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The Paths We Take by babyhalo19
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The Paths We Take

babyhalo19

Hey everyone! I finally got a new chapter up! Yay! I'm so sorry for the delay, but with midterms and research papers, plus the biggest writers block you can imagine. I've sat down to write this story maybe 12 times, and just came up blank. Then today when I had a snow day I just sat down and it came to me. lol I know that sounds weird, but that's just kinda how it happened. From now on, since school has gotten back in, and we're out of the holiday season, expect a new chapter every other week. I know a lot of you want the chapters longer, (so do I when I read fanfics!) but I just work better writing them short, so I can get certain stuff out. This one is the longest one yet though, and from now on they should be about this size. so I hope you like it. There's going to be a lot more stuff happening from now on! As for why did Hermione choose to be a nurse, in the wizarding world, from what I've researched anyway, a nurse is basically just another name for a doctor. And if you recall in the 5th book, Hermione said that being an Auror is a career that can help people, but there are lots of others too. I could just see her as someone who goes into a career that helps people feel better. And as for Remus, you have to wait and see what happens to him. He is going to play an important part when he comes in. Well I hope you like this chapter! I put a lot of thought into it! Please review! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! lol

Hermione's head fell against the doorframe with a thud. She didn't register the pain, she was numb inside. What was she supposed to do? How could she go out there and face him when she couldn't even face herself. Why had she kissed him? This question kept resurfacing in her mind. She'd never thought of him like that before. He was always just Harry. He was who she went to when she had a problem she couldn't tell anyone else. He was the one who comforted her when terrifying dreams woke her up screaming and sweating in the middle of the night. They were best friends who've shared everything together. How could you be something more after that? He knew her weaknesses, and her greatest fears. He could always tell what she really meant to say, even when she tried to hide it.

As she thought back on their many adventures, she realized with a lurch that she knew exactly why she kissed him. It was because her, Hermione Granger, the girl that wouldn't even date in school because she thought it wasn't important, and just took away time from friends and schoolwork, was in love. She felt faint at the mere thought. How could she possibly be in love? She hadn't even liked a boy before, and now she was in love with one! Victor Krum was a weird sort of attraction, not really falling into any certain category. She didn't know what she was thinking at the time, but it certainly didn't last long. This wasn't something that was going to go away at the end of the summer. In fact, it was right outside her door, deciding whether or not to nock.

She was jerked back to reality when she heard a light pitter patter surround her. She looked up to see that it had started to rain lightly, with the bright blue sky turning slowly to gray. Hermione walked over to her bed, and pressed her palm against the cool window. It was ironic how the day seemed to mirror her thoughts, dark and dreary. As she stared out at the town, with everyone running for shelter from the rain as it grew harder, she saw a little gray blob floating in midair. Upon further inspection, she realized that it was not a gray blob, but an owl, who was not floating, but flying straight at her. She went to open the window, but the owl was too quick, and not realizing that the window was closed, slammed straight into it. It did a nose-dive for the ground, before recovering at the last minute.

"Errol!" she cried. What was the Weasley's owl doing here? She pulled it inside and took the note from its beak, noting that it was addressed to all three of them. She opened the soggy letter anyway, not wanting want to leave her room to face Harry yet. It was relatively short, though smeared in some places. After a few minutes of reading she could finally make out the whole thing

To my dearest Ron, Hermione, and Harry,

I hope you all like your new flat! It sounds wonderful. Everyone is fine here, but I just wanted to let you know that weather conditions are supposed to get very bad tonight. While it is still sunny out here, Arthur and I decided that it would be better if the three of you did not come here tonight. The floo networks are mobbed, and apparating in a storm is very dangerous, as I'm sure Hermione will explain to you two. If it clears up by morning, we'll head over to your place. We're all dying to see what it looks like! Keep Safe.

With Love,

Mrs. Weasley

Oh, and if the weather is bad, could you keep Errol there? I don't think he'd be able to make it through the storm. We will just collect him when we visit tomorrow morning.

Hermione put the letter on her bedside table and picked Errol up looking him straight in the eye. "Looks like you'll be staying with me for a while. I'll get you some water, and then we can find a place for you to get some rest. Maybe Hedwig wouldn't mind sharing her extra cage."

With this she put him down and transfigured one of her quills into a water tray. Errol hopped over and started to drink rapidly. She looked at him and decided that she really should get a new pet. Ever since Crookshanks ran away in the sixth year she had wanted a new one, but could never go through with it. She would think about this later though, right now she had to talk to Harry about Errol. Taking a deep breath she walked to the door and pulled it open. To her surprise Harry was standing staring in right in front of her with his hand held in a way that looked like he was about to knock.

They both jumped back in surprise, and when their eyes locked, they saw the same questions mirrored there. Harry broke the silence with a cough, and Hermione jumped to her senses. "Here come in, I need to talk to you."

Harry followed her, not bothering to close the door. He then walked over to sit on the edge of her bed, not saying anything, just looking at her. She hated how he could do this. He was the one who always listened first, then spoke, the exact opposite of Ron. She pushed this thought aside and walked over to the bedside table where she picked up the letter from Mrs. Weasley. She handed it to him, trying to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. He took the letter and read it, his eyes scanning over the paper twice. He then placed the it back on the table without saying a thing.

"So I was wondering if I could use Hedwig's extra cage. He'll need somewhere to sleep, and I was thinking of keeping him in my room. He might want to see Hedwig though, so he had another owl to play with," Hermione rushed on, trying to get this over with. Neither of them noticed that Errol was no longer in the room.

"Of course," Harry said. He looked at Hermione with those green eyes, and she felt about to melt. Damn you Harry Potter.

"Okay great, then it's all set. I'll just go and get it, and then I think I'm going to retire early, this day has really tire-" she rushed on, not even making sense to herself anymore, trying hard to hold back tears.

"Hermione." She was interrupted by Harry who with that one word, sent her barriers crashing down. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she stood there looking at him, her face turning red. He pulled her down next to him and looked her straight in the eyes. "We need to talk."

"I know, Harry. I just don't know what to say. I'm so sorry about the way I acted through all of this. I never meant to kiss you. I swear. I don't know what came over me." She sobbed harder now, it becoming a struggle for her to talk. He just looked at her patiently, waiting for her to continue. She didn't even notice him slip his arm around her waist to comfort her.

After a minutes pause, she continued, deciding to tell him everything. She didn't want to keep any more secrets from him, and would just have to deal with his reaction later. "I take that back Harry, I do know why I kissed you. I do know what came over me. It's because ever since I saw first met you, I felt a certain way about you, I just never knew what that feeling was. Well now I know what that feeling is Harry, it's love. I'm in love with my best friend, and I don't know what to do about it."

With this she made to get up, but Harry held her back. He turned her head towards him and smiled his trademark crooked smile. "You don't do a thing Hermione, not a damn thing." Before Hermione could register these words, Harry leaned over and kissed her. Without a thought, she kissed him back, scared that this would be a dream that she would wake up from. When she felt that familiar jolt sent through her body though, she knew it was no dream, only the real Harry could do that to her. They sat there for what felt like hours, just exploring with their mouths, a whole seven years of pent up feelings now released. They were so wrapped up in each other, that they didn't hear a bleary eyed Ron walking down the hallway, holding Errol by the neck, fighting the urge to strangle him. He walked by Hermione's room with just a quick glance, then stopped, rubbed his eyes, and walked back. His mouth dropped open and Errol fell from his hand bouncing against the floor with a loud clunk. Hermione and Harry jolted apart, and turned to see Ron staring red faced at them. "Anyone care to tell me what in the BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON?

So what do you guys think? I hope you liked it! Please just click on the review button to make my day! lol Thanks, Erin