Harry Potter H&Hr Fluff Collection

Loosely based on a true story that I witnessed in a third-person point of view.

XXVI

Study Buddy

Five essays in one week! Hermione irritably told off many first years that night to shush because she needed all the concentration in the world to finish these five essays. The common room's been buzzing for the start of the Easter Holidays and the only person who hasn't been joining the holiday spirit was Gryffindor's brightest witch.

“The nerve of them!” she hissed under her breath as she continued to write the fifth paragraph of her essay. “Honestly, can't a person get some peace around here?”

“Hermione?” said the familiar voice of Harry

“Not now Harry, I'm busy!” she rudely spat without glancing at him.

“S-sorry” the sound of Harry's anxiousness forced Hermione to look up at him “I - I didn't mean to -“

“What?” she said in a kind voice “Sorry, Harry… I just need to do this”

“I just want to ask a favor, that's all” Harry said nervously trying to keep on Hermione's good side.

“Well, whatever it is, Harry -“ Hermione lectured him wryly “- I hope it doesn't involve getting a Slytherin under my prefect wing!”

“No!” Harry exclaimed “It's not that!”

“And what is it, Harry? Can't you see I'm busy?” she sternly crossed her arms. She wasn't keen on getting the famous Harry Potter to make her linger any longer.

“It's this - okay?” Harry said in a halfhearted and weak tone as he showed her a piece of parchment. Hermione surveyed it and saw that it was an essay “I - I need you to -“

“Oh, Harry…” Hermione rubbed her eyes tiredly “Will you ever learn?” she then shot him a matter-of-factly look “…I'm sorry but if you keep doing it this way you'll never ever learn.”

Hermione kept her eyes on Harry who was fumbling with the parchment idly while he winced in slight shame.

“But -“

“No.” Hermione said finally feeling both guilty and satisfied that she is telling him off.

Harry's eyes shifted away from her which made Hermione's insides hurt with guilt. For her, it was very hard to see her best friend act this anxious… but why?

“Is there… something else?” Hermione asked keeping her voice even

“I - never mind,” Harry sighed in a disappointment “Look, no hard feelings, alright? Now I know anyway… see ya”

Before Hermione could say something, Harry turned on his heel and left her.

“Wow…” Hermione winced uncomfortably “Is it me or did I do something wrong?” she shook her head “He'll turn up soon, he's smart - I won't have to worry about him…”

Without hesitation, she continued her work at ease.

- - -

“You're looking really peachy today” said Ron as Hermione sat down with him in the Great Hall.

“Peachy?” Hermione smirked at him

“Er - never mind” Ron chuckled “I picked it up some where… anyway, why are you looking all happy today?”

“I finished all my essays last night!” she said happily “Now I can enjoy the holidays!”

“That's wicked news, Hermione” Ron smiled “Looks like you also took care of Harry, right?”

Hermione looked at Ron suspiciously.

“What? Harry?” she asked

“Wait -“ Ron said slowly as he dropped his fork on his plate “Didn't Harry meet you last night?”

Hermione bit her lower lip.

“Er - yes… he came up to me but I kind of…” she felt her guilt rising “I kind of shooed him away and told him off that he should learn to do his essays alone or else he'll never learn. Why? Is there something I don't' know?”

“Aww, Hermione” Ron said in realization as he scratched the back of his flaming-red hair “I - you don't know?”

“What?” Hermione asked desperately “What's there to know that I don't know?!”

Ron took a deep breath.

“Hermione… Harry kinda flunked -“

“WHAT?!” Hermione shouted making the Great Hall almost silent. Luckily, the students reverted back to their business before Hermione could continue. “He flunked? When? What subject?”

“Transfiguration” Ron said sadly “He's been distracted by a lot of things lately. You probably didn't notice but he fell asleep on the big test last week… he couldn't sleep last night”

Hermione's guilt bubbled to a fever pitch…

“What did McGonagall say?” she asked with a high voice which usually comes when she's nervous

“Harry told me that McGonagall will pass him until he keeps up with the extra work she's has given him before the holidays started” Ron explained while biting off a sausage “She told Harry to go to you if he needed any help”

Hermione hid her face behind her hands. No wonder Harry was so anxious looking last night… he wanted her to help him in his essay since he really needed her right now… but why was he nervous in asking her? Wasn't he always asking her to help him in essays?

It's been a really, really long time since he asked me to help him in his essay though…

And it really has been a long time. Come to think of it… it's always been Ron who's been asking about a helping hand. Hermione groaned and dropped her head on the edge of the table muttering how a bad friend she is.

“Hermione, are you alright?” Ron asked looking at her in concern

“I'm fine, Ronald” Hermione said stifling her guilt “I just need some air… where's Harry?”

“I haven't seen him but he's still at the dormitory when I last saw him. I reckon he's sleeping right now” Ron said as he dipped three eggs onto his plate “Why?”

“I have to talk to him” Hermione said and left the Great Hall without a word to Ron

Why am I worried? Harry's never been this lazy! I can't be too worried, can I? He will never learn if I help him too much… but he flunked! He needed my care and I slammed the door in his face! Grrr... I hate myself for that.

A few minutes later, she reached the common room and fortunately, Harry was there writing an essay among a pile of books about Transfiguration. The strangest sensation of wanting to cry at this made Hermione feel weird in the brain, what was she thinking?

“H-Harry?” Hermione asked nervously

Harry stopped writing to look at her and nodded acknowledging her presence. He went back to writing afterwards.

“I - I see you're working” Hermione said walking towards him

“Look, Hermione…” Harry said “I know what you said last night and I understand -“ he stared intently to the open book in front of him. Hermione had the impression that he wasn't even reading anything “You want me to learn how to work things out for myself -“

“I know, Harry” Hermione cut him off before she could stop herself

Harry stopped and made a gulp.

“What?” he looked at her

“I know” she said emphasizing the last word “Ron told me”

“R-Ron is making things up,” Harry said as he unrolled his parchment while he scratched his nose. Hermione noticed that he didn't even go halfway with his essay.

“Harry” Hermione said kindly as she held his hand to stop him from unrolling his parchment “Don't lie to me… Ron told me why you came to me last night… you - er - flunked Transfiguration” she winced hoping Harry won't blow up at her.

Harry chuckled and pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. He opened his mouth, closed it again and then stared away from her.

“Harry? Why were you nervous to ask me last night? Why didn't you tell me? I could've set my work aside and helped you” Hermione clarified “Frankly, I feel devastated about this… I'm willing to help, alright?” she said kindly as she stroked Harry's hand.

“I was nervous to ask you,” Harry said quietly “Because… to be honest, as much as I know mostly everything about you, I don't really know where you stand with the whole homework thing…” Harry then forced a nervous chuckle “I'm afraid to ask you so I usually let Ron do the asking”

Harry then looked at Hermione with his green eyes. Hermione frowned sadly at him… he was always kind to her… she knew he meant well.

“Harry,” Hermione smiled “I don't know what to say but you can always ask me… I just had a hard time last night with the holiday homework. I was hoping I'd have a free holiday… I'm sorry I was shirty on you.”

“It's alright…” Harry said “You know, I somehow wished we'd write our essays together… last night” he added

“Oh,” Hermione looked at him surprisingly “I - I… never knew that” she chuckled “So… you need help?”

“How about breakfast?”

“I can skip that for you” she smiled “Let's begin shall we?”

Harry nodded.

“I just can't really understand this thing about Transfiguration spell…” he pointed to the book.

It took them an hour to master the spell of transfigurating a book into a bird and a half hour to write an article about its effects and tell if it can help the wizard society today while explaining why you answered yes or no.

For the whole time, Hermione made Harry do most of the work, she just explained to him what this meant and which is which. So far, she never touched Harry's essay so that way, he can learn to do things on his own while she coached him what things meant to give him a better understanding.

“You're doing great, Harry” Hermione said as the morning was about to end. She was looking over his shoulder while he wrote his sixth paragraph “I'm proud of you!”

Hermione caught Harry's smirk and she felt a glow of admiration towards him… she sighed and slightly leaned her chin on his shoulder.

“Oh!” Harry gasped as he made an ink blot on his parchment “Damn,” he swore under his breath.

“Here,” Hermione stood up and reached for her bag “You can use this -“ she took out a rubber eraser that had the size of a large chocolate bar “It's an instant ink blot remover I got from Hogsmeade last year.”

“Thanks” Harry nodded as he took it from her. He started rubbing it firmly when Hermione interrupted.

“No, no, no, Harry -“ she laughed “Do it lightly like this -“ she grabbed Harry by the hand and moved his hand lightly along the parchment.

Hermione didn't know what was happening but she could sense Harry's breathing on her neck. She saw that the ink blot disappeared and all was left was Harry's essay. She smiled and put down the eraser.

“Just take it lightly, alright?” Hermione looked at Harry

Harry smirked at her and nodded.

“I'll keep that in mind,” he said

Harry continued his writing while Hermione watched him do his essay.

“You don't have to be here when I don't need you, you know” Harry said “I'll just call you if I need you -“

“No, I rather worry about you than my first day of the holidays” she explained while resting her elbow on the table “Besides, I still have six days to enjoy it… same can be said for you” she smiled at him warmly.

Harry looked at her and they both shared a smile.

“You know,” Harry said “I never realized it but writing a thorough essay is a lot of work”

“Now you know how I work my essays…” Hermione said “I look at every page and read every word so I can have an easy path to make my point across.”

Before Hermione could continue, Harry said

“Thank you, Hermione… for everything” he said and looked at her “Well, with the whole helping me and Ron with our essays in the past… and being a great friend”

“You're welcome.” She replied to him with a grin

It was quiet for the time being before Harry started talking again

“I have to be honest, Hermione…” Harry said in a voice of unusual reluctance “Recently, I have been keen to spend some time with you -“

“Really?” Hermione asked startlingly

“Yeah,” he said pausing on his work “I figured that since I always spend time with Ron, why not spend time with my other best friend?”

Hermione laughed.

“You're so sweet,” she said “but you really don't have to -“

“C'mon Hermione,” Harry said “Mostly, I only talk to you about normal things when I have a crisis in my life or when I need help in school… there are times why I want to know why you idly groom a strand of your hair sometimes and why you're quiet at times or what your favorite color is or what flower do you enjoy looking at, that stuff… I - er - want to know what you think about in life… you're very likeable for that, I have to admit”

Hermione didn't know why but she blushed.

“Wow, Harry… er - thanks for appreciating that… but - you know, you can always talk to me about er… `normal stuff' any time” she smiled “It doesn't have to always be when we help each other at schoolwork or when you have a problem. Just come up to me and we can talk…” she finished rather lamely.

Harry smiled at her which she returned and blinked at him tenderly.

“For the record, Harry - I enjoy looking at lilies” Hermione gingerly said

“Haha,” Harry replied “I kind of figured that when I saw you having a fancy in staring at the field of lilies near the Burrow last year”

“That's me,” Hermione sighed “Sue me.” She giggled.

What seemed to be almost fifteen minutes, it wasn't long enough before Harry finished his essay.

“Done,” Harry said “I'm done!” he repeated after realizing it

“Great job, Harry!” Hermione rubbed his bicep and hugged him from behind “I knew you could do it”

“I couldn't do it without you,” Harry said as Hermione released her grasp and sat on a chair beside him “You helped me a lot today”

“No problem” Hermione smiled “Remember, you can ask me anything you want. Just make sure you do it yourself, alright?”

“Don't worry, I'll not get that out of my mind” he said “Thank you, Hermione -“ he pulled her to a hug “I really appreciate it”

“I'm here” Hermione said to Harry kindly as she pulled away from him “I'll always be” she said “Come on, lunch is ready and I'm really starving!”

- - -

A week has passed since the Easter holidays. Fortunately, Harry's essay got a high mark of Outstanding from McGonagall and his practical test just saved him some time to boost his grades in Transfiguration even further. He seemed to be in focus with himself recently that whatever the mystery behind his sudden distraction the past week before Easter didn't matter to Hermione… all she wanted to know was that Harry is happy.

On a side note, Hermione has gone back to study mode as she prepared herself for a humungous quiz in Ancient Runes. She can't remember the last time she had to memorize something this long. Hermione didn't want to publicly admit it but as much as she loves learning, she had her own share of boredom with studying and tonight was one of them… but she really wanted to ace the test. Her grouchy attitude went back to full scale as she hissed a couple of second years who were laughing out loud at the corner of the common room to keep quiet.

“It's like last week again!” Hermione complained as she read a list of ancient magic runes from Egypt “Concentrate, Hermione - just concentrate!”

“Hermy?”

Hermione stopped reading and looked up to meet the eyes of Harry. He was standing behind the table she was using to study. His hands were behind him while he stood still as if he was going to be in trouble.

“Harry, I'm very busy…” Hermione explained “Can we talk later?”

Ever since mentioning it to him, Harry and Hermione has been talking a lot about normal things in life… like how they lived in Muggle lives and that sort. Tonight wasn't the time…

“I - I know but -“

“Harry,” Hermione said “If it's about the Charms essay, I already told you - ask me when I'm not too busy”

“I know Hermione -“ Harry said but was cut short in mid-sentence.

“We've been through this - you were able to do the Transfiguration essay which is harder than the Charms essay, you can do it, I know you can -“

“Hermione -“

“I'm sorry, Harry. I have to take this test tomorrow -“

“It's not -“

Just like a week ago, Hermione put her foot down calmly and said

“No.” she felt more comfortably saying this to Harry since she understood him a lot more than ever. “It's only best that you learn to do things by yourself by now.”

“It's not that, Hermione” he said fretfully

“Then what is it?” Hermione asked irritably.

Harry then made a slight grimace in his face and looked at Hermione, took a deep breath.

“It's just that…I have something to tell you… something important” he said as he clutched a large lily behind his back while a clueless Hermione surveyed his unusual stance.

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