Thanks for the love c: I really appreciate it.

Don't really know what else to put here so...*casually places chapter here and rolls away*

WEASLEY. WEASLEY. WEASLEY.

The Gryffindors cheered Ron on as he blocked shot after shot, each time more skillful than the last. Hermione shook her head, clapping along with the crowd. Luna and Parvati cheered next to her, and even Pansy, with her House playing against theirs, had somehow navigated her way through the crowd so she was standing between Hermione and Neville; giving Hermione a little nudge and smirk before she too began clapping her hands and chanting the Weasley name.

The after party was crazy.

Ron, for the first time, was at the center of attention. And he was loving it. Harry stood with Hermione in the back, grinning as he watched everyone cheer and whoop and holler.

"You know you shouldn't have done it."

"You're right. I guess I could've just used a Confundus Charm." Harry looked over at Hermione, an eyebrow raised.

"...That's different..." Hermione had only interfered to help Ron, and she never liked McLaggen; she watched as Harry's hand dipped inside his jacket pocket, pulling out Felix. Untouched. Full from bottom to the top. "You didn't put it in," realization dawned on her, and he shook his head. "Ron thought you did." Harry grinned and nodded, returning his attention back to the party.

Hermione shook her head. He never ceased to amaze her. She took a glance downwards, his hand catching her eye; her hand lay just inches away.

Harry looked down at the feeling of someone brushing their fingertips against his, and, seeing that it was Hermione, met her gaze and let their fingers intertwine.

"You're still an arse," muttered Hermione, looking at anywhere else but him, and his grin was cheeky.

Lavender Brown has been trying to get Ron's attention all night (and every day so far this Year, but to no avail). Tonight, she was going to change that.

Pansy, who had been invited by Hermione, was subconsciously staring in Ron's direction when she spotted Brown moving in the crowd towards the ginger. What was she about to-?

Their eyes met, both sets narrowing.

Oh no. No, no.

No one challenged Pansy Parkinson and expected to win.

Lavender was heading in Ron's direction, but now so was Pansy. Lavender was quick, but Pansy was faster. Pansy reached Ron right before Lavender did, startling Ron - and to be honest, the entire student body in that room - and kissed him full on the mouth.

Hermione, Luna, Ginny, and Cho gasped, Harry staring in disbelief; dumbfounded. Everyone else cheered anyway, too gone on firewhiskey to notice the shocking fact: Pansy Parkinson was kissing Ron Weasley.

And Ron Weasley was kissing her right back.

Lavender ran from the room, tears flowing, and Parvati ran after her to comfort her. Hermione left Harry's side, she and her female companions walking in a daze to get to Pansy.

The Slytherin in question broke her kiss with Ron, wiping her wet mouth with her finger. Ron, with his cheeks flushed and his lips still puckered slightly, stared at her dumbly, at a loss for words. "Impressive, Weasley." She smirked.

"You," Ginny gripped her arms, Pansy smug as she stepped down to their level, "are crazy." She grinned, the others crowding around her in agreement.

"I can't believe you did that. Don't you think so, Hermi-" Cho looked over her shoulder, but Hermione wasn't there anymore. "Hermione?"

This caught the others' attention, turning their heads just in time to see the back of the bookworm's, not too far away from them.

But they didn't see the hurt, betrayed look on her face; only noticing her swaying on the spot.

Because, in that corner where Hermione had been, Romilda Vane had Harry wrapped up in a passionate liplock.

"Wotcher, Hermione."

Harry caught her arm, a casual smile making its way across his face. He's glad he caught up to her. He wanted to talk to her since the party, but he had a good feeling that she was avoiding him. Ron would definitely ignore her in this situation; but Harry wasn't Ron. He wanted to know what was bothering her and help her in any way he could - even if he wasn't the best with the whole 'girl' thing. As soon as he grabbed her, she tensed up, and he felt her under his strong grip. He wasn't hurting her, physically he knew. Did he hurt her feelings? What did he do? Girls were confusing.

Hermione inhaled slowly through her nose, a tight lipped smile flashing up at him in return. Obviously forced. Harry's smile faded, and he got a closer look at her. She was pale, almost as pale as him - well, his paleness wasn't stark white, and he has been getting sun lately from Quidditch, but still - and the bags under her eyes gave proof that she hadn't been sleeping well. Her caramel locks, once vibrant and alive, were now loose and limp, and even the brown in her eyes were flat. When she spoke, her tone was overly cheerful and cracked between intervals. "Hi, Harry."

His green eyes narrowed. Something was definitely wrong. "Hermione, are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be fine? There's nothing wrong." He felt her give under his fingers and loosened his grip entirely, letting her go automatically. Hermione rubbed her wrist gingerly, her gaze at anywhere but him; no...he didn't really hurt her, did he? "Nothing at all."

Harry opened his mouth to push further, but Hermione was already muttering, "See you around, Harry," as she moved passed him and walked away quickly; shoulders tight and head ducked down. He watched her leave with saddened pools, guilt punching him in the gut. This had to do with him. He was the reason she was miserable. He knew it.

He was gonna find out why, no matter what it takes.

.

"Ginny, a word?" said Harry.

Ginny got up from her seat, joining Harry in a short stroll down the corridor. Ginny knew Hermione better than anyone. He hoped that she would open up and be honest with him; he didn't bother with Parkinson, and talking to Cho made him nervous. Luna was the second option, if his chat with Ginny didn't go so well.

He crossed his fingers.

"Hermione's mad at me."

"Really? I had no idea."

Harry shot Ginny a look, and the latter grinned teasingly. His look serious, he went on, "I don't know what I did. She's mad at me, I suppose, but I just don't know why..."

Ginny studied him closely. "You...really don't know, do you?"

Harry shook his head, truly at a loss.

Ginny sighed. "Well, I hate seeing two of my best friends beating themselves up over each other so...I guess I can help you, Harry."

His face lit up. "Have I ever told you how bloody brilliant you are?"

She giggled. "You can stand to mention it more, yeah?"

.

"He's worried." Ginny sat down in the empty seat next to Luna, setting her bag down next to the leg of the chair. "You two need to make up. Now."

"I don't feel like talking to him at the moment." Hermione stiffly flipped to the next page of her book, chin tilted high in a stubborn pout.

"Oh yes you do." Ginny snatched the book away from Hermione, and before the muggleborn could take it back, the youngest Weasley lifted her butt, placed the book underneath her, and sat on it. Hermione could only gap, looking from the smug ginger to the seemingly oblivious blonde, who decided at that moment to look out the window dreamily. "Why can't you just admit that you're jealous and go talk to him like any normal human being?"

"What? I-I'm not jealous!" exclaimed Hermione, cheeks flaming. "That's completely and utterly absurd and improbable!"

"If that's the case, then why are you getting defensive?"

"Because you keep pestering me about it!" Hermione shot up and turned around, only to run into someone and be pushed right back down by the sudden weight.

"Where do you think you're going, Granger?" Pansy smirked.

Hermione, feeling like she had just gotten the wind knocked out of her, placed a hand over her racing heart and sat up in her chair; rendered speechless for a moment or two. Pansy leaned against the bookshelf, arms crossed and one slender leg casually placed the other at a comfortable angle. Ginny leaned forward, and even Luna had her wide, silver eyes on the brown-eyed Gryffindor. Hermione was fuming. She was surrounded by witches, all who care about her to some extent, and could easily beat her in a duel if they wanted to. Ginny and Pansy especially intimidating.

Running a hand through her hair, she rested her cheek in her palm, staring grumpily at the table in silence.

"She's not going to talk," said Luna matter-of-factly.

"Which is why we do this my way." Pansy advanced on Hermione, the latter shrinking back in her seat as the Slytherin towered over her.

Hermione gulped.

.

Harry waited impatiently, tapping his fingers against his knee. It was nightfall, yet Harry hasn't gotten word back from Hermione or Ginny. Out of all the things he should be worrying about, his best friend was his number one priority. He was worried.

"She'll come around, Harry," said Ron, his gaze on the ceiling. "I mean, she's a girl I suppose. They all have their odd mood swings, yeah?"

"Yeah but Hermione's never been mad at me before. I don't know why."

Ron opened his mouth to speak up when Seamus suddenly cut in.

"'Oi, Ron, is it true that you snogged Pansy Parkinson?"

Dean snickered.

"Er-" stammered Ron, now pink in the face.

Harry shook his head, even though admittedly he was darkly amused. That really was a hair-scratcher. Ron and Parkinson? Really? Out of all of the possibilities of Ron fancying a girl in their Year, Harry would've thought that Ron and Lavender might've-

Knock knock knock

The room went quiet. The three knocks came again, but more timid this time. And that's when Harry knew. Nearly flying out of bed, he sprinted to the doors and opened one to peep at the person standing on the other side.

He saw brown eyes. Vibrant, chocolate brown eyes.

The door swung open entirely.

"Hi," said Harry, closing the door behind him as he stepped out. He got the strong sense that this moment between them deserved some privacy.

"Hi," said Hermione, her voice cracking. Oh no. Merlin, please don't tell him that she's about to-

He opened his arms and braced himself just in time before she threw herself at him, her arms in a vice grip around his shoulders and neck, pressed flush against him. Hands on her hips to steady himself so he won't fall over, his arms draped around her frame completely, holding her close. Squeezing her when she sniffled. He didn't want her to cry. What did he do now?

"I-I'm sorry..." croaked Hermione. "I'm so sorry. About everything. I am possibly the worst friend in the history of friends. I would know, I mean, I read about it in-"

"The library," they said together at the same time, Harry smiling and rubbing her back, and the latter giggling softly. "Hermione, I'm just glad you're talking to me right now - let alone this." He squeezed her again.

Hermione buried her face in his shoulder. "Sorry, sorry, sorry."

"It's alright, because the next time we're going broomstick riding, I'm not giving you a warning."

She smiled, closing her eyes. "Deal."

He did too. "As much as I would love to stand here and hug you all night-"

"Oh!" She pulled away almost immediately, blushing faintly in the moonlight.

"No," he grabbed for her hand, tugging her towards the door. "I mean-"

And with his free hand, he opened the door to the dormitory, every single one of his roommates tumbling out into the open, landing in a messy heap on the floor.

"-I'd rather do it knowing we're not being eavesdropped on," said Harry, he and Hermione glaring pointedly at Ron.

"...Oh bloody hell," muttered Ron.

"So do you have a date for Slughorn's party yet?"

They lay together in his bed, a silencing charm set around them so his roommates could sleep. Cheeky green eyes stared back into playful brown ones.

"Are you asking me?"

"No. I would never ask you. You're terrible."

Hermione's mouth dropped, sitting up to slap his arm. Harry continued to laugh.

"Joking."

"...I know." She laid back down on her backside beside him. He elbowed her. She elbowed him back. "What?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"I'll answer if you answer."

"Alright - count of three. One-"

"Two-"

"Three-"

"No," they said simultaneously.

Hermione blinked. "You don't...?"

Harry shook his head. "No. You don't either?"

"No."

"So..."

"If you don't have a date-"

"And you don't have a date-"

"Then...maybe..."

"We could...go together? As friends?"

Hermione opened her mouth to accept, but then she smirked and narrowed her eyes; squinting. "I thought you said you'd never ask me."

"Well, obviously, I lied." He took her hand in both of his. "So, Hermione Jean Granger, would you please do me the honor of being my date to Slughorn's party? Pretty please? I don't think you're terrible. You're bloody brilliant."

Hermione giggled. "Well, since you put it that way-"

"Is that a yes?" Harry grinned.

Her eyes brightened. "Most definitely yes."