Brilliant (Harry Potter/Doctor Who Crossover)

-Chapter 18-

Chapter 18

I realized something important. That no matter what, Ron and I will always fight, that we would never truly get along. And that I had had it. I didn't want to spend my life disagreeing and shouting with Ron. We didn't fight over the summer, because we were in the so call "honey-moon phase", but that was over. I'm a rational and logical girl, I knew better than to stay with a man I could never really be happy with. It was time to end it.

I realized something else as well. As inappropriate as it was, I... I was falling for John. I had been thinking about him that way since before Christmas, but hadn't noticed it being something more than I thought until last Saturday when we were having one of our talks. For the beginning of March, it was still absolutely freezing, so we sat next to the fire in his office.

It was relaxing and nothing special, until I looked over at him and stared in those brilliant brown eyes that looked back down into mine. For something as simple and common as eye contact, it felt so intimate and private. The room fell in complete silence and, just for a second, I thought he was leaning in for a kiss, when suddenly, he cleared his throat and looked away.

"Have you ever heard about Nargles? That charming Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood, told me about those the other day..." he trailed of, filling the quiet and leaving me disappointed.

I had spent the week after just thinking about that moment. John consumed my thoughts, I found myself no paying attention in Charms and, on Thursday, in Potions, cause my brew to turn bubble-gum pink instead of a brownish orange. During dinner, I had completely zoned out while Ginny was peaking to Luna about an article in the Quibbler. I was worried about going to Astronomy later. What if I started acting like an idiot? Like when I liked Lockhart in my second year?

I also thought a lot about how we could be together. I was 18 years old and in my last year at Hogwarts with only a few months left and with my background, could easily obtain a teaching position next year. It wasn't impossible for us.

To my relief, I acted no different in Astronomy and he didn't seem to notice anything. It was with this strange confidence that I walked up to his office Saturday afternoon. I had decided to try something new. Flirting.

Waiting for the right moment, I sat at his desk and discussed that uses of dragon blood.

"I need to get my hands on some, but it's so pricy and I'm on a teacher's salary," John explained.

"Well, I'm sure if you just smile that brilliant smile of your to the sales person, you could convince them to lower the price," I tried myself.

"Are you saying I have nice nice smile?" he smiled, his cheeks turning slightly red.

"Are you kidding? It’s more than nice, John!" I answered, getting a little red myself. "And the rest of your face isn't half bad either," I added.

"Oh, well, thank you, Hermione. You are a beautiful young woman," he replied and my cheeks turned 3 times brighter.

"Thank you," I smiled widely.

I wasn't sure if that was flirting, but I did feel like I succeeded something.