AN: The last chapter ended in Hermione's Point of View. This chapter backtracks on the same scene but in Harry's point of view instead.
~*~
Chapter Eleven
~*~
After nearly ten minutes of snogging, Ron and Meegan broke apart. They each took a few heavy breaths.
The night air hung still and silent around them.
"Wow..." Ron said breathlessly after a moment.
"Wow yourself," Meegan giggled. She was still lying atop Ron, looking down at him as she brushed a few strands of loose hair behind her ear and off his face.
"Did you like your punishment for pranking us?" she grinned, still hovering over Ron.
"Absolutely. However, I don't feel I learned my lesson," he grinned wickedly. "Can I have some more?"
"Maybe tomorrow," Meegan sighed, rolling off of Ron and standing up. "It's late, very late, and we need some sleep." She offered Ron a hand up off the ground.
"I hope Hermione isn't still letting Harry have it," Ron said as he accepted her hand. "She can be downright vicious at times."
"Well you BOTH deserve it," she frowned, looking at her cabin again, "You got off easy."
Looking back to Ron, she walked over to him with a small smile on her face, stopping just in front of him. Slowly, she reached up and rested her hands on his chest. Closing her eyes, she leaned in and gave Ron a nice, slow kiss. Pulling away she added, "Goodnight then," and turned, walking back into her cabin.
"'Night," Ron said faintly, watching her go.
'I wonder what Harry and Hermione are up to,' Ron thought, turning his gaze toward the storage shed fifty feet down the path.
~*~
Harry looked at Hermione as he pulled her close.
He'd just wanted to be near her when he put his arms around her back. He hadn't meant to pull her to him; he'd just been unable to resist.
She was too close, he couldn't stop himself. He began to search her eyes for any look of resistance. Her eyes met his with a gaze of wonderment.
The tingling sensation in his toes suddenly skyrocketed throughout his entire body. He knew if he didn't kiss her, he'd burst. Swiftly, before his common sense could step in and stop him, Harry lowered his head until his lips met Hermione's.
As they touched, his entire body exploded with feelings Harry never even knew existed. Their kiss felt inexplicably right, like this was what he was meant to be doing for the rest of his lift. Never before had a single kiss felt so powerful.
His heart took a leap as he felt Hermione relax in his arms. Taking his chances, he let one of his hands slide down to her lower back. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her body in as close to his as he could without crushing her. In response, Hermione's hands slid up his back and tangled in his hair.
The cool night air swirled around them. Feeling Hermione shiver, Harry let his other arm wrap around the top of her shoulders; doing his best to shield her revealed skin from the cold of the night.
Their lips broke apart leaving both of them gasping for air.
For Harry, the first kiss wasn't enough. He wasn't ready for it to end. Hungrily, he dove back for more. She didn't pull away and readily accepted his kiss.
Harry's mind was racing. It felt as if his entire head was on fire. He couldn't think straight. The only discernable thought he could muster was how incredible he felt at that very moment.
He couldn't let go of her, and he didn't want to if he could. He'd waited so long, too long to be near her like this. And now that he had her, the reality of it surpassed even his wildest dreams.
'I cannot believe I'm actually kissing Hermione!' his brain began to function again as his body became accustomed to the new feeling coursing through it.
'It's Hermione! My Hermione!'
Suddenly, a sinking feeling formed it the pit of his stomach.
'My best friend Hermione...'
As the reality of the situation began to set in, Harry felt the tingling fade, becoming replaced with pangs of anxiety. His mind was muddled in confusion. Part of him wanted to run and hide in hopes Hermione may not have noticed they'd kissed. The other half of him wagered he could stay exactly like this for the rest of his life, forgetting all responsibility, and remain perfectly content.
Harry squeezed his eyes tighter together in agony. With a heavy bitterness toward himself, he suddenly snapped back, leaving Hermione hanging in mid-air.
He looked deep in her eyes; eyes which had just filled with a look of utmost fear and concern.
"I'm sorry," said Harry blankly as he released her and made a mad dash back up the path.
~*~
Hermione watched in shock as Harry tore away from her. Slowly, she let a hand glide up. Leaving it hovering near her face, she rested her fingertips softly on her still swollen lips. She swore she was shaking at that moment. She didn't know what do think, to say, to feel.
Harry Potter, her best friend in the entire world, had just momentarily given her everything she'd ever wanted. For a brief moment, she'd felt whole. It was an indescribable, irreplaceable feeling, and now it was gone. He'd given her the world, then as quickly as it came, taken it away and left her cold and alone.
A silent tear trickled down Hermione's cheek. She felt so lost and confused. She didn't understand what had just happened. He'd kissed her completely out of the blue. It had been such an initial surprise. Nothing however like the surprise of how she felt during the moment.
Never in her wildest dreams had Hermione ever fancied it to be like this. She felt like her heart had exploded, sending feelings she'd never experienced coursing throughout her entire body. She'd felt alive. More alive than she'd ever felt.
Standing alone in the darkness, the cold of the night finally got to Hermione. Still shaking, her hand remaining on her lips, she slowly made her way back to her cabin. If she had experienced it before and known what it felt like, she'd have sworn she was in shock.
As she entered the cabin, she started to shake uncontrollably. Thankfully, the rest of the cabin was soundly sleeping. With hot tears now pouring down her cheeks, she slid off her shoes and crawled straight back into bed, curling herself into a ball. Eventually she cried herself to sleep.
~*~
As Harry got past Hermione's cabin on the way back up the trail, he spotted his invisibility cloak by chance, laying in the leaves and pine needles on the ground. Ron was nowhere to be seen. With a heavy sigh, he picked it up and shook the debris off of it.
He stopped and looked at it. Really he was just staring at it blankly. He hated himself. He was horrid and he knew it. He'd had no right to treat his best friend like that, especially not to leave her. The truth was, he was scared. He was so frightened; he didn't know what to do. He'd just done something that would most likely change his relationship with Hermione for the rest of their lives.
Sighing, he slipped his cloak on and began to make his way back to his cabin. He hadn't taken two steps yet when he heard a soft whimpering coming from behind him.
Turning, Harry watched Hermione walking back to her cabin. She looked shaken and distraught. The light of the moon reflecting against her cheeks revealed to Harry she'd begun to cry.
At the sight of her, he felt the breath being pulled from his lungs. His heart ached for her. Seeing her so upset, he wanted nothing more than to take her softly in his arms and whisper into her ear that everything would be all right.
He knew he couldn't though. He had no right. The only reason she could be crying would be because of him, of what he'd done to her.
Studying her, he felt dirty. He knew he shouldn't be watching her. He wanted to turn away, but he couldn't pull his eyes from her. His heart cried to take her pain from her and double up his own instead. He heard her crying escalate as the cabin door shut behind her.
Before Harry knew it, he felt a hot tear falling down his own cheek. Downtrodden, he made the sorrow march back to his cabin. Prior to reaching the door, he slid off his cloak and folded it up. Tucking it under his shirt for protection, he slipped into the cabin.
After hiding the cloak safely away in his bag where it came from, he slipped off his shoes and crawled back into bed. He still felt crushed. Nothing he could do would stop the burning tears that were falling silently down his cheeks.
~*~
It had been three days; three days in which Harry and Hermione had avoided each other like the plague. Neither had dared breathe a word of what had happened between them.
Unfortunately, neither Ron nor Meegan had noticed their repulsive behavior toward each other. They were still very much wrapped up in their own relationship.
It was a bright and early Saturday morning. A slight morning chill still hung in the air, deceiving the blaring sun. Everyone had gathered in the lodge to eat breakfast before the day's activities.
Hermione took a spoonful of her cold cereal and stuck in into her mouth with dissatisfaction. As she chewed her bite, she looked across the room at Harry's table. She wondered what he must be thinking about everything. She'd made up a dozen explanations inside her head of why he'd run from her. The problem was, she didn't know if the real reason was a favorable one, or not.
She sighed and continued to watch him poke around his bowl of cereal. She wanted so badly to talk to him, to tell him she wasn't sorry they'd kissed.
"Do you fancy him?" a hushed voice leaned in next to Hermione.
"Wha?!" Hermione spit her cereal back into the bowl in shock and turned to see Juliet leaning in next to her.
"Harry. Do you fan-"
"Yes I got that part, now shush," Hermione didn't want anyone to hear what she was saying. A giant blush had unfortunately for Hermione, already crept up deep into her cheeks.
"So yes you do?" she smiled devilishly.
"No. I mean yes. I, what was the question again?" Hermione's head was fluttery with embarrassment.
"I said, 'DO YOU FANCY-'"
"Right, right," she cut her off immediately, regaining her senses. "No more talk, okay."
"Ahh! You do!" Her smile widened in self satisfaction at her discovery.
"Juliet!" Hermione's voice came in a curt whisper.
"Really now, who wouldn't! He 'is' the famous Harry Potter after all," she winked, turning back to her food.
"But that's not the point. I don't like him," said Hermione in a very insistent tone.
"Right, mmmhmmm," Juliet nodded, still focusing on her meal.
"I don't!"
"Uh huh."
"Ugh!" Hermione sighed in frustration as she too turned back to her breakfast.
"See, told you."
Hermione scowled and shoved another bite of cold, mushy cereal into her mouth. She chewed it harshly. She hated it when others got the best of her.
~*~
"Okay everyone! We have some fun in store for us today!" Greg hopped up onto the staff table after breakfast was over.
The attention of the lodge turned to him.
"Now, I know some of you look forward to this every year. I know I do! Others, mainly you counselors, don't look as forward to it," a few groans from counselors who'd caught on to what he was leading up to emanated throughout the room. "I'm sure most of you will join me in excitement since the campers love this so much," he eyes of few of the counselors. "Today is the Annual Counselor Hunt!"
A loud cheer rang out from the campers.
"Counselor hunt?" Allison frowned.
"It's awesome!" Sarah, one of her campers beamed.
"Rules people! It's all about the rules!" Greg broke up their cheers. "For those of you who are new, here they are. Number one, all senior counselors MUST participate! Number two, all junior counselor must stay in their stationed locations unless they are a roamer to monitor campers. Number three, if a junior counselor rats out a senior counselor, they can consider themselves good as caught! Number four, anyone who is caught, gets throw in the lake!!"
The campers cheered wildly again, drowning out some of the groans from discontent counselors.
"Counselors! Counselors, please!" he calmed the cheers again, "You will have fifteen minutes to find a hiding spot. With as many campers as we have given free range of the camp to search for you, I suggest you stay put wherever you chose to hide. If you are found within the three hour time designated, you will be pushed in the lake by whomever found you."
More cheers.
"Junior counselors, I have a station map up here. You are to STAY IN THAT SPOT! This is for camper safety. I know it may seem boring, but most everyone has had their turn at it."
"Campers!! You must stay with at least one buddy. If a junior counselor or another staff member catches you alone, you will be sent up to the lodge to receive further punishment! This is only for your safety. So just stay with a friend and you'll be okay."
"Now, the boundaries, no one is to go past the Lady of the Lake statue on the west side of camp. The service road behind the cabins on the east side is the boundary. The main road up by the lodge is the north boundary, and the lake is the south boundary. I will begin and end with this air horn." He had a staff member next to him hold it up in the air. "The game will begin at 10:00am. Its nine now. You can all go get yourselves ready and then be back up here no later than 9:35. Counselors, I suggest you go put some dark clothes on. Anything is fair, as long as you stay in bounds. You will automatically be thrown in the lake if you are caught out of bounds. And yes, some on the staff will be constantly patrolling the borders. So, go!!!!!"
The crowd dispersed in a messy scramble to the cabins. The campers cheering in excitement as they went
~*~
"Do you know where you're going to hide?" Ron asked Harry as they made their way back up to the lodge. They both had long dark pants on and dark long sleeved shirts. Ron even donned a black wool hat.
"No, but I'm too hot," Harry pulled at the front of his shirt to let some air in. He was also carrying a rather bulgy dark hooded sweatshirt.
"Me too," Ron itched his wool hat. They were ahead of their campers walking up to the lodge.
"I'd tell you where I'm going to hide, but they might hear," Ron nodded back behind them where their campers were.
Harry nodded as they sweated the rest of the way to the lodge.
Inside, none of the other counselors looked terribly comfortable. All of them had dressed in dark, full coverage clothing, and the heat was definitely not helping.
"Okay, counselors, since you're all here, in five minutes you will be released out to find hiding spots. At that time, all campers are to move to the north side of the lodge, and sit down on the floor so that their view is away from the bay windows facing the lake and below the other windows surrounding the lodge. This will give you some protection while you hide. You have fifteen minutes. When I blow the air horn, be prepared because the campers will be released upon the camp!"
Five minutes later, the counselors were released to find their hiding spots. Harry and Ron nodded to each other and then took off in separate directions. All around, counselors were scrambling to find places to hide.
Harry looked around to make sure no one was near him and then began running off toward the north border, the main road.
He'd been thinking of where to hide for a while, then it hit him. There is a ranger station that borders the main road, the station itself it off limits to any camper or staff member. The ranger who lives there is on permanent duty to oversee the campgrounds for every group that comes through to use the facilities. However, the ranger has a deck overlooking the camp. The deck itself does hang over into the camp so technically, the ground below the deck was within camp boundaries.
Harry quickly made his way to the ranger's cabin. There was a short incline up to the deck; the station itself was on a hill. Completely surrounding the bottom of the deck were three-foot tall shrubs. They were dry and brittle, rather unpleasant all together.
After looking around again to make sure no one could see his secret location, Harry began foraging through the bushes and up the hill. The shrubs were dry and brittle, scratching him as he walked. He hoped they would deter anyone else from trying to climb the hill.
The entrance to crawl under the deck was only a foot high. The area under the deck itself was about three feet in height. To get under, he'd have to lie down and shimmy under the small gap. He could see the ground as he neared it. It was just dirt with a few round stones.
Begrudgingly, he lay down in the bushes and managed to squeeze under the deck. After brushing on the pieces of shrub that had broken off on his clothing, they scootched against the wall and lay as flat as he could. The bushes rose just high enough that he couldn't see the path below and anyone looking up couldn't see him.
Sticking his sweatshirt behind his head, he tried to make himself as comfortable as possible. Now he just had to sit and wait three hours until the game ended.
~*~
Hermione panicked. She had no idea where to hide and her wristwatch told her she only had three more minutes. She couldn't see anyone else running around.
"They must all be hidden already," she breathed to herself. She could feel the sweat brimming on her forehead. She didn't want to lose.
Turning around, she noticed the ranger station in front of her. The deck. It was the perfect place to hide. Hermione took off charging up the hill. If she hurried, she just might get herself hidden in time.
* * END Chapter Eleven * *