Title: You Don't Know Me..

Author name: karenkatekitty

Summary: Harry is on his sixth year at Hogwarts, it's his final chance to ask Cho Chang to be his date on the Yule Ball. It's now or never. He asked for his best friends to help him make the perfect plan. Ron and Hermione agreed, well, so it seems. But what if Hermione feels something special for Harry. Will Harry go on with the plan or will he finally realize something that has been there for quite sometime?

Chapter1: The Perfect Plan

"Ron, this is the chance I've been waiting for," Harry exclaimed as he entered the sixth year male dormitory. He shared this room with his best friend Ronald Weasley, and other fellow Gryffindors namely Neville Longbottom and Dean Thomas two years ago. Since last year he was moved to his own Gryffindor Prefect Room. Other prefects like him had their own rooms as well. They shared their own Prefect's Common Room and baths. Hermione was also a sixth year prefect like him.

"Harry what's the rush?" Ron asked, as he scratched his head with a confused look on his face.

"Cho, I'm going to ask her to be my date in the Yule Ball. It's my last chance she'll be out of Hogwarts next school year now is my last opportunity. I got to ask her out," Harry said excitedly.

"And how are you suppose to do that?" Ron questioned his very anxious friend. "You can't even go near that girl without making a fool of yourself. Seriously Harry, 'the-boy-who-lived' title you have shrinks into the 'BOY-WHO-TRIPPED' title, because you seem to loose your wits when your around that Ravenclaw chick," he added.

"That's why you have to help me," Harry said with a psyched look on his face. "You and Hermione are just the right people to help me pull this Yule Ball stunt. You'll help me figure out what to do and well, she will give me a woman's point of view, sort of give me the possible reactions that Cho would be having on certain things or events," he added as he tried to convince his friend to help him.

" I don't know Harry. Hermione is a lot different from Cho. Your darling crush isn't actually as intellectual as our friend and our best friend isn't really into dating and arranging parties like the object of your affection," Ron retorted as he read a copy of Quiddditch Through the Ages, "But if you think we can help I will sincerely lend a hand." "I think you have to ask Hermione first if she wants to get involved in this whole scam of yours and well, you know how to convince her, just tell her that we aren't breaking any school rules," he joked.

"Thanks Ron! I owe you one," Harry said, as he patted his friends back and ran off to the Gryffindor Common Room to look for Hermione.

As he went of the stairs he saw Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown chattering by from the corner of the girl's dormitory door. "Hey, any of you seen Hermione," he asked. Both girls looked and knocked on their dormitory door.

"Hermione, put down those books I think Harry wants to see you," Parvati yelled. Harry just flashed a smile of thanks.

Hermione came out of their dormitory holding a copy of 'Hogwarts: A History'. "What is it Harry?" she asked a bit confused.

Harry led her down by the roaring Gryffindor fire and whispered, " I need your help on something really important."

"This has nothing to do with bringing down Voldemort does it?" she asked inquisitively.

A smile broke out of Harry's face. "Seriously, it is not about him. You know how much I really like Cho and well, she's on her seventh year at Hogwarts I want her to be my date this coming Yule Ball. I need you and Ron to help me put up the perfect plan for an unforgettable date," he tried to convince her.

Hermione didn't know how to react, it isn't the first time Harry talked about how he liked Cho Chang a lot and that he wanted to ask her out but to actually have heard him ask for help so he could proceed with his little plan, that really never crossed her mind. She was taken a back by the whole situation.

"How exactly do you expect me to be of assistance to you?" Hermione asked. " I really don't know Cho personally. The only time we actually talk to her is when we are in Prefect Meetings with the Heads of the Houses so it isn't much. You know her a lot better than I do Harry so I don't think I would be of any help," she added.

"Hermione I need you to back me up on this one," he pleaded. "You and Ron are my only best friends here and I want you guys to be part of this special moment." Hermione knew she had to agree. Harry was giving her the Puppy eyes and she wouldn't dare argue with that.

"Okay, I will try to help you," she agreed. " On one condition no breaking school rules. You're also a Prefect for crying out loud. If you guys weren't my best friends I could have taken all the Gryffindor points because of all the rule breaking that you guys have been doing."

"Well, Hermione, if I remember correctly, you are also part of the many rule breaking escapades that Ron and I have", he reminded her.

"Well, that's true but if you still want to have a chance as Head boy you could at least lessen your rule breaking," she retorted.

"Harry, are you really serious about Cho?" Hermione asked with a serious look on her face.

"I think I have waited long enough, with her mourning Cedric's death and all, but I think I should grab the opportunity while I have it," he answered as he held her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Hermione only gave a faint smile but deep down inside she dreaded the things she heard from her best friend. He loved someone else. All this time it's still that girl. All the things they have shared, it was but because of friendship and nothing more.

Hermione was awfully quiet for a while. The realization of a broken heart flooded her thoughts.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked a bit concerned as to why his friend was very quiet.

"It's nothing Harry. I'd better be going to the Gryffindor Prefect's Dormitory. I just went to my old room for a little peace and quiet but I think my Prefect room is more private. I better be going now," she stood up and didn't look back.

Hermione went pass the Prefect's common room and entered her own room. After she made sure that the door was shot she started sobbing. She hadn't cried like that since the time she thought Harry was already dead on their fifth year but luckily, he recovered from another encounter with Voldemort that took place in the Forbidden Forest. The Order of the Phoenix, a group of mysterious witches and wizards that guarded the Portal to Eternity helped him drive the Dark Lord into hiding but Harry was badly hurt. He almost bled to death and she was the one who extended his life with her own blood. Her blood was flowing through his veins. Now Hermione felt a different pain, the fear of loosing Harry in the hands of death was unbearable but the anguish that she was going through because of the inevitable truth that she would loose him to someone else almost felt like her heart being torn out of her chest.

"Stop it Hermione, you know better than to cry about something you have no control of," she scolded herself. "He loves someone else, bare with it. At least you know he'll be happy. No one told you life is fair, just because you love him it doesn't mean he'll love you back," she reminded herself.

Two weeks before the Yule Ball and first part of the plan was to ask Cho. Harry remembered in his fourth year when he finally got the courage to ask her out Cedric Diggory asked her first. That was the same year he witnessed the death of the young man in the hands of Voldemort with the help of Peter Pettigrew the man or should we say the rat that betrayed his parents. It was two years ago but the thought still haunted him. Ron said that Cho just needs to hear the right things and she would definitely say yes.

Harry waited for Cho after the Prefects meeting. Cho had to talk to Prof. Flitwick after the meeting. After a few minutes she went out of the room and was a bit startled when Harry appeared in front of her.

"Hey Cho! I didn't mean to startle you," Harry greeted.

"It's okay, I have been a bit jumpy lately but I'm fine," Cho said. " The meeting is over a while I ago, why do you want to see me," she asked.

"Well, I've been meaning to ask you," Harry swallowed, "Will you be my date for the Yule Ball."

"Harry don't you think it's too early, the Yule Ball is two weeks from now," she said as she flashed a beautiful smile that sure made Harry's knees go jelly, "I haven't decided if I will go but if I do I'll tell you about it. Is that fair enough for you," she answered before she left for their Common Room.

Harry was a bit disappointed but at least he didn't get no for an answer.

Cho went to the Ravenclaw Common Room her friends Stacy Blakes and Halley Kennedy her fellow Ravenclaw seventh years were waiting for her.

"Cho, is it true?" they asked in unison.

"What's true?" she said confused.

"That Harry Potter asked you to be his date this coming Yule Ball," Stacy exclaimed.

"You said yes didn't you?" Halley asked.

"How did you know all this?" she asked bemused, "I never told anyone and that was a few minutes after the meeting." Cho didn't know how to react with her friend's interrogation. "I didn't say yes but I didn't say no either. I just told him I'm not sure if I'm attending."

"Why did you do that?" Stacy questioned her. "Last year we understood why you didn't want to go because you're still mourning Cedric's Death but this is too much. You organize parties that you yourself don't attend."

"Girl, you need a social life. Harry Potter is a hottie and you know it," Halley exclaimed. " I can't believe you let that one pass, if he asked me I don't care if I'm working in the ministry and he's still a third year. I'd definitely go out with him," she added.

Cho laughed at the idea but she knew her friends were just trying to cheer her up. Loosing Cedric was very difficult for her, she just can't figure out how she'll be able to open her heart to someone else, she's so scared to be hurt again.

Cho excused herself from her friends and went to the library, there she saw a fellow Ravenclaw and if she could remember correctly the boy was Sean Theodore also a seventh year but he was awfully shy. The boy smiled when he saw her. She went to his direction. The boy stood up and invited her to sit.

"Hi Cho," the boy said awkwardly. " How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm okay," she replied, "Well, what are you researching about Sean, that's your name, right," she asked.

The boy blushed as Cho mentioned his name. "I'm just reading about .uhmm.about the History of the Ministry of Magic. I find it rather interesting but, I don't want to bother you with all this."

"No it's okay," she assured him. "Tell me about this Ministry History thing." They talked and laughed and Cho was for once happy and comfortable talking to someone. Many considered Sean an odd ball but Cho saw something else, a gentle heart. His features were subtle but you could see the warmth in his blue eyes and his brown hair was almost covering his shy face that reminded her of Cedric a lot.

Hermione saw Cho with another guy in the library. "Isn't this lovely! Harry asked her out and now she's with someone else. It's none of my business, is it?" she scolded herself. "I hope you don't do anything to hurt Harry. I swear you'll wish you'd never been born at all. Oh, Hermione, stop acting like a jealous girlfriend, your just a best friend, romantic jealousy isn't part of the deal," she reminded herself.

In the Ravenclaw Common Room Cho was cornered by her friends and they forced her to tell Harry that she'll be going to the Yule Ball with him and that she won't hang out with Sean anymore, which her friends considered a freak.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were going through the rest of the things they have planned in the Gryffindor Common Room, when Colin came in running.

" Harry it's a letter from Cho, one of the Ravenclaw girls asked me to give this to you. Stacy, she's one of her best friends," he said as he caught his breath.

Harry opened the letter and Ron and Hermione read a long with him.

Dear Harry,

I'm going to attend the Yule Ball and I'm very honored to be your date.

Sincerely, Cho

Harry jumped like a loose Kangaroo. "She said yes, she bloody said yes!" he yelled.

"Actually, she wrote it not said it," Ron said. " So we will go as planned," Ron led the whole planning team.

Hermione was just quiet nodding her head in agreement on some of the things Ron was discussing. She didn't want to look at Harry, she knew that she wasn't being unfair but she isn't sure as to who was being treated unfairly.

"So this is the list of things to do," Ron reported as he held out the unrolled parchment.

Ron and Harry - Set up a special secret dinner near the lake. Convince Dobby and Winky to help. Harry and Hermione - Buy a gift for Cho in Hogsmeade. Ron - get fireworks from Fred and George for the special secret dinner. Ron - Find Singer for Harry and Cho's first dance. Hermione - Pick out a nice love song.

"That looks like a great plan," Harry said as he commended his best friend.

"Honestly, that's what you call inspiration," Ron beamed with a smile, "I have a date for the Yule Ball and well, she helped with making this whole plan."

"So who is this rather fortunate young woman?" Hermione asked.

"She's Ginny's friend Elizabeth Coles," he answered rather proud of himself.

"Wow, guess this whole Gryffindor Keeper thing is doing great for you mate," Harry exclaimed.

"It's not about that. I think this is it, I'm really in love," Ron said dreamily.

Harry and Hermione were both happy for their friend.

"So you guys better go to Hogsmeade tomorrow that's the only time you Prefects got some time free," he commanded mockingly.

"Yes, Sir Ronald!" Hermione replied jokingly then they all went to their own rooms. Hermione carried the burden of helping Harry find the perfect song and present for Cho.

She got out of bed put on her robe took out her CD player and an old CD that her parents loved listening to. She had gone out to the Prefect's common room that was already empty. She sat down the big reading chair by the fire. She listened to the music and started singing with it. She tried to do it as softly as possible.

You give your hand to me

Then you say hello

And I can't hardly speak

My heart is beating so

And anyone can tell

You think you know me well

But you don't know me.

The words of the song were as if written for her. It said everything that she felt. Tears started to fall down her eyes as she sang along the music only she could hear.

No. you don't know the one

Who dreams of you at night

Longs to kiss your lips

Longs to hold you tight

Oh I am just a friend

That's all I've ever been

Coz you don't know me

Harry couldn't sleep and went out to the Prefect common room. He was hearing someone singing. He was hearing a very beautiful voice as if it was an angel singing. He went out to see who it was and he saw where the voice came from. It was his angel! It was his best friend, Hermione.

I never knew the art of making love

Know my heartaches with love for you

Afraid and shy I let my chance go by

A chance that you might love me to

Hermione continued singing her heart out. As her tears rolled down her cheeks, She tried to shove the sadness she was feeling. The longing she felt for the love that she wished was offered to her and not to someone else.

You give your hand to me

And then you say goodbye

I watch you walk away

Beside the lucky gal

Oh you will never know

The one who loves you so

Well, you don't know me

Harry moved closer to see her. Her eyes were closed as she sang holding the CD player in her hands. The weird thing was she was crying. He wanted to wipe the tears away but he wanted her to finish the song. He wanted to hear her sing as if she was singing just for him. "Yes, she is singing for me," he told himself.

You give your hand to me

And then you say goodbye

I watch you walk away

Beside the lucky gal

Oh you will never know

The one who loves you so

Coz, you don't know me

Oh. no. you don't know me

Hmm. You don't know me

The song ended and Hermione opened her eyes. She thought she was dreaming but she wasn't, Harry was standing right in front of her. "Harry I didn't know you were out here," she said trying to cover her face and wiping her tears away.

"I couldn't sleep," he replied. " I didn't know you can sing really well, actually you were bloody brilliant. I haven't heard anyone sing as good as you. Where have you been keeping your talent," he said.

"I'm too busy with school and I only sing when I'm alone," she said shyly.

"No wonder Ron and I never found out. Well, at least I found my singer and my song," Harry said gladly.

Hermione, couldn't believe what she was hearing, the song that pictured all her feelings for Harry, he wants to dedicate it to Cho and the worst part was he wanted her to sing the song for them. "Harry, sometimes I wish you were a lot more sensitive!" she retorted as she ran off to her room.

Harry was so confused. What did he say to upset her like that? They were to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow but what if she won't come. He didn't want to bother her she must be upset about something. He went to his room and tried very hard to get some sleep.

When Hermione came out of the Prefect's Common Room to the Gryffindor Common Room, she saw Ginny who seem to be very glad to see her.

"Hermione, I need to talk to you," she said as Hermione approached her table.

" I saw you and Harry last night when I went to the Prefect's bath. You ran off to your room, what happened?" she asked with a concerned look on her face.

"I just," Hermione tried to answer, " I don't know maybe I was not in the mood to talk I guess," she lied.

"Hermione, you are like a sister to me," Ginny said as she placed a hand over Hermione's, "you helped me when I was in those Harry Potter Frenzy that I had before. You made me see things in a different level. If you hadn't done that I wouldn't be dating Colin Creevey."

"I'm really glad you're happy now," Hermione said.

"I know you like Harry and it hurts you to know that he is going out with someone else and believe me I know how painful that is," Ginny said, " but we have a different case Hermione, you love Harry and I loved him to but in your situation I think he loves you but he still doesn't realize it yet."

"How can he love me when it's Cho he always talks about all the time?" Hermione retorted.

"He knows you. You've been together since your first year. You know each other more than anyone else, well, except maybe for my brother. He can't see his true feelings for you because your friendship is a good excuse for him to see your relationship as just plain platonic," Ginny said all knowingly. "The one he has with Cho is probably just a bad case of infatuation and when it comes to that I am an expert, remember I was drop dead crazy about that Potter boy, but I know he'll be a lot happier if he's with you. I'm not saying all this because I'm your friend but because I really believe you guys are perfect for each other."

"You're a true friend Ginny, but you don't have to say all those things to cheer me up. I guess you're right about my feelings for Harry but I doubt it if he feels the same way for me," Hermione sighed. "I'm no good at matters of the heart, it's not like some subject I can read over in books. If I can't be with Harry at least I know he'll be with someone whom he really wants to be with even if it isn't me. I better go, Harry might be waiting for me outside, I promised to help him pick a gift for Cho," She stood up to leave.

"Seriously Hermione I just hope you're doing the right thing here, you're giving up on the man you love," Ginny said. " All these should better be worth it."

Hermione hurriedly went out to the great hall to meet Ron and Harry. The whole night she was crying she came to a decision. If Harry really loves Cho, then she would help him win that girl's heart no matter how painful it would be for her. She spotted the two boys and went to Ron's side (not her usual seat because she always sat beside Harry).

"Are you alright Hermione? Harry told me you were.." Ron was interrupted.

"I'm okay Ron. Harry I'll help you pick out the gift today," she said as she tried to give out a smile and made an effort to convince her friends she's well.

"We can do it tomorrow, if you're not feeling good," Harry said very concerned holding her hand.

"I'm fine, and besides you need to practice for your Quidditch match two days before the Yule Ball. I know your looking forward on your match with Slytherin," she responded.

"She's right Harry. We have to start doubling-up our practices, Captain. That is if you want to win the coming game," Ron said.

Malfoy with his cronies passed by their table.

"Well, Potter, I hope you and your puny Gryffindor team have been practicing well," he sneered. "Specially when you have a new girlfriend cheering for you. Can't compete with Diggory when he was alive and this time you snatch his girl now that he's dead."

Hermione saw Harry's hand go into a fist. She grabbed his hand and tried to appease him.

"I see your old girlfriend is still clinging on to you Potter. Granger, I think you're smart enough to know that he's crazy about another girl. I guess a poor mudblood like you isn't fit for the great Harry Potter," he said as he shifted his stare from Harry to Hermione.

"That's not true," Harry retorted as he freed his hands from Hermione's and punched Draco straight in the nose. Even Ron was startled by the quick turn of events.

Draco dropped on the floor as he held his bleeding nose, Crabbe and Goyle tried to help him stand up. McGonagall went straight to the scene of the incident.

"What is the matter with you boys," McGonagall said with a stern voice, " Mr. Potter was it necessary for you to hit Mr. Malfoy?"

"Professor, Malfoy was insulting Hermione," Ron bellowed, "He said really mean stuffs to her and Harry was just quicker than me but I could have done the same thing."

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, I see you have started this whole mess. You boys should be ashamed of yourself both of you are Prefects and Quidditch Captains, what examples are you showing the younger students? 30 points are to be removed from your houses that's for you Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter," she said as she gave a very disappointed look on the two boys. "Mr. Malfoy I suggest you go to the hospital wing immediately," she commanded.

Malfoy and his brainless minions went to the hospital wing as instructed by McGonagall. The Professor left the Gryffindor table but before doing so she reminded Harry to stay away from trouble or the Quidditch match before the Yule Ball would be canceled.

"Harry, that was a whack! You broke that obnoxious boy's nose," Ron exclaimed.

"I really don't think that was necessary," Hermione said. "I don't care whatever it is Malfoy calls me. I got used to it and I really don't give a damn about his opinion about me."

"He has no right to talk to you that way," Harry retorted, "He doesn't know what a wonderful person you are Hermione and no one has the right to say otherwise. He can despise me all he want but I had enough of his bad mouthing you."

"Harry's right Hermione, you shouldn't get used to those comments, that git, Malfoy is saying about you," Ron added.

The three best friends went of to their classes. After Herbology, Ron ran off to the Gryffindor tower to round the Quidditch players for practice while Harry and Hermione went of to Hogsmeade to buy the special Yule Ball gift for Cho.

Harry couldn't believe that he just snapped when Malfoy picked on Hermione. It wasn't like him, it was usually Ron who gets so pissed of but what Malfoy said really ticked him off. He knew pretty well that the boy just enjoyed annoying his best friend but the fact that he said Hermione wasn't enough made him very furious. "Hermione is more than any guy could ask for. She's smart, kind, gentle and very talented. How dare that Malfoy say such rubbish," he told himself.

They were walking past the Sparkling Charms and Jewel Shop when Hermione stopped and stared at the glass window. A number of beautiful Gems and pieces of jewelry were displayed.

"Look here, you might find something," Hermione said and pulled him to get inside the shop.

They looked around but Hermione was eyeing a very beautiful Heart-shaped Locket with an emerald stone in the middle.

"This one is perfect Harry," she pointed the necklace to her friend. Oh how she wished that he was picking out a gift for her and not for someone else.

The woman manning the shop went to them and showed them the beautiful piece.

"Your, girlfriend has a very good taste in jewelry," the woman said.

"But we are not." Hermione said turning scarlet when Harry held her hand that made her stop talking.

"Would you like to try it on," the woman asked.

"I have to see how it looks like Hermione," Harry said then he placed the necklace around his best friends neck. It was odd, the feeling she felt as Harry's hand touched her bare skin it almost made her jump. She looked at herself in the mirror and she just smiled.

Harry stared at Hermione, she was so pretty, and the emerald stone on the necklace and her brown eyes complemented each other. "Why didn't I notice it before?" he thought.

"How much is it?" he asked lady.

"130 Galleons. But it's well, worth it. It's one of a kind. You won't find anything like it. It's usually given to the person whom you truly love. It's been passed on to many lovers for centuries now," the woman answered.

Hermione had a shocked look on her face, "Harry it's too expensive did you bring enough money for this?"

"It's okay Hermione, I brought along more than enough money, I've been saving up for this," he assured her.

He didn't ask Hermione to remove the necklace. "What if he just gave it to her?" he thought. What was he thinking after all the things that the woman said about giving it to his one true love and he thought of giving it to his best friend, Hermione.

He walked her up to the Prefect's common room then he proceeded to join Ron and the rest of the team to practice Quidditch. The face of Hermione wearing the necklace lingered in his mind.

He went on with the practice. Harry noticed 3 girls in the stands who were watching the team practice. It was Cho and her two friends.

He went to Ron and asked him to proceed with the practice then he flew to the direction of the stands.

"Hi Harry," Cho greeted, "These are my friends Stacy and Halley. They wanted to meet you personally."

Harry felt his face turn red. "Hi Stacy, Halley."

"Harry, you're a really great Seeker, you guys have been winning the Quidditch cup for quite some time now," Stacy remarked.

"Thanks," Harry answered as he felt himself blush as red as Ron's hair.

"I better get back to practice," he said to Cho, "I'm really happy to see you." He flew back to where the teams were practicing. The girls with Cho giggled but couldn't hide a sign of jealousy for their friend.

In Hermione's room, she sat in front of her vanity an enchanted brush combed her hair. She just kept looking at the locket on her chest. How she wished that it would be for her. A mysterious woman appeared in replace of her reflection in the mirror.

"Thy locket will show thy face and whom thy heart truly desires," the woman in the mirror said, and then disappeared. Hermione opened the locket and saw her face and Harry's. It never lied. The locket showed the person her heart desires. She went of to bed and dreamed that maybe in some twist of faith things will change. She held the locket in her hand. Tomorrow she would give it back to Harry.

to be continued