Summary: After Harry defeated the Dark Lord in their last year of Hogwarts; the trio went their separate ways leading Hermione to a Muggle University. Yet after dark activity is spotted at her school, Harry and Ron come down to join her once again to solve the case. Unfortunately after Harry finally realizes his feeling for Hermione, he finds himself not only fighting for the wizarding world, but also fighting for the woman he loves.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
College Life
Chapter 2: Juice
It was a beautiful evening at USC. As the sun was about to fall below the horizon, Hermione continued to guide her two friends around the large campus. In her tour, she showed them where their classes were most likely going to be located, as well as the nice places to go hang out around campus. She also took them to the historical Horseshoe, where many of the buildings were positioned.
While Ron lagged behind looking at all the girls that passed by, Harry and Hermione walked together in the front. They reached the edge of the road, and Hermione pointed at a building ahead of them. "That is the Long Street Theater..."
Ron suddenly got excited and finally came up front to talk, "Oh isn't that one of those places where there is a large Muggle television that has shows."
Harry looked over at his friend amused, "No, this Theater is one that shows plays. The people actually are there putting on the show, not just on a screen."
Hermione was inwardly laughing, "Ron, you really should have taken Muggle studies instead of Divination."
Yet, Ron did not seem to be interested in her words because just then another group of girls past by causing Ron's attention to wander. As Ron scoped out the next set of girls, he stated, "Oh don't worry. I plan on taking my own personal version of Muggle studies this semester specializing in college girls."
Hermione hit him on the arm sufficiently deferring his attention from the passing crowed. But Ron's interested soon wondered over to his other favorite subject: food. The ministry had supplied the two officers with meal plans to Ron's delight. Now he could eat without having to pay at any time of the day. Ron was ecstatic about getting free food from any place on campus, and ready to see the thing in action. Plus, he was complaining about being starving.
Harry rolled his eyes at this comment and stated, "Ron you just eat spaghetti back at the dorm."
Ron looked down at his shoes innocently. "I know, but that was just a snack. Now I am ready for the main course."
Hermione came over to Ron and wrapped her arm in his. "If you would like, we can eat now."
This brought a big smile upon Ron's face as if Hermione was announcing that Christmas was coming early this year. As his mode lightened, Ron wrapped his arms around his two best friends and stated loudly, "You two are the best. Bring on the pumpkin juice."
Hermione started to chuckle at his enthusiasm. "You know that Muggles don't have pumpkin juice right?"
Ron looked downtrodden, and in a baby voice said, "No juice."
Hermione nudged Ron with her shoulder. "Sorry, no juice."
With that last amount of encouragement, the trio went on their way to the local cafeteria. It was located in the bottom story of the Russell House that just happened to be located right next to the Theater.
As they walked through the door of the big cafeteria, a group of people called "Hermione," over the congested ruckus. All three of them turned in unison to find out who had called her name. What they found were three girls and a guy sitting at a table not to far from them waving them over.
Hermione recognized them at once, and literally pulled Ron and Harry toward the waving table. Once they had gotten close enough to talk in normal voice Hermione called out, "Hi guys, I didn't know you were eating now?"
Other then properly answering her question, all three girls were checking out Ron and Harry from head to toe. Harry had a slender, yet muscular physique created from years of Quidditch practice. His hair was now cut short in a messy look; yet to Harry's discus, his scar was now always visible. He rationalized it by saying that his picture had been in so many papers that he would be less recognized with the new cut then with his scar not showing.
Ron, on the other hand, was going for the shaggy look. His hair always appeared as if it was in his eyes and needed a hair cut. Although, Ron was not as muscular as Harry, he was physically taller and bigger then his friend. Currently, both Ron and Harry, were dressed in nice Muggle clothes; Ron in khakis, and Harry in jeans.
While the others were still goggling at the boys that Hermione was hiding behind her, one of the girls finally shock out of her daze and responded to Hermione's original question. "Oh yeah... We decided to eat earlier then usual because Derek here could not wait to eat anymore. We were going to call to see if you wanted us to bring you something, but I see you already had plans." She said this all with a cheeky grin plastered on her face.
Hermione blushed, but did not let that affect her speech. "Oh these guys are some old school friends from back in England. They are even going to transfer over here to study with me. This is Ron Weasley," Hermione motioned toward Ron as he winked at the girls. "And Harry Potter." Instead of motioning, Hermione had to push Harry forward to make her friends be able to get the full view of him.
"Harry and Ron, these are my dorm mates: Katie, Rachel. The other couple over there is Laura and Derek."
Everyone at the table gave them a small "hi", but Rachel was the first to start a conversation. "So Ron, were are you from in England."
Ron swept down and kneeled in-between Katie and Rachel, and instantly engaged them in long conversation about the differences between Americans and Britains. This newfound British Romeo enthralled Katie and Rachel so much so it appeared as if they had forgotten that Hermione or Harry even came with him.
Harry lend over to Hermione, and whispered into her ear, "I think I will like people not knowing everything about me at first glance."
Hermione just smiled back at him pleased to find that he liked it already.
Then one of her dorm mates looked over to Hermione and stated with a grin, "David is also here. He just finished eating, but he has to come back to get his book bag."
Ron and Hermione shared a look of knowing before Harry asked curiously, "Who's David?" Hermione had tried to keep all her relationships a secret from Harry, because he seemed to always find a way to get in the middle. One time in sixth year, Harry sent Justin Finch-Fletchley to the hospital wing for almost a week after a "talk" they supposedly had.
Hermione knew she would not be able to keep her relationship a secret for long, but she did not want to ruin this day. She pretended as if she did not hear Harry's inquiry and replied to Ron, "Ready to eat."
Ron picked up on this at once and stated immediately, "Of course, I am always ready to eat."
Unfortunate, Harry would not let the subject go so quickly. "Hermione, who is David?"
Hermione looked dumb founded at her friend not able to speak. She did not wanting to tell him a lie, but she did not want the truth to be know yet. She stumbled for words as she tried to explain, "Well... He's someone...I."
Just at that moment, Katie decided to but in and be noisy. "Oh, Hermione, you have not told him about David. Wow, you have been dating for almost three months now."
Harry stared at Hermione with a hurt expression, "Why didn't you tell me? I am your friend...I'm happy for you."
Hermione looked him in the eye. "Harry, I kept it from you not to hurt you, but you know how you get around my boyfriends. Justin still has a limp."
Harry just waved that off like it was nothing, "Nothing is wrong with that prat, he just limp around to get more sympathy from girls. Plus, that was an accident. It was not my fault that he decided to fall on that table."
Ron decided to pop in then. "Then what about the other confrontations. You know with Victor, Richard, James..."
Harry interrupted before Ron could go any farther, "OK, ok, I get your point. I know I go overboard sometimes, but I never laid a figure on you those years you and Hermione were dating. It's not my fault that all those guys were asses. I was just looking out for Hermione."
Hermione started to blush, but turn to make sure no one saw her. When she turned instead of getting away, she met the one person she was trying to avoid. David was coming straight for her smiling.
He came right up to her and greeted her with a sweet kiss on the lips and a hug. "Hi sweetie, I did not know you were coming."
Hermione shyly smiled, and returned his hug, "Hi...David. I did not know I was going out until you had already gone. You see my friends came in town without telling me they were coming."
David turned around to get his first good look at the two guys standing behind her. Harry was watching him like a hawk as David kept his arm securely around her side as he turn to look at them. As he looked him in the eye, Harry could have sworn that he saw an evil scowl flash across his face, but as soon as it appeared it disappeared into a grin. Harry kept looking at him curiously not know if he had imagine his hostility or had he really seen it.
When Hermione turned back to her friends, her whole face had turned the same shade red as Ron's hair, but she kept her cool as she introduced them to David. "David, This is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. They are friends of mine from England."
David shook both of their hands with a smile, but unlike Ron, Harry did not return the gesture. When the pleasantries were over, David turned to Harry and asked in a drawl, "So Harry Potter, what brings you to South Carolina?"
Harry looked at him curiously. The way he said his name reminded him of someone he knew, but he could not put his figure on it. In a distant voice, Harry instantly replied, "Oh I am going here now, but have I meet you before? You seem so familiar"
David chuckled under his breath, yet with a pleasant smile replied, "Well, I go to school here as well, so you must have seen me around campus because I have never been to England or anything... if that is what you mean."
Harry looked at him curiously, and replied, "Yeah, that must be it." They stared at each other for several minutes daring the other to say something, anything against the other.
Ron looked from Harry to David, and then to Hermione. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together to break the awkward silence. "I'm starving. Lets eat." Hermione quickly agreed trying to catch the attention of the two boys that were about to get into a brail right in the middle of the cafeteria.
David was the first of the two to take the hint. He turned to Hermione and spoke softy, "Yeah, I need to get going as well. I have a big paper to write for Friday, and I want to get it done so that we will have time for us tomorrow." He leaned over and placed a sweet kiss on Hermione's cheek. Hermione started to turn red from embarrassment, yet smiled back while she gave her goodbye.
Harry's eye appeared to be glued onto David as if Harry was just waiting for him to morph into some monster, but this did not seem to bother David in the slighted. David still had his prize-winning smile plastered on his face when he turned to Ron and Harry to say his goodbyes. "It's been nice meeting you, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. I hope to see..."
Just then there was an ear-spitting squall from the table next to theirs. Everyone turned to see what all the ruckus was about, but all they say was a girl dancing on the spot asking her friends, "Do you have a pen? I need a pen. Common now, I know one of you has one."
David turned back to the two to continue in what he was saying, but the girl decided to come over just at that time. She stood right in front of David with a piece of paper and a pen in hand. She was holding it out to Harry while she keep jumping up and down on the spot. "Oh my god, your Harry Potter. The Harry Potter. Could I have your autography? I am one of your biggest fans. I went to Salem Institute, and me and my friends had posters and articles of you all over our dorm. I can't believe its really, you. I knew you looked like him, and you had the scar and all when you came in, but I would not believe it if he had not just called you by your name. Wow, your even better looking in person."
Harry started to turn red in embarrassment from the attention she was starting to attract. He signed her notebook quickly and handed it back to her in hopes that she would quite down a bit, yet that attempted was unsuccessful. She kept talking so loud and so fast that everyone in the cafeteria was now turned to see, who was causing all the noise. While Ron and Hermione tried to hide their faces, Hermione's dorm mates were just staring at Harry in awe. On the other hand, David stood there with his arms crossed with the biggest smirk plastered on his face.
"When you defeated He-who-must-not-be-named, me and my friends sent you get well cards..."
Ron snickered and leaned over to Hermione. "Yeah she and the rest of the female population. I thought they would never stop coming." Hermione started to chuckle but stopped abruptly when she notice David watching her.
The obsessive girl did not seem to hear Ron or be able to catch Harry's subtle hints to be quiet. "I can't believe you're finally here in America. I even went to one of your matches. You were not playing, but if you were, I bet your team would have won. Ohh, have you eaten. I bet your hungry. Why don't you come over here and eat with us..."
While she was taking a breath, Harry took his chance to break into the conversation. "Thank you for the invitation, but we were just about to leave."
This brought her attention to the two standing behind Harry. Yet, the girl did not even appear to recognize Ron or Hermione to Hermione's pleaser and Ron's disgust.
The girl brought her full attention back to Harry, yet her voice was not quite as cheerful and not quite as fast. "Well ok, are you going to be in town for long."
Before Harry could say anything, David piped in answering for him, "Yeah, Harry is going to go to school here." Harry just glared at David while Hermione slapped his arm.
The girl instantly started to write on a small corner of her notebook. She tore it out and handed it to Harry. "My name is Sarah and here is my number. If you need someone to show you around or if you need someone to have lunch with, please don't hesitate in calling."
Harry gave her a small "thanks", and the girl finally left to be seated again with her friends.
Once everyone had come to the conclusion that they did not know the person in question, people in the cafeteria went back to his or her own business, and things returned to normal.
The dorm mates look at Harry closer this time, and with twin cheeky smiles asked, "So Harry what are you famous for over there."
Harry looked at his feet not wishing this attention now or ever, and lied as fast as he could think of something to say. "Well, I play a sport over their...Its not big."
David with a smirk on his face asked, "What kind of sport?" He was clearly enjoying watching Harry squirm.
Harry looked straight at David curiously. If Harry did not know any better, David was purposely trying to get him in trouble, but how could that be if he was a Muggle. David stared back with innocent curiosity echoed over his face. "Well, I am a reserve player on some English sport. You would not be interested."
Hermione decided to save Harry before he was pushed into saying more then he should. "I think we need to go since you did tell her we were leaving."
David looked at his watch and stated, "Yeah I need to be leaving too. Bye Hermione, Ron..." With a smirk he picked up his book bag and swung it over his shoulder, and finally replied as he walked away, "Bye Famous Harry Potter."
Harry scowled back at his retreating form as Ron and Hermione dragged him away.
*
I am looking for a good beta reader. If you could just give me your email address or email me. I have finished this story, but I need help checking for mistakes.
Monday