waite waite 1 1 2003-05-11T15:04:00Z 2003-05-11T15:05:00Z 1 1751 9986 plymouth 83 23 11714 10.2625 Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Forgiven
Chapter 6.
Hermione took the staircase up to Harry's room at a jog. When she reached the large wooden door on which 'Head Boy' was carved in swirling letters surrounded by intricate carvings of lions marching over the panelling. Hermione paused, cleared her throat then said,
"Chuddley." One of the lions let out a silent roar, and transformed into a handle which she grasped and pulled. Entering the plush room, Hermione saw Harry standing with his back to her staring out of his window. His shoulders were hunched and tense. Hermione coughed lightly and he spun around. His jaw was set and he still looked angry but he seemed to be trying very hard to control it.
"Hermione." He greeted her with a terse nod. Hermione nodded back to him, and Harry gestured to two seats opposite the fireplace. "You want to sit down?" He asked. Hermione shrugged and took a seat, Harry took one opposite her and caught her eyes, he stared hard at her.
"Look." He began, "Hermione, I'm sorry if you think I've been, uh, neglecting you and Ron." Hermione snorted.
"Think? Harry if we are going to talk at least have the decency to admit that you have for the last few months been a practical stranger to me." She said her tone icy.
"Well I didn't exactly see you making much of an effort to get to know Cho." He replied angrily. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"That's because I saw she was a bitch!" She snapped her voice rising. Harry glowered,
"For god's sake!" He yelled, "Hermione! What the hell is your problem?" Harry shouted at her. Hermione stood up her eyes blazing.
"You!" She screamed back at him. "I can't believe the person you've turned into. I hate him!" She said feeling her throat block up with tears. Harry rose to his feet and his eyes hot daggers at her for a few seconds before he turned away breathing hard. Hermione swallowed down her tears and regained some control on the temper that Harry managed to make bubble out of her.
"I'm sorry, I don't hate you." She said quietly, "I just hate that you'd don't trust me… I hate that you can't believe that I wouldn't hurt you like this, I hate…" She trailed off, a tear escaping the corner of her eye and running a smooth trail down her cheek. Harry still didn't face her; his shoulders rose and feel softly. Hermione wiped the tear away angrily, and clenched her fists.
"Fine!" She yelled, summoning all of her energy, "Harry I've had enough! I'm going." She shouted, storming past him towards the door, as she brushed roughly past his shoulder Harry grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him.
"Get off me!" She shouted furiously, but Harry's grip didn't loosen. "Harry!" She repeated, her voice rising even more and her coffee coloured eyes blazed angrily, although brimming, moistly with tears. Harry's glittering emerald eyes bored into hers, and as Hermione opened her mouth to yell again, he smashed his mouth to hers. Hermione was stunned, her body froze and she just stood there, static in position as Harry's lips pressed powerfully against hers. After a moment he pulled back, he gazed at her, his face completely softened; he raised his eyebrows in a silent question. 'Do you forgive me?' Hermione raised hers, mirroring the question. Harry's lips twitched into a tiny smile, and Hermione returned it, the gap closed and their lips met again, this time the kiss was soft, lingering and sweet. Harry curved one arm around her waist, pulling Hermione tight against his body, his other hand cupped her head, his fingers lacing through the silky curls. Hermione sighed against his mouth, as he traced his tongue along her bottom lip, requesting entrance, her fingers linked at the nape of Harry's neck, pressing his mouth to hers. The kiss deepened, as their tongues met. Moving across the room they fell onto his soft bed. Hermione drew back.
"Harry." She said quietly. He nodded. "You believe me?" She asked.
"I do. Hermione I'm sorry. I've been a bastard. I should have never doubted you. I'm so sorry I've hurt you." He said stroking her cheek with his hand. Hermione felt a tear trickle down her cheek and she attempted a watery smile.
"I'm sorry too." She replied. "I should have told you how I was feeling sooner."
"It could have turned out worse." He said a small grin upon his face as he traced the salty trail away with his thumb. "As it is, I didn't lose you." Hermione shook her head.
"No." She answered and kissed him again. "Harry…" She said thoughtfully, "What are we going to do about Cho?" Harry shrugged.
"I'm not sure. I'm too angry to think about her." He replied bluntly. Hermione laced her fingers supportively with his.
"I think I've got an idea." She said vaguely. Harry quirked an eyebrow in an attempt a evil, calculating look and Hermione chuckled, bringing her lips to his again.
"This was not a good idea." Hermione muttered anxiously, tugging at the hem of her skirt and glaring at Harry. Harry widened his eyes innocently.
"It was your idea!" He protested lightly, as he propelled her gently into the library. Hermione glowered.
"It. Was. Not." She said bluntly. "You completely swindled me. I suggested we should get someone as bait, to trick Roger and find out what Cho is up to. I did not suggest me!" She hissed through her teeth and Harry smiling broadly pushed her into a chair. He bent down near to her face and fixed her with his piercing green eyes.
"C'mon 'Mione. I know you wanna play seducer." He wheedled with a grin. His eyes dropped from her face taking in her loosened tie, unbuttoned collar and short pleated skirt. "You certainly look the part." He snickered. Hermione pushed him lightly.
"That would also be your fault." She complained. "I would never purposely expose my body to seduce someone." She said nonchalantly. Harry smirked.
"Care to bank on that?" He wagered, and Hermione swatted at him.
"Right, leave me to it then. I hope this works." She said. Harry nodded and glancing around bent down to place a fast kiss on her cheek. Hermione grinned at him and watched him sprint across the library to the doors.
Hermione saw the doors swing shut behind Harry and rolling her eyes, she got up. She walked over to the restricted section. Thanks to Harry conveniently overhearing Roger saying that he would be revising there that evening, Hermione wandered into the empty, silent area and plopped down into a seat. She began leafing through a potions book, and after about half an hour the door creaked open and Roger Davies swaggered into the room. Hermione felt a twinge of guilt, he was reasonably nice guy. He had always been polite and considerate to her and was clearly a trusting and open person, and she felt cruel using him in this way, even if it was to catch out Cho.
Davies was tall and very handsome. Hermione took in the short, streaky blonde hair and lightly tanned face, muscular physique and sparkling blue eyes. She resisted the temptation to wrinkle her nose. Cho had chosen him over Harry. Yes, Davies was good looking but it was purely conventional. Harry's attractiveness came in the unlikely balance of his ruggedness and passion and his reserved sensitivity. Hermione's lips curved at the thought of Harry's mussed hair, and Davies caught the smile. He flashed her a charming look in return, and Hermione gritted her teeth and decided to get to work.
"Hi Roger." She greeted him from her seat,
"Hello Hermione." He replied his eyes noting the loosened tie.
"Want to sit down?" She asked, arching an eyebrow and stoking the velvet seat beside her. Davies nodded and sank down beside her.
"You just finished practise?" She asked eyeing the bag of crumpled Quidditch robes he carried. Roger nodded.
"Yeah. Tough training. I really want that cup this year." He said with a grin. Hermione smiled and her mind nagged at her to switch the seduction up a gear. She curved her lips again and ran a hand up his arm.
"Hmm… it seems to be doing these good." She purred squeezing lightly on his biceps. Davies swallowed and stared at her, he looked slightly alarmed. Hermione slowly lifted one, long, bare leg and crossed it over the other watching as Davies' eyes followed the motion. He started slightly with a nervous flinch, and Hermione took it as an opportunity to push her advantage. She leant forward.
"You seem tense…" She breathed, cringing inside at the blatant corniness of her lines and the direction her mind was taking her. One of her hands was resting on Roger's thigh now, the other stroking his cheek.
"Would you like a massage?" She whispered seductively, running her hand along his leg as she spoke. She felt Davies tense even more. So, she lowered her mouth to leave a spattering of warm, open mouthed kisses on his neck. Roger pulled away suddenly.
"Stop, Hermione. I can't." He gasped rubbing his neck, ashamedly. Hermione feigned a rebuffed frown. Davies swallowed.
"It's just I'm seeing someone." He explained slowly. Hermione sniffed.
"Who?" She questioned watching Davies squirm in discomfort.
"Uh… well… you don't know her." He faltered. Hermione frowned.
"Oh come on. At least tell me who, after I've embarrassed myself like that." She said looking offended. Davies seemed to be fighting an inner battle and eventually he looked at her.
"Okay, but you can't tell anyone." He demanded seriously. Hermione shrugged.
"Okay."
"It's Cho." Davies admitted, before quickly blurting. "You can't tell Harry… we… I…" Hermione waved her hand interrupting him.
"Me and Harry are not speaking. He's been a complete twat recently." She spat, trying her hardest to look bitter. Roger raised his eyebrows.
"I always thought you were best friends." He commented looking mildly surprised by her acidity.
"Were." Hermione agreed. "I can't stand him, he thinks he is perfect. The boy-who-lived and all." She bluffed with disgust. Davies didn't agree with or contradict her outburst. So Hermione continued.
"So is Cho just leading him on?" She asked cocking an interested eyebrow. Roger shook his head, and a split second before Hermione knew he was going to give it all away she felt a surge of guilt. Roger was too trusting, her plan would have been pretty obvious to anyone with an ounce of sense, but Roger seemed to either be in denial about Cho's credibility or simply lacked common sense. So regardless, he ploughed on…
"Well, basically, I guess I can tell you as you hate him so much. Cho is trying to bed him." He announced. Hermione tried hard to conceal the amazed look on her face. She didn't quite know what she had been expecting but it wasn't that.
"Really?" She managed to squeak.
"Yeah. He's a virgin apparently." Davies said, "Then she's going to sell her story to Witch Weekly and the Daily Prophet." He paused. "I think it's pretty harsh but Cho says he loves all the attention anyway." Hermione fought the temptation to roll her eyes at the naivety of the boy.
"Hmm." She murmured non-committedly. Davies seemed to suddenly remember that instants before she had been an alluring sex kitten. He glanced at her oddly and she jumped up.
"Uh, I'm really sorry about earlier. I got the wrong idea." She said, attempting an embarrassed stammer. Roger seemed to buy it as, ever the gentleman, he waved his hands dismissively.
"No problem. I hope I haven't been sending you the wrong messages." He said apologetically.
"No, no. Not at all." Hermione babbled, both excited and furious at her discovered information. "I better be off. See you soon." She said with a sprint to the door. She heard him mutter a bewildered goodbye, before she let the door slam behind her.
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