ahhh ! actually, i didn't technically fix my computer yet. i'll save the celebratory cheers for later. i sent this over to my friend before my computer totally crashed. went to her house, and uploaded. yay ! i'm gonna stop talking now. oh ! and i know it's a few chapters too late, but- i broke 100 reviews ! i love you lot so much. enjoy chapter six !
*kisses*
lil_irish_girl
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Previously;
Hermione took a deep breath, preparing herself. It's time, she thought. Turning around, her eyes widened.
"Harry Potter?"
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Harry smiled sheepishly, running a hand through his hair nervously.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm JPH. I suppose my costume doesn't do a very good job at disguising who I am."
"No, I know exactly who you are," Hermione said. "I have to go," she said, turning away.
"Wait," Harry said desperately, lightly grabbing her arm. "Don't go. Please."
"Don't you know who I am?" Hermione asked.
"God, I wish I did," said Harry. "You'd think I'd remember those eyes. They're stunning."
Mental note: Harry doesn't pay attention to my eyes, Hermione thought.
"Just give me a chance," Harry said. "Please?" Hermione sighed.
"Who could resist you when you look that adorable?" she asked, smiling. Harry beamed, extending his hand.
"May I have this dance, milady?" he asked, bowing slightly. Giggling, Hermione took his hand and Harry led her to a different part of the dance floor.
Merlin! Is he a good dancer, Hermione thought, laughing as he pulled her into a theatrical dip. Spinning around in time to the music, Hermione caught sight of Ginny and Draco dancing awfully close to each other.
Catching her eye, Hermione widened her eyes and jerked her head in Harry's direction. Ginny's mouth dropped. She mouthed "No way!"
Hermione nodded, then tilted her head to the side, as if to ask why she and Draco were so close. Ginny mouthed her response,
"He's trying to hide his excitement."
At this comment, Hermione laughed loudly. Harry pulled back to look her in the eye.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Nothing, nothing," Hermione assured him. "If you don't mind my asking, what are you supposed to be? Costume wise, I mean."
"Me?" Harry asked. "Why, I'm Prince Charming."
He certainly looked the part, too. His baby blue suit matched her dress perfectly. How odd, Hermione thought. It's like he knew exactly what I was going as.
"We're the perfect couple," Hermione commented absent mindedly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"In more ways than one," Harry whispered in her ear, making her shiver.
"Do you want to take a walk outside?" Harry asked. She nodded, and he took her hand and led her out the doors. The two of them passed Draco and Ginny on their way out.
"Who would've thought?" Ginny murmured. "Harry and Hermione."
"She looks really beautiful in that dress," Draco said.
"Careful," Ginny said, a playful smile on her face. "I might get a little jealous."
"Don't," said Draco. "I'm sure you're well aware of how I feel about your costume." He pulled her closer, his arms tightening around her waist. She sighed and laid her head on his chest.
Maybe bad boys aren't that bad…
~*~
"You look so gorgeous in that dress," Harry told Hermione as they walked outside, sitting on a bench. "I was right."
"Right about what?" Hermione asked.
"You being beautiful," Harry said, looking directly into her eyes. Hermione smiled softly, and she could feel her cheeks redden.
"I know your face," Harry whispered, lifting a hand to cup her cheek. "I just don't know who you are."
Hermione, whose eyes had closed when Harry touched her, opened slightly to look at him.
"You know who I am," she said softly.
"Do I?" he asked. She nodded.
"Let's play twenty questions," Harry suggested, taking his hand off her cheek. "To help me figure out who you are."
"Twenty?" Hermione asked, smiling. "How 'bout ten?"
"I'll take what I can get," Harry conceded, putting his hands up. "First question; Where did you get that stunning dress?"
"In a little store in Hogsmeade; it's owned by Madam Greyrose," Hermione answered.
"There's no such store," Harry said, confused. "I know all the stores in Hogsmeade, and there's not one owned by a Madam Greyrose."
Well, I've never seen it before, either, Hermione thought. I'll have to talk to Ginny about that.
"Next question," Hermione said. Harry got off the bench and offered her his hand. She took it, and they began walking around the corridors.
"What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" Harry asked.
"I snuck out of my dorm after hours and wandered the corridors," Hermione said. "That's how I found the notebook."
Harry chuckled. "Alright," he said. "What's your favorite thing to do on a stormy night?"
"Curl up next to the fire when I'm by myself," said Hermione. "I like watching the fire flicker, and rise, and eventually burn itself out."
"Okay," Harry said, gently stroking the back of her palm with his thumb as they walked. "I'm not sure this counts, but will you sing for me?"
Hermione smiled softly. "Sure," she said. "Do you want to sit down?" she asked, motioning to the bench that was right next to them. Sitting down, he looked at her. Hermione opened her mouth and began to sing.
I'm so tired of being here,
Suppressed by all my childish fears.
And if you have to leave,
I wish that you would just leave.
Cause your presence still lingers here,
and it won't leave me alone.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears,
And I held your hand through all of these years,
But you still have, all of me.
Once she stopped singing, Harry didn't move; just stared at her.
"Was it that bad?" Hermione asked softly.
"No, no!" Harry said quickly, getting up and taking her hand again. "I was right about that, too. You have an angelic voice."
Hermione blushed slightly at his praise. "Next question," she murmured. Harry stayed silent, thinking for a bit.
"Three things you want to do before you die?" he finally asked.
"Write a novel, fall in love, and travel the world," said Hermione. "I think that should count as three questions; those are three very good clues to who I am."
"What?" Harry asked, his eyes wide as he stopped walking to look at her. He sighed. "Fine," he said. "Then let me think of my last two questions."
They walked in silence for a bit, wandering aimlessly still holding hands. Suddenly Harry broke the silence.
"Do I have any classes with you?" he asked.
"A couple, I think," Hermione said evasively. "And the last question is…?"
"Do you think you made the right decision meeting me tonight?" asked Harry, turning to face her and taking both of her hands in his.
"I do," Hermione answered, squeezing his hands lightly. "And do you, Harry Potter, ever want to see me again?"
Harry let go of Hermione's left hand, moving it up to cup her cheek again. The two of them slowly got closer together; Harry leaned in and gently kissed her. Hermione kissed back, in a daze.
I'm kissing Harry Potter, I'm kissing Harry Potter, I'm kissing Harry Potter, she repeated over and over again in her mind. Harry moved both his hands, letting them rest around her waist. She, in turn, moved her hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck. His tongue was just about to snake across her bottom lip when Hermione heard heels clacking down the hallway.
"Sorry to interrupt your little love fest over here," Ginny said rather loudly, making the two of them break apart. "But Cinderella has to go home now."
"One second, Gin," Hermione said, her eyes never leaving Harry's.
"You're a friend of Ginny's?" Harry asked softly.
"Yes," she answered. "So now you know eleven things about me. But before I go, what's your answer to my question?"
"Absolutely," he whispered. Smiling, Hermione gave him one last peck on the lips before running back down the corridors with Ginny; the sound of their heels slowly fading into the distance.
~*~
"Hey, Gin?" Hermione asked, lying down on her bed.
"Yeah?" Ginny said.
"You know that phrase 'slipped on a kiss and fell in love'?" Hermione stared at the ceiling, a blank look on her face.
"Yeah…" said Ginny.
"Well it doesn't work here," Hermione said, pouting. "Because I was already in love with him. I'm glad we had that 'pull me out at midnight' thing. He would've figured out it was me within the next couple minutes, and that would have been bad. This isn't fair."
"What's not fair?" Ginny asked, slightly confused.
"Harry can't love me back!" Hermione exclaimed, hitting her bed with her fist. "This is a one sided relationship. When he figures out it's me, he'll most likely apologize for the mistake, saying that we're best friends and that's it and-"
"Hermione," Ginny said lightly. "You're rambling. Relax. He might love you back. You'll never know until you try."
"Stop sounding like a stupid fortune cookie," Hermione grumbled.
"So what are you going to do?" Ginny asked.
"… Nothing," Hermione answered. "I'm not going to do anything. I'll try to back away for a bit," she thought for a minute. "Actually, I think I might try to figure out if Harry could ever love his bookwormish best friend."
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ohyeah, this story gets more original after this chapter- not so much like "A Cinderella Story." please leave a few words, if you have time. (: