The Beauty of First, Er, Second Love

Dedicated to My Dani, Lily Michelle, and Rach just because I can.


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The Beauty of First, Er, Second Love

Ch. 6

As Ron and Hermione walked back to Hogwarts, Ron's mind spun. Daphne Greengrass. Daphne Greengrass was his Admirer. No matter how many times he said it, he still couldn't believe it.

Apparently it had shocked Hermione as well, for she was silent the whole way back to the castle. He looked over at her a few times, and she always had the same stupefied expression on her face she had when she saw his Admirer.

Ron considered Daphne. True, she was very pretty- she had golden blonde hair, clear blue eyes and was altogether a very nice package. But, well... she was also a Slytherin. And that was the number one problem. It was common knowledge that all Slytherins were nasty, bigoted, self- serving bastards. Malfoy was living proof, and Ron knew that the image fitted every single person in the house, Snape being the King. The girls weren't any exception; they were all of them bitches.

Ron was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't realize they were at the Tower until he heard Hermione say the password. She led the way into the room and sank on an armchair by the fireplace. Ron joined her, and they were silent for a bit. Finally, Hermione raised her head and said in a hollow sort of way, "Daphne Greengrass, Ron. Daphne Greengrass!"

Ron nodded and said, "I know, Hermione. I heard you the first time."

Hermione didn't even tell him off for being rude, she simply nodded. Suddenly she sat straight up, a huge grin on her face. She cackled loudly, and Ron feared for her sanity.

"I can't believe I never worked it out! I should have known! She was in my Arithmancy class in fourth year and kept going on and on about how she liked you! I asked her in fifth year if she felt the same, and she said no, but she was blushing like crazy!"

Ron looked confused for a second. "But I thought you said you didn't really know her the other day."

Nodding, Hermione replied, "Oh, I don't. She was talking to a friend of hers in Ravenclaw at the time, and I happened to overhear. When I asked her about it in fifth year, I still didn't know her, but we were in Arithmancy again, so... come to think of it, I really haven't spoken to her that much."

Before Ron could answer, Harry came in to the Common Room, a huge grin on his face. "It was great!" he said eagerly as soon as he had flopped onto the couch. "We had a butterbeer, then we went to Zonko's and then Honeyduke's. I actually had a good time!" He stopped as he saw the expression on Ron's face. "Mate? You ok?"

Hermione sighed and said, "We, erm, kind of found out who his Secret Admirer is. And it, um, was kind of a shock to him. But I still can't believe I didn't think of her!" she exclaimed once more.

"Yeah? Well? Who is it?" Harry questioned.

"NO!" Hermione said forcefully. "First, tell us about your date. You sound happy. So it went that well?"

Harry grinned again. "Yup," he said. "And Parvati isn't as much of an airhead as we thought. I mean," he went on, seeing the disbelieving looks he was receiving. "Yeah, she seems like it, but she actually is very smart. She's a pro at Divination and Astronomy. We made a date to meet next Hogmeade weekend as well," Harry admitted, flushing.

Hermione was grinning at this. "Good, Harry. Really. I think you and Parvati would make a lovely couple. Now if only Seamus would give Lavender a chance," she frowned, as said boy came tumbling through the portrait.

Harry grinned. "Actually," he started, "Seamus and Lavender did end up spending the day together. When Parvati and I were in the Three Broomsticks, we saw Dean with Mandy Brocklehurst. I think Lavender saw Seamus by himself and sort of, erm, attached herself to him. But it didn't look to us as if he minded," Harry smirked.

Seamus took that moment to flop on the couch beside Harry. Grunting, he said, "Yeah, it was all right. But she's a handful! She wanted to go to Madame Malkin's for new robes, then Gladrags to make sure she hadn't missed anything, then Honeyduke's, then Madam Puddifoot's," Seamus complained, shuddering. "I mean, how many sets of robes could she have missed from one single store? And I won't even talk about Madam Puddifoot's," he said.

Harry nodded wisely. "No need here, mate. Took Cho there in fifth year, and never again!" Harry swore.

Ron and Hermione exploded into laughter at this. They had both heard of the 'Coffee Shoppe Catastrophe', as they had come to call it.

Seamus looked confused, so Ron explained, with small interruptions from Hermione. Ron didn't mind, however, as he was having too much fun telling the story.

"... so then, she starts crying, right? And Harry's just sitting there, not knowing what's going on, when she asks how many more girls is Harry meeting after her and Hermione! Then-"

"- Harry laughs," interrupted Hermione, "which wasn't very polite, and she dashes out in the rain like she was in a Broadway production! American Muggle Theater, you wouldn't understand," Hermione waved off Ron's confused look. "Anyway, she did! Maybe she thought she was in some sort of play where a dramatic exit was needed. After that, Harry never asked her out again. Not that I blame him," she rushed on, as Harry threw her a sharp look. "I think Parvati is a much better option, Harry."

Seamus was almost in tears, he was laughing so hard. Finally he pulled himself together and said, "Bloody hell, mate! My date wasn't that awful!"

"What happened, Seamus?" Ron questioned.

"Well, we got there and she ordered, yeah? But then, she starts gushing about how happy she was I finally asked her for a date! I didn't ask for a date, she assumed it was! I told her that, and she lost it! What did I do wrong?"

"Oh, Seamus!" Hermione exclaimed. "Please say you didn't tell her that!"

"Yeah, I did. It was the truth! What else should I have said?"

"Certainly not that! Goodness, what were you thinking?"

"Nothing! I only wanted to get her straight that I didn't ask her for a date!" Seamus said defensively.

"But Seamus, don't you see?"

"See what?" he asked, looking very confused.

Hermione sighed. "Lavender has had a crush on you forever. You pretty much just told her that the feeling isn't mutual."

Seamus' jaw dropped. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but nothing came out. Finally, he managed to stammer, "Lavender what?"

Ron laughed. "Yup, mate, it's true. She's fancied you since about... oh, I'm gonna say the Yule Ball fourth year. You asked her out, remember?"

"Yeah, but... I mean... Lavender fancies me?" Seamus appeared not to believe his ears.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, she does. And now, after you've told her it wasn't a date..."

A grin slowly appeared on Seamus' face. "Lavender fancies me," he repeated. He whooped loudly, then began laughing. "She actually fancies me!"

Harry appeared worried for Seamus' mental health, while Ron was inching farther away from him. Hermione, however, looked furious.

"How dare you, Seamus Finnigan! That isn't something to make fun of!" Hermione glared daggers at Seamus, who immediately stopped laughing and looked contrite.

"No, no, Hermione, you don't get it. I've fancied her for ages. I just never thought she'd fancy me!"

"Oh," Hermione said, a relieved grin breaking over her face. But then she frowned. "But then, why did you tell her it wasn't a date? Didn't you know that would hurt her?"

"Well... no, to be honest. Plus, I thought she fancied Ron! Because, you know, she always followed him around and everything. I thought she was just using me as an excuse to make you jealous, mate!" Seamus turned to Ron, trying to get an understanding ear from someone.

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed. "Well, that isn't the case, as we've found out who the admirer is. She only followed Ron because Parvati fancied Harry. She was just doing the loyal friend part."

"Oh, yeah!" Harry interrupted. "You were going to tell me who it is. So?"

Ron turned crimson as Hermione announced, "It's Daphne Greengrass. We overheard her in the Three Broomsticks talking to Luna, who happens to be the messenger, of sorts."

Harry looked surprised, and Seamus merely looked confused. "Greengrass?" he asked. "Isn't she a Slytherin?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "She came and told Ron how great she thought his ride on the Giant Squid was, remember?"

"Right," Seamus said. "I think I've seen her before. Doesn't she have blonde hair and blue eyes? Skinny, but not like a sick looking waif?" He shuddered at the 'waif' comment.

"Mmmhmmm," Hermione said. "She seems quite friendly. Actually, I think Ron and she would make a very good couple. In fact-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ron interrupted. "Aren't you forgetting something? The

biggest thing, actually?"

"What?" Hermione seemed genuinely confused.

"Um, the major fact that she's a SLYTHERIN?! I certainly haven't forgotten!"

Ron exclaimed.

"No," Hermione replied evenly. "I haven't forgotten. But I think that's a very

trivial thing, don't you?"

"Bloody hell, no! Why would I date a Slytherin? They're the, um..." Ron thought

for a second. "They're the epitome of everything that stands for evil!" He said triumphantly. He could use Hermione's big words too.

Hermione bristled immediately. "Excuse me? Are you saying that based on hearsay and reputation, you won't even consider a date with Daphne?"

"Yes," Ron said firmly. "Come on, Hermione. All Slytherins are the same. There isn't a good one in the bunch, and you know it! Look at Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, hell, any Slytherin, come to that! They're all the same- power hungry, poncey prats that worship You- Know- Who!"

Hermione seemed to swell with indignation. "How do you know that, Ron? Have you ever talked to Daphne?"

"Well, no, but-" He got that far before Hermione exploded.

"Then how the bloody hell can you say all Slytherins are the same?! You've only ever talked to Malfoy, Crabbe or Goyle, and we all know they kiss V- Voldemort's arse! Have you ever had a talk with Daphne? Have you?"

At Ron's feeble headshake, she got even angrier.

"Then don't you sit here and tell me all Slytherins are the same! Do you think all Gryffindors are goody goody, reckless idiots? That's the general Slytherin consensus on Gryffindors, you know."

"But Hermione! What about how they all call you Mudblood? Or Harry Scarhead? And me a poor Weasel?"

"You're basing all this on three or four people, Ron. Does Daphne really seem like the type to be like that?"

"She's a Slytherin," Ron said stubbornly. "That's enough of a reason not to date her right there."

"Fine!" Hermione yelled, her face red with fury. "Fine! Be a thick headed, idiotic, stupid-" She seemed to be running out of insults quickly. "TROLL!" She screamed finally, and stormed up to the girls' dorms. They heard a very loud SLAM! as she slammed the door to the dorms as hard as she could.

Harry and Seamus looked stunned, but Ron simply got up and said briskly, "Hey, Harry, want to come flying with me?"

Harry took a minute to realize what Ron was asking. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure. Just, um, let me get my broom..." He dashed upstairs as Seamus looked at Ron.

"What?" Ron said defensively.

"Nothing, mate. Just... nothing." Seamus got up as well and made his way to the dorms quickly. Ron watched him, an almost defiant expression on his face.

"She's Slytherin," he reiterated to himself. "And everyone knows all Slytherins are bad news. I don't have to date her to know that." Nodding firmly to himself, he got up as Harry came back downstairs and led the way out of the portrait.