Harry Potter H&Hr Fluff Collection

A/N: Updated with a different and much more fluffy ending.

Twenty-five fluffs later…

XXVIII

Calm Down, Won't You?

I hate Mondays!

Hermione walked briskly down the corridor putting the nastiest look she could ever muster. She breathed harder as her temper raised every step. Other Houses in her year knew better than to cross her since every time she passed them, they'd either leap out of the way or not bother her at all.

“Looking glass!” Hermione seethed at the Fat Lady's portrait who replied, looking disgruntled before she swung inward, “I rather you watch your tone, miss!”

Hermione scoffed at the Fat Lady clambered into the empty common room. She tossed her bag onto the couch, took a seat on an armchair, grabbed a cushion and screamed into it, muffling her volume.

“I… can't… believe… him!” Hermione spoke, shaking with utmost anger as she dropped the cushion. She made numerous intakes of breath while her fist shook on the couch's surface. Out of anger and distraught, she banged the couch once and stood up. Hermione paced around the living room, trying to let out steam. She glared at the portrait hole, expecting someone to get in but to no avail, the common room was still empty. Feeling ashamed of herself, Hermione recollected her own being and sighed.

“Relax, Hermione… relax…” she muttered to herself. “It's just… just a little bump in the road, that's all…”

But the reminder of the event that happened ages ago made her fume again. Her temper rose to an alarming pitch that she felt she was going to have high blood pressure. She recalled Madam Pomfrey reminding her that the reason why she's been feeling dizzy and fidgety for the past few weeks was because she's been unleashing an unhealthy amount of anger over her stress in studies, getting riled up over a single blunder, and the like. Hermione took a deep breath, glared at the fireplace and looked out of the window.

It brought her to deep disgust when she saw Hedwig pass by a few feet away. She groaned irritably and turned on her heel, facing her back to the window. She sat on the edge of the windowsill while brooding on the following events that happened an hour ago.

I… can't… I will not… I shall not -

“WHY DID I GET DETENTION?!” she bellowed to the empty common room.

Five hours ago.

Hermione kept writing her essay non-stop. She knew she could finish it and get everything right… She glared at her last essay, which was displayed on the table, unrolled, revealing a black letter A on the top.

She fumed in her mind remembered how long it took her to write that essay… how much time it took her to find terms in her book… how many quills she broke and how long it took her to find her last quill in the last minute. After all of her all-night work, she got an A which ruined her whole morning. This forced her to plead with Professor McGonagall to allow her to rewrite her essay, telling her she was so stressed with the studying that she lost focus on the Transfiguration Essay. Her school career as best witch in class had its merits since McGonagall understood her current state that she allowed her to rewrite the essay only if she could submit it in the end of the day.

“I - I will, Professor!” Hermione squeaked, wiping tears from her eyes during the Transfiguration class hours ago. “I won't get an A, I promise!”

Hermione closed her eyes and remembered the painful lurch in her stomach when McGonagall distributed everyone but Hermione's essay and called her that she wanted to speak with her in the end of the class. Harry and Ron got their A grades but the moment the two left for morning break, McGonagall called her and asked why she got an A for her essay. The grade made Hermione in the verge of tears, explaining McGonagall all about her stress, how she tried to bring everything up to top form, how demanding the homework has been. It was a big relief that Ron and Harry weren't there to see her act like that…

She dotted tittles on her i's and crossed her t's and wrote on, hoping she got everything right. She surveyed her wristwatch to see it was only a few minutes until lunch break is over. Harry and Ron would be up any moment now for their free period and she wasn't keen to have them disturb her because it will really make her temper go high which was in an alarming rate at the moment and she didn't want her “most beloved boys” to be caught in the crossfire.

Unfortunately, the presence of her best friends was felt as they clambered into the portrait hole grumbling about unfinished homework.

“What are you two girls talking about?” Hermione spat before she could stop herself. Their grumbling was starting to annoy her.

Harry and Ron stopped their conversation and looked at Hermione with an air of intimidation. Ron leaned to Harry and muttered, “Hermione's in that phase again.”

“Oh, shut up, Ron,” Hermione seethed and continued her writing.

Hermione caught Ron shrugging at Harry in the corner of her eye. The temper that was rising in her was ebbing away a bit as her two friends sat down.

“H-Hey, Hermione…” said Harry anxiously.

Hermione lifted her head up to see Harry's face. She couldn't help but smile warmly back at him. He was, after all, the person who was with her last night, keeping her company while she was stressed out. She can't remember anything last night but she remembered a lot of butterbeer that Harry gave her, a dreamless sleep on the couch of the common room and her teddy bear, Snuggles, within her grasp when she woke up at five in the morning.

It was all a blur from last night but she recalled Harry being there with her... she felt a bit embarrassed that Harry caught her acting in her temper while finding her measly quill. What made it worse though was that she called him “four-eyes” without the knowledge of his presence.

Harry returned the smile to her and without hesitation, Hermione poured into her essay, only to pause for rereading for any mistakes. It was probably her fidgety mood or the lack of lunch in her stomach that affected her but the sudden the gasp from Ron made her jump and squeak. She looked around and saw Harry and Ron staring at her “Acceptable” Transfiguration essay, their jaws dropping slightly.

“An `A'?” Ron asked hoarsely, looking bewildered. “Hermione Granger? Getting an A?”

“Are you alright?” Harry asked with mock concerned. Hermione felt Harry's hand touch her forehead.

“Oh, stop it you two!” she said irritably. “And don't look at that, Ron!” she snatched her essay from Ron.

“Is that why you were called after Transfiguration class?” Ron asked in a low voice.

“Yes,” Hermione said sternly. “So if you don't mind, I need to rewrite this essay for McGonagall to grade!”

“Really?” said Ron indignantly. “Why can't she allow us to rewrite our essays when we need the grade -“

Before Hermione could interject with Ron, Harry stood up and pulled Ron out of his chair and told Hermione, “Sorry for disturbing you, Hermione. We're just leaving - shut up, Ron!” Harry turned to Ron who stopped at Harry's sudden outburst.

Hermione surveyed the two boys leave the common room where Harry gave a parting wave which she returned. It was either the number of butterbeer in her stomach right now but she was suddenly hungry at the moment.

But she went back to her essay instead.

- - -

The more fuming and present day Hermione tapped her finger on her forearm while she glared at the portrait hole. She was ready. The moment he walks in, she's going to bite his head off so bad that her anger will be seared into his heart until the day he meets his grave.

Don't think that, said the voice in Hermione's head. He really didn't mean it…

Her face softened. It was true… it was all an accident but the fresh anger in her mind forced her to find someone to blame and there was nobody but him to blame. She just wanted to scoop up an amount of satisfaction on letting out her anger on him because she really didn't deserve what she got…

But then again… you did that to him awhile ago at the wrong time, said the voice again. There's no point doing it again, is there? Otherwise, you'll be getting worse than detention, if ever there is something worse…

Hermione twirled a lock of her bushy brown hair lazily and began thinking of other ways to blame him for what he has done to her to get her in to detention. Unfortunately, these unholy thoughts would make her so-called blood pressure go high that she started to feel dizzy again. Not that it was blood pressure but Madam Pomfrey related Hermione's recent condition to the Muggle ailment.

Hermione straightened herself up, and concentrated on the portrait hole. Any time soon, she was going to grab him, pull him into a corner and start yelling into his ear, out of the sight of the teachers…

I am a prefect… I have the edge… I'll probably - STOP SAYING THAT!!

Hermione shook her head startlingly. She bit her lower lip, shocked at what she was thinking. If she kept on getting herself in a temper, she will probably pass out of it… she wasn't even aware there was such thing as a magic relapse. She looked out of the window and examined the twilit sky.

Three hours ago.

Hermione finished her Herbology class and dashed for the common room to start the finishing touches on her Transfiguration essay. She was feeling less irate since she got an O in her Herbology homework but her temper was still on the rise after she had to go back and forth for things in the library and the common room.

“Oh,” said Hermione, holding her head while she walked pass a portrait of a humanoid reptilian having a feast with five other gentlemen. Hermione felt dizzy, the thumping sound on her temple started to make her feel queasy. She leaned on the nearest wall and started taking in deep breaths.

“Hospital wing.” said Hermione finally.

She took another corridor which led her to the hospital wing. The throbbing of her temple subsided but she felt very dizzy. She stopped on her tracks and leaned on the wall next to her while she rubber her eyelids. Out of curiosity, she pressed her right eyelid with a finger and to her displeasure a painful feeling came as she pressed.

Headache…

Hermione found herself in the hospital wing a few minutes later. Madam Pomfrey gave her the antidote to headaches and a few minutes later, she was feeling more lightheaded than usual. She felt relaxed as the cool and minty sensation filled her nasal cavitiy and around her eyes.

“It is stress from studying, Miss Granger!” said Madam Pomfrey. “You're pushing yourself too much! I know you're smart but a student must find their time to relax, don't they?”

Hermione didn't answer and just nodded. Hermione was surprised when Madam Pomfrey stuck a thermometer-like stick up her mouth unexpectedly. Instead of the usual red from the thermometers Muggle doctors used, the glass stick was glowing brilliant green. Hermione didn't know what it meant but it meant something to Madam Pomfrey, who sighed and looked at Hermione with concern.

“Have you been losing control of your termper?” she asked in a businesslike voice.

“Yes…” said Hermione quietly.

“It's quite understandable, Miss Granger.” Madam Pomfrey turned away from her and replaced the thermometer on a shelf nearby. “Your studies stresses you a lot that you start to develop this short fuse! But I warn you that if you keep on getting too angry frequently, you might cause yourself to have a magic relapse! It is similar to the high blood pressure but it's as worse as it is! I suggest you watch yourself from now on,”

“Yes, ma'am.” Hermione spoke politely. “Erm - can I go now?”

“Yes, you can,” said Madam Pomfrey. “Just be careful. If you hardly control it, you'll suffer great consequences.”

- - -

Gryffindor's brightest witch kept herself sober in the next hour. Pretty much soon, the Gryffindors were going to leave from the Great Hall for the common room. She tugged the sleeve of her robe as she saw a hippogriff fly above the Forbidden Forest. She recalled flying on Buckbeak on her third year… how he was so afraid to fly due to her hate of flying.

He knew I was afraid but I doubt he even cared…

Hermione hit her forehead with her palm fiercely. She hated being like this… she was so mad and tempered that she can't even imagine how she's going to face him. Hermione didn't want to nitpick anything from him just for the sake of hating him. She doesn't even hate him… she knew he meant well but it's that damn detention that kept on making her opinion on the subject turn over.

He knew better than to go to me! He knows me… he knows I'll get angry at him.

She frowned to herself… he was only just trying to help. Then again, he knew her. Why else would he go up to her and ask if he could help without the slightest sign of flinching? After all the days of being in a foul mood thanks to her temper, he was the only one who didn't flinch when he came up to her. Hermione admitted to herself that she was very horrible to everyone for the past two weeks. She winced remembering how she let out her temper on Harry and Ron for being such lazy, inconsiderate gits when they only asked for a reference book she borrowed from the library. The embarrassment that crept up her face that night forced her to distant herself from her best friends.

Hermione took a deep breath and checked her wristwatch. It was only a quarter after six o'clock. Her head was still fuming. The vein across her temple was still throbbing. She just wanted to make her point across his brain. She reached into her pocket and felt her wand. It was already enough that she'll probably give him a reminder of what he's done.

Maybe a little hex will do the trick.

“No!” Hermione gasped in frustration and kicked the couch's leg. Not only does her head hurt, she was now suffering from a stubbed toe. Hermione frustratingly sat on the couch she kicked and looked into the fire.

I'm Hermione Granger… I'm just in a bad mood, that's all… I don't want to hurt anyone - I just have to pull myself together… that's right… all I have to do is just pull myself together.

Hermione closed her eyes and felt the dark and cool emerge from her eyelids as she pressed a cushion to her face. She tried to remind herself that it's just an essay… a detention… a misunderstanding…

A very unfortunate misunderstanding…

Two and a half hours ago.

“Looking glass,” Hermione muttered as the Fat Lady's portrait swung inward for her to clamber into the common room.

Hermione still felt dizzy from this so-called “magic relapse”. The witch winced as she felt her legs feeling all light. Madam Pomfrey told her that the antidote would make her feel lightheaded for a few minutes. Hermione nearly bumped into a first year who blushed furiously at her when she said sorry.

The first year just nodded sheepishly and walked away slowly to his group of friends in the corner where they started talking animatedly. Hermione pursed her lips and remembered that was the same first year who gave her a Valentine's Day card last February, a gift last December, and hug when everyone celebrated the House's first Quidditch victory of the year. Ron reckoned he had a crush on her during their first day back at Hogwarts.

Hermione went to the usual table she worked her essay last night. She drew out her essay and started making finishing touches to it. She opened her Transfiguration book and started looking up on facts and figures. She couldn't concentrate due to the noises in the common room. She glared at the group of second years who were playing with Gobstones. They were cheering loudly at every squirt each stone made.

“Taking it into perspective,” she said as she wrote, “the Transfiguration spell of the Wizard Sayid Jarrah was a clever ruse to gain the upper-hand in the competition against his opponent, Benjamin Linus - WOULD YOU CUT THAT OUT!” she bellowed to the second years. The common room quieted down as she stood up and walked towards them.

“I have had it up to here with your noisy antics!” Hermione spat on the fearful second years. “I don't care what you do just keep your voices down!!”

With a turn on the heel, she lowered herself on her essay and began writing furiously. The guilt and shame that she got last night with Harry went back to her while she wrote.

Come off it, they'll get over it. But remember to keep your temper down! Your stress and anger will make your current situation even worse, Hermione!

After a few finishing touches, she closed her book and started reviewing her essay…

This looks good… yes… no grammatical errors…

“I'm done!” said Hermione sounding cheerful for the first time of the day. She put in her essay, her books and was about to set off towards the portrait of the Fat Lady when Harry appeared from the boy's dormitory.

“Hermione!” he called after her when she clambered out of the portrait hole. (The two didn't notice the first year Hermione bumped into earlier started to look disgruntled.)

“Oh, hey!” Hermione greeted distractingly. “I'm sorry, Harry but I need to take this to McGonagall.”

“I can see that,” said Harry. “Do you need help?”

“No thank you,” said Hermione at once as she and Harry went down a couple of staircases. “But thanks for offering.”

Hermione was keeping her attitude even. She was aware Harry wanted to be with her because he was sure that she won't yell at him. The thought was warming and she gave a furtive smile at him. Then again, he was with her last night when she was having a fit with herself. She blushed a bit when she remembered Harry catching her.

“Hey Granger!”

Hermione shook out of her reverie as she heard the high-pitched voice of Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl who had a pug-like face whom they met on the way down of the staircase.

“Don't mind her,” Harry muttered as they passed her and her gang of Slytherins.

“Ooooh, that's right… let your boyfriend, Potty, tell you what's best for his girlfriend!” Parkinson cackled as her gang of Slytherin girls roared in laughter. “You two play nice now! We don't want another couple of offspring blood-traitors in the horizon!”

Hermione felt her fist clubbing. She was so mad beyond reason. Hermione shook in anger and glared at the Slytherins as they disappeared upward. Harry grabbed her by the wrist.

“Calm down, won't you?”

Cue to this, Hermione felt nauseous. She remembered Madam Pomfrey's advice in controlling her anger.

“I - I'm sorry…” she said suddenly, stuttering. “You're right… d-don't m-mind them.”

The two went on with silence. Hermione was still angry at Parkinson's words… blood-traitor offspring! She winced at the thought… she can't believe Parkinson would stoop that low. Her fuming head was growing to the point she felt very light on the head. Hermione kept her cool as they went down the next landing.

“You don't remember at all?”

Hermione glanced at Harry who was giving her an observant but peculiar look.

“Sorry?” Hermione asked.

“I mean… you remembered last night?” he raised his eyebrows at her.

“You mean the time I called you `four-eyes', right?” she winced. “Because Harry, I really didn't mean that -“

“After that…” said Harry, sounding cautious.

“Drowning ourselves in butterbeer?” said Hermione impatiently. “Of course I did… but I can't remember anything after that.”

“Oh, never mind…” Harry muttered.

They were now in the corridor of McGonagall's office. Hermione hastily took out her essay and examined it.

“That's your rewritten essay?” Harry asked.

“Yes,” said Hermione blankly. She bore into her essay doing last minute checks.

“Can I see it?”

“No,”

“C'mon, I just want to see how -“

“Not now, Harry -“

“You look at my essays -“

“Just a peek -“

“I said not now Harry!”

“I might spot a few mistakes, Hermione -“

And in one sudden move, Harry grabbed Hermione's essay, ripping the parchment in two. Harry stared at it in disbelief. Hermione, however, was beside herself.

“Harry -“ she said in a shaky voice as it grew louder. “You - you - I told you - !”

“Er - sorry,” said Harry quickly. “Look, we can fix it -“ he took out his wand and was about to say “Reparo!” when Hermione took out her wand and said “Expelliarmus!”

Harry's wand flew out of his hand as it rolled down on the floor.

“THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE!!” Hermione yelled in the top of her voice. Harry jumped backwards as he held the other part of Hermione's essay helplessly. “YOU - YOU KNEW BETTER THAN TO BOTHER ME WHEN I SUFFERED A DAMNED DAY OF FRUSTRATION, STRESS AND DEMANDING HOMEWORK BUT NO - !” she walked up to him and raised her wand. “I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I AM SO MAD AT YOUR STUPID BLUNDER! YOU DESERVE EVERY D SNAPE GIVES YOU BECAUSE I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOUR LAZINESS!!”

The anger boiling in Hermione was already in fever pitch. She felt dizzy again but the burden of frustration and anger couldn't be concealed anymore… she had to let it out.

“Hermione - !” Harry interjected.

The vein in Hermione throbbed harder as she started feeling nauseous. She was breathing very hard and aimed her wand at Harry.

“THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE! IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DAMN ESSAY IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU CAN'T SEE HOW MUCH I'VE BEEN THROUGH FOR THE PAST WEEK!! `CALM DOWN, WON'T YOU?!'” Hermione screamed. “I CAN'T CALM DOWN ANY LONGER, HARRY!!”

“Hermione!” Harry yelled back, looking horrified. “I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to take the piss off of you! You just have to know it's just an essay!”

“J-J-JUST AN ESSAY?!” This comment angered the bookworm because she aimed her wand at Harry and shot bluebell flames out of her wand missing him inches away from his ear.

“HERMIONE GRANGER!”

Hermione took an intake of breath and realized what she was about to do. Professor McGonagall was walking towards them looking as if she swallowed a tablespoon of Bubotuber Pus.

“P-Professor,” Hermione squeaked helplessly. “I - I didn't -“

“I clearly saw and heard what you've been doing to Mister Potter, Miss Granger,” said McGonagall sternly. The straightforwardness to her voice gave Hermione a sense of dreading. She never used this tone on Hermione. “I never expected such behavior from you!”

“B-but you know what's going on with me -“ Hermione explained anxiously.

“Oh, I think I very well know what's going on with you and Mister Potter right now, Miss Granger.” McGonagall looked at the parchment Harry was holding. ”Based on what I've seen and heard, instead of putting your essay together with a simple Repairing Charm, you found it fitting to yell at Mister Potter.”

Hermione looked at Harry with the most apologetic look she could give him. It was hard to read his face. He looked horrified and at the same time determined. Was he angry at her?

“Reparo!” McGonagall pointed her wand at the first side of Hermione's essay which Harry held which went back together with the other part that Hermione held in an instant. “Accio parchment!”

Hermione's essay flew to McGonagall's hands and after examining it. She surveyed at Hermione behind her squared-rimmed spectacles. “This essay is excellent,” she said sternly but without any sign of sounding impressed with her. “But sadly, I can't tolerate your recent behavior. You attacked another student with magic, Miss Granger,” McGonagall then blinked. “I am afraid I have to give you detention.”

The words rang in Hermione's ears like gunshot. She gaped at McGonagall with utmost shock and for the first time in her life, she was growing a bubbling anger attitude towards McGonagall.

“D-detention?” she squeaked.

“You heard me, Miss Granger.”

“B-But I can't have detention -“ said Hermione quietly. “I - I have studies to do -!”

“You should've thought about that before you use magic on Potter,” said McGonagall. “Gladly, your grades force me to give you an hour detention starting seven o'clock tonight until Wednesday. Do I make myself clear, Miss Granger?”

It was better than the usual hours of detention so Hermione thought better than to argue.

“Yes,” she said with a slight of bitterness in her voice. She glared at Harry who flinched at this.

“Well then,” McGonagall looked at the two Gryffindors. “I will not take points from any of you but I wish you won't do this again. Good day.”

She whipped around with Hermione's essay in her hand and disappeared inside her office.

An anger beyond reason erupted inside Hermione. Detention?! Detention!? Why didn't Harry get detention? Her previous apologetic attitude towards Harry disappeared when she saw Harry's anxious face staring at her.

“H-Hermione?” Harry croaked as if he hasn't spoke in years. “I - I'm sorry -“

She didn't hear the end of it. Hermione took her schoolbag and left Harry without talking or looking at him.

- - -

The common room was now pouring in. Dinner was probably over. Hermione stood up straight as Gryffindors started going about their business in the common room. She flung herself unto a table when she saw the first years enter. She wasn't keen to seeing her first year admirer again in her current mood.

She hid behind her book which she pulled out of her bag when Dean and Seamus came in. She flicked a page idly and glanced over her book. Ron entered closely followed by an anxious looking Harry. Hermione hid behind her book immediately when Harry stared at this direction.

One of these days, Hermione thought to herself, I should remind myself that hiding behind a book from my best friends is the worst hiding place ever.

She slammed the book on the table as she show the Harry's heel whip out of sight as he climbed up the staircase to the boy's dormitory. She stood up and chased him up. She caught him before he could step on the landing above.

“Harry,” said Hermione fiercely.

Harry stopped on his steps and turned to Hermione. Ron was looking rather worried too. Harry must've told Ron.

“Erm… hi,” Harry muttered, looking sheepish. Without further ado, he wheeled around towards the boy's dormitory. Hermione grabbed him by the hem of his cloak.

“Not so fast!” she spat. “You owe me a lot after what you got me into!”

Harry spun so fast, she was surprised how she wasn't able to see him turn.

“What I got you into?” he said incredulously. “You were the one who screamed at me and shot flames out of your wand!”

“She attacked you?” Ron gaped.

“Stay out of this, Ron!” Hermione hissed. “Well, Harry - you should know better!! Why don't you look at me?!” she added irritably when Harry turned away from her.

“I have other business to do, Hermione!” said Harry irritably. “As you can see, I'm not raring to go and have a clean conversation with you!”

Harry turned again and Hermione grabbed the hem of his cloak. She wasn't going to let go of him that easily.

“And will you cut that off!” said Harry as he turned and pulled his robes so hard that it caused his bag to swing violently and hit Hermione square on the side forcing her to fall off the flight of staircase bellow. Hermione landed on her side, she felt a crack on her wrist which was followed by a painful sensation.

“Hermione!” Harry cried as he jumped step after step downward.

Hermione moaned as she sat up and held her wrist up so she could examine it. She could see a bulge on her wrist. She began to whimper as Harry landed beside her, ignoring the fact that the whole common room was watching in silence.

“A-are you alright?” Harry asked quickly.

“Piss off!” called Ron's voice to the group of third years whom were watching them intently. “Nothing to see here!”

Hermione bit her lower lip as she held her wrist in pain. She wanted to cry at the spot but she was not only in pain but her negative feelings towards Harry got the best of her. The image of Harry just being there made her temper rise again.

“Look what you did to me!” she said in an angry whisper, trying not to let out tears. “What in bloody hell is wrong with you!?”

“Not now, Hermione,” said Harry. “Come on, we need to take you to Madam Pomfrey -“

“I don't need your help!” she argued, pulling her wrist away from him which wasn't really a good idea since it cracked a bit. “Ouch!” she cried.

“Hermione, just let me take you to the hospital wing -“

“I said I don't need your help!” said Hermione angrily, her eyes watering. She hurriedly stood up and brushed her robes with her fixed hand.

“Hermione…” said Harry in a very distant tone. “I'm sorry…”

She pretended she ignored that and took deep breath.

“Thanks a lot, Harry,” she said. “I'll be off to the hospital wing...”

Hermione left the common room, cautiously holding up her hand steady, feeling more humiliated and angry than ever before.

- - -

A few moments after a trip to the hospital wing, Hermione's wrist was feeling a lot better. She looked at her hand and twisted it to see it was fixed. For the past few minutes, as Madam Pomfrey unwrapped her bandage back at the hospital wing, she's been blocking out every feeling that's been swirling in her mind. She never has been this frustrated, stressed and angry in her life in school.

She pushed the door of the Transfiguration classroom slowly and peeked inside. Professor McGonagall was sitting behind the teacher's desk writing on a piece of parchment. Hermione made a cough to make her presence felt.

“Ah, Miss Granger,” said McGonagall, examining Hermione's expression. “Here,” she gestured to one of the student's desks in front. “I will get to your detention duties shortly. I have a letter to write to the Ministry.”

Hermione nodded and took her place at one of the desks in front. She looked at McGonagall who was making scratching noises with her quill. There was a moment of silence in the common room while Hermione twiddled her fingers absently.

“There,” said McGonagall with a sound of finality in her voice. With a flick of her wand, a birdcage flung itself open where a large tawny owl came out of it. “To the Ministry of Magic,” said McGonagall to the owl as it took off to an open window. It flew and disappeared into the darkness beyond.

“Now… Miss Granger,” she turned to Hermione behind her desk. “I believe this is your first detention?”

“Second, ma'am,” said Hermione quietly. “Your first was at my first year…”

“I see,” said McGonagall. “That being said, I think you won't be worrying about going out to the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid. Oh no, Miss Granger… you'll be in here grading everyone's essays. I trust with your intelligence, you'll know what is correct - saying that, if I may, you've had experiences with correcting Mister Potter's and Mister Weasley's essay papers.”

There was no point in arguing. Hermione, with a blank face, nodded. A certain tinge of excitement escaped her mind… she was going to see her other classmates work. The thought made her smile a bit as McGonagall waved her wand to a stack of parchment paper which flew on top of Hermione's desk.

“I trust you brought your quill and ink bottle?”

Hermione nodded and lifted her bag to show that she brought her stuff. McGonagall nodded, “You may begin.”

With a sigh, she overturned the first paper to see she was going to grade Seamus Finnigan's paper. Her eye twitched a bit when she saw numerous grammatical errors and many bastardized facts and figures which looked like it was thrown in there to make the essay as long as the parchment intended it to be.

“Can't get any worse than unicorn hunting…” muttered Hermione as she opened her ink bottle, dipped her quill into it and began to write.

It was already thirty minutes when she placed the checked essay of Dean on the left side of the desk. Hermione looked up what was next and her eyes widened to see it was Harry's essay…

It's your chance to get back at him!, said a mischievous voice behind her which sounded like Pansy Parkinson, after all, he brought here in the first place and got you a broken wrist in front of the common room!

Hermione angrily shook her head of these unholy thoughts. She will never ever do that to Harry even if she was this angry. Her expression of cold and stress softened when she reminded herself of how Harry treated her last night… giving her butterbeer, telling her to relax and to keep her company…

She looked at Harry's essay… she smirked when she saw that he was correct through and through the essay. Harry must've been rubbing off her own style since she spotted how Harry inserted facts and figures between lines, something Hermione does often. It was inevitable that Harry deserved and O for his essay… but that feeling of her anger towards him made her want to downgrade it…

No! I can't… he did very well!

To her chagrin, Hermione shook her head and concentrated on Harry's essay. Despising herself for this, she tried to find a single piece of evidence to give Harry an E. To her utter relief, her battle against this angry witch inside her subsided for now when she saw that Harry had done everything correctly.

“An E will do,” Hermione said under her breath as she regrettably wrote an E on Harry's essay.

Suddenly, the door bust open where a tired looking Filch entered.

“P-professor!” wheezed Filch as he walked up to her, “There's trouble brewin' near your House's corridor!”

“What is it Filch?” McGonagall asked worriedly.

“Somebody set off a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes product and it's now got a number of students injured!” said Filch, seething.

“Did you catch the culprit?” asked McGonagall sternly.

“Nope, but I need help from the Head of House for -“

“Don't worry, Argus, I'll be there in a moment - Hermione -“ she turned to Hermione as Filch left the classroom. “You don't mind if I leave you here for a few minutes? If I don't come back by eight o'clock, you may leave but I assure you that this won't take too long.”

“Not a problem, Professor,” said Hermione calmly.

McGonagall nodded and went for the door. She was about close it but a sudden bump stopped her from closing it made Hermione raise her eyebrows. McGonagall then closed the door properly leaving Hermione completely alone.

She went back to checking essays and started checking Ron's paper which was less enthusiastic as Harry's but was better than most of the boys in Gryffindor. Hermione marked Ron with an E and placed the parchment on top of Parvati's.

“I'm so tired…” she moaned. She rubbed her elbow and looked at the empty seatmate desk. After a few minutes of staring at the spot, she turned back on the essays and started checking Lavender's essay. Sudden yet slight movements on her desk would make her shoot furtive glances at the seat beside her. For all she knew about it for the past few years since first year… it was almost a giveaway.

Quick as a cat, Hermione reached out and grabbed the air and with a brisk tug, she pulled out an Invisibility Cloak within her grasp revealing a boy with round glasses and a lighting bolt-shaped scar on his forehead sitting right next to her looking apprehensive.

“I've been under that cloak,” said Hermione sternly. “I know exactly what it feels like to have someone watch over you by unseen eyes - or did you forget? Your botched entrance through the classroom door didn't give me a second chance to guess…”

Looking at Harry's face, she quickly added.

“What did you come here for?” she asked. “I bet twelve Felix Felicis that you started that catastrophe up at the common room's corridor.”

She looked at Harry. He was still looking at her rather gingerly.

“What?” said Hermione. “Harry, if you have something to say then say it -“

“I came here to see if you were alright,” said Harry.

Hermione made a dry laugh.

“Really? Or did you come to see if my broken wrist is still broken? Mind you, Harry, it's already mended so I'm sorry to disappoint you -“

“Hermione, can you just please shut up and listen?” said Harry darkly. He sounded angry but kept his voice even.

Hermione glared at Harry but showed him she was listening… like what does he have to say anyway? Harry stood up and walked around the desk and stood in front of Hermione. For the first time in her life, Hermione felt small at Harry's tall figure, she just realized how smaller she was than him.

“I'm sorry.” Harry spoke in almost whisper. “I - I didn't mean to hurt you, you know that.”

Hermione didn't reply so Harry continued.

“You knew very well that I didn't mean to get you in detention or hurt you for that matter,” he bent a little closer, “You're smart, Hermione, I don't want you to take your frustration out to me… it's almost disturbing that you never see what I'm trying to do.”

Hermione's cold expression softened.

“T-trying to do what?” said Hermione begrudgingly.

“I'm trying to remind you about how I don't want you to be stressed out, alright?” said Harry, smiling slowly. “I've been worried about your current condition…”

“My condition?” Hermione asked defensively. “You don't know about my condition, Harry -“

“Magic relapse,” said Harry at once.

Hermione stared at him with bemused expression.

“I - I don't know what you're talking about,” she looked at the essay she was going to check. Unfortunately, Ron's was the last paper.

“I went to Madam Pomfrey when I had to get those boils off from Herbology,” said Harry, not keeping his eyes off of her. “Before I left, she told me that I'd keep my eye on you -“

“Can you stop staring at me like that!?” Hermione said angrily before she could stop herself. Her temper got the better of her so she was glaring at Harry while she took deep breaths. A few seconds passed and her temple started aching making her moan an “Ow…” as she rubbed it.

“Are you alright?” Harry asked quickly.

“I'm fine,” said Hermione impatiently, wincing.

“No you're not,” said Harry rounding around her as he took a seat beside her. “Why don't you keep it down? Relax, will you?”

The last sentence in Harry's statement made Hermione look at him as the memory of last night flooded her mind. She couldn't help it… she looked at the essay papers which she finished. Her mind raced as her temper lowered.

“Look, Harry…” said Hermione. “I appreciate your concerns but I implore you to leave me be.”

“No.” said Harry. “After what Madam Pomfrey said, I don't want you to hurt yourself…” he then placed a placate hand on her shoulder. “I want to help you.”

Nothing but this calmed Hermione a bit… her pending temper inside her was still darkly lucid.

“Why… why are you so keen to know about my condition anyway?” Hermione asked simply, not looking at Harry.

“So you do have a magic relapse,” said Harry confidently.

“Don't push it,” said Hermione irritably.

“Sorry,” said Harry, raising his hands in apology. “Anyway… I want to know about your condition because I was afraid you might hurt yourself.”

“I won't hurt myself,” Hermione said at once.

“Of course you won't,” said Harry. “But it still stands that you have magic relapse. I don't want to catch you on your face at a deserted corridor, Hermione.”

“I told you, Harry. I'm fine. I know what I need to do and that's to control my temper,” said Hermione.

“You're doing a good job on it then,” said Harry before he could stop himself. There was a tone of bitterness in his voice.

“What does that supposed to mean?” Hermione spat angrily. “It's all your fault tossing me down the staircase like that -“

“My fault?” Harry gawked at her in disbelief. “Hermione, I'd never hurt you! It was an accident!”

Hermione tried to control her temper but she let it stay at bay as she observed Harry's every move.

“Can't you give me a break, Hermione?” said Harry in a desperate tone. “I just came down here to make sure you're alright! I just want to remind about… last night.”

Hermione looked at Harry who was staring at her, looking serious now.

“Last night?” Hermione asked. “I know what you did for me, Harry. I know it's very sweet for you but as I told you awhile ago, now is not the time to play sweet with me because I have no time for relaxation -“

“You seriously don't remember, do you?” said Harry with a tone of overwhelming feeling.

“Remember what?!” Hermione irritably asked. Harry asked her the same thing awhile ago and she wasn't keen to be in another mystery. “I told you already, Harry. Too much butterbeer makes me hardly remember about what I did during… erm… those states!”

Hermione thought Harry was going to whip his wand out and hex her but to her surprise, he pulled out a bag, which she only noticed now due to Harry's initial invisibility, and took a brown colored teddy bear with a checkered bow around its neck and two dotted buttons for eyes. It was her teddy bear, Snuggles.

“W-w-where did you get that?” said Hermione in a dead whisper, her cheeks turning pink. “And how did you know - ?”

“Last night,” said Harry, holding up the teddy bear and handed it to her. “You were hugging it like a little child…” he then smiled. “I thought it was the cutest thing in the world.”

“Well,” she blushed harder, taking Snuggles from Harry. “It is a teddy bear, of course!”

“I didn't mean Snuggles,” said Harry impatiently. “I meant the way your face looked when you were hugging it.”

A fit of blushes escaped Hermione's face. Why was Harry telling her this?

“You've got to be kidding me…” she said under her breath with an air of being evasive.

“Well?” said Harry.

“Well what?” Hermione looked at him unwittingly.

“Does Snuggles ring a bell?”

Hermione surveyed her teddy bear. What was she suppose to remember?

“Snuggles reminds me of the time I bought him when I was nine,” said Hermione.

This didn't seem to bode well with Harry since he started to scratch his head while he sported a silly grin.

“You really can't recall what happened last night?” he asked in disbelief.

“Of course I do, Harry!” said Hermione irritably. “I know you kept me company, told me to relax, gave me some butterbeer and showed how much you cared!” she breathed a bit, controlling her temper. “What is it that you want me to remember?”

Hermione looked at Harry with great annoyance. There he sat, gazing at her with a very thoughtful look.

“Well?” she spat.

Harry then pointed to his lips then to her lips and using his lips, he slightly puckered them and made a “mwah” sound.

“Now… do you remember?” he asked her intently yet anxiously.

Hermione felt a sudden jolt of realization in her mind…

“You told me to relax,”

Nineteen hours ago.

“Hermione,” said the hushed voice of Harry, it sounded rather distant. “Wake up.”

She groggily opened her left eye and saw Harry… he looked so handsome with his untidy black hair, green eyes and soft skin. She felt very light headed as Harry's face began to become clearer. Her mind was racing at the sight of this very handsome Harry… she can't remember but drinking lots of butterbeer.

“Oh, Harry…” she moaned sleepily as she pulled him by the robes and kissed him deeply on the lips. She felt his lips kissing hers feeling a a great and wonderful feeling… but her grogginess overwhelmed her that she fell back from the kiss and fell into sleeping darkness.

She was jerked awake to see it was Harry again… the very handsome boy who woke her up moments ago. He was seated beside her and without hesitation, she crawled up to him and pulled him into a loving embrace around his torso. She breathed deeply as she her sleepy eyes caught the image of her teddy bear Snuggles.

Hermione felt relaxed… she felt comfortable for the first time in a long while. She didn't want it to end…

“You told me to relax,” Hermione muttered groggily.

- - -

The blushes around Hermione's cheeks flashed into an alarming rate. Her temper lowered to a safe level. Her anger ebbed away, she was more stressful now but still, she was now looking at Harry with embarrassment beyond explanation.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no…” Hermione squeaked as she blocked her face from Harry.

“I know,“ said Harry amusingly. “But obviously you were tipsy -“

“I was more than tipsy, Harry!” Hermione cried and she lowered her voice in a whisper, “I kissed you!”

“You didn't like it?” Harry asked, sounding rather hurt.

“I - I didn't mean -“ Hermione blushed furiously as Harry grinned at her broadly. “STOP SMILING!”

She stood from her seat and started pacing around the desk area muttering to herself. She kissed Harry… she kissed him and it was out of want because he was good looking last night. Something that was disturbing her thoughts since the beginning of the year… this was getting weird… she glanced at Harry who looked calm… why was he so calm at this?

“I know,” said Hermione. “We can just forget about it,” she nodded. “Yes… forget about it! No one has to know!”

Hermione wheeled towards Harry and saw his face. She was surprised to see it was etched with seriousness beyond fondness. He walked slowly towards and her to the point they were a few inches from each other. It was in those rare moments again that Hermione felt intimidated by how smaller she was to Harry.

“Why? What's wrong?” Hermione asked worriedly.

Then in the whiff of Harry's familiar scent that Hermione's gone know for years, she was caught with a brief penultimate surprise when Harry's abruptly leaned forward and deeply kissed her on the lips.

Knowing she kissed him last night was one thing but kissing him with a sober state brought Hermione to a million, billion, trillion blushes across her face. Hermione was in state of shock as she felt her hands absentmindedly hold Harry's cheeks as he pulled away from her.

A sudden surprising sensation struck Hermione hard the moment she leaned away from Harry… the feeling of the kiss made her feel a sensation that only came up when she usually receives her high grades… she felt like there was left much to be desired for her. Her mind raced and remembered all the best moments she had with Harry… all the good moments. It struck her hard when she realized how her emotions made her realizes one subtle thing…

Harry seemed to be slightly beside himself.

“S-sorry,” he stuttered, looking stunned yet pleased. “I - I didn't m-mean to be so straightforward -“

“Shut up,” she said at once, looking sternly at his green eyes. “shut up…”

Harry frowned at this interruption. But Hermione suddenly spoke.

“It's done this way…” she said quietly.

With all the momentum she mustered, she grabbed Harry by the front of his robes and pulled him towards her which led her to slowly press her lips on his. She did it gently… caressingly… not too hard… just lovingly… just calmly…

They pulled away seconds later and Hermione had the satisfaction to see Harry looked like he was doused with ice-cold butterbeer. She gave him the luxury to not stutter in front of by giggling embarrassingly as she blushed at what she just did. Harry made a nervous laugh and in all the moments they had together, all the flurries of anger and stressfulness that has now disappeared in Hermione's mind she finally spoke.

“You did tell me to relax, didn't you?” she slowly spread a warm smile.

And that sentence alone made all the difference in the world.

Sequel to “Relax, Will You?”

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