Who's First?

Chapter Seven: On My Mind, Pt. 1

The sun shown through the opened bedroom window as Harry stretched awake. He looked over at Hermione, who was remarkably still sleeping through the sunlight. He reached over and stroked her cheek. Slowly, he lifted himself out of bed, and into the bathroom.

Harry turned the shower knobs, and steamy hot water began to run. Throwing his clothes in a pile on the floor, Harry stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash over him. How could I have said that out loud, and told her it meant nothing. This is absolutely killing me! He hit his head on the back of the shower wall.

Hermione slowly got out of bed. She yawned loudly, and patted the spot next to her. Where's Harry? She shrugged her shoulders, and yawned widely. She was still wondering about Harry's comments last night on his slip-up. Slip-up, she hated calling it that but that's what it seemed like when Harry explained it.

Harry turned off the shower and grabbed the towel near the sink. He stepped out of the shower, and ran the towel vigorously over his damp hair, hoping to get it dry. He heard the doorknob turn, and before he could cover himself, Hermione stepped in.

“Hermione!” Harry yelled, frantically trying to cover himself. Hermione's eyes were wide, and very quickly shielded them.

“Oh! S-so s-sorry Harry!” she apologized and slammed the door as she left.

“Please, knock next time!”

“Yah, sure”

Unbeknownst to Harry, Hermione's face was red and she was smiling……

***********

Hermione made breakfast for the two of them, and Jiminy as well. Hermione was eating rather quickly, and Harry had noticed her strange behaviour.

“'Mione, what's wrong?” he asked curiously.

Hermione looked up and swallowed her eggs.

“I'm so sorry about this morning, Harry!” she blurted. Harry was a bit taken aback at first.

“It's okay. Just try to remember to knock next time, okay?” he said very sweetly. She nodded and they finished their breakfast.

“So,” Hermione started, “where do we want to go Harry?” Harry pretended to be in deep thought, and after a few minutes he answered.

“Why don't we go to Florean's and get some ice cream, and then we can go to Flourish and Blotts to see the new releases. They're supposed to have a new Chudley Cannons book with Ron featured.”

“Sounds good to me.” Hermione agreed. They grabbed their cloaks and left the loft. Harry told horrible jokes, but Hermione giggled anyways. When they reached Florean's, a couple of familiar faces were seen.

“Ginny!” Hermione called out.

A large bundle of red hair swooped around to reveal a freckled face. “Hermione!” she called back. Ginny ran up to Hermione and gave her a big huge like she hadn't seen her in ages.

“How're things?” she asked sweetly.

“It's only been a couple of days, Gin, but nonetheless it's going okay.”

Then a white-blonde head stepped up and shook Harry's hand with a great deal of strength.

“Pott- I mean Harry.” Draco Malfoy said with some difficulty. Ginny gave him a stern look as he gave Hermione a small hug.

“Hermione.” He said kindly, at least as kindly as he could.

“Hello Draco.” Hermione said, just as kindly.

“Now, be nice.” Ginny warned. Harry smiled, and Ginny spoke again. “So, what are you guys up to??” she asked, eying them suspiciously.

“We're just hangin' out right now. What are YOU two up to??”

“Well, Draco wanted to take me shopping today. We were just taking a break for some ice cream.” Ginny responded while taking a lick of her rocky-road cone. Draco smiled lovingly at her.

“Yes, well Ginny really wanted some ice cream. Anyways, we should be on our way now. Good day.” He said, kissing Hermione's hand lightly.

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

“Well that was odd.” Hermione said.

“Yeah, it was wasn't it?” Harry agreed.

“What's his deal? He was acting anti-Draco.”

“That was a side of him that freaks me out. Makes me wonder……”

“It's really none of our business.”

“I know, but that doesn't stop me from wondering!”

They both started to laugh as they bought their ice cream ten minutes later after their conversation, if that's what you want to call getting seriously creeped out by your youngest friend's fiancée.

They quickly finished off their ice cream cones, and entered Flourish and Blotts. Hermione peered around, not looking for anything in particular. Harry immediately went in search of the Chudley Cannons book. Without realizing it, Hermione had ended up in the “Love and Relationships” section of the store.

Look at all of this rubbish, she thought to herself. People actually believe that these things can help a “Love life in danger”? HA!

“'Mione! I found it!” Harry called out.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she walked over to where he was standing.

“Listen, `……however the most recent member to join the cannons is Mr. Ronald Weasley. He is the new chaser, taking over for the now retired Tyler Mumber who decided that breaking his nose, or any other part of his body just wasn't worth it anymore……' “

“Wow! He's actually mentioned this time!” Hermione said, slightly sarcastically.

“What do you mean this time?” Harry asked.

“Remember last time he said he was going to be mentioned in the `Greatest Chasers in the History of Quidditch'? He made such a big deal about it only to find out that they cut him out last minute.”

“Oh, I forgot about that. Well, he can boast about it now!”

Harry bought the book so as to show Ron and Luna his accomplishment in print. They left the store and headed to Harry's apartment.

**********

Ginny unlocked the door to hers and Draco's house. Yes, a house. Draco sold the mansion after his father's death and bought a flat. 8 months into their relationship, Ginny asked him to move in with her, and after THAT they bought a house together 9 months later.

She set her new robes onto the sofa and waited for her fiancée to walk in.

“Honey, are you alright?” she called after him.

“Yeah,” he grunted, “this trunk is a little heavy.”

“You're a wizard, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. Locomotor Trunk!”

3 minutes later he walked through the front door with the trunk following behind him.

“I'm so proud of you!” she congratulated him sarcastically.

“Thanks.” He said smiling back.

“I appreciate that you kept nice back there.”

“Well, you scare me when your angry.”

She laughed. “I do?”

“Yeah, you're a fireball.”

He laughed. She kissed him and took her things into the bedroom.

“So why can't I be evil? I know something that they don't know. I mean technically speaking. I want to torture them and your stopping me. Do you know how much fun that would be?”

“For you, yes. I just want you to stay kind until they figure it out. Then you can make fun of them all you want because lord knows I will be.”

“How long will it take these gits to realize that they are madly in love with eachother?”

“1, they aren't gits. 2, because they are stupid. 3, I'm allowed to say that so don't even try to throw it in my face.”

“Alright dear. Bed?” he suggested.

“Bed.” She agreed.

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Thank you to all who have reviewed my fic! I really, really appreciate it! I'll have the next chapter up hopefully before thanksgiving. You guys are awesome!!! THANKS!

-KellyNicolette

Preview of next chapter:

Coming through the back doors to the building, Harry knocked on his own front door. “Wow, this is weird. Normally I answer this door, not knock on it. Why is the floor so shiny?”

“It's water. Hmm, curious. Why aren't they answering?” Hermione asked.

Harry knocked again. After 10 more minutes they left the building through the front doors. Ron and Luna were standing with the Magical Mess Squad the Ministry had only recently assembled.

“What's going on?” Harry asked Ron.

“Well mate, something happened………”

Keep reading to find out!