dedicated to W3asleySweaters for the amazing cover :) I like the feel of it for this chapter!

Ch. 33: Coolest Girl

Song For This Chapter: Coolest Girl - AVPS [starts at 3:45ish, best link I could find]

"Elle, I-I just want to be alone right now," Hermione sobbed sitting in a vacant corridor where the breaking moonlight could filter through. I paused, the feelings of both anger and depression licked through me, filling me with confliction. How was I supposed to know whether to go back and beat Ron to a bloody pulp or ignore Hermione's protests and sit beside her.

The choice had been decided even before the options crossed my mind. "Of course I'm not leaving, 'Mione," I sighed, tucking my legs under my body as I sat on the cold, stone steps beside her, pushing loose hair behind my ear. "You have always been there when I needed you - even when I didn't want you, I added under my breath, earning a huff of a chuckle from my sister. "It's time I return the favor."

Sniffling, Hermione rubbed a hand under her eyes and pulled out her wand, muttering a light charm under her breath. I watched as the littered leaves around us rose up and formed tiny, twittering birds that sung sweet, melodic tunes. "C-charm spell," her voice quivered, "I'm just pr-acticing."

The sound of shuffling feet filled the both of our ears as Harry slowly peeked around the corner, adjusting his glasses over his unsure gaze. "Well, they're really good, Hermione."

Attempting to soothe the way Hermione's shoulders shook with her bottled up sobs, I rubbed her arms, thinking of something to say but coming up empty. I was brought back to my fourth year at Hogwarts. All the Fred drama, all the stupid times I'd spent crying. And for what?

I wanted to tell her that everything was going to be alright, that everything was going to get better. But, what did I know? The world was falling to shit around us, and all we could see was the assholes we were in love with. I hardly doubted those words would cheer up Hermione.

Harry sat down on the opposite side of my sister and took her hand, softly. She let out an unrestrained sob and shook her head, a trail of tears escaping down her cheeks. You look pretty today, 'Mione, I remembered to tell her. She'd dedicated an hour this morning to working expensive hair gel through her locks, the same kind I'd pretty much stocked up on in third year, and applying a small amount of make-up.

She'd planned on asking Ron to the dance for Christmas, but now...

"H-How does it feel, Harry?" Hermione sniffled, using a mittened hand to wipe at her tears. "How does it feel when yo-ou see Dean with Ginny?" Beside her, I fell silent.

"Wha-?" Harry breathed out, brow crumpling as he watched my sister begin to break down beside us. Neither of us knew what to do, how to help her. "I, uh, -"

"-I know," Hermione's lip quivered as more tears gathered at the base of her chin, dripping onto our gripped hands. "I see the way you look at her. You're my best friend."

Part of myself wanted to insert a joking 'Ouch,' but I realized that this was neither the time nor place. She'd merely think that I was truly offended. I parted my lips to put in my two cents, but I was cut off by an obnoxiously loud giggle that echoed and bounced off the stone walls of the corridor we were seated in.

Lavender and Ron bounded through the hall and skid to a quick stop as they saw the sad scene in front of them. A curt giggle left Lavender's lips, making me want to choke her, and she pat a shy hand over her mouth. "Oops, I think this room is taken," she lowered her voice to Ron, as if it would keep us from hearing her.

She yanked on Ron's hand to lead him away, but he stopped and offered Hermione a dopey grin. "What's with the birds?" He questioned, eyes watching the enchantment as they began to circle around Hermione's head.

Sniffling, Hermione yanked herself up from the stone steps and sent the unsuspecting Ron a very sharp glare, eyes rimmed red. "Oppugno." Suddenly the happily chirping birds turned vicious and soared towards Ron, attempting to impale him with their beaks, smashing into leaf crumbles as they hit the stone walls.

Ducking his head, Ron darted out the door and only paused a second to spare her a hurt frown, but he returned his attentions back onto Lavender Brown once more. As soon as he was gone, Hermione let a real sob out and she huddled against me, tucking her head against the dip in my collar bones as she shed her pent up tears, hands clutching mine.

Harry pat her back, and we all were quiet for a little while until he sighed, bringing back the topic that we had been on earlier. "It... It feels like this," he whispered. In my chest, my heart sunk low for the two of them. Even though Harry and I were not blood related, I almost felt as if I could consider him as a brother, a little trouble-making brother, but related none-the-less. And, it hurt to see them hurting.

I sent Harry a small, apologetic eye. "Harry, do you mind if Hermione and I had some time alone?"

Harry paused, adjusted his glasses, and then nodded, offering me what was a feeble attempt at a reassuring smile. "Alright. I'll head back to the Common Room then."

"Thank you," I sighed, sending him a forced smirk as he got to his feet. "Don't worry, I'll be coming to give you a talking to later."

"Oh, great," his sarcasm seeped out, "I'll be waiting."

"Of course you will..." I responded with a thicker dose of sarcasm, watching his retreating figure with a small smile as Hermione's sobbing slowed down to a more controlled breathing. "'Mione, are you okay?"

She sniffled and rubbed her nose with the back of her sleeve.

"Do you want me to cut out his heart for you? I'll put it in a decorative box and then we could use it to live forever, if you'd like."

That one got her. She chuckled a bit and wiped under her eyes as more silent tears trickled their way down her cheeks, leaving red stains where ever they trailed. "Forever?"

"Yeah, I heard about it in a book I once read," I humored her, keeping my voice soft. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves."

Hermione's laugh was less forced this time and she sat up, leaning against the stone pillar behind us. "I'm sorry, this is completely ridiculous, I am aware of that," she blushed, brow crumpling.

"Oh, please, Hermione," I waved her off with a snort, still trying to keep my voice soft and understanding to show her how much I cared. "You have been there for me when I cried about more stupid things than this."

She nodded as more tears rolled down her cheeks, slipping her eyes shut. "I'm just... I just d-don't want to talk, Elle." Her shoulders hunched over once more, as if she were carrying a heavy burden, and I held her hand tighter, trying to think of something reassuring to tell her.

"Hermione?" I chewed my bottom lip, stating her name as a question while I thought. She only responded by resting her head back down on my shoulder. "You... you know you're more than this, right?"

She didn't respond.

"You're probably the smartest person I've ever met," I admitted, thinking over all the people I'd come in contact with since I'd been tossed back together with my missing sister. "And, yeah, Fred and George are included in that too. I mean... there's so much you know how to do - much more than Lavender Stinky Brown, and myself as well."

"Oh, come on," Hermione's voice broke as she continued to listen to my words, silently wiping away the tears she shed before they could soak my school robes.

"No, I'm serious," I nudged her lightly. "You're the coolest girl in the whole wide world."

There was a long pause, and she pulled away from me, eyes puffy but searching with confusion as she scoured my own eyes. "You really mean that?"

"Coolest bitch on the face of the planet."

"You're not so bad yourself," she chuckled, but it still came out with a tint of hurt. Ron had really done some damage tonight.

"How's the dickhead?" Lana piped up, earning a sharp glare from a few studying students as Hermione, Lana, and I stalked through the Library, grabbing books for studying. Well, Hermione was studying, Lana and I were just following her around to keep her company. Christmas break was just around the corner and we had some final exams to take, but as usual, I'd waited last minute to study. And, I still needed to buy gifts!

"Whose dickhead?" I rose my voice, shooting the annoyed student a wide-eyed glance of innocence. "Mine or 'Mione's?"

Lana snickered at that and shrugged. "Well, both I guess."

Hermione snapped a book shut and tossed it into the air. "He's not my anything," she sniffled, annoyed that we would call Ron Hermione's possession when she was refusing to be within ten feet of the fool.

"The Chosen One, nine o'clock," I coughed, getting Lana to crane her neck around the isles of books to watch as Harry Potter make his way towards the three of us. Once he was within earshot, I greeted him properly. "Hello, Harry."

"Elle, Lana," Harry smiled, offering Hermione a more careful grin. "How are you, Hermione?"

Her eyes widened and her lips pursed in that irritated fashion she sported whenever she was beginning to feel beyond annoyed. "I am perfectly fine. I wish people would stop tip-toeing around me as if I am about to explode!" She whisper-yelled, invading Harry's personal space as she ranted under her breath.

I snorted, nose cringing as I laughed at her irony.
'Oh yeah, 'Mione, you're so not about to explode...'

My sister shot me a glare but continued to gather and sort books in the Library along side Harry. Lana and I trailed behind them, occasionally messing with random people trying to study. "I really couldn't care less about what Ronald spends his time doing. Was I under the impression that he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes," Hermione leaned against a vacant desk and stopped in her walking to shoot the three of us a morbid eye. "N-Now, given the circumstances, I've... I've had to make other arrangements."

"Have you?" Harry perked up, adjusting his glasses. I froze in my spot and shot Lana a worried eye that she didn't understand. I'd forgotten that we would need to bring a date, and I had only a limited amount of time before it would be the party. Maybe I'd got stag... Then, I remembered I had a boyfriend, and his accompanying me to boring parties is part of the job description.

"Yes, why?" She huffed out, annoyed already by Harry's presence.

Harry ducked his head, as if afraid she was about to swat him. "Well, I figured since neither of us can go with who we'd really like to... we should go together, as friends."

Hermione watched him for a moment, face falling from defensive to pensive. "Why didn't I think of that?!" She huffed, tossing the last of her books into the air so the shelves could magically sort them for her.

Lana snickered and crossed her arms, dyed red hair pulled over one shoulder. "Well, then who did you ask, Hermione?"

"Never mind that," she quickly blurted out, face draining of color. She looked repulsed. "It's... it's a surprise. Anyway, you need to be careful," she changed the subject, pulling Harry from the middle of the isle and into a smaller alcove where only a small amount of people could fit.

"Careful?" Harry rose a brow. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was feeling cornered. It was three girls against one of him. "About what, Hermione?"

"Romilda Vane, of course," I inserted for my sister, remembering the conversation we'd over heard the fourth year Gryffindor girls having in the bathroom. Ever since Jenna's accident and Ron's idiocy, Lana and I had been glued to Hermione and we'd all been there to hear the sneaky whispers.

"Who?"

"You see that girl over there?" Hermione lowered her voice, nodding her head towards the dark, back windows of the Library where the pretty fourth year was watching us, pretending to be studying. "That's Romilda Vane. Apparently, she is trying to smuggle you a love potion."

Harry craned his head around Hermione so he could get a better look at her, causing Romilda to blush and duck her head in feigned shyness. "Really?"

Lana chuckled at how happy he seemed. "You'd think people had better things to gossip about. You know, Gin can't stand her. All Ginny could rant about to me was the fact that there's been three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is corner her in Charms and ask if it's true you've got a hippogriff tattooed across your chest."

Hermione fumed at Harry's delighted features and she snapped at his face, pulling him from his day dreaming. "Hey! She's only interested on you because she thinks you are the Chosen One."

"But, I am the Chosen One."

"HA!" A laugh exploded from behind my lips at Harry's snide comment; Hermione widened her eyes and smacked him over the head with a newspaper she had been leafing through earlier, quite like a mean owner would do to a dog.

"Sorry, sorry." He kept his head down, avoiding the 'mom' glare that Hermione was burning into his forehead. Even Lana and I cringed away from the irritation. It brought back old memories from when I'd get in trouble with my brother Trey and our mother would scold us. Hermione even placed her hands on her hips like a mother would.

"I'll ask.... I'll ask someone I like," Harry reassured us, fixing his glasses since Hermione had practically knocked them from his face. "Someone cool."

"I heard Luna's available," I piped up, a slow grin spreading on my cheeks. "Oh, please ask Luna - I hate Slughorn's meetings already, and it would be fun to have her there." I slung my bag over my shoulder ad began to walk away, only pausing when Hermione asked where I was going in confusion. "I... er, I have to go write a letter."

~~~~~

It's short, I know. But, I figured that I've been keeping you guys waiting for far too long! Congratulations on making MORE THAN 150 votes! I'm honestly impressed, I didn't think you could do it ;)

Anyway, the surprise is coming soon, so don't freak out about how I'm a liar. You'll know it when you read it xD !

I'll try to update again soon xxJess