Disclaimer: You think a first-time author owns the stupendous world of Harry Potter? Heh, I wish, but no.

Teasing

Harry Potter was lounging comfortably in the Gryffindor Common Room by the fireplace, humming a Coldplay song under his breath. There were some students relaxing nearby. All in all, it was a peaceful Saturday afternoon, but one thing was rankling him. "Where are Hermione and Ron?" He sat up, pulled out the Marauder's Map. But he needn't have done so, because he heard loud voices outside the Commons and the Fat Lady swung aside to allow his two best friends inside. He winced as he saw the two involved in an argument yet again.

"Oh, come off it, Hermione! There's no way that's possible." Exclaimed Ron Weasley, scoffing royally.
"You don't have to be so sceptical, Ronald!" cried Hermione, as Ron plopped down on the couch next to Harry.
"Uh, do I want to know what's going on?" asked Harry hesitantly. Hermione flung her book bag on the couch and gestured to it.
"Go ahead, Harry. Take a look." Harry looked undecidedly between his friends and when Ron nodded, he opened it, and a book on top fell into his lap. "That, mate, is the bone of contention." Announced Ron dramatically.
Harry flipped it over and raised his eyebrows to see a blue-eyed, Greek Godly like man serenading a woman on the cover. "The Best Things that Happen in Love?" He looked up at Hermione, who was decidedly embarrassed, reality catching up to her after she had cooled down.
"Well, Harry, you see.." she started, fumbling when Ron broke in, "I found our friend here sitting under a tree, all hunched up and smiling with a book. "Of course, it's Hermione" I thought and walked over to her, because who else gets so excited about books? Then, I came up behind her and whispered in her ear, "Hello!" and she screamed and punched me in the chest, slamming that book in her beastly bag. Now she tells me that the book was actually for a friend of hers and not for herself. Do you believe that mate?" Ronald Weasley grinned slyly at Hermione, who slumped down next to Harry and groaned.
"Well..." Harry started, his green eyes twinkling amusedly. "Which friend is it for, Mione?" Hermione buried her face in a pillow and mumbled, "Innee."
"What?"
"My knee."
"Your...knee?"
"Ugh...Ginny!"she got up and growled.
"What? Re-e-e-ally?" sked Ron, raising his eyebrow.
Just then, the girl in question skipped into the room. "Hey, guys. What's going on?" she enquired, looking at the three. Hermione wore a scowl, but her cheeks were uncharacteristically pink, noted the perceptive redhead. Harry sat in the middle, a book in his hand, a befuddled expression on his face. Ron semi-sat, semi-lay on the couch, a smug expression on his face.
"Ah, Ginny, my dear sister. Just the girl we need." He began. "Really, Ron? That's how you start?" asked Harry amusedly.
"Harry, what's going on?" she asked the raven-haired boy. He grinned sheepishly at her, as he began explaining the situation.

Ginny was relieved to have gotten over her hero-worship of The Boy Who Lived and communicated this very emphatically through her best friend Hermione to remove any awkwardness between herself and Harry. She was now in a very stable relationship with Mitchell Abbott, the Keeper from Hufflepuff. Now, Harry and her were more like surrogate brother-sister and enjoyed a warm camaraderie. While she was thinking this and parallelly listening to Harry, she noticed Hermione and her silent pleas for support. By the time Harry finished explaining, she understood what Hermione wanted her to reply.

"Now, my dear Ginevra, this is the question that shall plague my mind till thy clear reply. Is it thy desire to possess this, THIS book?", Ron spoke in a deep grumble, brandishing the book in Ginny's face.
"Call me Ginevra, and I'll show you my desire to try out new hexes." Replied Ginny, eliciting a laugh from her friends and a pale look on Ron's face. "Actually, yes. I needed that book to cement my faith in romance and see how in love Mitch and I are." Replied Ginny victoriously, looking amusedly at the relief on Hermione's face.
"Oh...uh..." Ron began, turning an artistic shade of red.
"No need, Ron! All water under the bridge!" smiled Hermione hurriedly, snatching the book from Harry and avoiding his twinkling eyes.
"Yeah..I..uh, oh, it's lunchtime!" exclaimed Ron, and mumbling something, grinned at his friends and sister and swung out of the Commons."Well, Hermione, I'll have that book now.." smirked Ginny, as a red Hermione handed her the book.
"Okay, people, I'll be on my way!" she waved and went up the stairs to her dorm.

"So...Mione.." began Harry, as he got up and stretched, looking down at his best friend on the couch.
"What?" she replied, hoisting herself up, taking his proffered hand.
"You know I know that Ron doesn't know that the book wasn't for Ginny, was it?" he grinned cheekily at her, steering her gently by the shoulders down the stairs of the hallways.
"What-you-I-but...oh, okay!" stuttered Hermione, pouting childishly.
"So, love, huh? Who's the guy?" began Harry jovially.
"No, no, no. We aren't talking about that!" shushed Hermione when a few passersby turned around.
"Oh, secret luuuuurv! How...un-Hermione!" Harry bumped her shoulder.
"Harry..." warned Hermione, as they came to the Great Hall.
"Though, if you were to ask me, that guy is the luckiest in the world, to get a girl as amazing as you to like him." Harry broke in with sudden seriousness and squeezing her hand, strode into the Great Hall, waving to Ron.
Hermione stood outside a while, her hand tingling and a gentle smile alight her face.

(A/N: Do Read and Review! This is my first fanfic! Peace to all.)