Chapter 5
Harry set off in search for Hermione. He already had an idea of where she would be, so he retrieved his broom and flew off to their favorite retreat…the place where they had first kissed just over two years ago.
As he neared the place, he saw Hermione sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees staring blankly towards the lake. He gently brought the broom back down to the ground and seat himself next to Hermione, not saying a word, but merely letting her know that he was there. They sat silently for a few minutes until Hermione broke the silence.
"How could they do this to me, Harry? How could they have lived with me for 17 years…how could they have looked into my eyes for so long…and not tell me? They knew, Harry…they knew how much it hurt me to be called a `mudblood'. They knew that I felt so inferior. They could have stopped it, ended everything…and they didn't. I don't know if I can trust them again…and if I can't trust them, how can I love them?"
"Don't say that, Herm. Your parents thought it was the best thing to do. They wouldn't have done it if they thought it would hurt you so much."
She sighed, "You don't understand, Harry."
"Yeah, you're right! I don't understand. I don't understand how you would consider, even for a second, letting this come between you and your parents! I've been through this before, Hermione. The Dursley's did it to me! The only difference is that I never loved them. Come on, Herm…yeah, your parents made a mistake - they're not perfect - but at least they're there!" He paused…closed his eyes and then spoke again with a passion- no, a conviction- in his voice that not many had heard before, "I'll never be able to know my parents the way I should…but you know yours…so please, don't let this come between you! Don't let this make you strangers!"
Hermione spun around angrily at Harry, "And that's just the problem, damn it! You never loved the Dursleys! You don't know what it's like to have parents who tell you how much they love you and hold your hand when you're upset...and then to find out that it's not real…that it never was! This is what is known as betrayal, Harry…Betrayal!"
Harry's mouth dropped open slightly as he listened to Hermione…each word driving a knife deeper into the pit of his stomach. He sucked in a sharp breath and then exhaled, "Well…I guess since I'll just never understand what's it's like to have parents…I shouldn't be the one trying to help you…" He stood up, taking his broom into hand and positioning himself over it to fly off and said, "I do know what betrayal feels like though…it's what Wormtail did to me." Just as he was fixing to push off, he heard Hermione cry out.
"Harry! Wait!"
He looked at her only to find tears streaming down her cheeks and a heartbroken look on her face.
"I'm so sorry…I didn't mean that at all! I'm just…really frustrated. I don't know…how to react to this…"
Harry looked into her eyes, dropped his broom into the grass and then pulled Hermione into a hug. Hermione placed her head in the crook of Harry's neck and shoulder and just broke down, letting herself fall apart in the arms of her best friend. Harry just kissed the side of her head, brushed her hair with his hands, whispered into her ear words of comfort and just…was there for her.
After Hermione's sobs had subsided somewhat, Harry said, "I won't deny that what you said hurt…it did…but I love you and so I forgive you. I know we're not perfect…I know that we'll both say and do stupid things within the course of our relationship. But I also know that I love you…and that I don't want our mistakes to come between us…and I certainly don't want them to make me lose you. You're the best thing that's happened to me, Hermione. So no matter what…let's just…forgive and forget."
"You're right…you're so right, Harry. I just need to forgive my parents and move on, huh?" He nodded in reply and she said, "I love you so much…what'd I do deserve you?" She laughed softly…disbelievingly, "I mean…you're such an incredible person…I don't what I'd do without you." She leaned forward and kissed him…forming a connection between their hearts to reaffirm to Harry the love she felt was real.
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Baby, you're all that I want
When you're standing here in my arms (my arms)
I'm finding it hard to believe (believe)
We're in heaven
We're in heaven
Oh, thinking about our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now, nothing can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now (over now)
You keep me coming back for more
Baby, you're all that I want
When you're standing here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe (believe)
We're in heaven
And loving is all that I need
And I'm finally there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see (to see)
We're in heaven
We're in heaven
Now, nothing can change
What you mean to me (oh)
There's a lot that I could say
But just hold me now (hold me now)
'Cause our love will light the way
Baby, you're all that I want
When you're standing here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And loving is all that I need
And I'm finally there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see (to see)
We're in heaven (Heaven)
Now our dreams are coming true
Through the good times
And the bad
I'll be standing there by you
We're in heaven
And loving is all that I need
And I'm finally there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see (to see)
We're in heaven
Ohh, ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh, ohh
We're in heaven
(Heaven)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Were you followed?" asked Draco anxiously.
"No, I don't think so," Ginny replied breathlessly.
"Did you bring it?"
She smiled, "Yes, I did."
Laughing, he took her hands and led her to the couch, "Well then, what are we waiting for?"
Draco sat himself on the edge of the couch, his back nestled comfortably in the corner of the couch. Ginny sat next to him, leaning her back against his chest. She handed him something and then sat silently while he opened it. As Draco spoke, she closed her eyes and listened to his deep voice.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only…"
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"Aaaah! Ron! Don't! No!" Lavender squealed, as softly as she could manage, as Ron tickled her while laughing quietly.
They were sitting on a couch in the Gryffindor Common Room long after everyone else had gone to bed. Apparently, they were just having too much fun to go to sleep.
While laughing hysterically, Lavender managed to gasp out, "Ron…please…stop…"
With a mischievous smile on his face, Ron acquiesced to her request. She sucked in a deep breath of air, "Thank you!"
He smiled and leaned back against the couch again as Lavender composed herself again. When she could once again breathe normally, she lay down on the couch on her side, resting her head on Ron's leg, and watched as the few remaining glowing embers slowly burned out in the fireplace. Ron softly ran his fingers through her hair, staring into the fireplace as well.
After a few minutes, Lavender asked him, "What are you thinking about?"
He sighed softly, "I guess…about how so much has changed these last few years."
"A lot of things have changed, huh? People too…"
He smiled, "That's a mild understatement…but yeah. Harry's changed…Hermione's changed… you've changed…everything's changed."
"You've changed too, you know," she added.
He cocked his head to the side, raised an eyebrow and asked, "I have?"
"Yeah," she replied with a teasing grin, "I remember back when Harry was always getting this attention…it ticked you off so bad! You would always get so jealous of him."
"Oh, jeez…I was such a horrible friend back then."
"Nah, you weren't horrible…just a bit thickheaded," she grinned.
"Wow…thickheaded...and this coming from the girl who used to idolize Professor Trelawney!"
"I did not idolize her!"
"Haha, yeah, you did," He started imitating Lavender from her younger years with a falsetto voice, "Ooooh! Ooooh! Professor! Professor, I think I found something!!"
"Shut up!" she hit him on the shoulder, "I wasn't that bad."
"Yeah, sure…you tell yourself that."
Indignant, she replied, "I wasn't! Oh…you're hopeless!"
"Am I? Then why do you still hang out with me?"
"Because it continues to amaze me how idiotic one can be and still be considered a human being," she retorted.
"Oh! Ouch!" Ron imitated the motion of a knife being stabbed in his heart.
Lavender laughed as she got up from the couch and reached out a hand to help Ron up. He took her hand, but instead of her helping him up…he helped her down. She yelped in surprise as she was pulled back to the couch. Ron smirked as he then stood up and pretended to walk away.
However, he turned back to face the shocked girl still on the couch and held out his hand to help her up as he said, "That…was for saying I'm an idiot."
She allowed herself to smile as she took his hand and stood up.
He said, "It's getting late…we should get to bed now. Big day tomorrow and all."
"Yup," she replied as they walked to the stairs and went their separate ways when Lavender called out, "Oh! Ron."
He turned to look at her.
"Because you can still make me laugh."
"Excuse me?"
"That's why I still hang out with you," she smiled, "Goodnight."
He grinned, "Goodnight."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
No…no…haha, no…this can't be happening…it can't be!
Leigh was furiously pacing the length of her living room. She had just kicked Bill out of her room only minutes ago.
He's alive? He can't be alive…he can't be. There's just no way! No way!
But he is, a new voice in her head popped up, the one that always overcame her outer feelings, her logic, and reasoning, and you still love him.
No! Leigh automatically denied, No! I don't love him. Not after what he did to me.
That was 16 years ago…and this is now.
Leigh laughed to herself and said aloud, "Why am I arguing about this? He's dead."
Deciding that she just didn't want to think about this, Leigh walked to her bedroom and crawled into bed. Unfortunately, she tossed and turned all night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You know," Harry said thoughtfully, "I'm almost glad your parents didn't tell you."
"What?!"
He smiled and said, "Because otherwise I'm not sure you would have turned out the way you did. You were always determined to prove that a muggle-born could be an excellent witch. You have this…drive…to prove yourself. And I love that about you."
Hermione smirked, "You are one smooth talker, Harry Potter."
"Ahh…tell me something I don't know."
"Mmm…I would, but that'd take too long," she laughed.
"Ahh, you scarlet woman!" he joked.
"Excuse me?" Hermione said as she raised her eyebrows.
"But you're my scarlet woman!" he added quickly.
"I'll let that one slide this time."
"Thank you," he smiled and said, "Come on, we should get to bed. We have a big day tomorrow. Classes!"
"Oh, I know! I can't wait to meet our new Potions teacher!"
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