Author's Note: The last chapter wasn't exactly supposed to end like that…but at the last possible second of writing…I changed it. I think it came out more interesting than what I original planned. So please don't be mad! Not everything that you see is really what's happening…so the explanation is in here.
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Chapter Six
Their Sweet Embrace
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"I hate this night!" Hermione shrieked into Ginny's shoulder. Ginny wrapped her in a comforting hug.
"It'll be okay, Mione." She said, patting her back.
Hermione finally took her face from her shoulder. Mascara ran down her face as her eyes danced back and forth between Ginny's. "How could this have happened?"
Ginny didn't answer. Instead, she smiled sympathetically and wiped Hermione's running makeup.
"He likes me but can't be with me because of Ron…so he goes to Cho?" she continued. "How long has this been going on? I mean…what if Ron has nothing to do with it? What if he can't be with me because of her?"
"Calm down." Ginny told her, putting her hand on Hermione shoulder once more. "Come on. We'll go to the bathroom and fix up your makeup." She turned Hermione around and together they headed for the Entrance Hall. Before they made it, they passed a romantic looking Luna and Neville dancing close together.
Alarmed at how upset Hermione looked, they decided to see if she was okay.
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"Is everything alright?" Neville asked as he and Luna followed Ginny and Hermione out into the corridor.
"We're fine." Ginny answered, her arm around a distraught Hermione. "Mione's just a little upset."
The couple hurried over to Hermione, Neville on her right and Luna behind her. Luna rubbed her back comfortingly while Neville put a hand on her shoulder.
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Moments before Hermione caught Harry and Cho……
What really happened……
Harry had just entered the Great Hall looking rather handsome in his costume. He was the phantom from the Phantom of the Opera. He had just caught sight of Hermione standing at the refreshments table and started to approach her.
"Harry, dear!" Trelawney called excitedly for him. He didn't bother to even acknowledge her, and so she took a different approach. "Harry, tonight doesn't look good for you, dear." She shouted after him.
"Yeah, yeah. I know." He mumbled under his breathe. "I'm going to die tonight, right?"
He continued toward Hermione, smiling at how gorgeous she was. Suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist. Startled and alarmed, he spun around to meet Cho.
"Hi." She said, innocently.
Harry smiled politely.
"Do you have a minute?"
"Actually," he pointed behind him with his thumb, indicating Hermione. "I was just—"
"Great." She cut in, dragging him by the hand farther from Hermione. "Listen," she finally said when they stopped and she turned to face him. "I'm not really sure what happened to us…but I'm really sorry. I still really like you and…I was thinking…maybe we could…you know…start over."
"Cho…" Harry started, uncertain of what to say. He suddenly shook his head slightly, a half smile of apology on his face. "I…I kind of…moved on already."
She stared up at him in astonishment.
"Oh…"
As if coming to her senses finally, she said, "It's Hermione, isn't it? I'd be surprised if you two weren't secretly dating while you were with me."
"Cho…I never—"
"Its fine." She cut in once more. She had just looked passed him briefly to find Ginny, who was currently standing with a gloomy looking Hermione at the refreshments table, staring at the pair. A small smile spread on her lips but vanished as quickly as it had come as she turned back to Harry. "Really, its fine. My jealousy is what got us in this mess in the first place." Harry watched as she licked her lips. "I just…want to give you one last goodbye kiss, Harry. Is that okay?"
Before he could protest, Cho ripped off his mask and pulled his lips to hers, making sure just before she did that Ginny was still looking.
She suddenly slipped her tongue into his mouth as he began pushing her away. Finally, he managed to get her off and she smiled up at him. Giving one final look passed him, she saw Ginny lead a distraught Hermione toward the Entrance Hall. Her evil deed was done and she gave Harry a little wave before turning on her heal and heading off the way she had come.
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Presently…
Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom…
"I'm not going back there!" Hermione said, finally able to control her sobs. Her back leaned against the wall as the others crowded around her. "I just want to get changed and go to bed."
"Hermione…" Ginny whined.
"No, I'm not going. Look, you three go back. Dean is probably looking for you, Ginny. And Luna, Neville…don't ruin your night because of me." She suddenly pushed Ginny around and made her head for the bathroom door, reassuring the three she'd be fine.
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Hermione walked into an empty common room. Thank Merlin she didn't have to worry about running into people because they were still at the ball. Honestly, she just wanted to be alone.
She headed up the stairs, sniveling slightly as a few tears found their way down her cheek. She quickly wiped them away, coming off the top landing, and started for the girl's dormitory.
Stepping in, Hermione closed the door and rested her back against it. She suddenly slid down it, unable to control her sobbing any longer. It was not fair. And it seemed so unreal but it played in her mind constantly.
Hermione forced herself up and headed over to her trunk which rested on the floor at the end of her four-post. She opened it and pulled out her pajama pants and a tank top, placing them on her bed. She then snatched her wand up and gave it a wave, causing her fanged teeth to return to normal. Slipping out of her dress, she pulled her pajama pants on and tied them. Taking off her bra, she slipped her tank top over her head, fixing the bottom when she was finished.
She then picked up her clothes she had just taken off from the floor and threw them into her trunk, shutting it vigorously.
Before she left for the bathroom, she pulled her blankets back, making her bed nice and cozy. She then turned to her nightstand and opened the drawer, taking out her book and placing it on her bed, ready to cuddle up with her book until she fell asleep for the night.
Hermione then walked over to the door, opened it, and headed for the bathroom. Once inside, she stared at herself in the mirror. Staring back at her was a miserable looking woman who just had her heart crushed. She tried to draw a breath but it came out sharp.
Finally, she managed to turn on the faucet, cold water running down from it, and stuck her hand in it. She put her hand to her face, splashing cold water on it. Suddenly, from down in the common room, she heard someone come in. Determined to make it back to the girl's dormitory before anyone could catch her, Hermione quickly turned off the faucet, dried her face, and headed over to the door. She pulled it open and headed out with a fast pace.
"Hermione!"
Damn…
A hand on the banister, Hermione looked down into the common room. Of course it should be the one person she least wanted to see right now. She quickly turned, heading for her dorm.
"Wait." Harry called after her, heading up the stairs.
"GO AWAY, YOU BLOODY GIT!"
She slammed the door before he could make it even halfway up the stairs. Suddenly the stairs retracted in, making a slope; this was because Harry's intention was to go into the girl's dormitory after her.
Harry grabbed for the railing but missed. He fell forward, his face colliding with the now sloping stairs, and slid down.
Hermione came running out of the dorm and stared down at Harry. The stairs were now back to normal and she ran down them.
"Well, I'm not going to pretend like I'm not concerned, but you did deserve that." She said rushing down the stairs to see if he was alright. She helped him up, and handed him back his mangled glasses. "What happened to your costume?" she asked. He was now in jeans and a short sleeve shirt.
"Changed before." he answered, taking them from her outstretched hand. "The first time I came here."
"The first time?"
"I was looking for you. No one was here. I decided to get out of my costume." He told her, as she took his wand from his pocket and fixed his glasses.
She handed his wand back to him and said, "Well, that's beside the point. You're still a prat!" Hermione slapped him across the face, practically breaking the glasses she had just fixed.
"What the bloody hell was that for?!" he almost shouted.
Hermione raised her hand again, ready to smack him once more, but just as she was about to, he grabbed her wrist, preventing her from doing so.
"If you don't know," she said, Harry still holding her by the wrist, "then you can just go to hell!" She raised her other hand and slapped him again. He instantly let his grip fall from her wrist, putting that same hand to his cheek.
"If this has something to do with me not telling Ron or you going to the ball with him just to prove your point, well then—"
"It's not just that anymore, Harry." She said, pushing him with both hands. He took a step back, but other wise he was completely unfazed by this.
He gave her a puzzled expression.
"Oh, don't act so stupid, Harry." Hermione scolded him. "I saw your little snogging session with Cho."
"What…"
Hermione couldn't hold in it any longer and she broke down.
"No, Hermione. I didn't…"
"Oh, whatever, Harry! You can say whatever but its all bullshit! I saw you with my own eyes."
Harry started for her, trying to pull her into a hug but she pushed him away.
"It's not like we were dating so I guess technically it's not like you cheated on me…but damn, Harry…you can't just mess with my feelings like that. You're hot one minute, you're cold the next. I don't know what you want me to do."
"Hermione, listen to me…"
"Is she the reason why you won't be with me?"
"I told you I can't do that to Ron."
Hermione sneered at him, narrowing her eyes.
"Hermione you have to believe me. I wasn't snogging her. She wanted to get back together but I told her no." Hermione finally let him wipe the tears from her face. "The only person I wanted to kiss tonight…is you."
He gently placed his hand on the side of her face, bring her closer as he leaned in slowly. Hermione closed her eyes, waiting for his sweet embrace. Their lips met and the stars outside exploded.
He turned slightly, getting even closer, and placed his other hand on her hip. He pulled her lower body closer to his.
Harry slipped his tongue into her mouth as the kiss turned even more passionate.
"You son-of-a-bitch!"
Hermione and Harry hastily broke apart. Turning their gaze slightly, they were met by an angry, hostile looking Ron.
Apparently, he had been upstairs this whole time. Fine time to finally decide to come out. Now, he stood at the top of the stairs, looking like he wanted to murder Harry. "I knew I heard you two arguing."
"You were spying on us!" Hermione shouted, livid.
"And with good reason. You two have been sneaking around behind my back!"
"Hardly." Harry let out.
"How could you do this?" he asked. "You're supposed to be my best mate…and you know I LIKE HERMIONE!" he suddenly finished in a bellow.
"It's not Harry's fault, Ron." Hermione started. "He didn't want to. He—"
"SHUT UP!" he hissed, startling Hermione.
Harry suddenly became very anger. "I don't care how you talk to me…but you are not going to talk to her like that!"
"Fuck you, Harry." Ron pulled out his wand, aiming it straight for Harry's chest. Hermione threw herself in front of Harry, blocking him for harm. "Move…" he said rather nastily.
Hermione stood her ground.
Ron suddenly ran at them, rushing down the stairs like an angry maniac. Harry moved Hermione out of the way, pulling out his own wand. Just barely getting it out, Ron threw himself into Harry, his hands wrapping around his throat. They fell to the floor and Hermione screamed.
"STOP!"
She ran toward them, jumping on Ron to get him off but as she did, he pushed her away with his arm. Hermione fell back, hitting her head on the stairs.
"Ron, stop it!" Harry screamed, not for his own safety but because he was now alarmed for Hermione. Ron looked behind him, finding Hermione wasn't moving. Stunned, he took his hands from Harry's throat but didn't get off of him. Harry pushed him, getting up fast, and practically ran to Hermione. He dropped to his knees, taking her hand in his. He felt for a pulse.
"Did…I…" Ron stammered. "Is she…dead?"
Harry turned his gaze upon Ron, Hermione's hand still in his, and stared up at him with astonishment and disbelief.
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Author's Note: Again, please don't be mad…and if you are…be mad at Ron. Still, let me know what you think.