The Act by bewitched_writer

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 30/04/2005
Last Updated: 01/06/2005
Status: In Progress

Harry and Hermione go to desperate measures when their love lives go awry.




1. Good Plan Gone Wrong
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Disclaimer: Don't own em.

Author's Notes: Takes place during the trio's 6th year at Hogwarts. This is
probably just going to be a one chapter story but we'll see… As always, please review.

It was a Saturday night, in the middle of January, and all of the sixth year Gryffindor girls
were fast asleep in their beds. The complete darkness of the room was disturbed, however, when the
door cracked open ever so slightly, letting in some light from the hall. Crookshanks, Hermione
Granger's loveable cat, came slinking in and quickly pounced on his owner's bed. He walked
up to her face and began to purr against her cheek until she began to stir.

“What?” She said, very drowsily. She sat up ever so slightly and patted her cat on the head. She
then realized a note attached around his collar and sat up to read it. It was from Harry. “Good
boy.” She whispered to her cat as she patted him on his head. She got up and walked down the
stairs. She didn't bother to put anything on over her night gown. It was only Harry after all-
he had seen her in it a million times at the Burrow.

She reached the top of the stairs and looked down into the common room to see Harry sitting on
couch. He was gazing into the fire, but looked up when he heard her approach.

“Hey, Beautiful.” He said with a smirk.

“Ooh!” Hermione said, walking down the stairs. “What are you buttering me up for?” She asked as
she sat down next to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“I take offense to that Hermione!” Harry told her. “All I did was to tell my best friend in the
whole world that she looked beautiful! Because she does! Is that a *crime*, Miss Granger? Is
giving compliments to those you love a *crime*?” Hermione smirked, but still did not believe
him.

“I'm sorry.” She lied as she snuggled next to him on the couch. “I guess I'm just used
to Ron causing trouble *all by himself*!” Harry chuckled lightly and stayed silent for minute…
Only a minute…

“How was your date tonight?” He asked as nonchalantly as possible.

Hermione had gone to Hogsmeade with a rather attractive seventh year in Ravenclaw. Harry
couldn't for the life of him figure out what was so great about this guy… Not that he invested
any time or worry into the issue. He didn't care that Hermione went on a date with some guy… As
long as he treated her properly… Nope, other than that he didn't care at all…

“Harry, don't you dare!” Hermione scolded, her eyes still closed and her head still resting
comfortably against his chest. “I've been spending the last few hours trying to forget about
it. Don't make me start thinking about it now!”

“That bad, huh?” Hermione shrugged. It actually hadn't been *that* bad. Well, at least
it could have been worse. It's not that anything went wrong exactly. It's just that…
nothing went right, either. `He wasn't Harry.' Hermione thought. `Whoa! Where did that come
from?'

“How about you and Lavender?” Hermione teased, trying to change the subject.

Lavender had liked Harry for quite a while now. So much so, in fact, that she had been driving
Ginny mad talking about him all the time. So as a favor to Ginny, he agreed to take Lavender out…
once! Unfortunately for Harry, Lavender kept wanting to go out again. And again. And again. And
again. Harry was just too sweet a guy to say no.

“So are you two, officially an item now?” Hermione asked with a mischievous grin on her
face.

“You think you're funny don't you?” Harry asked causing Hermione to laugh. “I'm in a
pretty tight bind you know. I've told her I'm not interested but she just won't hear
it!” Harry continued. “But I have a plan. Only thing is, I kind of need your help.” He added
nervously. Hermione's eyes bugged out of her head and she shot straight up.

“I knew it! I knew you were buttering me up for something.” She pretended to be offended.

“My plan will fix your problem too! With that guy from Ravenclaw. You won't have to go out
with him again.” Harry said quickly, hoping to get Hermione on his side.

“Well, let's hear this brilliant plan of yours then.” Hermione said, settling back down next
to Harry…

*********************************************

The next day, directly after lunch, Hermione and Harry were walking back to the common room.

“Does Ron know?” Hermione asked.

“I couldn't get him alone to talk to him.” Harry replied regrettably. “But he won't be
back to the common room for hours so we'll tell him about it afterwards.”

“It's probably better that way.” Hermione thought out loud. “He'd probably try to talk
you out of it.”

“He probably should.”

“Hey, do you want Lavender off your case or not?” Harry sighed.

“I guess this is the only way to do it, huh?”

The pair walked through the portrait hole and into the common room. Dean, Seamus, and Neville
were on the couch talking, while Lavender and Parvati shared the oversized chair by the fireplace.
The two girls giggled as soon as Harry walked in. Hermione turned her back to them and rolled her
eyes at Harry before sitting taking a seat in an available chair. Everyone gave their greetings,
but then immediately went back to what their own conversations. Harry was sitting next to Hermione
who was reading her potions book. Harry took a deep, nervous breath before putting their plan into
action.

`I still can't believe Hermione agreed to this!' He thought.

“How did your date go last night?” He spoke soft enough for everyone to think it was a private
conversation, but loud enough for everyone to hear. Everyone instantly perked up their ears,
waiting for her response.

“Honestly Harry!” Hermione responded in an angry tone. “Haven't we already *had* this
discussion?”

“What are you getting so defensive about?” Harry's tone just as bitter as hers. “I was
making small talk. I'll never ask about it again.”

“Yes you will. Because you asked about it when I got back. And you asked about it later that
night. And you asked this morning. And you asked after lunch. I don't know what your problem is
Harry, but whatever it is- cut it out!” Dean, Neville, and Seamus eagerly repositioned themselves
in their seats to face the pair directly, getting a good view of the fight. Lavender and Parvati
seemed to lean in too.

“My *problem*!” Harry asked incredulously. “My caring about you is a *problem*?”

“Caring about me! You don't care about me! If you did, you wouldn't have let me go out
with him in the first place!”

“I tried to tell you not to go out with him! And you yelled at me *then* too because I was
being controlling!”

“You were.” Hermione stated bluntly. “You really just don't get it do you? Just because
you're my best friend doesn't mean you can dictate the terms of my life! Honestly Harry,
this is so unlike you! When did you turn into Ron?”

“This is just like you Hermione! Every time someone tries to get close enough to care about you,
you just push them away!”

“I can't push them away! You and Ron always scare people off before they get to that point.”
She took a deep breath before screaming out. “You are so infuriating!” She stood up in a huff.

“*I'm* infuriating?” Harry stood up next to her. He began to unconsciously move closer
to her as he continued shouting. By now, they were both were breathing heavier than usual from all
of the shouting. Their lips were just inches away from each other.

“*You're* the one who's infuriating!” He instantly tilted his head down and
passionately kissed Hermione before she could respond. She didn't hesitate to return it. The
boys stared at them dumbfounded. How come such a direct approach never worked for them? Parvati
worked hard to hold in a shriek and Lavender… Lavender was mad. Sure he had mentioned once or twice
that he didn't think they should get involved. That he didn't think it would work out.
Still, that didn't mean he had to go around kiss other girls in front of her! One thing was for
sure, Hermione's *date* was certainly going to hear about this! She was brought back to
reality when Harry and Hermione finally broke the kiss.

`That wasn't part of the plan!' Hermione thought.

`Wish I knew what to do now!' Harry thought. They just stood there, staring at each other.
The others began to look around the room, uncomfortably.

“I think we're off.” Neville said, motioning to Dean and Seamus.

“Yeah we got…” Dean stumbled over his words. “We got stuff to do.” At the same the time they got
up, Paravti took Lavender's hand and led her away from the common room. Harry and Hermione
continued to stare at each other until they were sure the others were gone.

“Well, I think it worked.” Hermione breathed.

“Yeah… Yeah.” Was all Harry could get out. His hands were still resting on her waist and
couldn't stop gazing into her eyes. Hermione could feel herself moving even closer to Harry.
She was going to kiss him now. She could feel it. Why would she do that? He's her best
friend!

“I'm going to go find Ron!” Hermione said quickly. She brushed Harry's hands off of her
waist and ran to the door, not giving him time to argue. Once she was gone, Harry took a deep
breath and frustratingly ran his fingers through his hair.

`Kissing her wasn't part of the plan!' He thought. `You should always stick to
plan!' Harry plopped himself back down on the chair and sighed. At least he had solved his
Lavender problem. Now he had a Hermione problem! That was probably worse. And that's not all.
He learned something new that day… His best friend is an amazing kisser.

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2. Side Effects
---------------



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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3. Midnight Flight
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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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