London Express was about to pull out of the station and they were now laughing hysterically after tumbling over each other on to the floor from the force of the departure.
"Thanks....for that..." Hermione managed to muffle between her laughs as Luna and Ginny helped her up and Ron and Harry slowly followed in the lead.
"What kept you?" asked Harry as he brushed the dirt from the floor off of his hands.
"Er....I don't think that I want to discuss it at the moment," said Hermione matter-of-factly.
"What's wrong?" asked Ron. "Weren't you just saying goodbye to that bloke you were going out with? He didn't take you dumping him too well, did he?"
"Uh." said Hermione, turning slightly pink. "Actually, he - he didn't even realize that I was trying to be more than his friend. It's stupid. You see, we weren't actually going out, we were just, you know, hanging out - "
"Hermione!" said Ginny. "I can't believe you didn't even tell him that you felt that way about him!"
"Yeah, well...that's in the past anyway," said Hermione briskly and made her way toward their cabin, sitting next to the window and resting her cheek on her hand.
"I don't buy that," said Harry who had followed her inside and sat opposite of her. "I know it's really bothering you."
"No, duh! Genius!" said Ginny loudly, who sat next to her. "Come on, Herms, you can talk to us, you know."
Hermione didn't respond, but instead, a single silent tear slid down her face, which she quickly whipped off and turned to face them with a smile. Ron and Luna had already entered the compartment and had just settled themselves alongside Harry when she spoke, "Look, just let's forget about it, okay? I just....didn't make my move sooner and I...I regret it, but oh well. It wasn't meant to be anyhow. I guess what I was afraid of more than anything was that he didn't feel the same way and I just didn't want to be rejected again." Hermione briefly looked up at Harry and lowered her head once more, which bore a flushed face. Ginny gave Harry a deadly stare while Ron looked amused by something on the ceiling of the cabin and Luna held an anonymous look.
Harry opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again, scratching the back of his head and looking at the floor so that he wouldn't have to endure watching everyone's expression at the awkward silence.
"I - let's just forget it," said Hermione, looking out of the window once more and not meeting Harry's eye.
"Okay," said Ginny sweetly, taking her eyes of Harry, which he felt had been eating into him with anger. "Luna, you mind ordering us a couple of Butterbeers?" she asked as she patted Hermione on the back.
"No problem," said Luna, winking, and waved her wand so that several bottles appeared on their table, alongside a tip.
"How about we get a day off tomorrow? Just for fun?" suggested Ginny with a grin. Ron and Harry looked rather pleased at the idea, but Hermione turned her head toward her sharply and said, "Are you mad? Jean will be furious with us! Besides, I bet you anything Brown, Patil, and Chang will be all in his face about it. You know how they can get. One flaw and zoom! They're on about you like you're the dung of a therstral!"
"I guess you're right," sighed Ginny, looking put out.
"Well, at least we can meet for lunch," proposed Luna.
"Hey, that's an idea!" said Harry. "Why don't we do that? I heard there's a great new place open on Diagon Alley called the Morning Sun. How about it?"
"The Morning Sun? That sounds like a newspaper," said Ron, making a quizzical expression.
Ginny giggled and Hermione stiffened a laugh as Harry said, "Like you care, as long as you can get something to eat."
Ron shrugged in agreement and lay back in his seat.
"Maybe we can even go and see the twins. I'm sure Fred and George have cooked up some new merchandise," Harry continued.
"Urgh, not more pranks," Hermione whispered under her breath.
"What was that?" asked Harry, raising his eyebrow.
"Oh, nothing," said Hermione, brushing off the comment.
"Are we not liking pranks today, Miss Granger? I thought those always made you laugh," said Harry with a grin.
Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and said, "Some things aren't what they used to be, Harry. Things change and people change. I would have thought you could realize that by now...but...I guess not."
Hermione said those words in such a cold tone that even she regretted it once she saw the look on Harry's face in reply, but felt satisfied with herself as she turned her head again to the window.
"I don't think you've changed," said Harry in an almost silent whisper that only Hermione seemed to hear.
She swallowed before turning her head to him slowly opening her eyes. "Do you?"
"No, I don't," said Harry defiantly, slightly shaking his head.
"Well," said Hermione, "that makes one of us."
Her head returned to the same position, watching the forest trees pass to the rhythm of the train as a long silence filled the cabin.
"Oh!" Luna suddenly exclaimed. "You guys aren't going to believe this. I mean, not like you'll care, but the Quidditch finals are in town. Bella gave me four really great tickets. Wanna go?"
"You're kidding!" said Ron.
"Am not," said Luna. "I have them here - " she pulled out four purple tickets from her robes and showed them to him.
Ron reached for them, but she pulled them from his grasp. "No way, Ronald! You'd lose them even if you did go!"
"Oh, it's too bad," said Ginny. "Neville and I were going to Ireland to look at someone to caterer our wedding. I heard Fleur got veelas for hers. Ha! As if! My wedding is going to be so much better! And every one of you better come!"
Harry, Ron, and Luna all made approving nods and exclamations. Hermione smiled. Another wedding she would be going to without a date. She guessed it didn't even matter that she caught the bouquet nearly every time, she felt as if the first time that her heart had been broken, it lasted her a lifetime.
"Hermione, you all right?" asked Harry, staring at her from the corner of his eye.
"Yeah...fine..." she said in a small voice, wrapping her arms around her.
"I...er...Look, I'm sorry about - "
"You don't have to...apologize, Harry," said Hermione. "I've heard it all."
A/N: And that would be the end of the first chapter. I realize that I haven't explained everything yet, but that's what keeps `em reading. Pretty please review! I want to know how you like it so far so that I can update sooner! Thankies!
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