We'll say one thing- this first part of the chapter was a LOT of fun to write. We think you guys will enjoy it as much as we did ;) Also, more of another couple that some of you guys like a lot as well. Please review!
The day progressed quickly, but the only thing on Harry's mind was his supposed fight in the Room of Requirement with Hermione. He knew he'd have to go easy on her- he'd been involved with many a physical argument before and Sirius had taught him well in self defence.
Hermione saw him stifle a yawn as they made their way down the corridor toward the room. "You sure you're up for this?" she asked him.
"If you feel like backing out I won't hold it against you," Harry replied.
"I'm actually looking forward to it," Hermione scoffed. "I feel like I'm getting a second wind actually."
"Good," Harry smirked at her.
"Okay," Hermione said when they reached the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. "We need to walk past this blank wall three times and think really hard about what we need."
"I know what I need," Harry muttered.
Hermione sighed. "How about you let me take care of this? With what you're thinking, we'll walk in and find a queen size bed or something!"
"Would that be such a bad thing?" he sent her a wicked grin.
"We're not using this room for that," Hermione said shaking her head. "Now let me concentrate..."
Harry watched her as she closed her eyes.
Hermione walked past the wall three times, thinking long and hard about what they would need. She remembered Harry's gym at Grimmauld Place and pictured it in her mind.
"There," she said triumphantly when a door appeared. "Come on."
Harry opened the door and stood back to let her go in first. "Whoa....good memory, Granger."
Hermione was pleased with what she'd come up with. She set her bag down and shrugged out of her cloak, exposing the gym shorts and shirt she'd put on before leaving her dormitory.
Harry couldn't stop the grin that spread out across his face at the sight of her; partly because of what she had on and partly because she really seemed to be taking this seriously. He was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt he'd thrown on after dinner.
"All right Potter," she said, turning to face him.
"This is actually a good idea you had," Harry said conversationally. "I mean you will need to know how to defend yourself without your wand. I can show you a few moves actually."
Hermione scoffed. "Or perhaps I can show you a few moves. I'm not a helpless little woman here."
"I never said you were," Harry said defensively. "But I do have more experience at this."
Hermione only smiled. "Well let's go then," she said, pulling her hair back at her nape.
"Okay," Harry said moving behind her. "Let's just pretend that you're out on your rounds and someone comes up behind you like this..." Harry said putting his arm around her neck and holding her tightly. "What would you do?"
Without a word, Hermione jabbed her elbow back into his stomach and brought her other hand back right into his nose.
"OW!" Harry yelped, taken completely by surprise.
"I'd do that," Hermione said, turning around.
Harry was hunched over covering his nose. "Merlin's beard, Hermione! What the hell was that?"
"I'm not here for a lesson," Hermione challenged.
Harry stood up and tried to regain his composure. That had to have been just beginner's luck. "Okay...alright...how about this time you attack me and I'll fend you off."
"Sure," she said, not giving him any warning by charging at him.
The next thing Harry knew, he was flat on his back, the wind knocked completely out of him. "Mmmph...."
Hermione rubbed her hands on her shorts. "Good job."
Harry was still struggling to catch his breath when Hermione stood over him and offered him her hand.
"No thanks," he struggled to his feet.
Hermione grinned. "Did you want to do some more?"
Harry glared at her. "You're not fighting fair."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "How am I not fighting fair?"
Harry only shook his head.
"Come on," Hermione tossed a wayward strand of hair out of her eyes. "Surprise me."
Harry stood up straight, putting on the facade that he wasn't hurting right now. He wasn't going to be easy on her this time. He approached her with a look of pure determination on his face.
He swung his fist out and she ducked, catching the back of his ankle with her foot.
He fell with a thud onto the mat. "HERMIONE!"
"What?" she asked with a grin.
Harry got to his feet and glared at her. "Come clean, Granger. Where you'd learn to fight like that?"
"Have you had enough yet?" she asked.
"You've had your fun," Harry said wincing as he felt a sharp pain in his ribs.
"Did I really hurt you?" she asked, concerned.
"No," Harry lied.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You won't be any less a man if you admit a girl kicked your arse."
"Not just any girl," Harry said sitting down and wincing yet again at the pain. "My bloody girlfriend."
Hermione suddenly grinned at him. "If you obviously weren't in such pain I'd knock you down and snog the lights out of you right now."
"I-I'm okay," Harry coughed.
Hermione went to her bag and got her wand and a potion. "Drink this," she said.
"So you had a feeling that I'd end up like this," Harry said taking the bottle from her.
"Just an inkling," she replied. "I've been taking tae kwon do since I was six years old."
"Something that I probably should have known before I agreed to this," Harry said before downing the contents of the bottle.
"I was going to tell you," she said. "But you were so insistent that I needed to learn a few things that I thought you could find out for yourself."
"You're enjoying this," Harry said.
"Yes I am," Hermione touched her wand gently to his nose. "There."
"Thanks," Harry said. "You have anything to fix my wounded pride?"
She laughed. "Like what?"
"I don't know," Harry admitted, feeling the pain in his ribs slowly going away. "You can't tell anyone you did this to me."
"It'll be our secret," Hermione promised. "But maybe I'll just tell Sirius..."
Harry glared at her. "Especially not Sirius. He already gives me a hard enough time about you as it is."
"He does?" Hermione asked interestedly.
"Yeah," Harry said getting to his feet. "He likes you, you know?"
"I like him too," Hermione answered, also standing up.
She walked over behind him and put her arms around his waist. "You not going to flip me over your shoulder are you?" he asked warily.
"No," Hermione said with a grin. "Would you like me to?"
"No," Harry answered quickly. "I've taken enough abuse for one night, thank you."
"Poor baby," Hermione said her voice sweet. "Sit down."
Harry laughed. "Okay, but no funny stuff, Granger."
"No funny stuff," she promised.
Harry sat down on the mat.
She began to knead her hands over his shoulders, rubbing the tense muscles gently.
"This is more like it," he said closing his eyes. She was quite good at this.
"I figured you'd like this better," Hermione smiled.
"Much," Harry said, his eyes still closed.
She was dying to ask if he'd really meant it when he'd called her his girlfriend, but wasn't sure if it was a slip of the tongue or not and she didn't want to draw any negative attention to it.
"You're awfully quiet," he commented.
"Just revelling in my win," Hermione teased gently.
"If I'd known I was going up against Bruce Lee's younger sister maybe I would have done better," Harry said defensively.
Hermione laughed. "You poor baby."
"It's not everyday that a bloke gets beat up by his girlfriend," Harry said turning to look at her. "Cut me some slack."
"Is that what I am?" she asked before she could stop herself. "Your girlfriend?"
Harry hadn't even realised he'd called her that. "Um...well...."
"I don't mind," she said softly, sitting down next to him.
He knew she didn't mind, but he was scared to death of this whole commitment thing. But looking at her now, he couldn't bring himself to tell her that he didn't want a girlfriend. Or at least he didn't think he wanted a girlfriend. Being with her alone like this made him even more confused than ever and had him doubting every choice he'd ever made. "I've never had a serious girlfriend before, Hermione," he heard himself saying.
"Oh," she looked at her hands. "Well I've never shagged anyone before, yet I've done it twice with you. I'm not necessarily one for labelling things, but... I don't know."
"I'm not really good at this," Harry said standing up. "I like to pretend that I am, but I'm not. And you---you could do so much better than me."
"Perhaps," Hermione said, moving closer. "But I don't really want to."
"I'm arrogant, moody, condescending," Harry said listing his faults for her. "Not to mention that I'm--"
"Stop," Hermione cut him off. "Are you trying to push me away now or something?"
"No, of course not," Harry said quickly.
"I don't' care about the bad things," Hermione said. "I have bad qualities too Harry."
He met her gaze. "I like being with you. When I'm not with you, I think about you. I love the way your eyes light up when you think you've gotten one over on me. I hated the way Viktor Krum looked at you. And if it wasn't for you, I'd have been gone weeks ago."
Hermione felt her eyes fill with tears. "Harry..."
"I've said something wrong," Harry said seeing her tears. He put his head in his hands. "I told you---"
"Not at all," Hermione threw her arms around him.
Harry stumbled back. If he lived to be a hundred years old, he'd never understand girls. "Hermione," he said laughing.
"I'm sorry," she wiped her eyes. "But what you just said means a lot to me."
"You mean a lot to me," he said leaning in and kissing her forehead.
"Same here," Hermione whispered, looking up at him as he slid his arms around her.
"You know," Harry said. "I'm actually still hurting..."
"You can't be," Hermione said. "That potion--"
"It still hurts a little," Harry cut her off. "Right here...."
Hermione shook her head. "Your lips?"
"When you tripped me, I fell on my face," he pointed out. "Really, really hurts..."
She laughed. "Big baby," she said softly before leaning in and kissing him.
"And um...right here," Harry said touching his chest. "Really, really hurts."
"You're milking this for all it's worth," Hermione said, reaching for the hem of his shirt.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Harry said innocently.
"It's a good thing I lo--like you this much," Hermione covered quickly as she helped him pull off his shirt.
"You treat all the boys you fancy like this?" Harry teased her.
"Hardly," she said, gripping the bottom of her tank top.
"Good," Harry grinned putting his hands over hers. "Let me."
She smiled at him, her body warming up already at his touch.
He slowly took her tank top off and threw it on the floor. "Beautiful."
Hermione blushed.
"You are," he said reaching up and touching her cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered, kissing him again.
They sank down onto the mat. "Hermione Jane..."
"How did you know my middle name?" she asked softly.
"Sirius let me read your file," Harry said sheepishly. "Daughter of Robert and Elinore Granger, Muggle dentists."
Hermione laughed. "I'm impressed you took the time," she said, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
"Funny how your file never mentioned the martial arts training," Harry said smiling down at her.
"All girls have their secrets," she grinned back at him.
Harry kissed her again.
Hermione ran her hands up and down his back as their kiss grew quite passionate.
"Hermione," Harry said against her skin as he trailed kisses down her neck.
Her breath was coming in short gasps and she was unable to reply verbally.
"I need to be inside you now," Harry said huskily.
Hermione nodded. "Now," she agreed weakly.
Harry kicked off his jeans and boxer shorts and then settled back down on top of her. He kissed her as he slid into her.
It no longer hurt, and Hermione let out a satisfied purr as she arched so Harry could go further in.
Harry took his time, tenderly caressing and kissing her as they moved together.
"This gets better each time," Hermione managed.
"Third time is the charm," Harry said cheekily, causing her to giggle.
She moaned as he pressed himself inside her again and bit her lower lip hard as she felt herself nearing release.
That sent Harry over the edge and he thrust into her once more.
Her cry ripped through the room as she arched again.
Harry choked out her name before collapsing against her.
Hermione tried to catch her breath as he rolled off to her side.
"Let's stay here tonight," Harry said looking at her. "Please?"
Hermione hesitated. "It would be hard to do that due to the nature of this room."
"Come back to mine then," Harry said resting his arm on her waist. "You know you want to..."
She nodded. "That I can do..."
Harry kissed her. "Sweetheart..."
"Yeah?" she asked, pushing his hair off his scar and tracing it with her finger.
And he almost told her then. But, something held him back. "You...um..."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing," Harry said pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"We should get out of here," Hermione said. "No telling when someone might need the room."
"Right," Harry said reaching for his clothes. "Luna might be needing the room to kick Ron's arse."
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, drawing her shorts back on.
"You used it to kick mine," Harry reminded her. "And she fancies him like you fancy me."
Hermione laughed. "I'd pay to see her kick Ron's arse. Merlin knows he needs a good ass kicking."
"I think you could do it," Harry said putting on his sweatshirt.
"I'd love to," Hermione said dryly.
Harry pulled her to him and gave her a lingering kiss. "I guess I have one more thing to ask you."
"What's that?" she asked. "YOU want lessons?"
"No," he replied, poking her side. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to be my girlfriend, but since you said that..."
"You already know the answer to both questions," Hermione said, pulling her tank top down.
Harry grinned. "So can I write Vicky and break the news to him then?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "He never even had a chance."
They gathered the rest of their belongings and left the room. Hermione leaned against Harry as they crept along the corridor. He has his Invisibility cloak with him, but he didn't care to use it. He was so happy right now, he wouldn't care who caught them skulking around the halls past curfew.
She linked their fingers together. "We should patrol before we go to bed."
"Mmmhmmm," Harry murmured in agreement.
"You know..." she said hesitantly. "We should um... check up near the Third Floor again."
"We don't have to," he told her.
"But we should," Hermione said. "And if you're there..."
"You showed me tonight that you can more than take care of yourself," he said looking at her.
"I still feel safer with you." Hermione said softly. "I guess sometimes, when I'm panicked, I still don't react the way I should."
"It's going to come with time," Harry reassured her. "And when we do find out who's responsible for this, I'm going to make them pay for what they tried to do to you."
Hermione gave him a quick kiss. "We'll both make them pay for what they've done to everyone."
Harry heard footsteps and he pulled Hermione behind a pillar. The footsteps came closer and they saw Draco Malfoy heading purposely down the corridor.
"I think we might be going on a detour," Harry whispered reaching into his bag for the Invisibility cloak.
She nodded. "Right."
Draco looked at his watch. He'd had some unfinished business to attend to with Pansy Parkinson and he was late for his "meeting with Ginny Weasley". He hadn't seen the redhead since dinner, but he'd told her that something had come up and he wouldn't be able to meet her until after curfew. She'd scoffed and told him she wouldn't be there, but he had a feeling he wouldn't be disappointed.
"I don't know where he's going," Hermione whispered almost inaudibly. "But I'm sure he's up to no good."
Draco hurried up the steps to the Astronomy Tower looking over his shoulder to make sure no one had followed him. He smiled when he spotted her looking out at the night sky. "You came," he whispered.
Ginny froze when she heard him.
"I didn't realise until after what a risk it was for you to come out like this," Draco said walking over to join her. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I'm fine," Ginny said, pulling back. "I... I'm not sure why I came."
"You were curious," Draco said thoughtfully.
"I suppose," Ginny kept her distance from him.
Draco was silent as he looked out at the ground below. "I first noticed you....really noticed you on the Hogwarts Express. You were sitting with Lovegood and McDonald, but you were staring out the window. You looked about as lost as I felt."
"I'm not lost," Ginny snapped.
"What's with the animosity, Ginevra?" Draco asked. "I just wanted to talk to you. There's no harm in that, is there?"
"Just... don't come too close to me," Ginny said nervously.
Draco respected her boundaries and leaned against the wall. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about this morning."
"Me either," she admitted.
Draco smiled at her. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I wouldn't hurt you."
"Look one or two kisses don't exactly make you trustworthy," Ginny replied.
"I've done a lot of bad things in the past," Draco admitted. "We don't need to rehash them, okay?"
Ginny folded her arms and stared at him.
"Do you want to go?" he asked her. "I can walk you back to Gryffindor Tower."
"You're joking right?" Ginny asked. "YOU walk ME back?"
Draco sighed and shook his head. "Okay, fine. Go back by yourself. I'm out of here."
"Wait!" Ginny called before she could stop herself.
Draco stopped in the walkway and slowly turned around. "What do you want? I don't care to play games, Ginevra."
"Games?" Ginny asked. "What are you playing with me? Luna Lovegood announces to the entire Great Hall that you fancy me and I'M the only playing games?"
She had a point, he begrudgingly admitted. He stepped closer to her. "You came here to meet me and I want to know why."
"I don't know why," Ginny said softly. "I just sort of felt drawn here."
"Like I'm drawn to you," Draco said reaching for her arm. "It doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it, but you just can't stop yourself."
Ginny shook her head wordlessly. She wanted to stop this- she wanted to tell him she had Neville waiting for her but she couldn't. It was as if she'd lost all powers of speech.
He cupped her face in his hands. "I can't get you out of my mind."
"I can't get you out of mine," Ginny echoed.
Draco pressed his lips to hers.
In the corner, Hermione and Harry looked on in complete shock as Ginny kissed him back.
"What...the..." Hermione was completely astounded.
Harry put his hand over Hermione's mouth. "Shhh..."
Ginny pulled away to catch her breath. "I can't do this..."
"Why?" Draco asked.
"Neville," Ginny said quietly. Just saying his name sent her into a shame spiral.
"What ABOUT Longbottom?" Draco asked impatiently.
"I care about him," Ginny said softly. "I don't want to hurt him."
"What would he say if he knew you were up here with me?" Draco asked. "You kissed me back, and that's twice now."
"What about you and Parkinson?" Ginny shot back. "Does she know where you are right now?"
"Parkinson and I aren't exclusive," Draco said lazily.
"Forgive me if I don't want to be your little side dish," Ginny retorted.
"I'd dump her for you," Draco said.
"That's the most romantic offer I've ever had," Ginny said rolling her eyes. "You don't even know me!"
"Then why are you here?" he asked, his eyes burning into hers.
"Why couldn't you just leave me alone?" Ginny asked weakly as he took her in his arms again. "Why couldn't you leave me alone?"
"You came here on your own," he said huskily, leaning in again.
Ginny's defences melted away when he kissed her again.
"You want this," he said, pressing his lips to her neck.
"Yes," Ginny whispered.
He ran his hands down and brought them back up, his fingers touching her skin.
Hermione had seen enough and she tugged on Harry's arm signalling that she was ready to go. She couldn't believe Ginny would do this to Neville!
"I can't bloody believe her!" she erupted when they were a safe distance away from the tower.
"I thought she cared about Nev," Harry said shaking his head.
"Same here," Hermione was thoroughly disgusted. "Neville's a nice guy and he likes her so much. He deserves better."
"He'll need to find this out on his own," Harry said quietly. When Hermione opened her mouth to reply, Harry held up his hand. "He wouldn't believe it coming from either of us, Hermione. He needs to see that for himself."
"I suppose you're right," Hermione admitted.
"And he does deserve better than that," Harry said. "And he'll need his friends around when he finds out about this."
"I've always liked Neville," Hermione said. "For the longest time, he was the only person who'd give me the time of day."
Harry put his arms around her. "Confirms my suspicion that people around here are barmy."
"Not everyone is," Hermione said coyly.
"Not me," Harry said grinning down at her. "I know how great you are."
Hermione leaned in and kissed him.
"Come on," he said when they pulled apart. "Let's finish our rounds and then go to bed."
She nodded. She really didn't want to go back up by the third floor but she knew they had to.
He put his arm around her. "I hope you don't expect me to dance much at this ball. I'm not much of a dancer."
"I'm really not either," Hermione said.
"So if I step on your feet or you step on mine, we'll have no one but ourselves to blame," Harry teased.
Hermione smiled at him. "You're incorrigible."
Harry pulled her close. "You love me for it."
More than you know, Hermione thought.
In the Astronomy Tower, Ginny finally summoned the will to push away from Draco. "I-I have to go."
"You just got here," Draco pointed out.
"It's late," Ginny argued. "And I'm tired and you're confusing me!"
"I don't see what's to be confused about," Draco said, his normal smirk gone. "I want you, Red."
"To play with," Ginny said sarcastically. "You and I both know that you'd never let your friends see you with me. I saw how you reacted when Luna blabbed it all in the Great Hall."
"She took me by surprise, okay?" Draco's eyes narrowed.
"And let's not forget your parents," Ginny continued. "How would they react if they knew their son was cavorting with a lowly Weasley?"
"Let me handle that," Draco said. "You worry too much."
"Not to mention my brothers," Ginny said quietly. "Ron, especially."
"So basically you're saying you're too scared," Draco said, his tone becoming slightly patronizing.
"I am not scared," Ginny scoffed. "I'm a Gryffindor. We don't get scared. I'm simply pointing out the obstacles to you and I having a relationship."
"You're pointing out excuses," Draco corrected.
Ginny sighed. "Maybe I am scared, okay? You aren't exactly the most trustworthy person in the world. For all I know you're playing me."
"If I was, do you think I'd still be here?" he asked his eyes boring into hers.
He leaned in to kiss her again, but Ginny turned away. "This would be easier if it was just me, Draco. But there's Neville and I genuinely like him. He's the only boy who's ever really cared about me."
Draco pulled back disgustedly. "Then go to him," he said angrily. "Quit being a tease."
Ginny glared at him. "I'm not being a tease!"
Draco rolled his eyes in reply.
"If you thought I came up here to shag you, you're in for a rude awakening," Ginny said pulling her cloak tightly around her. "I don't do things like that. And the way you're acting now just proves that I should never have come up here."
"Then go," Draco said. "But you'll be back. You wouldn't have come if you didn't feel something too."
Ginny had no reply to that because a part of her knew he was right. "Goodbye, Malfoy," she said before turning on her heel and walking out.
She resolved to put this all behind her. Why ruin a good thing? Neville may not have been as dashing as Malfoy or as handsome as Harry, but he was sweet and he cared about her.
The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt Neville and she knew that she'd do whatever it took to forget about Malfoy.
At least, she hoped she could.