Chapter 3: "Daily Prophet Shockers, Apologies and a Plan Concocted"
Hermione woke up the next morning to find Luna and Ginny huddled over the Daily Prophet.
"What's in the paper today?" Hermione asked walking up to them to see. Ginny quickly brought the paper close to her so Hermione couldn't read it.
"Ok Hermione. Now you promise you wont panic." Ginny asked looking her in the eye.
Hermione inwardly started to panic but she told Ginny otherwise.
"Ok." She said. Ginny then looked at Luna and handed Hermione the paper,
On the front page was a picture of Harry and her. The picture Hermione was angrily yelling at Harry while the picture Harry was standing back looking confused. The Headlines read :
A Love Reunion Gone Astray- Former Hogwarts lovebirds Harry Potter and Hermione Granger try to rekindle the fire they had once created years ago but has it all gone horribly wrong? By: Camilla Stratslater
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were spotted in Diagon Alley right outside Madam Stella's Jewelry Boutique yesterday afternoon.. At first Potter and Granger seemed delighted to see one another giving the other what a nearby shopper called "a very love filled hug". Then it came all came crashing down when a nearby source heard Potter proposing marriage to Granger. She immediately dismissed the idea saying if caring was even enough for him to get married and what about love. And later calling him a "playboy" a muggle term for a man who has been with many women. Granger then ran off in tears. Leaving a heart broken Potter behind.
Did Hermione Granger actually confirm what we have been speculating all these months. Has the most talked about couple of the year, Harry Potter and Jacklyn O'Brien actually gone their separate ways. Jacklyn, who's been training with her team mates in Dublin, has been spotted getting a little cozy with team mate William Meyers. No word yet from either Potter or O'Brien. But has Potter already been spotted with yet ano….
Hermione set the newspaper down, she couldn't read anymore. She turned to them.
"Oh Merlin!" she said letting her head fall to the table.
"Hermione it's going to be all right. No one reads this trash." Ginny said.
"Are you kidding Ginny! Everyone reads Camilla's articles. It's Rita Skeeter take two." Hermione said.
Camilla Stratslater was the most popular journalist for the Daily Prophet. One of the biggest gossipers, any person who was in her articles you'd better believe anything said about them was not going to be good. Though miraculously she had a fan base Rita Skeeter would be envious of.
"That's why we don't have gossip columnists at The Quibbler. They cause too many problems." Luna said sighing. "Once daddy tried it and all of are readers actually thought the Whining Gulliper Goop did not exist."
They both looked at her, shook their heads and then returned to the newspaper.
"Look this will all blow over soon." Ginny said.
"No it wont! I mean we're talking about friggin Harry Potter! No one is going to get over this that quickly." Hermione said running her hands through her hair.
"Hermione! Can you be optimistic for once!" Ginny said upset.
Hermione sighed. She was being quite ridiculous.
"Your right, I'm sorry. I'm just overreacting like usual." Hermione said.
"Harry will probably will release some press statement debunking the rumors. Don't worry." Ginny said.
Hermione was starting to feel a little better. She got up to go get the mail.
"So me and Luna were going to go to the beach today, do you want to come?" Ginny asked as Hermione made it to the door.
Hermione opened the door nearly being blinded by photographers as the flash of their camera's was almost non stop. Hermione froze and then managed to close the door as they pushed up against it trying to get more pictures. She leaned against the door trying to catch her breath.
"You know what, I think I'm just going to stay home today." Hermione said to Ginny.
Ginny and Luna who were both staring amazed at the event that had just occurred nodded their head in unison.
"Yeah, I think that would be a good idea." Ginny said.
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Hermione laid on her bed as she read the page of the romance novel she was reading. She moved the fork around her bowl as she got some pasta around it. She shoved some in her mouth as she turned the page. Then a loud pop sounded and Harry appeared at the foot of Hermione's bed.
She looked up as a strand of pasta hung from her mouth. Then realizing it she slurped it inside her mouth and smiled at him embarrassed. He smiled back.
"So, we're in the paper." Harry said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, you should have seen the mob of photographers outside the flat this morning. Nearly scared me to death." Hermione said putting the bowl aside and standing up. She walked up to him.
"Are you serious! Are they still there." Harry asked, his green eyes widening with concern.
"I don't know I've been to scared to look." Hermione said.
"Well, don't worry this will all be cleared up by tomorrow morning. I released a statement to the press." Harry said.
Hermione sighed. "Oh thank you Harry. This is the last thing I needed. I have so much on my mind." She said sitting down on the bed. "I'm mobbed at work…oh merlin! Work. What are they going to say!" Hermione whined, groaning as she flopped backwards on the bed.
Harry chuckled. He then grabbed her arms and brought her back up. "They wont say anything. I talked to you boss and let him know the story." Harry said.
Hermione's eyes widened. 'Oh Harry will you marry me now!' Hermione thought. "Oh did you really, Harry! Thank you so much." Hermione said flinging herself on Harry and giving him a hug.
Harry laughed. "It was no problem. You're my best friend I would do that for you. Plus I still owe you back from our days at Hogwarts. All those late nights when you'd let me copy you work." Harry said.
Hermione froze in Harry's arms. "Harry, I never let you copy my work." She said pulling back and looking at him.
Harry then blushed. "Oh right… I would kind of take it from you when you weren't looking.. anyway…Uh….right I also talked to Jacklyn about what happened. She actually laughed about the whole thing." Harry said quickly changing the subject.
Hermione's insides turned at the mention of her name. "Why did she laugh?" Hermione asked.
"She thought the story Camilla came up with was absolutely ridiculous. Then she asked me why I was with you at the jewelry store. So, naturally, I had to come clean and well…she said yes! She's going to marry me!" Harry said grinning.
Hermione put the fakest smile she could muster and congratulated Harry. "That…That's great. By the way I'm sorry about how I acted. I was just a little surprised, that was all." She lied still smiling.
Harry held up his hand. "Don't, I understand. It's all right. Me and Jacklyn are going to have an engagement party, next weekend, at my house. Ginny's invited and of course I invited Ron so Luna's going." Harry said. "But please if you see her wearing something a little….weirder than usual can you ask her if she could mind changing…." Harry said uneasily to her, his eyes pleading.
Hermione sighed. "I'll try but you know Luna." She said.
"So will you be there? I really want you to come." Harry said holding her hands in his and staring her in the eye.
Hermione smiled weakly. "Sure." She said.
"Great. I'll see you then!" he said kissing her cheek and apparated.
Then Hermione calmly grabbed her pillow and then she started to hit her bed with screaming.
"WHY! WHY CANT I SAY NO! WHY CANT I JUST TELL HIM I ABSOLUTELY HATE JACKLYN AND I WANT TO RING HER NECK. AND THAT I THINK HE SHOULD MARRY ME AND FORGET ALL ABOUT HER. AND I WANT TO HAVE HIS CHILDREN." Hermione yelled hitting the pillow against the bed each time she said a word.
Ginny and Luna walked in on her after hearing the yelling and stared at her. Hermione continued to rant and rave. Her facial features almost savage like as her hair began to come out of the knot she had put it in and it was hanging wildly across her face. Ginny took a pillow without Hermione noticing and began to hit the bed as well.
"Why are you screaming at yourself!" Ginny mimicked Hermione. Hermione gasped at all of a sudden seeing Ginny next to her.
"What's wrong?" Luna asked coming up alongside them.
"Well apparently she wants to have Harry's babies." Ginny said smirking as Hermione blushed furiously.
"Oh well if she wants to I think she should ask Harry first." Luna said her big eyes looking at Hermione.
"No, I…I was just ranting. He was just here and apparently he's throwing an engagement party next weekend. Ginny you invited." Hermione said sitting down on the bed.
"What about me!" Luna asked putting a look of disappointment.
"Harry invited Ron so naturally he's going to take you." Hermione said looking at her as if why she would have asked that question.
"Oh good!" she said smiling in relief.
"Ranting my arse! You know every word you said was true!" Ginny said sitting beside her.
Hermione knew no matter what excuse she used it wouldn't work. They had heard what they heard and there wasn't taking it back.
"So what if it was. There's nothing I can do about it." Hermione said shaking her head.
"Not necessarily. I'm sure we can come up with something." Ginny said grinning mischievously. A grin so mischievous that it would make Fred and George proud.
"What do you mean come up with something?" Hermione said, starting to get worried about what exactly Ginny had in mind.
"We're going to have you get the guy!" Ginny said smiling triumphantly.
"Right, ok Ginny that'll happen." Hermione snorted chuckling at the preposterous statement Ginny had made.
"It will trust me! Luna will help to." Ginny said.
"I will? I mean of course!" Luna said shaking her head.
Hermione looked at Ginny scared at exactly what she had in mind. She remembered the failed attempts at getting Hermione dates and for getting guys to notice Hermione.
One memory in particular was when Hermione went to one of Hogsmeade's fanciest restaurant's with a guy Ginny had merely described as "hunky". Well sure, he was, but she had left out the minor detail that he had previously been a patient at St. Mungo's who would sometimes go into little relapses which consisted of him hiding under the table and giggling madly.
"No offense Ginny but we have never had much luck when you have tried to set me up with guys." Hermione said.
"I know but with Luna's help we'll definitely get Harry to dump what's her face." Ginny said enthusiastically.
Somehow the prospect of Luna helping wasn't exactly comforting nor did it have Hermione forgetting the uneasy feeling she was getting with the thought of what was going to happen if she said yes to Ginny. Though she was her best friend and she should give her one more chance.
"Fine…"Hermione said. Ginny jumped up happily.
"Great! Luna try to get Ron in on this to." Ginny said to Luna.
"Wait! Ron's going to be in this!" Hermione said her eyes widening.
"Yeah! I mean he practically sees Harry every day! He can definitely help us!" Ginny said.
Hermione sighed. "All right." She said.
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"So, Ginny wants us to try to get Harry and Hermione together?" Ron said rubbing the towel over his wet hair.
"Yes, she does. I think it's a rather lovely idea! Two best friends falling in love." Luna said looking even more dreamy than she usually did as she leaned against the sink.
"Luna, come on this isn't some sort of love story we're involved in." Ron said.
"What if we were…what if someone was reading what we were saying right at this exact moment." Luna said looking as though she were in thought.
Ron looked at the woman he loved and shook his head. He took her face in his hands and kissed her lips. He then put his forehead against hers.
"Sometimes you still amaze me at the ideas you come up with." He said. H e then pulled away and sighed. "What exactly is it that you want me to do?" he said walking into his bedroom.
"Well we were thinking something along the lines of you mentioning how you met Hermione's date to the party and how he's a great guy." Luna said following him. "And how Hermione is really head over heels for him and etc. etc."
Ron groaned as he laid down in bed with his arms behind his head. He turned to Luna.
"And who exactly is Hermione bringing to the party?" he asked.
Luna then put an uneasy look on her face. "There's the problem…we don't know. Ginny said she'd find someone." She said looking at him.
Ron burst out laughing. "Oh man, how did Ginny convince Hermione to let her help set her up once again." He said amused.
Luna shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea. And I'm supposed to be the one who's loony." She said.
Ron chuckled and reached up to kiss her again. "Yes but you're my loony." He said. She smiled against his lips.
"Hopefully she'll find someone who will really sweep her off her feet." Luna said laying down next to him.
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"Draco please!" Ginny begged on the verge of getting down on her knees.
"No! I am not going to some stupid engagement party of Potter's with Granger! Are you crazy." He said as he stirred his tea and sat down.
"Oh that's very mature. Still referring to them as that." Ginny said rolling her eyes.
"Hey I wasn't the one whining a moment ago." He said taking a sip.
Ginny grabbed a scone and tore off a piece and stuffed it in her mouth. "I'm just desperate! I need a date for her." She said sitting across from him.
"Why cant she just get a date herself. Is she that desperate." Draco asked.
Ginny gave him a look. "I took it upon myself to get her a date. It's all part of a plan I thought up." She said standing up. "But since your not going to help me."
She started to make her way out when Draco sighed and said: "Wait…" She turned around.
"I cant go because I'm working weekends to try to help Sam." Draco said. "But I think I have someone in mind that will agree. He went to Hogwarts with us."
"Oh thank you Draco! Who?" Ginny asked.
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AN: Thank you all for reviewing! I'm so happy to hear that you all enjoy my story! I most likely will continue posting chapters on portkey. Not sure if I will continue on ff.net, but the outcome is most likely no. Thanks again and please review! = )