An Odd Match

Ron stared at Harry, and Harry stared back. Immediately after he opened his mouth, he shut it again. Harry had no idea how to reply to his comment that must have hurt his friend so deeply. But he had to tell Ron the truth, right? He couldn't hide it form him forever, or could he? Harry kept thinking that maybe if he just forgot about it or didn't notice, it would have just gone away. But it was too late now. It was out in the open, and nothing could stop it. Harry would now have to deal with the fact, that the girl his best friend was in love with was in fact still in love with him, and using them both in a deceitful, cruel game.

"But, but, this can't be true!" Ron yelled. Harry's blank expression told Ron it had to be, but he just couldn't believe it.

"I'm sorry Ron, but it is." Harry walked over to Ron, and Ron pushed him away.

"No, you're lying. She couldn't possibly be doing this to me. She likes me, she would never..." Harry cut him off.

"How can you be so blind?" Harry was being very stern. "Ron, she only flirts with you when I'm around. I saw how uninterested she was when I left to sit at Cho's table. And also, she has been trying to seduce me when you're not  around! What more do you need?"

"I need to see it to believe it!" Harry's eyes suddenly lit up with satisfaction as a brilliant idea entered his head, and Ron looked at him as though he were mad.

That night in the dorm room, Harry made sure no one was around. He stayed back from dinner, saying he didn't feel well. Hermione heard this and took her cue. She said it must be the same bug, because she was feeling a little down as well, and Ron simply shrugged and went off. Harry stayed in the common room and watched Hermione go into her room, slyly smiling to herself. That dumb Ron! She thought to herself, He hasn't a clue at anything! I sure did choose the right boy!

Ron then reentered the room and quickly ran upstairs. Hermione jumped out of her room right as Ron went out of sight. She thought Harry had left, so she walked up to their room. She cracked open the door and saw Harry walking around, and she quickly went back to her room, thinking she had imagined it.

Ron hid in the shower for the moment, while Harry went over the plan again. "This is stupid!" Ron whispered.

"Shhh! Or she'll hear you! She's probably looking in on us right now, to see if I'm here. Alright, as soon as I go down to the common room, you put on my invisibility cloak. Stay at the foot of the stairs and watch. Don't say a word or it will interrupt everything! Even if she kisses me, do nothing, okay?" Ron looked back at him sadly and nodded his head. Ron didn't like this at all, because he feared Harry was actually right, or he wouldn't have gone to these lengths to prove it.

Harry quickly rushed down the stairs, with Ron slowly following behind underneath the invisibility cloak. Hermione was already in the common room, so as soon as Harry came down Hermione drew a smile. Ron got to the foot of the stairs and sat down while he reluctantly watched Hermione work her magic.

"Oh, Harry! How good it is to join me down here! It does get awfully lonely in the common room, all alone with no one to see us... I mean to talk to." She batted her eyelashes furiously and Harry gave a short laugh. Harry sat down on the chair across from the couch Hermione was sitting on.

"So, Hermione, what seems to be the problem with you?" Harry asked innocently. Hermione thought a moment.

"I'm just not feeling very well. My head is sore, but not to worry! I will be back to my old self in no time!" She then jumped up and walked over to Harry's chair. She sat on the arm, and lightly touched his arm. "What seems  to be the problem with you? Anything I can fix?" Harry again smiled, and said nothing.

"It must be hard, being Harry Potter. Is it not?" Harry nodded slightly, now starting to feel a bit uneasy.

Maybe Ron was right, he thought to himself, he shouldn't be put through this torture! But he does have a right to know...

As Harry rationalized everything in his head, Hermione ran her fingers through her hair, and as her arms went up it exposed a bit of her stomach, right in front of Harry's face. Harry looked over, but quickly looked away.

Ron still sat, watching as the love of his life was now doing her best to seduce his best friend. He wanted to cry, but still kept thinking that maybe Hermione would just stop and this would all fail, and prove Harry wrong. He so badly wanted to prove Harry wrong! But the way things were going, it didn't look as though that were likely.

"So how are things with you and Cho?" Hermione asked, very interested in this matter.

"Oh, you know, things are great." His voice was a little shaky, because he still felt very awkward in this situation, even though he did think of it himself.

"You don't sound too great. You sound a bit down. Come on Harry, I'm your friend, and I'm here for you. I can help you out with ANYTHING you want. Just say it, and I will obey." She slyly grinned, as she placed her hand on Harry's leg. Ron winced as though he were in pain, while Harry simple stared at the hand.

"No no, I'm serious. Things are great. I like her a lot, and she likes me as well. We get along fantastically, and she's so beautiful." Harry gazed off thinking of how much he'd rather be with Cho than with Hermione at that  moment. Hermione looked a little disappointed.

"You know, you don't have to tell everyone everything you do, right?" Hermione was breaking down to this as a last resort. She thought maybe this wasn't getting through to Harry, so she tried harder. Maybe if she told him as subtly as possible they could be together with no one knowing, he would accept that.

"Yes, I know that. What are you getting at?" Harry turned to look at her. She took her hand off of his leg and placed it on his cheek.

"Well, I would be here for you at all times, and no one would know. Not Cho, not Ron, everything would be fine." She began stroking his cheek, when he suddenly jumped up.

"Hermione, I already told you. I like Cho, and I have no feelings for you in the least."

"Oh come off it Harry! I saw the jealousy seeping out of you when Seamus told the whole lunchroom how Ron and I had snogged, I saw the way you longed for me to like you once again! You can't hide your feelings!"

"I was jealous, okay? I admit it. But everyone has a longing for someone to like them, even if they don't like that person back. For a moment I was a little upset that you had obviously moved on to Ron, but that feeling went away because I realized they were not true feelings for you, at all. EVERYONE has something inside them that wants others to like them, so it was a little unnerving when I heard you had moved on so quickly, but I got over it."

"If you got over it, why are we here right now?" Hermione stood up and put her hands on her hips.

"Because you want it to be this way. You still like me and your using Ron as a pawn, just admit it!" Harry yelled. Hermione was a little taken back, but she didn't look surprised.

"Harry, I've loved you since the first time we met. How could anyone possibly have thought I could have moved on so fast? I didn't exactly intend on this happening with Ron, but, I dunno. It did, and there's nothing I can do. I LOVED the attention I got from everyone at lunch, and I loved the reaction it got out of you. I didn't intend on making it serious with Ron, but when I saw how jealous you became, I just sort of played it by ear. But I guess it's all worked out, because you're here, and I'm here, all alone with no one around..." Hermione walked up to Harry and tried to kiss him.

Ron threw off the invisibility cloak and Hermione quickly spun around in astonishment. "That's where you were wrong, but not the only place. You thought I wouldn't find out, that I would just be love struck forever? Well you were wrong. Harry and I are best friends, and I can't believe you did this to me. Thanks Harry for letting me see what a true bitch she really is." Ron glared for a moment and then walked off. Hermione stammered to herself for a moment, while Harry stepped back and smiled. Thank God Ron showed himself then! He didn't know if he would have actually had the strength to ward her off again.

Hermione eventually gave a yell of frustration and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her. Harry ran to his room, where he found Ron sitting on his bed with his face in his hands. He wasn't crying, but Harry felt that Ron was about to start.

"I'm so sorry I didn't ..." Ron began, but Harry stopped him. He gave Ron a pat on the back, and then stood up.

"Hey, if we hurry we can still get a little dinner." Harry said encouragingly.

"Or better yet, we'll have missed dinner and dessert will be out!" Ron looked a little more cheerful, and they both stood up and walked down to the dinning hall.

Cho was waiting at the Gryffindor table when Ron and Harry walked in. Harry had a big smile on his face, while Ron looked a little down. Harry explained everything to Cho before hand, to make sure everything would be okay between them about it, and Cho immediately agreed with the plan. In fact, she asked if she would be able to play a part in it at all, but Harry had refused the offer.

"So, everything go alright?" Cho asked.

"Yeah, Hermione admitted that she was only using Ron while he heard the whole thing. It was getting quite intense, so I was very relieved when Ron finally threw off the invisibility cloak!" Cho put her arm inside of Harry's while he sat down, and Ron nodded and smiled when she looked his way.

"Well, it was good while it lasted. I mean, the snogging part was great, but I think I kind of knew deep down inside it couldn't be real. I mean, like she said, why would anyone believe that she could have moved on so fast? Doesn't make much sense, but I guess I am a little dense at times." Ron gave a short laugh and went right to eating. Hermione then entered the dining hall, wiping her eyes as though she were crying.

"I'm, I'm, I don't know what to say." She eventually spat out. She looked at Ron for his approval, but he turned his head down to look at his food. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me! It's just..." Harry held up his hand.

"Look, what you did was just plain wrong. There is no doubt about that. I forgive you, but I hope you don't expect Ron to. I mean, just think..." Ron then butted in.

"I forgive you. I know what it's like to have feelings for someone and them not like you back, or worse like someone else. I guess we all get a little crazy, so I..." Harry then grabbed Ron's robe and dragged him across the table.

"What are you doing? You can't forgive her! She might just do it again! What are you thinking, your mad!" He whispered loudly.

"Look, I can't be mad forever, so I might as well." Ron freed himself from Harry's grip, and finished his sentence.

"I forgive you." Hermione looked relieved and very shocked that he actually said what he had. This made Hermione feel even worse. Now she knew just how much Ron liked her, and she had completely crushed him. She wished then she could take it back, partly because she wished she had come about it differently, and partly because Ron was her friend. She quickly smiled and stared at him, and stared into his eyes. He looked very much hurt, but also very forgiving. Now Hermione realized if she ever did like Ron like he liked her she had ruined all her hopes of ever having that happen. Ron was thinking of how much he wished this had never happened and he had never confessed to her he liked her, but it was too late.

"So, Hermione, how are you?" Cho asked, feeling the awkwardness in the air between Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, fine I suppose." Hermione looked at Harry, who shot her a very nasty look. She winced and looked away. Harry was absolutely furious with Ron. He couldn't believe that he had forgiven her!

"Ron, honestly ..." Hermione began. Ron stopped her by shaking his head.

"What's done is done, and there's nothing more you or I can say. Let's just forget this ever happened, okay? I liked how things were before." Ron saw Harry's expression loosen a bit, and Hermione looked around to see what they all thought. She was satisfied with their reaction, and they all nodded. They all sat down and began speaking of the juicy gossip Seamus was spreading around like wildfire, and all of a sudden, someone handed out flyers to everyone at the table. They read:

Penelope's Bakery