Authors Note: Right, thanks for the reviews so far. I know that some chapters seem a little rushed and a little short, but in my view the story really takes off from Chapter 7. I already have 13 chapters written so they will be up soon.
I've also noticed that some of you are surprised by Ron's coldness towards Hermione, but that will be key to the story later on.
Chapter 6: The Mistake
Harry and Hermione entered Hogsmeade via the passage that Harry had used in third year, thanks to the Marauder's Map. Harry couldn't help feel a little excited at the prospect of spending the day alone with Hermione. No matter how much he wanted to avoid it though, he knew that Hermione was eventually going to bring up the whole "do you think I'm pretty" thing again. But he tried to push that to the back of his mind as he and Hermione entered Hogsmeade.
As soon as they arrived at the village they bumped into Fred and George Weasley who now had their shop up and running. Fred started talking first.
"So, what are you two doing here? It's not a weekend." Harry glanced over at Hermione and then back at the twins.
"Dumbledore just thought sending us here would take our mind of things," said Harry coolly.
"So are you coming to our shop? We were just collecting some supplies before we head back to Diagon Alley." butted in George.
"No, not today I don't think we really have time do we, Hermione?" said Harry who would prefer to just relax with his friend today.
"Ok, but you don't know what you're missing." With that the twins left them and went back to their shop. Harry turned to Hermione.
"So what do you want to do first?" he asked.
"Oh, I don't know. It's up to you really," answered Hermione, who started looking around at anything other than Harry. It was clear that they were both feeling a little uncomfortable.
Harry eventually broke the uneasy silence. "Well…we could go to The Three Broomsticks for a chat and a Butterbeer if you like? My treat." Hermione smiled up at him.
"That sounds great," she answered cheerfully.
*
The warm and friendly atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks enveloped them as they walked in the door. They got a table in a quiet corner of the pub and ordered two Butterbeer's from Madam Rosmeta. It was a small corner table and they had to lean in to hear each other. Harry enjoyed having Hermione's warm body next to him. He looked across at her and noticed that she had her head hanging down, staring at her lap.
"Are you ok?" he asked. She looked up at him with a few tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'll be ok," she snuffled. Harry knew that this time was difficult for her and he expected to see more tears this afternoon. He held Hermione's hand in his and proceeded to talk.
"Hermione, I'm sorry about what happened to you. I should have been there for you the morning you were kidnapped."
Hermione wiped away her tears with her sleeve. "Don't blame yourself Harry, you can't be with me twenty-four hours a day. You'll always be my best friend whatever happens to me or you."
Harry smiled at her and lifted a bottle of Butterbeer that was sitting on the table. "To friendship!"
"To friendship!" replied Hermione. They clonked their bottles together and each took a swallow. The warm sensation running down their throats. "Anyway, lets talk about you a little. I'm fed up with talking about me. So how are you feeling about Cho?" she asked softly.
Harry chuckled.
"I told you, I'm over her. She was just some silly childish crush," he answered, in a so-what sort of way.
"So you won't be asking her to the Yule Ball then?"
Harry's heart leaped from his chest. He had forgotten that the Yule Ball would be coming up in about six weeks time. He knew whom he wanted to ask; it was just asking her that was the hard part.
"No, I don't know who I'm going with yet. What about you?" Hermione shrugged a little.
"I don't know either," she said rather dejectedly. "I don't think anyone wants to go with the bookworm."
"Don't be so silly, I'm sure you'll find someone to go with you," said Harry, surprisingly confident.
"Oh, I don't know," she sighed. "I might not go yet, it depends if I feel up to it."
Harry looked softly at her. "Well if you do decide not to go, you won't be alone. Because I'll stay with you."
She shook her head. "No, Harry you shouldn't stay with me, you'll miss all the fun."
Harry put up a hand to stop Hermione. "I insist Herm, I will stay with you. I'm supposed to be your friend aren't I?"
"Only if you're sure?" she answered.
"Positive," he said, smiling. Hermione smiled back at him.
The two of them talked for a couple of hours about the good memories of their childhood friendship and the adventures they'd had with Ron. Harry felt good listening to her talk easily, her eyes even sparkling at times. He even plucked up the courage to tell her about Dobby taking all the house elf hats last year, but that didn't bother her at the minute. After all, she had more important things to worry about than house elves.
After their long chat they headed off to Mr Long-tie's bakery. Harry bought them sandwiches, and they went to a small, quiet and peaceful park. The sun was shining down on them, but there was the usual November chill in the air around them. They sat down on a wooden bench when Hermione looked up at Harry thoughtfully.
"What's on your mind?" Harry asked.
"Harry, it's about the other night. When I asked you if you thought I was pretty… I never should have put you in that sort of position. It's just that…I thought you would be honest with me. I'm sorry." Harry shook his head at her.
"No, Hermione, I'm the one who should be sorry. After all, I was never honest with you in the first place." Harry didn't know what had made him say this to her but he felt strangely comfortable saying it.
"Harry, what are you saying?" she asked.
"Well…what I'm saying is…when I told you that you were fine I should have told you the truth," he trailed off, suddenly feeling the pressure growing on him, as Hermione's eyes followed him intensely.
"And the truth is?" Hermione asked him curiously.
Harry coughed a little. "You're…beautiful. Not just you as in your face, hair and eyes, but your whole personality is what makes you perfect and beautiful."
Oh sweet Merlin, what have I just said? he thought. Hermione gave him a small smile.
"Do you mean that?" she asked.
Harry moved closer to her, he held her hand in his. "Maybe this will help you realise," he said. Before he knew what he was doing, he had moved his head slowly to Hermione's, until his lips touched hers. The kiss lasted for about three seconds before Hermione leapt up from the bench. She didn't even look at Harry as she ran away, leaving him as confused as ever.