A/N - Thanks for all the reviews, guys! ^_^ This chapter jumps a week from the previous one, and then tells about the next couple of months, because I want to speed it up a bit. I have a new character I want to add, and I just can't wait to get him in there. The humor's really gonna start when he comes in lol. By the way, let me know which pairings you would like to see more of; it helps me think of what to input for this and this pairing…Also, I'd love all the feedback I can get, and I would try and use any of the ideas you'd suggest. Having about six pairings can be a bit confusing lol. Anyway, enjoy. =)
Oh, and sit tight, lol. The smut's coming, although it's not in this chapter.
Chapter 8 - Jealous
Ginny stirred a bit in her boyfriend's arms and turned around to face his sleeping form. She smiled, moving his bangs off his forehead and gently kissed his nose.
"Gin…" Draco murmured, tightening his hold on her and pulled her bare figure closer against his.
"Good morning," she whispered, moving her hand down his arm from his shoulder.
"'Morning," he smiled lazily, his eyes still closed as she kissed a trail down his neck. He ran his fingertips slowly up and down her back, before cupping her bottom with one hand and burying his other in her glorious red hair. Ginny leaned up and kissed him hard before pulling away and sliding off the bed.
"It's late," she said softly when he grasped her wrist and attempted to pull her back to bed. "I have to go to work, and so do you."
Draco frowned, refusing to release her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," she twisted free and grabbed her underwear from the floor. "I just have to go to work."
"Come on, Ginny," he sat up, the rumpled sheets covering him from the waist down. "You've been like this forever now, and I want to know what's bothering you."
Ginny sighed and turned around, clasping her bra securely before pulling on a shirt. "I want to tell Ron."
Draco groaned, rolling his eyes. "Not that again."
Ginny's eyes flared to life and she crossed her arms challengingly. "'Not that again'? Just when do you plan on telling him, Draco, or anyone else? It's like you're ashamed of me or something, and I'm honestly sick of it."
"Ginny, I'm hardly ashamed of you," he sighed, rubbing his face.
"Then what are you scared of, huh? Ron? You know he'll resent it at first, but since there's nothing he can do, he'll accept it."
"Please, Gin, let's wait. Just a little longer."
Ginny stared at him, breathing hard, her mouth slightly open. She shook her head a bit. "Get out."
"…What?"
"Get the hell out of my face, Malfoy. And until you're ready to tell everyone about us, don't come back." She turned her back on him, and after a few seconds, heard some scuffling, him probably gathering his clothes, and then the angry slam of her bedroom door.
* * *
"Harry, we need to talk."
"What about?"
"About...well, you know, when you saw me coming out of Adam's room, and you thought..."
Harry frowned and looked away. "Oh, that. Well, I really must say, Hermione, I didn't think you were a slut."
NO! NO, NO, NO!
Hermione's fist stopped a few inches from the wooden door as she pictured that, eyes wide and her heart beating like she'd run a marathon. "No," she whispered to herself, her expression falling as she backed away from the door and went back to her own room, adrenaline still pounding through her veins.
"I saw that," Jess scowled at her, standing by the entrance to Hermione's bedroom, her arms folded sternly across her bosom. "You really need to get a move on, woman. It's been over a week."
"I-I can't," Hermione said woefully, sinking down onto her bed, and pressed her fingers to her lips.
"We're a team," Jess said firmly. "You can't live under the same roof with him and not converse."
"I try and converse, thanks. But hey," she waved her arms. "I'm invisible! It's like he neither sees nor hears me. I walk into a room, he leaves. I try to greet him, he's suddenly deaf. Just what do you want me to do?"
"I could talk to him," Jess said hopefully, her eyebrows shooting up.
"For the six millionth time, no, Jess," Hermione shook her head, and plopped down on her back, while her feet still rested on the floor. "If he wants to be obstinate, let him. I really don't care anymore. I'll play his game."
Jess merely shook her head and left her friend to it.
So, it started. Harry and Hermione avoided each other's presence as much as they could, although this was hard, since they had practice and meals together. However, in the times they had to communicate in some way, it was rather brief, formal and slightly curt. This was starting to bother the rest of the team, since apart from Jess, no one else really knew what was going on.
Meanwhile, though, Adam and Hermione were getting closer as the latter and Harry fell further apart. Hermione found herself often in the library or watching a late night movie when Adam would join her, and they'd start talking animatedly. Hermione felt glad she had a least some sort of distraction from the unsettling thoughts about Harry, but she was starting to take quite a liking to Adam. Although he was a complete flirt, he was sweet and funny, and he seemed to share her feelings, but Hermione didn't dare ask. This was confirmed, however, after the first month had passed since she'd joined, and Adam asked her to have dinner with him. A second of hesitation, but she'd agreed. And when she saw the look Harry gave her the next time she saw him after that, she could tell what he was thinking like he'd told her straight out. That his suspicions were true; that she did indeed, sleep with Adam and that was the reason for him asking her out.
Hermione was angry at both herself and Harry Potter, but she didn't know how to approach him with the subject without fearing he'd tell her she was a complete slut. She would rightfully deny it of course, but it wouldn't change the fact that he said that if she did talk to him. And so, she ended up not saying anything, until dear old Ron stepped in.
"Just what is the deal with the two of you?" He demanded once when she was reading in the library.
Hermione looked up, genuinely bewildered. "Sorry?"
"You and Harry," he said impatiently. "What's happened with the two of you?"
"Nothing," she lied quickly, and averted her eyes from Ron's probing glare.
"Nothing, my bloody arse," he scowled at her and pulled out a chair to sit across her defiantly. "You know, this is really starting to get on my nerves. BOTH you and Harry are denying something's wrong, when there most certainly is."
Hermione rubbed her forehead with a hand. "Harry thinks I slept with Adam."
"You-you what?" Ron spluttered, staring at her.
"I didn't," she snapped. "I didn't sleep with Adam, but he thinks so. It's all a big misunderstanding and I would explain, but he won't even listen to what I have to say."
"But," Ron said thoughtfully. "It's really none of his business, is it?"
"No," Hermione agreed. "You're right. But…I just don't know."
"Why does he think you shagged Adam, exactly?"
Hermione glared at him at the choice of words, and then rolled her eyes. "Remember that night at the club when we all got back drunk?" When he nodded, she continued, "Well, I somehow ended up sleeping in Adam's bed, but we didn't do anything. Then when I walked out of his room the next morning, Harry saw me."
"And assumed the worst," Ron nodded slowly, leaning back against his chair. "Are you absolutely sure you and Adam-"
"Yes," Hermione cut him off abruptly. "I'm not stupid."
"I'm not saying that. I mean, you know, you guys were drunk, and-"
"Ron, I'm completely sure alright?" She said impatiently, crossing her arms. "We were both fully clothed."
"Good," Ron said thoughtfully. "Well…I dunno, really. Are you sure you don't want me to talk to Harry?"
"Don't say anything to him," she said firmly. "He's being a total git; he'll come to his senses."
The redhead grinned at her. "Alright, then. I'm going to bed," he stifled a yawn. "Tired."
"Good night, Ron," Hermione smiled as he left, and buried her nose in the book again. After about an hour, she'd finished, and put it down in satisfaction. "Good book," she murmured, placing it back in its rightful place before going to the kitchen. The clock told her it was almost two in the morning, although she was wide awake. She started fixing herself a midnight snack, humming a soft tune.
Unbeknownst to her, Harry had come down with the same intention, and was now watching her from the doorway as her hips swayed, oblivious to his presence. A smile played at his lips and he leaned his shoulder against the door-frame, crossing his arms.
She turned around, now singing some muggle song he could not even make out the words from; she was practically mumbling them. She was halfway to the refrigerator when she spotted him, and almost dropped the plate she was holding. "Harry!" she gasped. "You scared me!"
He couldn't suppress the grin that spread over his face. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."
"Jeez," she muttered, opening the refrigerator door and grabbing the mayonnaise as he left his stance and came further in before hopping onto a counter. "Did you want something?"
"I was going to fix a snack, too."
"Well," she hesitated. "I was making a sandwich, do you want one?"
"Would you mind?"
She shook her head, before cutting cucumber.
Harry pursed his lips, staring at the tiled floor, his palms planted firmly on either side of him.
A few minutes later, Hermione handed him his plate, and he gave her a grateful smile. To his dismay, she didn't even look at him. He supposed he couldn't really blame her, after the way he'd been acting.
"Hermione-"
"I didn't sleep with Adam," she said suddenly, glaring at her plate.
Harry was taken aback. "What?"
"I mean…I slept in his bed, but…but I didn't actually sleep with him." Aware that she was making a fool out of herself, Hermione brought her free hand up to her face and closed her eyes, emitting a soft groan.
When Harry didn't say anything she was forced to look up. He was staring blankly ahead; Hermione didn't know what to make of it.
"Is that why you were angry with me? I mean-" she cut her sentence off, not knowing what else to say. How did this happen? It was probably something totally different, and here she was, making it sound like she thought he was obsessed over her, or something. "I'm sorry, I-"
"What are you apologizing for?" Harry sighed deeply, putting his plate down and sliding off the counter, still refusing to make eye contact. "I'm the one at fault, really. It's not even any of my business…but I still got mad."
"Why?" she asked softly, and he looked at her, his emerald eyes holding a trace of confusion.
"I don't know."
She didn't know why, but her heart fell at his words. She bit her lip, and then nodded, slowly lowering her own plate.
"I really…I don't know," he said helplessly. "I guess I was…"
"You were…?" Hermione raised her eyebrows inquisitively when he hesitated and trailed off uncertainly.
"Jealous."
R&R!
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