Here's chapter two. There's not H/HR romance yet, (well, I guess there is, but it's one-sided) but it's coming.
--jamie
disclaimer…not mine…
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It was a Hogsmeade weekend. As usual, Ron couldn't accompany us due to "prior engagements" (read: he was going to be snogging his brains out with some random girl). Hermione and I made plans to go together, she needed to find a present for Krum's birthday and I felt the need to subject myself to emotional pain the equivalent of being punched in the gut repeatedly. She bounded down the stairs happily,
"Hey Harry! Ready to go? Thanks again for going with me, I really need your help picking out something he'll like. I'm horrible at shopping for him."
Who could say no to her? Certainly not me and certainly not when she was looking at me as expectantly and adorably as she was. I think at this point she could ask me to shave my eyebrows off purely for her amusement and I wouldn't refuse her. God, I'm pathetic. Maybe this won't be so bad, I have a few things I need from Hogsmeade, maybe she'll find something while I'm picking up my stuff and I won't have to give any input. I manage feebly,
"Sure, let's go."
After arriving at Hogsmeade, we hit all my shops first- quidditch supply, the candy store, back to quidditch supply. She finally insists we start looking for Krum's present.
"Harry, if you were a guy,"
"If? If I were a guy?! I am most definitely a guy, thank you very much."
This cannot be good, she doesn't even view me as a member of the opposite sex, much less someone she's attracted to.
"Oh Harry, you know what I meant. Now as I was saying, what would you want for your birthday?"
Well, for starters I'd like you as a girlfriend, oh wait…he already has that. How the hell am I supposed to know what Krum would want? I've met the guy once and that was years ago. Everything she says about him leads me to believe he's not exactly normal. I have no idea what he could possibly want for his birthday.
"Can't you just get him a framed picture of the two of you?"
"C'mon, that's been done to death, I want something he'll really like."
"He wouldn't like a picture of you?"
"God! Harry, why are you being so difficult?"
Difficult? Who's being difficult? Not me. Nope, no way would I be difficult when I'm helping the woman I love pick out a gift for her boyfriend. That wouldn't make any sense at all, would it? Jesus, this day sucks.
"I don't know, look, I'm sorry, I'll try and help."
"Thank you. Now where should we go? How about the joke shop?"
"Sounds fine to me."
Upon entering the joke shop, it's clear they'd started carrying a wider array of novelty items than in the past. I bend down and busy myself with tying and re-tying my shoes while Hermione shops. She tugs on my sleeve a few minutes later, indicating she wants me to get up so she can show me something. I rise and almost keel over. She has, in her hands, what appears to be a wheel of sexual activities. What the hell is that? I look at it closer and see that it has a dial that you spin and it lands on some activity for you and your partner to engage in. It says stuff like 'nibble ear,' 'lick neck,' and 'remove an article of clothing.' Why is the joke shop carrying stuff like this? What is the world coming to? She took my silence to mean that I wanted some sort of explanation and she said, rather nervously,
"Well, erm, uh, it'd just be like a gag gift, not his real present, I just think it's funny. Do you think he'd think it was stupid?"
Yeah, if by stupid you mean incredibly awesome and something that would provide hours of enjoyment, then yes, it is stupid. I can't be here, I can't be helping her do this. I feel like someone knocked the wind out of me. The thought of her and Krum doing those things is way too much for me to handle. Every fantasy that's ever played out in my mind about her and I is duly represented on the wheel. I need to leave the store.
"Uh, yeah, he'd like it. It's great."
I manage to sputter while unsuccessfully trying to maneuver my way out of the store. Hermione's right on my heels waving the wheel at me in attempt to get me to read more of the possible choices.
"Listen to this one- Harry? Harry? Where are you going?"
"It's hot in here, I'm gonna go sit on that bench outside, I'll wait for you to check out."
Good God, that was painful. I put my head in my hands and try to keep from vomiting while waiting for her. This may be the worst decision I've ever made. What made me think I'd be able to handle helping her shop for him? It was obviously something that was going to drive me insane with jealously, yet I agreed anyway.
She walked out of the shop carrying her bag and immediately started in with the questions again.
"Ok, now what do you think I should get him for his real gift? Any ideas?"
I don't remember anything I said to her from then on out. I walked through the town in a dazed stupor. It was like all the life had been sucked out of me. I think she ended up getting him a shirt or something. Frankly, I don't know nor do I care. One thing was clear- I was going to have to do something about this little infatuation I had with her or I was going to lose my mind.