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Chapter 5
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Ron and Harry had decided to take their group over to the recreation field to join in the game of kickball that Peter was starting. The tour seemed rather pointless considering all of their campers had gone to Camp Silver Lake before and therefore should still remember their way around.
As they arrived, Peter was dividing the campers into two teams, boys against girls, due to popular demand. Harry looked around and noticed nearly the entire camp was playing rather than taking tours to pass the time until lunch. He smiled as his eyes came across Hermione. He'd have expected her to promptly take her group on a tour, but she'd surprised him by being there. Maybe she'd done it earlier to make their day more efficient, he laughed to himself.
"Harry, pay attention. We're starting now and if you keep staring at her like that, you'll get yourself pelted in the head with the ball," Ron laughed noticing his best friend entranced by subsequently their other best friend.
"Oh right. What side are we on?" Harry smiled at Ron, prying is attention from Hermione. He blushed a bit, which he tried to hide, at the fact he'd be gawking.
"We're up you git, now come on. We need to get off the field and over to the rest of the team!" Ron nearly drug Harry, who was still a bit dazed, off the field. Lucky for him, no one but Ron had noticed.
The boys, all of the boys, were lined up on the sidelines while the field was full of girls. There were about thirty for each side, which meant about four groups were still out doing tours. Harry and Ron were near the front on the line. Since it was a game, they didn't really need to be doing much work but playing. Naturally, their competitive sides, fueled by Quidditch, kept them always at an edge. They were probably more into the game that most of the campers.
By the time Harry got up to the plate, it was already 5-0 in favor of the boys, who were still at bat in the first inning. He scanned the field looking for an opening, completely oblivious to the fact the William was sneaking pictures of him from his spot in line or that Hermione was intently watching him from her fielding position.
~*~
"Blimey Hermione, that's him isn't it!" Juliet screamed next to Hermione, breaking her intently satisfying gaze at Harry.
"Ah…what was that Juliet?" The words were drowned out from everyone else around them due to the loud cheers from both sides and the excitement from the game.
"You never told me he was here! Oh my!" Juliet was jumping up and down screaming.
"Who's here?" Hermione was still trying to focus. She must have been lost on Harry for at least the past five minutes. She placed herself far enough to the side that she wouldn't really have to play, but could watch Harry instead.
Just then the boys started yelling at Harry kicked the ball. Hermione turned forward just in time for the high speeding ball to peg her dead square in the stomach. She fell to the ground with a thump. No words could be managed as he'd completely knocked the wind out of her.
~*~
Harry was waiting at the plate for the perfect pitch, well, roll, to him and since a ten year old girl was pitching, he took the first slow roller he got and kicked it with all his might. He knew he'd contacted well when a cheer erupted behind him from the other boys. He loved nothing like the yells of a crowd. Something he'd always fueled off since he started playing Quidditch. He took of toward first base, taking a glance to see where is ball was going. He saw is soaring down the third base line. Being that he was the first counselor to go, his kick was much harder and faster than all those before him. As it sailed down the line, something happened, it stopped dead stride coming into contact with a girl in the field. The world around Harry began to slow and he stopped running and froze as the girl crumpled to the ground. The boys behind him yelled, coaxing him to stop staring and keeping running. The only thing that stopped however was his heart as he realized that the girl was Hermione and that she wasn't getting up.
Before another thought could hit him, he was sprinting to her and reached her in seconds.
"Hermione! Hermione!" he called as he ran. Everyone else had finally realized what had happened and were gathering around her. Some of the boys, including Ron, came running over behind Harry.
He quickly knelt beside her, sliding a hand under the base of her head. The other, he brought up to her cheek and brushed in gently as he spoke, "'Mione, it's me. I'm sorry, wake up. Wake up 'Mione, I didn't mean to get you." He spoke very quietly trying not to cry in front of everyone. Of all people to hit! His heart was thudding against his chest. He'd seen the way it had knocked her down. The wind had left her so quickly, she fell backward as if she were put into a full body bind.
"That's enough! That's enough! Everyone move on back!" he heard a voice yelling, making its way through the crowd.
"'Mione…" he whispered to her again.
"Mister Potter!" the voice boomed as Harry looked up to see Madame Pomfrey hovering over them. "Care to tell me why Miss Granger is unconscious?" She eyed him suspiciously. Harry knew she must have been calling them troublemakers in her head. Complaining that even here at camp they were still the ones doing foolish things to get hurt.
"Hermione got hit in the stomach with the ball. It knocked the wind out of her. I think she may have hit her head when she fell." Harry ran another finger over her cheek subconsciously as he spoke to her.
"Very well them," she knelt down and gave a quick examination of Hermione who was still knocked out. Harry moved back a bit, but still remained close enough so get could grab a hold of Hermione's hand when no one was looking. He wanted her to know someone was still there for her.
"Yes, she does seem to be all right. Just got the wind knocked out of her, poor dear. She'll be all right, no concussion. Mister Potter, why don't you pick up Miss Granger and follow me so she can lay down for a bit?" With that she stood and continued shooing campers away to make a path for Harry.
"Come on 'Mione," he bent down and gently scooped her small frame into his arms. Carefully, he titled her so that her head tipped in a comfortable position against his shoulder. His could feel her heart beating against him as he smiled down at her in his arms. He'd always dreamed of holding her like this. Her soft, summery smell floated around her. Harry would have continued to stay in the moment, but Madame Pomfrey called again snapping Harry back into reality. He quickly realized he wasn't holding a sleeping Hermione, but rather an unconscious one that needed to get out of the sun and into the nurses office. He gently carried her following Madame Pomfrey. Not unexpectedly, the game restarted as soon as they'd left and the campers lost interest in the situation.
"Set her there on the bed Mister Potter," she directed, shutting, and locking the main door before pulling a bag, hidden in the back of a drawer, out from it's hiding spot. "Can't let anyone see me giving this to her," she gave Harry a knowing smile as she proceeded to close the curtains before going back to the bag and pulling out a vial of green liquid. She poured it into a spoon and went over to where Hermione lied with Harry sitting at her side, holding her hand again. "Open up Miss Granger," she spoke, opening Hermione's mouth for her and pouring the foul smelling liquid down. Harry frowned in disgust. Fortunately though, so did Hermione as her head shot up, coughing and spitting.
"That was absolutely repulsive!" she yelled before coughing a bit and looking around. She noticed Harry first. He was intently looking at her with a smile of relief playing in his eyes. She was about to say something when she felt a small squeeze and her fingertips and glanced down to notice Harry had just released her hand. She wondered how long he'd been holding it with a hidden smile before looking up to Madame Pomfrey for directions.
"A simple Up and Atom potion Miss Granger. I had Professor Snape mix me up a batch before I came. Good for children who refuse to get out of bed, curing the Sleeping Beauty curse, and reviving those who seemed to get knocked out such as yourself."
"Knocked out?" she sat up further, but slowed as she felt a rush of dizziness hit her. She put a hand up to the back of her head and felt a small bump forming. Harry quickly placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her. Hermione instantly felt the rush of dizziness returns, however this time brought on by Harry's touch.
"I'm afraid I got you pretty good in the stomach with a kickball," Harry eyes pleaded for forgiveness as she looked at him. The word stomach brought her attention to her abdomen. She took a small breath in a winced, noticing, in fact, that it was a bit sore.
"How'd I get here?" she asked matter-of-factly, sliding out of the bed and sitting at the side. "Where are my campers? Are they all right?"
"They're fine dear. Still playing kickball with the other counselors I'd assume. Why don't you lie down another minute before you go back out? You took a nasty hit. Mister Potter here sure nailed that one." She smiled at the pair.
"But.." Hermione protested, thinking of her responsibility to her campers.
"If it would ease you a bit, I'll go take a peak at them. I don't suppose you'd mind watching her at all, would you Mister Potter," she smiled at the boy.
"Not at all," he still had a hand on her shoulder for support. Once Madame Pomfrey left, he turned his attention back to Hermione.
"What do you suppose she's here for?" Harry tried to lighten the mood by changing to topic of conversation.
Hermione blushed at looked down at her hands. She knew he'd ask her as soon as he found out Madame Pomfrey was there. "I'd imagine Dumbledore got wind and sent her to keep a eye on me." He tested the waters and watched as Hermione flinched a bit.
"Hermione..." he began with an exasperated tone, knowing she'd told him.
"Well I did it for you own good. You can't go running around all summer with out some sort of protection! Of course I told Dumbledore! I knew he'd want to put charms on the camp to keep you safe. That's all I wanted to do, to keep you safe," she kept her eyes down.
"It's okay 'Mione," he took his arm off her shoulder. She immediately missed its warmth but it was quickly replaced by his arms wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her into his side.
"Now I didn't hurt you too badly now did I," he joked.
She laughed a bit, "Not so bad as I can't whop you one for it." She finally looked up into his eyes which were smiling back at her.
"Thank you by the way," she said.
"For what?" he was still smiling at her like an idiot, completely entranced by her beauty and her proximity.
"For sitting here with me," she smiled, "Even if it was your fault!" She added wickedly at the end after a minute pause.
"Hey!" Harry retaliated by sliding his arm from her shoulders, down to her waist holding her tight as his other hand snaked out and began tickling her mercilessly.
"Oh Harry! Don't! Please!" she begged through fits of laughter. Just then, Madame Pomfrey burst through the door. She gave the two an odd look. They'd frozen in air. Hermione was leaning into Harry to try and avoid the tickling, rather than pull away, which had momentarily been effective considering his arms had both tightened around her on impulse. She'd been too close for him to avoid holding her.
"Feeling better are we? Well run along now. The game is ending and everyone is filing into the lodge for lunch," she shooed them out with a smile as they scrambled to compose themselves.
"Um...Hermione," Harry started. He couldn't keep ignoring the fluttering in his stomach. He had to say something. They neared the entrance and could see everyone already inside.
"Thanks for carrying me," she smiled with a wink, cutting him off with a kiss on the cheek as she darted off inside to find her girls. Harry stood there dazed. A lazy hand rose to rest on the place where she'd kissed him. 'How'd she know I'd carried her?' he puzzled as he aimlessly made his way to the table designated for his cabin with his hand still on the spot where she kissed him.
"Harry! HARRY!" Ron yelled finally standing and taking hold of Harry and yanking him to a seat. "Harry are you in one of your tizzies again?"
That snapped Harry out of it, "Ron, I told you that I don't get into..." he stated before realizing the entire table was staring at him. He shook his head a bit and focused. "What?" he simply stated to clear the air.
"Do you reckon the whole camp saw then?" Ron laughed at his clueless friend.
"Saw what?!"
"Hermione kissing your cheek in the doorway. Bloody hell Harry, are you two a couple and you haven't told me yet?" Ron was already near half done eating and still shoveling food in.
"We are not a couple Ron," he stated defensively.
"Why not?"
"Well, I don't know. I was thinking of telling her, but then she kissed me," Harry poked around at his food a bit.
"So she didn't deck you for pegging her stomach? She'd have had it been any other boy, including me!" Ron smirked.
"No, I suppose she didn't," Harry sighed.
"So was it a friendly kiss, or an I Love You Too You Crazy Git kiss?" Ron laughed having allowed Harry to think he'd let the subject go.
"I don't know! She was thanking me for helping her. I don't know Ron!" he threw his hands down in exasperation. More frequently now he'd been having moments with Hermione; a little more touching there, a hug, a kiss on the cheek. It was all so much more than he'd been used to. Normally, he'd get a hug or a kiss on the cheek up arriving and departing school, and the occasional for the relief that he'd survived mortal danger yet again, but really it was usually limited to that. It was now beginning to become a daily occurrence. It left Harry to wonder, could Hermione maybe feel the same way?
~*~
Hermione was still blushing as she reached her table without looking back. If she still had her ability to turn back time, she'd have gone up and slapped some sense into herself. She couldn't fathom why she was being so blatantly stupid around Harry. Her impulsive behavior had to stop. She was hugging and kissing him daily now. He was going to start noticing!
"Hermione! Are you ok?!" Allison began her rambling the second she saw Hermione nearing the table. "We saw you get hit! Did it hurt? Did you talk to Harry? We saw him carry you away," she winked.
"I'm fine," she offered a smile, sitting down to eat.
"All right then?" Meegan, who was next to her, leaned over to whisper. Hermione nodded. "Are you sure? You still look flushed." She too winked, leaning away.
Hermione knew exactly what she was implying. Why'd she have to let Harry get to her so much! He was just looking after her because it had been his fault. Besides, he's her best friend, of course he'd take care of her if she'd gotten hurt, he always has. Hermione scowled at herself and started eating. She didn't need to keeping the inner battle of her feeling toward Harry going any longer of she'd go absolutely insane.