A lot of the reviews I got for the last chapter said things like "Ginny can't love Harry!" "What's going on?" and things like that. What- you think I'd turn this into a Harry/Ginny? No!! Everything will explain itself in this next chapter, which I worked on like a maniac 'cause I'm trying to get this finished before the Deathly Hallows comes out. Just like to say- I used "Cold Stone Creamery" in here and I quoted from the previews for the movie "License to Wed." I haven't seen it yet, but I really want to. I also used an idea from this one show thing with Amanda Bynes but the name escapes me. Anyway- here's the next chapter! Enjoy!!
*kisses*
lil_irish_girl
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Previously on The Date Doctor;
"Harry... I love you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry laughed loudly and openly. Everyone else stared, shocked, at his reaction. Ginny looked hurt. Hermione looked ready to pounce at the red head.
"I'm sorry, Gin." he apologized. "But you can't love me. I can't love you back, anyway. See, I'm in love with Luna." Ron, oddly enough, looked ready to hit Harry.
It was Luna's turn to laugh. "Oh Harry." she said dreamily. "That's quite impossible. You see, I'm in love with Draco."
Draco cackled. "Oh, Lovegood." he said loudly. "You simply cannot be in love with me. For," his expression softened. "I'm in love with Ginny."
Harry's eyes went wide. He glared at Draco, trying to communicate without words. Draco, you idiot. That wasn't part of the plan.
Draco glared back, as if to say, Well, how do you expect to fix it now? Huh? I already said it.
"Draco." Harry said with a forced smile on his face. "Don't you mean you love Hermione?"
"Huh?" Hermione looked shocked and baffled.
"No!" Draco yelled. "No offense, Granger. But I am absolutely, positively in love with Ginny Weasley."
"You are?" Ginny asked quietly.
"I am." Draco looked directly into her eyes.
"Sorry, Harry, I'm over you. I love Draco too." Ginny never broke eye contact with the blonde boy, even for a second.
"You do?" Draco asked.
"I do." she replied. Draco then kissed her from across the table. After about five minutes, Ron decided to interrupt the snog fest.
"Hello?" he said loudly. "Ever come up for air?" The two broke apart reluctantly.
"Yeah?" Draco looked irritated. "What do you want, Weasley?"
"I would rather not watch my sister snog her apparent new boyfriend." Ron looked disgusted.
"OK, I think I have an agreement here." Hermione was trying to keep the peace. "How about Ginny and Draco don't snog when Ron's around and Ron gets a little more mature, huh? Can we all agree to that?"
Draco and Ginny sighed simultaneously. "Fine." they muttered.
"Alright." Ron agreed. "But on one condition..."
"What's that, Ronald?" Hermione asked.
"I WANT MORE DIET COKE!!!" he yelled. Hermione ordered a glass of Diet Coke to calm him down. When it arrived, he downed it quickly then started jumping up and down as the caffeine started to catch up to him.
"So how 'bout we head down to the ice cream place down the street for dessert?" Harry asked.
"That sounds nice," Hermione said, smiling at him.
"Does anyone want to know what's really fun?!" Ron asked hysterically. "JUMPING UP AND DOWN! I mean it just gets you all pumped and your blood flowing and it makes you feel so alive you think you just might want to-"
"Ronald!" Hermione said irritably. "Please stop talking."
"Fine. Be that way." Ron continued bouncing up and down in his chair. "But I still think it's fun. Hey hey hey!! Let's do this one thing I read about in one of my dad's Muggle books. Everybody do the wave! Whoooo!!" Ron started waving his arms up and down. When no one joined in with him, he glared at them all and muttered. "Well it looked fun in the pictures."
"How about that ice cream, then?" Harry was obviously trying to get out of the pizza place as quickly as possible.
There was a murmur of agreement and after paying for the food, they all walked out of the restaurant and headed across
the street to Cold Stone Creamery.
"Look at the pretty cone!" Ron shouted in excitement, gesturing to the picture at the top of the building as he was getting dragged by Luna. "I want one just like it when we get inside!"
"Fine Ronald." Luna said soothingly. "We'll get you a cone just like that." he seemed happier after she said that and practically skipped across the street to get to Cold Stone faster. Everyone was amazed that he didn't get hit by any cars or other vehicles. Hermione oh-so-casually slid her small, soft hand into Harry's larger, calloused one and smiled.
"So," she whispered. "You're in love with Luna?"
Harry blushed. "Well, I was. But if her heart belongs to Draco, then that's the way it has to be."
"Wanna know who I love? Like in the song?" Hermione was surprised at her bravery. I'm actually going to tell Harry I'm in love with him?
"Yeah, 'Mione." Harry whispered, curious. "Who do you love?"
Hermione leaned in towards Harry and whispered in his ear. "I love-"
"Oi, Potter!" yelled Draco from behind him, his arm wrapped around Ginny's shoulder. "Getting cozy with Granger, are you?"
"Shut it, Malfoy." Harry answered, glaring at Draco. "Leave us alone. Whatever we're talking about is none of your business."
"Fine, whatever." Draco said with a slight shrug. "But that snogging rule goes for you two as well, you know." Both Harry and Hermione blushed crimson.
"C'mon, you lot!" Ron yelled from the sidewalk, hand in hand with Luna. "Ice cream awaits!"
"Ron!" Harry yelled, still hand in hand with Hermione. "You going out with Luna now?"
"What?" Ron shouted. "No, no. I fancy 'Mione." Hermione blushed and muttered something inaudible. "I almost fell over so Luna grabbed my hand to keep me from hurting myself."
"Yeah...sure," Harry shouted back, rolling his eyes. "Let's go with that." his comment made Hermione giggle, causing him to feel a swooping sensation in his stomach.
"Why are you holding 'Mione's hand, huh?" Ron shouted, breaking through his caffeine rush.
"She...uh," Harry tried to come up with a good lie, but was saved by Hermione.
"My hands are cold." she explained. "Harry's just warming them up. Aren't you Harry?"
"Huh?" Harry whispered, looked confused. Then he caught on. "Oh, yeah! Her hands are very very cold. I needed to warm them up. See?" he gestured to their hands. "They're getting warmer!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Harry." he yelled. "Just hurry it up, seriously! I want ice cream!"
The trip to the ice cream parlor was cut short, however, when they realized that they had only twenty minutes until the curfew Dumbledore told them. The six of them got ice cream cones to go, and hurried out of the shop, and down a deserted alley. There they apparated into Hogsmeade and ran into the castle just as the bell rang 12:00 midnight. They walked down the hallways in silence, trying to avoid Filch. When the hallways divided Draco and Ginny kissed, then the six went separate ways, Ginny with Harry, Hermione and Ron down towards the Gryffindor common room, Draco down to Slytherin's, and Luna towards Ravenclaw's. When Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny finally came to the portrait Harry said the password (dilligrout) and they climbed in. Sleepily, Harry and Ron climbed up to the boys' dorm, Hermione and Ginny to the girls'. Harry fell onto his bed and hit himself in the forehead.
Well tonight went rather well. He thought. Except for the fact that she STILL doesn't know I'm in love with her. I guess I'll just have to- wait a minute.. I know how to fix all this!!! All I need is a bottle and "Telephone"... He slept with a smile on his face.
~*~*~*~*~ Morning - 8:00 a.m. ~*~*~*~*~
Harry was again woken up by the sunlight, streaming in through the curtains.
"Why must the bloody sun only interrupt my good dreams?" Harry asked himself quietly.
"Because," he answered himself. "The sun doesn't approve of your dreams about shagging your best friend."
"But that's not fair!" Harry protested, pulling on his trousers. "I love her, for God's sake, can't I at least dream about shagging her?"
"No, no, no!" Harry said firmly. "Are you insane? That could mess up your friendship with her forever, is that what you want?"
"Well, no." Harry said slowly. "But we all do crazy things when we're in love."
"Yeah, well you still shouldn't do it." Harry crossed his arms. "And I'm agreeing with the sun- waking you up before you could finish the dream was a good idea."
"Ugh." Harry rolled his eyes, pulling on a white T-shirt. "Whatever."
"Wow." Ron said suddenly, sitting up. "Talk about a split personality. What was all that about, anyway?"
"Nothing Ron." Harry said, shrugging. "Go back to sleep."
"Well then at least tell me who it was you were debating over." Ron was persistent.
"Ron, why on earth would you want to know anyway?" Harry asked.
"Cause you're my best mate!" Ron whisper-yelled. "And maybe I could help you get the girl."
Harry scoffed. "No. Sorry Ron, but I don't think I can get her, you're help wouldn't do much. No offense."
"None taken." said Ron. "Is there anything I can help you with, then?"
"Uhh, maybe." Harry was thinking. "Care to play a few Muggle games with the gang tonight?"
Ron thought about the offer for a little. "Yeah, sure. Who are you talking about when you say "the gang"?"
"You, me, Hermione, Luna, Gin, and Draco." Harry replied.
"That should be interesting." Ron grinned. "Are we meeting in the common room, then? What time?"
"Sometime around 10, if I can get everyone to agree with it."
"Alright." Ron lay back down. "I'm going to sleep again, OK? Talk to you in five hours."
Harry chuckled as loudly as he dared so as not to wake his other roommates. "Alright. See you later, then." but Ron was already asleep. Smiling to himself, Harry silently bolted out the door, down the stairs, and was half-way out of the common room when Hermione stopped him.
"Good morning, Harry." she said a bit louder than usual, trying to get his attention. He froze in his tracks and turned slowly to face her, a smile plastered on his face. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Sorry, 'Mione, can't talk now." Harry spoke hurriedly. "... Draco ... Ginny ... Luna ... Ron ... Great Hall maybe? ... after hours ... true love ... effing sun ... tonight ... telephone ... bottle ... 'bye!" he ran out the portrait hole and out of sight, leaving Hermione looking very confused.
"Draco, Ginny, Luna and Ron were trapped in the Great Hall after hours last night by the forces of true love and will be trapped there until tonight unless Harry can communicate with the telephone in a bottle? And what about the sun?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys."
~*~*~*~*~
Harry sprinted all the way down to the Great Hall, and wasn't disappointed with what he saw. Ginny was sitting with Draco at the Slytherin table, not being able to go a minute without kissing. And Luna was sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, talking to a couple girls. Harry walked up to Ginny and Draco.
"Oi, you two don't waste any time, do you?" he asked with a smirk. They parted for air, blushing slightly.
"You know I don't like wasting time, Potter." Draco smiled, squeezing Ginny's hand. "What do you want?"
"I need your help." Harry decided not to beat around the bush.
"With what, Harry?" Ginny spoke up.
"Getting Hermione." said Harry. "I was wondering if you two could meet me, Ron, Hermione and Luna down in the Gryffindor common room around 10 p.m. to play Muggle games."
"Muggle games?" Ginny looked excited. "Ooh, Draco, let's go tonight! To help Harry."
Draco looked skeptical. "What kind of "Muggle games" Potter?"
"Things like Telephone and Spin the Bottle." Harry explained.
"Muggles play games that involve spinning bottles?" Draco looked confused. "Who would want to spin bottles for fun? Ginny, I'm not sure about this."
Ginny giggled. "Draco, Muggles don't just spin the bottles. It's a kissing game."
"I'm in." Draco said automatically. "I'm definitely in."
Harry laughed. "Draco, you should know-"
"Shhhh!" Ginny cut him off. "Harry, can I have a word with you for a moment, please?" she pulled him off to a corner, away from Draco. "Don't tell Draco he might not be kissing me by playing 'Spin the Bottle'."
"Why not?" Harry looked like a kid who had just been told there really wasn't a Tooth Fairy. "It'd be much more fun."
"No, it'd be a lot less fun." Ginny said. "If Draco knew, he wouldn't want to play any type of Muggle game whatsoever, and you wouldn't be able to get Hermione."
"Touche." Harry said. "Fine. We won't tell Draco anything. He'll find it out tonight. Listen, Gin, it really means a lot to me that you two are helping me get Hermione. I appreciate it."
"No problem, Harry." Ginny replied, pecking his cheek. "I'm sure you would do the same for me."
"Hey hey hey." Draco came up behind Ginny and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Don't get cozy with my girl, Potter."
Harry backed away in mock fear. "No, Malfoy, I wouldn't dare." he winked at Ginny, who hit him lightly on the arm. "Don't worry about a thing, you little pansy." he addressed Draco. "I want Hermione. Not Ginny. End of discussion. OK? See you two tonight at 10 in the Gryffindor common room." with that, he walked away in Luna's direction, leaving Ginny and Draco to snog.
~*~*~*~*~
"Hullo, Luna, mind if I sit here?" Harry came up behind the blonde girl and gestured to the empty seat next to her.
"Not at all, Harry." Luna responded dreamily. "Go ahead." he sat down. "What do you need? Why did you come over here?"
"I need a favor." Harry said. "I was wondering if you'd like to stop by the Gryffindor common room around 10:00 tonight for some Muggles games with the gang."
"Hmmm." Luna pondered. "I'm not sure. Will Ronald be there?"
Harry laughed. "Yeah, Luna. Ron will be there."
"Oh!" Luna said. "Well, that changes everything! I'll be there, Harry. Thank you so much for inviting me."
"No problem." Harry grinned. "I'll see you tonight, then." he got up and walked out of the Great Hall, towards the Gryffindor common room.
"Now all I have to do is convince 'Mione to come." Harry murmured to himself before telling the Fat Lady the password and walking in to find Hermione in the exact same spot.
"Hi Harry." she said slowly. "You're not going to run off again, are you?"
"No, no, don't worry." Harry said, smiling. "I"m not gonna go anywhere for a while."
"Where did you go in such a hurry?" Hermione asked. "And what was that load of rubbish you told me before you scurried off?"
"Oh, I just ran into the Great Hall for a minute." Harry said. "I needed to speak to Dumbledore about something involving bottles. And I just told you why I was in a hurry when I mumbled all that stuff."
"OK." Hermione didn't look convinced. "Whatever you say."
"Hey, 'Mione." Harry began. "I was wondering- what are you doing tonight?"
"Well, I was planning on doing more homework." Hermione said. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes in mock-annoyance. She laughed. "But after that, nothing. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was wondering if you would care to meet up with the gang in the Gryffindor common room at 10:00 tonight for some Muggle games?" Harry asked.
"Muggle games?" Hermione questioned. "What kind of Muggle games? And who would is "the gang"?"
"Muggle games like Spin the Bottle and Telephone." Harry explained. "And the gang would be Draco, Ginny, Luna, Ron, you, and me."
"Hmm." Hermione thought. "I s'pose I'll come. Yeah, it'd be fun."
Harry beamed. "Great. I'll see you later, then." he got up, hurriedly kissed her cheek, then ran back out the portrait hole.
"Should be fun." Hermione murmured to herself, touching the spot on her face where Harry kissed her. "This can't go on anymore." she suddenly said. "He has to find out I'm in love with him. I'll tell him tonight. But first I have to see how he feels about me. So how will I figure it out?..... by using my smarts, of course! I'll use the games to find out if Harry loves me or not. I'm sure I'll end up telling him, anyway, but this makes it easier." she sighed and lay back on the couch, planning her brilliant idea to tell Harry that she loves him.
~*~*~*~*~
Harry walked out of the castle and onto the grounds, towards the Quidditch pitch. He needed to think, and that's how he was going to do it. Harry mounted his broom and flew up into the air, hovering around the pitch.
"This has gone far enough." he muttered to himself. "I need to tell her I'm in love with her. But how? How?... Oh, I've got it! But I'll have to add another game to the list, of course... Charades will never be the same." he smirked and flew faster, high up into the sky.
~*~*~*~*~ 10:00 p.m. - Gryffindor common room ~*~*~*~*~
"Who are we waiting for?" Ron asked impatiently as he sat down on the rug. "I want to start, now."
"Relax, Ron." Hermione said soothingly. "We're only missing Draco and Ginny. They'll be here soon, don't worry."
"I'm not worrying." Ron insisted. "I'm annoyed. Who knows what they could be doing, up in the Slytherin tower, or in the Great Hall, would they dare? Or maybe..."
"Maybe they went to the kitchens to get snacks for everyone." Ginny said as the couple walked through the portrait hole, each carrying a rather large basket.
"We might as well eat." Draco added. "I hardly ate dinner, and I'm starving."
"Why didn't you eat dinner?" Harry asked.
"Gin and I got a little... sidetracked." Draco smirked and put his arm about Ginny's waist, who blushed a deep maroon. "Need I say more?"
"No, no, no." Ron said quickly. "Ginny's blushing, therefore, I do not want to know anything."
"C'mon, guys. Let's get started." Harry said. "The first game we'll play is Telephone. Everyone sit in a circle." They did so.
"Harry, what's Telephone?" Luna asked, slightly confused.
"Oh!" Hermione said. "It's-" she looked at Harry. "Do you mind if I explain it?"
"Not at all." Harry said, smiling at her. "Go right ahead."
"OK." Hermione said. "It's where one person starts and whispers either a few words or a sentence in the ear of the person next to them. It goes around the circle until the one sitting next to the person who started has heard the message. Then they say it out loud. Most of the time it's wrong, but that's the funny part. Seeing how it got messed up." There was a murmur of understanding throughout the circle.
"Let's start with an easy one, OK?" Harry asked. "I'll start." he turned to his right and whispered something in Ginny's ear. She turned and whispered in Draco's, who whispered to Luna, who whispered to Ron, who whispered to Hermione.
"'Dogs' tongues are cleaner than peoples'?" Hermione said, looking at Harry. "Is that what you said?"
"Yep." Harry nodded. "It's true, though." Everyone laughed.
"Can I go, Harry?" Ron asked excitedly. "I've got one."
"Yeah, Ron. Go ahead."
Ron whispered to Hermione, and it went around the circle again. When Luna got it, she turned to Ron.
"'Abstinence is why God created the cold shower'?" Luna said. "Is that really what you said, Ronald?"
Ron blushed crimson. "No!" he said, annoyed as he glared at Draco, who smirked. "That's not what I
said. I said-"
"We don't want to know, Ron." Harry cut in. "How 'bout Luna goes?"
And so it went again, only Luna whispered to her left this time. When Ron heard it, he blushed and looked at Luna.
"'Ron looks adorable when he's embarrassed'?" Ron whispered and threw his hands up in the air, silently questioning what she said. Luna gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Well, you do Ronald." Luna said. "Ginny's turn."
It went around the circle: Ginny said 'Satin sheets are to die for.' Then it was Draco's turn. His message traveled around the circle. Draco said: 'Someone yells awfully loud.' (which made Ginny blush quite a deep shade of red.) Then it was Hermione's turn. She, like Luna, decided to whisper it to her left instead of the right, so that Harry was the last to receive the message. When he did, he turned to Hermione.
"'Hermione loves someone in this room'." he whispered.
"Yeah." Hermione whispered in his ear. "That's it. Exactly. 'I love someone in this room'. Wanna know who it is?"
Before Harry could answer, Ron decided to speak up: he really couldn't stand Harry getting all the attention from the girl he wanted for himself.
"Let's play another game!" he said. "Which one, Harry?"
Harry pulled away from Hermione reluctantly and stood up. "Let's play Spin the Bottle."
"Finally." Draco said, tightening his grip around Ginny's shoulder. "A good game to play."
"But," Luna cut in. "Let's make it something like 'Seven Minutes in Heaven'. Instead of simply kissing the person, you must... spend seven minutes with them just outside the portrait hole. That way it's kind of dangerous too, because you could get caught. But it's still fun."
There was silence at what Luna had suggested. Then Ginny spoke up.
"I think it's a marvelous idea." she said. "It's dangerous, yet it will be fun. Right everyone? So who's in for playing Spin the Bottle: Seven Minutes in Heaven edition?" There was quite a loud murmur of agreement to this.
"Alright, then." Harry said, grabbing the bottle from the table and placing it in the middle of the circle. "Who doesn't know how to play?" Ron raised his hand. Draco lifted his finger- he knew it was a kissing game, he just didn't know the rules or anything. "OK." Harry said. "The way to play this is simple: someone will spin the bottle around in the circle and whoever it points to is the person you're going to spend seven minutes with just outside the portrait hole. Is that clear enough?"
"Wait a minute.." Draco started, but was cut off by Ginny. "Yep! Incredibly clear. Let's start, shall we?"
"Who's going to start?" Harry asked. Luna volunteered. She spun the bottle, and it pointed to Draco.
"There we go." Harry said. "Luna, Draco, go outside the portrait hole for seven minutes." They did so rather unwillingly. When they were outside, there was a silence for a few minutes, then Draco started talking.
"Listen, Lovegood." Draco started slowly. "I didn't know who I'd end up kissing and I don't
want to kiss you. Ginny's my girlfriend, I'd much rather her be out here than you. No offense."
"None taken." Luna replied. "I'd much rather have Ronald out here, to tell you the truth. But we are supposed to kiss, so let's just make it one peck and get it over with, shall we?"
"Luna, I don't want to kiss you!" Draco looked annoyed.
"Nor do I want to kiss you." Luna said as if talking to a five year old. "But it is in the rules of the
game, so we kind of have to."
"Well I'm not going to." Draco crossed his arms across his chest and "harumpf"ed.
"Fine then." Luna said sternly. "Then I'll kiss you, just to get it over with." she stood on tip-toe so she was his height and gently pressed her lips to his just as the door opened to reveal Ginny.
"OK, Luna." Ginny looked incredibly annoyed. "Time's up. I get my boyfriend back." she walked up to Draco and kissed him hard. He responded by wrapping his arms around her waist, but they were interrupted by Harry coming to the door.
"Come on, you two." he said. "Enough snogging. We're trying to play a game."
"Yeah, whatever." Draco murmured as he and Ginny walked back into the room hand in hand. "It's a stupid game, I can't even kiss my girlfriend." When they returned to the circle, Draco was next to spin the bottle. The trick was, he directed the bottle with his hands, so it landed on Ginny.
"Well, what do you know?" he said in mock-surprise. "See you lot in seven minutes."
When they came back in (quite breathless) it was Ginny's turn. She spun it and landed on Ron.
"Hey!" Ron said. "No sibling relations! It's not fair."
"The game doesn't have to be fair." Harry pointed out. "And the game never says you have to kiss. Go out there and talk, or whatever."
They did so, and during the seven minutes the five of them could practically hear Ron and Ginny arguing about one thing
or another in the hallway. They came back and sat down, looking annoyed with each other. Ron spun and- much to
Harry's horror- landed on Hermione. Ron looked incredibly happy as he and Hermione walked out of the portrait
hole.
"So." Ron said, rolling on his feet.
"So." Hermione repeated.
"I guess we should kiss, right?" Ron asked, trying and failing to hide his excitement. Just then Hermione got an idea. She smiled at the red head.
"Uh huh." she said in a sing song voice. "Guess we should kiss. I mean, it's part of the rules and seeing as we're not related..."
"We should totally kiss!" Ron exclaimed. "I mean, cause we have to. Normally we wouldn't, cause we're friends and everything and that'd be all awkward cause we don't like each other like that but now we have to because the game told us to."
"You're totally right." Hermione smiled. "So close your eyes and pucker up." he did so.
Oh, man this is it! He thought. I'm finally gonna kiss Hermione!
Oh Merlin this is awful. Hermione thought frantically. I want to kiss Harry, not Ron! Oh, wait. I know how to fix this!
She put her pointer and middle finger of her right hand together and licked them a bit. Then Hermione placed her left hand on his neck and pressed her fingers to his lips. She faked a moan, moved her fingers a little bit then pulled them back and positioned her face close to hers.
"Whoa." he whispered after opening his eyes.
"I know." she said. "Whoa definitely suits it." What did I just do? She thought. That was totally unlike me. But then again, if it gets me Harry, I'll do it.
Just then Harry opened the door.
"C'mon guys, let's continue the game." he looked angry and somewhat disgusted. They all walked in; Harry looking annoyed and bored, Ron looking happy, and Hermione looking in shock. Hermione spun the bottle and landed on Luna.
"Do over!" Hermione said automatically. "I don't care if we don't have to kiss, that's just kinda wrong, don't you think?" Everyone agreed, so Hermione spun again. This time it landed on Harry. Draco wolf-whistled and grabbed them both by the hand.
"Come on, you two." Draco said as he pushed them out into the hallway. "Just a simple seven minutes. No big deal. Have fun." he shut the door, leaving them alone.
"So." Hermione said. Oh, this is so awkward!
"How was your snog session with Ron?" Harry asked irritably.
Hermione sighed. "Harry, I didn't kiss Ron." in response to his questioning look, she told him what she had done. He laughed as loudly as he dared.
"Oh my God, you mean he kissed your fingers thinking they were your mouth?" he asked.
"Yes." she answered.
"Why did you do that?" Harry questioned.
"Because I didn't want to kiss Ron." Hermione said. "But he apparently did and I didn't exactly have the heart to tell him I don't fancy him so-"
"You don't fancy Ron?" Harry whispered.
"No." Hermione shook her head. "I fancy someone else."
"Who do you fancy, 'Mione?"
"You'll laugh. You'll think it's stupid."
"I won't laugh, 'Mione." Harry promised. "And I won't think it's stupid." he couldn't stop staring at her mouth, no matter how hard he tried.
"OK." Hermione said, preparing to tell him. "I fancy-"
"Merlin, I can't take it anymore." Harry breathed as he swiftly took a step closer to her and firmly pressed his lips against hers. After the shock wore off, she kissed him back, her hands running up to tangle in his hair as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She moaned. I can't believe I'm kissing him! His tongue was just sliding across her bottom lip when the door opened and there was Ron, looking stricken.
"Time's up." was all he said, moving aside to let them through. They broke apart abruptly and quickly walked in through the portrait hole. Everyone seemed to notice the new-found tension.
"OK." Draco said. "Party's over. Everybody go home."
Slowly they all departed to their respective common rooms and dormitories. Everyone except for Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Oh, Hermione?" Ron had a forced smile on his face. "Could you leave Harry and I alone for a little bit?
I'd like to talk to him."
"Sure." she said. "I'll just...go." Hermione ran upstairs to her dorm. Once he was sure she was gone, Ron spoke.
"How could you, Harry?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper. "You know I fancy her. You said you'd help me. You were snogging her, for God's sake. Is that how you help me?"
"No, Ron." Harry said. "It's not how I would've helped you. But you don't understand."
"What don't I understand, Harry?" Ron looked angry. "Huh? What could be so complex that I don't understand?"
"Ron, I love her." Harry murmured.
"You love her." Ron repeated. "And when did you realize that you love her? When I told you I fancied her?"
"No," Harry said. "I've loved her for a couple years now. And it's against my policy to screw up dates with a bloke, but I don't know, this was different!"
"Why, Harry?" Ron asked. "Why go after Hermione? The only girl I fancy? When you could have any other girl in the bloody school?"
"She's special, Ron." Harry said, turning so that his back was to the staircase. "When she's not around, I feel like a part of me isn't here. But when she is here, she makes me feel like I want to be better. Did you hear that Ron? I want to be a better person when she's around!"
Just then Hermione slowly came walking down the stairs. Harry couldn't see her, but Ron could. His eyes grew wide.
"Harry-" he started, but Harry cut him off.
"No, Ron. I know what you're gonna say. 'You shouldn't think that way about your best friend,' and I know where you're coming from. I shouldn't think about kissing my best friend. I shouldn't kiss my best friend. It isn't right. It'd mess up our friendship. I just can't do that."
Tears filled her eyes as Hermione silently sprinted upstairs.
"Hell, I shouldn't dream about shagging my best friend." Harry went on. "But I do that too! I love her, Ron. Is that so hard for you to understand?"
"Harry?" Ron asked. "I know, OK? I believe you love her. And I'll get over it. But I think you may have just lost your chance forever. She just came down and caught you saying you shouldn't kiss your best friend and that it isn't right."
Harry groaned and sunk into the armchair, his head in his hands. "Why does this have to happen to me?"
"Is there any way we could fix it, Harry?" Ron asked quietly. "Cause if there is, I'll help in any way I can."
"Thanks Ron." Harry mumbled. "But I don't think there's a way to fix it right now."
Just then Parvati walked into the common room.
"Hey boys." she said, smiling. Then she noticed the mood they were in. "What's up? Anything I can help with?"
Harry thought for a moment, then smiled at Parvati.
"Yeah, there is." he said slowly. "I think I've got a plan. Can you help?"
"Of course, Harry." Parvati said.
"I'll help too." Ron added. "What's the plan?"
"Well, all we need is a Muggle radio and high heel shoes..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ahh, so there we go! What's the plan? I wonder...
Please please please review! I'd love to hear from you!
I'm working on the next chapter as you read this, so keep an eye out for it.
I love you all!!
lil_irish_girl