Good Enough for You

A/N: Well, I needed to take a slight break from Return to Me, you guys know how it gets from time to time…. so I got this idea tonight and decided to write it for you guys. I hope you enjoy it. Remember to read and review, not flame! :)

OMG was Star Wars not just simply and totally amazing? I wont’ spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but YODA! He ROCKS! If anyone wants to see me and Lily cat dressed to kill, as Amidala and a Jedi, take a jump over to the Haven and look in the Star Wars Premiere folder.

Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything Harry Potter related, just Hermione’s stuffed cat and Ginny’s two bitchy friends. And Ryoko owns Orgus Root, if you want to find out more about it read her fic Soul Scepter, you won’t regret it, I promise.

“You’re what?” Harry stared at his girlfriend of six months in disbelief. “You brought me all the way up to the Astronomy Tower to break up with me?”

Hermione Granger lowered her head to try and contain her tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. “I’m sorry Harry. This just isn’t working out for me.”

Harry moved forward and gripped her arms tightly. “That’s bullshit, Hermione. Just last night we were up here…” he moved his eyes towards a certain dark corner of the tower and they both flushed red at the memory of what had taken place there the night before. “Is that it?”

“No…no that’s not it at all…” Hermione couldn’t even look him in the eyes, for fear she would drown in the deep emerald pools. “I don’t think I’m good enough for you.”

“Well I think you’re perfect for me.” Harry stated firmly. He tried to put his hand under her chin to tilt her head back, but she moved away.

“Please Harry, just don’t…” she turned and fled the Tower, leaving Harry standing behind, feeling saddened and angry.

*** *** ***

“I don’t know what I did wrong.” Harry said, pushing his hair back with both hands. “I mean, this just came out of the blue.” He looked at Ron with frustration.

Ron pursed his lips in thought. “She isn’t…you know…. pregnant is she?” he asked tentatively.

“No…we both used some of that Orgus Root, you know, no way she can be.” Harry said with a definite tone to his voice.

Ron heaved a sigh. “Okay, rules that one out.” He thought hard for a moment. “You think she’s interested in someone else?”

Harry looked up at him quickly, a stricken look on his face.

“No, no we would have noticed if she took a fancy to someone else.” Ron said quickly.

Harry nodded, his eyes taking a faraway look. Suddenly the portrait door opened and Hermione stepped in, her eyes red and puffy. She looked their way and her mouth opened in a silent gasp. Harry quickly jumped from the chair he was sitting in to go over to her, but she ran up to her room, the Head Girl’s room, and slammed the door shut. Harry winced as he heard the sound, and then slumped back down in the chair, burying his face in his hands.

“She hardly looks at me.” He said, his voice coming out muffled. Ron opened his mouth to say something but the portrait door swung open again and Ginny Weasley walked in the room.

The shy innocent girl that had once been Ginny was gone. She had undergone a complete personality change, back in the beginning of this year. She had developed into a voluptuous woman, with a heaving chest, long red hair that brushed down her back, she wore her robes two sizes too small to emphasize what Harry heard some of the other guys in their dorm refer to as her ‘goodies’. And she had developed a perfectly bitchy attitude to go along with it. Right around the beginning of the school year, she had practically jumped on Harry when they were sitting in the common room one night. He had pushed her off him, disgusted at her actions, as there was a group of at least twelve first years in the room. He had patiently tried to explain to her that they were only friends, that his heart belonged to another, Hermione. She had been angry to hear this, and the next day he and Ron had come into the common room only to find Ginny and Hermione having a huge row, apparently over him. It had taken both Ron and Dean to pull Ginny off Hermione, and Ron had hardly even been able to look at his sister since.

Right now, Ginny looked in their direction and a smile curved across her lips. She tugged her sweater down so her cleavage was visible, and unfastened her robe so it clung to her curves.

“Hello boys…” she said smoothly, her greeting going solely to Harry. She completely ignored her brother.

“Ginny.” Harry said with a cool nod. Uninvited, she slid into the chair, almost on top of him. Rolling his eyes, he got up and silently moved to another chair. Ron laughed loudly and Ginny glared daggers at her brother.

“I’m so sorry to hear about you and Hermione Harry.” She said with a fake pout, bringing one polished nail up to her silver necklace and toying with it seductively. “You know, if you feel too down, you can always come up to my room.”

“No thanks.” Harry said, ice dripping from his voice. He looked over at Ron, who had his lip curled in a snarl.

“Let’s go to bed.” He said, and Harry nodded and followed him up, without a second glance at Ginny.

Ginny sneered as she watched the two boys converse as they climbed the stairs to their respective dormitories, Harry to the Head Boy’s room and Ron to the 7th year Dormitory. If she wasn’t going to be getting anything from Harry that evening, she supposed she could sneak to the Slytherin House and find Draco. Smiling to herself, she slipped back out the portrait door.

Meanwhile, Hermione was in her room, trying to stop herself from crying.

“You did the right thing.” She told herself. “He deserves someone better looking than me.” She made her way over to the mirror and glared at her reflection. She took one hand up and pulled on her bushy brown hair, it had darkened over time and it was now a nice shade of chestnut, but no matter what she did, the bushiness remained. She’d let it grow longer, it was almost as long as Ginny’s, but didn’t have the straightness to it. Her eyes were a plain brown color, and while she had a decent figure to her, it was usually weighed over by the large amount of books she always carried.

“You’ll never measure up, Hermione.” She said. “Never.” She fell onto her bed still wearing her clothes and clutched the stuffed cat that Harry had given her. She always liked it because it changed color depending on the mood she was in, but right now it didn’t do much to cheer her up because it was very, very blue. She pulled it away to throw it across the room, but then hugged it tighter against her, not wanting to have the only thing that reminded her of Harry sitting across the room. Hermione tossed and turned for about an hour more before finally falling into a fitful sleep.

***The Next Day***

Harry picked at his breakfast, staring moodily at the empty space next to him that Hermione normally occupied. She had sent word down with Lavender Brown that she didn’t want to come to the table, and so Ron took some food up to her to try and reason. Ron grabbed some eggs and a few muffins, plus the pancakes she liked so much and piled everything onto a plate. He knocked hesitantly on her door.

“Who is it?” her muffled voice replied.

“It’s Ron.” He held up the plate as if she could see it through the door. “I’ve brought you some breakfast.” He could hear her walking across the room, and her door inched open.

“Is Harry with you?” she asked.

“No, I’m alone.” He said. He held the plate up again so she could see it and her eyes widened and she opened the door so he could step through.

“Thanks.” She said, taking the plate and setting it down on the table. She immediately began to scarf the food down.

“Whoa there, Herm.” Ron said. “Take it easy, I can get you more.”

“I haven’t eaten since yesterday at lunch.” Hermione said with a mouth full of food.

“Yeah, yesterday life was still good huh.” Ron said.

Hermione dropped the pancake back onto the plate and looked at him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Of course you don’t.” Ron said. “Harry’s been talking about it though, he can’t stop telling me how much he misses you already, how much he cares about you…”

Hermione bit her lip. “He said that?”

Ron nodded, not taking his eyes off her. “Yes, he said that.”

Hermione looked happier for a slight moment, but then the shadows crossed over her face again. “No, Ron, no. Don’t’ you see, he could have any girl he wanted here at Hogwarts, all of them prettier than me. I’m just the bookish nerd who happened to have a chance for sixth months.”

“This isn’t Hermione talking.” Ron said. “The Hermione I’ve known for the past seven years has never cared what other people said about her.”

“Yeah, well, I care now.” Hermione snapped. “I need to get to class.”

“Who said something to you?” Ron grabbed her arm and spun her back around.

“Nobody!” Hermione tried to yank her arm away. “Look, it’s just something I realized on my own, all right?” she successfully pulled away from Ron and grabbed her ever present bookbag. “Thanks for bringing me breakfast and for trying to cheer me up.” She offered, and left the room. Ron stared with frustration after her for a moment, then left for his own classes.

Harry decided to spend the rest of his afternoon in the library, hoping to corner Hermione there and talk things out. Ron had told him what she had said that morning in her dorm, and Harry was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. He pulled a new version of Quidditch Through the Ages from his pocket and settled down at one of the tables, where he could see but not be seen. He had been reading for about half an hour when he heard three voices that made him cringe and hide behind his book.

“So did you hear the great news?” Ginny Weasley was saying to her two clones, Holly Gable and Olive Dillweed, who were as bitchy and snotty as she was.

“What?” Olive asked breathlessly.

“Hermione dumped Harry last night.” Ginny said with a smirk of satisfaction.

“No way!!!” Olive and Holly both screamed at the same time. All three of them cowered as Madam Pince glared at them from her desk.

“Would you two keep it down!” Ginny snapped in a hushed voice. The three girls sat down at a table not far from Harry’s, and he trained his ears to listen to what they were saying.

“Our plan couldn’t have worked better.” Ginny said gleefully. “Hermione heard every word we were saying about her…. too bad it really was the truth.”

“Oh tell me about it.” Holly said, tossing back her blond hair. “I mean, that girl just takes no pride in her appearance at all.”

“What in the name of Merlin does Harry Potter see in her anyway?” Olive added, and all three girls snickered quietly.

“Well,” Ginny said, leaning back. “I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I manage to get Harry into bed with me. I’ll be sure and tell you two all about it. I just hope he measures up to Draco….” All three girls gasped as Harry slammed his book down and advanced on their table.

“I didn’t think you could sink any lower.” Harry said to Ginny, clenching his jaw. “To set the record straight, I would NEVER sleep with you, not EVER!” He turned to the other two girls. “As far as you two go, I would watch your back around this one here.” He glared icicles at them. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my GIRLFRIEND and set things straight.”

Harry stomped from the library in a fury. He simply could not believe how sneaky Ginny Weasley had become. Must be Malfoy’s influence rubbing off on her. Harry spent the rest of the afternoon looking for Hermione, but she was nowhere to be found. Finally, around the time that dinner was over, she came dashing into the Great Hall and piled some food onto a plate. She turned to go when Harry came up behind her.

“Hermione.” He said quietly over the din of the students rushing out to their Houses. “Herm, please look at me.” Harry put his hand on her arm gently.

Hermione pressed her lips together tightly and turned slowly to look at Harry. She wanted to melt into his arms at the concern she saw there, but managed to restrain herself. “Harry.” She said tightly.

“Herm, I really need to talk to you.” Harry pleaded. “Please, please say you’ll meet me in the Astronomy Tower tonight.” Hermione figured she must look like she was going to refuse because he moved his hand down to her free one and gripped it. “Please?”

After a long silence, Hermione nodded. “All right.” She said before she could stop herself.

Harry felt a wave of relief sweep over him. “Great, great…thank you Hermione. I will see you at midnight.” He leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek, then squeezed her hand once more and hurried off.

It was lucky for both Harry and Hermione that they were Head Boy and Girl, because that enabled them to walk about the building as they pleased, day or night. Harry decided to leave the tower at about eleven thirty, wanting to be up there first. He was surprised, however, to find Hermione already standing up there.

“You’re early.” He said in surprise.

“Harry!” Hermione jumped. “You startled me.”

“Sorry.” Harry ran a hand through his raven locks.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Hermione asked.

Harry looked around as if confused. “What do you think?” he asked. “Us.”

“There is no us, Harry.” Hermione said dully. “I’m not good enough for there to be an us.”

“I think I’ll be the judge of that.” Harry replied. She started to shake her head but Harry put one hand on her cheek. “Who was the witch who fixed my glasses for me on the train, our first trip to Hogwarts?”

“Me.” Hermione said, smiling a little at the memory.

“And who, in our second year, who turned herself into a cat so that she could help prove my innocence?”

“Me.” Hermione said again.

“Third year, who told McGonagall about the Firebolt, in my best interests?” Harry continued. “Fourth year, who believed me without question when I said I didn’t put my name in the Goblet of Fire, and who stayed up nights with me to practice our banishing charms?”

“Me, me, me.” Hermione said.

“And who, last year, helped me defeat the most horrible Dark Wizard of our time?” Harry asked.

“Me.” Hermione whispered, looking down.

“How can you say you’re not good enough for me, Hermione?” Harry asked. “Ever since we’ve come to Hogwarts, you have been there for me, time and again, saving me, covering for me…”

“Harry, you could have any of those beautiful girls here at school. Why do you want to waste your time on a bushy haired bookworm like me?” Hermione asked. “I’m not nearly as pretty as any of the girls here.”

“You’re right, you’re not.” Harry said, and despite herself she let out an enraged squawk. “You surpass them all, Hermione.”

She stared at him a moment, her eyes disbelieving. “Right, I’m better looking than Parvati Patil, I have a bigger chest size than Ginny Weasley, smoother hair than Lavender Brown, right, I’m the best looking girl in our class!” she cried sarcastically.

“Fuck Ginny.” Harry spat, then curled his lip when he realized what he had said. “Forget her, she’s nothing.” He shuddered. “Besides, she’s the one who set you a trap.”

“What are you talking about?” Hermione asked quietly.

“She MEANT for you to overhear her and her stupid friends talking about you. She wanted you to think you aren’t good enough for me, and you fell right for it.” Harry said, growing angry again as he remembered Ginny’s awful sneer.

“She did?” Hermione asked gingerly.

“Yes, she did.” Harry turned away from her and rested his arms on the half wall, staring out over the Quidditch Field and the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione slumped against the wall as realization set in, finally. How could she possibly have been so stupid? To believe what Ginny and her friends were saying, even though Ginny must have known that Harry didn’t want her, she’d stop at nothing to make Hermione unhappy.

“I’ve been so stupid…” she said aloud.

Harry made a gruff noise with his throat. “Yeah you have.” He half smiled at her.

“I just…I’ve never been very secure about my looks.” Hermione gave her hair a tug. “You try having unmanageable hair and boring brown eyes…”

“Uh, I think I’ve got the unmanageable hair part covered…” Harry said, pulling a lock of his own hair down over his forehead. “And your eyes, they’re anything but boring.” He tilted her head up so he could stare into them, he loved her eyes, they were a few different shades of brown, dark with lighter cinnamon flecks dancing around.

“Do you really mean that Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Yes, I do.” Harry answered quietly. “I think you are the most beautiful witch, no, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I have treasured every moment we have spent together, from these past six months to the time we were eleven and unsure of ourselves. And I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to realize just how much I have fallen in love with you!”

Hermione’s eyes widened. “Did you just say…” she was cut off by Harry.

“Yes, I did just say. I love you, Hermione Granger, bookworm, bushy hair, everything about you, I love.” Harry said.

Hermione tried to say she loved him too, but could only emit a tiny squeak. They grinned at one another, and then Harry bent his face down to cover her mouth with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her as close to him as he possibly could, curving one hand around her slim waist while the other buried itself into her hair. Hermione pressed her lips harder against his, and opened her mouth to let his tongue inside. One of her hands cupped the side of his face while she let her fingernails on the other hand lightly scrape up his neck, and gently across his scalp. She loved the feel of his hair in her hand, it was always so soft. He moaned into her mouth at the feel of her, and tightened his hold even more around her waist. Neither Hermione or Harry would ever know how they got from the Astronomy Tower back to the Head Boy’s room, as neither remembered breaking away from one another for longer than a second to draw breath.

Hermione had to admit; lying on her back on Harry’s bed was far better than the cold stone floor of the Tower. Energized by her thoughts, she grabbed Harry’s face between her hands and kissed him so hard she figured she was bruising their lips. Harry brought one hand down and unclasped her robe, then without breaking away, he pulled it off her and threw it to the floor. He then took his hand and gently eased his way under her sweater, loving the feel of her silken skin on his palm.

He pulled his mouth away from hers to kiss the hollow of her throat, making a trail of opened mouth kisses down the side of her neck and across her shoulder. Frustrated by the limits the sweater she was wearing gave him, he almost tore it from her and it joined her robe on the floor.

They both took a few deep breaths and just looked at each other for a few moments, Hermione taking this time to deprive Harry of his own robe and shirt, so that she could feel his skin as well.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Harry again attacked her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue against hers, running his hand lightly up her torso, he loved to feel her shiver with pleasure underneath him. His hand found the side of her breast, and he let his thumb brush over the top, making her moan into his mouth and press harder against him. He pulled his mouth from hers, making her emit a large cry as he gently squeezed her breast and kissed the valley between them.

Hermione had quite a grip on Harry’s hair, the other was holding onto the headboard. “Harry!” she breathed as he created thrilling sensations that shot through her. He moved back up and once again kissed her passionately.

“Harry…” she mumbled around his lips. “Harry…I want you, all of you…”

Some time later, Hermione lay and watched Harry’s chest rise and fall as he slept. She could hardly believe he was here right now, sleeping next to her. She moved slightly so that she could lie in the crook of his arms.

“’Mione?” Harry mumbled sleepily.

“Hmmm?” she murmured back, her eyelids fluttering.

“Don’t ever say you’re not good enough for me again…”

“I won’t.” Hermione propped herself up to kiss him on the lips once more, and then snuggled back into his embrace. No, she definitely would never think that again.

Chapter 2

Hermione’s Revenge

(A/N: Well, due to a nice response for chapter 1, I decided to do a second, this will be the last, however.

Personally, I don’t think I made Ginny OOC, because we really have no insight to her personality yet. But that’s just me. I know a lot of people think Ginny’s a doll, and if you want to read where I made her nice, read my story Working Together.

Anyways, hope you non Ginny lovers out there will get a kick out of this. I don’t hate the girl, but she’s definitely not on my list of favorites. I don’t do anything TOO bad to her though ;) heehee

Oh, and please take a moment and join Ryoko’s Yahoo Group, she’s going to have some very cool stuff up there soon!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ryokos_Place/ )

Hermione Granger was not usually a girl who was out for revenge. Actually, she was normally quite the contrary, but then again, she’d never been duped so badly. She absentmindedly tapped her quill on her parchment as random thoughts of payback flitted through her mind.

“Something the matter?” Harry asked.

“Why?” Hermione replied, looking up from her homework.

Harry pointed at her quill. “You just snapped your quill in half.”

Hermione blushed and looked down, noticing that her quill indeed now lay in two sad pieces on top of her parchment. “Oops.”

“Come here.” Harry said getting up from his chair and drawing her into his embrace. She rested her head on his chest for a few long moments, just enjoying the touch of his hands gently caressing her back, and the feel of his lips in her hair. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t hide anything from you can I?” Hermione asked with a slight smile, looking up at him.

“Nope.” Harry answered.

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. “I guess I’m still rather peeved about what Ginny did.”

Harry snorted. “Can’t say that I blame you.” He gently tilted her face up to his and kissed her. “But it didn’t work, did it?”

“No,” Hermione said. “I just can’t seem to get it out of my head…” her eyes took on a gleam as an idea came to her.

“Uh oh,” Harry said as he noticed. “What are you thinking about?”

Hermione simply smiled. “You’ll see, all in good time.” She sat back down at the table and with a simple flick of her wrist, repaired her quill and started doing her homework again. Harry shook his head and followed suit, glad it wasn’t him on Hermione’s bad side.

***The Next Day***

Hermione climbed up the ladder to one of the top shelves in the library, looking for a certain book.

“Wild Ways to Wickedly Uglify a Witch or Warlock.” Hermione read aloud, rolling her eyes at the title. She needed a little charm or two for her plans with Ginny, and she went back down the ladder and tucked the book inside a bigger one so no one could see what she was reading.

“Hmmm…I only need two spells really….” Hermione muttered softly to herself as she copied down what she would need, then returned the book to the shelf. She allowed herself a large smile as she practically skipped down the hall back to her room.

Late that night, Hermione sneaked out of Harry’s room and up to the 6th year Girl’s Dormitories. It took her a moment to find Ginny’s bed, but finally she was standing over her.

Hermione pointed her wand at Ginny’s long red hair as she concentrated on what the book had said to do. She focused on the mental image of Snape’s greasy disgusting hair, chanted the spell, and when she opened her eyes, she saw in satisfaction that the spell had worked.

“Now the clothes.” Hermione said quietly, going to Ginny’s trunk and opening it noiselessly. She grimaced at the array of tight fitting outfits inside, then did the same thing as she did to Ginny’s hair, only this time thinking about Ginny in clothing the same size as Millicent Bulstrode wore. Her task being done, Hermione crept out of the room and scurried back to where Harry laid waiting for her in sleep.

“Where’d you go?” he mumbled sleepily as she slipped back into the bed.

“You’ll see tomorrow.” She simply said, kissing him on the cheek and snuggling back into the crook of his arm. Hermione fell asleep easily, with thoughts of the next day playing through her mind.

Ginny Weasley stumbled into the bathroom the next morning, ready to being her morning rituals to face the day. She brushed her teeth with her eyes half open, then grabbed her shampoo and was heading for the shower when she caught sight of her long locks in the mirror.

“AHHHHHHHH!!!!!” she screamed loudly, which in turn brought Holly and Olive running in to see what was the matter.

“Ginny!!” Holly exclaimed. “What the hell did you do?” Olive merely stared at her hair in disgust.

“I didn’t do anything!” Ginny’s voice was shrill with panic. She stepped into the shower, still in her nightgown, and started squeezing shampoo into her hair, scrubbing vigorously. “Help me!” she barked at the other two girls.

“I’m not touching her.” Olive said, turning and walking out of the bathroom. Holly stood for a moment longer, then followed Olive. Ginny felt hatred boil up inside her at her so-called friends. She’d make them pay once she got out, oh yes she would.

Twenty minutes later, Ginny stepped from the shower, convinced that she’d fixed herself back up. Without looking in the mirror, she ran back to the dormitory, shivering, and threw her trunk open to get some new clothes.

“What the…” Ginny said in disbelief as she pulled article after article of clothing out and threw them aside. Everything had to be at least four sizes too large for her. “What is going on?” Ginny cried, tears of frustration falling from her eyes. She grabbed the smallest items she could find, an old grubby skirt and a lint covered black sweater, and pulled them on, throwing the sopping nightgown aside. She stepped over to her mirror and was completely dismayed to see that her hair remained the same, falling down in limp, greasy clumps. She tugged on it hard, as if that would make it go back to normal, then grabbed a brush, she didn’t care whose it was, and tried to pull it through her hair.

“Ow!!” she screamed in pain, thank goodness everyone had gone down to breakfast by that time. Ginny threw the brush across the room and grabbed a scarf, tying it around her head so that none of her hair showed. She took a deep breath and blew it back out.

“Okay Ginny.” She coached herself. “Just walk in there like you normally do, swing your hips and stick your chest out, and they won’t even notice your head. Without waiting another moment, she pushed open the doors to the Great Hall and walked in like it was any other day.

“Hello everyone.” She said, slipping in between Holly and Olive, who both recoiled.

Everyone stared at Ginny with a look of shock on their faces. A various muttering of ‘Hey Ginny…’ was heard around the table. Ginny tried to flirt with the guys who were normally hanging all over her but no one would even look at her.

Down the table, Hermione was surreptitiously sneaking looks at Ginny’s hunched over figure. Harry and Ron were snickering quietly, and Harry turned to look at Hermione.

“Is this where you went last night?” he asked so no one could hear.

“Maybe.” Hermione said, smiling vaguely at him. “Come on, we should get to class.”

The trio headed towards the doors when a loud shout made them turn back.

“WHAT IS EVERYONE STARING AT ME FOR?” Ginny asked, still trying to act as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Holly wordlessly reached up and pulled the kerchief from Ginny’s head, exposing the greasy locks. Hermione covered her mouth to stifle the loud laugh and they ran out the doors.

“That was prime, Hermione, really.” Ron said, leaning up against the wall to catch his breath from laughing so hard. He patted Hermione on the arm. “Way to go, it’s about time someone took her down a peg.” He caught sight of a pretty redhead making her way down the hall. “I’ll see you guys later…. Oi Susan!!” he shouted, following the Hufflepuff.

Harry smiled at his girlfriend, who looked happier than she had all week. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.” He said, taking her hand in his.

“I don’t think that’s possible.” Hermione said, brushing up against him as they walked down the hallway. “I need to go back to my room, I forgot my bag.”

“I’ll go with you.” Harry said. They hurried back up to the Head Girl’s room and Hermione retrieved her bag.

“Okay.” She said, but Harry closed the door and blocked it.

“You know, we still have a half hour till we have to be in class.” He said, a light coming into his brilliant green eyes.

Hermione felt a smile cross her lips. “A half hour huh…” was all she was able to say before Harry swept her up in a rather passionate kiss. His mouth pressed hard against hers as his tongue demanded entry, which she was most willing to provide. He backed them up against the wall, one hand ensnared in her long locks, the other curved around her waist. She brought her own hands up to play in his dark hair, letting it slip through her fingers as Harry tore his mouth from hers to press opened mouth kisses to her throat, leaving a trail of faint love marks.

“Ohhh Mr. Potter…do you know what you’re doing to me?” Hermione breathed as Harry lightly traced his tongue down her smooth skin.

“Probably the same thing as you do to me Mrs. Potter…” Harry said, mumbling against her shoulder.

“Mrs. Potter?” Hermione asked, smiling. “That would depend on the size of the ring, you know.” She joked.

Harry drew back from her. “Well of course. “ he said. “But, for now…” he plunged a hand inside his robes and drew out a tiny box. Hermione looked on with curious eyes as he opened it and held it towards her, his hand shaking slightly.

Hermione took it and gasped lightly, a beautiful ring was inside, a white gold band with one ruby intertwined with a sapphire.

“This isn’t an engagement ring,” Harry began, taking it from the box and slipping it on her finger. “But it is a promise ring, because I do, with your permission of course, intend to make you Mrs. Potter someday.”

“It’s beautiful,” Hermione said, her eyes tearing up.

“My father gave this ring to my mother, these were their birthstones as well.” Harry said, leaning forward to rest his forehead on hers. “I think it’s a sign.”

“Yes it is.” Hermione kissed him lightly. “I do love you, Harry.” She kissed him again, a bit harder this time. “And for the record, you do have my permission.”

Harry laughed and hugged her tightly. Needless to say, they were twenty minutes late for their first class.

Later that day, long after dinner was over, Ginny finally left the comfort of her bed and tried to sneak through the common room unnoticed so she could go to the kitchens and get some food. It had without a doubt been the worst day of her life, everyone was talking behind her back and her life seemed to be ruined. Unfortunately for her, Holly and Olive were holding court by the fire, they had caught sight of her and the taunts had started again. She ran through the portrait and smack into Hermione.

“Ginny.” Hermione said coolly. “I think we need to have a chat.”

Ginny’s lip curled. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Oh I think you do.” Hermione took her by the arm and marched her back into the common room.

“Everyone out!” Hermione announced. Holly and Olive’s group looked at her disdainfully. “Out, or I start taking off points!”

Grumbling, the room quickly cleared out, Hermione could hear dormitory doors slamming shut, and she and Ginny were alone.

“Sit.” Hermione said.

“Don’t order me around.” Ginny snapped.

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Fine, have it your way, but you’re going to hear me out.”

Ginny glared at her and sat down.

“First things first.” Hermione began. “Look, I know how you must feel about me now, and frankly, I don’t care. But I want you to know just how much you hurt me, when you and your friends said those things about me so I could overhear. And the fact that your horrible little plan almost worked….” Ginny’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, Ginny, I know about it, Harry told me everything. We don’t keep secrets from each other.” Hermione paced the floor in front of the fire.

“I know that I’m not the best looking girl. And I’ve been fine with that most of my life, and yes, I do have some insecurity about how I look, especially when I’m with Harry, but I’ve found, thanks to your dirty trick, just how much he really loves me, not just for how I look, but for all of me.”

“You know, I really don’t care.” Ginny said, looking into the fire. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because, I want you to know how I felt.” Hermione replied. “And you now know how I felt, because of the way you look now.”

Ginny rose from the seat like a volcano. “You did this to me!”

“Sit down!” Hermione said, louder this time, glaring at Ginny. “It’s about time you got a taste of your own medicine, how you make other people feel because they aren’t as beautiful as you are.” Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it at Ginny, then said a few words. Ginny’s clothes shrank back to their normal too small size, and her hair was back to it’s lustrous state.

“If I ever hear you saying things like that about other people again, trust me, the spell will be a lot more permanent than this.” Hermione warned. Ginny said nothing more, she knew Hermione would make good on her threat. She looked up as Hermione pushed a lock of her hair back with her hand, and Ginny gasped as a bright sparkle came from her finger. Hermione caught this and smiled.

“You know, I guess in a sense, I should thank you too. Because of this, Harry and I have become closer than ever.” Hermione held up her hand in Ginny’s face. “I even got a promise ring, what will become a Potter family heirloom.”

Ginny glared in jealousy at Hermione as she turned, and with a proud toss of her bushy hair, she took off in the direction of the Head Boy and Girl dormitories.

Hermione let herself into Harry’s room and closed the door behind her firmly. “Harry?” she called out.

“Yeah?” he answered from the bathroom. “I’ll be out in a minute.” He appeared a moment later, a towel hanging from his hips.

“Well isn’t that a welcome sight.” Hermione said, completely enjoying the way Harry’s towel was hanging just a little lower than it should be.

“What is?” his mouth formed a smirk as she drew closer. Wordlessly, she began to tug at the towel. “Hey!” he said. “You have a slight advantage here, you know.”

“I know.” She said, raising her face to his and deeply kissing him. His arms went around her as his body pressed against hers. He unclasped her robe and let it fall to the floor, followed by her sweater and skirt.

“Better.” Harry said, lightly brushing her shoulder with his hand, loving the way she shivered at his touch. He lowered his lips to hers, first sweetly kissing her mouth, then making his way down her neck and across her shoulder. He took her bra strap in his teeth and tugged on it, making her laugh.

“My turn.” Hermione said, pushing Harry so that he fell on the bed. She sat on top of him, straddling him, as she scraped her fingertips lightly up and down his chest. “My my, Harry, is that a wand in your towel or are you just happy to see me?”

“I’m really happy to see you.” Harry said, pulling her fully on top of him, reaching in back to unclasp the troublesome bra. Once he had it undone, he threw it across the room, then brought her body against his and kissed her, she took the initiative this time and brushed her tongue against his lower lip, wanting everything he had, and he gave her everything he had to offer. The towel lay on the floor now, forgotten completely.

A time later, Harry and Hermione lay basking together in the warm glow of their love.

“What made you so frisky tonight?” he asked. “Not that I mind, now.”

“Let’s just say I got some unresolved feelings off my chest with Ginny.” Hermione said. “I don’t think she’ll be playing any more tricks, but I don’t’ ever see us becoming friends again either.”

“Did you change her back?” Harry asked, pulling her a little tighter against him.

“Yes.” Hermione replied. “I’m not so mean to leave her looking so horrid. I wanted her to get a taste of her own medicine. That and I threatened to put a permanent spell on her if she did it again.” She paused. “Then I flashed my ring in her face.”

Harry laughed loudly. “You didn’t!”

“I did.” Hermione said. “I’m proud to wear your ring.”

“Good.” Harry said, kissing her once more.

(A/N: Heehee what a load of fluff. Hope you’ve enjoyed, and don’t’ forget to Read and Review, not flame. Thanks!!! :) )