A/N: Quite a different R/H. Hope you like it so far..


Love Is Stupid Stuff.


I've never been a fan of romance. Kids in love, holding 

hands, kissing out in the corridors.. I see it all the time, 

here at Hogwarts. But it's nothing to me, just silliness 

mixed with too many hormones or something.


There's this quote that I found back at home- in the 

Muggle world, that goes like this: "Love is the triumph of 

imagination over intelligence."


Now, how true is that? People who are in love have 

completely lost their wits. And so lately, it seems like 

everyone at Hogwarts has lost their wits. 


Honestly, almost all of the wizards in our year have 

found witches that they liked. The elder years had been 

hooked up for quite some time now, you hardly ever see 

anyone past fifth year without a girl- or a boy. 


The faculty has got it on too, you know. Dear me- you 

wouldn't believe what I saw walking over to Hagrid's a 

couple of days ago. I went to the door of his hut and 

knocked and all- it seemed strange that he didn't open 

it. He was always there in the morning, before 

breakfast. 


Then I looked in the window, and wished I hadn't. 


Hagrid. And Professor McGonagall. Together. By the fire. 

Yes- her hair was down. Yes- his eyes were a bit crazed. 

Huh. You wouldn't think the teachers would be dumb 

enough to fall for that kind of stuff. 


Even the smaller kids are catching the love bug- I saw 

two little eleven year olds sharing a light kiss in the 

library the other day. I smiled at it then- it seemed so 

cute and innocent. But afterwards.. I shook my head 

upon it all. I had never been kissed. Maybe it just 

seemed unfair.. but I didn't like it either way.


There was Viktor Krum from Bulgaria last year. Very 

nice guy.. if a little grumpy at times. Always scowling at 

people he didn't know. 


I like a guy with a bit of a grin of his face. 


He invited me over to visit him in the summer. Huh. I 

didn't go, of course. My parents hardly agreed with the 

idea of sending me visit some strange wizard in Bulgaria 

that they had never met.


"And almost five years older than you too!" My mother 

had exclaimed, looking at me as if I was crazy.. 

Honestly. He wasn't even that mature. But I shrugged it 

off- It wasn't as if I was dying to go, anyway.


I told Harry the truth when I met him at the Burrow 

before school- that I hadn't gone to visit him. But Ron.. 

when he asked- he just seemed so aggravated with the 

idea that I could have gone- I couldn't resist. I told him 

sure I went, and I had the best time too. "Viktor's the 

greatest," I added with a smile. 


I'm surprised that he couldn't see right through it, he'd 

known me for so long. But then- he just sort of accepted 

it quietly.


Which made me mad, of course. If he'd yelled and called 

me dumb, and said something about his own feelings.. 

then maybe I wouldn't have to be wondering why I 

hadn't gotten my first kiss yet.


Fifteen years old, too. Do you think that's kind of old to 

be unkissed? I wonder if Ron's kissed anybody. 


I know Harry has. Yes- He has pretty much lost his wits 

too. After Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw sixth year, at that. I 

see them together all the time- in the corridors, outside, 

always sitting together at a certain table in the Leaky 

Cauldron in Hogsmeade.. always kissing too. 

Me and Ron walked in on them snogging in Harry's 

dormitory once. Pretty sickening. Ron was embarrassed 

beyond belief. He looks pretty cute when his cheeks 

match the color of his hair.


He doesn't like the witch much. But I don't mind Cho. 

She's pretty nice once you get to know her.


Ron is actually the only one in the fifth year, besides 

me, who has kept his wits. He's a smart kid. Not really a 

kid though, anymore. You wouldn't believe how much he 

grew in the past year.. Shoulders broader. Got a lot 

taller. Even his hands are bigger.. I notice these things, 

for some reason.


But then, I don't notice them in any other guy except 

Ron. Does that signify what I think it signifies? Huh.


* 


I settle down into my seat in potions- between Harry 

and Ron. They are having some everlasting conversation 

about Quidditch. Honestly. There are other things in life 

besides bludgers and brooms.


"Get out just a quill. It's time for the test," Snape raises 

his eyebrows at us.


He's gotten to be much nicer this year. Seems strange, 

but he's acquired such a great tan, too. I wonder if he 

went to Hawaii over the summer or something. Met 

some pretty young witch down there.. 


I look around the room as Snape passes out the exam 

parchments. I've studied hard for this test. I'm not 

worried. Harry sits beside me calmly too. I don't think 

he's studied - how could he when he's always so busy 

with Cho? - but he doesn't show any worry. 


Ron, on the other hand, is frantically flipping through 

the book.. "What chapter are we on, Hermione," he 

whispers desperately.


"Medicinal Potions," I whisper back, looking towards the 

Slytherin side of the room. Snape hands Draco Malfoy 

his exam with a bit of a whisper.


Probably giving him the answers, I figure scornfully. 


That Malfoy boy is such a nasty person. Not bad on the 

eyes- nice hair- but really. I didn't think anyone could be 

such a jerk.


He looks at me and glares. I glare back until he turns 

away.


I've relived so many times that moment when I slapped 

him hard across the face. I'd like to do it again. When 

the opportunity comes up.. I'm going for it. Definitely.


Snape hands us the parchments; Ron stuffs his book 

into his bag under the table. I lick the end of my quill 

and set in on the first problem.


It isn't long before Ron sends me a light whisper. "Hullo, 

Herm. How are you doing?"


I look up- Snape is scribbling something at his desk- and 

turn to Ron, rolling my eyes. "I'm not going to help you 

cheat, Ron." I whisper.


He makes a pleading face which I ignore as I go back to 

my exam. He's such a baby sometimes. Studying 

doesn't hurt, you know. Yet hardly anyone does it.


Problem 2.. easy question on the inventor of the Kherb 

Potion. This stuff is textbook. Half the class is groaning 

at it though. I don't think these people had any wits to 

begin with, much less lose as they fell in 'love'.


"What's 1?" Ron elbows me lightly.


"I'm not telling you." I furrow my brow and place my 

arm where it blocks his view of my paper.


"Her-mi-o-ne!"


"R-o-o-on!" I whisper back, imitating his tone.


"Weasley! Granger!" Snape's loud voice cuts through our 

exchange. Uh-oh. My head snaps up. Every witch and 

wizard in the class turns to look at us. "Come up here!"


With an inward groan, I follow Ron up to the front of the 

room. 



"Get back to work," Snape snaps to the rest of the class 

as we reach his desk. Then he turns black glittery eyes 

towards us. Uh-oh again. "Cheating in this class is 

completely unacceptable-"


"But-" I begin.


He cuts me off. "No buts. I saw you clearly, whispering 

to each other. You will serve a detention together and 

take a new test tomorrow. A completely different and 

highly difficult test."


I stare at him. Is he joking? He stares right back at me 

until I have to look away. When I do, my eyes fall on 

some picture he has on his desk.


Snape. On a beach, blue waves breaking behind him. In 

a Hawaiian shirt. With his black hair slicked back. A 

skinny brunette in a bikini at his side. 


Whoa.. I didn't really think- 


Snape sees me looking and grabs for the picture, setting 

it face down on his desk. "7 P.M. Both of you. In this 

room." He crosses his arms over his chest. "Go."


I glare at Ron as we walk back to our seats. This is all 

his fault. He smiles sheepishly at me.


* 


End.

A/N: Shall I continue? Review. :)