Unofficial Portkey Archive

Here's the short chapter update I promised! Please enjoy, as it may be a while before I post again…I have five hour rehearsals everyday this week…@_@. We perform Friday…*dies*.

Thanks for all your reviews! I really do appreciate it. It means so much to me.

*****

October 29

Harry, however, is not pleased with me one bit. I wish he would get use to my having a boyfriend. It's really my fault, I guess. If I had gone out before (as if anyone would have asked me), maybe he'd be okay with it...

*****

"Bye Terry!" I said, as he made his way to his NEWT muggle studies class and I left for my break of the day. Terry leaned in and gave me a swift kiss on the lips, then left me in the hallway, rather giddy.

This was nice. I couldn't keep that a secret. It was wonderful, actually, to realize that someone wanted you. It made you feel powerful. And I liked Terry. He was sweet, and we got along, and had a lot of things in common.

Actually, we had everything in common. Sometimes that made it a bit boring.

I shook the thought away, determined to not think negatively about my boyfriend. In any case, a "Hermione!" cut off my thoughts. I turned around quickly, finding myself face to face with Harry.

"Hello," I greeted him, smiling happily. Harry didn't smile back. At least he didn't appear angry.

"Hi," he said, his eyes darting back and forth as if making sure the hall was cleared. "Could I er…talk to you?"

"Sure," I replied, making my way to our common room, Harry beside me. "Go ahead."

"Let's wait until we get to the tower," Harry responded, speeding up his pace.

Curious, I sped up as well, and in two minutes time we were sitting comfortably by the fire in our silent common room.

"Well?" I prodded him.

Harry remained silent, until he finally blurted out, "I don't think you should continue dating Terry!"

I stood there for a moment, in complete and utter shock. Once I finally registered what Harry had just said, I laughed, certain he was joking. "Harry," I said through fits of laughter, "where on earth did you come up with such an idea?"

"He's dangerous!" Harry protested.

"You're actually serious?" I asked him, stopping mid-laugh. Harry nodded firmly, and I stood up, annoyed. "You're telling me that you think Terry Boot, prefect, one of the top students, perfect gentleman, and over-achiever is dangerous?" I demanded.

Harry paled. "Er…he could be." I rubbed my temple with my fingers.

"Harry, you really need to quit this," I said after a long pause. "I realize that it's difficult to see me dating, and that as I'm the girl you feel it's your role as…" I paused, not wanting to continue, as I knew what I was about to say would pang me, but knowing I needed to, "…as my sort of surrogate brother to look after me, but I told you - I can look out for myself." I opened my eyes to find, for a fleeting second, the look Harry had on his face the day of our huge argument - a look of utter disbelief.

However, a moment later it was gone, and I couldn't help but wonder if I had imagined it. Harry sighed, then stood up and walked over to me. "You're right," he told me. "I just…I'm not used to it, I guess." Harry gave a short laugh. "Who would have ever imagined six years ago that I'd be worrying about who you were dating?"

I laughed as well. "No one," I replied truthfully. "That was an age of innocence. Voldemort was just an adventure to us, and Malfoy was simply an annoying git."

"Malfoy's still an annoying git," Harry replied with a roll of his eyes. I couldn't help but give an inelegant snort.

"Very nice," I replied, smiling at him. "And true," I added as an afterthought. I looked at my watch and felt my eyes widen.

"Oh Merlin!" I cried out.

"What?" Harry asked urgently.

"You have a class!" I cried out, poking Harry in the shoulder. "Why aren't you in class?" I demanded.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you," Harry said weakly.

"No!" I said. "No, never again. Go, go right now!" Harry stood there, and I pushed him towards the portrait hole and yelled, "GO!"

"Alright already!" Harry exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "I'm going. Sheesh. This is reason enough never to be late to a class."

I shook my head and half sighed, half laughed. That's my Harry, I thought, smiling. Always letting things he feels must be done get ahead of his priorities. I smiled a bit more, then stopped. Damn. Not my Harry. No. Parvati's Harry. He's just best friend Harry. I have my Terry…okay, so I have a Terry. But no Harry. There is no my Harry.

"Oh Merlin," I groaned. "Why do you let me suffer so?"

*****

But now the obsessiveness of Harry seems to pale with my current problem. You see, Ginny came up to my room (again, I must change that password…I'll put it on my list), intent on talking with me. Apparently I was leading a certain guy along - a guy that means a lot to her.

Three guesses who she was talking about.

*****

"How long is this going to continue?" Ginny demanded of me, pushing me lightly on my bed so I landed with a slight "oomph."

"Excuse me?" I asked incredulously. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"How long are you going to let him think you have feelings for him - lead him on?" Ginny glowered at me.

"I'm not leading Terry on!" I said immediately, in a rushed voice, knowing fully well that, that might just be the case.

Ginny stared at me for a second. "Not Terry, you prat," she said impatiently. "My brother."

"Ron?" I asked, looking rather stupid I bet from her reaction.

"No, Percy," Ginny said sarcastically. "Of course Ron!"

"Er, Gin? This is a bit sudden, isn't it? I mean, well…you didn't seem to care all that much before," I pointed out.

Ginny sighed and plopped down next to me. "That was before I realized what he must be going through, now that you're dating someone."

"Have you seen Ron lately?" I inquired of Ginny.

"No," Ginny said swiftly.

"Then, well…how do you know that he's, er, suffering?"

"Because I happen to know my brother. You know as well as I that his feelings towards you are nothing close to platonic!"

I rubbed my temples. "It's possible they've changed…" I trailed off, not believing a word I said.

"Ha," Ginny said. "Nice try, Hermione. Now, I want you to find someway to break up, well, not break up as you never dated, but you know what I mean, with Ron without breaking his heart."

I gave a little laugh.

"Why's that funny?" Ginny demanded.

"Nothing, nothing," I replied, figuring she didn't need to know that, that exact sentence was on my list. "I'll talk to him by this weekend, okay, Gin?"

"Alright," Ginny said, appearing appeased. Her face quickly changed from anger to that of eagerness. "So, how goes it with Terry?"

I sighed. I shouldn't have been surprised. With Ginny, it's either her brother or my love life.

*****

Merlin, how I wish she would stick her nose into somebody else's life for once. I honestly believe that after all these years, I deserve a break.

-->