Disclaimer: Any and all references to `Harry Potter' and related paraphernalia belong to the one and only J.K. Rowling. If there is something that catches your eye and doesn't ring a bell, well, that belongs to me.
Chapter 3
"Harry, are you sure you want to do this?" Hermione tried to reason with her boyfriend.
"Oh come on, Hermione, let Harry have his fun!" Ron retorted. "You should be thanking him and celebrating that he's going to get Cho off his case for good!"
"You be quiet, Ron Weasley!" Hermione snapped, turning on him. "I'm still mad at you for letting Harry get that drunk. I don't care what his reasoning was."
Ron visibly shrank back, not wanting to be on the business end of Hermione's wand. She still knew some decent hexes and didn't hesitate to use them; especially on him.
"Oh, Ronald," came Luna Weasley`s soft, dreamy voice. "I told you not to play with the powdered Jobberknoll feathers! It doesn't mix well with a certain ingredient in Firewhiskey."
"Sorry, Luna," Ron apologized. "But I'm sure nothing mixes with that!" he muttered to Harry. Even though he loved his wife more than anything or anyone, he still didn't understand most of the things she talked about. But he tried, and she loved him for that; well that, and of course, the red hair their children would undoubtedly be blessed with went wonderfully with silver bottlecaps on green string.
Harry put the finishing touches to a letter that was short and sweet…well, it was short and necessary, for the plan he had hatched and shared with his friends to get Cho off his back. He tied the letter to Ron's owl, Pig, and the tiny bird flew off excitedly to deliver its cargo. Hedwig gave him an indignant hoot, displeased with not being chosen to carry a letter for her owner. Harry stroke her feathers softly. "I don't want to send you to that woman. I know you don't like her," he explained quietly.
Hedwig visibly relaxed at his words and she nipped at his nose playfully.
"Besides," Harry continued. "You're much too well-behaved for this particular delivery."
Hermione just shook her head and walked over to her boyfriend and hugged him about his waist. "So we're really going to do this. Well, I guess technically, you're going to do this, because….."
The remainder of her words were cut off as Harry kissed her lips. "You talk too much sometimes, Hermione," he teased her once he relinquished her mouth. "Besides, it's too late now. That message is on its way. Plan `piss off Cho' is up and running," he finished, grinning maniacally.
Harry and Ron spent the next hour bouncing ideas off one another about the next step in the plan, each more ridiculous than the last. Hermione could only listen as she waited anxiously for a return letter. In her mind, the sooner this was taken care of, the sooner Cho would be put in her place…and out of Harry's life. She was caught up in her own thoughts on the subject when something hitting her in the head brought her back to the present.
"Pig's back!" Ron exclaimed unnecessarily, as the bird in question was flying around Harry and Hermione excitedly.
"Accio Pig," Hermione called quietly, causing the small owl to fly into her hands.
Harry carefully detached the letter from the overly enthusiastic animal, and looked at Hermione as he unraveled and read it.
Hermione chewed on her nails nervously as she awaited what Cho had to say and if the plan would be a failure before it even really was off the ground.
Harry read the letter, his grin growing wider and wider as he got to the end of it. "We're in," he said mischievously. "Saturday at 3. Madam Puddifoot's."
Hermione smiled weakly in return, knowing the plan was going into full effect and she would have to sit by while Harry met with Cho. She wasn't looking forward to this plan, even though she knew none of it was really true; it was all just an act for the greater good. But that didn't mean she had to like it!
Sensing her discomfort, Harry pulled Hermione into his arms, kissing her forehead. "You know that if I knew another way, I would do it in a heartbeat," he reassured her. "I'm not particularly fond of her and will be thinking of you. I'll also try to keep contact to the absolute minimum; just enough to avoid suspicion."
"I know," Hermione sighed, wrapping her arms around him. "I know I'm being silly, but the thought of her even just touching you is making me crazy!"
"You don't have to worry about anything," Harry replied softly. "You have my heart and I don't ever want it back. It's yours to keep, Hermione Granger, for as long as you want it."
Hermione felt herself melt at his words and as she hugged him tightly, never wanting to let go.
"Hermione," Ron asked suddenly. "What are Jobberknoll feathers used in?"
"Memory potions and truth serums," she replied.
"Oh," Ron said.
"So if he hadn't been in Luna's store of them," Harry trailed off.
"You would not have admitted you loved me last night," Hermione finished.
"And then I wouldn't have been able to do this whenever I wanted," Harry added, bending his head to place his lips sweetly upon Hermione's.
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