Of Valentine's Day and Getting Very, Very, Unbearably Drunk

Disclaimer: Everything Harry Potter is JKR's obviously. Is there really anything much more I've got to say about that?

Author's Note: Let's see… Just a little plot bunny I've been developing, I'm not really sure what else to say at this point- I haven't even started writing yet. Well yes then, enjoy the story!

Valentine's Day is the most miserable holiday that has ever been invented, in my opinion. Why's that, you ask? Well for single people, it's just a bitter reminder that they are still single, and for couples, it's just a day where your significant other will drown you in extra attention to the point where you feel like you are suffocating. I'm not just a bitter single girl, if that's what you're thinking. Oh no- on the contrary, I'm a bitter taken girl. But what's there to be bitter about when you're taken? Plenty of things, let me tell you. He never remembers anything- he can't even get the color flowers I prefer right. The only things he ever thinks about are sex and food. He's a jealous, overly protective, mistrusting, accusatory prat. Don't get me wrong now, Ron is a fabulous guy. He's one of the best friends I've ever had! He's just not… well, he's not Harry. I know how awful that must sound to you, but it's quite true. I'm not really sure how long I've had feelings for my other best friend, but it certainly isn't helping me figure out what to do with this downhill relationship with Ron. I can't very well break up with Ron and just tell him, “Oh, well turns out it's not you I'm in love with! Actually it's your best mate that I'd rather be with so, I'll just be going then.” Some how I don't think he'd take that too well.

So I'm sitting in the library, staring out the window at the snow covered grounds, trying not to look at the yellow tulips Ron dropped in front of me before I told him I was studying and really needed to be alone. When will he ever learn I don't like yellow tulips? I don't even like tulips at all! In fact I don't much like the color yellow either! I prefer roses, pink, white or red is perfectly fine. I'm sure Harry knows that. He knows me much better than Ron. Why that is, well I'm not sure, maybe it just has to do with the fact that Harry is not a huge ignorant prat! I sigh as my eyes shift back to the book in front of me. I didn't lie to Ron really- well I partially did. I'm not studying, actually I'm doing some behind the scenes research for Harry on possible items that Voldemort could have used as Horcruxes based on what we already know about them. I couldn't very well tell Ron that though, he'd just sit next to me and “help.” Of course he wants to help Harry as much as he can- and I respect that completely considering I feel the same way. The thing is, however, I am in the library solely to get some breathing time before I go back to the common room and continue to be smothered by my boyfriend.

Reading the page of my book very carefully, I move my hands up to my irritatingly uncontrollable hair to pull it up into a ponytail. Eventually I will figure out how to make my hair less frizzy… I'm not the brightest witch in the year for nothing. I tear my eyes away from the page to scan the library as I do every so often, only to see a pair of bright green eyes grinning at me from across the table. “Harry!” I exclaim, recovering from the shock of seeing the very man I'd been thinking about all day sitting across from me. “What are you doing here?” I ask, regaining my composure and sliding a bookmark into the book at the page I'd stopped. Some how I didn't figure I'd be getting much more reading done.

Harry shrugged and grinned at me. I love that grin. There are absolutely no words to describe it other than absolutely gorgeous… Just like the rest of him. “Ron told me you were in here studying. I haven't seen you all day, so I figured I'd stop by to say hi. You know- see how long it would take you to notice I'm right across from you.” He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the table. I wasn't sure whether to be frustrated or to laugh at myself for being so inattentive.

“How- how long have you been there for?” Fantastic, now I'm stumbling over my words and his feet are in my face. “Say, Harry why don't you get your feet out of my face and perhaps I can concentrate better without having to stare at your shoes. Although, I do admit, the soles are very pretty, Harry.” The soles are very pretty? I'm absolutely losing it. I'm not even sure why I bother with myself anymore, I'm a completely lost cause. Well this is fantastic, now Harry's laughing at me because I said something so completely ridiculous. “Oh stop laughing, you!” I'm not as amused by this as he is, I'm sure my face shows that too. I push his right foot off the table, making his left foot follow in suit. “That's much better.” I mutter, glad that I can see his face now. True it's nice to be able to see who you're talking to, but his face in general is just quite nice to look at.

“Oh give it a rest Hermione, it's Valentine's Day, shouldn't you be happy and relaxing with Ron?” Oh poor Harry he really is clueless. I don't blame him- I'm not about to tell him what I'm feeling about Ron and my relationship or my feelings about him in general. I do feel sort of bad for leaving him in the dark- but it's probably better off that way. No, it is better off that way.

I raise an eyebrow and look at Harry for a moment. “Relax? Since when do I have time to relax?” I scoff and look at him knowingly. Surprise, surprise, I'm busy. There really is never a time when I'm not busy. Everyone knows that I'm always up to my nose in work for god only knows what- how could he possibly assume that I have time to relax. Well then again it is Valentine's Day and I probably should be relaxing. However, if I relax, I will have to relax with Ron which is far less enjoyable than doing work alone. Well in this case sort of alone, considering Harry's been sitting here watching me for I don't even know how long considering he still haven't answered my question.

Harry laughed and shook his head. “Right, I forgot, you're always working.” He said, laughing some more. Goodness I love his laugh. It's comforting- makes me feel right at home. I'm not sure if you've caught on yet- but yes, I do love everything about Harry. He's pretty much perfect in every single way possible. “Hermione- you need a break. Look, tomorrow's a Hogsmeade weekend, why don't you take a break and go with Ron. It'll be fun.” He suggested. Obviously Ron's been talking with him about how I am seemingly avoiding him to study. Typical.

“Harry, I don't know- I think… Maybe I need a break from Ron.” I mutter, half wanting him to have caught what I said, half praying to Merlin that he didn't hear. I guess it's alright if he knows that Ron's getting on my nerves- I can't imagine that's very hard to believe. Ron's been getting on my nerves since the day we met. It feels kind of good now that at least someone knows how I'm feeling about my very strange relationship. “I just don't think going into Hogsmeade with him would really… soothe my nerves.”

Very much to my surprise Harry laughed. He laughed. He understands me needing a break from Ron! Oh this is exciting. Very exciting. “I can understand why you'd say that.” He paused, grinning at me and shaking his head slightly. “Well, I hardly ever get to hang out with you anymore- what do you say you and me skip Hogsmeade and spend the day out by the lake?” I raised my eyebrows and looked over at him. How could he possibly suggest that? Oh right, he doesn't know that he'd be in serious danger of getting jumped the moment he would sit down.

I know I really shouldn't agree to that- what would happen if Ron found out? He'd probably have a coronary and then completely disown the two of us as friends even if Harry assured him it was simply as friends. I shouldn't say `Well Harry that would be lovely, I do miss spending time with you because I'm completely in love with you,' which hopefully I won't spit out when I open my mouth to answer him. “Well Harry, that would be quite lovely.” What in the world have I gotten myself into.

Harry shot me his adorable little grin and laughed a bit, which I suspected was in account of my strangely formal manner. “So what do you plan on telling Ron when you go back up to the common room and he asks you to go to Hogsmeade?” Oh. Well. I hadn't quite thought of that. Hmm.

“I'll tell him I've got loads more homework and studying to do, I don't want to fail the Transfiguration test we've got after holiday.” I said triumphantly. Maybe that wasn't too great of an excuse considering I'd been saying that too him sporadically over the entire week so I could take a break from being drowned with affection; if you could even call it affection. “That's what we're saying unless you've got a better idea of what I should tell him…”

Harry shook head gorgeous head and shrugged. “Is that what you've been telling him all week to avoid him?” How did he know that? I looked at him funny and he answered my question easily. “Ron comes to me all the time, `Harry, I think Hermione's avoiding me. I don't think she likes me anymore- she never wants to spend any time with me!' I thought perhaps he was overreacting, but you sure are looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. Do you really tell him that to avoid spending time with him?

“Well I can't very well help it if he's suffocating me!” I say testily. “Every twelve seconds he's asking either if I want to spend any time with him, if I've got anything to eat, or trying to get a quick snog- I'd reckon the only reason he's still with me is because that way he can snog whenever he wants! It's ridiculous and I'm getting right sick of it!” I didn't really mean to explode on Harry like that. Oh he must think I'm this horrible person now. I glance over at the look on his face. He looks like he's trying to process what I just said. “Oh Harry- I didn't really mean all of that- you know- I just get rather frustrated. Oh please don't tell Ron!”

He's raising his eyebrows at me like I'm insane. “If you're not happy with Ron, perhaps you should break up with him.” He suggests quietly, looking at me with that knowing look that I usually wear. “That is what you're saying- isn't it? That you're not completely happy?”

Am I unhappy? Yes. Well, not all because of Ron… Partly because I'm not with Harry, but I am absolutely not telling him that. “It is what I'm saying- but it's not because of Ron. It's my fault- I can fix it… I'm just being silly. That's all, I promise.” I say a bit too quickly. Hopefully he'll just take my word for it. He doesn't look like he believes me, but he's just nodding and not saying anything. “Well… I'll go to Hogsmeade with Ron for a bit tomorrow, you know, just to have a drink with him, then I'll come back to meet you down by the lake?

The grin on Harry's face returned slowly, but it was back (thankfully). “I'll meet you by the lake at two thirty. That should give you and Ron enough time to have a drink and such. Is that a good time for you?”

I nod vigorously, trying to hide my excitement. I don't suppose it's working too well. “Two thirty by the lake. Yes. Well, Harry, I'm going back to the common room to talk with Ron. Are you coming?” I hope he agrees. Oh that would be nice. Just a casual little walk back to the common room where we can talk about whatever we like. Oh what am I kidding, it's just a walk. I go on walks with him all the time. I am being ridiculous.

“If that's an invitation then yes. I am coming.” I stand up and return the book I was reading to its shelf. I'll come back to it later I'm sure, provided the bookmark is still in there. “Let's go then.” He says, standing next to him. Well, now to figure out how to tell Ron that I'll be leaving in the middle of our “date” tomorrow afternoon. Somehow I don't think he'll take that too well.

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Disclaimer: It's all JKR's. I do believe we've been over this.

A/N: Chapter two. Enjoy :]

I'm on my way back from the library now- and I happen to be in quite a fantastic mood. There's no way getting around the fact that going to Hogsmeade with Ron and then just leaving him at two thirty to meet Harry is going to be difficult, but otherwise I really am quite chipper. I climb up the stairs happily, skipping the trick step mostly by nature, partially because I was just skipping every other step out of the pure joy of my heart. I was even humming. I'm approaching the common room, still humming mind you- savoring the good mood I'm in, considering it's about to be destroyed.

I give the Fat Lady the password and climb through the portrait hole, only to find Ron Weasley right there as if he was waiting for me to return from my day at the library. “Hermione!” He exclaimed, sliding an arm around my waist. Oh I really wish he would cut it out. “Hey, tomorrow's a Hogsmeade day, how'd you like to come with me? We could stop by and get a drink at the Three Broomsticks or something.” I can feel a sinking feeling in my heart. I do feel quite bad about giving Ron the slip to spend time with Harry but, what am I supposed to do about my true feelings? I can't quite break up with Ron right now… He's quite instable.

“Er…” I mutter and look at Ron with what I would imagine is a very funny look on my face. “Well I have quite a bit of homework to do still, but I suppose I could go with you for a bit. I'll have to leave around two thirty if I want to have enough time to get my homework done though.” Either I am a fantastic liar or Ron is just completely daft. He certainly looks as if he believes me. The look on his face is mostly happy, as I would expect it to be considering I haven't completely blown him off for… “homework.”

Ron shrugs and grins at me. “S'alright, Herms.” I shudder but some how I have managed to slide a grin onto my face. Does he not know how much I utterly detest that nickname? Apparently not considering he won't stop using it. I really should break up with him- I know… Perhaps after this weekend. We'll see how things turn out after this weekend. I will I mean. Then I can take my little time and hop off after Harry.

“Look, Ron, it's late. I should be getting to bed.” I mutter, wrenching myself out of his grip. “I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight.” I add, forcing myself to give him a kiss on the cheek. I'm not sure why I always make myself do that. I guess it makes me feel like less of a horrible person if I do that. Because that's what I am, you know- a horrible person who isn't really in love with her boyfriend at all and should definitely just break up with him but can't.

All traces of my good mood are gone and I'm now off stalking up the stairs to the girl's dormitories. This is just bloody fantastic. Why couldn't I just be in love with the one that I picked to be my boyfriend? No, with my luck I have to be in love with my other best friend who is not said boyfriend! This is so frustrating. When I get into my dormitory, Lavender and Parvati are both staring at me as if I've got three heads. “What?” I snap, dropping my cloak on my bed.

“Well don't you look like the cat who's swallowed the canary…” Lavender observed. Oh doesn't she think she's just the astute one. There's no way I can tell her and Parvati anything- two minutes later it'll be round the whole school. I don't need the whole school knowing that I am completely, utterly in love with my best friend. The one that isn't my boyfriend.

“No I don't.” I say steadily, pulling the scarlet curtain on my bed and changing into my pink night gown. I draw the curtain again only to see both of my dorm mates staring at me as if they're trying to pry something out of me with their eyes. No doubt that is what they're doing too. “Would you quit looking at me like that?”

“Hermione- are you going to Hogsmeade with Ron tomorrow?” Parvati asked with an odd voice. It was almost as if she knew what was going on with me, Ron and Harry. I hate it when other people know things and you can't figure out how in the world they figured out. Of course, by the time you ask them how they found out they won't tell you because they think they're being all clever and such. Clever my arse.

“What are you getting at Parvati?” These two are just making me angrier by the minute. They don't need to know every detail of my life, now do they? Apparently they do. Well, according to Lavender they do at least.

“You're ditching Ron in Hogsmeade to meet up with Harry.” Lavender said, very matter of factly. How in the world did she know that??? Come on now, Hermione, pull yourself together. She must have just been there when Harry asked you to meet him by the lake. She was in the library. But if they heard- if those two heard than the whole school knows by now! What- no!

“You can't tell anyone.” I say immediately. I hate myself for letting them know that they're right, it just provokes more eavesdropping of sorts on other people. They get away with everything, those two do.

They're both grinning at me in a very frightening, maniacal way. “If you let us make you… look, well, presentable for Hogsmeade, or rather, for Harry, we won't tell a soul. You could really use it, you know.” Lavender replied with a grin. Make me over? Oh there is no way I am letting them do that. Then again, my friendship with Ron is sort of on the line here. Perhaps I should just let them and get it over with. I know how long they've been wanting to do that for anyway.

“Fine.” I snap and crawl into my bed, looking forward to a very nice long rest before tomorrow. Merlin knows I'm going to need it- wouldn't want to be tired when Lavender and Parvati are trying to make me look “presentable.” Damn I hate them sometimes.

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