Many hours later, Hermione was dressed and ready for bed. She turned the covers down and gave a quick pat on the head to Crookshanks.
"Goodnight." She said to her dorm mates. Some opened their mouths to return the polite gesture, but when Lavender shot them a menacing glance, they halted. Hermione shook her head and crawled under the covers. Crookshanks soon cuddled up next to her and she gently stroked him until she fell asleep.
Hermione began to stir in her sleep a few hours later. She groggily picked up her head and looked over to her cat, sitting on Hermione's desk by the window. She could have sworn she had heard a tapping noise.
"Was that you?" She whispered to Crookshanks, not happy that she had woken. "Come on, back to bed." Hermione said, getting up and picking up her cat. She was about to walk them back to bed when she turned towards the window.
"Ah!" She jumped back. Harry was outside her window, smiling and waving to her. She looked around, no one else woke up. "Harry!" She whispered as she opened the window.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"Kidnapping you, actually." He said that charming smirk of his. Hermione had to smile.
"You're not getting me on that thing!" She said, pointing to the broom.
"Don't you trust me?"
"You are not the issue, Harry! The plummeting fall to my death is the issue!" Harry chuckled.
"There will be no plummeting. I promise!" He reached out his hand for her. "Come on, Hermione!" He pleaded. She hesitated for a moment.
"You'll go slow?"
"Slow as you desire."
"And we won't be long?"
"No one will know we're gone." A mischievous smile ran across Hermione's face. Normally she hated rule breaking, but every now and then one of her boys was able to coax her into it. Her hands shook as she climbed onto Harry's broom, sitting just in front of him. Her body tensed up and she pushed as far back as she could, her back now leaning against his chest. Harry put one arm around her waist.
"Don't worry." He whispered into her ear. "I'm here." As they began to fly away from the window Hermione remained stiff and had a terrified look in her eye.
"I hate flying! I hate flying! I hate flying!" She whispered over and over again. Harry chuckled and quickly kissed the back of her head for reassurance.
They finally landed by the lake and Hermione was more than grateful to be back on land.
"How do I let you talk me into these things?" She shouted now that they were far enough away from Hogwarts.
"It wasn't that bad." Harry said.
"Why did you feel the need to bring me out here anyway?" Hermione asked as she looked up at the sky.
"I actually thought we should talk about what we're going to do." Harry replied nervously. "The act, I mean."
"Well it's obvious isn't it? We keep it up until Lavender develops other interests."
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Harry don't be ridiculous! You know I would!" Hermione was getting a little agitated now. Why would she want to help him? Harry shook his head, he certainly didn't mean to upset her.
"I just mean… If we're acting like we're together then, if you fancied someone else, you wouldn't be able to…" Harry let out a frustrated sigh, this wasn't coming out right.
"Harry James Potter." Hermione said sternly, but softly as she walked over and took his hands in hers. "If that were going to be a problem then I wouldn't have agreed to this in the first place. Besides," She smirked. "I'm having fun watching Lavender squirm!"
So it was settled then. Harry and Hermione would keep their charade up as long as they needed to. They had both actually decided it would be fun. It was no secret to anyone that they had always been very affectionate towards one another. Now they would be able to remain so without the annoying whispers in the background… It would be expected. It would be fun…
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