Hermione sighed and sank her body against Harry's as his warm mouth explored hers. His hands were strongly resting atop her hips, having slid back from around her waist as their kiss deepened. He'd become too wrapped up in the moment to do anything else with them. Wither her eyes shut, Hermione felt securely enough to let her mouth roam freely around Harry's. She made a move to lean in further when without warning; he broke off their kiss.
Hermione let her eyes flutter open as she regarded him with a look of bewilderment. Harry was staring not at Hermione, but over her shoulder with wide eyes and an open mouth. It could only be described as a look of pure shock. Hermione slowly began to notice a loud noise infiltrating her ears. Her euphoric smile began to fade as she realized the loud noise was coming from nearly the entire camp encircling them, clapping and cheering loudly.
Hermione was stricken with a sudden panic. The large crowd was making her feel increasingly more and more claustrophobic with their watchful eyes. Her pulse began to quicken as her eyes flicked around, looking for the nearest escape route. Fleetingly, the darted back to Harry. He remained frozen in front of her.
With a small gasp, Hermione turned and began pushing her way through the crowd. She let the noise of those around her drown out as she ran for the door. All she wanted was to get outside. She needed air. As she went, she failed to hear Meegan calling after her. Initially, all she'd planned on was walking out the door, but once she'd gotten there, her legs kept her moving. A few small tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Mainly, she was ashamed and embarrassed. It was her, QUIET Hermione Granger. She was the last person anyone would expect to make a spectacle of herself by making out with her best friend in front of a crowd.
Before she knew it, Hermione was alone in the moonlight standing at the edge of the lake. She sighed and walked over to the dock. With a soft sniffle, she sat down in a heap at its end. Pulling off her shoes, she scooted herself close enough to the edge so as to let her toes dangle in the water.
She never heard him come up behind her. He just stood there with a heavy heart watching her stare off across the lake. No one was supposed to know they had a relationship. He'd gotten too into the moment and caused the person he cared about most undeserving heartache. Quietly, he walked over to her a put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Hermione's body jumped a bit at the unexpected contact, but quickly relaxed as she realized who had followed her. Still not turning around, she slid a hand up to rest over his on her shoulder. With a sigh, he sat down behind her and tightly wrapped both his arms around her waist.
Hermione leaned back and brought her arms up to rest over his. She started to breath easier just feeling him next to her. He had a calming effect over her entire body.
"I'm sorry," said Harry is a whisper, mumbling it into her hair, his cheek resting against the side of her head.
"It's not your fault," said Hermione quietly.
"It's not your either," countered Harry, not wanting Hermione to carry any of the blame herself that he'd gladly take on all on his own to spare her any pain.
"I know," said Hermione, sniffling away the last bit of her tears as she relaxed in his arms. "I don't blame either one of us. We just got caught up, it happens. It just happened to be a very unfortunate moment."
"Really? Because that was the way I'd always envisioned us announcing our relationship," said Harry with a chuckle trying to lighten the mood.
"Git," said Hermione laughing as she flipped an arm behind her and whapped him in the shoulder. She swiveled around so that she was still in his arms, but now facing him. "I'm alright with it," she smiled. "It wasn't the way I'd imagined it, unlike you," she giggled, "but it happened. And besides the initial embarrassment, it does save us finding a way to tell Ron and Meegan."
"You're too optimistic for you own good sometimes," said Harry leaning down and giving her a soft kiss. "Do you want to go back up now?"
"No, I don't. Not yet at least," said Hermione turning back around and snuggling down into his arms again.
"Whenever you're ready then," said Harry, kissing the crown of her head.
"Thank you, you're amazing."
"Do you think I should go after her," said Meegan as she watched Hermione run out of the lodge. She was still in Ron's arms, having just stopped dancing to watch the scene.
"I think it's covered," noted Ron as Harry began making his way toward the door as well.
"Do you think she's going to be all right? Personally, I'd be mortified. Oh wait, that already happened to me and I was!" said Meegan with a smirk recalling her own public make out session.
"Meegan, you're not still thinking about that are you?" said Ron, titling his head to the side and giving her a frustrated look that she hadn't been able to let it go yet.
"No, no, I'm ok. I just know she must be rather embarrassed right now. But can I just say again, OH MY GOD!" Meegan had now slid out of Ron's arms.
"No kidding! I knew those two have both been into each other for quite some time, but to see them finally admit it to each other; WOW!" said Ron smiling from ear to ear, completely happy that his best friends had finally admitted their feelings to each other.
"At least it's the last day of camp. They can go to bed, suffer a few hours of snickering tomorrow, then escape, UNLIKE me," said Meegan with a smirk.
"What was that? I thought you said you were over it?" said Ron, slowly raising his arms and stepping toward her with a wicked look in his eyes.
"Ron, what are you doing?" said Meegan, smiling and taking a step back.
"Just," he stepped closer, "going to," he stepped closer again, "tickle you!" He lunged and attacked her waist. She squealed and writhed around in his arms. After a minute, he stopped by wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her tightly. "Do you know how much I'm going to miss you when you leave tomorrow?" He spoke into her hair as he held her.
"Half as much as I'm going to miss you," she said, titling her head up and kissing him. She didn't care who was watching anymore, she just wanted to be happy, and Ron made her happy.
When Hermione and Harry finally walked back, the dance was long over. They'd rested together silently for quiet sometime, breathing in simpatico and simply enjoying being near each other. They were hand in hand as they made their way up the dark hill from the lake toward the camp. Normally, Hermione would be nervous in the dark, but with Harry by her side, she never felt a drop of fear.
"Thank you for coming after me," said Hermione as they stopped in front of her cabin, which was before Harry's. She was still holding his hand and she smiled at his moonlight face.
"I'll always come after you," said Harry, leaning down and giving her a sweet kiss. She remained holding his hand as their mouths gracefully danced with each other.
"I know," said Hermione, beaming, as they broke apart. "I should get to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." She gave his hand a soft squeeze and she turned and slipped into her cabin. He watched her for a moment before heading off toward his own cabin.
Reaching his door, Harry tiptoed in and gently shut it behind him. Slipping off his shoes, he decided to just creep over to his bed. It had been too long of a night; he'd deal with everything in the morning. He lifted up the side of his bed and began to slide in, when he hit something, someone, sleeping in his bed. Harry let out a brief swear in shock, letting his arm flail and whack whomever was sleeping in his bed in the stomach as she sprung out of it. A loud choking noise next to him let him know he'd woken up him up.
A disorientated Ron sat up at blinked his eyes a couple time until he focused on Harry. "Bloody time," said Ron, mumbling and still squinting. "I tried to wait up for you."
"Why were you in my bed?" asked Harry, still quite shocked to have found Ron there.
"To make sure I'd get the chance to talk to you tonight," said Ron as he finally managed to get his eyes to stay open.
"About what?" said Harry, scratching his head, still thinking about how odd it was for him to find Ron asleep.
"Well for starters, that small, minute, really insignificant little scene that you and Hermione caused during the dance," said Ron as he moved to sit on the side of the bed.
"Ohhh," said Harry, sitting down next to Ron.
When were you going to tell me? I'd always assumed, being the best friend and all, to BOTH of you, that'd I'd be privy to such information before it was released to the general public," said Ron scoffing a bit.
"Ron, we didn't mean for that to happen in the least. And you were the first person we were going to tell. It's just that over the past few weeks, we hadn't wanted to tell anyone. Especially after what had happened with you and Meegan, we just wanted to avoid the situation until we'd left camp. But I swear, you were going to be the first one we told," said Harry looking down at his hands.
"I believe you. But bloody hell Harry, don't you have any self restrain! You said it yourself just now that you didn't want to cause a scene at camp. Let's just say you beat Meegan and me with that little show you two put on… times ten!" said Ron cracking his lips into a small smile. He tried, but he couldn't hold in the small chuckle he let out.
"It's not funny, Ron," said Harry attempting to look serious. Unfortunately, Ron's goofy smile just got Harry to crack and laugh too. "Oh shut up!" He said, shoving Ron of the bed and laughing as he landed in a lump on the floor.
"I'll take that as goodnight," said Ron, laughing and rubbing his sore side as he stood and climbed up to his bunk. "Right, goodnight then."
"Good night, Ron."
Hermione quietly shut the door behind her as she entered her cabin and prepared to tiptoe over to her bottom bunk that was paralleling in front of the door. She'd barely turned when she let out a small squeak and jumped. Sitting there at the edge of her bed was a very put off looking Meegan.
Hermione contorted her face into an apprehensive look at she hesitantly walked over, he head lowered a bit toward the ground in shame, and sat down next to her downright frightening looking friend.
"Explain now," said Meegan simply, adjusting her sitting position so that she was turned toward Hermione.
"We didn't mean for that to happen. You know I'm not one for a public display, hence why I left. Honestly though, we were going to tell you. Tomorrow in fact," said Hermione, rambling out everything she had to say, the wincing a bit as she waiting for Meegan's rebuttal.
"I can't believe you never told me! I told you everything about Ron and me! And you know that I would have supported you! I've only told you since day one that you and Mr. Potter would make a fabulous couple," said Meegan indignantly. She was a little hurt since she'd thought Hermione would know her well enough now to trust her with such information.
"I was going to, but then after you and Ron got caught, Harry and I decided to wait until the end of camp to let anyone know at all. I can only imagine what Ron put Harry through, he being our best friend and all, and not knowing," said Hermione, offering Meegan a small smile.
Meegan began to giggle too. She knew how Ron could get. "You're right, I'm sorry Hermione. I just wish you had told me!! Then we could have been giggling about our boyfriends for the past month!"
"I can't guarantee that I'd have been much of a giggler," Hermione smiled as Meegan got of the bed and moved in preparation to climb up to her bunk.
"We can try it writing to each other after camp," smiled Meegan. "Besides, I'll need someone to keep my up to date on Ron's hijinks!" Both girls laughed as Meegan climbed up into her bed.
"That's promise. Goodnight, Meegan," said Hermione, climbing into her own bed.
"Good night."
~*~
"It's over. " Said Hermione in a sullen voice as she watched the last van of campers drive away. Harry stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. Around them, some of the camp stand wandered around cleaning up the tables et al that had been set-up for camper checkout. A few cleaners they'd hired were wandering around the grounds, preparing it for the next group who'd be using the facilities.
"Come on, your mother will be here in thirty minutes to get us. We should get our bags and bring them up," said Harry, releasing her waist and taking her hand as he led her away. A few groups of counselors stood around them, watching them speculatively, but neither cared as they walked down the familiar path toward the lake.
"See you in a bit," said Harry, leaning over and kissing Hermione as they stopped at the point where the path split leading to the girls and boys sides of the camp.
"Ok," said Hermione with a large smile, as they broke apart, letting her hand slide from his with a look of longing as they went their separate ways.
Hermione found Meegan and Allison already inside packing up the rest of their bags. They looked up at her, a bit teary-eyed themselves, as she entered the cabin.
"Hey," said Hermione with a wavering smile. It only took her a minute before she flew across the cabin and joined Meegan and Allison in a group hug. "Oh, I'm really going to miss those girls!" Hermione wiped a tear from her cheek as they leaned apart.
"Me too. It's always so hard letting them go," said Meegan, dabbing her eyes with the sleeves of the oversized wool sweater with a large 'R' sewn in the middle she'd borrowed from Ron.
"I can't wait to do this again next year," smiled Allison through a few tears. "It's hard seeing everyone leave, but I had so much fun!"
"I'm really glad you could come over for the summer," said Meegan, wrapping her arm around her cousin's shoulders.
"Me too," she sniffled in reply.
"Let's promise we'll keep writing each other during the school year until we can come back next summer," said Hermione as she began stuffing her remaining items into her duffle bag.
"There's no question about that," smiled Meegan. "We can visit on holidays and what not. Besides, I'll be needing to visit my boyfriend," she winked.
"And you'll tell us all about Harry, right?!" asked Allison excitedly to Hermione.
"It'll take some getting used to, but I think I can learn this 'girl- talk' thing," said Hermione grinning. "Now how about we haul these bags up and get out of here? I don't know about you two, but it's going to be very nice to be in my own bed for a change!"
"No kidding," laughed Allison, tossing her bags over her shoulder and following Hermione out the door. Meegan followed behind and closed the door after herself. All three turned for a moment and looked at their cabin before trekking up the hill.
"Are you going to tell them about us?" said Harry, leaning in next to Hermione and whispering into her ear. Both of Hermione's parents had picked up her, Harry, and Ron, so the three of them had squeezed in the back seat. Hermione, being the smallest, had taken the middle.
"Not in a confined space," she giggled as he leaned back away from her and gave her hand a little squeeze, hoping it was out of view from her parents.
"All right Ron?" said Harry, looking over at his friend who had his forehead pressed against the glass window, staring out as trees flew by.
"I suppose," said Ron, leaning back into his seat and offering Harry and Hermione a lop-sided smile.
"You're going to write her as soon as we get back, aren't you?" said Hermione with a teasing grin.
"Of course!" Ron beamed.
"Are you going to tell her that you're… "
"Not a Muggle?" Ron cut off Harry. "Definitely, just… not yet."
"She'll understand when the time comes," Hermione put a supportive hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Thanks 'Mione. And when you two tell everyone at school that you're dating, they'll understand as well."
"WHAT?!" Came the yells from Hermione's parents in the front seat.
THE END
sequel in consideration =) please review.