'Ello again! Guess what? I lied. This chapter isn't all about clubbing, I kinda decided to take a step back and not rush it. This is pretty much just to tide you over so I can work on the clubbing scene. School is almost over and I am so happy! Then I'll be able to update that much quicker. Thank you soo much to all of you who reviewed, I love you lots! Here's the fourth chapter!!
*kisses*
lil_irish_girl
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Harry was gone before Hermione could open her eyes. Ron came up a second later.
"There you are." he looked so out of place in a book shop. "Ready to go back to Hogwarts?" Ron shuddered. "I don't like book stores."
"Sure." Hermione was in deep thought so she didn't talk to Ron the entire way back, but she did stop him from both holding her hand and putting his arm around her waist.
Once the two got back to Hogwarts and up to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione told Ron she had homework to finish and she went upstairs to her dorm. When she got to her bed, Hermione flung herself onto it and cried. For what reason, she did not know, but she did.
"What was I doing?" Hermione asked the empty room. "What was I thinking? Where did logical Hermione go, damnit!? I almost kissed Matt, and I had only known him for like, twenty minutes!! This is madness, I tell you, pure madness. But the only reason I almost kissed him was because..." realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She incredulously whispered the last of her sentence. "...because he looked like Harry. He had Harry's personality. Ron doesn't have Harry's looks or personality. Wait- why am I comparing people to Harry?"
Because you love him. The little know-it-all voice inside Hermione's head said.
"Of course I love Harry, he's my best friend." Hermione was talking to herself now.
You know what I mean. Love love.
"I don't love Harry like that! He's my best friend! That's just not right."
You know you're in love with him, or you wouldn't have had that dream last night about how you...
"Shut up!" Hermione's cheeks flamed red as she recalled the night before, when she had had a very... interesting dream about Harry that she would certainly never tell another living soul about. She contemplated the idea for a while, then tilted her head to the side. "I'm in love with Harry. I have officially fallen in love with my best friend. I love Harry Potter..." She fell asleep peacefully for the first time in a long time.
The next morning Hermione came down to the Great Hall for breakfast, finding Ron and Harry already there.
Was Harry always this adorable? Hermione thought as she watched him eat. Watch it, Hermione, keep yourself in check.
"Hi boys," she said brightly as she sat down and started putting food on her plate. "What's up?"
"Nuffink." Ron was in the process of stuffing his mouth with food. "Wasoopvitchu?"
"I plan to do some homework after breakfast, then a little light reading." she turned her attention to Harry. "And what do you plan to do today, Harry?"
Harry seemed to be in a trance, which was broken when Hermione started talking to him. "Huh? Oh, I'm gonna play Quidditch after breakfast, then I suppose I have to start Snape's Potions essay."
Hermione didn't get a chance to respond because just then a small girl, no older than second year, came up to her shyly.
"Are you Hermione?" she asked, holding a small slip of paper in her hand.
"Yes, that's me." Hermione looked somewhat confused, but smiled just the same. "What do you need, sweetie?"
"Here." the little girl thrust the piece of paper into Hermione's hand, then smiled warmly at Harry and walked off.
"What was that about?" Hermione had obviously noticed the exchange of glances between the girl and Harry.
"What was what?" Harry appeared oblivious, staring at Hermione intently. "Was that paper she gave you? Fascinating. Why don't you read it?"
Hermione did so, and with every passing second her expression looked more and more murderous.
"What is it, Herms?" Ron had finally swallowed. "Read it to us."
"OK," Hermione said, then began to read:
Real eyes
Realize
Real lies
But could you tell I was in disguise?
I said Matt Johnson, well I lied.
I can only pray now I'm not identified.
There was a silence, then Ron spoke.
"What was that load of shit? What does it mean?"
"Watch your language, Ron. It means that he lied." Hermione stared into the distance, thinking. "He probably figured out I was a major bookworm and that he couldn't want a girl like me. He backed out, and I find that incredibly low. All guys are idiotic, moronic, jerks."
Another silence. Again Ron broke it.
"Well then, what the hell am I, a duck?"
Hermione shot daggers at the red head sitting next to her. "Yes, Ronald. You're a duck." And she stalked off. Ron looked at Harry incredulously.
"Do I really look like a duck?" he asked.
Harry thought for a minute, then said, "No, mate. You look like an idiot." he walked away with a murmured, "I'm going to find Hermione." he already knew where she was, however: the library. On his way there, Harry walked by a disoriented looking witch with dreamy eyes.
"Hey Luna." Harry said, catching her attention. "What's up?"
"There's an infestation of Nargles on the fourth floor." Luna spoke dully and didn't look too happy about something.
"What's the problem?" Harry sat down next to her.
"Does Ron not know I exist?" she suddenly asked. "I mean, I've done pretty much everything to show him that I'm in love with him, but he's too freakin' oblivious!" Luna groaned. "He's spending too much time with Hermione, it's driving me crazy."
"You're not alone in that boat." Harry was thinking hard. "Ron doesn't deserve Hermione."
"You're right about that." Luna agreed. "Wait a minute, you fancy her, don't you?"
"I love her." Harry was smiling. "Hey Luna, what would you say if I could help you get Ron?"
"I would ask how it could be done, and how I could help." Luna looked oddly excited.
"All you have to do is help me with my plan to get Hermione- you'll get Ron."
"OK, I'll help."
Harry was grinning now. "Thanks, Luna. I'll give you more details later, right now I'm going to go find Hermione."
On his way to the library, Harry bumped into another person, this time a male, with silky blonde hair.
"Sorry." the boy mumbled as he brushed past, apparently deep in thought.
"Well, I never thought I'd see the day where a Malfoy apologized to a Potter." Harry teased, looked somewhat concerned. "What's up, Malfoy?"
"I'm just confused, is all." Draco looked at his friend. "You're not with Ginny, are you?"
Harry shook his head. "No, I'm in love with Hermione. Why?"
"I knew you had a thing for Granger." Draco looked smug. "But I'm confused about Ginny."
"You fancy her, don't you?"
"I think I'm in love with her."
"Well, you've got a good chance with her, mate. I heard she doesn't fancy anyone right now, and she's got nothing against you."
"Thanks, Potter."
"No problem. Hey, Malfoy, would you help me with a little plan of mine if I told you that you could get Ginny in the process?"
"Sure."
Harry smiled. "Great, I'll give you details later. I'm off to find Hermione."
Humming tunelessly, Harry waltzed into the library. He found her, just as he suspected, buried beneath a mountain of books. Harry slowly sat down in the seat next to her.
"Hi Harry." Hermione didn't look up from the pile of books. Aw, he came! She thought. He's so sweet.
"Hey Hermione." Harry cautiously took a small pile of books down so he could see her face. "Are you alright?"
"I think so." Hermione put the book down and looked directly at Harry. "Just a little confused.
Aren't we all. "Can I help?" he looked concerned.
"Can I ask you a question?" her voice turned semi-business like. "But you have to promise not to be offended."
"Of course I won't be offended." Harry assured. "Ask away."
"OK. Why do guys think it's alright to mess with girls' hearts?" she said it in a rush, her eyes closed. Hermione slowly opened one to see Harry smiling softly.
"Guys... are idiotic, moronic, jerks." Harry grinned at her as she playfully rolled her eyes. "I don't know, really. We're insensitive idiots who don't care about anyone's feelings but our own. Does that help?"
Hermione laughed softly. "No, actually, it doesn't. Thanks for trying."
But Harry was too eager to help. "No, I'm going to help you. Tell me your situation."
"You'll think it's silly, or stupid." Hermione shook her head. "You're going to laugh."
"Aw, 'Mione." Harry got up, stood behind Hermione, and looked her in the eye. "I promise you I'm not gonna laugh."
Hermione sighed and lay her head back, staying level because Harry was supporting her head with his hands. "When I was with Ron in Hogsmeade, we separated for a little while, and-"
"-you went to Flourish and Blotts?" Harry interrupted.
"Yes. I was in Flourish and Blotts and I ran into a guy. I went walking around with him for awhile and I-"
"- felt like you've known him forever."
"Yeah, exactly. When we got back I gave him a hug and then-"
"- you two proceeded to kiss, which was totally unlike you."
"Yeah." He knows everything I'm thinking! "But we didn't. Then this morning-"
"- he sent you a little rhyme saying, or meaning, that he'd rather forget the whole thing."
"Precisely." Hermione gazed into Harry's eyes. "It's like you were there."
I was there. "I'm good at guessing these kinds of things, I s'pose."
"Apparently." Hermione looked into his eyes helplessly again. "What should I do, Harry?"
"You honestly want my opinion?" Hermione nodded slightly. "Forget about the little jackass, you're better than him. You deserve better."
Hermione's head shook slightly due to her laughter. "Thanks, Harry. I'll remember that for the next time some guy breaks my heart."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll break more than your fair share of hearts, 'Mione." Harry's tone was serious. "Guys will come around, they just need a little time to get used to the fact that there is a girl smarter than anyone."
Hermione blushed. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"No, 'Mione, I'm not." Harry sat back down, took her hands and stared directly into her eyes. "You are truly beautiful- inside and out."
"That's very sweet of you, Harry, but-"
"I'm not finished." Harry's expression softened. "Hermione, I should have told you this a while ago. I-" before he could finish his sentence, a slightly irritated looking red head stormed into the library, apparently on a mission. The person looked around a little, then braced their feet and screamed.
"OH HARRYYYYYYYYYYYYY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Ron's voice was shrill, and surprisingly high for a male.
"RON! STOP SHOUTING! I'M OVER HERE!" Harry yelled in an attempt to shut Ron up.
"NO YELLING IN THE LIBRARY!!!" Madame Pince shouted from behind her desk, loud enough for half the castle to hear.
"Madame Pince, you might want to say that again." Ron looked smug, but spoke politely. "I think some people in China didn't hear you." just as he skipped up to where Harry and Hermione were sitting, Harry let go of her hands and stood up.
"Where have you been?!" Ron's sudden outburst reminded Harry of Mrs. Weasley.
"Sorry mum." Harry looked exasperated. "But bloody hell Ron, this is a library for God's sake, why were you yelling?"
"I couldn't find you." Ron folded his arms against his chest. "And I need to talk to you. Now."
"Do you two have a date or something?" Hermione looked amused.
"With him?! Oh God, no." Harry looked disgusted. Ron's eyes lit up.
"Yes, in fact, we do." Ron put his arm around Harry's shoulder, who immediately backed away, looking afraid. "We have to go talk about Harry's Firebolt." Ron spoke through gritted teeth. Harry groaned- he hated cryptic messages. Then it sunk in. He hit his head.
"I'm sorry, I forgot, Ron." Harry spoke quickly. "But someone was a bit preoccupied with being a duck this morning and someone had to go check on Hermione."
"Why did you emphasize Hermione?"
"Did I? Sloppy speaking emphasis, I suppose."
"Yes, well, whatever." Ron grabbed Harry's hand and started pulling him towards the door. "Now let's go!" Just before they were fully out the door, Harry gave Hermione a look that obviously said "help me." Hermione laughed when they were out of sight and ear shot.
"I will never understand boys." she said as she returned to her homework, a small smile on her lips.
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"OK, Ron, what do you need to know?"
Harry and Ron were sitting in the common room, Harry looking irritated and Ron looking skeptical.
"I need to know what to do on the second date, and how to ask her on it." Ron talked calmly, even though he had his suspicions.
Harry sighed. "Alright." he had a feeling that Ron didn't trust him, so he decided to keep his lies under control for a little while. "You want to make the invitation for the next date romantic, but not in the whole "I so planned this" way. I know. Send her a dozen white roses, and have the card be something sweet, yet something funny. In the card, write: 'Our last date may not have turned out so well. Let me make it up to you. Meet me in the common room at 8:00 pm on Saturday night. Wear your dancing shoes. -Ron.' That way she has an idea of what you two will be doing, but she still isn't sure."
"OK." Ron looked seriously confused. I know Harry's been giving me the opposites, I'm not stupid. But why is all this new stuff sounding right? "What do I do on the date part?"
"Dance with her as much as possible. Don't do dorky dance moves. Electric slide, no. Hand jive, no. Nothing stupid to make you look like an idiot."
"What's a hand jive?"
"Good, you don't know what it is. Don't do it. When you're dancing with her and you two are touching, that is her arms are around your neck and yours are presumably around her waist, don't go too low. Girls, especially Hermione, hate it when women's bodies are treated without respect. Another thing: don't get drunk. I will personally kill you if you come back to this common room with too much alcohol in your system."
"OK..." Ron looked really confused now. "So basically, dance with her respectfully, and don't get drunk?"
"Pretty much, yeah." Harry was summing things up in his mind. He had a plan. "When you're walking back to Hogwarts, through Hogsmeade, you can try to hold her hand again."
"OK." Ron was getting up and walking towards the portrait hole. "I'm gonna go get the roses. See ya, Harry."
"Bye." Harry murmured as Ron walked out. "Crap." he said to himself. "I can't go to the club as myself, and Matt can't come. Who can?" then a smile graced his handsome features. "I know who can..."
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"Oh! Look at the beautiful roses!" Hermione breathed as she walked into her dorm room and found the twelve long stemmed white roses on her table. "These are my favorite." then she noticed the card. Opening it, the card read;
Our last date didn't turn out so well.
Let me make it up to you.
Meet me in the common room at 8:00 pm on Saturday night.
Don't forget your dancing shoes.
~Ron
"Dancing shoes?" Hermione murmured. "Oh well, I'll find out Saturday night, I suppose."
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The next few days passed quickly for Ron and increasingly slow for Harry and Hermione. Ron was very anxious about his next date with Hermione, Hermione was regretting it, and Harry still had to find a way to make his plan work. A couple more run- ins with Luna and Draco gave him a little more inspiration about how to go about it all, but he still needed help from his favorite red headed almost sister.
"GINNY!" Harry yelled from the bottom of the girls' dormitory staircase. "COME OUT HERE!!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Ginny was running down the stairs three at a time. "Keep your shorts on. What do you need?"
"I need to go through your closet again." Harry looked excited. "For another one of my plans."
Ginny faked a sigh. "Another one of your half baked schemes, huh?"
Harry shook his head violently. "Not half baked, Gin. Fully baked, it's fully baked!"
Ginny laughed. "OK, Harry, what exactly do you need for this "fully baked" scheme of yours?"
"Well, I'll need a wig, color contacts, something to make me look pale and skinny, and clothes to make me look arrogant."
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Saturday came all too quickly. Harry had caught Hermione looking at him a few times too many to be best friend looks, but he assured himself that it was just a fluke. Hermione couldn't be in love with him, she was too smart for that. Late that afternoon in the common room, Harry walked in to see Hermione dutifully working on her homework.
"It's a Saturday, you know." Harry came up behind her. "You don't actually have to do homework today. Plus you've got that date with Ron."
"I know." Hermione sighed. "But it's always nice to not have to do it on Sunday. How did you know that I have a date with Ron tonight?"
"Lucky guess." Harry muttered. Hermione noticed his tone, then quickly added, "I'm just saying it's all... weird for you two to go out. We're best friends, after all. The three of us."
"I guess so." Hermione was thinking. "But in a way I'm sure we already knew this was going to happen." she looked at her watch. "It's 7:30. I have to go get ready to meet Ron. Hey, he didn't tell you where we were going did he? If so, could you tell me?"
"I've got no idea." Harry was such a good liar. "But I'm sure you'll find out in about a half hour or so."
With a melodramatic sigh, Hermione waltzed up the stairs and out of sight. Just then Ron came into the common room.
"Hey Harry." Ron sat in the chair where Hermione had recently left. "What's up? And have you seen
Hermione lately? I can't find her anywhere."
"Hi, not much, and no." Harry spoke quickly and in a monotone.
"OK.." Ron looked skeptical yet again. "I'll see you later than, mate. Got my date with Hermione in a half an hour." And without another word, he ran up to the boys' dormitory.
"Sooner than you think." Harry said with a smirk as soon as Ron was out of earshot. Then he left the common room in search of Ginny- he needed her expertise on makeovers again.
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"Ron, where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Ron and Hermione were walking down Hogsmeade, Ron looking happy and Hermione looking confused. They stopped when the two reached the Hog's Head.
"Why are we here?" Hermione was looking suspiciously at the building.
"Because here was the only place the portkey could be set up." Ron replied with a smile.
"We're taking a portkey?" Hermione hissed. "Is it authorized?"
Ron scoffed. "Of course not, but it's also undetectable."
Hermione sighed loudly. "OK, Ron, whatever you say."
The portkey was a crumpled up newspaper. Both of them touched it and a couple seconds later they were transported to a strange looking building with the words "The Alien Club" in neon lights at the top. They walked in to find many wizard teens there, dancing wildly to the infectious beat. Ron turned to Hermione and held out his hand.
"Care to dance?"
Hermione laughed softly. "Of course." she took his hand as he lead her to the dance floor. As Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, Ron remembered what Harry had said. Don't go too low on her waist, or it will ruin everything. He kept his hands at a respectable spot on her waist, and she seemed to think so too, for a little bit later she put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Then the song ended to be changed to a slower one. They joined hands and began dancing. Just then a hand tapped on Hermione's shoulder.
"May I cut in?" a snide voice asked. Hermione turned around, and gasped in surprise and shock when she saw who it was. Ron looked annoyed beyond all reason.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
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What did you guys think? Liked it, hated it, somewhere in between? Please review, I'll love you for it! I love you anyway, but oh well. Review! Constructive criticism too, I like those as well. Thanks for reading the chapter!
lil_irish_girl