Three Meetings

PotterMama

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 29/06/2005
Last Updated: 10/07/2005
Status: completed

Friendships could sometimes get in the way of matters of the heart. Watch the “ripening of the fruit” between three friends – weathering the storm, thriving on thin foil, and enjoying life’s moments that are utterly simple.

Chapters

1. A Winding Path

2. Mocking Days

3. A Moment of Bliss

1. A Winding Path

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books and Scholastic Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author notes: I know that I made the characters in Points of View speak of things far too mature for their age. I’ll make another one, similar, but not quite so. I’m not sure how to phrase it… so just read and review.

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A gust of wind entered the pub when the door of Three Broomsticks opened and closed. I trailed my eyes toward the newcomer and was surprised at who it was.

‘Oh shite!’ I said crouching my tall body on my chair, desperately hiding behind the two bottles of butterbeer, sitting precariously in front of me.

‘What’s wrong, Ron?’ my best friend, who was sitting beside me, asked a bit too loud for comfort.

‘Damn you, Harry!’ I snapped at him. ‘Keep your bloody voice down,’ I added through gritted teeth.

‘Isn’t that Hermione?’ he said smiling over to the girl with unruly hair, who sat at the only unoccupied table near the door with my younger sister Ginny. ‘She looks rather… different,’ he added.

‘Shite, Harry! No need to fucking rub it in!’ I drawled back, irritated at my uncomfortable position. Ginny waved to our direction and this shite-head beside me waved back. No use hiding now in the farthest corner of the pub, so I straightened out and put on my smuggest face.

‘You know, Ron’ Harry said facing me, ‘one day, I’m going to have to Scourgify your blabbering mouth.’ He took another swig of the drink on his hands and eyed me keenly. ‘Tell me, why do you have to avoid her like this?’

I don’t know how to answer that question, really.

Hermione was my first girlfriend; the girl I fancied since I was fourteen. The first girl I have ever wanted and gotten, and owns the first lips I have ever kissed.

We just broke up. Two weeks ago. I’m really not sure why I initiated it, and why she accepted. It wasn’t what I had been expecting. I simply blurted, in the heat of another argument, that maybe we shouldn’t see each other anymore. She just snapped back, ‘maybe shouldn’t.’ That was it. She marched up to the girls’ dormitory and for the first time, we ended our spat with an agreement.

So now, we’ve kept our promise. We’re not seeing each other, as possibly as we tried to. I’ve been avoiding her, while she pretended as if I don’t exist. Harry was actually caught in the middle (I pity the bloke). No, I take that back. He gets to spend more time with Hermione, actually. This is the only time I have him on my side – listening to what I have got to say.

Can I admit to him that I still love her? That I still wanted to hold her in my arms and kiss her? I can’t. I can’t even tell her what I feel anymore. I can’t tell her how she looks wickedly beautiful today. She’s too far away from me now. Too far.

Could it be that I am confused? That I, too, am not convinced that I still love her? She looks happy now. I feel happy now, in some different kind of way.

I just buried my face on my palms and motioned for Harry to order another round of butterbeers.

---oo0oo---

I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe I even let myself be subjected to Ginny’s mongering. Damn it! This jumper was really too small for me. I should have thrown it away back in my second year. I’ve been getting looks from guys I don’t even know. Once we are back in the castle, I’m going to grill that silly girl in her own little fat.

‘Hermione, stop pulling that bleeding jumper,’ Ginny said behind my ear. ‘Soon you’ll pull one of the threads and everything will come undone, revealing more of your waist. Do you want people to see more than your navel?’

What right does she have to chastise me like that when she’s the one who has got a pair of pants that’s way below her waist and almost showing her butt crack? I simply leered at her and pushed the door to get us inside the Three Broomsticks.

I didn’t really want to go in here, knowing full well that there’s a big chance that Harry and Ron might be inside. I was right – as always. My assumptions had been confirmed after seeing that blithering foul git cowering – desperately hiding – behind two Butterbeers. I even stepped back – wanting to get back outside – but Ginny’s hands were pressing so hard on my back.

‘Don’t you dare try backing out now!’ she hissed. Her eyes roamed the whole pub and they settled on the empty table to our right. ‘We’ll take that one. Go on, move,’ she said.

I hate her when she’s this obtrusive, pushy little witch. She knew damn well that for weeks I’ve been desperately trying to avoid her dunderhead of a brother.

‘Now order us some Butterbeer,’ she said firmly. I just looked at her in my most condescending manner, implying full well that I cannot be bossed around. ‘Hermione, this is your chance to start socialising,’ she said without batting an eyelash, ‘now, get up and get moving.’

I moved my attention towards that farthest corner at the end where I saw the red-head together with a boy with messy black hair. I could sense that Ginny was doing the same thing and she waved to them. I simply smiled when I saw Harry waved back grinning.

Why am I not sitting with my two best friends back there? It was all because I dated one of them and that we had broken up. Ron and I have not spoken to each other for two weeks now. I actually have no idea how it all started. We were just having another row like any other day, and then he blurted ‘maybe we shouldn’t see each other anymore’. I, on the other hand, feeling all riled up from our heated argument, snapped back that maybe shouldn’t. That was it, and for the first time, we ended our row with an agreement.

I’m not sure what got into our thick heads, but I guess, we had simply given up – a relationship can only handle so many arguments. I guess he needed space – we’re young for Merlin’s sake – and as for me, that’s what he wanted, and so I had given it to him. I simply held my head high – showing no sorrow – pretending that I’m all right, and I am, surprisingly.

‘Hermione, do I need to drag you out of that chair?’ Ginny asked irritatingly.

‘Fine,’ I scowled and stood up and went to the bar. Maybe the time had come for me to get out of my sorry shell.

---oo0oo---

I had been watching the door of Three Broomsticks since Ron and I got in there. I wasn’t really waiting for anyone in particular, but when she opened that door and her frame was engulfed by the light from outside, I guess, I actually was. I’ve been waiting for her to barge in through that door and see me.

‘Oh shite!’ Ron exclaimed.

I looked at him and almost laughed at his pathetic maneuverings trying to hide his lanky body. ‘What’s wrong, Ron?’ I asked loudly just to spite him.

‘Damn you, Harry!’

Damn you, too! You sodding idiot!

When did I begun to hate my best friend’s sorry arse? I’ve envied him for the things he got that I didn’t: a family, a home, Hermione. Yes, Hermione, he got her for a lover and so I have to settle and simply be just her friend. I hated him when he simply ignored her; I hated him more for dumping her.

He got the best girl and let her slip through his hands. I’m not really sure about what happened between them, though Hermione had opened up to me more than once. She told me all her shortcomings and covered up for his. No matter what she had said, the only thing I knew was that Ron had caused her pain.

‘She looks different,’ I told Ron after examining her standing there by the door. He swore to me one more time, but I couldn’t care less because I was flat out surprised at the way Hermione looked today; though I made a comment about scourgifying his foul mouth. ‘Tell me, why do you have to avoid her like this?’ I asked him seriously.

I couldn’t tell if he still loves her. Torn, yes; devastated, maybe. But as for them getting back together, I hope not. I do hope not.

I watched her take a seat and study the people inside the pub. Ginny waved at us and I waved back, grinning widely after catching Hermione’s smile.

Ron motioned for another round of drinks and I stood up and went to the bar rather than wait for Madam Rosmerta to come our way, considering that it’s very crowded today. I was stumped when I saw Hermione standing there.

‘Hey, there!’ I blurted not really knowing what to say after seeing her in her tight jeans and considerably diminutive blue jumper, which I’ve seen her wore quite a long time ago, but I could never recall ever seeing her this… this… what’s the word? Sexy?

‘Hi, Harry,’ she replied back. ‘Having a great time with Ron?’

‘Yes, I guess.’

‘Will you be coming back to the castle soon?’ she said.

‘Ummm, I suppose so,’ I said warily. She raised one of her brows and her lips curled in a slight smile, which made me noticed that her lips had a little shine on them. With a sudden cognizance, I added, ‘Right, we were to go to the library before dinner. I’ll meet you there by six, promise.’

She grabbed the two bottles in front of her and said with a pained look, ‘I thought you had completely forgotten.’

I made a slight wave with my hand nonchalantly, ‘Of course, not. Me, spending time with you at the library on a Saturday – I couldn’t wait.’

Hermione then turned and went back to Ginny, causing some boys’ heads to turn, surprised to see that little skin peeking beneath her jumper. I just hoped she would still be wearing it when we go studying later.

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A/N : Shout outs to my beta readers AustenLover and Raven.

2. Mocking Days

Author notes: I’m sorry I didn’t post the second chapter soon enough, been busy over the weekend that it had slipped my mind. But here it is, for your enjoyment – would love to know what you think though.

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Ron and I had been sitting beneath our favourite beech tree on the banks of the lake for nearly two hours. It was a lovely Saturday morning and he dragged me to do our revising in here instead of staying up at the common room. This might look a bit of a shock for others seeing us together again; but not for me nor for Harry. Our friendship runs far deeper than any petty love quarrel could ever destroy.

It was quite like pulling one’s teeth going back to being friends again, for Ron and I, but we managed to do just that. It was not like we haven’t really been arguing before we ever became an item. So things were getting back to normal – no more issues on love to tackle with, just Harry’s safety. Ron and I were back to nonsense bickering, though.

‘Sod this!’ Ron threw the piece of parchment I had handed to him a while ago for him to study.

I eyed him scornfully and huffed, ‘Ron, don’t you dare throw it away! I’ve been working on it for days. In case you haven’t noticed they weren’t just for you.’

‘Can’t we have just one frigging ordinary Saturday without preparing for NEWTs?’ he complained and then his eyes wandered to some sixth-year girls having a picnic. ‘Where’s Harry, anyway?’ he added.

‘He was called to Dumbledore’s office while we were having breakfast, remember? I wonder why he hasn’t come back since. I do hope nothing is amiss,’ I replied worriedly. ‘If it’s not too much of a bother, hand me those Transfiguration notes will you?’

Ron then picked up the parchment that had rolled a bit farther from where we sat. However, his eyes had not left those giggling girls. ‘Hermione, can we have a break from all this?’ he asked motioning all the books scattered in front of me.

‘If you want to go flirting, Ron,’ I sighed, ‘go ahead just don’t blame me if you failed your exams.’ I couldn’t care less whatever it is you want to do with your life, Ronald Bilius Weasley.

He smiled and sat back beside me. ‘I won’t because I know that you’ll go berating yourself first that I did badly.’

‘Your just full of yourself, aren’t you, Mr. Weasley?’ I said haughtily. I went back to opening my Advance Arithmancy book and he just sat there studying me.

Suddenly his tone changed, ‘Hermione – ’

‘Yes?’

‘Do you think I’ll find another girl as witty as you are?’ he asked.

‘Oh, Ron, there are some girls with a good head on their shoulder and crazy enough to fall in love with you,’ I replied. All I got from him was a quizzical look. Daft. Daft. Daft. ‘You know what? I think Luna was a bit taken by you,’ I quipped.

‘That’s load of chuff!’ said he indignantly. I raised my brows on him. ‘She’s Loony Lovegood for Merlin’s sake! She’s mad.’

‘All the more better,’ I snorted. Well, she follows him everywhere. I could smell that girl even if she’s a mile from here. ‘She’s gone all gaga over you,’ I added just to tease him.

‘Ewww! Hermione, don’t put imagines in my innocent head.’ Innocent my arse!

I strained to find Harry if he was already at the grounds and probably had been looking for us. Ron did the same and his eyes turned shifty.

‘Who are you looking for?’ he asked. ‘Is there someone you saw?’ He looked all worried now.

‘I – I think Luna’s coming over,’ I said just to give him some fright.

‘No shite!’ he cried and scampered to hide behind the tree trunk. ‘Where?’ he asked me softly, squirming. I just laughed my pants off at the hilarity of the expression on Ron’s face. ‘Stop that! You’re just taking the mickey out of me, weren’t you?’ I still went on laughing, spirited that I finally got him good.

---oo0oo---

I laughed with her, finally conceding that what I did was actually funny. We’re back to the good times, maybe even just for a while. Who would have the time to fool around when the magical world was at the grips of a mad man? For now, we will unwind because once Harry gets here from that meeting with Dumbledore, wheels will start turning all over again.

‘And what about you, Hermione?’ I asked her cryptically.

She stopped mid-laugh and thought for a second, all the while giving me a befuddled look. ‘What do you mean what about me?’

‘Come on, Hermione. You’re a healthy young woman. Aren’t you interested in any young men?’ I retorted. She lowered her eyes; I have seen it, though I could sense that she tried to hide it desperately. My darling Hermione. She gathered her long forgotten books again on her lap. I chuckled a bit and said, ‘Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on me.’

‘Of course, not,’ she snapped back. I know the answer to that full well.

‘Who then catches your fancy?’

Hermione went back gathering all the parchments and sorting them all in one stack, pretending not to mind my prying. ‘I don’t have time for that,’ she said haughtily. ‘With all the dangers popping wherever we go. Harry always in some kind of trouble… Harry needs to train for you-know-what…’ her voice trailed off, yet she continued mumbling.

I don’t believe one jot of what she had said; or maybe she’s just a bit daft. I little more coaxing could do wonders. ‘What about Harry?’

Her head snapped at my direction so fast that I thought it was about to come apart from her neck. ‘What’s Harry got to do with this?’

‘Ummm… I don’t know. He’s a nice looking bloke – maybe not as good looking as I am, but he’ll do. Popular, has loads of galleons stashed away at the Gringotts bank, and he’s the-boy-who-lived; he dated Cho, one of the prettiest girls in school. The downside is that there’s a raving lunatic who’s been dying to kill him. All in all, not a bad choice, I’d say,’ I stressed my point. I saw the slight smile formed in her small lips.

‘But he’s our best friend,’ she sighed.

‘What about me? Just your housemate, then? You went out with me,’ I said hotly.

She tutted and added, ‘I went out with you because you were very persistent.’

‘I’ll refute that,’ I responded, though a slight pang of hurt cut me with her reply. ‘You couldn’t resist my charm,’ I said just to crack things up.

Hermione smiled widely and nodded, ‘Yeah, you were annoyingly charming; badgering me for weeks really did it.’ She again looked around as if searching for someone. ‘There’s some –’

‘So, what about Harry?’ I asked her again cutting her mid-sentence. Thought she could get away from it, didn’t she?

‘Yes. What about Harry?’ a deep voice piped in.

---oo0oo---

I’ve been looking forward to revising today. Shocking as it may be (I’m not Hermione), but I do feel that I need to catch up on a lot of things related to school stuff. Let’s just say that I have been running around like a chicken without a head these days (as Hermione had bluntly put it).

She was right on that part – as always. Most of the time, I’m stumped with little things, all because I did not bother to listen to our classes. One good example was the incident three weeks ago at the Forbidden Forest with Neville. He was bleeding profusely from a wide gash he received from a spell that ricocheted his way; not thinking properly, I grabbed a few leaves from a plant in front of us and used it as some sort of remedy. It didn’t do a lot of good, as Neville’s hand had swollen at big as Grawp’s leg. I didn’t know that I used leaves of Arnica Montana, which couldn’t do any harm to Muggles, but has some serious repercussions if used on a wizard or a witch.

‘Stupid thing to do simply because you did not pay attention in Herbology,’ Hermione muttered when we brought Neville to the infirmary. I just ignored her remark because I know she’s right. Why would they let that thing grow in a place full of magical people anyway? I was only glad that Madam Pomfrey was able to fix Neville’s problem in a jiffy.

So now, I am paying attention – to everything.

After my meeting with Dumbledore, I went straight to the Gryffindor tower and was surprised that Ron and Hermione were not in the common room, as I had expected. I then decided to take my books, notes and parchments from my trunk up at the dormitory and proceeded to the library; surely, Hermione coaxed Ron to study there. They weren’t there either; I’ve searched every nook and cranny of that place, and I even got some heavy glares from Madam Pince.

I cursed myself as I went back up to the tower to get my map to use it in finding them instead. Then a thought hit me when a group of wet second-year boys passed me by; stupid me, they could have went out to that tree by the lake. I turned my heels and headed to the school grounds.

They were indeed there. I could see Hermione’s unruly hair dancing with the wind. They looked like they were just talking and not really studying. A small lump had lodged on my throat and the thing I’ve been hoping not to happen again played in my mind. Did they get back together? Are they again a couple? Ron and Hermione only went back to civility after that raucous at the Forbidden Forest three weeks ago.

There’s only one way to know. I took the invisibility cloak I would normally hide in my robe’s right pocket (I only started this little habit when the school began this year). I wrapped it around me after making sure that no one could have possibly seen me. I have been using this cloak as a gauge of how much I have grown up over the years. Before, it could hold the three of us; now, it could barely cover me.

I walked slowly towards them – more like zigzagged my way through – avoiding kids who had been loitering about all because of the fair weather.

‘You couldn’t resist my charm,’ I heard Ron said as I got near the beech tree. My stomach churned after hearing those words; he’s flirting with her again.

‘Yeah, you were annoyingly charming; badgering me for weeks really did it,’ Hermione answered. Her head turned toward the place where I stood, so I tried to move around softly.

‘So, what about Harry?’ Ron asked which baffled me on my track. Had they been talking about me all along? Well, I’m used to it now.

I gathered all my strength to find my voice and repeated Ron’s question as my interest had been awakened. ‘Yes. What about Harry?’ I said.

Ron’s head went spinning when he heard me. ‘Who’s there?’ he said with quacking voice.

Hermione, on the other hand, stared directly in front of her and said in an exaggerated and exasperated tone, ‘Harry, take off that the cloak.’ Sometimes I felt like this young woman had Mad-Eye Moody’s eye; she could see through me.

I took off the cloak, naturally and dumped all my things beside her.

‘How could you tell?’ Ron asked, also bewildered at Hermione’s keen sense.

She waved her hand, as if to say it was nothing, ‘I don’t know. I could simply feel him.’ Ron and I exchanged a look and he simply shrugged at me.

‘You’ve been talking about me?’ I said.

‘Not really – just now. Well, I pointed out to Ron that Luna is crazy about him,’ she said, ‘and he thought it was all rubbish.’

‘Yes, it is,’ Ron snapped back eyeing me again for some help.

‘She’s right, Ron. Everyone could tell that she’s been mooning over you since our fifth year,’ I said with a slight smile.

‘No! She’s just some crazy, derange sixth-year… No. No. No. That’s just mad!’ he sputtered. ‘What about you, Hermione?’

I turned to her instead. She huffed and blew wisps of her hair that got to her eyes. ‘How many times do I have to tell you, Ron that I’m not going out with anyone?’ So they aren’t back together.

‘I don’t care if you’ve turned into a recluse, Hermione,’ Ron snorted. ‘I want to know if you’re mooning over someone.’ His gaze suddenly turned to me.

Perplexed at Ron’s audacity to ask Hermione directly, I lowered my eyes and stared at the books waiting to be opened, all the while waiting for Hermione’s response.

‘Why don’t we go back to studying then?’ Hermione said indignantly. ‘We have wasted so much time. Should we start with Potions?’

‘I don’t have Potions,’ Ron bellowed.

‘Transfiguration then,’ she said.

Ron’s face cringed. ‘I just read it, remember?’

‘All right, Charms it is,’ Hermione said and handed us parchments with her notes on it.

The three of us became silent and began reading Hermione’s notes for Charms. My eyes were simply scanning through the words and not a thing could get inside my head. I looked at Ron and he seemed a bit fidgety. I turned to Hermione and she looked like she was in deep thought reading the huge book in front of her, so I went back to the notes in front of me.

I then heard Ron cleared his throat. ‘What about you, Harry? Are you mooning over someone?’ he had said.

Hermione’s head snapped up from her book and I could see her gaping at Ron. I didn’t know what to do, so I simply glared at him.

‘Harry, what was your meeting with Dumbledore this morning all about?’ I heard Hermione interjected.

Two difficult questions, but I chose to answer Hermione’s instead.

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A/N : Thanks to my wonderful beta readers AustenLover and Raven.

3. A Moment of Bliss

Author notes: Thank you for those who bothered to leave a comment or review; for those who didn’t, thank you anyway for sparing your time to read this fic.

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Bloody Quidditch! To hell with it! Why should it be this savage?

I scampered to get out of the stands as soon as Harry caught the snitch. The howling of the Gryffindors was so loud that I felt like my ears were going to split. I was happy – in a way – because we had won another game, bringing us closer to the cup; but furious at the same time for Harry’s reckless behaviour throughout the play.

Running in the middle of the pitch to catch a glimpse of him basking in his glory, a few fan girls screaming and waving banners brushed me aside, almost knocking me down. I stood there, twenty-people deep from him and his team, watching him raise the snitch with his right hand and then shaking others furiously and hugging Ron.

I knew I couldn’t get to them. Bloody fan girls! I resigned to going to the changing room to meet them there. I wondered why they weren’t brought to the infirmary; I know Harry was badly hurt. Everyone was just too caught up with that sodding Wonky Faint of his!

I walked passed Crabbe, who was on his way to the Slytherin changing room, when another brush of anger washed over me. I stopped on my tracks, turned my back, and stood on his path.

‘Get out of my way!’ he growled.

Not thinking properly, I swung my hand and –

SMACK!

My right hand met the bloody git’s face. I know he was a lot taller than me; I didn’t know how I did it, but I hit him.

‘Why did you do that for?’ he mumbled, holding his reddened face.

‘That’s for the bludger you sent to Harry’s head!’ I cried.

‘Why you filthy –,’ he uttered while taking his wand out of his robe.

I drew out my wand faster than he did, pointed it between his eyes and said before he could finish his remark, ‘You wouldn’t dare. I could turn you into a toad and keep you forever locked in the dungeons faster than you could utter a single curse.’

‘Hermione!’ I heard a voice ringing in my ears. ‘What the bloody hell is this all about?’ Ron said rushing to my side.

‘Get the hell out of here, Crabbe,’ bellowed Harry, ‘before I really turn you into a swine.’

Crabbe ran quickly towards their changing room before the Gryffindor team could surround him. Harry draped his arms around me and said, ‘Are you all right? What happened?’

‘It was nothing,’ I said, ‘I actually hit him first.’

‘Time to change, you snots!’ Ron cried to the others eagerly waiting for Hermione’s reply. ‘There’s no good news here.’

When everyone marched in to the next door and there were only the three of us left in the hallway, Ron yelled, ‘Are you mad facing that big oaf all by yourself? What has gotten to you, Hermione?’

I collected my thoughts and replied, ‘He – he had sent every bludger to Harry.’ I looked at Harry’s face and waited for his consoling words, but only saw his face turned into something else – dejection, maybe.

‘It was just a game, Hermione!’ Harry said. ‘All part of the game.’ He then took off his arms around me and walked over to the changing room; Ron followed him there and so did I.

‘Don’t think that I am that stupid!’ I yelled back. ‘I know how that game is played, but what he did was horrible!’

Harry proceeded in taking off this Quidditch robes not minding that I was even there. I saw the side of his back with a huge purple bruise, which made me catch my breath. I could see that he was aching all over, as it was hard for him to get out of his soaked shirt. There was small gash on his forehead and I could see a small blood trickling down from it. He could have a concussion from that heavy blow to his head.

‘Harry,’ I said rushing to his side, ‘you need to go to Madam Pomfrey. You… you’re bleeding and all beaten up.’

‘Stop mothering me, Hermione,’ Harry said insolently. ‘I’m neither your son nor your boyfriend.’

I stopped and sat down at one of the benches; Harry’s words were still ringing on my ears. Thoughts were running through my head sending me into a whirl of emotions that I have been keeping to myself for a long time now. I barely heard Ron said ‘I fell off my broom, Hermione. Do you think I should see Madam Pomfrey?’

‘Shut up, Ron!’ I said. ‘It was just a short fall. I bet it wasn’t even 3 meters high.’ I again faced Harry. ‘You, on the other hand, need to go to the infirmary now! I don’t care if I was just a friend to you or a housemate. Hate me for being obnoxious or intrusive or insufferable – I don’t give a damn! Just get your frigging arse to the hospital and get your bruises fixed!’

I did the only thing I know – shout at Harry – to cover up for all the affection, the passion, burning up inside of me.

---oo0oo---

I hate her guts.

She was a young woman without any fear. She was not afraid to say whatever it was on her mind, no matter how unpopular it may be to others. She had been fighting some of my battles for me and today she did it again.

I was dumbfounded when I saw her standing outside our changing room, wand pointing at Crabbe, and ready to fire a jinx. Ron rushed to her side and I followed, completely letting go of the snitch that had been fluttering in my hand since I caught it. I eyed Crabbe’s pink face and wanted to roast him there in front of the others.

Mustering self-restraint, I only said, ‘Get the hell out of here, Crabbe, before I really turn you into a swine.’

I saw Hermione’s hands were shaking, so I wrapped my arms around her to ease her up a bit. ‘Are you all right? What happened?’ I said.

‘It was nothing. I actually hit him first,’ she said. This even got me baffled because she was never the one to always start a fight; she might fight back with a little bit of provocation but not to do it first. I feared what could have happened that made her snapped.

‘He had sent every bludger to Harry.’

She stood up for me again. My spirits dampened as she placed herself in front of the line again defending me, and this was just over a silly Quidditch game. ‘It was just a game, Hermione! All part of the game.’ I know she’d hate me for that remark. I left her and went inside to change.

I knew she followed me inside because I could still hear her ranting. I took off my robes from my aching body, never minding that she could probably see my bruises. My head aches terribly and I couldn’t feel a thing on my left arm. She was again right; I really need to go to the infirmary only that my stubbornness was getting in the way, and that her constant mollycoddling was driving me crazy.

‘Stop mothering me, Hermione! I’m neither your son nor your boyfriend,’ I yelled in frustration. I’d had enough of her fussing over me.

I want something more.

My retort hit her for a while because she stopped talking; though it didn’t last for long. I thought that would bring her to her senses but it didn’t worked as I had expected.

‘I don’t care if I was just a friend to you or a housemate. Hate me for being obnoxious or intrusive or insufferable – I don’t give a damn! Just get your frigging arse to the hospital and get your bruises fixed!’ she continued berating me.

Just a friend. When did she ever think that she was just a friend to me?

I stood, towering over her, sweating and without any shirt on. How am I going to tell her that our little conversations have caused so much interest and excitement in me? More like luscious emotions, actually. I bore my eyes into her and she stared back; she was reading me as I was reading her.

Hermione’s lips quivered, her eyes were about to water; I know she hates it when we are fighting because she’d somehow give in.

---oo0oo---

I went directly to the shower when I followed Harry inside the Gryffindor changing room. I don’t need to be there in front of them when they’re fighting, I could hear them clearly even through the pouring water.

Hermione had been in a right state; I couldn’t blame her, worrywart that she is.

It was a very quick shower. What, you thought I would like to miss a single thing? She was still insisting that Harry pay Madam Pomfrey a visit.

Harry said something about him not being his boyfriend and she stopped; as what Muggles’ say, it felt like an angel had passed by with that silence. I had to say something, ‘I fell off my broom, Hermione. Do you think I should see Madam Pomfrey?’

All I got was a snide retort from her and she went back to growling at Harry. I could sense that Harry was trying hard to restrain himself – restraining from doing something I had a little inkling that would surprise not just Hermione.

They were looking fixedly at each other. I was pretty sure that they didn’t even noticed that I was still there. The tension was killing me; so I took one thing from Harry’s locker and excused myself. I don’t think they even heard or saw me though.

I did the only thing I know, and that was sneaked back in and eavesdropped, under Harry’s invisibility cloak.

Hermione was standing in front of Harry, and he without his shirt on, which I’m not sure he didn’t do on purpose, was staring down at her. The evidence that he badly needed to go to the infirmary was showing; no wonder Hermione had been too worried like some barmy cow.

‘I can’t take your worrying anymore, Hermione’ Harry said, ‘not if they don’t give so much more than a promise of being just your friend.’

What the… the bloody idiot’s going to confess! Hermione did nothing and simply gazed back at him befuddled – equally duff when it comes to this matter.

‘I – I just can’t go on pretending that…’ he mumbled, ‘that I’m just some friend to you. I look at you and I see… I keep on seeing these visions – visions of things like forever… and… and – ’

‘Harry,’ she interrupted.

However, Harry continued, ‘I don’t know what to do, really; no one else had meant so much more to me than you do. You could turn away or… or blast me to eternity –’

‘Harry,’ she chimed in again. I could see the twinkling in her eyes and the small smile forming on her lips.

‘I think,’ he went on. Shut up, Harry, don’t muck things up and just kiss her, you stupid arse! ‘I think I’m… I’m fallin– ’

Harry never got to finish his admission, though, as Hermione grabbed his neck towards her and kissed him full on; neither did I got to see what went on after that, as I did a little jig and fumbled at my escape out of the room.

‘You’ll be going to the hospital wing, then?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ll take a quick shower.’

‘If you want to join me, I won’t mind.’

‘Harry James Potter! Get your head out of the gutter!’

Those were the last things I overheard before somebody poked me on my back.

‘Why, Ronald Weasley, I never thought that you would ever lose your head,’ said a familiar chirpy girl’s voice, as I realised that it was only my head that was covered by the cloak. She follows me everywhere, why must she do that?

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A/N : Grateful thanks to my beta readers AustenLover and Raven.