Hello!! Y'all were all so wonderful after the last chapter! Such wondermous reviews I got! Y'all totally made my week, by the way. So… right, this chapter! It's not as short as chapter two, and it's got some fluff stuff in the first segment, but it isn't all that long.
*dodges flying vegetables* Yes, I know!! I'm sorry!! Longer chapters soon, my ducks!
A Touching Romance
Chapter 5 ~ We knew Hermione was good for something
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After her conversation with Harry of the previous afternoon, Hermione felt much better about the whole ordeal of…well, life. She knew that Harry loved her dearly, no matter what Ginny said. Though she knew Ginny was just being an `overzealous jealous' - as Hermione's mother liked to say - Hermione couldn't help but believe that some of what she had said was true.
She and Harry had been best friends for seven years. One girl, albeit a pretty, fun-loving Weasley girl, could not come between something as strong as that. And Hermione knew that was what Ginny was trying to do. She viewed Hermione as a threat to be dealt with accordingly, though for the life of her, Hermione couldn't even begin to fathom why.
Obviously, Hermione had not been quite as good at keeping her feelings hidden as she thought she had been. But she had tried so hard! She'd never let herself daydream about him in public, never stared at him during classes, never jumped at his touch.
Oh. Well. Maybe she had.
But she hadn't thought that Ginny of all people would notice anything like that. Ginny didn't understand her own emotions, let alone those of the people around her. Maybe the new, more observant Ginny had come from being on the look-out for girls after Harry. (There were, after all, an awful lot of them.)
Which didn't surprise Hermione in the least little bit. She happened to be one of them. Not like Lavender or Padma were, giggling every time he came round. And she was certainly not like that fourth year Hufflepuff - the girl had a sodding shrine to him in her dorm room closet. But she was just as head-over-heals for him as they were.
It had been quite a cataclysmic event when she'd finally realized what all the strange feelings meant. Looking back, she thought she'd been just a tad bit dramatic, collapsing on her bed in tears at the revelation. But she'd only been sixteen, and she'd just gotten out of her relationship with Ron. She'd tried desperately not to fall for anyone who would be as ill-suited for her as Ron had been.
But then there was Harry. Her sweet, caring, lovable Harry. Harry, who asked politely for help with his homework. Harry, who was so bashful around most girls. Harry, who treated her with respect and care, something she'd come to never expect from the general male population. Harry, who she loved and adored with all her heart.
No, nothing Ginny could ever say would change the bond that was between her and Harry.
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Harry and Hermione were sitting at breakfast in the Great Hall the morning after their talk in the Library when it happened again.
Dean, who was staying over for just a week or two until some unpleasant relatives left his parents' house, had taken a seat at Harry's right side. He reached for the platter of eggs and accidentally knocked Harry's elbow with his own. Immediately, his hair turned a violent shade of purple, and a horrid looking weal appeared on his left temple.
Harry groaned and put his head in hands. "The Devil take me now, I'm accursed," he said dramatically. Dean patted his back reassuringly, and his little finger turned into a quill pen.
"Aargh!" he screamed, staring at his hand in horror. Harry just moaned again and began to beat his head against the table. Draco Malfoy, who was also staying over for reasons unbeknownst to Hermione, just laughed at them both.
Hermione, though, was looking at Harry curiously. Her gaze flicked back and forth between Harry and Dean as thoughts raced behind her eyes. Suddenly, she understood. Whatever Ginny had done to Harry was obviously making all the strange things happening, and she thought she knew why.
"Harry!" she exclaimed. He looked up. "I know what's wrong!"
He stared up at her hopefully. "Well, then, what is it?"
"You can't touch people," she said matter-of-factly.
Harry looked confused. "What?"
Hermione huffed. "You can't touch people," she said again. "Someone's put a hex on you that made you unable to touch anyone." Hermione thought she had a pretty darn good idea who, but she thought it best not to accuse Ginny forthright.
"How did you come up with that?" Harry asked.
"Well, it's obvious, isn't it?" Hermione replied. "Every time you've touched someone over the last couple of days, something weird has happened to them. Like just now with Dean. He knocked your elbow and his hair turned blue."
"Purple," said Dean. Hermione glared at him. "Right. Sorry."
Hermione turned back to Harry. "It makes sense of everything that's been happening," she told him. "The strange things only happen when you're around, and only when you've been in close contact with that person."
Harry looked thoughtful. "Well, I don't know," he said skeptically.
Hermione sighed exasperatedly and stuck out her hand. "Here," she said. "Touch me."
"But, Hermione," Harry protested, "If what you say is true, I'll hurt you."
"Oh, don't worry about me, Harry," Hermione retorted. "Dean's hair is already beginning to fade." It was true. His hair was rapidly turning back to its original dark color. "I'll be fine in just a moment."
"Well…."Harry hesitated. At a pleading look from Hermione, he relented. "Alright. But don't expect me to feel sorry for you if giant boils appear on every inch of your body." Timidly he reached out his hand. Hermione turned away slightly and braced herself for the worst. Harry's fingertips brushed hers and -
Nothing happened. Hermione opened her eyes and peered at her hand curiously. "Is there anything wrong with me?" she asked.
"Not that I can see," Harry answered. "What do you think that means?"
"Maybe it doesn't work because the two of you are best friends," Dean suggested.
But Hermione shook her head. "Ron couldn't touch him either," she told him. She didn't understand it. It should've done something highly unpleasant to her. Maybe Ginny hadn't done quite as good a job on the potion as she thought she had.
"There's got to be something else," Harry said. "Some sort of reason why I don't hurt you."
"Well, I don't know why this happened," Hermione said, "But we'll figure it out eventually. Come on, Harry. We've got research to do."
Much to Harry's dismay, she dragged him off to the Library. He had a feeling that there wouldn't be much free time for him from now on.
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HERMIONE! The brilliance of her astounds me! Why, yes, yes it does, and I'm the author! *snorts* I crack myself up.
REVIEW!! REVIEW!! REVIEW!!
~ Violet Kefira
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