~*~
Chapter Six
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"Harry Potter saved you!" Juliet squealed dreamily as Hermione and her cabin walked to the lake for an afternoon swim. She'd finally gotten far enough away from the rest of the girls so that she could discuss Harry with Hermione.
"He seems to do that a lot," she smiled. Shaking her head. She did not need to be his damsel. She tried to counter herself with all the times her brains had saved him, but Juliet began talking again.
"You didn't tell me he was here! He's the most famous wizard of our generation! It's like having Britney Spears here to all these Muggles!" she went of excitedly.
"Juliet, please don't mention anything here at camp," she started, but Juliet kept going.
"Don't worry they can't here me. And Ron is here too?" she smiled.
"How do you know Ron?" Hermione was very interested.
"Lavender has pictures. I think she fancies him!" she giggled devilishly.
"Really now?" Hermione smiled, she couldn't wait to get back to Gryffindor and use this to her advantage, or at least, her amusement.
"Oh yes! That's another reason I knew you! Lav is very jealous you spend so much time with 'Ronnie'," she winked with a giggle as they neared the water.
Hermione gave her a perplexed smile as she stopped at the water's edge. Dropping her towel, she revealed a cute dark blue and white polka dotted bikini. After carefully spreading her towel along the dock, she gingerly laid down in hopes to get somewhat of a tan.
~*~
"Harry, you know I'm a rotten bad swimmer," Ron sulked, kicking at the dirt on the path down to the lake. He and Ron we clad in swimming trunks leading with Patrick and their boys behind them. Patrick had been a camper before he was a counselor, so he naturally hung out with the campers more.
"There are lifeguards Ron," Harry stated plainly.
"What if they don't see me go down?" he continued.
"I'll save you," Harry rolled his eyes with a sigh.
"Thanks Harry, you're a pal," he patted his shoulder then walked off to dive in.
"Lucky me." Harry mumbled. He began walking toward the dock and his campers flew past him, cannonballing off the dock in record time, until he stopped dead in his tracks. Before him stood Hermione in the tiniest thing he'd ever seen her wear. She looked absolutely gorgeous. She seemed even more beautiful at that moment, standing in the sun, with the water sparkling beyond her.
He had no idea how long he'd been gaping until a bright flash went off, startling him.
"William!" Harry yelled, turning to the shore beside the dock.
"Sorry..." he mumbled, lowering the camera.
When he turned back to Hermione, she was looking right at him. Harry froze, swallowing a large gulp of air. He was frozen in her gaze.
"Harry?" she giggled breaking the spell. "Come on you git! Get over here!" She motioned for him to come over.
He was nervous and he had no idea why. This was his best friend! Well, he had some idea why, but it wasn't supposed to be like this! He was never nervous around her.
'Get a grip. Potter,' he chastised himself as he put on a smile and walked over to her.
~*~
'Wow, he looks amazing!' Hermione smiled as Harry made his way to her. Suddenly she was very self-conscious of what she was wearing. She didn't need Harry laughing at her non-existent figure.
"Hey Hermione," he smiled as he stopped in front of her.
She smiled goofily. 'Okay, now would be the time to talk!' her brain directed her. "Hey Harry."
"So did you want something?" he rose an eyebrow.
"Uh, what?" she stuttered.
"You just called me over," he smiled.
"Oh, right," she blushed.
"You are such a girl," he laughed reaching out and giving her a playful poke to the stomach as he passed her walking to the edge of the dock to give a quick glance to see if Ron had drown yet.
Hermione gave him a smirk from behind, "What's that supposed to mean?" She closed in on him.
"What?" he turned around coming face to face with her.
"How's this for a girl?" she rose an evil eyebrow, giving him a shove to the chest. Harry wobbled a bit then fell straight backwards into the lake.
"Nice one Hermione," Meegan laughed coming onto the dock behind her.
Hermione looked over to say something to Megan but a sputtering sound coming from the water drew her attention back to Harry who had just surfaced.
"HERMIONE GRANGER! YOU ARE SO GOING TO PAY!" he smiled, quickly swimming to the ladder, straight toward her.
"Damn." she muttered. She hadn't expected him to retaliate. Turning, she took of padding in her bare feet down and back off the dock.
"See you," Meegan laughed at Hermione as she turned back to watch a dripping Harry climb out of the water and begin chasing after her.
Hermione took a quick glance over her shoulder as her feet left the dock. Harry was already out of the water and gaining on her. She turned away and picked up her pace along the lake. She could here the boy campers yelling, "Get her Harry!" and laughing. The girl were equally yelling, "Run Hermione, Run!" None of them had any idea why both were running, they just saw the chase and naturally wanted to get into the action.
Hermione took another look over her shoulder; Harry was gaining. Luckily for her, he didn't have shoes on either so it made it difficult for both of them. She looked forward again to see that they were getting far enough around the corner that she couldn't see the people swimming any longer.
Ahead of her she saw the beginnings of the currently deserted lower playfield. Deciding that grass would feel much better under her feet, she decided to turn and start running across the playfield instead. Sure she could stop, but she was halfway to the safety of her cabin by now, and she knew what Harry was capable of which is why she was running.
She'd almost made it all the way across the playfield when she felt a strong pair of arms encircle her waist. Next thing she knew she was falling, or more so, being tackled and brought down to the ground. "Gotcha," she heard a husky and out of breath whisper reach her ear.
~*~
He had no idea why he'd insisted in following her for so long, his feet hurt immensely and she was going to royally kick his butt later for retaliating, but it was what they always did. Her, Ron, and himself were notorious for starting wars and not backing down.
Finally, he reached her in the middle of the grassy lower playfield. Stretching out, he managed to get his hands around her waist. They slid easily around the bare skin of her middle. Quickly he pulled her tight against him, fully, before tipping over sideways and taking her to the ground with him.
Purposefully, Harry took most of the brunt of the fall, pulling Hermione partially on top of him. As they settled, he whispered into her ear, "Gotcha."
~*~
Hermione felt a chill tingle up and down her spine, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head at the sound of his voice. She almost melted right there and then but the she remembered he'd been chasing her. Quickly she made a move to escape, but was halted as his arms tightened even more around her. She felt herself turning until her back was on the ground and Harry was on top of her, merely inches from her face.
She couldn't do anything but stare up into his eyes. Her pulse rapidly began to accelerate and her breath became thready. She was completely mesmerized by his scent, the feel of his breath reaching her lips, the fact that he was slowly getting closer to her.
Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. He was so close now; his nose was nearly touching hers. Her eyes threatened her to close and pray he didn't disappear when she did so.
"Hey Hermione..." he drawled leaning in so closely she thought she might faint.
"Ye…yes, Harry?" she managed in a voice barely meriting being called a whisper.
"I just wanted to tell you." he leaned in and she could have sworn she felt his nose brush hers, "GOTCHA!!" He grinned, leaning back as his hands flew back to her sides and began mercilessly tickling her.
She wanted to sigh in exasperation but she didn't have time as giggles overtook her body. All she could do was try her might to squirm out of his grasp. "Harry, Harry please!" She begged through tears of laughter.
"What was that you said? Was it 'I'm sorry for pushing you in the water, Harry?'" he teased while continuing his assault on her waist.
"I…" she gasped for more air, "I'm soo…soor..." she could speak she was laughing to much.
"What was that?" he smiled as he leaned in close again and held his fingers at bay against her soft flesh.
"I'm…sorry," she managed as her laughter quickly subsided and her desire for him returned.
"That's better," he smiled broadly, his husky voice returning as he began leaning closer again.
'This is it!' Hermione mind screamed as she let her eyelids flutter shut. Time and space seemed to slow as he neared her. It was the perfect moment.