He closed his eyes and remembered what it felt like to kiss her. He remembered feeling her breath on his lips while they were arguing. He remembered her chest and her shoulders, moving up and down as she tried to catch her breath. It was enticing. It didn't occur to him to kiss her until he did it. It wasn't something he had planned. It was as if he was acting on pure instinct, or as if desire itself had taken complete control of his body. This kiss itself was incredible. She initially had her hands by his neck, but then slid them slowly behind his head and through his hair. Her touch was amazing. She had ran her fingers through his hair many times before…but never like that. Her lips were warm and lush and felt perfect against his own. She tasted so good. He began to wonder if the rest of her tasted that good…
His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the portrait door swinging open. Hermione rushed in at full speed and shouted over her shoulder to Harry while frantically running up the staircase. She spoke so quickly he was almost unable to understand her.
"Ron's right behind me, I told him, he's not happy, you deal with it!"
"Hermione Granger, don't you run away from me!" Ron shouted angrily as he ran through the portrait hole. He rushed across the common room but stopped when he saw Harry sitting by the fireplace.
"Have you gone mad?" Ron shouted towards his friend.
"Ron," Harry said gently as he eased his way out of his chair. "I think you should calm down, Mate."
"You and Hermione are prancing around making people think you're interested in each other! What were you thinking?" Ron looked at Harry as if he suddenly grown three heads.
"We had a problem. We handled it." Harry explained very slowly.
"And now you have a new problem! Everyone in this school is going to think you two are dating or interested or whatever!"
"Half the school already does!" Harry shouted, as if his statement made all the difference in the world.
"True." Ron shrugged, suddenly seeming calmer. "The other half thinks she's dating me."
"See!" Harry exclaimed, "Now you'll go on more dates because girls will know Hermione's not an issue! We fixed your problem too! So stop yelling! I actually think a "thank you" is in order. Anytime you're ready Ron." Ron began to chuckle then, calming down a great deal.
"This is bloody insane."
"You're telling me." Both friends plopped down on the couch, both much more relaxed than they were moments before.
"Rumors are going to start circulating." Ron speculated. "How are you going to handle it?"
"Same way we handled all of the other rumors. We ignore them, and hope that just seeing what she saw is enough to get Lavender off of my back."
"You're a stupid prat for throwing away a girl like that." Ron said, very casually, almost as if he had said it a dozen times before… Perhaps that's because he had. "Honestly, you've got all these girls practically throwing themselves at your feet! How is it that you find nothing appealing about any of them?"
Harry's mind then flashed back to the kiss. He again remembered the feeling of her hands moving up his neck, into his hair. He remembered how her body pressed against his as the kiss deepened. He remembered the way it felt when--
"Harry!" Ron's voice brought Harry back to reality.
"Sorry." Harry said softly. "I uh, I caught up in a thought."
"What kind of thought?" Harry's mind raced, he barely even heard Ron's question. All he wanted to do was find Hermione and kiss her again; only this time with no one else in the room.
"What kind of thought Harry?" Ron repeated himself, trying to get his friend's attention. Harry stood up and ran his fingers though his hair wondering what to do.
"The kind… you… think… about." He answered awkwardly. "I'm going to bed." With that he left Ron in the common room alone and very confused.
The next morning, all of the Gryffindors were gathered around their table in the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione and Harry sat next to each other and kept sneaking each other nervous glances throughout the entire meal. They knew Lavender would say something soon, they just wished she would get it over with.
"She kept giving me the evil eye all night, last night." Hermione told Harry and Ron as they left the Great Hall to go to Transfiguration. "She was irking me out so much that I had to pull the covers over my head when I went to sleep."
"You know Hermione, you really should try to make friends with your dorm mates." Ron snickered as they took their seats in the classroom.
"Well Ron, that's a little difficult when their leader hates me!" Hermione huffed as she opened her text book. It was then that Lavender, Parvati, and a few other Gryffindor girls entered the room. Lavender was at the head of the pack. The girls were showing off, as if they thought they were marching in a parade… They wanted their presence to be noticed.
"Ready or not, here comes trouble." Harry whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Sharing lover's secrets?" Lavender asked, sharply as she took her seat behind Harry.
"It's really none of your business what they're talking about, is it?" Ron snapped at her.
"Excuse me, I don't believe I was addressing you." Lavender snapped back. "In fact, I don't believe the likes of myself should ever be addressing the likes of yourself."
"Perhaps that's because Ron's too good for you." Hermione whipped around, infuriated
that this crude, unintelligent person, would dare speak to her best friend like that.
"And just why would you care about what I say to him?" Lavender motioned towards Ron as if he was undeserving of her even saying his name. "Harry's your guy… Isn't he? Hasn't he always been yours?" Lavender asked suggestively. "I knew that whole bookworm thing was a cover up for something! You were just trying to cover up what a whore you really are!"
Harry couldn't take it anymore! He immediately stood up and started talking.
"Don't you dare talk to her like that! She doesn't deserve it and you know it." By the look in Lavender's eye he could see that this approach wasn't going to get him anywhere. When he suggested his plan he never thought Hermione's reputation would be compromised… And he wouldn't allow it. The only way to get passed that would be to come clean.
"Hermione and I never…" He was cut short, however, when Hermione realized what he was about to do. She abruptly stood up and grabbed his hand.
"She doesn't deserve any explanations about anything, Sweetheart." Hermione said lovingly to Harry. "She's entitled to think what she wants." She then did the last thing anyone expected. She reached over and kissed him. It wasn't like the kiss they had shared the previous night. That kiss had been raw passion. This kiss was soft and tender. It was gentle and showed emotion and love. They entire classroom was silent. Everyone watched in awe as two people they had always believed to have a platonic relationship, shared such an amazingly romantic moment. As they parted ways, Harry lightly squeezed Hermione's hand. They smiled and returned to their seats without another word from Lavender.
It was then that McGonagall decided to reveal herself. She witnessed the entire scene and everyone wondered what she would do. Surely she would not permit such a display in her classroom.
"Good morning class." She said cheerfully, as if nothing at all had happened. "If you would all please open your books to page 346 we'll get started with today's class. Yes?" McGonagall directed towards Parvati whom had raised her hand in defense of her friend.
"You can't really pretend you didn't see that?" Parvati said incredulously. "There are strict rules about students fooling around in class. Surely, being prefect, Miss Granger would hate the idea of you ignoring the rules." McGonagall closed her eyes and pondered for a moment.
"You're absolutely right." She admitted. "Miss Granger will see me after class to discuss her detention." Harry's eyes bugged out of his head.
"You're punishing her and not me? That's not fair to Hermione!"
"Don't tempt me, Mr. Potter." McGonagall warned before beginning her lesson.
At the end of class Hermione turned to Harry and Ron and told them not to wait for her.
"Don't want to be late for Trelawny." She teased. "You might miss an important detail about your next death." Her friends chuckled and walked out the door. Hermione slowly approached McGonagall's desk, wondering what was in store for her.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall began. "How would define the term `detention?'" Hermione gave her a confused look before answering.
"I would define it as a punishment for ruling breaking in which rule-breaker reports to a certain location upon the rule-enforcer's request." McGonagall nodded as she pondered the statement.
"As the rule-enforcer," She began slowly, "I am requesting that you, being the rule-breaker, meet me in my office at two o'clock Saturday afternoon. Do you find that fitting to your definition?"
"Well yes," Hermione answered. "Must it's hardly ordin-"
"Technically, that is your detention and I'm not breaking any rules. What no one else will know, is that we will be enjoying a delicious afternoon tea." McGonagall grinned. Hermione smiled.
"I would love that."
"Good." McGonagall said, regaining a businesslike composure. "Now, off with you!"
In the halls, Ron and Harry were walking to their next class.
"Wow." Was all Harry could manage to say.
"If it makes you feel any better." Ron grinned. "You had me fooled."
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