Harry Potter H&Hr Fluff Collection

An alternate scene from “Quaffles, Anyone?” that I deliberately removed but what you see here is not the original draft. I remade it. The plot in this story was never in the old draft but it was hinted. I removed it from QA because the other storyline you see in my other story was better or otherwise, Quaffles, Anyone? will be rated PG-13 .

By the way, if haven't read Quaffles, Anyone? then just find the story somewhere in this site.

Fluff Level: 5/10

XII

I Have A Problem

Harry knew it from the beginning, Hermione was getting stressed-out from studying and the countless times he said this to her she would always say she's fine and that she has not being all that stressed.

That however was half-truth and half-lie.

This little incident has struck Harry in the heart and in the mind very seriously and emotionally at the same time. He didn't want to see it heck, he never knew it and didn't see it coming! That day on, Harry never felt the same.

Well, only slight, though.

“Where's Hermione?” Ron asked during a late Friday afternoon in the Great Hall for late afternoon snack

“I don't know but I think she's studying” said Harry frowning

“She's studying too much again, isn't she?” Ron said worriedly “Did you see her eyes?” he shuddered “She looks like someone who hasn't had any sleep for months”

“I just hope the `relaxation' method she told me about is working” said Harry

“Relaxation method?” Ron asked

“I dunno, I think she stays at a quiet place somewhere in Hogwarts doing nothing but rest but I don't actually see visual results. Her eyes still have those shadows” he sighed “But she told me it is very effective and she's quite enjoying it”

“I think it's somewhere far” Ron suggested “She probably used her broom”

Harry shrugged. Hermione could stay at a far place from Hogwarts. Her Quidditch ability was such a shock to him. She was a natural player and probably flying to a peaceful place was anything but stressing.

“Do you think Professor Raptor gets any stress?” Ron asked looking at the High Table

Harry looks up to see Rapticon Sr. talking animatedly with Figment and Elvis

“I doubt he does” said Harry looking at his wristwatch “Are you done eating?”

“Nope” said Ron taking another sandwich

“Well, I'm done and I think I'll check if Hermione's in the common room. I need her help on an essay. See ya”

Harry walked out of the Great Hall and went up to the Grand Staircase. He went to the common room to find Hermione not there. Feeling a bit worried, Harry leaves the common room and goes to the library only to find Madam Pince there

“Excuse me,” said Harry walking to her desk “Is Hermione here?”

Though Madam Pince's stern look pronounced her attitude, she's very patient with the student body

“No Mr. Potter, I haven't seen Ms. Granger” she said

Harry thanked her and left the library for the lake and didn't find Hermione there.

“Where is she?” Harry said mopping his brow as he saw Malfoy passing by a few yards from him and as always, Malfoy never missed sneering at him and walking away.

Harry walked inside the castle and retraced his steps only to find Madam Pince raising an eyebrow at him when he reentered the library

“Sorry Mr. Potter but Ms. Granger didn't come here and I'll inform you if she has”

Even though going to the lake would not be good enough, Harry found himself in the top floor corridor where the Astronomy Tower lay. Harry then remembered just months ago, he and Hermione shared their thoughts to each other in that tower and this is also the same place he asked Hermione to the Christmas Ball. This could be a good place for her to loosen up a bit.

Harry climbed up the stairwell that lead to the Astronomy Tower, when he reached the door, Harry placed an ear to the door and only heard silence.

Without hesitation, Harry opened the door slowly and saw the ramparts of the Astronomy Tower. Harry walked forward to the edge and enjoyed the spring breeze then Harry felt someone was in the area so he turned his head and saw with his own eyes the most shocking sight he has ever seen.

He never had any thought of it, he never had liked to see it and he never saw it coming. How stupid he could get? They were teenagers and these things could happen but never in Harry's life would he see such a thing.

Just a few feet away from him was Hermione, her back to him showing no sign that she knows of Harry presence and to Harry's shock and bemusement, she was doing the one thing she would least do in a regular basis. She was smoking a cigarette.

“HERMIONE!” Harry roared in anger

Hermione jumped and was horrified to see Harry. Harry saw her do her saddest attempt to hide the cigarette by stuffing it in her jeans' pocket but she yelped when it burned her.

“H-Hey Harry” Hermione said nervously “W-What are you doing here?”

Harry felt his face fuming. He thought Hermione was a goody-two shoes and she's doing something Harry would never even dreamed of.

“This” said Harry angrily walking up to her “is your relaxation method?!” he nearly shouted at her face

“Harry” she said scared and calmly “I can explain -”

“THERE IS NO NEED TO EXPLAIN!” Harry bellowed making Hermione jump in fright “I CAUGHT YOU RED HANDED, HERMIONE! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU - OF ALL PEOPLE - I THOUGHT YOU -!”

“Harry!” Hermione shouted back, tears falling down her face “I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to -”

“Oh yeah, and I can clearly see you didn't mean it!” Harry spat back “How long have you've been doing - doing… this!” he pointed at her pocket which looked a bit scorched

Hermione looked down and started giving him nervous glances then she said in a small voice

“A month”

“A MONTH!” Harry said in bewilderment “You've been hiding from us and smoking for a month?”

“Actually it's less than a month” Hermione pointed out nervously

“But that doesn't change everything” said Harry seriously “What were you thinking?”

“I just” said Hermione, biting her lower lip “have a problem, that's all”

“A problem?” said Harry still fuming “If you have a problem then go to me and Ron. Don't you think we care about you? Hermione, Ron and I will protect you no matter what! We will never get you to harm's way and if you think Mr. Smokey Joe's company is better than ours then I suggest -”

Hermione cut him off as she broke into a sob

“I-I'm sorry, Harry!” she wailed, covering her face “You're right! I should have sought your help than smoke! I'm really, really sorry, Harry! Please forgive me!”

Harry's face softens seeing Hermione looking terrible crying, helpless and lost. Harry gives her a sympathetic look and surprises her when he embraces her.

“There, there” said Harry kindly patting her back “Don't cry, I didn't mean to get angry at you… I was just… worried and shocked that you are doing this and the Hermione I know thinks twice before she gets to this level… I'm sorry I shouted at you”

Hermione sniffed

“I-I'm sorry too, Harry” she said “I-I promise. I'll quit, it's quite easy and by tomorrow, you'll see the real Hermione” she pulled away from him so they were a meter away from each other

“But before we leave” said Harry “I want you to give me the cigarettes you have”

Harry opens his hands and gave Hermione a stern look. She sighs and takes out a cigarette pack from her pocket and gives it to Harry.

“The one from your pocket” said Harry nodding to her jeans

Hermione takes it out slowly and gives him the extinguished death stick. Harry noticed she looked remorseful

“Ahem, Hermione” said Harry pointing to the back of his ear

Hermione takes a deep breath and takes the cigarette which was resting behind her ear and gives it to Harry

“And I think there is one more” said Harry, making sure he got everything

Hermione opens the collar of her sweater and reaches in to take another cigarette out and gives it to Harry

“There,” said Hermione looking at the cigarettes and Harry saw a faint look of regret in her eyes “that's all”

Harry takes his wands out, points at them and says

“Incendio!” he said as the cigarettes burned into a crisp, Harry tosses them into the ground and looks at Hermione who was looking at them as if she lost her favorite book.

“You'll get over with it Hermione, don't worry” said Harry encouragingly

Hermione looks at him and nods.

Harry opens the door as Hermione walks through it. As she passes, Harry smells her if she smells like a cigarette but the smell of nicotine and lilies entered his nose making him wonder if the lily smell was shampoo

- - -

Harry never told anyone what he saw and Hermione was grateful. Harry was glad she quitted but what bothered him was what Hermione's problem which leads to her addiction was.

“I told you, its studies” she said when Harry asked but he noticed her looking at him like never before. She was slightly blushing.

The days rolled on and something happened that made Harry go bonkers

“Hermione,” said Harry when he spotted her walking out of the common room at the dead of night “what are you doing?”

Hermione jumped and saw Harry at the dark corner of the common room

“I-I was just looking for a - er - what are you doing up?” she asked quickly

“I was studying” said Harry standing up and walking to her “What were you doing?”

“I-I was just going to the library -” she said

“Hermione, the library is closed at this time at night and don't make any excuse… what do you have in your pocket?”

Harry bore into her eyes and then he noticed he was looking at her too much she was looking very uncomfortable

“My wand” she said in an instant

“And?”

“That's it” she said quickly “Can I go now?”

“No” said Harry holding her wrist and reaching for the pockets of her robes his eyes still at Hermione. Harry blinked slowly when he felt a rectangular object at his palms. He took it out and saw cigarette pack and without controlling himself, Harry pulled Hermione's wrist tossing her to the couch. He held up the cigarette pack and said in voice that showed he was about to explode.

“I though you promised” he said shaking in anger “I trusted you, Hermione!”

“That was for - Professor Raptor - yeah! That was for Professor Raptor!” she said

“Nice try, Hermione. Professor Raptor doesn't smoke and he would probably play Russian Roulette with you if you woke him up at this time” he moved closer to her and took out a cigarette and threw it to the fireplace making it shrivel at the fire.

“Since when did you broke your promise?” he said seriously

“Just yesterday” said Hermione quietly. Harry was kind of suspicious by her honesty

“You're lying” said Harry

“No I'm not” she said looking at Harry

“Then if you are not lying then why were smoking again?”

At this time, Hermione gave him a nervous look and bit her lower lip

“I'm sorry Harry but that's one thing I can't tell you”

“Tell me” said Harry angrily “You can tell this” he gestured the cigarette pack “your problems but you can't tell me? If that's what you think then do me a favor and get out of my life -”

“Alright!” she said standing up “I will tell you!”

“Go ahead” said Harry throwing the pack into the fire “I'm waiting”

Hermione took a nervous deep breath and said

“The reason why I'm - you know - doing that is because” she blinked “I have this problem, you see”

“What kind of problem?” said Harry crossing his arms

“I'll get to that” Hermione said turning a bit red “Anyway, this problem of mine has grown throughout the months after Christmas. The problem had a huge impact to me. The problem had something to do with you, Harry” she finished blushing furiously “Can I stop there?”

“No, we finish this tonight. Why was I involved?”

“Erm - actually” she said fiddling with her hands “Ever since you've been seeing - you know - Felicity from Ravenclaw lately… I kind of had this… emotion” she started rocking backwards and forward slowly “I was er - angry and sad that you are seeing this person and I was being shunned in the background so I took my mind away from it by doing something that could make me…” she looked at him guiltily “less angry and sad”

“Were you jealous?” Harry asked his anger melting away

Hermione closed her eyes for a long time and opened them again

“Yes I was Harry” she said firmly “I was jealous that you were seeing her instead of me since I had feelings for you”

Harry's mouth dropped when Hermione started biting her knuckles uncontrollably

“I just slipped that out wrongly” she said quietly looking at the floor

“Y-you have feelings for me?” he said in shock

“Yes!” she said obviously “I was very jealous that you liked her more than me and my feelings for you made me… well up! With studies and my feelings for you in my head I had to loosen up so that lead me to my addiction but believe me Harry, I really never meant to smoke. I was just confused! I'm sorry, Harry…” she was blushing than ever “and if you don't feel the same way like me then I understand but I just want to say is that there is no other person I ever felt about than you Harry”

Harry looked at his best friend with sympathy. Hermione was smoking because she was in feel of affection for him.

“I think I'll never get over with anything… so I think it's best to not be friends with me anymore” Hermione said sadly tears falling down “I'm horrible!”

Harry saw Hermione sitting down on the couch crying

“I will never be the girl you want, Harry” she said covering her face “I'm not pretty, I'm not funny, I don't have the zest to be a dream girl. I'm just… a bookworm”

Harry sat beside her and held her shoulder which made her shudder

“Hermione, you are not pretty, you are beautiful. You've always been and anyone with eyes can see that”

Hermione looked at him

“But I'm not like Felicity”

“Felicity is nice and all but she is nothing compared to you, Hermione… you shocked me back at the Christmas Ball and I realized that the girl I wanted is right in front of me”

Harry smiled at her and held her shoulders. He leaned forward and gave her a very deep and passionate kiss which lasted for eternity. Harry pulled away and looked at her

“Sorry to break the moment” said Harry “But you need to brush your teeth”

Hermione giggled and blushed a bit

“I will Harry and that isn't a lie, I promise” she said

Harry smiled and they both hugged till the time passed

- - -

“Ah!” Elvis woke up in a start and he woke up Figment up

“Figment! Figment! Wake up! I had a dream!” he said in hush voice prodding him awake

“Wow, a dream?” Figment said irritably “That proves you have a brain. I'm impressed” he snorted “Go to sleep”

“No, it was very important!” Elvis said “Hermione was smoking cancer sticks and her addiction lead to Harry kissing her!” he beamed “Isn't that great?”

“Yeah and I just dreamt I was standing over your grave. Sleep or that dream might become reality.

Without hesitation, Elvis climbed into his own bed and slept not realizing that everything he dreamt of was true.

Elvis and Figment are original characters from Quaffles, Anyone? and if you want to know more about the duo then read it!

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