Romance Americana

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Fast Forward to Christmas

Harry sat in the common room, staring into the glowing embers of the fire and reflected on what had happened in the past few months. He and Hermione had had their first real fight. Lauren Malfoy had approached him in the library in late November and had asked what Harry considered a completely innocent question about Potions. But unfortunately, Hermione hadn't seen it that way. According to Hermione, he had been flirting with Malfoy's cousin, and she in retaliation had gone over and had flirted with Malfoy. Thus began their first real fight, and started a chain reaction.

Hermione's flirtation and Draco's reaction had sent Ginny into a rage aimed at Hermione and Draco respectively. Ginny had called their now open relationship off then and there. While this pleased Kate, Ron was upset over Ginny's sadness and had told her off. This was not wise, in hindsight, because Kate had no qualms about putting Ron in his place and dumping his bum on the cold marble floor of the library. She had not been as infatuated with him as he of her. Harry thought back to those unhappier times as he cuddled closer to Hermione on the common room couch...

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Flashback to Last Week of November

Kate walked to her classes tucked in between Matt, Benny, and Jarrod. She refused to look Ron or Hermione or Harry in the eye when they met in the hall. She managed to avoid the common room when the trio was there, which saddened Harry; he had enjoyed talking to her about Quidditch theories, or who would win the next World Cup, if America could qualify and how far they would go. She was also another child celebrity, and he felt like she could talk to him about it honestly. But his relationship with Hermione was now fragile, and he even though he told her his thoughts on Kate, he didn't want her upset. He was happy to have her back; he wouldn't fuck it up on purpose.

The trouble began on a Friday right before a Hogsmead trip. Kate walked down the hall past Harry, Hermione, and Ron with her entourage, and it was just too much for Ron. Before Harry could stop him, he was yelling down the hall at Kate.

"What, you're too good to talk to me now? Is that how you act with all of your ex boyfriends? 'Cause it would explain a lot, like how he," Ron pointed at Matt," dumped you. He couldn't stand you, could he? Insensitive little bitch."

"Watch what you're saying." Benny was suddenly in Ron's face. "I swear to God, punk, I'll jack yo ass up. I'll beat ya so bad; they won't know who the hell ya are when they get ya to the hospital."

"What? Now Kate and Matt can't fight their own fights? I don't remember talking to you, Benjamin."

"You little piece of shit..." Benny grabbed Ron by the shirt collar and held him there, so they were nose to nose.

"Benny, not now! Save it for later."

"Well, at least we know that Kate sticks up for herself. What's wrong, Mattie? Letting your whore and her friends fight for you now?"

Harry winced at Ron's choice of words. Ever since Ron's embarrassment in the library, Kate had spent more time with Matt then before, and rumors were flying that they were back together again. Harry saw anger flash in the American boy's eyes before he made his move.

Matt didn't waste time chewing the fat. He flew at Ron past Kate and Benny and landed a right hook to his jaw. Harry left Hermione to go after Matt, but encountered Benny, Kate, and just about every Americana student in the hall. Benny looked dangerously close to following through with his promise to beat Ron into a pulp.

"Stop! Stop! This is not allowed! Ron, stop!" Harry looked to see Hermione, or a teacher... where the hell was Filch or even Snape when you needed him? But Harry didn't have anymore time to think. He through his own punch at Benny, trying to get him off of Ron. He soon found Jarrod's fist flying into his face. The fight continued for a good five minutes, until Snape finally arrived in what Harry guessed was his latest arrival to a scene where he could punish a group of students at once.

But Snape wasn't very effective at stopping the fight. Benny got about six more punches in at Ron before Chris Jordan got him back, and Matt himself went after Ron then. Harry tried to stop him, but Jarrod proved a rather effective block. Harry received at least three hits to the stomach, and four to the jaw before Jarrod decided to let Reed Smith drag him away. Matt and Kate were the last to go. Kate had been busy screaming at... Hermione? Hermione had gotten into this? Both girls had scratches on their faces, and they were screaming about who was right and who was wrong.

"I told him! I fucking told him that Ginny and Draco were bad news! I told him that it would be a mistake, but he won't listen. And when the time comes, we're gonna have to clean up your mess, just like everything else!"

"I wish you would just get over yourself! Americans think they know better, don't they? You're always right. Let's just forget that we have a few centuries more history than you!"

Kate looked about ready to tear out Hermione's hair strand by strand when Aeneas Nike picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, and he and Mike Hennigan held her back by her arms.

"Let me go, I ain't done yet! I ain't done with her yet!"

Aeneas shook his head. "Yes you are, Kate."

As Kate struggled with Aeneas and Mike, Matt was still going at it with Ron. Harry tried to count the punches. One... two... three... four... five... and here it comes. Matt hit low to bring Ron to his knees, and brought his knee into Ron's face. Harry could hear the crunch from where Dean and Seamus where holding him back. Finally, Pat O'Leary dragged him back before more bodily damage could be done. And if that wasn't enough, Kelli Preston decided to get in Ron's face. Thankfully, Snape stepped in, not like he did much to stop the fight.

"Morgan, Quinnlin, Nike, Hennigan, Spattz, Delaney, O'Leary, Jordan, Smith, Thomas, Finnegan, Potter, Granger, and Weasley, my office, NOW!"

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Sunday Evening

Quidditch Locker Rooms

Ron didn't want to be here. He had been sent to get Kate; everyone else had refused the job. Knowing her, she had planned it like this. She had planned to have a Quidditch practice before their detention, just to make him come into the locker room after her.

"Kate! Get you're ass out here! We have a detention!" Ron waited a few minutes for Kate to come out; she didn't come out. He'd have to go in.

"Goddamn it, Morgan."

Ron swallowed and stalked into the girls changing room; he could hear water dripping in the showers. Great, she had just taken a shower. He wasn't looking forward to Kate coming out of the shower. One did not forget the feelings one had just two weeks ago easily. This would be... whoa. He had turned the corner looking for Kate, and had run straight into Shannon... who was wearing nothing but a towel. She gasped and pulled the towel tighter around herself.

"What the hell are you doing in here? Don't you knock? Jesus Christ!"

"Sorry... I... I... I need to see Kate."

"Why, come to finish her off?"

"What? No, we have detention."

"Ron?"

"What?"

"You're staring."

He shook his head. Was he? He was busy watching her put her equipment away and take her normal clothes out. Why hadn't he noticed the way she moved before? She was actually quite pretty, prettier than Kate, it seemed to him just then.

"Ron? Why are you here? Detention doesn't start for another 30 minutes?" Kate had come out, obviously in the middle of getting dressed. She had her jeans on with bra, hair drier in hand.

"They sent me for you now."

"'Kay. Come over here; let Shannon finished getting dressed."

Ron nodded, smiled at Shannon, and followed Kate around another corner to a dressing table. He noticed that the girls changing room was nicer than the guys'; they had plain benches and chairs, while the girls seemed to have done some decorating. Kate plugged in the hair drier and caught Ron's surprised face in the mirror.

"What 'cha thinking?"

"Well, I'm wondering how you managed to get electricity in here, and then I want to know why the hell you have so many cosmetics. And I'm thinking that the girls have actual stalls in there showers isn't any fair either."

"The electricity's easy. We do have spells for that stuff you know. We have to keep a city of 8 million Muggles running with their electricity so they don't catch on to us. When you're in a situation like that, you learn how to keep the electric workin' along with magic, or you get caught. And there are spells for running electric lines too. As for the make-up, it ain't all mine. It's all of ours. Some of its Dani's, and Nikola's, and Shannon's and mine. Some of it belongs to the Hogwarts girls. We just know, and we share it. As for the stalls, we did those ourselves."

"Oh."

"Ron, look, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For lying to you and for leading you on. I was never up front with you. I just wanted fun, and you wanted serious. I think Hermione caught on to that nicely; she hates me for hurting you."

"She doesn't hate you..."

"Ron, honey, wake up. Hermione practically hisses when I come down the hall. She doesn't want me near you or Harry. And I can't blame her; my life is crazy. I have reporters knocking at all times, day or night. And I'm never serious about anything. Ever."

"I've seen you be serious."

"Oh really? When has this been?"

"You're serious about Quidditch, and about acting too, I assume. And you're serious about M-A-T-T..." Ron leaned his head close enough to Kate to touch his forehead hers.

"So we now spell everything out?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Cute."

"I've always thought that I was attractive; it's good to hear you say so."

Both laughed.

"So, can we be friends?"

"Ronnie, is the Pope Catholic?"

"Yeah."

"Then I think we can work something out."

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Hermione was in jeans, a sweater, and her pea coat, and in Harry's humble opinion, she had never looked better. Detention with Hagrid would never be so difficult. They had to go out and help Hagrid chop down pine trees for the Great Hall, then drag them inside. Hermione was mad enough about missing a day of studying for the N.E.W.T.S; she was even madder when she saw Ron and Kate walking back together, and not screaming. They actually looked friendly. This was gonna be interesting.

"Kate."

"Hermione."

Hermione gave Ron a look that clearly read, 'what the hell are you doing with her'? Ron just sighed.

"Hermione, please try and get along with Kate. Please?"

"Why should I? She used you, Ron; she never really cared about you..."

"And we've talked about that, haven't we, Kate?"

"Yep."

"Hermione? Can we forgive and forget?"

Hermione looked perturbed; she didn't really trust Kate, but the other girl seemed to be upfront with her now.

"I'll try, but if she isn't honest with us..."

"Hermione..."

"Look, I'll try to be as upfront as I can, but I can't promise anything. Deal?"

"Fine, let's just get these trees down."

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Back to Christmas Time

The trees had been put in the hall, and Hermione had been trying to get along with Kate. They seemed to be doing better now that Ron and Kate weren't dating. Ron had also started to show an interest in Shannon, to Kate's delight. She could be found everywhere with Matt now, and was asking Ron when he was gonna finally ask her out. He had said he might ask her to the Christmas Ball, but only if Kate would stop bugging him. She agreed, and life had gone back to resembling normal.

The portrait hole opened, and Harry watched as Ginny came in.

"Good night, Draco."

"I love you, Ginny." She gave him a quick kiss goodbye, and entered.

"Oh, Harry! I didn't see you there. Is Hermione asleep already? Where's Ron?"

"Yeah, she's asleep, and Ron's in his room."

"Oh. 'Night, Harry."

Harry watched as his best friend's little sister went upstairs. She was in love with a Malfoy. Life had indeed gone back to normal, at least for Hogwarts.

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