Noticed by Searcy

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 06/05/2006
Last Updated: 06/05/2006
Status: Completed

What happens when you finally look at what's been in front of your eyes all along?




1. Harry and Hermione
---------------------



**noticed**

**Harry & Hermione**

Hermione Granger glowered at the group of giggling girls surrounding the table she, Ron and
Harry were occupying in the library. They were supposed to be finishing their essays for Potions
and History of Magic. Just as they'd sat down and taken out their texts, quills and parchment
the table had been descended upon by a bunch of Harry and Ron's groupies. Hermione was as
pleased as everyone else about her best friends' brilliant performance in last Saturday's
Quidittch match in which they had utterly annihilated Slytherin, but enough was enough. Honestly,
was she expected to endure this nonsense the entire season; they had their NEWTS to prepare for,
for goodness sakes!

Actually Hermione had been enduring this nonsense since the trio had returned for their seventh
and final year at Hogwarts. The summer holidays had wrought quite a change in her two best friends
and it seemed that all of Hogwarts had noticed it, particularly, the female population.

Ron was no longer the gangly and awkward best friend of the boy-who-lived, this year he had come
into his own. He was still tall (he'd grown several more inches over the summer) and freckled
with flaming red hair but three years, as the Gryffindor keeper had added a well-defined bulk to
his heretofore-lanky body, making him look like a taller version of Charlie and Bill. The
boyishness of his facial features had been replaced with those of a handsome chiseled young man.
All of this along with his quick wit, bawdy sense of humor and his lively, sparkling blue eyes had
made Ron a much sought after companion by a large preponderance of the female inhabitants of
Hogwarts. A fact that Ron had taken note of and was more than happy to oblige by regaling them with
stories of his adventures on and off the Quidittch pitch and telling them tasteless jokes he'd
picked up from Fred and George no doubt. At this very moment he was captivating his audience with
his version of how he had flawlessly executed the starfish and stick defense during Saturday's
match, which had set up Harry's rather inspired dive to catch the snitch. The giggling idiots
turned their simpering smiles to Harry who mumbled something unintelligible before Ron again picked
up the story giving a play by play of Harry's dive in his best Ludo Bagman/Lee Jordan
announcer's voice.

Much like Ron, Harry had undergone a rather startling change over the summer. He was still
nearly everyone's favorite tragic boy-hero but there were some changes that were hard to miss.
Harry had grown nearly a foot and a half, making him just a few inches shorter than Ron. His skinny
body had become all taunt lean muscle and he'd developed a rather broad set of shoulders that
had most of the girls in the castle positively gushing. He'd let his rumpled black hair grow
out a bit longer than usual making it look perpetually wind swept as if he'd just stepped off
his broom. The strong angular planes of his handsome face perfectly framed those gorgeous almond
shaped emerald eyes of his that reflected his every emotion, which many an unsuspecting Hogwarts
female found herself lost in should she be favored with one of his glances. Adding to his Hogwarts
celebrity was Harry's rather reserved nature. Unlike Ron, Harry was rather reluctant to discuss
his battles with You-Know-Who or much of anything else about himself for that matter, with his
adoring fans. The twits took his reserve to be some sort of man of action's sullen brooding;
they thought it was sexy. Honestly! It never occurred to the daft lot that he simply had nothing to
say to them. Thus on the occasion when they were afforded the opportunity to hear his rich baritone
or Merlin forbid he flashed one of those devastating smiles of his, the idiotic twits would go off
blabbering about how bloody gorgeous he was and how they'd just love to be on the receiving end
of a kiss from those soft sculpted lips of his. It was absolutely revolting!

Their dashing good looks and their thrilling antics on the Quidittch pitch had made them the
kings of the castle. Wherever they went they were sure to draw attention. All the other boys, with
the exception of the Slytherins, wanted to be thought of as their mates while all the girls, some
Slytherins included, wanted to get the chance to snog them in some broom closet. It was truly
exasperating.

Not that she was jealous of all the attention they got; Hermione had quite enough to occupy her
own time and thoughts. With her duties as Head Girl her studies and other school clubs she had more
than enough to do. Nor had Ron and Harry deserted her, as always the three were inseparable. Where
you found one you usually found the others albeit with a few hangers on nowadays. And despite their
newfound popularity Ron and Harry were the same Ron and Harry they'd been since she'd met
them. Leaving off their homework till the very last minute, cracking silly jokes, gamboling about
the castle after hours barely escaping Filch and getting detentions from Snape for merely
breathing.

Hermione sighed in exasperation, Madame Pince the librarian, was looking over at them every few
seconds shooting them hateful glances. Ron and his fan club were laughing loudly at some crude
remark of his. They were on the verge of getting thrown out of the library before they even got the
chance to start on their essays, so much for getting a jump on this week's assignments.
Resigning herself to this inescapable conclusion Hermione began packing away her things all the
while shooting daggers at Ron, Harry and their band of blabbering twits.

If looks could kill, Ron, the six girls sitting around him, and Harry himself would all be dead.
Harry smiled to himself as he watched Hermione shove the stack of books on the table in front of
her into the already over stuffed school bag beside her chair. He was certain that she had charmed
the bag to make it big enough to hold all of the extra books she carried and there still didn't
seem to be enough room. Her brows were furrowed in frustration and her warm cinnamon brown eyes
were narrowed to near slits. Harry surveyed his friend of seven years and marveled at the change
she had undergone over the summer holidays. The bossy know-it-all, bushy brown haired, skinny girl
with big front teeth was no more. Oh, she still made he and Ron study schedules and told them off
for not having read some book that only she and whoever wrote it had ever read, and she was without
question the cleverest witch in the entire castle with the exception of the professors perhaps, but
the little girl he'd first met on the train to Hogwarts had grown into a stunning young woman.
Her once untamable mass of brown hair now hung just beyond her shoulders in silky waves, the skinny
body had been replaced with slender voluptuous curves. Long, thick curling lashes covered her warm
cinnamon brown eyes, eyes that shimmered when she laughed. She had a dainty waist that he could
encircle with one arm and the cutest little upturned nose, but Harry thought that her best feature
was her mouth. He could literally spend days staring at her full pouty lips. She had a habit of
chewing on her bottom lip when she was annoyed, she was doing it now. Harry stared at her
wondering; what those gorgeous lips tasted like wishing; that right now he was doing that very
thing to that very lip, though his ministrations would have nothing to do with frustration. He
watched as she pushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear and let the delicate fingers slide
down her graceful neck.

Hermione looked up to find Harry staring at her intently. Of late this had become a peculiar
habit of his. Hermione shook her head and stuffed the last of her belongings in her bag and called
his name.

“Harry”

Nothing she waited a moment before calling his name again.

“Harry…Harry”

Harry blinked but didn't move he had yet to realize that the word that Hermione's
beautiful mouth was giving birth to was in fact his name. Hermione was becoming more and more
annoyed. Harry was staring at her but pretending not to hear a word she was saying.

“Harry”

Nothing.

“Harry Potter what on earth is wrong with you. This is not at all funny”

Harry continued to sit there gazing at her but not saying a word. Frustrated beyond all belief
Hermione began gnawing on her bottom lip.

She was doing it again. She'd been ranting about something a moment before, he'd been
watching the mesmerizing undulations of her lips, but now she was biting her lip again driving him
mad. Harry stood up and in two strides Hermione was in his arms. He took his thumb and lightly
traced it over those beautiful lips; they were slightly parted in her surprise. Harry lowered his
head and nibbled her bottom lip before taking her mouth completely, feeling the soft fullness of
her lips and tasting their sweetness. He ran his fingers through her thick wavy hair angling her
head back Harry deepened the kiss, exploring the sweet depths of her mouth as he intertwined his
tongue with hers. Finding herself caught up in the overwhelming passion of Harry's kisses
Hermione gave herself over to the moment she wrapped her arms around his neck and slipped her
fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck fervently returning his kisses. Harry slipped his
arms around her tiny waist, molding her body to his, moaning softly into her mouth reveling in the
scent, feel and taste of her. After what seemed to be an eternity their mouths slowly broke apart.
Breathless and flushed they stared into each other's eyes; Harry began tracing her bottom lip
with his thumb, he felt her smile and the feather-light kisses she placed on his fingertips. He
tilted her head upwards and lovingly kissed her lips once more and clasped her hand in his. Fingers
intertwined they walked out of the library, blissfully unaware of Ron's wide-eyed shock, the
open-mouthed stares of their classmates or the angry recriminations shouted at them by Madame
Pince.

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2. Ron and Luna
---------------



**noticed**

**Ron & Luna**

Ron Weasley tapped his foot and leaned against the wall outside of the Ancient Runes classroom.
He chanced a glance down the corridor at his two best friends Harry and Hermione; they were
standing in the corner just behind the door of the Ancient Runes class, if someone happened to open
it they'd disappear from view. Harry was holding one of Hermione's hands in his own and she
was absent-mindedly running her free hand through his hair, they were talking about something and
laughing. A group of Hufflepuff girls walked pass the couple and one of them sighed wistfully. As
they made their way in his direction Ron caught part of their conversation.

“Lucky girl that Granger”

Said a tall thin brunette.

“I'll say, how does the resident bookworm end up with the best looking chap in the bloody
castle”

Asked a curvy blue-eyed blond.

The round-faced mousy-brown haired girl replied.

“Well she is quite pretty and they've known each other for years…”

“Whatever it is…I wish I had it”

Quipped the red head on the end.

The other three girls nodded and giggled in agreement. The blond noticed Ron regarding them as
they passed and smiled a bright smile as she spoke.

“Hi Ron”

Ron raised an eyebrow and smiled slowly as he mumbled `hello' in return. The brown haired
one blushed a furious red and dropped her head as she and the other two girls waved and sang a
chorus of `Hi Ron'. Again he nodded and mumbled hello. As they turned the corner and vanished
from sight he heard their shrieks and peals of excited laughter. Ron thoughtfully stroked his cheek
he would have to ask around about that blond, just then the sound of Harry's voice drew his
attention back to his two best friends huddled in the corner by the door, Harry's hands were at
Hermione's waist and her arms were looped about his neck. Bloody hell they were about to go at
it again. This was getting a bit ridiculous. Ron turned away shaking his head just as Harry and
Hermione's lips met.

Harry and Hermione were a couple, in fact they were the couple; the entire castle had been
buzzing about them every since Harry had gone nutters in the library and snogged Hermione in front
of half the bloody school. Ron chuckled to himself; Harry and Hermione had barely escaped detention
and nearly lost their library privileges over that one. You'd think that nearly being stripped
of all their privileges and the threat of getting intimately acquainted with Filch would have been
enough to stop them from groping each other in public but much to Ron's dismay nearly two
months into their new found relationship Harry and Hermione spent every moment possible holding
hands, staring into each others eyes or snogging in some corner. It was disgusting! Ron had to
suffer through their endless whispering and giggling and their continuous touching. It was bad
enough to have one of your best friends head over heels in love but to have both of them in that
condition and with each other should be against some law of nature. Not that Ron was jealous;
though many people had thought his and Hermione's legendary rows were some sort of sign of
attraction and that Harry and Hermione's new relationship would cause a break in the close bond
the three of them shared, nothing could have been further from the truth. Ron loved Hermione as a
friend and as a friend only and Harry was as close to him as any one of his brothers so the thought
that he would be upset over their change in status was absolutely absurd. On the contrary Ron was
thrilled that Harry had found someone who made him happy and could handle his rather horrid temper.
Merlin knew Harry'd had enough difficulty in his life and in Ron's opinion no one ought to
have the kind of happiness he and Hermione shared more than Harry; and Ron had long held the belief
that Hermione's disposition would be greatly improved by a good dose of regular snogging. No he
wasn't jealous in the least he was just tired of being the person whose lot in life it was to
bear witness to the love of the century.

Ron looked up and found that he was standing in front of the Room of Requirement. He looked at
his watch; he had a whole hour to himself before he had to be in his next lesson. He and Harry were
supposed to be heading out to the Quidditch pitch to get in a bit of flying but they'd bumped
into Hermione who was just leaving her Ancient Runes lesson, upon seeing Hermione Ron had no doubt
that Harry had forgotten all about their plans and was probably in some broom closet with her doing
things he'd rather not imagine. Which meant he had some time to himself and as he wasn't in
the mood for company the Room of Requirement was just what he needed, as the door materialized
before him he pulled the handle and walked inside.

Ron strode into the Room of Requirement expecting to find a comfortable chair and a charmed
chessboard instead he found a couch on which was perched a lovely pair of shapely legs. Ron allowed
his gaze to wander up and saw that the legs he'd been admiring belonged to none other than Luna
Lovegood, he knew it was her because of the somewhat unusual position she was in and the Quibbler
clutched in her hands. Her head and shoulders were hanging over the arm of the couch. Luna's
position on the couch had caused her blouse to ride up exposing her flat toned stomach, the arm of
the sofa had caused her back to arch and Ron noticed that her rather ample chest seemed to be
straining against the confines of her top. Ron was so caught up in his staring that he didn't
notice Luna was watching him until she spoke.

“Hello Ron”

Ron blinked several times and shook his head to clear his thoughts before he answered Luna
rather unsteadily.

“Hi Luna…sor…sorry to bother you…I…I didn't know anybody was in here”

Ron turned to leave as Luna called out to him.

“No problem I just came in here to get away for a bit”

Ron nodded as Luna prattled on.

“So where is the other half of the dynamic duo”

Ron rolled his eyes and blew out an exasperated breath.

“Probably holed up in some broom closet snogging the Head Girl”

Luna giggled.

“You don't approve of Hogwarts newest and most famous couple”

Luna swung her feet onto the floor and patted the space beside her. Ron took his school bag off
his shoulder and dropped it beside the couch as he took a seat next to Luna.

“It's not that I don't approve, I mean I really am happy for the both of them, honestly
I am, but for the love of Merlin can't they go ten bloody seconds without jumping each
other's bones”

Luna giggled again as Ron continued his rant.

“You've seen them always holding hands and touching each others faces, throwing each other
those stupid love sick glances, acting as if they've been away from each other for months when
they spend all of their time together except for two classes and whenever they sleep or go to the
loo. Honestly they are making me nutters with all this love stuff”

Ron leaned back on the sofa and expelled another angst-ridden breath. Luna looked over at Ron
and regarded him closely.

“Amanda Puckle was right you do have really gorgeous eyes but then again I can see Sarah
Godfrey's point that your lips do look extremely kissable”

Ron nearly cricked his neck he sat up so quickly.

“What…”

Luna cut Ron off with a wave of her hand

“Never mind just thinking out loud”

Luna fell silent and resumed her focused evaluation of Ron. Since her fourth year at Hogwarts
Luna had become considerably well acquainted with the Weasley family. She and Ginny Ron's
sister were in the same year and though they were in different houses had become casual
acquaintances as they took some classes together. In their fourth year Luna and Ginny had been
among Harry's rescue party when he'd attempted to save his godfather from Voldemort's
clutches, the experience had cemented a bond between the group. In the two years since the incident
Luna had become close friends with Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Harry. She spent a good deal of time
with the Weasleys during school vacations, as they were neighbors. Over the time she'd gotten
to know Ron Luna had taken quiet a liking to him as she thought him cute in a clumsy sort of way,
though she'd never told him. Then over the summer he'd gone and gotten handsome enough for
everyone to notice and she was certain she wasn't his type considering the list of girls
he'd dated this year alone. Ron's voice intruded on her thoughts.

“Umm…Luna…why are you looking at me like that”

Luna didn't answer Ron's question but posed one of her own.

“Did Harry really just grab Hermione in the library and kiss her”

Having grown accustomed to Luna's strange behavior in the years that he'd known her Ron
simply answered her question.

“Yep, just got up put his arms around her and kissed her”

Luna cocked her head to the side with a dreamy look in her eyes Ron watched her and shocked
himself when he realized that he was assessing how pretty Luna was. She had big beautiful blue eyes
that seemed to perpetually sparkle although he liked her smile best. Her whole face lit up when she
smiled and it had to be one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. Where had that thought
come from, Ron raised his head and found himself staring directly into Luna's blue eyes. They
sat like that for a few moments just gazing into each other's eyes, in that instant Ron felt as
if he'd go mad if he didn't kiss her. He pulled Luna into his arms and brought his lips
down to hers. She parted her lips and encircled his tongue with her own. Ron allowed his hands to
roam freely over Luna's beautifully sculpted body. Luna moaned Ron's name as the kiss
deepened and they lost themselves in each other.

Harry and Hermione half walked half ran down the deserted corridor; stopping in front of the
Room of Requirement Harry closed his eyes in concentration as he paced back and forth slowly a door
appeared before them. Harry opened his eyes and a mischievous grin spread across his face; he
grabbed Hermione's hand and headed towards the door.

“Harry, what are you up to”

Harry continued smiling.

“Just open the door”

Hermione reached out, pulled the handle and opened the door. Harry watched as her hand flew to
her mouth, her eyes stretched wide in surprise and a noticeable pink hue began to cover her cheeks.
Puzzled by her reaction Harry walked up behind Hermione and peered into the open doorway and saw
his best friend Ron Weasley in the middle of a very intense snogging session with Luna Lovegood.
Harry rubbed his eyes to make sure the scene before him was actually happening and not just a
figment of his imagination. Hermione quickly eased the door shut. She turned around and stared at
Harry in complete amazement.

“Ron and Luna who would have ever guessed”

Harry smiled and took her hand as he started back down the corridor.

“Stranger things have happened”

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3. Neville and Ginny
--------------------



**noticed**

**Neville & Ginny**

Ginny Weasley trudged glumly down the stairs and headed in the direction of the Great Hall. It
was a Hogsmeade weekend and there was a buzz of excitement in the air as students rushed to the
queue happy to be free of essays and lectures for at least one afternoon. As Ginny neared the front
doors of the school she heard her name being called, she looked up and was greeted by the smiling
faces of her two best friends, Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood. The two girls beckoned for Ginny
to come over and join them. Ginny heaved a sigh as she changed her course of direction and weaved
her way through the crowd where Hermione and Luna stood, they were no doubt waiting for Harry and
Ron to show up.

Hermione and Harry had been going out for most of the term after Harry decided to confess his
true feelings for the brown eyed beauty by kissing her one evening in the library in front of half
the seventh years, they'd been inseparable ever since. Their relationship had created quite a
bit of talk as most people apparently thought that it was impossible that one of the school's
star Quidditch players and resident hero could possibly be madly in love with the rather bookish
albeit beautiful Head Girl. In fact the only thing that had quelled the persistent discussion of
the likelihood of the Harry Hermione pairing had been the equally surprising coupling of Luna
Lovegood and Ron Weasley. If Harry and Hermione as a couple had shocked Hogwarts they were utterly
floored by Ginny's brother and other good friend. Apparently the two had stumbled across each
other one afternoon in the Room of Requirement and somehow, no one knew the exact details, ended up
snogging each other senseless. The fact that the female population of Hogwarts was still reeling
from this latest scandalous turn of events was evidenced by the conversation Ginny heard of a
passing group of Hufflepuffs.

“I still can't believe that Loony Lovegood landed Ron Weasley”

Pouted a curvy blue-eyed blond.

“I know what you mean…first Harry Potter falls for that Hermione Granger and then Weasley and
Lovegood, honestly who's it going to be next”

The tall thin brunette's words came out in a rush as she nodded in the direction of Luna and
Hermione who had been joined by their respective boyfriends and were being greeted with kisses

The red head of the set shook her head in agreement and chimed in.

“Makes you wonder what we're doing wrong”

The three girls turned their heads and headed towards the front doors, while the fourth girl of
the group, a round faced girl with mousy brown hair, hung back to watch a moment and whispered.

“Kind of gives some of us hope though”

She heaved a breathless sigh before scurrying off to catch up with her friends.

Ginny shook her head and watched after the foursome for a few seconds before turning her
attention to her brother and three friends. Ron was the first to speak.

“Gin what are you doing lugging around your school bag, its Saturday”

At Ron's words three pairs of eyes zeroed in on the bag Ginny had hoisted over her shoulder.
Luna immediately spoke.

“You are coming with us to Hogsmeade aren't you”

Ginny shook her head thoroughly disgusted with herself, how was she supposed to tell her friends
and her brother that she wouldn't be joining them for the day because she was going to be stuck
in the bleeding library doing remedial Herbology! BLOODY HELL…Ginny silently cursed herself; it was
her own fault that she had to do remedial Herbology; she wasn't particularly good at it to
begin with and since she and Dean had broken up she'd paid even less attention to her studies
causing her to get some rather poor marks in the last few weeks. Ginny looked into each of the four
faces regarding her and replied.

“I'm sorry…I know I promised I'd go with you all today but something's…ummm…come
up”

As the words left her mouth Ginny heard a familiar chuckle, she turned around in time to see
Dean Thomas her ex-boyfriend holding hands with his current girlfriend Pavrati Patil. Ginny watched
as Dean and Pavrati headed out the doors with their friends Seamus Finnegan and Lavender Brown and
Pavrati's twin Padma and her boyfriend Terry Boot. Luna surveyed the scene before turning to
ask Ginny.

“This isn't about you breaking up with Dean is it”

Ginny looked up at Luna and hastily replied.

“No this has nothing to do with Dean”

“Then why aren't you coming with us”

Harry asked.

“As I told you there's something else that I have to do”

Ron glared at his younger sister and asked.

“What is it then”

Ginny sighed realizing that she wasn't going to get away from them without explaining what
was going on.

“If you must know I've gotten some rather inadequate marks in Herbology and Professor Sprout
has been kind enough to allow me to do make up assignments. I have to hand in a four foot essay on
the properties of Fungiticulus Mugrot Root on Monday”

Ginny dropped her head sheepishly. Hermione walked over and placed a comforting arm around her
shoulder.

“I am not exactly sure of all the properties but a quick trip to the library will rectify that,
I'll just pop up to the common room and get my things and we will have this essay done in no
time”

Luna nodded her head in agreement.

“Smashing idea Hermione I'll come too, there's some Mugrot Root growing down in the
greenhouses, Professor Sprout assures me that its main property is not tickling but the one my dad
brought back from Budapest definitely tickles”

Ginny smiled fondly at her two friends willingness to come to her aid, but she shook her head
firmly and replied.

“Absolutely not, I won't let you give up your afternoons because of me”

Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Ginny quickly silenced her with an exceptionally stern
glare reminiscent of the kind Molly Weasley was known for bestowing upon people.

“I'll not hear another word about the matter, the four of you will go to Hogsmeade and have
a fabulous time, I expect not to see you back here before dinner when you'll tell me all about
it”

Having said that Ginny ushered all four of them out the door and down the front steps of the
castle. Realizing that they ran the risk of being hexed otherwise the quartet waved goodbye and
headed towards Hogsmeade while Ginny proceeded to the greenhouses deciding to have a look at the
Fungiticulus Mugrot Root that was growing there.

Ginny opened the door to greenhouse number three and walked in. There were rows and rows of
various plants sitting on tables stationed about the room. Ginny hung her bag in one of the cubbies
set up by the door and began searching through the rows for the particular plant she needed. She
searched for quite some time looking for the offending plant but to no avail, frustrated she kicked
a pair of pruning shears. The shears spun across the floor and disappeared around a corner. Ginny
was about to leave when she heard someone cry out in pain.

“Ouch”

Ginny hurried in the direction of the voice and found the shears lying on the floor beside
Neville Longbottom who was hopping around rather comically on one foot. Ginny rushed over to
Neville and began apologizing.

“I'm so sorry Neville…I didn't know anyone else was in here…are you all right”

Neville hopped over to the nearest bench and took a seat a grimace of pain marring his face.
Still holding his foot he looked up at Ginny and spoke.

“I'm okay, nothing seems to be permanently damaged”

Ginny pulled out her wand and pointed it at Neville's foot and murmured a quick healing
spell. She then took a seat beside him on the bench and queried.

“How's that”

Neville waggled his toes inside his shoe and replied with a smile.

“Much better thanks, where'd you learn that”

Ginny smiled.

“When you've got six older brothers knowing a few minor healing spells comes in pretty
handy”

Neville nodded his understanding and Ginny asked.

“What brings you to the greenhouses on a Hogsmeade Saturday”

Neville shrugged his shoulders.

“Just didn't feel like going, decided to come here and get some work done instead”

Ginny raised an eyebrow.

“What kind of work”

Neville replied.

“Oh I like to help out sometimes is all…with the planting and stuff…what are you doing here”

Ginny made a face and replied.

“I've got this essay due on Monday about Fungiticulus Mugrot Root, I came down here to get a
look at it but I couldn't find it…that's what I was doing when I kicked the pruning shears
and ran into you”

Neville nodded.

“Oh…”

Neville stared at Ginny for a second before continuing.

“I can show you where the Mugrot root is if you like”

Ginny replied.

“Thanks I'd really appreciate that”

Neville took Ginny by the hand and guided her over to a table of plants stationed by the
windows.

Neville and Ginny spent the entire afternoon in greenhouse number three. Neville was very
knowledgeable about plants and he was a virtual fount of information on Fungiticulus Mugrot Root,
Ginny took a seat on a bench near the table where he was working at repotting Tentacled Snapdragons
and wrote as he worked. Whenever she got stuck or confused about something Neville was able to sort
her out. Ginny looked over the roll of parchment that contained her essay; five feet complete with
illustrations not bad. Ginny smiled to herself quite pleased with her accomplishment. She looked up
at Neville intending to thank him for all his help but the sight before her made her breath catch
in her throat. It was necessarily warm in the greenhouse; Neville had removed his robe, as had
Ginny much earlier in the day but Neville had at some point removed the jumper he'd been
wearing, he was standing there in a noticeably snug t-shirt that was covering a particularly
admirable set of muscles that Ginny hadn't known he possessed. Ginny continued her perusal of
the young wizard before her; he was really quite attractive. The round-faced, clumsy, stammering
Neville she'd first met at Hogwarts was not the person who was standing before her, his once
plump face was now all manly planes, his clumsy body toned and confident he didn't even stammer
when he talked anymore. Neville looked down and saw Ginny staring at him, she was wearing a rather
odd expression as if she was checking him out, Neville shook his head to clear it of his ridiculous
ruminations, honestly a girl like Ginny would not be checking him out. Not wanting to embarrass
himself Neville quickly averted his gaze before loudly clearing his throat. At the sound Ginny
snapped out of her reverie and gave Neville her attention as he spoke.

“How's your essay coming”

“It's all done, thanks for everything you were a big help”

Ginny stood up and for some unfathomable reason she reached up and kissed Neville on the cheek.
Their eyes met briefly before Ginny mumbled a hasty thank you and began to gather her things.
Neville watched her in complete shock; Ginny Weasley had just kissed him. The look in her eyes made
him wonder had she wanted to do more than just kiss his cheek. Without thinking what he was doing
Neville reached out and grabbed her hands and pulling her to him kissed her full on the mouth. It
only took a second for Ginny to return Neville's kiss enthuastically. When the need to breathe
became too strong their mouths broke apart. Ginny looked up at Neville who spoke quietly.

“I'm sorry…I…I just…I've wanted to do that for a very long time but you were with Dean
and…”

Neville's voice trailed off as a blushing Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and
replied.

“Well I'm not with Dean anymore”

Having said that she pulled Neville into another searing kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry was sitting in his favorite chair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room raining kisses
down Hermione's neck, who was perched on his lap.

“Have either of you seen Ginny”

Harry looked up to see Ron standing by his chair a faintly concerned scowl on his face. Harry
mumbled no and resumed nuzzling Hermione's neck. Ron made a disgusted face before plowing
on.

“Oh cut it out would you…no one wants to see that”

Harry grunted and looked up at his best friend and replied.

“Did I interrupt you and Luna snogging all over Hogsmeade”

Ron opened his mouth to reply but shook his head and went back to his reason for disturbing them
in the first place.

“Its just that its nearly curfew and I can't find Ginny, she wasn't at dinner and
she's not in her room, no one's seen her since this morning. I was hoping you two'd
help me find her”

Harry stood up and deposited Hermione on her feet in one fluid motion, he then turned to Ron and
said.

“Come on then let's go find her”

Just as the trio turned to leave the portrait hole swung open and Ginny climbed through holding
hands with Neville. A hush drifted over the room as all the Gryffindors present watched the pair
cross the room and stop at the foot of the stairs. Neville handed Ginny her schoolbag, which
he'd been carrying, she smiled up at him and whispered.

“Thank you”

Neville grinned and replied.

“See you tomorrow then”

Ginny nodded and standing on her tiptoes brushed her lips against Neville's. Neville slipped
his arms around her waist and drew her into a rather passionate kiss. They parted slowly and after
another gentle kiss said good night and disappeared up their respective staircases to their rooms.
Hermione suppressed a giggle as Ron turned scarlet from his neck to his hairline. His mouth flew
open as he pointed to the spot his sister and dorm mate had just occupied.

“Did you see…Ginny and Neville…they were…Neville Longbottom just kissed my sister”

Harry patted Ron on the back and replied.

“Actually mate…I think it was the other way around”

Ron flopped down on the couch and shook his head muttering incoherently to himself about sisters
and kissing. Harry's hand closed around Hermione's and he drew her back to their seat by
the fire. Hermione stared at him slightly perplexed.

“Don't you think we should talk to him”

Hermione gestured towards Ron, Harry looked over at the couch and shook his head.

“Ron will be fine, and I presently could care less who Ginny is snogging, what concerns me at
the moment is snogging you”

Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and crushed her lips to his.

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