Too Real To Be Pretend

A/N: Ok guys! This will be my first attempt at writing anything in a long time! And since nothing fluffy ever happens to me, of course I have no new inspiration. (It is really sad, isn't it? I know 6th graders that have gotten farther than I have) Anyways, be nice because I am rusty and old, etc. Ok! This is just pure fluff between the bestest couple ever: Harry and Hermione! Yaya! Reviewing is appreciated, flaming is not. I guess I'll have to reinstate Bobbo…welcome back buddy. Give him bananas and the stories might get better…I think his banana quota is at an all time low. Set in 6th year. No real plot yet, just setting it up, letting you know who has a crush on whom…etc…next chapter soon to follow!

Chapter One

There he was. He looked gorgeous, as usual. His dreamy emerald eyes turned in her direction, connecting with her own cinnamon eyes for a blissful second. Hermione turned away quickly before she could begin to blush. She didn't know exactly how long this had been going on, but she had suddenly found that she was completely infatuated with her best friend: Harry Potter. She mentally prepared herself as he made his way through the dining hall towards her. She looked up and smiled at him as he sat down next to her. She absentmindedly answered his questions about how she had slept, how she was doing, etc. That required no brain power, no, her brain was focusing on something else: him. Her eyes caressed his strong, proud face, grazing over its curves and angles, the perfect arch of his eyebrows, the way his hair fell perfectly on his face, the way his lips curved when he knew exactly what she was thinking…she instantly snapped her eyes away from him, hoping that she hadn't been too obvious. Harry's lips were still curved in his mischievous, all knowing smile that she hated and loved so much at the same time.

          "What?" she asked incredulously.

          "Nothing," he replied, ever mysterious. She quirked an eyebrow but retaliated with nothing. He glanced down at the watch that she had given him for Christmas the year before and sprang from his seat saying, "Oh, crap, I gotta go, early quidditch practice today. See you in Potions." He began walking away, heading towards the doors.

          "Ok," she replied a little sullenly, though she knew he wouldn't hear her.

          "Save me a seat!" he called over his shoulder before letting the door close behind him.

          "I will," she whispered to no one in particular. I didn't know he still wears that watch I gave him, she thought with a smile. She returned her focus to her meal, but her real focus was still on Harry. She sat there for a time just thinking about him. She could just imagine him flying around looking ever so handsome on his little broomstick…wait…she wasn't imagining it because he really was flying on his broomstick outside the window. She celebrated a small victory for herself as she was now able to stare at the object of her affections. She smiled at him when he looked in the window and waved at her before nearly getting flattened by a bludger. He swerved on his broom, narrowly missing the psychopathic ball, before giving her a cheesy grin and flying away once more. He is so cute, she thought, smiling to herself. She checked her watch and quickly finished the rest of her oatmeal before heading off to claim a seat in Potions.

          She picked a seat near the front, but not directly in the front so Harry wouldn't have to suffer as much. Always thinking of him, she thought with a tiny smile. I really need a new hobby. She sat down in one chair and put her bag in another to reserve it for Harry. Ten minutes later the class room finally began to fill up with the other students. She smiled brightly as Harry raced into class, attempting to cover his quidditch robes with his everyday black one. He took the seat next to her, returning her smile briefly before turning his attention to Professor Snape as he stormed into class in his usual cloud of anger. He began their class by immediately taking 10 points from Gryffindor for Harry's 'inappropriate wardrobe', as he was still in his quidditch robes with his black robes not completely covering it, and for Hermione's sputter of indignation at Snape's actions. The pair sat silently fuming at this display of injustice by Snape as class continued. As the class ended, Snape concluded with a final rebuttal: 3 parchments on the functions and characteristics of Aung Root (a/n: duh, I just made that up). Harry barely resisted the urge to strangle Snape as he stood and made his way to his next class along with Hermione and Ron.

          "I can't believe that git! 3 parchments!?! There cannot be that much crap to write about Aung Root," Harry vented.

          "Don't worry mate, you can just copy off of Hermione," Ron supplied, patting her on the shoulder.

          "You will not!" Hermione cried, glancing up from the book she had her nose buried in.

          "You seem quite confident in your abilities in Potions, Ron. Why aren't you going to copy off Hermione too?" Harry asked suspiciously.

          "Aha, but that is where you're wrong. I'm not confident in my Potions abilities…I'm confident in Lavender's," Ron replied with a grin. With that, he walked ahead and linked arms with her, saying something that sent her into a fit of annoyingly flirtatious giggles. He turned and winked at them before rounding the corner.

          "That boy," Hermione said, shaking her head. She and Harry shared a grin and followed after their friend.

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          "Oh my lord, that took forever," Harry said, throwing himself against the cushions of one of the common room sofas.

          "Oh come on, Harry, it wasn't that bad!" Hermione said, plopping down next to him as he made room on the sofa. "Just think, it could've been worse…he could've made it 5 pages instead!" Harry rolled his eyes and groaned.

          "Ugh, don't remind me. My hand hurts enough already."

          "Awww, poor Harry," Hermione teased. He glared at her from the corners of his eyes and pretended to pout until Hermione punched him lightly in the arm.  Hermione loved nights like these when they stayed up late together, just the two of them. She didn't realize she was staring at him until she noticed him giving her a weird look.

          "Everything okay, Hermione?" he asked. She blinked rapidly a few times, clearing her vision.

          "Yeah, its just…" she was getting lost in those emerald pits again, she needed to get out now before she did something stupid. "I-uh…I…" she stammered. He quirked his eyebrow expectantly. "I…" I LOVE YOU! She thought desperately. "I think I'm just really tired, I mean my eyes are really tired…all that homework we had to write you know…so I'll –uh- see you tomorrow…I guess," she said, attempting not to blush too deeply. She stood then, and looked in his eyes once more before retreating towards the stairwell to the girl's dormitories. "Goodnight, Harry," she said softly before ascending the stairs to her room.

          "Goodnight, Hermione," Harry replied, though he knew she wouldn't hear him…

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A/N: Short? Yes. Pointless? Yes. But it sets up the stage, I guess…So now we know that Hermione has a crush on Harry, but she's too afraid to admit it to anymore except herself. Next chapter: a quidditch match!