A/N: I'm back! Okay, so this isn't exactly canon, per se, but I could still see something like this fitting in. Inspired by the movie, with some parts coming from the book. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.

The bell rang, signaling the end of Transfiguration class. Professor McGonagall shouted over the rummaging. "Don't forget — three full pages on the Principles of Rematerialisation — due by Monday!"

Lavender made her way towards Ron and hooked his arm, giggling. "Come on, Won-Won!" Harry turned to see Hermione stalking off. Having no wish to stay behind with Ron and Lavender, he caught up with her in the crowding corridor, bumping his arm on her so as not to startle her.

"Where're you headed to?" he asked even though he already knew.

"The library," she responded. "I really think we ought to get a head start on that Transfiguration essay, Harry. Especially with what's happening this weekend."

Slughorn's Christmas party was this Friday, and Harry still hadn't found a date to take yet, part of it due to that he didn't really feel like going in the first place.

"Do you want to join me?" she asked him.

"What? Oh, alright," he sighed, agreeing, and walked with her to the library. They entered and found an empty table near the back by a window.

"So," he said, hesitating before asking. "Are things still distant between you and Ron?"

She raised her eyebrows. "You mean Won-Won?"

"Hermione, can't you just — ?"

"No, I can't," she said flatly. "Besides, he's at perfect liberty to kiss whoever he likes. I really couldn't care less." Harry silently thought to himself that Hermione certainly did care very much about the matter, more than she wanted to admit. She went on in her high-pitched ramble, "Was under the impression that he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes. But now, given the circumstances, I'm going to have to make other arrangements."

"Really? Who are you going with?" he asked.

"Um, well, I thought about asking Cormac McLaggen or Zacharias Smith," she said blushing.

"You're considering McLaggen and Smith?" said Harry, revolted. "You're out of your mind."

"I thought it'd annoy Ron the most," she said dispassionately.

There was a pause in which Harry pondered in silence the depths to which girls would sink to get revenge. Suddenly, a thought came to his mind, "Hm, I just thought, seeing as neither of us can go with who we'd really like to, we should go together, as friends, of course" he added.

"Oh, that'd be lovely, Harry!" she exclaimed.

"But just promise me one thing," he said, grinning. "You're not to act like Lavender at all just to try and annoy Ron."

She laughed, "Oh, alright, fine."

The rest of the afternoon passed amicably with the two working on their essays while discussing what Slughorn might have in store for his Christmas party.

• • •

Friday arrived and found Harry and Ron sitting for dinner in the Great Hall before the party. A long way along the table, Hermione was sitting alone, playing with her stew. Harry noticed Ron looking at her furtively.

"You could say sorry," suggested Harry bluntly.

"What, and get attacked by another flock of canaries?" muttered Ron. There was a slight pause and he asked, "Who are you going to the party with by the way?"

"Uh, I can't tell you," Harry responded.

"Why not?"

"I think she told me not to."

But Ron did not seem to have heard; Lavender had just arrived with Parvati. Squeezing herself in between Harry and Ron, Lavender flung her arms around Ron's neck.

"Hi, Harry," said Parvati who, like him, looked faintly embarrassed and bored by the behavior of their two friends.

"Hi," said Harry. "How're you? You're staying at Hogwarts, then? I heard your parents wanted you to leave."

"I managed to talk them out of it for the time being," said Parvati. "That Katie thing really freaked them out, but as there hasn't been anything since . . . Oh, hi, Hermione!"

Parvati positively beamed. Harry looked around and saw that Hermione was beaming back, if possible even more brightly.

"Hi, Parvati!" said Hermione, ignoring Ron and Lavender completely. "Are you going to Slughorn's party tonight?"

"No invite," said Parvati gloomily. "I'd love to go, though, it sounds like it's going to be really good. . . . You're going, aren't you? Who are you going with?" There was a slyness to her tone that hinted that she didn't believe that Hermione had managed to find a date.

"Oh, I'm going with Harry." She bestowed a smile on Harry, full of warmth and affection, and he smiled back.

There was a noise like a plunger being withdrawn from a blocked sink and Ron surfaced. "What?" he blurted out, forgetting that he wasn't quite on speaking terms with her.

Hermione acted as though she had not seen or heard anything. Instead, she placed one hand on Harry's shoulder and leaned in closer to him.

"I'll meet you in the common room at eight o'clock, okay?" she asked.

"You bet," Harry answered and she squeezed his shoulder slightly.

"Great!" Hermione said brightly. "Well, bye, Parvati. Got to go and get ready for the party." Then she smiled at Harry again. "See you in a bit, Harry."

She then leaned in again and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

"Hermione —" said Harry disapprovingly, suddenly realizing what she was up to. But she was already passing the doors leaving the Great Hall.

Harry glanced at Ron's reddening face and said, "Er, the kiss was all her, not me. I told her I wasn't going to put up with this, but, evidently, she couldn't resist. And there's nothing but friendship between me and Hermione for what it's worth."

• • •

Harry arrived in the common room at eight o'clock that night. Ron was staying up in the dormitory sulking. He found Hermione sitting in her favorite chair near the fireplace and she stood up as he approached her. She was wearing an elegant, scarlet party dress.

"You look nice," he said.

"Thanks, you too!" she replied, smiling.

"Shall we get going then?" he asked, noticing an increasing amount of onlookers.

"Oh, yes," she said happily.

They climbed out of the portrait hole one after the other and made their way down to Slughorn's office where the party was being held. "Was all that really necessary at dinner by the way?" he asked her, raising his eyebrows.

She blushed profoundly, matching the color of her dress. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it," she muttered, staring at the ground.

"Thought so," Harry said, smirking at her as they descended the staircase. "You know, I wonder what Slughorn's going to say when he sees us two. Probably something like: 'Oho! Harry, m'boy! And Miss Granger! My two favorite students together! Oh, how wonderful!'" Harry said, imitating Slughorn's booming voice.

And the two friends laughed hysterically non-stop all the way to Slughorn's office.

A/N: Stay safe! And leave a review, maybe? :)