11Author's Note: Hello all! This one shot was a fun idea that I have had brewing in the back of my mind since rewatching Order of the Phoenix. Not beta'd. Cross posted on AO3. Enjoy!
"Where have you been?" Ron asked as Harry walked into the Common Room with a slight pep in his step. Their DA lesson had ended over half an hour ago, but as soon as Hermione spotted the lopsided grin on his face, she couldn't help but wonder what occurred between him and Cho Chang.
"Is it Cho?" Hermione voiced in an annoyed tone. "What did she want?"
Harry looked at her with a shocked expression. "She… I…"
"Cho?" Ron repeated, raising his eyebrow at Harry before he smirked at his best friend. "You sly dog. You kissed!"
Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes at Ron's enthusiasm. Though she should be used to it by now, somehow, Ron's lack of tact and inability to emotionally read the room always seemed to astound her. She looked up from the letter she was writing to her parents to see a scarlet blush forming across the tops of Harry's cheeks.
"Well," Ron prompted as he leaned forward, "Go on. How was it?"
Hermione couldn't help but put her quill down as she popped her head up to listen to Harry. She was being absolutely ridiculous, but a part of her was curious as to how Harry felt. To her knowledge, this was his first kiss. What was it like? Did he enjoy it? Would he kiss Cho again?
"It was… well, it was wet," Harry answered honestly.
This time Hermione did roll her eyes as Ron snorted. Of course, Cho would ruin something as crucial as a first kiss for Harry. Now, had it been her... Hermione would have left no room for doubt in Harry's mind that he was a wizard worth snogging. Harry was brave, kind, and witty. He had so much adversity in his life that the least he deserved was a witch who would kiss him properly. He actually deserved someone who would love him as fiercely as he loved and treasured those in his life, but she was clearly getting ahead of herself with silly fantasies that would never come true.
"It was mostly because she was crying the whole time," Harry corrected.
Ron laughed louder, "That bad at it, are you?"
Hermione scoffed at the redhead, "I'm sure Harry's kissing is more than satisfactory."
"Yeah, see! Thank you, Hermione," Harry said.
Ron pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye before turning to Hermione. "And how would you know what Harry's kissing is like?"
"I…" Hermione stuttered before she cleared her throat, "I don't. I've never kissed Harry. But honestly, Cho spends half her time crying these days."
"Well, you think a bit of snogging would cheer her up," Ron said snidely.
Hermione glared at him, "Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon. Can't you understand how Cho must be feeling?"
"No," said Harry and Ron together.
Hermione sighed, utterly exasperated by her friends' lack of sensitivity. "Well, obviously, she's feeling sad over Cedric's death; confused for liking Cedric and then liking Harry; and now guilty for kissing Harry, which indicates she's moving on. Plus, she'll be worried about what everyone else must think of her if she starts going out with Harry and wondering if she's spent enough time grieving for Cedric. She's already on thin ice with the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team and could potentially be thrown off any day now."
Ron and Harry stared at Hermione, slightly stunned, for a moment before Ron snorted. "Blimey, Hermione. No one can feel all that at once. They'd explode. I'm sure it's because Harry's bad and needs some more practice."
Hermione gritted her teeth before she bit her bottom lip. Uncurling her fists, she got up from her seat and kneeled in front of Harry. "Fine!"
Without any warning, Hermione grabbed the sides of Harry's face and pulled him toward her. Harry's lips collided into hers with such awkwardness as she tried to aggressively claim him and prove her point. She pulled back a moment, having pressed so hard against her friend's face that she could feel Harry's teeth press up against hers through the thin layer of skin. Still holding on to him, Hermione slowly leaned in again and gently pressed her mouth back onto him. This time, Harry was prepared and readily accepted her, catching her bottom lip between his teeth and lightly rolling it back and forth. She gasped at the contact, causing Hermione to open her mouth further and accept more of Harry. Her hands dropped from his face as one rested on his shoulder, and the other snaked its way to hold the base of his neck.
They didn't know how long they sat kissing in front of the fireplace. She was just so lost in Harry's burning touch and the feeling of his strong shoulders under her hands. Harry had just started to creep a hand up to her low bun, unleashing her wild curls when Hermione vaguely registered someone clearing their throat. She pulled back and found Ron sneering at them.
"You done?" the redhead spat.
A fresh wave of humiliation suddenly caused Hermione's stomach to churn and her cheeks to flush red. She stood up and tucked a curl behind her ear, fighting the urge to start crying. "See," she squeaked out, "More than… satisfactory."
"Yeah," Harry replied breathlessly. "Thanks for that."
Hermione coughed, "Not a problem, Harry." She grabbed her unfinished letter and started marching up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. She didn't look off to the side to see the betrayal in Ginny's eyes or the raised eyebrows from Seamus and Dean. And she certainly didn't look over her shoulder to see a smitten-looking Harry with an irate Ron glaring at her retreat.