Harry Potter H&Hr Fluff Collection

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By the way, thank you for all the reviewers for reviewing my collection even if it was under hiatus! Much appreciated!

XXIII

Smile

Harry left the dormitory a few minutes after waking up. He surveyed the dormitory and saw the person he wanted to meet for the day, Hermione.

“Hermione!” Harry called as he sat beside her

Hermione jumped at his sudden greeted and smiled a toothless grin.

“I haven't seen you yesterday at the train nor did I get to meet you last night during the start of term feast!” Harry smiled “So it looks like this will be the first time I'll be talking to you for the year”

Hermione nodded, gave Harry a one-armed hug and leaned her head on Harry's temple showing signs of platonic affection. She pulled away and went back to her work. Harry smirked and saw what Hermione was working on.

To his surprise, it wasn't school related at all. It was a magazine about wizarding entertainment. At this point, Harry soon realized that he never checked out the entertainment side of the wizarding world apart from Quidditch.

“What's that you're reading?” Harry asked

Cue to this, Hermione took out her hanky and started coughing and she spoke with the hanky above her.

“It's a magazine Ginny owns” she said, with a slightly muffled sound due to the hanky “I am bored so I decided to read it”

“For a second there I thought you were into those things” Harry leaned backwards on his seat

“Haha, that will be a story” she said, dropping the hanky.

“Tell me about it” said Harry as he turned to Hermione

“I don't think so!” said Hermione then she laughed.

Harry smirked but as Hermione laughed, he saw a glimpse of something shiny and obvious within her teeth.

What?

“Hermione?” Harry leaned forward to her only to make Hermione flinch and bite her lower lip “Is there…” he saw her standing up slowly “…something on your teeth?”

Hermione shook her head vigorously without keeping her eyes away from Harry.

“Don't lie to me,” Harry said, standing up “Are you hiding something?”

Hermione then lifted her hanky over mouth and made forced coughing noises.

“I am hiding nothing, Harry” she said with another cough

“Put down the hanky” said Harry

Hermione didn't move but looked at Harry.

“Put -“ he walked forward to her “ - down - “ he grabbed her hand “ - the hanky!”

It was surprising that Hermione was resisting his hand. She pulled away from him and backed up to a wall. A couple of first years witnessed this and eyed Harry suspiciously.

“Don't mind us” Harry said as he walked to Hermione “Hermione,” he asked her kindly “What are you hiding?”

He could feel Hermione's arrest as she sighed and dropped her hanky. She looked at him with guilt ridden eyes and smiled.

Braces.

“Braces?” Harry made a dry laugh “Is that what you're hiding?”

“Stop laughing!” she squeaked as she flushed brilliant red.

“I am not!” Harry chuckled “I just find it amusing that you're hiding something so -“

“Freaky?” Hermione finished

“You're smarter than that Hermione,” said Harry darkly “Tell me, why are you hiding the braces?”

“I - I” she stuttered

For once, Harry could see her red face give a shameful look. He suddenly felt a surge of pity over her. She probably didn't want anyone to know.

“Save it” said Harry, waving his hand “I know what it's like when one doesn't want to reveal their reasons - I am sorry”

This apology must've been unexpected for the bookworm since her eyebrow was raised.

“What?” Harry asked

“You can't be that empathetic, can you?” she made a toothless grin “You're so sweet”

Harry scratched the back of his head and chuckled.

“Haha, I am so empathetic it's so… pathetic” he made a mock wince and continued “When did you get them?”

“This summer” she looked at her shoes “I didn't tell you because I'm not used to being pointed and stared at -“

“Hermione,” Harry shook his head “It's not as bad as you think” he pointed at his scar “See? You're not alone”

He smirked causing Hermione to make a toothy smile…

Harry didn't know what happened… the moment Hermione flashed her smile, her braces shined a bit (thanks to the sun that shone from the window beside her) giving this sense of angelic aura around her. For the first time in his life, he just realized how pretty she looked whenever she smiled. He didn't if it was the braces but dammit, she looked very pretty with them!

“Wh-what's wrong?” Hermione asked nervously, frowning

Harry swore under his breath out of the guilt for looking at his best friend that way and wanting to see her smile again.

“N-Nothing” he stammered “I - I - uh…”

“You were staring at me like you were in a trance!” she said “Is it the braces?” she looked at him anxiously

“No - No!” Harry said, taking double takes at the current events “I really like them - I do”

“Really?” she gave him a soft look

“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head out of slight reverie “Um… Hermione?”

“What?” she looked anxious again

“Can you - er - smile again?”

“What for?” her brow furrowed

“N-nothing” Harry blushed “I just want to see your braces”

“What?” she asked incredulously “Why?”

“Please” he said in a serious tone “I want to see something”

Hermione looked taken aback. She rolled her eyes and made an awkward smile.

There it is…

Harry couldn't help it. She looked very cute with those braces on! He couldn't help but just adore her petite size, her bushy brown hair, her big chocolate brown eyes… it felt like her smile opened him open. It made him see what he couldn't see before. Why didn't he see it before…

“You're scaring me, Harry” Hermione said as she looked at him with a scarred look

He shook his head and looked at her. He silently swore for doing that to her. Harry raked his black hair and sighed.

“S-sorry” he said “I didn't mean to be so direct -“

“Don't be” Hermione raised a hand at him “I think you have your reasons too, right?” she smirked

“Y-yeah” Harry nodded almost absentmindedly “I do”

“But can I ask you something?” she asked

“Anything” Harry said

Hermione walked forward to him slowly and with a sudden move, she flashed a smile making Harry flinch.

“Why did you do that?” he asked, feeling taken aback

Hermione didn't reply. She eyed him suspiciously and shook her head.

“I was looking for something” she said “Look, let's have breakfast”

Harry nodded. Things are getting awkward now.

- - -

Harry couldn't stand it! He didn't know what's stopping him! All he could think was Hermione's smile earlier that day and it's driving him mad that he hasn't seen it for the past few hours!

“What's wrong, mate?” Ron asked during free time at the side of the lake “You look like you've been spooked!” he chuckled

Harry rubbed his forehead as if his scar was hurting. He looked at Ron an looked back at the lake.

“Ron,” Harry said

“Yep?”

“Have you seen Hermione's - ?”

“Braces? Yeah, she showed it to me a week ago” said Ron

Harry did a double take.

“What?!” Harry's voice rose to a shout

“Hey - hey!” Ron raised his arms in defense “What's with the unexpected annoyance?!”

“Y-you knew about them f-for a w-week?” Harry asked darkly

“Yes,” Ron nodded “Why?”

Harry didn't answer, he left Ron at the lake and went back to the castle to find Hermione.

Why didn't she tell him about the braces? She had them for a week! A week ago was summertime so they must've used owl post! Why didn't she tell him?!

Harry stormed into the library and walked pass students and Madam Pince, the librarian. He turned to a corridor and entered a room filled with chairs and tables.

There she was… in her usual spot.

“Hermione,” Harry said

“Oh, Harry” Hermione waved

“Don't `Oh, Harry' me!” Harry said annoyingly as he walked forward

“What?” Hermione looked at him with confusion

“Why didn't you tell me about your braces?” Harry said as he walked beside her and held the back of her chair

“What are you talking about - ah!” she cried as Harry leaned the chair backwards

“A few minutes ago, I asked Ron if he knew about your braces, he knew about it, except that he knew it a week ago” said Harry

He released his grasp as Hermione yelped when the chair fell back to place.

“Look, I can explain -“

“Don't you trust me, Hermione?” Harry asked, looking at her eyes “This morning, you were hiding it from me!” he sighed “You thought I would laugh at you? Hermione, -“ he shook his head “I would never ever do that -“

“I am not accusing you that way!” Hermione said as she banged the table's surface “I was going to tell you but -“

“But what?” Harry bore into her eyes again “You don't trust me?”

“It's not that!!” Hermione cried

“THEN WHAT IS `THAT'?!” Harry roared making Hermione jump in fear

“I can't tell you! Stop yelling at me!” she said wincing “You know how much I hate it when you yell at me!”

Harry paused.

“Really?”

Hermione nodded. Harry noticed her eyes looked watery. This sight made Harry's guilt rise.

“I - I'm sorry” Harry said, as his anger ebbed away “I didn't mean to -“

“I know” she wiped her eyes

“Can you at least tell me an idea or something?” Harry asked nicely “If it's so bad to hide it from me than from Ron then it has got to be big”

“I just can't, okay?” Hermione pleaded “Please, just leave it that way -“

Harry walked up to her so close that his nose was an inch from hers.

“Please?” he said “You can trust me, I can help you. This is your best friend”

The young bookworm blushed furiously. Harry felt affronted at this because she looked nervous and she was biting her lip very hard. She kept on blinking furiously and took deep breaths. Harry's brow furrowed and observed her sudden change of disposition.

“Well?” he asked

Hermione didn't speak, she just kept on breathing heavily. She kept on looking at his chin then back to his eyes. Harry never saw her so strange.

“Hermione - ?” Harry put a hand on her shoulder

Surprisingly, the moment Harry touched her shoulder, she took a step backward as if she was electrocuted. Harry raised his eyebrow at her while she took a gulp and blushed more.

Hermione? What's wrong with you -

Bam.

Harry's eyes widened. With her nervousness, her blushing, and the constant hiding of her braces, why didn't he see it before?

“H-Hermione?” Harry's voice was shaky “Do - ?”

“I don't have a crush on you!” she squeaked as her face turned red as an apple.

Hermione slapped her mouth as if she said a swear word. Harry looked at her in shock.

“I - I never asked anything about a `crush'!” Harry said

Harry knew Hermione realized her mistake since she slid a hand on her brown hair. She was sweating a bit.

“Hermione?” Harry asked again “Is there something you want to tell me?”

He didn't know why but Hermione ignored him and took a brisk walk towards the exit but Harry instantly grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to his front.

“Hermione, I'm going to be straight with you -“

“Alright! Alright!” she said releasing Harry's grip from her arm

Hermione walked away from him while she covered her face. He saw her play with her fingers and she turned on her heel and finally said.

“Harry,” she closed her eyes and opened them “I think I have a crush on you.”

Harry felt a numb sensation on his stomach. He gave her a shocked look.

“Ookay” he said with a kind tone “Er, how?”

Then Hermione rubbed her temple and said.

“Does it matter? I have a crush on you, it's driving me mad and I - I can't help but hide these braces from you!”

“Is that why you're hiding it from me?” Harry looked at her with a face of relief and disbelief

“I - I thought that with these braces you might think I'm not very… pretty” she said weakly, looking at the ground

“Hermione,” Harry didn't know what to say “You are pretty. It's just that I never looked at you like that until this morning!”

“What do you mean?” she looked at him

“Your braces” he said, with a sigh of relief

“Huh?” she raised an eyebrow

“Just smile” said Harry

To his sudden revelation, Hermione made a slow nod as if she solved a mystery. Harry had the feeling she speculated that Harry must've liked her smile. She did what Harry asked and smiled.

“There you go,” Harry smiled, looking at her very cute smile “When I saw you smile ages ago, I couldn't help but see how pretty you were” he blushed

“I had a feeling you were…” she said “But I thought I was dreaming so I declined everything and went on to have my crush with the Boy Who Lived”

“Well, here we are,” he said

“Indeed,” she said

There was an awkward silence between them.

“Look, it's just a crush” Hermione blurted out

“I - I know,” Harry nodded as he took a step away from her “I - It's just a crush!”

Hermione smiled and agreed.

“Yes, that's right!” she said awkwardly “Like can you imagine us going out on a date?”

Harry made a mock laugh.

“I can't see it,” he said “And I am not trying to!”

“Me too” Hermione said quickly

“It's just a crush, right?” Harry chuckled nervously “Big deal”

“True,” Hermione said “Just… a crush. I can get over it”

“You should,” Harry said

“I will,” Hermione nodded

Then at the same time, the two made a “Eh..” sound from their lips.

Harry didn't know what happened but it felt like Hermione wanted to assure him that her crush on him will be over and that it isn't a big deal.

Harry put his hands on the back while Hermione hopped on the balls of her feet. They now had a very awkward silence.

“I don't have a crush on you, by the way” Harry said quickly

“I know,” Hermione replied

The two then looked away from each other.

“Er… want to go check on Ron?” Hermione asked

“Yeah,” Harry said instantly “H-He probably has a funny story to tell”

“Then let's go!” Hermione said happily as she walked towards the door “Oh, Harry” she looked at him “T-thank you for understanding…” she turned a shade of pink “It means -“

“Don't worry about it,” said Harry

“Let's go then!” she smiled, flashing her braces at him

Hermione went ahead and left the area. Harry smirked and saw she left her book, being the generous man that he is, Harry picked it up and started walking.

“Wha - ?”

Harry stopped on his tracks and saw a letter fall out of the book… it was a short note. He picked it up and with a glance around the place, he looked at the letter and read:

Dear Hermione,

I am in a major crisis. I don't have a crush on Harry, anymore!

Good news? Bad, if you tell me! I think I'm in love with him… well, you too since I'm writing to myself.

Sincerely,

Hermione from a week ago

P.S.

Keep this away from everyone!

A surge of electricity ran across Harry's nervous system. Her crush and braces was a pseudo-scapegoat. This is the one she's been hiding from him all along. Why else would she not contact him for weeks?

She must've written this out of going crazy over him. Harry remembered how he was insanely in love with Cho that he wrote letters to himself telling that he should find a way to kiss her.

Harry slipped the note into the book (Hermione's Ancient Runes book) and closed it. He stared into space and pondered what he just discovered.

“Harry?”

Harry looked behind him and saw Hermione.

“Y-Yeah?” he said in a dry sort of voice

“You know I can't go to Ron without you, right?” she smirked

What Hermione said felt like a double meaning to Harry. He looked at her in a new light… she was in love with him. He kept her book out of sight under his robes.

“Are you coming?” she asked

Was he going to tell her that he knew?

“Sure,” Harry said

And together, they walked out of the library with sudden high spirits. Hermione was smiling as they walked to the common room. Harry just looked at her thinking how that smile of hers will ever make him reveal that he knows about her secret.

Harry looked at her and glanced at the book. He looked at the sky and thought…

Hermione has a lot of explaining to do…

Climbing the stairs with Hermione, he couldn't help but think that on his first day of the term, he would find a single smile (albeit, dressed in braces) so meaningful in his life.

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