Chapter 5 Part II
A/N: Well thanks everyone! Sorry to leave you at such a cliffie ;) heehee
Here's the second half. You probably won't like it as much as the first half….
And a word to the wise: Never go to Las Vegas at Thanksgiving! WHAT A MOB! ACK!!
Review Responses for Chapter FOUR:
Coolone007: creative enough for you?
No need to know: Draco didn't interrupt them like Justin did…he's innocent ;)
WindDragoon: Yes, Ginny is annoying isn't she!
Blue Rain: Woohoo to pumpkin pie!!! H/Hr snogs are the best aren't they!
Sassycat1310: You got your wish in the first half of chapter 5!
Sparkle Tangerine: Yes, Harry will find out about the bet…soon!
Sbys: who wouldn't love a daydream like that LOL
Death Demon Xero: Yes, he's best friends with Draco in this AU FIC
I like lamingtons: thanks, we're both glad you're enjoying it!
LeBoshi: The smut is coming, well not on ff.net, but at our groups ;) heehee
Hazel: You caught one of our booboo's! Here's some pumpkin pie for you for having a better memory that's better than ours! Yeah, Dean is Pansy's partner, but we put Draco instead ;)
Malawai: thanks ;) being compared to the Goddess herself always brightens our day!
Arwen: You're reading a story written by two people who really don't like Ginny. After ch 5, she really has no more parts in it anyways….
Thanks to everyone else, now on with the second half of Chapter 5!!!
Harry was the first to react; a smile broke hesitantly across his face. Hermione was barely able to breathe as their eyes met and held for what seemed like an eternity.
"Come on." Harry grabbed her hand firmly in his and pulled her up to the castle. "Bit warmer inside I'm sure."
Hermione paid no attention to the temperature, she was still in shock. He had kissed her! She had kissed him! She could still feel the tingle of his lips on hers as they came into the dry main corridor. Harry shut the door behind them, then turned back to Hermione and put his hands on her waist, drawing her close to him once more.
This had been the most meaningful kiss of his life to date, and he didn't want the feelings to go away. "Hermione I…." He began but a loud squeal from behind them rang shrilly through the air.
"Harry!" Ginny Weasley propelled herself across the corridor and latched herself onto him. "I've been so worried about you!"
"What?" Harry looked dumbfounded as Ginny threw her arms about his neck and her legs around his waist. He was forced to let go of Hermione, whose face was twisted in a slight scowl.
"Well I went looking for you in the common room and when you weren't there I checked the kitchens, and the library- why were you outside, it's pouring! You could get sick!" Ginny laid her head down on Harry's shoulder.
Harry tried to push her away but Ginny was like a leech, he couldn't pry her off for the life of him.
"Shall I leave you two alone?" Hermione asked tightly.
"That would be great, thanks." Ginny said breezily, dismissing Hermione with a flick of her hand.
Hermione stared at Harry once more, and when he didn't say anything she turned sharply on her heel and stalked down the corridor.
"Now that we're alone…" Ginny said, letting her legs drop.
"Why did you do that?" Harry finally found his voice as he pushed her away.
"Do what?" Ginny asked innocently, toying with her red hair.
"Why did you jump on me like that?" Harry was furious.
"Well why shouldn't I?" Ginny asked. "You like me, don't you?"
"Not that way." Harry answered, flatly and coolly.
"But you like HER?" Ginny stabbed a finger in the direction Hermione had disappeared.
"Yes. Yes I do." Harry stepped back and crossed his arms in front of him as if to ward her off.
Ginny wrinkled her nose. "Why?"
Harry felt his temper rise. "Why? Because she's a beautiful, smart girl that people have taken advantage of all her life. She treats me like a human being, not like some celebrity because I because I defeated Voldemort, and play Quidditch. That's why!" Harry was yelling loudly now. Ginny flinched, at Harry's tone and the name Voldemort as he turned, and without another word to her, went after Hermione. He hoped to catch her before going into the common room and tell her how much kissing her had meant to him, but the hallway leading to the Slytherin Common Room was deserted.
"Damn!" Harry pounded his fist against the wall. He would have to find her before breakfast the next morning and explain everything. That thought made him feel better and he began to hum as he walked back to Gryffindor Tower.
*** *** *** *** ***
Hermione banged on the door to the Head Girl's room.
"Come in!" Blaise called idly. Hermione burst through the door and Blaise's eyes widened. "What happened to you?" she cried. Hermione's hair was wet and sticking every which way, her eyes red and puffy like she'd been crying, which Blaise realised quickly that she indeed was.
"Harry and I…. went…. raining… kissed." Hermione managed miserably, hiccupping. "Came back in…Ginny…. arms and legs!" she finished and started crying hard again.
"Ohhh…." Blaise came forward and hugged her friend tightly, not caring she was wet and freezing. "Honey, he knows Ginny is a little bitch- and what's this, you kissed?"
"Yeah." Hermione managed a tiny smile. "Outside, when we were coming back to the castle and it started to rain- you know I get a bit wild sometimes when we have a downpour, and we were spinning around together, and when we were both trying to catch our breath…. it just sort of…. happened." Hermione paused. "But then, when he pulled me back in the castle, I thought maybe he was going to tell me like likes me too, but then Ginny came along and jumped in his arms, and he didn't push her away or anything!"
"Maybe he wanted to, she's so clingy he probably couldn't." Blaise tried to give Harry the benefit of the doubt.
"Maybe he just likes that type of girl and I was wrong." Hermione replied, then suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Maybe I can be like that!"
"Hermione, you're not like that at all." Blaise said carefully.
"But I can be!" Hermione wiped the last traces of tears from her eyes. "You can give me a makeover!"
Blaise's eyes widened, how long had she been trying to convince her friend to let her do that and here was her chance, yet she felt wrong about it somehow. "I don't know, Hermione." Blaise said hesitantly. "I mean, I know I've been wanting to do this for you since we were kids, but it seems like you want one for the wrong reason."
"Not if it means I will get Harry." Hermione replied stubbornly.
"All right." Blaise agreed reluctantly, and Hermione sprang up.
"Great! Let's get started!"
"Now? But I have homework to finish and-" Hermione cut her off.
"I'll do it for you later." She said, pulling on Blaise's arm.
"Okay, okay." Blaise said as they entered the bathroom. "You sit there." She pointed to a chair and then turned to cast a locking charm on the door. "We wouldn't want Justin coming in here."
"No thanks." Hermione shed her wet cloak and robe. She brought the chair over to Blaise's vanity and sat down.
"Okay…" Blaise pulled out a variety of things Hermione had never even seen and set them on the counter. She pulled a wide tooth comb from the jumble of appliances. "Since your hair is wet already, that's a good thing." She said, working the comb down Hermione's long locks. "Have you ever seen yourself with straight hair?"
"No." Hermione replied. "It's always been bushy like this, since I've been very young."
"Well, this will be quite a change for you then." Blaise grabbed a towel and began to squeeze the excess water from Hermione's hair, and then grabbing another to completely dry the strands. Once she did that, she muttered a quick heating charm on her wand. She could still hold it, but it would help her straighten the bushy locks. Wrapping a thick lock around it, she held it for several minutes, and then let it fall.
"How long will this take?" Hermione asked a half hour or so later.
"Depends on how much you want me to do." Blaise replied.
"Everything." Hermione answered, looking up at her friend. "I really need him." She said quietly.
"Herms, everything will work out." Blaise answered, taking the last lock of hair and winding it around her wand. "I never realised your hair was so long." She let the last bit go and then grabbed her brush again.
"Can I look?" Hermione moved to turn and look at herself (Blaise had turned her away from the mirror) but was stopped.
"Not until we're done." Blaise said. "Now I realise that we're just going to have to get your makeup done again in the morning, but I want to do it now so you can see."
"All right." Hermione tried to remain patient. She had to keep reminding herself that she was doing this for Harry…no more games anymore. Blaise took another hour just with makeup, sometimes taking it all off and starting over again.
"Stop fidgeting!" she cried when Hermione started squirming. "I almost got this mascara in your eye!"
"Sorry." Hermione muttered. It was difficult to sit still for so long.
"All right." Blaise finally backed off. "Now, clothes…"
"Clothes?"
"Yes, if you're going to make Harry gawk at you, you need to wear something tighter." Blaise pulled on Hermione's arm, bringing her back into her bedroom. "Wear this and this." She pulled a jumper and skirt from her chest.
Hermione caught them. "Isn't this a little short?" she asked, holding the skirt up.
"That's the idea, Hermione." Blaise answered, grabbing one of her robes as well. "Go and try these on."
Hermione took the clothes and Blaise went back in the bathroom. She left her own white blouse on, and pulled Blaise's jumper and skirt on. "Goodness, I won't be able to even sit in this unless I hike it up." She said to herself. She yanked the robe on over that and resisted the urge to look in the mirror. Hermione was a bit scared; she wasn't sure what she was going to see.
"Come in here!" Blaise called, as if reading her mind. "I don't want you looking in the mirror until I'm ready for you!"
"All right, all right I'm coming!" Hermione said, going into the bathroom. "Do I look ridiculous?"
"Herms, really." Blaise said. "If you looked ridiculous, that would reflect bad on me as well, and I'm not about to let that happen." She reached out and fixed a few strands of hair. "Are you ready to see yourself?"
"YES!" Hermione said, still a bit nervous. Blaise took her by the shoulders and spun her around to face the mirror. She stared in shock at the pretty girl reflected back at her. "Is that me?" she asked, stunned.
"That's you." Blaise was proud of her work.
Hermione went closer to the mirror. Her hair hung down below her chest, and it was straight, curled slightly at the ends. Her eyes had been emphasized by light makeup, her lips looking fuller due to some shiny gloss, her cheeks slightly pinker as well.
"I'm not so sure about the clothes though." She murmured several minutes later, tugging on the bottom of the skirt.
"Hermione, I'm telling you…you want Harry to notice you like all the guys do Ginny? You've got to have something like this on." Blaise replied, coming up next to her.
"Okay." Hermione trusted Blaise.
"Listen, you can wash off the makeup now, we'll get up a bit early tomorrow so I can fix it for you again." Blaise said.
"All right." Hermione went over to the sink. "Thanks Blaise."
"Anytime." Blaise smiled at her friend. She just hoped that her friend could work everything out.
*** *** *** *** ***
Taking a deep breath, Hermione counted to ten. She was so nervous, looking at herself this way the night before had been fine, but now going in the Great Hall in front of everyone? She was absolutely terrified.
"All right, just find Harry, then walk right over to him. That's all you have to do." Hermione coached herself, and before she could find a way to stall further, pushed open the doors. She forced a smile on to her face and assumed a confident walk between the tables. Heads turned to look at her, she could even hear a few whispers.
"Is that Bookworm Granger?"
"What happened to her hair?"
"Man she's hot!"
Hermione didn't turn her face; afraid she might stumble and make a fool of herself. She spotted Harry sitting with Ron Weasley, they were obviously talking bout their win the day before.
"Hello Harry." She said; proud of how smoothly the words flowed. Harry and Ron both looked up.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, after staring for a moment. Ron continued to gape openly at her.
"May I sit down?" she asked, trying to sound coy.
"Er…" Harry looked around for a moment. "I suppose."
"Thanks." Hermione sat down, making sure to hike up the skirt like Blaise had told her to do. Looking across the table, she smiled at Ron. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger." She extended her hand.
"Ron Weasley. Pleasure to meet such a lovely lady." Ron replied, turning her hand and kissing the back.
Harry watched the exchange with narrowed eyes, he wasn't the only one jealous, several girls from Gryffindor were glaring at Hermione as well. 'Why is she dressed like that?' he wondered silently as she let out a peal of laughter at Ron's antics.
"You're funny." She giggled and Harry had to restrain himself from shaking the both of them violently. He put a hand on Hermione's arm, trying to keep his eyes from averting to her chest that was so prominently displayed in a too tight jumper.
"Can I have a word with you?" he asked, trying to sound pleasant. "Outside, alone?"
"Of course." Hermione got up and Harry gulped as the skirt rode up even further as she stepped over the bench. She latched herself onto his arm and he had to force himself to keep from pushing her away.
"Hermione, what's going on?" he asked as soon as he had shut the doors to the Great Hall behind them.
"What do you mean?" she asked, his question flustering her a little. He was supposed to be sweeping her into his arms and kissing her, not asking questions.
"This." He indicated her clothes. "Why are you all dressed up this way? Your hair is straight, and I've never seen you wear so much makeup."
"You don't like it?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself.
"Well…it's not that you don't look good…" Harry tried to find the right words. "It's just that…this isn't you!"
Hermione looked away fro a few long moments. "Maybe it is and you just never knew it."
"No!" Harry gripped her shoulders. "The Hermione I know would never act this way."
"Act what way?" she asked, trying to keep from sounding upset.
"Like a flirt." Harry replied. "The way you were with Ron, letting him kiss you, pulling up your skirt…. What's wrong with how you looked before?"
"What's wrong with that? Maybe I just got sick of people acting as if I'm invisible because I'm not pretty." Hermione shot back angrily. "Maybe I'm tired of people calling me a bookworm."
"There's nothing wrong with being a bookworm, that means you're considered smart, not a tramp!" Hermione's eyes widened and Harry realised he'd said the wrong thing.
"I cannot believe you said that." Hermione said, her voice shaking. She could feel her insides burning, her eyes filling with tears.
"I didn't mean- " Harry started to say, but Hermione shoved him aside and streaked down the corridor.
She was thankful it was Sunday and she would not have any classes, she wouldn't have to face Harry anymore that day. A fresh sob rose in her throat as she ran into Blaise's room (she didn't feel like facing any of her roommates) and fell on the bed. She was so upset she couldn't even feel good anymore about kissing Harry the night before.
"He called me a tramp!" she muttered, brushing away tears. Hermione sat and cried for a while until she heard Blaise's footsteps approaching the room.
"Hermione?" Blaise asked in shock, hurrying over to her. "What are you doing in here? Why aren't you with Harry?"
Hermione raised her face from her knees, and then stood up. "He called me trampy." Her face crumpled as Blaise's mouth dropped open.
"He WHAT?" Blaise asked angrily. "Oooh, I think I'm going to have some words with that boy." For now, however, she reached out and pulled her best friend into a big hug, and rocked her as she cried.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Blaise stomped down the corridor, heading towards the main hallway. She had finally gotten Hermione to calm down; the poor girl had cried herself to sleep. Blaise had left her in her bed, and glancing up, had seen Harry heading towards the Quidditch field, broom in hand. At the door, she pulled her cloak around her and went down.
"Harry Potter!" she called at the top of her lungs. Blaise saw him look down and then a moment later, descend.
"Hi…Blaise right?" he asked.
"Right." She replied coolly. "I need to have a word with you."
"About Hermione." Harry said. "I know, we had quite an argument this morning." He pushed his hair back with his hand then rubbed his eyes.
Blaise crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. "You called her a tramp." She said simply.
"I didn't mean to." Harry replied. He stopped in his tracks and faced Blaise. "I just don't understand why she would want to change how she looks."
"She wanted you to notice her." Blaise said quietly. Harry looked stunned.
"What do you mean, she wanted me to notice her? I've noticed her since the day I met her!" he cried.
"Well after that little thing you and Ginny had right in front of her last night…" Blaise began but Harry interrupted her.
"Ginny!" he dropped his broom and covered his face, running his hands through his hair once again. "Why would she think that I want Ginny? The only reason I even put up with her is because she's Ron's sister, and I've been friends with him since our first year."
Blaise bit her lower lip, the whole realization of the misunderstanding coming to light.
"I was about to tell Hermione that I liked her when Ginny interrupted us." Harry continued. Blaise was excited to hear that.
"You like her?" she asked gleefully. This was great news!
A smile appeared on Harry's face. "Yeah, I really do." He answered. "That's why I was so confused when she came down looking all flashy and…" he trailed off thoughtfully. "I'm not into her for her looks, although I do think she's gorgeous." He turned to look directly at Blaise. "Hermione is smart, she's funny, and she surprises me all the time, like on Valentine's Day with the whole Justin thing."
Blaise chuckled. "That was quite hilarious." She said. "I'll never forget how mad he was."
"Me either." Harry grinned as well. "And last night, when I kissed her, well, I don't even know how to describe that."
Blaise grinned too, her earlier misgivings about Harry now gone. "Listen, I'm going to go try and find Hermione. I'll explain everything to her, and you two will be good by this evening."
"You think so?" Harry was cheered up by this information. He wanted badly to work everything out with her, and he also wanted to kiss her again so much he could taste it.
"Hermione is pretty reasonable." Blaise replied, waving as she skipped off in the direction of the castle. Running back up to her bedroom, she pushed open the door.
"Hermione!" Blaise sang happily. "I have some great news for you!" she stopped short as she noticed that her bed was empty. "Herms?" she called. Turning, she ran down to the Slytherin Girl's Dormitory. "Hermione?" she opened the door, but only Parvati Patil was inside. "Have you seen Hermione?" she asked.
"Not since breakfast." Parvati replied. "She looked great- I saw her leaving with Harry Potter, maybe she's with him."
"Thanks." Blaise shut the door. Her next place to check was her bathroom, then the regular girls lavatory, but she still couldn't find her best friend.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Hermione splashed water on her face and stared at her reflection. Rubbing her eyes, she washed off all traces of makeup.
"Oooh - you look AWFUL!" Moaning Myrtle said with spiteful delight in her voice.
"Go away would you?" Hermione snapped. The only reason she'd gone to Myrtle's bathroom was because it was the only place in the castle she knew Blaise wouldn't check.
"Touchy today aren't we?" Myrtle sniffed. "If I looked like that, I'd be crying too!" she let out one of her trademark moans and dove into her toilet.
"Finally." Hermione muttered to herself, splashing more water on her face. Watching as the rest of her makeup went down the drain, she sighed while looking at her reflection. "Plain old Hermione." She said pitifully. "If I can't get Harry to want me when I look nice, there's obviously no way he's going to look at me now."
She brought her fingers back and combed through her hair, she liked it straight, but wouldn't go through the trouble to do it up every morning. Hermione turned the faucet on again; letting warmer water rush through before pulling her locks around and getting them wet so they'd curl back up.
"There, me again." Hermione looked glumly in the mirror once more at her plain reflection. "Plain old boring me."
"Boring…" Myrtle had obviously come out of her toilet again, and was mocking Hermione from the first stall. Hermione rolled her eyes and decided to leave, she could tuck herself in one of the back corners of the library and not be seen for the rest of the day.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Hermione picked at her breakfast, she hadn't been able to force herself to eat much since the night before. Blaise had tried to talk to her, but Hermione had brushed her off and sat down the table a bit, not wanting to talk to anyone.
"Hermione?" a voice broke through her thoughts. She looked up to find Harry standing before her, looking contrite.
She said nothing, just gathered her books together and got up to leave.
"Hermione, wait, please, I really want to talk to you." Harry pleaded, moving around her so her path was blocked.
"Well maybe I don't want to talk to you." Hermione replied coldly. She tried to step to the side when another body blocked her way.
"Hi, Hermione." Ron Weasley grinned at her.
"Hello Ron." She said politely.
"Can I talk to you a moment?" he asked.
"Sure." Hermione replied.
Ron looked at Harry. "Could you give us a minute?"
Harry looked pissed. "I guess." He stepped away from the two of them, but listened keenly.
"I was wondering if you were planning on going to Hogsmeade this weekend." Ron said, twisting his hands together.
"I don't know." Hermione shrugged. "I suppose so."
"Well would you possibly be interested in going with me?" Ron asked.
Hermione gaped at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Would you want to go with me?" Ron asked again.
She looked at him for a long moment. "Is this a joke?" Out of the corner of her eye she could see Harry biting his lower lip, his fist was clenched at his side.
"A joke? No, I swear." Ron said. "I would really like to go with you."
"All right." Hermione said. "I'd love to." She said, raising her voice so Harry could hear it.
"Great!" Ron looked really happy. "Well…we can figure out where we're going to meet later this week, okay?"
"Sure." Hermione smiled sincerely for the first time in a few days. Ron walked off and she turned, her eyes meeting Harry's.
He felt like he was going to be sick, Hermione had just agreed to go out with Ron! It should have been him!
"I've got to go." He muttered, rushing off before he really did get ill.
AHHHH!!! No worries folks, there will NOT BE ANY R/HR IN THIS STORY!!!
We've got to add some angst SOMEWHERE ;)
Please don't' forget to R/R!!!!!!
Heaven also has a cookie up from the Hogsmeade Pizza universe at her group…NC 17 rated, so please make sure you are of age to read it.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/heavenfanfics