*Disclaimer: Pffft. Yeah. I'm JK Rowling, and I'm backing H/Hr, even after all called all the H/Hr shippers "militant". Ha! Jeez, if I was Jo, I'd totally re-write the last 3 books, anyway! So no, not her, not making money of this… nothing, zilch, zero. Happy? Kthnx
*A/N: Yeah, so it's been awhile. But I have an entire week off school, so I'm hoping to post a chapter or two more in that time ;]
This chapter has a little bit of comic relief at the end, I hope you guys find it cute =P
Read and reply =]
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Chapter 8 : Stuck In The Middle
"So maybe I'm a little under-dressed." Harry gestured to an impatient Hermione, making the tiniest gap between his index finger and his thumb.
Hermione sighed, "Honey, you look like a bum!"
Honey. Wow, that came out of nowhere. This has been going on for quite awhile, come to think of it. It's been, what? three months since we've started going out, and she's already calling me honey! That's going to take some getting used to...
Hermione blinked, seeing the weird expression Harry was giving her. She closed her eyes, trying hard not to smirk, "I'm doing it again, aren't I?" She said to him through a chuckle.
Harry chuckled also, that perfect grin of his falling into place, "Yes, dearie, you are." He chuckled some more, moving closer to her.
"Come on, we have to go in ten minutes. Can you please put something else on? I am not walking out of this house with you wearing ripped jeans and a tuxedo shirt!" Hermione protested, eyes still closed for a reason that was unknown to her.
"Hermione." Harry whispered, extremely close to her, now. "Herm, we're just going to a pub with a few of my Quidditch mates for drinks. You'll be fine." He said, knowing her so well that he knew straight away, this wasn't about him anymore, it was about her.
"I feel awkward and I look horrible and what if they don't like me?" She shrank into his arms. She never used to care about what anyone thought of her, but she knew that if she didn't make a good impression, she would get a bad review and that's never good coming from a guy's friends.
"Herm." Harry cooed, pressing a kiss to her forehead and wrapping his arms tighter around her, in an embrace. "Look, you'll be fine, okay? If you want, I'll change." He spoke softly, the two of them standing in the middle of the sitting room.
Hermione nodded into his chest, her arms now snug around his waist. "I'd prefer it if you did." She mumbled into his shirt, her voice muffled by it.
Harry chuckled, letting her go reluctantly. "Alright, alright. I give up, I'll change." He spoke in a slightly defeated manner, but smiling all the while as he retreated into his bedroom.
-------
"I still don't think they're going to like me." Hermione spoke, sighing softly, her fingers entwined with his as the two of them made their way to the oh-so-familiar local pub.
Opening the doors, they were graciously welcomed with loud music, thunderous roars of drunkenness and the usual clutter of the faithful customers of the pub. Over in a back booth, Harry spotted his friends. Smiling to them and waving slightly, he gave Hermione's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Whispering a quick, but meaningful "You'll be fine," in her ear, the two of them made their way to the booth.
"Heyyy! Here he is, guys! P-to-the-O-double-T-E-R!" A sandy-haired friend, no older than himself, cheered. The rest of the table piped up in approval.
Harry rolled his eyes, letting Hermione in first, then sitting down beside her. "Guys, this is Hermione. Hermione, this is... Willson, he's extremely mental." Harry pointed to the sandy-haired guy sitting across from her, he was the one who cheered first.
"And this is Lemmings, O'Leery, Jennings, O'Riely and Branston." He said, pointing to the people that these last names belonged to. Each man nodded their head in acknowledgment at Hermione and all she could do was smile back vacantly.
What was I THINKING?!
After introductions, they began asking questions. This was always a bad start.
"So, Hermione. How long have you known Harry?" The man with the last name O'Leery asked.
"Oh, I've known him since first year of Hogwarts." She nodded knowingly, waving at the bartender subtly for a drink. She was going to bloody-well need it.
"Wait a tick. You're... you're the girl who helped him a few years ago! You were the one we read about in the Daily Prophet!" He said enthusiastically. Everyone around the table now looked at her, as if they thought they would find a lightning bolt scar on her forehead, too.
"Yes, yes I was." She said, clearing her throat awkwardly. She began to pay attention to a drink coaster on the table, tuning out the chit-chat engulfing the table, now. She didn't want to be a part of this discussion and yet she seemed like the main attraction.
"What do you do?" Lemmings asked, taking a swig from an almost empty beer bottle.
"Oh, I work in the O.F.O.S.W. 'Organisation For Other Species Welfare'. I'm the Vice President and the Assistant Director." She said proudly, a small smug smirk on her face. She felt very important saying where she worked. Having co-found the organisation, she felt proud because of where it was today. She remembered the small office over the Pizzeria across the street, where it used to be located.
"That huuuge office building across the street from Antonio's Pizzeria?! You're the Vice President and Assistant Director of, that?!" Lemmings said in awe. He looked around at the rest of the men at the table and they all seemed to look at her with a gleam of respect in their eyes. "But, you can't be more than twenty!" He was shocked as he looked over at her face in amazement. Obviously, a young, successful business woman was unheard of.
For the first time since sitting down at that table, she smiled a genuine smile. It was nice to be appreciated.
She chuckled, "I'm Twenty-One, actually. And yes, I'm the Vice President and Assistant Director. I co-founded the place. It's been three years and we've come a long way." The clicking of high-heels could be heard over the dim. Thinking nothing of it, Hermione opened her mouth to continue on.
"Hey, sorry I'm late!" A cheery female voice spoke from behind her. It sounded familiar, too familiar for her liking. Turning around, she was about to scowl at the woman that cut her off while she was trying to speak, when she came face to face with the last person she wanted to see that night.
"No problem at all. Come, Cho. Sit, sit!" Jake O'Riely smiled, nudging everyone over in the booth so she could sit. She now sat across from Hermione, which didn't help matters.
Let. Me. At. HER! I can think of eighty-three ways in which to strangle her and about HALF of them don't even require my wand!
~*~*~*~*~
"What're you doing?" Ron asked as he entered the kitchen. Ginny sat at the island counter on a stool, right in front of him. He began busying himself, grabbing a mug, a spoon and flicking the kettle - that always seemed to have water in it - on.
"Job hunting. If I'm going to keep up with the payments of my share of the rent, I'm going to have to find one, aren't I?" She said lazily, not even looking up from the newspaper she was pouring over.
"The English Times? Why are you looking at a muggle paper?" Ron looked bewildered. He froze; his mug still in his hand and his spoon still on the counter. He stared at her from where he stood, raising an eyebrow in her direction.
"Don't give me that look!" Ginny snapped, still not looking up from the paper.
"How do you know what look I was giving you?" He asked, a subtle haughty note in his voice as he continued to bustle around the kitchen.
"Because! I can just picture it. It's that, 'I-can't-believe-you're-sinking-so-low', look!" She said, finally raising her head up to watch him rummage in the fridge. "And would you get out of there?! That's your seventh trip to the bloody fridge in the last two hours!" Ginny continued, in her nagging motherly voice.
Ron sighed heavily and closed the fridge door, milk in hand. "What makes you think I even have that look to give to you? And would you stop with the nagging?! You're as bad as mum!" He scowled over at her.
"Ron. You're my brother. I've seen every single look on your face about a million times. So I think I should know. Geez, cut me some slack! And anyway, I'm only acting like mum because you need some bloody guidance. You're a slob!" She rolled her eyes as she watched him spill some milk on himself and returned to her paper, highlighter in hand.
Pulling a rag off of the fridge handle, he wiped himself hurriedly, making his way back to the counter to face Ginny. "Why are you even looking for a muggle job? Couldn't you get a job in the wizarding world?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Ronald. You do realise that we live in a muggle part of London, right? And that paying wizard money to a muggle landlord is just stupid and an easy way to expose us? Merlin, sometimes I don't think you have a brain." She scolded, high-lighting some boring office job.
"That's what the exchange office is for, down in Diagon Alley, Ginevra," Ron cut his eyes at her in annoyance. "And for your information, I DO have a brain!" He added, as the switch on the kettle flicked off by itself, indicating that the water was boiled.
She looked up from her paper again, watching as Ron put a tea bag into the mug and then poured hot water into it straight after. "I don't have time to go to and from the exchange office every month, now do I?" She retorted, seeing yet another boring office job. High-lighting it, she saw quite an interesting ad beside it:
'Cameelia Bordeaux, is opening : Cameelia's Books & Stationary. Help Needed!'.
The date, the time and the place stood in smaller bold letters underneath this huge caption.
"Tell me, how many Cameelia Bordeaux's do you know?" She said, her eyes glued to the add.
"Um..." Ron looked at her curiously, "Why?" He asked, his voice blending with a note of sympathy, as if he was implying that she had lost it.
"Ron, just answer the damn question!" She snapped, looking up at him and making him obey with her eyes. She glared at him and he 'eeped' slightly. He would never admit it, but his sister scared him sometimes. She had a way of being extremely intimidating.
"One." He answered finally. "Just one. But you know her as well Ginny. Why do you ask?"
"And how many Cameelia Bordeaux's do you think there would be in the city of London?" She continued, as if she hadn't been interrupted with another question.
"Not many. I'd say the one we know would be it. I mean, how many other Cameelia Bordeaux's have you ever heard of?" He spoke in a voice filled with curiosity, now. "WHY do you want to know this?!" He prodded once again.
"That's what I figured. This has to be hers! But, why didn't I find out about this sooner?" She pondered, the newspaper laying forgotten, as she now began to search the kitchen for a pen and piece of paper.
Ron now leaned over, turning the paper in his direction and read the ad about the bookshop. "I never knew Cameelia wanted to open a bookshop! Hey, she was that foreign girl you used to be best friends with in your seventh year, what ever happened to that?" He asked, as she now became frantic in her search for the pen.
"Arrrgh. Accio pens!" She cried, having pulled her wand out of her pocket. All of a sudden, about thirty pens zoomed in her direction from different places. Under the fridge, on the phone table near the door, from the counter... everywhere and anywhere.
"Shit! Immobilus!"
Ginny shrank in fear against the wall of the kitchen and Ron burst into uncontrollable laughter. "You, the 'Charms Queen' finally got something wrong! Don't you remember what Professor Flitwick said in seventh year charms?! Never make the spell plural, unless you're looking for more than one object!" He laughed even more, pointing at her.
"Shut up, Ron! You sound like Hermione."
Ron shrieked indignantly. "I DO NOT!"
"Ha. See what I mean?" She added triumphantly, pulling a pen out of mid-air.
"Dammit. I do, don't I?" Ron said in defeat, he sighed heavily. "I have to stop spending time with that girl. She has permanently scarred me. Anyway, what nationality was that girl again? Spanish? German?" Ron began rambling possible nationalities off, under his breath and it began to bug Ginny.
"CAMEELIA EST FRANÇAISE! D'accord?" Ron gazed at her with a bewildered look on his face. She sighed, "Tu es très stupide, Ron." Cameelia had taught her a bit of French when they were friends. She loved speaking over him.
"Hey! No fair! Just because I can't speak French, doesn't mean you can rub it in my face!" He said, his facial expression identical to the look of a five year old boy who felt left out.
"Ron, shut up." She said dully, rolling her eyes. It was about the fifty-thousandth time she had to say it, that day. The pens continued to float, the immobilising charm still activated. Stepping away from the heap of pens, she took a small piece of paper and wrote down the address and the phone number of the new bookshop.
"What are you doing?" He asked, spotting her writing down the contents of the ad.
"You ask too many questions!" She snapped.
"You're not seriously considering applying for a job there, are you?" Ron looked at her in disbelief.
"Nooo, I'm just writing it down for my health!" Ginny looked up to give him a glare that said 'You-are-such-a-stupid-git', she then continued to write hurriedly.
"You've sank so low... sure, it's run by a witch, but it's in a muggle part of London, therefore it's for the muggle public. I really don't think this is a good -"
"Oh, get a job!"
**Translation : ('Cameelia est Française, d'accord?' = Cameelia is French, okay? & 'Tu es très stupide, Ron.' = You are very stupid, Ron.)
-------
"The NERVE of her!" Hermione stalked in the direction of their flat, after putting up with a nattering Cho for over two hours.
"Herrrm." Harry cooed, sliding his hand into hers. She began to melt slightly, he could see it in her eyes. She steadily began to slow her pace down, her shoulders relaxing and her fingers entwining with his. Sighing slightly, she gave Harry half a smile.
"I'm sorry. She just... aggravates me! SO mu -"
"Oh, Harry!" Cho called, her heels clicking across the street as she jogged to catch up.
Harry thought he distinctly saw steam billow from Hermione's ears. Her fist clenched, her back stiffened and the hand that was gripping on to his, crushed it painfully. She didn't turn around to face Cho, taking calm and deep breaths instead.
Harry however, not wanting to be rude, turned around to face Cho. "Yes?" He asked, slight impatience entangled in his short, one word answer, as he detached himself from Hermione's painful grip.
He had, had his share of Cho for one evening. She was tolerable in small doses, anything more and he was left to shudder with disgust. She was so sickeningly sweet, he thought he was going to get a cavity.
"Hey. Um, I was wondering..." She stood, picture perfect, in a Barbie doll pose, as she twirled her finger in her hair and raised her foot just a little so that her toe was digging into the pavement. She looked up at him innocently and smiled.
"What is it, Cho? Hermione and I need to be getting back." He said curtly, cutting off the pause she seemed to want to prolong. He didn't make direct eye contact for more than a few seconds, for he knew she was trying to soften him.
"Could my nephew get a chance to meet you?" She continued to smile. This little outing would be a perfect chance to get Harry alone, at least for a few a little while. "He's a huge fan of the English team and he just loves you! He's told me on countless occasions, that you're his hero." A sweet, soft giggle and she continued. "He attends a wizarding primary school in the suburbs of London."
"There's wizarding primary schools, now?" Harry asked, amazed. He had forgotten his ten-second eye contact rule. "When did they start that?" He asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. He could hear Hermione's breathing deepen even further and her heard one of her knuckles crack. She was getting angrier, he could feel it.
"Oh, it's very recent. It's actually the school's second year open. They teach the kids everything a normal primary school would, but also mix the lessons with a bit of magic, just so the kids get an introduction to it early." She continued to smile, looking up at him, her eyes finally making proper contact with his.
Oh come on, Potter. You can't refuse a cute little boy. It's not in your nature!
"Well... I don't know. I mean, what would we possibly do? And I'm a really busy person, Cho. Maybe if I just meet him for a quick minute and perhaps, take a picture with him? Would that suffice?" He asked keeping emotion void from his face and voice, trying to be as business-like as possible. He looked away from her again.
Hermione tried to hold back a smile of smugness, as she looked at Harry and then back at Cho. She knew what Cho was up to and luckily, Harry wasn't falling for it either. If it was anyone else, she knew he would jump at the chance to spend time with a fan - plus, he loved kids. But, she knew Cho just wanted to spend time with Harry and she was pretty sure Harry realised this, also.
She's not getting away with this...
"Come on! We can make a day of it! And then Gabriel can say to all of his classmates that he met Harry Potter and he'll have a picture to prove it!" Cho begged, her eyes trying to make contact with his, yet again. She would not let him refuse, she just couldn't.
"Well... we don't have anything planned for next week, Hermione, do we?" Harry looked beside him at a fuming Hermione and almost trembled when she gave him her death glare.
"No.." She said through gritted teeth. "I don't think we do..." She added, trailing off.
Hermione looked livid. She couldn't believe she was actually letting Cho get away with this! Well, after all, if she tried to speak against it, Harry would be ashamed of her for refusing to let him meet a fan. Hermione, of course, knew this was just a ploy.
"Excellent!" Cho grinned broadly. A little too broadly for Hermione's liking. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"Ugh. Harry, I'm going go back to the flat. You can finish up with Cho and follow me back." She said, her voice icy and annoyed. She gave Cho a withering look and stalked off in the direction of the flat.
Thoughts would not stop crashing in her head, as she thought of different ways to utterly destroy Cho and her silver tongue. Yes, that girl could lie her way into getting people to do her dirty work. It almost seemed as if she never suffered the consequences. Unless...
Unless, Hermione caught her in the act! Of course, she would have to keep quiet about her plans, seeing as the last time Hermione tried to catch one of his old girlfriends lying and she told Harry, he got mad at her for even accusing her of such a thing.
No, no. She would keep quiet about this. She was clever and determined. She was going to prove to Harry that she couldn't be trusted! But first, she had to find a way to get him to postpone his outing with Cho and Gabriel. Tall tales of how they had to visit family in the country flashed through her head.
"No, he'd never buy it." She muttered in frustration, as she opened the front door to the block of flats and made her way across the entrance hall and to the elevator. "And I don't want to lie to him, because then I'd be no better than her..."
Pressing the button impatiently, she waited for the doors to open, still deep in thought. She was going to find a way to distract him if it killed her! She wouldn't let Cho win, not again.
Oh this is never going to work! Damn him and his dedication to his job!
-------
The sunlight poured through the curtains. Hermione felt something warm beside her and smiled. Harry climbed into her bed in the middle of the night again. She was thinking of moving all of his stuff into her room, seeing as it was the biggest in the house.
Her eyes still closed, she felt heavy breathing on her naked shoulder, lips pressing themselves upon her skin gently, as if not to wake her.
"Morning, Harry." Hermione mumbled groggily, her eyes still closed, her back facing the sunlight.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" He spoke, his tone low and his arm wrapping itself around her stomach carefully. He was very affectionate, she loved that about him.
"No, I've been awake for a little while." She continued to smile, but then the events of last night dawned on her like a bad dream. Her eyes opened wide and she sat bolt upright, the blankets being pulled up over her chest automatically.
"What is it?" Harry asked, his eyes filled with horror. "Are we late for something? Are you late for something? Wait... you're never late for anything. What's going on!?" Harry sat upright with her, she hogged most of the blankets and they were now just covering his lap.
"Harry, did you plan that day out with Cho's nephew?" Hermione turned to him suddenly, speaking as if he hadn't asked her any questions prior to her opening her mouth.
"Yes? But it isn't until next week, why?" He asked, his face changing from horrified to confused.
Hermione got up, the blankets still around her and began to pace the room, leaving Harry with nothing covering him. Thinking quickly, he grabbed a pillow and placed it over his lap. "What's going on?" He asked, still confused.
"Nothing, I just wanted to know." She continued to pace the room, back and forth. It began to make Harry nervous, she always paced when she was deep in thought.
"Something's going on. You never pace unless you have a reason!" He watched her knowingly. "This has something to do with Cho, doesn't it?"
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. Turning around she made eye contact with Harry. "What? Her? No... not at all." She spoke calmly, then continued to pace, her brow furrowed.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked again, his eyebrow raising in suspicion. "If it does, you can tell me, Hermione."
"Well, it's not about her, really. Although, I must say, Harry. I don't trust her, not one bit." She stopped pacing and sat back down on the side of the bed, giving Harry her best subtle pouty look. She'd make Harry melt, turn him into putty!
Harry gulped. That face of hers would be the death of him. Why did he have to be completely starkers at that very moment?! It wasn't helping! He placed his hands protectively over the pillow that was covering his hem, hem... thighs and kept his eyes on Hermione.
She let the blanket fall off of her, ever so slightly, her naked chest now exposed. She slid the blanket back onto the bed, so that it was covering Harry too and leaned in, pressing kisses to his neck.
Harry's breathing became slightly erratic. He didn't know what she was doing, but he liked it! Maybe Christmas had come early this year. Visions of her wrapped in just a big red bow flashed before his mind's eye.
Ugh. No you idiot! Christmas doesn't come this time of year! Huh - wait, what? I can't think straight! Dammit, Hermione. Cover up the twins!
"Harry?" Hermione mumbled against his neck.
"Y-y-yes, Her-Herm?" He stuttered, his eyes closed and his hands sliding their way up her naked back.
"Could you, postpone this little outing? You know, give it maybe, two weeks? I was planning on taking a few days off work next week to spend some time with you." Her lips left his neck, her tongue sliding out onto his skin now. Up his neck, across his cheek and into his ear.
Oh God, she's good. Damn her, she knows my weak spots!
"I su-p-ppose I could call Cho and tell her that two weeks from now would suit me better." He mumbled and stuttered through heavy breathing.
Hermione grinned mischievously. "Thank you, honey." She slid her tongue out of his ear, pressed kisses down his jawbone and moaned slightly, meeting his lips and sliding her tongue along his bottom one teasingly. She knew exactly what she was doing.
"Mmm." Harry mumbled, his eyes still closed. Then, suddenly, the kissing ceased as she slid out of bed and grabbed her bathrobe, putting it on her and tying it carefully around the waist. She left Harry sitting in the bed, stunned that she could do something so sexy and then pull out of it like nothing happened.
He was both amazed and in agony as he opened his eyes and watched her smile, wave slightly and leave the room with her bathrobe on.
Harry groaned as he heard her begin to bustle around the kitchen. She was good at doing this to him! She always had her way, no matter what!
"Will I make you some tea, dear?" She called from the kitchen moments later.
He looked under the blankets and sighed. Maybe she was a little too good.
He grabbed for his bathrobe, as he took one last look under the blankets and shook his head in dismay.
"Yeah, please do. But first, I'm going to go take a cold shower..."
-------
Animals you are,
Disposable, collapsible, and raw.
Off you go, into some other state.
I suppose,
I'll make the most of what it is I climb,
I suppose it's just the state I'm in.
Ginny held on to Neville's hand as they made their way through the streets of London. Noon was the best time to walk around. The day was in its prime.
"Oh, look! Can we go have something to eat there? It looks interesting." Ginny grinned, pointing to a small café across the street.
"Alright, if that's what you want." He smiled and the two of them crossed the street and made their way in.
It was quaint and looked very welcoming. It almost reminded Ginny of her teenage years, spent at Hogwarts. The bravest of guys would take their dates to the small café in the little village of Hogsmeade called Madam Puddifoot's. It wasn't extremely 'lovey-dovey' like the other café was, which was probably a relief to Neville.
Animals you are,
Lookin' for an answer just like me.
When we come, you're waitin' for your time.
Animals that climb,
Climblin' over you.
So off you go, off you go.
It was cozy, with cushioned chairs and nice wooden tables draped with thin white cloth. It had beautiful pictures of different places, like Rome, Paris and Madrid. It was very calm and many people were sitting at tables, engaging in hushed conversation.
As soon as Neville and Ginny found a seat near the window, a waitress came to take their order. "What would you like? The hot drink of the day is Chocolate Cappuccino and there is a special on apple tarts today."
"What would you like, Ginny?" Neville asked looking across the table.
"I'll have the hot drink of the day and an apple tart, please." Ginny shrugged. She didn't know what else to order.
"I'll have the same, please." He replied when the waitress looked at him. She nodded her head and walked away, making her way towards the doors of the kitchen.
"Hmm, this is nice." Ginny smiled, taking in her surroundings carefully.
"It is." Neville wasn't one for cafés, but this place wasn't that bad.
If you're gonna go, go now
If you're gonna go, go now
I forgot to tell you how
If you're gonna go, go now
(Oh, whoa)
The bell on the door dinged, indicating that someone had entered the place. The footsteps of the unknown person drew
nearer to the table, but Neville and Ginny thought nothing of it, until they heard the person speak.
"You and me, outside, RIGHT now!" The drawling voice spoke from behind Ginny. Neville looked up and Ginny whirled around in her chair.
"Excuse me, Draco. Are you talking to me?!" She glared at him angrily. He was the last person she wanted to see today.
Ugh. What a NERVE!
"No, I'm not talking to you. I'll deal with you later. I'm talking to your pipsqueak boyfriend." He spoke arrogantly, his voice thick with intoxication. It seemed to be the only way he was, lately. Ginny couldn't remember the last time she had ever seen him completely sober. And being 'Drunk' was never something he wore well.
Leaning over the table, she whispered hurriedly to Neville. "He's drunk! Let's just leave!" She did not want to cause a scene in the middle of this lovely café. She knew they wouldn't be able to handle it. The place was too small and didn't seem spacious enough to accommodate a fist fight.
"Come on, Neville. Fight me like a -" a burp and he continued, "…man!" Draco swayed slightly on the spot, his fists clenched tightly, raised up in Neville's direction. As drunk as he was, he had a determined expression smeared across his face that just would not falter.
Animals you are,
Disposable, collapsible, and raw.
I suppose, it's just a state I'm in.
I could die, I could die,
I make the most of it,
I missed my chance by a stone's throw
Ginny looked pleadingly across the table at Neville, who didn't seem to want to flee. He looked threateningly at Draco, his fist clenched under the table, as if ready to fight, himself. Taking a last look at a scared Ginny, he made the decision to throw in the towel, finally nodding in agreement. The two of them quickly got up to leave, grabbing their belongings, as Draco began to spit ridiculous insults out at Neville.
"Come on you big chicken shit! Fight me! I bet you know I'll win!" He continued to sway slightly and Ginny and Neville safely made their way out of the café, Draco following them out.
Neville gritted his teeth, being called every name under the sun. He was starting to lose his patience. He wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist protectively, the two of them making their way down the street, until finally, Ginny couldn't take it anymore.
Letting go of Neville, she turned around and stalked straight back down the street to Draco.
If you're gonna go, go now.
If you're gonna go, go now.
If your gonna go, then how?
If you're gonna go...
"Now you listen to me, Draco." She snarled angrily at him, fixing him with a glare of rage. "I am never coming back to you. So GO away!"
"But, Ginny. I love you..." He mumbled, his drunkenness clearly evident in his appearance. He still looked like a bum; slurring his words, wearing dirty clothes. He hadn't changed one bit. She didn't quite know whether that surprised her, or not. Draco was a stubborn bloke, but she figured that losing her might bring him to his senses. Maybe she had been wrong to hold out so much hope.
"No you don't. You love the idea of having me." She said calmly, her anger ebbing away slightly. Her insides were no longer bubbling. She took a few deep and steadying breaths.
"Why are you with that coward," a hiccough, "anyway?" Draco asked, his voice entwining with a strong note of haughtiness. The way he carried himself was almost sickening to Ginny.
Suddenly, she turned red with fury and clenched her fists. "How dare you! You're the coward, Draco. A coward and a DRUNK!" And with that, she turned away from him, making to leave him alone to stand in the middle of the sidewalk with people watching him in disgust. They seemed to want to avoid him, as if he was a bad smell or some virus they didn't want to catch. But, Draco seemed to be too drunk to care.
I'm one of the animals,
Yeah I am.
"Wait a minute, come back here!" He grabbed her arm tightly and yanked her back toward him, spinning her around to face him like a rag doll. "WHAT did you say to me?"
"I SAID you're a DRUNK!" Her voice began to raise in volume, her anger beginning to bubble through to the surface. "And don't touch me!" She pulled her arm out of his grasp and saw a bruise begin to form in the marks of his fingers. He really gripped her quite hard. She stared for a moment at her lightly-flushed skin and cringed. Flashbacks of all the times he had ever put his hands on her in a threatening way began to flood her mind, over-whelming her for only a moment. She blinked and they were gone.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Ginny!" Draco raised his voice to match hers.
Neville couldn't take it; how dare he touch her like that! Stalking back towards the pair of them as they began to bicker, Neville came up behind Ginny, nudged her out of the way gently, clenched his fist, pulled it back and sank it straight into the right side of Draco's jaw.
He fell to the ground and Neville towered over him, looking down at him with a withering look in his eyes. He was tempted to continue hitting him, his rage clawing at it's boundaries somewhere deep in the pit of him stomach; aching to be released. He would not stoop to Draco's level, though. He knew, in some ways, he was the same as the man lying before him, covered in his own blood. But the difference was, Neville would never go too far. He would never let his anger engulf him, therefore, he was the better man.
I'm one of the animals,
Yeah I am.
"Leave us alone, Draco. Don't you understand? You messed up, big time. Move on." Neville said briskly, as Draco writhed on the ground clutching the side of his face, a look of agony etched upon it. "If I have to, Draco, I will hurt you." He added warningly, looking beside him at Ginny who looked back and forth between her past: Draco - and her future: Neville - uneasily.
"Please just leave this alone. I don't want either of you to fight, dammit! Draco, stop bothering me. It's over." She spoke sternly, but a slight note of sympathy entwined with her words as they left her mouth. She came closer to him and kneeled down beside him, the back of her hand gently touching his face.
"Draco, please... enough of this." She spoke softly, looking deep into his cold grey eyes. She liked to think he was capable of turning his life around, she wanted to hold out some kind of faith in him. "I don't love or trust you anymore. I've let you go. So please, Draco... let me go. Nothing good will come of pursuing this." One last stroke of her hand against his face and she sighed, getting up off of the ground and backing slowly away from him.
I'm one of the animals,
Yeah I am.
He never lost eye contact, which is what hurt her the most. She knew her words were harsh. But, it's what he needed to hear. She hoped he would find a way to turn his life around; she knew the man she had fallen in love with was still inside of him somewhere, screaming to get out.
Without another word, she walked over to Neville, placed her hand on his shoulder and gestured for them to leave. Nodding slightly, he glanced one last time at Draco and the both of them turned around, walking away from him as he lay on the ground.
Ginny didn't know when she would ever see him again, she wasn't planning on visiting him. But, she knew that he would finally sort his life out, he just had to, or it would get him killed. Either way, he knew what he had to do.
She could almost swear that as she was walking away, she heard him whisper 'I'm sorry,' almost as if it was an echo ringing in her ears. Although, she couldn't be sure.
It could have just been the wind.
I'm one of the animals...
('Animals' - Coldplay Unreleased)
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A few hours later, Harry sat on the couch watching day time TV. Today was one of his glorious days when he didn't have to be in for training. He trained five days a week and he was glad to get the time to relax.
Also, it was one of those rare occasions when he had the flat completely to himself. Ron was job hunting and Hermione was at work.
'Flick'
"Oh Arnie! Oh Arnie! Please don't talk to that wretched woman! She's foul, she really is!" A woman cried dramatically. She was down on her knees, holding on to the legs of the man who must be Arnie.
Ugh. He hated soap operas. Hermione loved them and would get all teary-eyed and hormonal sometimes when they came on the telly. Which is why he was always careful to quickly skip the channels he knew they were on when they were both watching TV together.
One time, he let her watch one when they were slightly younger and not in a relationship. The results were disastrous. NEVER would he let her watch one while he was around again! He knew he could be a little slow sometimes, but he wasn't stupid! Daft but not stupid, clueless but not stupid, IMMATURE but not stupid!
"Oh Cecilia! My dearest, I must go talk to her. She seems to be in a lot of trouble. I promise you, I will return, I promise you I will not be led astray!" Arnie replied reassuringly.
"Ha. Fat chance of that." Harry spoke dully. Guys were awful creatures sometimes. He just happened to be a guy. To his disposition he had this small - well, actually quite large, really - part of his brain that was always tuned in to sex, so of course, it was easier for him to be 'led astray'. Then again... when it came to Hermione, why would he dare cheat?
First of all, she was extremely fit and he loved her to death. And second, she was always one step ahead of him. She'd know he'd be cheating before he even knew it! He could already imagine the conversation they would have after his encounter with a new female.
"Harry! Don't. Even. Think about it. I saw you!" She would scold, pointing her finger threateningly in his face.
"What?! What?!" He would ask in a clueless manner, raising his hands up in frustration -- you know, as guys do.
"You, and her! Don't think I'm blind!" She would continue, babbling on angrily. She would finally sit over on the couch, crossing her legs and arms and become very guarded and irritated.
He would follow her and sit down at her side, completely facing her and staring into her eyes, using the exact opposite body language to her. He would be open and ready to confront the problem.
"What is it, Hermione? What have I done?" He would ask desperately. He hated it when she was mad with him, for whatever reason.
"You were cheating on me!" She would say sadly and quietly, but then she would turn around and let out a yell - as hormonal women do - "I KNOW IT!"
"How?" He would ask in slight horror that she would even think such a thing.
"I saw you!" She would be quiet and still, again. Then she would hit him hard on the arm, and
yell, "YOU WERE UNDRESSING HER WITH YOUR EYES!"
Hmmm. See? He knew it wouldn't work in his favour.
He was about to change the channel, but then, it became slightly interesting. Arnie was gone and Cecilia was left, sitting on the couch looking extremely distraught. Just like bloody soap operas to do that! Reeling people in!
"Oh no. My love has gone to that awful woman! She will corrupt him, she will turn him against me! Soon, he will only have eyes for her! I must do something..." Cecilia then gave a huge, dramatic - AND FAKE! - sob.
He could have sworn he recognised the scenario from somewhere. Wait a minute - this was what his life was like at the moment! Well - minus the intensity of the drama and the cheesy acting, of course. Cho was quite obviously trying to get him in bed and Hermione just would not have it.
Harry sighed. He hated being like a piece of meat hung over two hungry dogs. He could just imagine being strung up - by his underpants - on some sort of flag pole or something. He could picture the two of them jumping at him, trying to grab him and bring him down toward them.
It made him slightly sick inside. He just wished he could tell Hermione that she didn't have to try so hard and that she didn't have to worry about him. He was fine, he wasn't interested in Cho. Part of the reason being, not only that he loved Hermione so much, but also the past he had with Cho. He would never forgive her for what she did to Hermione.
"I must find a way to ruin that woman's plans. She is going to destroy everything Arnie and I have!" Cecilia cried in sudden anger. Her fist balled up and she hit it on the side of the couch she was sitting on. "With every ounce of my being, I will foil her plans!"
Harry's eyes widened in sudden horror and realisation. What if Hermione was planning to do the same thing? WOW, soap operas were full of information on women. They were like, encyclopedias! Of course, things weren't this dramatic, but it was still plausible none-the-less!
Harry had to find a way to reassure Hermione that he wasn't going to give in to Cho. Hell, if Cho hadn't mentioned her little nephew Gabriel, he wouldn't have even given her the time of day. After all, he couldn't say no to a little fan, but he could perfectly well say no to her!
The dramatic music came to a close and the credits began to roll on the screen. The soap opera was over and Harry's mind was buzzing.
Hmmm, what should I do? I can't just, confront her with it... she'll deny that she's thinking such thoughts. I need a plan...
This was going to take awhile.
Dammit, relationships were hard and keeping women happy was harder! But, hands down, the hardest thing to do was to reassure them everything would be fine... it didn't help that Cho, the queen of destruction - also known as home wrecker - was after him. If he were Hermione, he'd be worried too!
Harry was in the middle of two bickering women! Cho wanted him, Hermione had him... it was as simple as that. He imagined them on either side of him, yelling angrily as if he wasn't even there. Then he imagined them in a mud wrestling ring, wearing nothing but bikinis.
Obviously, the second image was much nicer - and sexier - but both were frustrating in the end. He sighed, the mud-wrestling day dream becoming more and more vivid.
I have to stop tuning into that part of my brain...
Either way, he was in between a rock and a hard place and there was nothing he could do about it! Which really wasn't the best place to be in, unless of course his mud wrestling fantasy came true... but he doubted that would happen.
A guy can dream, can't he?
Harry grumbled under his breath. He hated being stuck in the middle.
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*A/N: Ahaha, it's a little cheesy, I know. But it's amusing! =]
Anyway, lemme know what you guys think! =D
More soon!