The Friendship That Grew by Marooguray Rating: PG13 Ship: Harry & Hermione Canon: Books 1 - 5 Genre: Humor, Romance Status: In progress Length: 5,331 words in 5 chapters Published: 31 Mar 2005 Last updated: 2 Apr 2005 Sirius is dead and Harry feels as though his whole life has fallen apart and that there's no one there to clear it up for him. Hermione is finding that she's becoming more and more independent without meaning to be and she has no person to guide her back to the real world. After six years of firm friendship, will Harry and Hermione help each other with their own problems? And will romance accidentally brew between them along the way? You'll be splitting your sides with laughter by the end of it. From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/4114/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. The Old Hill A/N I've given up on making Ron horrid in H/Hr fics. He's such an important character and he is really nice, it's so cruel of me to change him completely. In this fic, he's going to be his usual, jolly, stubborn, amusing self. He'll still be Harry and Hermione's friend. I hope you enjoy this fic, I'm aiming to get it better than Accidentally In Love. Review if you like, read all you want! Sugar quills, thought Harry, taste so nice, as he gently and gluttonously slurped the end of one of them, a slight smile on his lips. He was sitting alone in the common room. His best friends, Ron and Hermione, were doing various things. Hermione was of course in the library, doing her homework. Ron was in the boys dormitories, playing Seamus at a game of wizard chess. Harry was supposed to be doing his homework, but it was Potions, and he found it so hard that he had given up and decided to finish his quill before going any further. He wished Hermione was here. She would definitely help him. He gazed into the fire, remembering the days of last year, when he had spoken to Sirius' head through that fire. But now Sirius was gone and he had no one else to guide him and give him advice. Ever since he had arrived back at Hogwarts, he had felt alone. He felt as lonely as he had done before he came to Hogwarts, when Dudley made sure he had no friends at his muggle school. With a dreaded sigh, he glanced down at his Potions homework again. He knew if he was going to be an Auror he had to succeed in his Potions lessons. But how? He could barely remember the Potions he did in his first year. He groaned and slammed his head down on the table. “That was a pretty hard thunk. Are you OK?” a concerned female voice said from behind him. Harry raised his head and nodded, before turning round and finding himself face to face with a grinning Hermione. “Don't make a habit of it,” she giggled, sitting down next to him. He returned her comment with a weak smile. Trust Hermione to make him feel better right at the peak of his depression. That was the good thing about being friends with her. She was stunningly loyal to him; and last year, when she accompanied him to Umbridge's office because he was planning to use her fire to talk to Sirius, she showed real loyalty and solidarity towards him. He could never lose her as a friend. She was invaluable in times of need. “You're not OK, are you? I've known you too long to realise that. You are depressed, Harry Potter. I know it must be tough with Sirius gone, I'd be sobbing my eyes out if it was me -” “So you're saying that I should be crying then?” Harry interrupted her sharply. Hermione rushed to him, looking alarmed. “No! I was just trying to make you feel better. But if you take as an insult, fine. I won't comfort you anymore and I won't take you to the most amazing place here,” said Hermione, folding her arms and turning her back on Harry. He watched her for a few seconds. He knew that although he couldn't see, she had a teasing smile on her face. He immediately felt bad though. “Sorry,” he mumbled, blushing. Hermione turned around and took his hand. “It's so amazingly pretty, Harry. I know you'll love it,” she beamed. They walked along the stone corridors of Hogwarts, down all the flights of stairs and out into the school grounds. They took a path which led behind the school that Harry had never seen before. It was bendy and narrow and was surrounded by trees. There were birds singing even though it was the evening. The scene seemed perfect to Harry. Then, Hermione led him up some old, stone stairs, up and up, until, finally, when Harry was really out of breath, they reached the top of a hill. The grass was lush and green and Harry could see the whole of Hogsmeade from where he was standing. Wow, he thought. The whole surroundings seemed to relax him, and with Hermione there too, everything seemed right. “I've come up here almost every day since I first came to Hogwarts,” whispered Hermione. Harry stared at her. “How? You're always in the library!” he exclaimed. Hermione laughed hollowly. “I don't always tell the truth, Harry,” she replied. In that precise moment, a whole new side of Hermione was revealed to Harry. She was a solitary girl, who confined herself to her studies and got top marks. She did this not because she wanted good marks, but because she was purely hiding her feelings of worry and depression. That was what he guessed anyway. Whether he was correct or not, he did not know. “I used to find my own private area when I was with the Dursleys,” said Harry. “Really?” asked Hermione. “Yeah, I found it really peaceful and soothing.” “Same.” There was an awkward silence between them and Harry felt that something was supposed to happen then but for some reason didn't. he and Hermione kept on glancing at each other. Then, finally, Hermione rose. “Well, I just thought you would like to see it,” she yawned. “You're tired. We'd better go to bed,” said Harry, slightly anxious about her tiredness. Hermione gave him one of her sweetest smiles and meekly followed him all the way to the common room. After they had said goodnight, and were on their way to their separate rooms, Hermione called out to him. “Harry! Have you done your Potions yet?” Harry looked over at her and shook his heads. Her face went slightly red. “Um, well, I could give you some tuition if you like, um, after school in the library…” she mumbled. Harry stared at her in amazement. Hermione, helping him? What a great friend. “I knew you wouldn't want to,” she added hastily, “it was just an idea.” “Hermione…”Harry began. Hermione turned and hurried away. “Wait!” he shouted. She turned her head round. “Sounds great,” he winked at her. She looked a little bit startled at his wink, but pleased all the same. They both headed off to bed, with slightly satisfied smiles on their faces. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Mixed Feelings “Well, I just thought you would like to see it,” she yawned. “You're tired. We'd better go to bed,” said Harry, slightly anxious about her tiredness. Hermione gave him one of her sweetest smiles and meekly followed him all the way to the common room. After they had said goodnight, and were on their way to their separate rooms, Hermione called out to him. “Harry! Have you done your Potions yet?” Harry looked over at her and shook his heads. Her face went slightly red. “Um, well, I could give you some tuition if you like, um, after school in the library…” she mumbled. Harry stared at her in amazement. Hermione, helping him? What a great friend. “I knew you wouldn't want to,” she added hastily, “it was just an idea.” “Hermione…”Harry began. Hermione turned and hurried away. “Wait!” he shouted. She turned her head round. “Sounds great,” he winked at her. She looked a little bit startled at his wink, but pleased all the same. They both headed off to bed, with slightly satisfied smiles on their faces. “Ron, Luna, do you have any sense at all?” snapped Hermione irritably as she sat down at breakfast the next morning, “I don't particularly want to go down to breakfast and find you two snogging happily! I didn't even know Luna was supposed to be at the Gryffindor table. Ron and Luna just grinned goofily. Hermione sighed impatiently, grabbed a slice of toast and stormed off to the library by herself. Honestly, sometimes she wished Ron and Luna had never started dating. Both could be so agitating sometimes, it was enough to drive even a saint mad. When she was alone, she didn't have any distractions. She could be peaceful and be herself, without anyone else interrupting her. She enjoyed being alone and it was fun to eat up here by herself. Ah, the pleasures of independence… Harry chuckled to himself at the sight of Ron and Luna together, lips locked. They had started to go out very recently and in his opinion they were a very sweet couple. Hermione did not like them as a couple. Every time she saw them together, she groaned in disgust. Ron had wondered whether it was because she was jealous, but Harry didn't think so. It was something deeper than that. There was definitely something wrong with Hermione. “Where's Hermione?” he asked. Ron and Luna looked at each other nervously and then at Harry. “She came down when we were kissing and she got so annoyed and stormed off with a piece of toast!” said Luna. Harry groaned. “Can you guys please have a little consideration for her occasionally?” he sighed. Ron and Luna shrugged. It was Harry's turn to grab a piece of toast and storm off. He walked off to the Gryffindor common room, feeling very alone. Hermione was never there when he needed her, that was the only problem with her friendship. He would have gone to Ron but he was always with Luna or Dean nowadays. He seemed to have forgotten that Harry existed. Later on, the bell for morning lessons went, and a little half heartedly, Harry got up and hurried to Transfiguration. Hermione was already in the Transfiguration classroom. She was sitting alone, reading through her text book. “Are we still on for the Potions help this evening?” he asked her. Hermione looked up at him, slightly startled, and smiled. “Of course,” she replied. “Um…can I sit here?” he asked her again. “Go ahead,” she answered. They sat again the same awkward silence that they had last night. There was something missing, something that should happen but wasn't. But he couldn't think what. Thankfully, the rest of the class arrived at that precise moment, Ron heading to the back to sit with Dean and Seamus, not even glancing at Harry and Hermione. He did, however, give them a grin and a wave, which made Harry feel somewhat happier. The rest of the school day passed in a blur and soon it was time for Harry's extra Potions lesson with Hermione. He rushed to the library, glad to escape Ron and Luna, who kissing passionately in the middle of the Great Hall. He couldn't find Hermione at first, because she was hidden behind a huge tower of books. When he did find her, she didn't seem to realise he was there - she was too busy writing some notes. It looked like a lesson plan for him, She jumped when he tapped her on the shoulder. “Oh god, Harry, you didn't half scare me! Well, sit down. I wrote out some notes that we can go over in this session, if you like,” she said. “It's so nice of you to do this, Hermione. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you. One thing: can we do my homework first?” Harry questioned her. Hermione nodded, and so began the session. It was going along just fine, and Harry and Hermione were really getting on well with each other, when Cho appeared. Cho Chang, Harry's ex girlfriend, came sidling into the library, in tears. She flung herself on Harry, causing Hermione to scowl. “HARRY!” she wailed, “I'm so sorry that I was so mean to you! Lets start afresh!” Harry pushed Cho off him and glanced over at Hermione. She wasn't watching him though, she had become highly interested in the ceiling. He felt a little worried. Cho was now trying to kiss him, but Harry shoved her off. “Please, Cho. Can't you see I'm busy?” he glared. “Oh, get rid of that geek and come with me,” she laughed airily. Harry clenched his fists and his teeth, shooting Cho an angry look. “Cho - please - go - away - before - I - lose - my - temper -” he began furiously. “But Harry -” “CHO!” “OK. But I'll be back…” Once Cho left, Hermione let a long, low whistle. “You still like her?” she asked uneasily. “I don't know,” Harry replied. “But it's not like I care if you do or not,” said Hermione quickly. “I know;” Once more, that annoying awkward silence came. It was really beginning to bug Harry. And after Cho's visit, Hermione wasn't the same. She was jumpy and stand-offish. Something had clearly irritated her but he didn't know what. Maybe she would tell him later. Hermione did end up telling someone what was wrong later - but that someone wasn't Harry. It was, in actual fact, Ron. It was later that evening the common room - Harry had gone to bed early - and she and Ron were sitting alone by the fire. Hermione found herself pleased for some time alone with him - she needed to get some advice from him about Harry. “Ron, we've been friends for a long time, right?” she asked him. Ron's face went pale, his heart began to pound. “Yeah?” he swallowed. “So…could I tell you about some strange feelings that I have towards someone?” she pressed him. “Yeah!” he squeaked, in an unnaturally high voice. “Ron…today in the library, I was with Harry and…and Cho came. And she was being SO stupid, all over Harry. Ron…I don't know, I felt really annoyed and angry at the idea of them being together again. I wanted to hit that stupid little sad Ravenclaw!” cried Hermione. She then put her head in her hands. Ron grinned mischievously. “I'm relieved. I thought you were gonna ask me out!” said Ron uneasily. Hermione shot him a disgusted look. “Why would I do that?” Ron shrugged and looked over at her. “I don't know much about the ways of the heart but I think you're jealous…” he started. “WHAT? I am not jealous! Harry's a friend no more, no less! Just shut up, Ron. I should have known you would give me bad advice!” she shouted. Ron rolled his eyes. Hermione screamed and stalked out of the common room, thinking about how annoyingly sensitive Ron was. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Viktor Krum “Bloody hell, Hermione, you have a lot of post this morning!” Ron gawped. Hermione giggled. She had a total of three letters and a copy of the Daily Prophet. “Who're they from?” he continued. Hermione opened the first letter. Her face clouded. It was from Viktor. Ron frowned and looked over at her. So did Harry. “It's from Viktor, isn't it?” said Harry malevolently. Hermione nodded. Harry's face clouded. Hermione, spotting this, felt a small feeling of pleasure that Harry was angry, maybe he was even jealous. Think that's going a bit far, Hermy. And why do you care anyway? She rose and left them. Harry glowered after her. He didn't know exactly why, but Hermione and Krum still keeping in contact made him feel like searching out for Krum and throttling him. “Grind him I will,” he accidentally said a loud. And then he too left the table. Ron and Luna stared after him in amazement. The same mischievous smile that commandeered Ron's face last night when talking to Hermione appeared once more. He knew at once that Harry and Hermione were jealous of each other. Hermione didn't want Harry socialising with Cho and Harry didn't want Hermione writing to Krum. He whispered this to Luna who smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Shall we help them along a bit?” she asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively. “No. It'll be more fun to watch if they get confused. BUT, we can turn them on a bit,” winked Ron. “How?” “Easy. YOU coax Hermione to the changing rooms when Harry's changing and showering after quidditch practice - he always goes by tehe window. Make her see him in a different light. It'll get her really excited and confused. And Harry…whoa…I'll give him the password to the prefects bathroom when Hermione's in there and ha ha ha!” Ron murmured. Luna shook her head. “For once, I disagree with you. Harry and Hermione's love seems deeper than that. It's not just smutty - I - wanna - see - you - naked - love - it's soulmate love and it's really rare and beautiful. Don't ruin it by getting them all confused,” she wailed. “But…” Ron protested. “No buts. Except mine of course!” grinned Luna. Ron tried to laugh but inwardly he was yearning to help his two best friends. But Luna was right, they WERE soulmates and they had to work out their love on their own. Hermione sighed deeply and stared around at the countryside around her. She did love her secret place, and she did not regret sharing it with Harry. She had something with him that she didn't have with Ron, it was a special friendship. They were willing to sacrifice anything for each other. That was amazing. She opened Viktor's letter and began to read it: Dear Hermowninny, I have some fantastic news for you! As you Defence Against Dark Arts teacher has not been appointed yet, your headmaster has chosen me to take the job. We can finally get serious! I am really in love with you and I hope you return my feelings. I shall arrive the evening that you receive this letter. I cannot wait to see you. While I am unpacking, stop by my office. With love, Viktor xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Oh Lordy, thought Hermione. This isn't good. She used to have a real school-girly crush on Viktor. She had really liked him. But now she was over him, as she was almost over Ron. She had been mad about Ron ever since she had first met him - but it hadn't been true love. There was certainly huge chemistry between them - and their relatsionship would have been full of fiery passion and, well, sex. Of course they were key things for a relationship, but she needed something more as well. Something that she hadn't found in a person yet. Maybe one day she would find it. She did hope so. The school day flew by and suddenly, to Hermione's great shock, it was dinner. She had had a great Potions session with Harry and was feeling rather giddy. She saw Viktor, sitting at the staff table. His presence had aroused much whispering and excitement around the Great Hall. She herself felt a little queasy. She really did not know whether she wanted Viktor to be here or not. Harry and Ron were both shooting Viktor dark looks. She watched them with a smug smile on her face. It wasn't Ron she was interested in though - it was Harry. For an unexplained reason, Hermione adored it whenever Harry got annoyed that she was with another boy. She noticed Viktor surveying her. He smiled at her and flipped his hair back in a sexy way. It did not impress her though. Instead, it made her tut inwardly. After dinner, as he asked her, she headed towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts office. He was in there and he rushed to her and kissed her as she arrived. “Hermowninny! It is very good to see you!” he beamed, lacing her fingers through his. She smiled and turned away shyly. “I hope you are in good health! I have been looking forward to seeing you very much!” he went on. Hermione, try as she might, could not bring herself to look at him. She felt such disloyalty at being with him in his office. Disloyalty to her family, disloyalty to her school, disloyalty to herself and disloyalty to Harry. Harry? What the hell??? She shook herself slightly. “Are you OK?” asked Viktor anxiously. “Fine,” she said a little too quickly. He reached towards her. From the way he was standing and the way he was looking at her, Hermione knew what he wanted. She knew and she felt disgusted. “I have to go,” she added and walked out of his office. He called after and she broke into a run. “I am not,” she said a loud, “going to lose my flower to a stupid little conceited Bulgarian!” She sat down in the common room, hurriedly joined by Harry. “Where were you?” “Um…out.” “In the special place?” “No.” “Where?” “Is it any of your business?” “No, sorry, I was just concerned. “Well, don't be! I've already got enough men fussing around me, I don't need you too!” “Sorry.” “No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm just stressed. I went to see Viktor and he wants me to…to go the whole way, I think. And I don't want to. I don't want that kind of relationship with anyone but my true love. Who I haven't found yet.” “Bummer.” “I know. Oh Harry, will I ever find my true love?” “Of course you will! Maybe it's even someone from here…” “Yeah. Maybe.” “Your true love can be under your nose for years before you realise it's them.” “I never thought of it like that but I guess you're right.” “Maybe I've inspired you to do great things!” “Ha! Harry, I just want to say…” “Yep? All ears.” “I…I…I l - like your advice.” What was she going to say? Harry asked himself. He sensed that Hermione had wanted to say something else but couldn't. But he was too tired to ponder on it. He and Hermione said goodnight and left each other. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Midnight Kisses Harry couldn't sleep. He had been tossing and turning for so many hours. He was wide awake. Bored and ill-tempered, he got out of bed, changed into his ordinary clothes and put on his Invisibility Cloak. He decided to take a short trip to Hermione's hill. The Hogwarts corridors were dark and there was an almost frightening air to them. Still, Harry bravely wandered through them, thinking about life in general. As he approached the Entrance Hall, he became aware of some soft breathing behind him. He spun around - and saw a small, thin figure in a black cloak. This figure seemed to be heading to the same place that he was going to. He wasn't sure whether it was a student or a teacher so he merely carried on. When he reached the hill, he took off his cloak and sat down. He heard the figure behind him gasp and then pace around. Harry already knew who the figure was. “It's even more beautiful at night time, isn't it?” he told the figure. “Yeah,” answered Hermione, settling herself beside Harry. “I wish I could sleep up here one night. It would be a fascinating experience,” Harry continued. Hermione stared at him. “Wh - what?” she stammered. “You know, on my own,” replied Harry. “Oh. I thought you meant - um, it doesn't matter,” Hermione was blushing furiously, making her look incredibly sweet. They sat in silence, but this time not an awkward one. Then, Harry had an idea. “Can we learn some Potions?” Hermione burst out laughing and began rolling on the floor. “At this time of night?” she said incredulously, collapsing into a fresh wave of giggles. Harry nodded eagerly. “OK, Harry Potter. Your wish is my command!” This session didn't last very long. Harry noticed Hermione was shivering and offered to give her his cloak. She had refused and had somehow ended up on his lap, her hands around his neck, and her head in his chest. Absent mindedly, Harry began to stroke her hair. “You want to talk about Viktor?” he whispered to her. “OK,” murmured Hermione, “I really like him. I used to have THE hugest crush on him in the fourth year, even though I wouldn't admit it to you or Ron or anyone, in fact! But now…after a year of not seeing him, I don't know what my feelings are. I mean, he is incredibly nice and charming but I think he wants to go further with me and I don't want him to. You get it?” “Yeah,” said Harry thoughtfully, “Is he upsetting you?” Hermione bit her lip and thought for a few seconds. “Yes,” she said finally. “Then break up with him. You don't want him after you the whole time. That's what I'm going to have to do about Cho.” Hermione nodded and looked up at Harry, who was now staring into the distance. He looked so charming, and he was such a good friend. She suddenly had a strange urge. She took hold of his chin gently, and tilted it towards her. Then, she reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. The kiss lasted for about thirty seconds. Then, they both broke apart, shocked at what had just happened. Oh my God, thought Hermione. Have I gone mad? I just kissed my best friend! “Sorry,” they both said simultaneously. “No, it was my fault,” they said again. Then, they both smiled at each other. A secret smile. A special smile. Hermione put her head in her hands and sighed. “I have no idea why that happened and I'm really sorry about it,” she apologised humbly. Harry laughed and shook his head. “What are we like, Mione? Snogging in the middle of the night! Ha! And we're just friends. But don't fret about it. That kiss was just to comfort both of us. There was no ounce of romance in it, right?” Hermione looked and felt a little doubtful, but she didn't say so. Instead, she nodded and tried to laugh along with Harry. They walked back to the common room together, hand in hand, under Harry's Invisibility Cloak. Harry kept on squeezing Hermione's hand reassuringly, a thing that gave Hermione great pleasure. Harry's hand was warm. In fact, his whole body was warm and she wouldn't have minded if she was pressed up against him again. He was a great FRIEND to her. She was glad that they had such a good RELATIONSHIP. She didn't know what would happen if they were IN LOVE with each other. All these words kept on jumping out at Hermione. She ignored them. Harry was her best friend. She liked more than she liked Ron, she had a deeper understanding with him. But she could never fall in love with him. Their friendship was strictly platonic. Hear that, Granger? PLATONIC!!! Want me to spell it for you? And sound it out? P - L - A - T - O - N - C. Pla-ton-ic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even so, Harry was a good kisser. Furious at what she had just said, Hermione smacked herself. “Night, Hermione,” said Harry. “Goodnight, Harry,” Hermione called back. As soon as he had disappeared, she let out a long breath of air and then a low whistle. Then, she pressed herself against the wall. What she needed at this precise time was a good book to read. And some homework to read over. She rushed to her room, got out all of her schoolbooks and went off to the library, where she stayed for the rest of the night. Harry still couldn't sleep. Thankfully, neither could Ron at this point. Hearing that Harry was awake, Ron crept over to his bed, where he immediately began to question his whereabouts before he had just slipped in. Harry quickly explained that he was talking with Hermione and Ron, hoping that there had been some good kissing going on, left the subject alone. The two boys decided to whisper and make plans on how to murder Viktor Krum and make sure he left Hermione alone. They had great fun making up numerous, gory ways to torture him and kill him. I could do that in reality, thought Harry. Eventually, both Harry and Ron were exhausted so Ron returned to his own bed and they both slept peacefully for the rest of night, Harry dreaming of Sirius and feeling deserted. A/N Hi everyone!!! Thank you so much for all your reviews and helpful comments! I hope you're enjoying the story so far! Sorry that this chapter is a bit shorter than the others! I was kind of in a hurry to finish it! It may take me until tomorrow to write the next chapter so I've spoilt you all today by posting two chapters in the course of an hour! Aren't you lucky readers???!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Neville Longbottom - Appropriately Named A/N This wasn't the original chapter 5 but I thought I would add a bit of comedy to an otherwise serious story. He he he! The next day, Ron decided to ignore Harry and Hermione completely in order to make them bond. He hoped that last night they had had some nice, long, slurpy kisses and that they would soon announce they were officially an item. No such luck. Hermione wasn't even at breakfast, lunch or dinner for the whole day and Harry sat alone looked depressed for most of the day. “I just want to bash their stupid heads in,” he said to Luna at lunchtime, “PLEASE can I give them a little help?” “NO!” yelled Luna. The next week the similar situation continued, until Ron could take it no longer. He stamped his foot, groaned angrily and stormed around the school, thanking the Lord that it was Quidditch practice that evening. He knew he couldn't ask Luna to help him though. He would have to speak to Hermione himself. But he hadn't seen Hermione all day. He searched the library and found her asleep on her Arithmancy homework. “Hermione?” asked Ron nervously. She jolted awake, looking slightly shaken. “What?” she returned moodily. “Harry wants you to meet after Quidditch practice, by the window in the changing rooms. Come ten minutes early, OK?” said Ron. Hermione nodded, wondering what on earth Harry wanted to speak to her about. But she stayed true to Harry's alleged plan and went to the changing rooms ten minutes before the end of Quidditch practice. Poor Hermione. I don't think she ever got over the shock of it. Not many people knew that Neville Longbottom had become chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Neville, not knowing that his classmate was standing by the window, happily undressed himself, revealing his bare butt to Hermione. There three key things about this situation that remained in Hermione's memory: 1. How fat Neville's butt was 2. How pink Neville's butt was 3. How wobbly Neville's butt was Horrified, Hermione screamed. Neville, wondering what was going, turned around. He too screamed. Then, rather suddenly, Hermione stopped. She had spotted Harry, coming back from the shower and it was an amazing sight. “Oh my God,” said Hermione dreamily, “Now he works out. Turn around fit ass.” Neville, thinking that Hermione meant him turned around and began to wiggle around a bit. Oh. My. God. Harry is hot. But what the hell is Neville doing? Harry saw Hermione, quickly wrapped a towel round himself and rushed outside. He was about to tell her off when none other than Severus Snape came up from behind them. “HERMIONE GRANGER! HARRY POTTER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” he bellowed. Oh damn, thought Hermione. “Mr. Potter, you appear to have such a high opinion of yourself that you are happy to wander around school grounds with just a towel! And Miss. Granger, you, staring at him. I am just dis - Potter, Granger, what IS Longbottom doing?” Hermione couldn't help it. She felt the happiest she had been in ages. That was why she boldly said, “Showing off his long bottom!” All three of them received detention immediately.