Disclaimer in Chapter One
~*~
Camp Muggle
~*~
Chapter Three:
The next morning came quickly. Soon, Hermione's mother was driving everyone to camp. The counselors had been asked
to come one day early for training and camp set-up. Naturally, they were using Muggle transportation. It had been a
fight between Hermione and the boys, but eventually she'd gotten them to agree to put up with the three-hour car
ride. Ron tried to insist on using floo powder to the house of an old witch who'd worked at the ministry. Her home
was only a few mintues from the camp, but Hermione insisted they arrive normally.
Giving up everything magical wasn't easy for any of them. Hermione had a favorite diary she gotten during her fifth year while on a school trip to Hogsmead that would talk to you about any worry you wrote in it. She debated on taking it since she never missed a day of writing, but decided it would be safer left at home, especially since most of what she wrote pertained to Harry and she didn't want that getting into the wrong hands.
The boy's had their own transfixed items as well, but Hermione had made sure to search their bags and force them to empty their pockets before getting into the car. She'd found a few ton-tongue toffees and canary creams in their pockets, but they'd been smart enough to leave most everything else behind instead of facing her wrath.
"Hermione, are we there yet?" Ron asked for the hundredth time. He made a habit of nagging her every five minutes to prove the point that he was still angry they had to use Muggle transportation.
"Ron, if you ask again I'll...I'll...I'll tell your campers you wet the bed!" she fumed from her seat in front, turning and addressing him properly. "Now for the last time, we'll be there in about ten minutes. The ride's nearly through."
Ron just gave her a nasty look and turned away from her, folding his arms and looking out the window. She glared and spun back around in her seat in retaliation.
"Don't mind him," Harry leaned forward from the back seat and whispered into her ear. He reached up and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "He's just being a git. Besides, he's still used to his mother's driving since they just recently got an automobile. Can you blame him for being so antsy about riding in them?" He felt her tightened shoulders relax under his touch and heard her release a sigh. Satisfied, he returned to his seat.
'That boy!' thought Hermione as she tried not to smile. She had to remind herself that she should be exasperated with Harry for having such an effect on her. All he had to do was touch her and she'd relaxed. His voice alone was soothing.
Hermione rolled her eyes at herself and looked out the window at the passing trees. It had gotten progressively more wooded as they got closer and closer to the camp location. It was a very secluded spot. Not to mention safe. Hermione had naturally owled Professor Dumbledore and told him about their situation. They knew Voldemort was still on the prowl and everyone, especially Harry, needed protection. He'd placed a few charms around the camp, unbeknownst to anyone else but Hermione and the rest of the Hogwart's faculty. He'd even gone as far to make sure there was someone there who could help incase of an incident. He'd enlisted Madame Pomfrey to be the camp nurse. Hermione knew Ron and Harry were in for a nasty shock when they saw her, but the plan was for her to make in seem like a coincidence that she was the nurse at the same camp they were working at.
"Are we there?!" she heard Ron ask faintly in the background of her reverie.
"Ron!" she closed her eyes in exasperation, "for the LAST TIME..." She opened her eyes and noticed that they actually were there, "we're here."
"Excellent," he smiled, "'Bout time then."
~*~
Hermione's mother had left and all of the counselors who'd arrived were gathered in the lodge waiting for the last few to show up. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were among the last to get there, so they hadn't been made to wait very long. They'd found a table off to the corner to themselves. They hadn't really bothered to look around to see who they'd be working with for the rest of the summer.
"Okay everyone, quite down!" A voice rose over the crowd. Hermione looked up and noticed a young man standing atop a table in the front of the room. He looked young for an adult, probably about 22 or 23. He was a little over six foot tall, about the same height as Harry. Ron easily towered them at 6'3". He was tan and had short brown hair. If Hermione wasn't so smitten with Harry, she might have fancied him.
"For those of you who are new, or many not have met me yet, my name is Greg Waters. I've been Camp Director here at Camp Silver Lake for the past two years now. Before that, I was a counselor. I've had a lot of great times out here so I hope the same for all of you. Today we're going to do some introductions and get to know one another. Then we'll split into cabin assignments. After that, we're going to work in groups based upon cabin assignments. We'll be going over some basic first aid, some situational information, and the basic camp rules. After training, we'll have dinner, and then you're free to move into your cabins. I expect lights out at 10:00 sharp. Your campers arrive between 7:00 and 8:00 tomorrow morning. I'd recommend waking up around 6:00am so everyone can get showers in if they wish and be dressed, in camp shirt don't forget. If you want time for breakfast, I highly suggest getting an early shower. Everyone needs to be up at the recreation field by 7:00 sharp."
~*~
"'Mione!" Hermione turned around to what she instantly recognized as Harry's voice. It was about 8:30pm. She was thoroughly exhausted from the day of training. It had taken all the way up to 8:00 to finish. After they broke into cabin assignments, she's rarely had a chance to see Harry and Ron. At the moment, she was walking to her cabin with her bags and blankets stacked above her head. It had already taken her ten minutes just to get halfway down the path without spilling any of them.
"Harry?" she called over the pile. She couldn't see him.
"Right here," she heard his voice on the other side of the pile. "Let me help." He came into view as a large portion of the stack of bedding and blankets disappeared.
"Thanks," she blushed and he walked up to her side and they continued down the path toward her cabin.
"How are your cabin mates?" he inquired.
"Very nice. There are two senior girl counselors in each of the four girl cabins, and one junior girl counselor. Are the boy's cabins similar?" she kept her head forward as to not trip on the path, but stole furtive glances at Harry next to her. He looked great. She could see his muscles flexing as he carried the larger portion of her baggage.
"Same. Ron and I were very fortunate. We're both senior boy counselors together. A 15 year old Muggle boy named Patrick Johnson is our junior boy counselor."
"Well naturally he's a Muggle, Harry," Hermione laughed a bit. "And best to not being using that word. We need to act like Mug...I mean to say, we must act normal." She blushed correcting herself.
"Right," he agreed opening the door to her cabin for her. His eyes followed her. They were twinkling like the stars that had just risen outside.
"First bunk on the left," she directed him where to put the bags. He set them down and continued to gaze at her, not noticing the two other girls in the cabin until one sprung at him.
"Why hello there!" A pretty brunette stood instantly and nearly flew over to Harry. "I'm Allison White." She extended her hand as Harry shook it, a bit startled at her forwardness.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Harry," he smiled meekly, glancing worriedly at Hermione, hoping she wouldn't take this the wrong way. She smiled back supportively. Obviously she'd known Allison would react to meeting him this way.
"I'm fifteen. I'm the junior counselor here. This is my cousin Meegan White. She's sixteen. She lives in London. I'm from America. I came to visit for the summer. My parents thought it would be a good learning experience. Have you ever been to America, Harry? Where are you from Harry?..."
Harry turned to Hermione looking a bit afraid. Luckily for him, Meegan cut off her cousin.
"Allison, leave Harry alone," she said to Allison who instantly quieted and sat down. Meegan rose and walked over to Harry, politely extending her hand. "Meegan White," she smiled. She also had brown hair, but unlike Allison's curled style, hers was plain and simple, falling down her back. She was very beautiful and seemed to carry a sophisticated air around her.
"Nice to meet you," Harry smiled. He liked her. Not like he liked Hermione, mind you, but he found her to be very kind.
She leaned forward and whispered into his ear, "Now run away while I distract Allison."
"Nice to meet you both," he repeated again and turned to Hermione. She immediately got the hint.
"I'll be right back," she smiled, taking Harry by the arm and swiftly leading him out the door. "Right, sorry 'bout Allison." She smiled, still holding onto his arm gently.
"Is she always like that?" Harry asked with a bemused expression.
"Afraid so. Meegan's quite nice though."
"Yes, I thought so too."
Hermione frowned a bit at this. She didn't like the sound of that. Harry must have noticed because he changed the subject immediately.
"I'm going to go find Ron but, well," he hesitated for a moment, looking as if he were scheming something in his head, "Right, anyway, 'Night 'Mione." He suddenly finished, quickly leaning over and hugging her tight before releasing her and hustling off.
Hermione was quite shocked. 'Where did that come from?' She wondered as she walked back into the cabin with a silly grin on her face. She didn't get to think for long however as she was immediately bombarded by Allison.
"Hermione, he is fabulous! So handsome!!" Allison beamed. "Is he your boyfriend?"
"Um…well..." She desperately didn't want to say 'No', afraid Allison would take too much of a liking to him, but there was no other answer. "Um..."
"Hermione?" Meegan looked at her inquisitively, "is he? He looked at you as if he might fancy you?"
"Did he now?" Hermione brightened up and took a seat on Meegan's bed, next to her and Allison.
"I thought he did. Allison?"
"I did ask if he was her boyfriend." she rolled her eyes at her older cousin.
"Well, he's not...but..." she hesitated.
"Hermione, really now, this IS camp," Allison giggled. "Haven't you ever been? Girl's cabins are notorious for gossip amongst themselves. It's not camp unless you spill your secrets among the girls who will become your closest companions for the rest of the summer. Don't worry, it's like totally illegal to spill any of the secrets told within a cabin's walls."
"Well, the thing is," she looked up, "Harry's my best friend."
"Is that all?" Meegan asked. She had a feeling it wasn't.
"Well," Hermione was afraid. If she told them, they'd be the first people she ever told unless one counted her bewitched diary. "I...I might fancy him a bit." She blushed a wicked shade of crimson.
"A bit?" Meegan laughed at her obvious embarrassment.
"Fine then. You might go as far to say he's been the sole object of my affection for the past two years," Hermione looked as if she might cry at the revelation.
"That's marvelous!" Meegan smiled.
"Of course it is! They'd be too cute together!" Allison added.
"Really?" Hermione asked.
"I think so. I also think Harry might fancy you too," Meegan looked at her quite certainly.
"Harry? Like me? That's...well, that's preposterous!" Hermione shunned the idea. "We've been best friends for the past well..." she'd become flustered, "the past...oh forever!"
"He looked at you as if he liked you. Didn't you notice?" Allison said.
"He looked at me like he always looks at me," Hermione tried to reason.
"So he always looks like a boy in love then?" Meegan finished.
"Did he now?" Hermione seemed very interested.
The girls talked until lights out at ten and then continued to talk in the dark until they'd drifted off to sleep. They'd become instant friends bonded by the secrets they'd shared all night. Including the fact that Meegan had noticed 'an adorable redhead' at dinner who Hermione had been able to identify as Ron. They would have talked longer, but they knew they needed their rest for the long day to come.
~*~
"Ron, I've been a terrible git!" Harry exclaimed, storming into the cabin they shared with Patrick Johnson who was in the bathroom at the moment. He'd just run, literally from Hermione. He was too embarrassed to turn around to see if she'd gone back into her cabin or not. He'd hugged her trying to think of something to do to ease her thoughts that he might be interested in Allison. He'd panicked and it was the only thing that could come to mind. She'd felt so good in his arms.
"What's your blubbering about now?" Ron looked up from his top bunk above Harry's. He sat the magazine down he was reading and leaned upside down over the edge to look at Harry below him. He'd flopped onto his bed, shoes and all, in frustration after storming into the cabin.
"I…" 'Oh no!' Harry stopped and realized, he'd never told anyone he liked her. Ron wouldn't understand. "It was nothing." He simply cut off.
"Right then," Ron looked as if he was going to go back to his magazine as his head disappeared, but the next thing Harry knew, he'd hopped off the top bunk and was towering over Harry's bed, blocking his only escape route. "As I said, right then, let's hear it."
"It's nothing," Harry sat up, but easily realized Ron was not going to let him pass by and was not going to let it slide this time. Many a time had he stormed up to their dormitory after embarrassing himself in front Hermione, but he'd always made up an excuse.
"Harry!" he bellowed. "I demand, as your best friend, to know why you always storm into the room in such a tizzy, then refuse to speak about it."
"She DID NOT make me act in a tizzy Ron!" Harry stood up yelling at Ron, but quickly fell back to a seated position as he realized what he'd said. His eyes grew large.
"AH HA!" Ron exclaimed. "I knew it! It's Hermione isn't it! I've heard you mumble her name in your sleep. Admit it, YOU LIKE HER! You do don't you? I'm right aren't I? Tell me I'm right?"
"Ron shut up! The entire camp'll here you! If you shut up then yes I do. Are you happy with yourself?" Harry frowned, folding his arms.
"You like Hermione!!?" he nearly yelled louder than before, if it was at all possible.
"Ron! Quit yelling you prat! You said it yourself that you'd figured it out!" Harry frowned.
Ron sat down on Harry's bed next to him, lowering his voice as he spoke, "I was just blubbering. I never thought you'd say you actually liked her! I just figured you'd gone off to do some masterful prank on Hermione and I just wanted to get in on it. Really that's all." He smiled.
Harry looked up and smiled back, noticing Ron wasn't saying anything cruel about his admittance to his feelings for Hermione.
"So you really do like her. 'Right. Have you told her?"
"Of course not!" Harry looked astonished. "Why would I do such a thing?! You know 'Mione! She'd probably never speak to me again!"
"Or she'd say she liked you back," Ron countered.
"How silly of me Ron. Naturally she'd tell me that!" Harry rolled his eyes.
"She might. You don't know until you try."
"You don't think it's strange. I mean, she is both our best friend. That's all we've all ever been to each other, best friends." Harry wagered.
"Why would I you git?! This is fantastic! I always wagered out of all of Gryffindor, you two would be the most likely to get together!" he smiled. "In fact, Dean, Seamus and I have a gamble on it. Hurry up and ask her out. I said you two would be a couple before seventh year! I've had 20 galleons riding on that bet for two years now!"
"Really?" Harry laughed a bit.
"Really. Now what've you done to put yourself in such a tizzy?"
~*~
Replies to chapter three get chapter four posted sooner! =)