Harry Potter H&Hr Fluff Collection

IV

Right In Front Of You

It was a fine Saturday noon and Harry, Ron and Hermione were relaxing under the shade of their favorite tree just nearby the lake where all of the other students were playing, talking and laughing.

“Hey guys” said Ron opening the bag he'd been carrying the whole morning “Look what Fred and George gave me as a birthday present”

Last week was Ron's birthday and according to Ron he had the best birthday ever since the Weasleys made a surprise appearance at the Room of Requirement, the venue of the party.

Harry watched as Ron pulled out a Quaffle that had autographs of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, The Chudley Cannons

“Wow, Ron” said Harry watching Ron's grin “How did they get that?”

“The letter that came with this stated they had to tick the team off just to get this Quaffle signed” he laughed “And I thought they hated me”

“They don't hate you” Hermione pointed out “It's just that irritating their siblings is somehow a form of affection, I think”

“Since when did you know about having siblings anyway?” Ron asked curiously

“I don't know” said Hermione shrugging “Maybe ever since being with you two it's like I have brothers” she added smiling at them

Before Ron could ask more, Dean and Seamus came to them

“Oy Ron! Belated Happy Birthday!” said Seamus “What do you got there?”

Grinning, Ron passed it to Seamus who gave a surprise look as he saw the signatures

“Ron” he choked out “Is this authentic?”

Harry grinned as Ron nodded fervently

“My uncle will be so jealous when he hears this” said Seamus “He's a Cannons fan”

“Anyway” said Dean “We came here to ask you guys if you want to join us in a little game of dodgeball”

“Er… dodgeball?” Ron asked putting the Quaffle in his bag

“It's a muggle sport” said Harry frowning remembering the times when Dudley and his gang would play dodgeball with him “Kind of like snowball fighting except you hit each other with a soccer ball-sized rubber ball”

“Sounds like fun” said Ron “I'm in”

“Good” said Seamus looking at Harry hopefully

“I'm in too” said Harry then he added “I just want to check if I'm still good enough to kick everyone's arses”

Harry looked at Hermione who said

“I think I'll pass” she said “I'll just watch you”

Harry patted Hermione on the shoulder and he followed Ron, Dean and Seamus to a group of Gryffindors as they started playing dodge ball

- - -

Sweating, Harry walked to Hermione and sat beside her with Ron on the other. She winced

“Er, can you move away a little? You two are er - sweating” she said nervously

Harry and Ron did this without any protest

“There, much better” she said

“Anyway” said Harry wiping his brow “We are planning to have the second round. Want to join?”

Hermione smiled and shook her head

“No thanks, Harry”

“But I think we need a female player” said Ron “Padma joined in and she's doing well”

“Why me? Why don't you ask Parvati or Lavender?” Hermione said as if she didn't want Harry and Ron to urge her to join

“Well” said Harry “They're girls”

“What does that suppose to mean?” said Hermione angrily

Harry gulped. The last thing he wanted right now was being in Hermione's bad side

“Well” said Harry “You know them-”

“What about them?” she said glaring at him

“Er - I think I hear Dean calling me” said Ron and he disappeared as walked to Dean and Seamus

Harry gave Ron a look of irate then realized Hermione was still glaring at him

“Well?” she said

“Erm… they - you know”

“Get to the point James” she said saying Harry's middle name with defiance

Harry gave her a serious look and said “They do all those girly things like polishing their nails, giggle and talk about boys”

“Are you saying that I haven't experienced doing girly things?” she said her voice rising to a near shout “For your information Harry, I'm as girly as you think I am!”

Before Harry could stop himself

“But you kinda study more than getting in touch with your girly side”

Harry bit his lower lip to stop himself from talking as Hermione rose to her feet

“How dare you!?” she shouted “If you are saying that the reason I exist is because I only help dunderheads like you and Ron in their studies then you are definitely out of your mind! I can polish my nails!” she showed her fingernails which had a pinkish and reddish color “I giggle” she made a mock giggle “And I can talk about boys I like!”

Then without hesitating, Harry saw Hermione turn on her heel and left without saying a word

“What did you say to her?” said Ron walking to him

Harry lay speechless realizing that it was the first time he ever judged Hermione being a girl

- - -

Harry peeked around the corner of the library's entrance to see Hermione reading agitatedly muttering to herself. It's been a while since he and Hermione argued

“What a jerk!” she muttered as she turned a page. Harry had the impression she “I spend time with my schoolwork than be a girl?” she snorted “That's so low”

Then Harry walked to where Hermione was sitting. He coughed to acknowledge his presence to her

Hermione looked up and snorted

“Hello” she said “Harry” she rolled her eyes and went back to her book flicking the pages

“I just want to say I'm sorry for what I said back there when I - you know”

Hermione glared at him

“When will you ever get to the point?” she asked bossily

Harry's brows furrowed

“Hey, I'm trying to say sorry to you” said Harry

“Sorry for what?” she said flatly

“Sorry that” Harry paused “for saying that you are not a girl”

“And?”

“And that I judged your girly side”

Hermione closed the book and said

“Apology accepted”

“Erm… are we friends again?” Harry asked nervously

Hermione looked at him

“Did I say we were friends again?”

Harry gulped

“Look, I'm really sorry for what I said and believe me when I say this, I had to admit that there are some times where I would see you act all girly”

“Like what?” Hermione demanded

“Like when you knitted those elf hats” said Harry trying to remember “I saw you giggle nonstop when you were looking at your finished creation. It was very girly and er - cute”

Harry sighed when she saw her smile

“Really?”

“Yeah and when you were drawing Gilderoy Lockhart's name on your notebook during second year, I was a bit amused that my best friend can have crushes”

Harry saw Hermione blushing a bit

“Then when I saw you at the Yule Ball, the word `girl' was painted all over you!”

Harry was grinning when Hermione started giggling. Harry found Hermione very attractive when she giggled

“Thanks for making me feel like I am a girl” she said

“Wait, there's more, when you study. I find it a bit girly when you would bounce on the balls on your feet when you got a high grade in Charms”

Hermione shook her head

“That's not girly. Parvati and Lavender would do the same if they found out they got a hundred and twenty-four percent in there exams”

“But for me, it is amusing to see you girly” said Harry dragging a chair to him so he can sit beside Hermione

“Because you and Ron are my friends, not all guys see me as a girl. They see me as what everyone sees me…” she bit her lower lip as she said in a low voice “an ugly bookworm”

Harry looked into her eyes. She was looking a bit embarrassed talking Harry about this which Harry found a bit girly again

“You're not ugly” said Harry, bemused

“Harry, don't say anything that can make me feel better. Guys don't go for the boring bookworm type”

“Hermione” said Harry worriedly

“The whole school only ask me for questions on their schoolwork, they only take me for granted not realizing that I am a girl who can use perfume, read gossip magazines, think about boys,” she sniffed as she fought back a sob “get crushes on the opposite sex”

Harry frowned to see his best friend look so embarrassed to spill out her thoughts

“People like me as the smart one” Hermione pressed on “I will never get a date, I will never have someone, I will never have a boyfriend and I will never get the first kiss I always dreamed of” she looked at Harry “I think you're right, Harry. I do spend a lot of time with books than be in my girly side”

“Hermione, I didn't mean that -”

“Don't say anything Harry. I'm not angry” she stood up “I'll just probably marry my books… excuse me, Harry but I think I need to take a nice warm bath… See you around”

Hermione left the library leaving Harry speechless

Then something in Harry's mind sprouted as if it was a flower growing in fast forward speed. He stood up and was able to catch up to Hermione who was halfway down the corridor

“Hermione! Wait!” said Harry as he stopped right in front of her

“What?” she asked looking a bit quizzical

“You know what you just said about not having the first kiss you ever dreamed of?” Harry asked

“Yeah but I think I would rather kiss the pictures of my books than kiss a man” she said sadly

“Just shut up for a while” said Harry cupping Hermione's cheeks making her a bit startled “Before I do anything, I just want to say I'm doing this because I want my best friend to be happy”

“What are you going to do?” Hermione asked turning red

Before Hermione could ask more questions, Harry pressed his lips against hers. Harry closed his eyes feeling her lips against his. He felt her kissing back with her right hand lightly resting on his chest while the other was on his center part of his torso. Harry's hand found itself from Hermione's cheeks to her neck, shoulders then waist.

Harry moved his tongue to hers as she opened her lips to give Harry access. Their tongues touched each other as Hermione gave a small moan.

Harry pulled away so he can get some air. Hermione took a deep breath and said

“Er,” she was blushing from pink to brick red. Harry then realized that Hermione would never thought that her best friend would give her first kiss “thanks”

“No problem” said Harry gingerly “Look at it this way, at least you don't have to kiss a stranger you've known for a couple of months”

Hermione bit her lower lip

“And” Harry continued “That's checked off your list”

Harry wanted to go back to his dormitory but Hermione said

“Harry…?”

“Yes?” Harry asked

“Erm… will you go out with me?” she asked forcing a smile as she blushed “You know… on the next Hogsmeade weekend?”

Harry smiled

“I would love to”

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