~*~
Chapter 12
~*~
She could hear the footsteps behind her as the students poured out of the lodge. Without another thought, she began flying up the hill, ignoring the sticker bushes clinging to her clothes as she went. Seeing the entrance nearing, Hermione lied down and rolled under as fast she could.
Sliding under the narrow opening, she came to a stop against something large, soft, and moving. "Harry!" she said in a loud whisper of shock.
His eyes widened at the sight of her, they were inches apart, face-to- face. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
"I'm sorry," she averted her eyes, "I'll leave," she motioned toward the opening.
As she did, the sound of nearby voices floated up to them. Harry reached out and stopped her with a hand to her forearm. She glanced back at him with soulful eyes. His in return begged her to stay, knowing she was as good as caught if she left. Silently, she settled back down. Uncomfortably, Harry slowly pulled his hand back as he released her shoulder.
"Do you see that deck?" The voice of a young girl from below rose up to them.
Hermione turned her head to face Harry; the look of fright in her eyes mirrored his.
"I see it, but I'm not going to look," another voice answered. "Do you seem those bushes?"
"Oh, don't be wimps," a third voice cut in, "I'm going up to take a look." The voice died out, but was replaced by the noise of rustling bushes.
Hermione felt Harry move next to her. She watched as he pulled the waded up sweatshirt from behind his head and yanked a silvery mass from it that was carefully wrapped in order to remain concealed. With a quick glance at her, he flipped his invisibility cloak over himself and disappeared from sight.
Panic rose within her, she was going to be caught. The rustling noises were growing closer, her head turned to the opening. A moment later she glanced back to the spot where Harry lay. To her surprise, the edge of his cloak suddenly lifted up. She eyed him suspiciously.
His eyes widened in surprise, he'd assumed she'd have taken his offer and immediately climbed under. "Come on," he hissed. The noises outside were upon them. Without another glance, she slipped under the cloak and settled atop Harry. He tucked the cloak securely around them just as a flashlight shined under the edge.
Hermione held her breath and tried to remain calm as the light scanned up and down in the space below the deck. As the seconds ticked by, she grew more and more uncomfortable. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to control her breathing. Not in fear, but in for the fact she lay fully atop Harry. Every inch of her was matched by part of him. She silently thanked the fact that she was shorter than he was, or their faces would be to close for comfort. Instead, she had hers lying sideways across his chest.
"No one here," the girl holding the light called back to her friends. As she left, they listened to her footsteps until their sound died out and they were left alone again.
~*~
Harry was suddenly very aware that Hermione was completely lying on him. Every possible inch of her front was touching him. His breathing suddenly became a bit quickened as his throat constricted uncomfortably.
"Well," her voiced squeaked in an attempt at whispering, "that was certainly a close one." She shifted a bit uncomfortably, but stopped moving as soon as she remembered her current state.
"Yes, it was," said Harry. His voice was low and seemed pained. He swallowed harshly. Of all situations he'd imagined, this was the last one that would have ever entered his mind. The pair hadn't spoken to one another since their impromptu kiss, and now here they were in a very compromising position.
"Do you…do you want me to leave now?" said Hermione spoke softly to him, her face was turned toward the opening out from the deck. Her ear was positioned directly over his heart, and she spoke, she listened to its rhythmic beating.
"No," he said it so softly, he wasn't sure if he'd actually said it at all. Not only did he not want to be the reason she got caught, but maybe if they were alone, he'd have a chance to talk to her.
"Okay," said Hermione, still in a soft, unsure tone.
Harry took in a heavy breath. He could feel his chest labor to rise under the weight of Hermione. Closing his eyes, he willed his body to relax.
"We should stay here," said Harry, "under the cloak I mean."
He could feel her nod in assent against his chest.
"They could come back at anytime," he reasoned still, even though she'd already agreed.
"Right."
"And, maybe we should quiet down," he swallowed uncomfortably again.
"Okay."
Harry took in another deep breath and looked up at the dirt encrusted ceiling above him. His mind was racing and his stomach was a flutter. He hated how much she affected him. All she had to do was be in the room and his heart leapt. He closed his eyes again and willed his stomach to settle down. Instead, she shifted again and it started fluttering faster.
"Hermione?"
"I thought we were being quiet," she mumbled into his chest. He could feel her lips moving across the cloth of his shirt.
"We don't have to be silent, we just need to lower our voices," he reasoned.
She didn't say anything is response and his pulse began to quicken in anticipation. He hoped she couldn't hear the increase in the speed of his heart, considering her current position.
"Can we talk?" he meshed his face in anxiety after he spoke.
"We are talking," said Hermione, her voice softer than before.
"I mean really talk," his heart was thumping against his chest so fiercely, he'd assume her a fool not to have noticed already.
"Oh…all right," her voice picked up a bit with a hint of trepidation in it.
"Okay." he began.
~*~
Ron had heard the whistle signaling the start of the game nearly ten minutes ago, and he'd yet to find a suitable hiding spot.
Looking around, he realized he'd ended up near the lake. Further down the way, he spotted the arts and crafts building. The back of it bordered the boundary. Taking a chance, he ran to it, hoping the campers would deem it too close to the out of bounds mark to look.
Rounding the corner, to his surprise, he found Meegan crouched behind back.
"What are you doing here?!" he blurted out, coming to a surprised halt.
"I'm hiding, what are you doing here?" she eyed him suspiciously.
"Hiding," he smiled taking a seat next to her.
She smiled back.
"So, since we're hiding...together.." he grinned leaning in.
~*~
"Harry," Hermione sighed. She was still lying atop him, anticipating his speech. "All you've said was 'Okay' and that was five minutes ago. Quit stalling and get to the point." She didn't mean to find herself irritated, but she was growing increasingly edgy due to their compromising position.
"Right...the thing is…I mean, I didn't mean for this...Hermione," he rambled.
Hermione sighed; she knew he'd never spill it out. And knowing Harry, she was expecting him to let her down in the most idiotic way he could possibly muster.
"You and I...I mean…we're friends and all.." He continued to blabber incoherently.
"Harry, get to the point," she frowned in a deadpan voice. She was not looking forward to the two and a half hours they had left his this was all she was going to get out of him.
"The point? Oh, right, my point. Well, my point is… It's just that… Well things change and…" He still danced from topic to topic.
She could hear his heart's speed growing exceedingly faster as he spoke. She knew he was flustered. Obviously, it was harder for him than she'd expected to let her down.
"You want to know something, Harry?" said Hermione in an agitated voice, propping herself up and scooting a bit so she hovered directly over his face. She didn't care what it looked like; she was getting fed up.
"Wh…what?" he swallowed uncomfortably, leaning his head back, as far away from her as he could.
"You are a spineless git!" spat Hermione. She raised her eyebrow at him in a look of self-victory after she finished.
He seemed a bit shocked at her sudden outburst. Unfortunately for Hermione though, Harry let his competitive side get the better of him. He'd yet to back down on any challenge she'd ever thrown in his face, and this time, he wasn't going to either.
"Oh, I am, am I?" his voice suddenly rose to defense. He began to lean back closer to her in defiance.
"Ya." She gave him a smug, matter of fact look back. Hermione, in return, never quit what she started with Harry.
"You're a know-it-all," he mocked her with the one insult he knew she'd gasp in shock to every time he said it.
"Ah!" she didn't disappoint him as she let out a small gasp. However, she quickly subsided it, as her eyes grew fiery and narrowed. With a quick tongue, she retaliated, "At least I'm not afraid of what I feel!"
"I'm not afraid?? I'm not the one who hides behind books and tests to avoid any real emotions!" He countered as quickly as she had. He was ever so slowly getting closer, still glaring as he inched in.
"At least I don't run away from mine…unlike SOME people I know!" she leaned closer as well, refusing to back down. She didn't seem to have control over what she was saying, but she knew he was miffed which was what she'd been aiming for and also what was fueling her to continue.
"At least I know what I want!" he was so close, she could feel his breath against her lips, but she ignored it, still determined to win.
"Oh, do you now?"
"Ya, I do," he said flatly.
"Well, what's that then?" she tossed him a smirking smile. She hoped this would throw him for a loop and hand her the victory.
He looked at her for the smallest spilt second before leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers.
~*~
"Ron!!" Meegan giggled through kisses and he swirled his hands across the small of her back.
He smiled against her lips as he continued.
The pair was blissfully kissing behind the building, completely ignorant to their surroundings.
A small moan escaped Meegan's lips as Ron's hand slid up to cup the back of her head.
"GOTCHA!!!!!!!" A bright beam of light suddenly shone directly on both the faces.
They broke instantly.
"Oh My GOD! My counselor is kissing a boy!!!!!" A high-pitched girl's voice screamed.
"Oh my god," Meegan murmured in shock, hiding her face in Ron's shoulder.
"Sarah!! Meegan's kissing that boy she likes!" another girl yelled around the corner.
"What boy?" a guy's voice from a distance replied.
"Damn..." Ron muttered near inaudibly.
"Your counselor!" the girl yelled back, almost gleefully. She turned back to Ron and Meegan who were still sitting there blushing. "Don't worry, only the entire camp will know. If you want, when we throw you in the lake, you can go in together," she winked maliciously.