Fool

Tell me lies, slap me on the face, just-

Improvise, do something really clever-

That'll make me hate your name forever...

Hermione Granger stared out the window of her bedroom, chocolate-brown eyes filled with confusion. She replayed the scene that had taken place at Platform 9¾ earlier that day. With a sigh, she threw herself onto her bed, muttering, "You stupid git. What'd you kiss him on the cheek for?"

Turning onto her side, she smiled as she saw the photographs lined up along her dresser. They all moved, some waving, others busy as she watched with amusement. One held a boy of about fourteen with bright emerald eyes and messy black hair that he kept brushing back impatiently with his hand, a scar in the shape of a lighting bolt on his forehead. He grinned at her from the photograph, his eyes sparkling as he waved cheerfully.

Hermione smiled sadly and rolled onto her back.

"Oh Harry. What am I going to do?"

You might swear you'd never touch a lady-

Well, let me say, you're not too far from maybe-

Every day you find new ways to hurt me...

She tossed back her shoulder-length hair and smiled as she saw a familiar redheaded girl lunge towards her with a squeal.

"Hermione!"

Ginny Weasley hugged her friend enthusiastically, blue eyes dancing as Hermione pulled back long enough to say, "Ginny! Wow you look great!" Ginny snorted and stepped back from her best friend, saying dryly, "Look who's talking. What happened to you this summer Herm?"

Hermione blushed slightly as Ginny looked her over with a smile. She wore a dark blue tank top with matching jean shorts that showed off lean legs (the reward of a summer of swimming and judo classes), white Muggle sneakers with thick soles, and her hair, which had been long and bushy, was now attractively cut to her shoulders. Hermione giggled as she spun around, saying jokingly, "Do I pass your approval Virginia?" Ginny grinned and nodded, saying, "Of course Hermione. You are to say the least, very beautiful."

This of course, is when one Ronald Weasley and one Harry Potter came down the stairs; both dressed in jeans and T-shirts. Ron was still lanky and thin with a shock of red hair cut neatly and his bright blue eyes twinkled with anticipation. Beside him, Harry stood and Hermione was struck in awe at how different he looked.

He had grown taller, passing Ron by a few inches and his hair was still as dark and messy as ever. His emerald eyes widened as he saw her standing there behind Ginny who was busy sighing in utter mortification as Ron said to Hermione, "Well hello! Who're you?" before adding, "Where's Herm? Fred and George said she was here!"

"Hi Ron," Hermione said easily remembering the twins' reactions. George had run into the wall twice while Mrs. Weasley and Hermione had watched with amusement. Fred had merely gawked at the new Hermione and then shaken himself, dragging his brother upstairs with a hasty excuse.

Hermione laughed as Ron's eyes widened and he yelped loudly, exclaiming, "Hermione? Blimey, what happened to you?" "I look that different do I?" she queried with mild amusement, glancing at Harry who hadn't said a word, but merely stared at her with those eyes of his.

"Well yeah. You look like a girl!"

"Ron!"

"What? It's true!"

"That's rude Ron. I think Hermione looks very pretty."

"Aw, shut up, you stupid git. I didn't say she looked dreadful..."

"So I look dreadful do I?"

"No!"

Harry turned and left the room as Ron continued to bluster his excuses. Hermione watched him leave with a hurt heart, her chocolate-brown eyes shining with pain.

< He didn't even say hello... > she thought sadly before turning to tease Ron.

But I can't help it if I'm just a fool-

Always having my heart set on you-

Till the time you start changing the rules-

I'll keep chasing the soles of your shoes-

Ahh, fool...

Hermione stared up at the sky, her legs pulled up to her chest as she rested her chin on her knees. A slight breeze lifted her hair around her face and she wiped the chestnut strands away, closing her eyes tightly against the wave of sadness as she sat on the grass.

"He didn't say hello. He never sent an owl..." she whispered sadly. "Oh Harry, did I push you away?" A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away jerkily, saying fiercely, "I will not cry! I won't..."

So saying, she buried her head into her legs and sobbed quietly. Her shoulders shook and she didn't see the figure standing behind her, concern shining in their eyes.

"Hermione?"

God resigned from hearing my old story-

Every night, I'm paying hell for glory-

I'm embarrassed but I'm much more sorry...

She gasped, wiping her face with hasty fingers, saying, "Fred?" as she turned to look at the figure stepping out of the shadows. "What're you doing out here?"

Fred Weasley smiled at her and said, "Came outside to think, ya know clear my head." He folded himself down beside her, a tall, husky boy with the traditional Weasley hair color and eye color. Yet those blue orbs didn't shine with the teasing recklessness they normally did, rather with concern.

< Great now I've got Fred Weasley feeling bad for me. Terrific. > Hermione thought before plastering a smile on her face. "Ya looked like ya could use a big brother's shoulder to cry on," he said quietly. "Do ya Hermione?" She sighed and said, "Thanks Fred but-" "He's watching us ya know," Fred interrupted. "Been watching you since you've been sitting out here I reckon."

Hermione's eyes widened and she whispered, "What?" Fred grinned, blue eyes dancing as he said, "Dunno why ya both just don't talk about it. I'm betting it's cause he's to scared to say anything and you don't know how to say it." "It's not that easy Fred," Hermione replied quietly.

"Why?" was the gentle query.

Hermione paused and looked at Fred for a moment. She then proceeded to tell him everything. How she wasn't even sure if she did like Harry and how if she did she didn't want to hurt their friendship plus what would Ron say (to which Fred calmly told her he wouldn't care as he'd been writing to Lavender Brown for the whole summer. Hermione wasn't too surprised.), and there was also Ginny who had a crush on Harry and Hermione didn't want to hurt her either...

"Ginny's still a kid," Fred said firmly. "She's better off dating Neville than she is Harry. 'Sides he loves her like a sister." "And me like a sister," Hermione sighed and stared up at the now sparkling midnight velvet sky. "I wouldn't say that," Fred grinned as Hermione jerked her head towards him and continued, "George and me been noticing how he spends time with you more than any other girl. Plus at the Yule Ball last year he was definitely stunned when he saw how pretty you looked. Come to think of it, I think half the people in Gryffindor were!" "Is this having any point?" Hermione wondered. "My point," Fred huffed, sounding so much like Percy that it made her laugh. "Is that Harry's so used to seeing you as his friend Hermione that I think it's shakin' him up to see ya as more." He blinked. "Blimey, did I make any sense?" "Very," Hermione smiled at him. "Thank you Fred."

"Anytime Hermione. You're like a sister to me ya know."

All the pain begins to feel like pleasure-

With my tears you'd make a sea a desert-

Salt on my wounds and I'll keep saying thank you...

As Hermione and Fred entered the Burrow, they both laughed as Ron bellowed, "GET AWAY YOU MANGY CAT! LEAVE PIG ALONE!" Hermione rushed over to pick up her cat, Crookshanks, saying, "He was barely doing anything. Besides, Pig's fine in his cage." "I think something's wrong with your owl Ron," Fred added as Ginny and George laughed. "He's a bit too hyper."

True enough Pig, or Pigwidgeon as was his given name, was zooming around in his cage, hooting happily as Ron glared at him, muttering, "I get all the funny animals. Why's that you suppose?" "'Cause you're a git," George said matter-of-factly, causing Mrs. Weasley to exclaim sharply, "George!" "Sorry Mum," he added quickly.

Hermione chuckled and glanced over at Harry, who was quietly sitting by the fireplace, watching them all with those emerald eyes of his. Sighing, she turned back around and announced, "G'night everyone. I'm tired."

A chorus of well-wishes for a good night's sleep greeted her and she smiled before going upstairs to Ginny's room, which she was sharing for the night. Hermione closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she stared out across the room to the window.

A knock sounded and she turned around, opening it to find Harry Potter standing before her. He looked nervous, his hands shoved into his pockets as he lifted emerald orbs to meet her surprised chocolate-brown eyes.

"Mione? Could I talk to you?"

Hermione smiled.

But I can't help it if I'm just a fool-

Always having my heart set on you-

Till the time you start changing the rules-

I'll keep chasing the soles of your shoes-

Ahh, fool...

~ Finis ~