'Ello. I'm baaaack! With chapter 2! Just a warning: there's lots of rambling here, cause Harry and 'Mione are both just oh so nervous about everything. So... without further ado... enjoy!
*kisses*
lil_irish_girl
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Hermione opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, then thought better of it and shut it tight. Instead she tried to communicate with Harry through her eyes. He, unfortunately, didn't get the message.
"OK." Harry said slowly. "Seeing as you apparently can't talk, I'll read the article out loud and then we'll talk about it, OK?"
Hermione didn't trust any part of her to move for fear of doing something stupid, so she just stood there. Harry stared at her.
"Alright." he said. "Just nod your head, then."
Slowly, Hermione jerked her head up, then down. Harry flipped the Hogwarts Inquirer to page three and began reading.
" 'Yesterday morning I ran into none other than Hermione Granger, the bookworm. She looked very angry about something, so I walked over to her and asked what was wrong. Here's the full interview.
Skeeter (S): What's the matter, dear?
Granger (G): I hate her! I hate her! I hate her!
S: Hate whom?
G: (mumbling) Ginny Weasley.
S: Harry Potter's girlfriend?
G: No, my mother. Yes, Harry's girlfriend!
S: Well why do you hate her?
G: Because she is an arrogant, bossy, stuck-up b*tch! I pity the man who would date her.
S: What did she do?
G: She said I couldn't be friends with Harry anymore. I mean honestly, the nerve of that woman! If I were his girlfriend, I'd...
S: So you think you'd be a better girlfriend than Ginny?
G: Hear me out: I have the knowledge, compassion, and understanding for this. She has nothing what so ever. It should be me in that position, not her.
This is undeniable proof that Hermione Granger is in fact, jealous of Ginny Weasley, current girlfriend of Harry Potter. When more facts reveal themselves I will post them in the Hogwarts Inquirer. Until next time,
~Rita Skeeter ' "
As Harry finished reading he looked up at Hermione to find her crumpling the magazine in her hands. She chucked it across the room, then rounded on Harry.
"How dare she!" she screamed. "She...she..."
"She what?" Harry asked.
"She twisted my words!" Hermione said. "I didn't say that!"
"You didn't say that?" Harry said, surprising himself by being somewhat disappointed that she wasn't jealous.
"Well, I mean I did say it." Hermione replied. "But not like that! I was talking about Professor Gibbs."
"You're jealous of Professor Gibbs?" Harry asked, befuddled.
"No." Hermione said. "I was angry at Professor Gibbs because she wouldn't let me stay in the library after hours to study for my N.E.W.T.s."
Comprehension dawned on Harry. "Oh." he said. "Well, now that that's taken care of, wanna go get breakfast?"
Hermione shook her head. "I'll catch up with you and Ron in a little bit." she said. "I forgot I have to check on something real quick."
"OK." Harry replied, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later, then."
"Bye." Hermione murmured as she watched Harry walked out of the portrait hole. Once she was sure Harry was gone, she quickly walked over to the couch and fell on it with a sigh.
"What in Merlin's name is the matter with me?!" Hermione asked herself. "Am I jealous of Ginny because she has Harry? No. That's ridiculous. I'm not jealous. I am NOT jealous. I just think Harry deserves better. Yes, that's it. And I don't like Ginny that much. And whenever I see them kissing I feel like ripping Ginny's hair out and.. oh God, I am jealous."
She sat up. "I'm jealous of Ginny Weasley." she repeated. "But, this doesn't mean I like Harry. No, no. He's my best friend. I don't like him like that."
Hermione got up and began pacing the common room. "OK, so I might like Harry that way. But I have to make
sure. Yeah, I'll just try to go through today as normally as possible and I'll see if I like him. Oh, God,
he's got me rambling." with that she hurriedly ran out of the portrait hole.
~Great Hall- 9:43 a.m. ~
"Hey 'Mione." Ron said, his mouth full. "What too- took you so long?" his tone was almost accusatory.
"She had to check on something." Harry answered for her. "I told you that, Ron. Do you ever listen?" he looked at Hermione. "You OK?" he asked. "It took you awhile, I was getting worried."
Defends me, and is worried about me. Hermione mentally noted. "I got sidetracked, is all." she said.
"That's bull-shoot that is." Ron muttered, glaring at Hermione. She turned to face him.
"Shut up, Ronald." Hermione half hissed. "I will not have you mocking me."
" 'I will not have you mocking me.' " Ron mimicked in a high-pitched voice. "Give it a rest. You don't need to jump down everyone's throats. Honestly, it was a joke. And if you can't take a joke, you might as well leave."
Hermione stood up [with a "hmpf" of frustration] and stalked out of the Great Hall. Harry turned and gave Ron an exasperated look.
"...What?" Ron asked as innocently as one can with their mouth full.
"What the hell, Ron?" Harry said, running a hand through his hair. "What's your problem?"
"What?" Ron repeated as soon as he had swallowed. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're siding with Hermione."
"Fine, then I won't tell you." Harry replied immaturely. "I'm going to find 'Mione." he added in an undertone before walked out of the Great Hall.
~*~
"Ronald can be so immature!" Hermione murmured to herself as she walked through the library and dropped into her favorite chair. About five minutes later, Harry poked his head through the library door and, upon spotting Hermione, smiled and walked over to her.
"Hey." he greeted her, sitting in the seat next to her.
"Hi." she said quietly.
"Ron had no right to say those things." Harry said, gently placing one of his hands over hers. "But he doesn't mean anything by it."
Comes and finds me when I stalk away angry. Hermione sighed. "I know." she said. "But sometimes it just hurts, you know?"
Harry nodded. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, then a thought struck Hermione.
"Harry, what's wrong with me?" she asked.
Harry gave her a look. "Nothing's wrong with you, 'Mione." he murmured. "You're 17, you're perfect."
"Then why don't guys like me?"
"Guys like you." Harry assured her. "Your mind just intimidates them a bit."
"My mind intimidates people?" Hermione asked.
"Only some." Harry answered.
"Well, does my mind intimidate you?" Hermione questioned, looking into Harry's emerald eyes.
"Just a bit." Harry said, putting his thumb and pointer finger a millimeter apart to show her. "But not enough to scare me away."
"Well that's good." Hermione replied, smiling. "Because I wouldn't want to scare you away."
"You couldn't scare me away, 'Mione." Harry whispered. "No matter how hard you tried." he glanced at his watch. "I've got to go meet up with Gin." he told her. "I'll talk to you later, OK?"
Hermione nodded. Harry stood up, gently kissed her forehead, then walked out of the library.
~Gryffindor Common Room- 4:25 p.m. ~
"Where's 'Mione?" Ron whined from his position on the couch. Harry looked up at him from his spot at one of the tables. "She was supposed to be here about twenty minutes ago."
"Oh, so now you care about her?" he asked sarcastically. "You are so... urgh. Just urgh Ron."
"What?" Ron asked, looking exasperated. "She's the only one who listened to Snape and his bloody lecture on our homework, which is..."
"A review of Felix Felicis." answered Harry. "You really didn't listen."
"No, I didn't." Ron said. "I told you I wasn't. I wouldn't lie about not listening to Snape's drawl."
"Well then what were you doing?" Harry asked.
"I was thinking about... things." Ron replied, not meeting Harry's eye.
"What kind of things?" Harry looked at Ron suspiciously.
"Ummm..." Ron said. "I was thinking about.... magic! Yeah, magic is so awesome, isn't it?"
Harry stared at him for a while, dubious.
"OK, fine!" exclaimed Ron. "I was thinking about Luna."
"Loony Lovegood?" Harry asked.
"Don't call her that." Ron said quickly. "She might be somewhat crazy, but she's cute. And smart, in a way. Oh, Harry I think I've fallen for her."
"That's great, mate." said Harry enthusiastically. "Now I've got Ginny, you've got Luna, and 'Mione's got..." he trailed off in thought.
"Her books!" Ron suggested, laughing.
"Be nice." Harry scolded, though he was smiling as well. "Where is she, anyway?"
"Ahh," Ron said. "Back to the million dollar question. The one I asked in the first place."
"I hope she's OK." said Harry, a worried look on his face.
Ron looked expectantly at the blank piece of parchment in his lap, as if hoping it would write itself. After about three minutes of glaring, he sighed and stood up.
"This isn't working. I won't get any work without Hermione here, and it won't write itself so I'm leaving. Later, Harry."
"See ya." Harry muttered. His thoughts then traveled back to Hermione.
"Where could she be?" he asked himself. "She's never been this late. She told us she'd meet us here. I hope she's not hurt."
~*~
"Ms. Granger? Ms.-Ms. Granger!"
"Huh?" Hermione jerked out of her erotic daydream [which, humorously enough, involved Harry and whipped cream] to look up at Madam Pince, who had a scowl on her face. Blushing, Hermione remembered that she was in the library.
"I'm so sorry Madam Pince." the young witch apologized. "I must have... spaced out."
"Yes, well kindly space back in." Madam Pince said. "You're the only one left here, the library should have closed a half hour ago and I need sleep!"
"I'm sorry." Hermione repeated. Glancing down at the paper she had come in there to do, she was stricken to find that it was only a quarter of the way done. After hurriedly checking out two or three books for her paper, Hermione rushed down the corridors and into the Gryffindor common room, where she found Harry sitting there. His head was in his hands and it looked as though he was about to fall asleep.
Hermione smiled. She quietly walked over to where he was sitting and began whispering in his ear.
"Harry... Harry.." gently she blew in his ear, causing him to shiver slightly and his eyes fluttered open. Blinking a few times, he focused his eyes and noticed Hermione crouched over, still smiling.
"Oh, Hermione." Harry said, yawning. "When did you come in? I was worried, so I decided to stay here until you came back."
Stays up to make sure I'm alright. "I sort of spaced out at the library." she explained. "And I didn't finish my assignment so I think I'll do that right now. You can head up to bed, if you want to. I'll be fine."
"No, I'll stay up with you." Harry insisted, shaking his head and sitting up straighter. "I have to finish my essay too."
Hermione sat down at the chair across from him and began working, occasionally glancing at Harry when she thought he wasn't looking.
~ Gryffindor Common Room- 11:37 p.m. ~
My God, she weighs nothing. Harry thought as he carried Hermione across the common room and set her down on the couch. She subconsciously shifted in her sleep, ending up facing Harry.
"She's beautiful." Harry breathed. A look of surprise crossed his face. "Did I just say that?" he asked himself.
Are you kidding? A voice in his head asked. She's gorgeous, and you already knew it.
"Yeah, but I have Ginny."
Who isn't nearly as pretty as Hermione. Or smart. Or deep. Or-
"OK, I get it."
Well if you get it, why are you still with Ginny?
"Because Hermione doesn't feel that way about me, I know it."
How do you know?
Harry sighed softly. "Because we're best friends. Nothing more."
So wait- are you saying that you like Hermione?
"Do I?" he looked again at Hermione. "No. I don't like her like that. I can't."
Well then you love her.
"I love her?" Harry thought about it a minute, then smiled. "I love her." he murmured.
Good. You've admitted it. Now what are you going to do about it?
"...Stay with Ginny."
WHAT?!
"Until I know how 'Mione feels about me. I stay with Ginny until I figure this out."
Fine. But if everything goes wrong, don't say I didn't warn you.
"Will you just shut up already?"
OK, OK, don't get your knickers in a twist.
"....What?"
Relax. Now I think you might want to wake 'Mione up so she can go to her dorm.
"But she looks so peaceful." Harry whispered. "I don't want to."
"You don't want to what?" Hermione breathed, sleep evident in her tone.
"Oh." Harry said, surprised. He thought she was asleep. "I don't want to... tell you it's past 11:30?"
Hermione jerked up into a sitting position. "Why didn't you wake me?" she asked softly.
"I- you looked so calm, and I really didn't want to wake you seeing as you haven't been getting much sleep lately and you look really really pretty when you sleep and I just couldn't help but watch you which is kind of me acting like a silly boy but that's not exactly the point when-"
Stays awake just to watch me sleep. "Harry?" Hermione asked. "You're rambling."
"Oh." Harry repeated, blushing crimson. "Yes. Well, you finished your essay and I finished mine so why don't we head up to bed?"
Hermione gasped, a smile playing on her lips. "Why Harry," she said, making an obvious attempt to look sexy. "I had no idea you felt this way."
"I- uh- what I meant was-" Harry stuttered.
Hermione lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "Relax, Harry." she said. "I knew what you meant. And I think it's a good idea. But you head up, I need a quick walk around the corridors."
Harry looked at her, concern etched onto his features. "You sure?" he asked. "D'you want my Invisibility Cloak? You could get caught."
"No, that's alright." Hermione said, smiling. "I won't get caught, I promise. And it'll only be a few minutes. I swear I'll go right up to my dorm when I get back."
Harry hesitated. "...OK." he said slowly. "But you will go to sleep, right?"
"Of course." she reassured him.
Harry leaned over, gave her a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth [which wasn't exactly where he was aiming,] stood up, and crept up the stairs to his dorm. Hermione rolled her eyes, groaned quietly, then rushed out of the common room and into the empty corridors. Or so she thought. Walking down the halls, Hermione began to talk to herself.
"OK, let's start by reciting that mental list I made."
Defends me, and is worried about me;
Comes and finds me when I stalk away angry;
Stays up to make sure I'm alright;
and stays awake just to watch me sleep.
Hermione sighed. "Fine. So he's perfect and wonderful and amazing and cute and funny and smart and sweet and oh God he's got me rambling again." Slowly she turned around and began walking back in the direction of the portrait hole.
"So, what's the verdict?" she asked herself.
"I do believe I've fallen for him." Hermione answered, whispering as though afraid someone would hear. "I need to sleep on this. Plus, he's got Ginny. I should just be happy for him, even though I can't unless he's with me and did I really just say that?" she sighed. "Apparently I did. Oh well. At least no one can hear me say that I love him, which I do." with that, she walked into the common room and up to her dorm.
Just outside the portrait hole, none other than Rita Skeeter stood there with just about the ugliest smirk on her face.
"A Potter-Weasley-Granger love triangle?" she asked to no one in particular. "My, how scandalous!"
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So... what didja think? Liked it, hated it, somewhere in between? Please tell me with a pretty little review- I'll love you for it! The third chapter won't take so long, I promise! =D
lil_irish_girl