Crimes of Passion

Crimes of Passion

Chapter One: Harriette

As I sat in the common room staring into the fire, I thought about what she might say when I asked her to be my girlfriend. I mean, I know Hermione had feelings for me, she told me when we were studying together in the library last week, but it is very hard to work up the courage to ask someone out. But then, we Gryffindors have plenty of courage. Most of the time.

The portrait swung open and she walked in, carrying a stack of books. I sighed to myself and thought, this is it.

I got up from my chair at the fireplace, checked my hair in a mirror on the wall and walked over to her.

"Hello Hermione," I said, nervously. "Can I give you a hand there?"

"Hi Harriette! It's good to see you," she replied, tipping three books into my arms.

"I told you, call me Harry and what do you mean 'good to see me'? You just saw me at dinner half an hour ago!"

"Yes, but Harry, I missed you," Hermione said.

We walked over to the girls dormitory stair case and climbed it to the top. Hermione was Head Girl and had her own room, so we went there to drop off her books. Hermione walked in front of me and I followed her. The first thing I saw as I entered her room was a very large tapestry depicting her and the Head Boy, Draco Malfoy.

"Cute, isn't he?" I asked, nodding my head toward the tapestry.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Well, he is," I persisted, putting the books on Hermione's desk.

"I suppose so," Hermione said, very slowly.

"Of course, you are much, much cuter," I hurriedly added.

"Thanks Harry," Hermione said, blushing.

Hermione sat down on her bed and signalled for me to join her. As I approached she lay down on her back and I sat down next to her.

"Herm, there is something I have to ask you." I took a deep breath and voiced the question that had plagued my thoughts for several hours. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Harriette Scott, I would be delighted to have the honour of being your girlfriend," she replied.

I lent down and whispered in her ear, "Thank you."

I then proceeded to kiss her passionately, while my hands found their way to her shirt buttons and started undoing them. When they were all undone, Hermione pushed me away from her and re-buttoned her shirt.

"Hermione, what are you doing?" I cried. "Is something wrong?"

"No, Harry, it's just, well, we have a prefects' meeting in five minutes," she replied.

"Bugger, I forgot," I said. "Okay, I'll meet you in the prefects' room."

"Wait, I'll come with you," Hermione said.

I held out my hand to her and she took it to help her up from the bed. She walked over to her desk and picked up a book. I opened the door and walked out. Hermione followed and shut the door behind her.

We found Ron in the common room and he stood up as we walked out through the portrait hole.

"Harry, Hermione, wait for me, will you?" Ron called. "We have that prefects' meeting now, don't we?"

"Yes, hurry up or we'll be late," Hermione called back.

Ron stepped through the portrait hole and it swung shut behind us. We walked down to the library and found Dumbledore's portrait. Hermione gave it the prefects' password, "Liberatè", and it swung open to let us into the prefects' meeting room. All the other prefects' were there already, so we quickly sat at our seats.

"Today we will be deciding on the entertainment for the Yule ball. It is in two months time and we have to book bands well in advance," Hermione began. "Any ideas?"

Alzair Infaerice, a Slytherin prefect, stood up. "I think we should get that new boy band, Newts Head," she said, and then sat down.

"Right then," Draco said as he stood up. "No one else has any suggetions? Okay, we have a vote. Whoever wants Newts Head for the Yule ball, raise your hand."

The hands of all present rose into the air.

"Well, either you lot are all infatuated with Newts Head or you are too lazy to think up your own ideas," Draco said. "However, as there are no other suggestions, we will invite Newts Head to perform for us. We will send a letter by owl in the morning. Weasley, you will stay back with me to draft the letter. Everyone else, you can go back to your dormitories. I declare this meeting of the prefects' of Hogwarts to be over."

Everyone stood up and left the room, with the exception of Ron and Draco. Hermione and I walked back to Gryffindor tower. When we got back to the portrait of the fat lady Hermione stopped.

"Oh no, I left my book back in the prefects' room. I have to go back and get it," she said.

"Okay," I replied. "I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight Hermione."