6

6. What Happens In Italy…

"It was so embarrassing." Hermione ranted. She had been pacing back and forth in the sixth year girls dormitory ever since she had run like a frightened bunny from the Common Room. She was still complaining loudly about Harry Potter's rather tasteless joke, all the while Lavender had sat listening almost like a real friend.

"In front of everyone. He just… He just asks something like that."

"Hermione." Lavender finally spoke up, clearly tired of hearing the same complaints.

"What if he meant it? What if he really wanted you to kiss him?"

"Oh please." Hermione scowled. Who are you trying to prank now? Like anyone like Harry would want to kiss me, much less…" Hermione's cheeks pinkened, and Lavender perked up at this, looking very intrigued.

"Much less what, Hermione?" The blonde pressed. "Find you attractive? Perhaps want to run their hands all over your bare, burning hot flesh? Slip his hand into your steaming hot love…"

"I hardly think this is a time for vulgarity!" Hermione snapped, though her face resembled a ripened tomato.

"Hey, whoa!" Lavender held up her hands defensively. "I'm on your side here."

"You were being rude." Hermione countered. "Besides, I think it more likely Harry wanted me to teach him how to kiss a girl so he could use it on someone more…"

"No, I think I was real close to the mark here." Lavender pressed. "It's no secret that you've been a sort of punching bag around here Hermione, but like I told you before, I think that's changing, and Harry is at the center of it. He is intrigued by you. I think he might even fancy you, though I'm going to guess he doesn't realize that's what he's feeling. You may have been right that he wanted to learn, but he thought of you first, when he knows he could get any girl in the castle to show him. I'm also going to go out on a limb here and say that your lack of experience with boys is making you really nervous and uncomfortable."

Hermione could only glare at her roommate who smile rather smugly.

"Look, I'm trying to be your friend here, and I'm telling you that you are a beautiful woman, and while all the other idiot boys can't see it because of all the history here, Harry is unencumbered by that. He sees you as you are now. A girl with stunning brown eyes, a super cute nose, those incredible kissable pouty lips, not to mention a body most girls would kill to have."

Hermione gave her a questioning look and Lavender got up from her bed and grabbed Hermione by the wrist and led her into the bathroom where there was a full length mirror. She pulled off Hermione's school robes, so the bookworm was standing in just her uniform in front of the mirror staring at herself.

"You need to see what he sees. This might be really tough given everything, so we'll take it slow to start."

Hermione only nodded, clearly curious about what Lavender was going on about.

"We'll start at the top and work our way down. Your hair isn't that unmanageable bush anymore. It's tamed itself as you've gotten older, but it needs attention. Something as simple as brushing it out every night will help. It's a little thing. Your complexion is like ivory. I can't remember you have a single pimple in all the time we've been roommates."

Hermione gave the softest of smiles at this, but Lavender continued.

"I already talked about your eyes nose and lips, look at your neck." Lavender said, gathering up Hermione light brown hair. "Long and slender but not too much. This is a neck begging to be nuzzled, nibbled and kissed."

Hermione shuddered a bit at the thought, thought she said nothing. Lavender had to fight a smile as she saw Hermione begin to chew her bottom lip, a sure sign she was thinking about something.

"You've got a dancer's body. Slender, but not too skinny. Your hips aren't as wide as mine, so your butt isn't as big either, but it's got a nice round shape to it. Something any boy with half a brain would want to get his hands on. And your legs… long and slender, perfect to wrap around a boy's waist while he's…"

"Lavender." Hermione began scowling again.

"And your chest. My god Hermione, look at your damned chest. I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't a bit jealous."

"But yours are bigger…" Hermione began.

"Yeah, but yours are perkier, and likely won't be around your knees when you're seventy. They are just about right, and handful. I actually wish you weren't so shy in the bathroom, cause I'd like to see them for myself. Parvati's got a great rack, but even she wishes she had your boobs."

"But Parvati's are bigger than mine too."

"And like I said…" Lavender said, finally coming around to face Hermione, and grabbing her own large breasts to emphasize her point. "And let's not forget how smart you are. How strong willed, and immensely brave."

"I'm not brave. I don't know why I'm in Gryffindor."

"I beg to differ." Lavender snapped. "You've remained here at Hogwarts for almost six years now despite all the teasing, the pranks, and all the other crap you've had to deal with. Not to mention being alone all that time. I still hate myself for not being nicer…"

Hermione quickly waved her hands in front of herself to stop Lavender from continuing.

"It doesn't matter.

"It should." Lavender grumbled before taking a deep breath and pressing on her original point. "Look, I'm not saying Harry went about it the right way, but given what you've told us about his upbringing, is it really that surprising that he's so tactless. And honestly, would it be so bad teaching him all about snogging, and feeling a girl up, and making love."

"Oh stop it." Hermione snapped as she snatched up her robe and stormed back into the dorm. Lavender followed the pariah, sighing with exasperation again as Hermione sat on her bed.

"Why do you have to be so vulgar all the time?"

"Hermione, it's in our nature. It really isn't some dirty disgusting act. How the hell do you think you were conceived?"

Hermione gave the blonde a sour look that only served to make Lavender laugh. "You can't tell me you haven't at least imagined being kissed again. I mean, I know you haven't kissed a boy since Krum and that was nearly two years ago."

Hermione mumbled something rather irritably.

"What was that?" Lavender asked with a grin.

"He never kissed me." Hermione said a bit louder this time, small tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Lavender's smile melted away in an instant.

"Really?"

Hermione shrugged. "I wanted to." She said softly, wiping angrily at her eyes. "I really did. He was so nice to me, and so sweet that night. I thought for sure that I would finally have my first kiss that night, but he just… just gave me this sort of awkward hug. Then… then he all but ignored me after that. I tried talking to him. To find out what I did wrong. I think he finally got tired of me 'stalking' him, because he finally told me that it would never work. I found out later that Malfoy had filled his head with all this…rubbish about me."

Hermione shrugged again tears filling her eyes once more. She didn't try to wipe them away this time. It was strange. She had been certain that she was over that business, yet talking about it now seemed like someone had ripped open those old wounds.

"So you've never kissed anyone?" Lavender asked, still reeling from her new friend's revelation. Hermione shook her head once and Lavender sank onto her own bed, feeling horrible for her roommate who she was learning was far more deserving of a bit of happiness than she had believed already.

"I wouldn't even know the first thing about it." Hermione admitted.

"Would you like me to help you?" Lavender asked. Hermione looked up now, intrigued.

"Help me?"

"It's what girlfriends do. We help each other with this stuff. Parvati and I learned how to kiss by practicing with each other. In fact, we've learned most everything by practicing on each other."

Hermione's face went crimson, and Lavender felt her cheeks heat up a bit.

"Well, who else are we going to go to?" She demanded. "Our parents? Gods no. That would be so much worse. Teachers? No thank you. Boys? Please. they're just as clueless as we are. At least their equipment is easier to figure out. So… it's up to us."

"You mean… you and… the two of you…" Hermione stammered.

"Kissing, groping, licking, sucking… we've pretty much done all we can to each other." Lavender shrugged. "We're not the only ones either. All the Ravenclaw girls get into steamy little piles quite regularly according to Padma. I admit, it's embarrassing at first, but between you and me, it's worth it. I know exactly what gets me going, and boys are easy to train, so, if you already know what you like, it's a lot easier to show your boyfriend, and train them up right."

Hermione couldn't fight the small giggle at Lavender's words, especially given that she was dating Ron Weasley, who Hermione often felt had a bit of Troll blood in him, as he seemed quite dense.

"I don't know." Hermione said after a long bit, and Lavender smiled. "It's not going to make you turn into a witch's witch. Unless you already like girls, which is perfectly fine."

"No, it's not that." Hermione whispered.

"You don't trust me." Lavender smiled knowingly. Hermione sagged a bit, but Lavender simply waved it off. "I understand. I haven't earned your trust, and given our history, I'm not surprised. But, the offer is there, and I'm sure Parvati would be willing to help. Between you and me, I think Parv might like playing both sides."

Hermione gave the blonde a questioning look.

"All the times we practiced, she always got a bit more into it than I did. I mean, it was good to learn and all that, But I always felt a bit weird. I always like it more when boys are involved I guess."

"Exactly how far have you gone with a boy?"

"I've gone all the way. Sex I mean." Lavender said evenly. Hermione was gawking at the blonde now. "Just once. I've done other things loads of times, but I've only ever had sex once. It was over this past summer, while I was on holiday on the continent."

"Wait…" Hermione sat up a bit straighter. "I thought you said you and Ron have never…"

"We haven't. It wasn't Ron." Lavender said, looking a bit guilty. "Parvati doesn't even know about this, and I really don't know why I'm telling you this, but… I don't think you'll betray my confidence. And to be honest, I've wanted to tell someone about it for ages."

Hermione nodded and Lavender smiled.

"You know Ron and I became an item in the last week of term last year. Wasn't really enough time to establish any sort of commitment. I had liked Ron for a while, and when we got together, I was really happy, but then, term ended, and when I got home my mum and dad told me we were going to Italy for a month. It was amazing, and I met this really cute boy one night at this club my parents let me go to. He reminded me of Ron. Tall, redheaded, muscular. Only, he was a lot more confident, and intense, you know?"

Hermione shrugged, and Lavender smiled, her eyes becoming distant as she recalled that night.

"He chatted me up, and he made me laugh, and then we danced. We danced a lot, and the more we danced, the bolder he got. And, I liked it a lot. When he finally kissed me… Oh my gods Hermione, it was like explosions in my brain, and my body. I literally melted. I soaked my knickers through, and it made me want so much more. "

Lavender adjusted herself on her bed to get more comfortable, and Hermione wondered if the blonde wasn't feeling aroused while reliving the incident.

"We danced more, and we kissed more, but he never liked forced himself on me, you know? He was so sweet, and gentle. But the more he kissed me, the more I wanted from him. Anyway, he asked me if I wanted to go someplace else, as the club was closing down. My parents were supposed to be out all night, and they neglected to give me a curfew. I just turned sixteen before school let out, and my mum felt I was mature enough to handle myself. Anyway, I said yes, and he took me to his flat. He was a muggle and he was going to university. His flat was this little one room thing with just like a bed and a desk."

Hermione could picture the scene in her head as Lavender continued. And then it occurred to her just how much Lavender had shared so far, and she wondered why this girl, who had largely ignored her for the past five years was sharing such a deep and intimate secret.

"Why are you telling me all this?' Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

Lavender shrugged. "Maybe because I need to tell someone." She sat silent for a moment before adding. "Or maybe it's because I don't think you'll like judge me or anything. Do you not want to hear anymore? I mean, I can stop if you're uncomfortable."

"No, I just… I just wondered is all." Hermione said. In truth she did want to hear how it all turned out, especially as Lavender seemed to need to tell someone this story. With a knowing smile, Lavender picked up the rest of her tale.

"We sat down, and talked a bit. Like I said, he was really sweet. Then he started kissing me again, and my body felt like it was on fire. That's when his hands began roaming. I got all tense at first, but then I started really liking it. He started kissing my neck and his hands slid up my body and cupped my boobs. It was over my jumper and everything. Like I said, he was sweet. But it wasn't enough. God Hermione, I can't even begin to tell you what it felt like. This need I felt. I just… I needed him to do more, but he was taking his time with me. He was building me up I suppose. I finally got tired of his teasing, and I took his hand and made him put it under my shirt. He got the idea, and pushed my bra up so he could grab my boobs."

Lavender let out a long shuddering sigh, while Hermione was almost falling off her bed as she leaned forward, hanging on every word. She found that her mouth had gone dry and her breathing was a bit heavier.

"My nipples were like rocks, they were so hard. Every time he touched them it was like someone sent a really light tickling hex down between my legs. My stomach was so tight from all the butterflies, and my heart was beating so fast."

"Haven't you felt like that before?" Hermione asked. "With anyone else I mean?"

Lavender shook her head. "I don't know what it was. Maybe it was because he was so good looking, or he reminded me of Ron. Maybe it was because I was on holiday. Maybe it was because before Ron, I hadn't dated around, or anything for so long because I was trying to get him to notice me, so I was really pent up…" Lavender shrugged.

"Anyway, I really wanted things to keep moving forward. I wasn't thinking too clearly, and was kind of acting on instinct. So, I could feel him rubbing against me, and I suddenly wanted to feel him. In my hand, I mean. I had only ever seen two before. Seamus, and Terry. Terry's not half bad. Good length and all. Seamus is kind of on the small side." Lavender gave a conspiratorial wink.

"What determines a good length?" Hermione asked curiously. Lavender smirked and shook her head.

"That's different for every girl." She replied. "But this boy… he was nice. It was like a piece of velvet wrapped iron. He was so hard, that I thought he might explode. When I got my hand down the front of his jeans and got it in my hand, he gave out this moan that… I kid you not Hermione… It made me cum. Seriously. It wasn't like back arching, or anything, but I did climax."

"How could you tell?" Hermione asked, again sounding a bit too analytical for Lavender. The blonde smiled at the brunette and promised they'd get into that later.

"Anyway, that was it. I knew at that moment that I would not be leaving that flat until I had him inside of me. Clothes began coming off. His shirt, my jumper, my t-shirt, my bra. our shoes, his jeans, my skirt, my knickers. When we had gotten that far, which took a while because he was so insistent on kissing and licking me everywhere… when he finally got me in the altogether… he began trailing kisses down my front. He spent a lot of time on my nipples, and it gave me a another little orgasm, which was so nice. Then he finally got his tongue between my legs. Now… I've had three people go down on me. Parvati, who got good because I kept letting her do it to me. Terry… who was just… just awful, and Seamus, who gave this particular boy a run for his galleons."

Hermione was feeling her own heart pounding as her own mind conjured images of herself without a shred of clothing while some faceless Italian hunk was playing her body like a fine orchestra as Lavender continued.

"He kept licking and kissing me and I felt this sort of pressure… I can't even describe it. This pressure building here." She motioned to her abdomen. "It was like there was so invisible puppet master pulling my body and making me arch my back. I couldn't seem to control anything and then it happened. This…this explosion. I've had orgasms before, but nothing, NOTHING like this. I thought I was going to pass out or something. My head was just swimming, and I felt so dizzy."

"Wow." Hermione whispered. Lavender nodded and grinned. "What happened next?"

"He let me recover, thankfully. He just ran his hands all over me, all tender and gentle. He was smiling so confidently, and something in me just had this sudden urge to make him look as stupid as I felt I probably looked. So I knocked him onto his back and I … went to town."

"Went to town?" Hermione asked looking confused.

"I sucked his cock."

Hermione's face went bright tomato red and she reeled back, causing Lavender to laugh. Hermione scowled, realizing the blonde had said it just to shock her.

"Are you making this up?" Hermione snapped, but Lavender shook her head.

"I swear to you this is true. Every word."

Hermione still looked skeptical, but Lavender shrugged. "Do you want to hear the rest?"

Hermione thought about it for a bit. It had been a really good story, and she'd be lying if she hadn't felt the slightest bit of arousal. But, she didn't want to appear to be that interested, in case it was just another prank.

"Hermione, I swear to you, that this all really happened. I also swear to you that when I finish this story, I'm going to be going to bed with some serious silencing charms on my bed, because just remembering that night has got me so turned on. Hell, if I thought you'd let me, I'd have a go at you just so I wouldn't have to manage things myself."

"Why not just go grab Ron and have him take care of your needs."

Lavender frowned a bit, "Can we talk about that at another time?"

Hermione nodded, and Lavender took a deep breath. "I wasn't joking before. I did start sucking him. I've done it before."

"Seamus and Terry?" Hermione guessed.

"And Lee Jordan."

"But you said you'd only seen two."

"Seen, yes. I've only seen two up to that point. But I've sucked three. After Yule Ball, there was a game of truth or dare at the Gryffindor after party, which you weren't at, obviously. Anyway, I got dared by Angelina to take Lee into a broom cupboard and you know…" Lavender made a suggestive gesture, pantomiming fellatio. Hermione rolled her eyes, and motioned for Lavender to continue.

"I don't know if I was doing a bad job or if he just really wanted to move things ahead, but he stopped me, and pulled me up his body. He was so hard beneath me. Like, I mean his muscles and stuff, but he was also really hard. And I was so wet that he just sort of got me in position on top of him and then sort of adjusted himself and then… he was inside of me. It hurt a lot at first, because he was really big, and I've never done it before, He didn't know I was a virgin, and I hadn't told him. I think he just thought he was hurting me because he was so big. He kept telling me how tight I was and how hot I was. He went slow at first, which was good, The pain melted away pretty quickly too. It wasn't long before I was actually moaning. I don't know why. It just… it felt so damned good. Every time he pushed into me, I just wanted him to go deeper. I was really starting to get into it, and then he pulled out of me. At first I was like…'did I do something wrong?' but then he got out from under me, and got me on my hands and knees. He got behind me, and put it back in me. I thought I was going to pass out again. It was even better that way. He gripped my hips like he was guiding me, and just started …he was fucking me. There's no other way to describe it. And it was so good. My head was spinning, and my heart was pounding. I was getting really into it now, and I was almost screaming. The more noise I made, the harder he would fuck me. Then I came again. I mean, really came. I kind of collapsed, and the first thing was that I missed him being inside of me. But he flipped me onto my back, and put my legs up on his shoulders and put it back in me."

Hermione was breathing heavier now as she pictured herself in the same situation, which she found strange because she just couldn't imagine what it could possibly feel like. That didn't stop her mind from trying to supply her with something. She also noticed she felt rather moist, which embarrassed her, though she managed to keep her face from burning by focusing on Lavender.

"He just kept going, and I was starting to wonder if he was ever going to stop. He made me cum three more times before he finally pulled out and exploded on my chest. I always thought it would be gross, you know. But when it actually happened, and I had his cum on my boobs… I don't know why, but I just… I smeared it all over, like it was a lotion or something." Lavender blushed at her admittance. "He almost passed out when he saw me do that. He kept telling me how hot that was and how amazing I was. It was… It was just amazing."

The two girls remained silent for a long spell before something that had been nagging Hermione finally fought through her own randy thoughts and come tumbling out of her mouth.

"You cheated on Ron." She managed to squeak. Lavender's contented smile fell away.

"Something I remembered after lover boy fell asleep, and everything came crashing in around me. I didn't know that guy. I never even got his name. I got my clothes and grabbed my purse and ran out of there. I cried all the way back to my hotel. Lucky my parents still weren't back. I showered and cried a lot more. I never felt so horrible. I certainly didn't love that Italian guy and I had given myself to him like I was exactly like what everyone thinks I am. I was so confused about everything."

The blonde Gryffindor fell silent for a bit, and Hermione couldn't even think of a single word to say, so she remained quiet, observing Lavender. She had no idea why this girl had chosen her to unburden herself upon, yet Hermione felt sort of honored.

"When we got back, I went to see Ron, and he was so happy I was there, and he made me feel so… so loved and wanted. It was then that I realized my Italian boy only wanted me for the night. Ron wanted me for longer. But then, I got to see what Ron's life was like, and I started to see what kind of girl he wants. He wants another version of his mother. Someone to stay home and cook and clean and take care of the kids. The problem is, I have my own aspirations. Not to mention that as much as I've tried to teach Ron about how to get me going, he doesn't seem to catch on. It's why I won't go to him to help me scratch this itch I have now. He's not a very giving lover."

Lavender looked pointedly at Hermione now, and the brunette could see faint tears in the corners of Lavender's baby blue eyes, despite the fact she had a light smile on her face.

"The strangest thing is, I don't regret what I did. The sex part I mean. But I hate myself for what I did to Ron. I betrayed his trust. Even though I know that Ron and I won't be together forever, I feel ashamed that I could do that to someone I was supposed to be involved with. That's what I hate, and I swear I will never do that again, no matter who I'm with."

"I'm sorry." Hermione murmured.

"Don't be." Lavender replied. "Let it be a lesson. If you decide to finally take a chance with Harry, and he proves to be untrainable, highly unlikely seeing as that's all he's done his whole life, Move on. Find someone who listens and who can learn your needs. Not just physically…"

"Emotionally and mentally as well."

"Spot on." Lavender smiled. "There are lots of guys out there, and just because the berks at this school have treated you like dragon dung does not mean that a perfect man isn't out there waiting for you somewhere. Though I still believe in my heart he's down in the common room still trying to figure out why you ran away. Now…I'm really, really wound up right now, so… unless you're willing to…"

Hermione shook her head frantically which made Lavender laugh hysterically.

"Another time then." The blonde giggled as she tore off her jumper tie and button down before pulling the curtains around her four-poster. "Goodnight Hermione."

Hermione saw Lavender's stockings, shoes, skirt and under things slip down the side of her bed into a pile on the floor. Hermione couldn't even begin to fathom why the thought of Lavender naked on her bed had affected her the way it had. All she knew was she was feeling deep urges of her own. However, her embarrassment and her ignorance prevented her from acting upon them.

She went to her trunk and pulled out her favorite flannel pajama pants and t-shirt and changed for bed. She climbed under her blankets and shut the curtains and laid down, hoping she could fall asleep. However her brain kept conjuring stimulating images, most involving a faceless man doing scandalous things to her body. She also imagined Lavender in the next bed over and what she might be getting on with behind her silenced curtains.

Hermione began wondering if perhaps she attempted to ease some of her own tension if perhaps she might find enough peace to fall asleep. She started to slid her hand into her pajama bottoms, but quickly pulled it out feeling really stupid and ashamed, although she had no idea why.

A moment later she heard the door to the dorm open and Parvati walking in, humming to herself. Hermione began to wonder if the Indian beauty had been getting her own needs met with Anthony Goldstein, whom she had begun dating recently.

Hermione growled to herself and flopped onto her side as she began to once again try and analyze everything that had been happening to her. Everything had begun changing the day she had met Harry Potter. Harry Potter who was really good looking. What with his short, messy hair, and those hypnotic green eyes. He had asked her to kiss him. Said he had needed her to. She had been so shocked, and so angry that she hadn't even given him a chance to explain it. Maybe he had actually been trying to ask her out. Maybe Neville had made the new student realize that he was attracted to her of all the girls in the school, and she had run away like a frightened kneazle.

Hermione wondered what it would be like to kiss Harry. Would he be gentle? Would he be rough? Would it be romantic like her trashy love stories, or would it be clinical and empty. Where would his hands go? Where would she put her hands? Would it be stiff and closed mouth, or would it be something deeper… more erotic? What would it lead to?

All at once Hermione's faceless lover from her earlier fantasy was suddenly replaced by Harry, and her body reacted. She felt her nipples perk up and her legs began rubbing together almost involuntarily. All the while she was hyper aware of how hot and aroused she had become.

Hermione managed to stamp it all down however reminding herself that she was just fate's punching bag and that she was never going to have a moment like Lavender had in Italy. No one wanted her, and no one ever would. She kept repeating it over and over again until she realized she was crying.

She wondered for the millionth time why she did this to herself. Why did she keep returning to a place where she wasn't wanted by anyone? Why did she keep on with her life, what was it all for?

All at once a face swam to the forefront of her mind. A chiseled face with hard green eyes that peered right through her charade and straight into her heart. A face that for some reason made her feel more confused than she ever had in her whole life. Harry's face.

Even more confused now, Hermione slept very little and cried a lot that night.

"I still don't get it." Harry complained as he ran with Neville at his side the next morning.

"Look, I'm not saying what you did was wrong, but you have to understand that for some girls, like Hermione, kissing actually means something. It isn't like a handshake or something like that. It's a bond of sorts, a show of affection not to be given away lightly. There are girls who would be happy to help you refine your technique, but they may not be girls you want to be involved with."

"Why not?" Harry asked, turning to Neville who shrugged.

"I don't know. Because they won't be true to you. They have no self respect? They're just using you to get something they want, who knows. The point is, Hermione was embarrassed and probably hurt by you asking her to kiss you like that. Hermione's not had an easy time here, and she's become really … hard, I guess. I didn't even really talk to her until this year. I wasn't cruel to her or anything, I just never bothered to try an become her friend. Other people around here saw her as a target for their cruelty. I can't even tell you how many times she's had to fix her book bag because people love using cutting spells on it just to watch her things spill out over the floor. She went five years without anyone talking to her, aside from making jokes, or taunting her, or whatever just to make her cry. And gods forbid she ever tried to defend herself. People would gang up on her. And the rest of us just sat by and watched."

"Why?" Harry looked at Neville who looked away with shame as he shrugged.

"Fear and stupidity, I guess. We were afraid we'd become targets for bullies and cruelty. We could have stood up for her, even if we didn't like her, and at least tried to ease her burden, but it was easier to just ignore it. The point is, she 's probably waiting for you to pull some grand prank and ditch her or something because that's what she's used to."

"Ditch her?" Harry queried.

"Stop being her friend." Neville clarified.

"I wouldn't do that."

"But she doesn't know that Harry." Neville replied. "After everything she's gotten through over the last five years, she came here this year expecting more of the same. But then here you come. Like a hero out of legend and start protecting her and being a real friend to her. It's almost like one of her fantasy stories. It's likely really confusing. I'm guessing she's probably really conflicted. Because of you, she's gaining friends, and that's strange to her. She doesn't know if she can truly trust people. She's beginning to feel like she can and then you ask her to kiss you in front of everyone… Honestly, I'm a bit shocked she didn't hex you right there."

"But you said that the only way to learn how to kiss was by doing it, and she's really smart and…"

Harry." Neville stopped running and Harry did likewise so he could turn and face Neville, who looked gravely at him. "I know what I said, and I meant it. You really can only learn how to kiss someone by doing it, but… you should learn with someone you like. As I said, it's more than just a physical action. There should be something else there. An affectionate emotion, for lack of a better description. Understand?"

Harry stared at Neville for several seconds before slowly shaking his head.

"Yeah, I didn't think so. I'm rubbish at this." Neville sighed, bending over a bit and stretching. "Look, kissing a girl you like is good. But you should do it because you like them, and not just because you think you need to do it. And not because a girl is your friend. If you like some one, and I mean beyond friendship like her, then that's who you should be trying to kiss. If you fancy Hermione, great, but don't play with her heart.

"That wasn't my intention." Harry said firmly and Neville nodded.

"I know that, and I think Hermione might understand that as well on some level, but, and I can't stress this enough to you, you can not lead her or any one else on if you have no real feelings for them. It's the cruelest thing you can do to someone. You're better off holding them under the Cruciatus curse until their mind breaks than play with a person's feelings. Got it?"

Harry gave him a single nod, though he wasn't sure that he fully understood. All he was certain of was that he felt horrible for some odd reason, and he knew it was tied into Hermione. He felt this sort of crushing weight on his shoulders the rest of the morning that only increased when he and Neville came to the Common room as they did every morning after their shower to meet Hermione for breakfast and found she wasn't there. They waited a bit but she never came down, so they decided to go without her, after Neville thought she might not be feeling well.

However, they found Hermione was in her usual spot at the Gryffindor table, head buried in a book.

"Why didn't you wait for us?" Harry asked as he sat down. Her response was to ignore him completely. Harry turned to Neville who looked sympathetically back at him, and the invisible weight on his shoulders increased.

"Hermione?" Harry asked again, but the brunette refused to look up at him. In fact, she dropped her spoon, even though she wasn't finished with her porridge her shoulder and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Harry felt a surge of anger at that moment and leapt up from his seat, not noticing the interested looks from Neville, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

"Hermione!" Harry snapped at her making her stop. She turned, but kept her eyes down. "Will you talk to me?"

The girl said nothing.

"I get it, you're mad at me. Neville explained it to me this morning. I made a mistake. He was trying to explain about dating and he got onto kissing and I got confused and he said it was something I could only learn from experience…"

"So your first thought was get me to teach you?" Hermione asked, her voice soft, but dripping with venom.

"Yes." Harry said unapologetically. "You're my friend, and a girl and I trust you. I also don't like the idea of Neville teaching me how to kiss."

Hermione snorted in spite of herself.

"Yet you never stopped to think that maybe I wouldn't…Hermione couldn't finished her sentence because in that moment she felt a wash of confusion. She wasn't even certain at that moment if she was even mad at him for anything. How could she be? Somewhere deep down, she knew he hadn't meant to embarrass her.

"I didn't think about your feelings because I don't understand." Harry said evenly. "I've never had a friend either, not one who wasn't in some way responsible for me. This… this is all new to me, and I have to tell you that I do not like the way I feel right now. I hate that I upset you. Again, if Neville hadn't pointed it out to me, I would have remained ignorant."

Hermione's shoulders slumped a bit as he said this, and she finally looked up at him. Harry reeled slightly as he saw her eyes, puffy and dark.

"Did someone hit you with a conjunctivitis?" He asked.

"No Harry." Hermione sighed irritably. "I…" She stuttered.

"What?" He asked, pressing her a bit.

"I didn't sleep well." She said softly. Harry leaned in to hear her better, and Hermione felt her walls breaking under his gaze. She couldn't understand why but she felt a need to be honest with Harry, even though she would be admitting weakness. "I didn't sleep well because I was crying."

"Crying?" Harry looked at her in that way he did when he was trying to figure people out. Whenever he did it, she always felt exposed, like a raw nerve or something.

"Yes Harry, crying." She said bitterly. "It's what normal people do when they're upset."

"And I made you cry because I upset you?"

Hermione actually flinched now. Harry's normally hard eyes had softened, and she saw something there that she would never have imagined. He was… what was it? Fear? Anger? Sadness? All three? Could he possibly be starting to understand what he had done and be upset that he had done this to her?

"I don't know how to fix this." He said after a long pause, where he seemed to be thinking over everything. "You're my friend and I've hurt you, and I don't know what I should do here. How do I fix this Hermione?"

"You could start by telling me you're sorry for embarrassing me, and for taking me for granted."

"I am sorry for embarrassing you and taking you for granted." He repeated in his even monotone. Hermione sighed and shook her head.

"Do you mean that?" She asked, looking up at him. He looked confused for a moment but then nodded.

"I do." He said. She began to smile again and she stood a bit straighter now, feeling all of her sadness and anger melting away. She also suddenly remembered Lavender talking about training a boy up right. She couldn't help the soft giggle that escaped her in that second, which made Harry cock his head to the side in curious confusion. Hermione sniffled and wiped at her eyes which were tearing up again.

"Oh, what a sight."

Both Harry and Hermione turned to see Draco Malfoy along with a few Slytherins who'd just arrived for breakfast. They were all giggling like idiot children while their leaders stared mockingly at the two Gryffindors.

"Don't let us interrupt." Draco sneered. Go ahead and snog her socks off Potter. I always wanted to see if the toad would turn into something more appealing."

"Oh come now Draco, Everybody knows mudbloods don't get any better, no matter what magic you use on them." Pansy Parkinson sneered. "How much is she paying you to stand so close to her, Potter?"

Draco and his friends all began laughing hysterically and Harry saw Hermione's head fall a bit. He felt a sudden urge to throttle the Parkinson girl, but then another idea made itself known and he simply stared at the Slytherins.

"What? Nothing to say Potter?" Draco asked in his smarmy drawl. "Has the mud blood got you under the imperius?"

"Likely amortentia." Pansy added. "It's the only way Granger could get any boy to pay attention to her. You let him in your knickers yet Granger? Is he any good with is wand?"

"Oi, Pansy, We're about to have breakfast. Please don't conjure images of Granger's knickers and what might likely be inside before we eat." Draco made a disgusted face.

The other three girls with the Slytherin group howled with high pitched shrieks of laughter that made Harry flinch a bit. He swore they might be part banshee. Draco' two gorilla like enforcers guffawed stupidly while their master and his tart stared at him and Hermione.

Harry's first instinct was to bury Draco right then and there, but then he realized that Draco was not a real threat. So far he had observed very little from the boy that would indicate he had any modicum of power to fear. His father had been strong, that had been certain, and yet, Harry had taken the man's hand in a duel just a few months ago. Harry wondered if Draco found out that it was he who had maimed Lucius, would Draco seek retribution? Probably not. Harry doubted the little ferret had any sense of honor.

And Pansy was nothing more than an annoyance. A gnat to be swatted at. Sure Harry knew he could hex both Draco and Pansy and hurt them severely, but it would likely not teach them anything. In fact, there was precious little Harry thought he could do to make them leave Hermione alone.

But as Sirius had once told him, Bullies needed to be humiliated, if not to teach them a lesson, than to show the rest of the world how foolish those bullies really were.

And so, with the barest of smirks, Harry raised his hands and waved them back and forth for a second. Draco and Pansy both stepped back before realizing that nothing had happened. There was a second of silence before the entirety of the Slytherin group broke out in raucous laughter before turning and heading into the Great Hall.

"You didn't do anything this time?" Hermione looked puzzled after the Slytherins went into the Great Hall. "Not that I'm saying you should have, but…"

"Wait for it." Harry said with a soft smirk. Hermione saw the look of anticipation on Harry's face and found herself turning to look back towards the entrance to the Great Hall. There was nothing, save for the normal ruckus of people eating and talking. Then there was a scream, a few loud curses, and more screams followed by a cacophony of laughter. Harry began to smirk, and Hermione felt a wave of anticipation building within her.

Suddenly Draco Malfoy came stumbling out of the Great Hall looking quite horrified. Hermione couldn't help herself and burst into peals of laughter at the sight of Draco wearing what was clearly women's undergarments as well as very high heeled thigh high boots.

Draco lost his footing in the boots and fell in a heap in front of the entrance to the dungeons. He scrambled away on his hands and knees, his entire body a brilliant red color.

He was followed a moment later by Pansy whose clothes resembled that of a muggle circus clown, complete with bright red honking nose, which honked with every attempt to rip it from her face. Pansy was shrieking like a mad woman as she tried to maneuver in bright red floppity shoes.

Hermione was crying and holding onto her ribs as the two Slytherin royals were made to look the fools once again. She looked up at Harry and saw that even though he wasn't laughing, he did look supremely pleased with himself.

"Wandless magic?" Hermione asked wiping at her eyes and trying desperately to stop laughing because it was really beginning to be painful.

"Like I said, for the most part, completely useless." Harry shrugged as he turned to her. "Hermione, would you go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?"

That had done it. Hermione's laughter died instantly as she stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of deception or dishonesty, even though in the back of her mind she knew there would be none. Harry had just proven that he had no intentions of actually hurting her. And though she would try and crush it to dust, there was the tiniest spark of hope in her heart that somehow, fate was tired of messing with her.

"I think I would like that." She said, unable to get stop herself from smiling.