A/N: Yeah, I'm taking the time to retouch everything I've done so far that's why it's taking awhile for new chapters to come out. Here's the retouched chapter two of Little Things. I forgot to do this the last time so...Thanks MushyPeas for your help.
Disclaimer: Everything about HP we owe to JKR. I'm just borrowing for a little bit to make my own little art piece.
Little Things About Her
There she goes again, sauntering off to find another book. He swore that no amount of books would ever sate her thirst for knowledge. A sponge is what he likened her to; although, the dark-haired boy thought that was quite an unflattering comparison. He watched her disappear behind a bookshelf, looking for another Potions book he surmised. Sighing wistfully, he grabbed his own text and started studying again. Five minutes later, he was still staring at the same page, the same words, and the same hair-growing elixir. And she still wasn't back.
Harry gave the grandfather clock near him a quick glance. Their study session won't be over for another two and a-half-hours. He was getting a bit sick of it-studying that is. Glimpsing at bookshelf that his study companion disappeared to, she had yet to emerge. He knew that he wouldn't feel up to studying again until she came back. When she's around, he felt plenty more diligent and interested in learning. Harry didn't know why but she just made him feel that way about studying.
Well, he actually knew why, correcting himself. Part of it he blamed on guilt since she would be earnestly studying, and lazing around her just didn't seem right. Another part…well, he wasn't sure he'd want anybody else to know, but Harry wanted to impress her.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath and shook his head clear of thoughts concerning Hermione in that sense. They were best friends, he reminded himself. Harry was certain that there were some unspoken rules about thinking about your best friend in a not-so-friendly-but-beyond-that manner. He slumped forward and rested his chin on his Potions book, lightly drumming his fingers on the table.
Twenty minutes later and Hermione still wasn't back. Harry started wondering if his curly-haired friend had been buried under a pile of Potions books or simply forgot that he was there, waiting for her to come back. A small smile crept up on his face. Harry wouldn't put it past Hermione to do something like that.
Deciding that it was about time he searched for her, Harry got up and walked toward the direction that Hermione disappeared to. Twenty paces later, he read the section placard designated for the aisle that she turned to.
'Teen Relationships? For a Potions book?' his right eye shot up in wonder. In front of him, Hermione rested against a shelf and was lightly thumping her head against it. Harry was sure that she hadn't detected his presence yet as her eyes remained closed. 'I wonder if she's been here all this time.'
Without making a noise, he walked till he was directly in front of her. She looked so…troubled…about something. Harry laughed silently. Hermione's eyes were furrowed and almost met at the edges and her breathing seemed impatient. What's got her knotted up, he pondered.
He bent down slightly and leveled his head with hers. "You know, if you needed help in finding a book, you could have told me. I would have gladly helped, Hermione," he quietly said.
She yelped and started back in surprise after she opened her eyes. She looked like a kid caught with her hand inside a cookie jar, he thought.
Straightening up, he looked around to browse the books that surrounded them. "Though I find it rather odd that you'd need something Potions related in the Teen Relationships section." Harry was certainly curious now as to why she was here.
"The what?" she seemed genuinely confused, making quick sweeping glances around her. Hermione was turning a bit pinkish in the cheeks, he observed. "I…must have taken the wrong turn."
"No kidding." Harry turned to his right and picked up a book from a shelf. Laughing, he read the title to her, "Ten Ways To Get The Wizard of Your Dreams. Nice title." He took the time to give it a quick glance before replacing it. Reaching up, he grabbed another book. "Dating Tips For the Young Wizard. Now this could be useful. Hey do you think I can borrow this book without drawing much attention to myself?" Harry showed her the book.
"Really Harry, I don't think you need a book to help in that department." She seemed to find his inquiry funny.
'I dont, huh?' he asked himself quietly.
Replacing the book up in the shelf he remarked, "You're probably right. Besides, I'm quite sure it won't help me get the girl that I want." Harry felt a little sheepish after saying that. Quickly he looked away.
"You? Need help on getting a girl? Who is she?" Her inquiry made him slightly uncomfortable.
Turning back to her, he smiled at her lopsidedly. "Now wouldn't you like to know?" 'I just bet you would,' he said in his head.
She gave him an annoyed look. "Fine. You're right. I don't think I want to know."
"Tell you what. Let's finish studying and maybe I'll tell you who it is at the end of the night before we tuck in." Maybe he was going insane or maybe he wanted to throw caution to the wind, but as soon as he said it, he wanted to take it back. Hermione would never leave him be now until she found out. "Deal?"
"Ah sure, Harry. It's not like I'm dying to know. For all I know it could be Ginny, or someone else in Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw perhaps or, heaven forbid, a Slytherin witch...," she replied casually.
'Ginny or even a girl from Slytherin?' Amusing guesses she has. Maybe he'd still be able to get out of telling her which girl he really fancies. He laughed heartily and turned away from her without clarifying or denying her guess.
Harry started walking back toward their desk, knowing that she would follow soon. Before taking his seat, he quickly peered at the clock again. There was still two hours left of studying to do before the library closed. Without sparing him a glance, Hermione reclaimed her seat opposite him on the table and once again buried her nose in a book.
Now that she was back, Harry moved to imitate his friend so he'd get some studying done as well. Opening his Potions book, he began to read off in his mind the ingredients needed to cure the boils.
'Green toad's oil, milkfish scales, Scarab flakes,' he memorized in silence. Across him, Hermione, he figured, had already forgotten about being discovered in the Teen Relationships section. Harry wanted to ask her what she was looking for earlier and why she ended up there, but he knew she'd just chastise him for being concerned on unimportant things.
She always did that-chastised him, that is, whenever he dawdled too much. Sometimes it irked him, but for the most part, he liked it. He liked it that she was concerned for him. At least that's how he looked at it. She gave him direction similar to what the Point Me spell would do. She always set him straight when he seems to be wandering off the path that he was destined to take. Well, Ron was there too, but Hermione seemed to be the most focused among them.
Harry looked up from the book and studied the girl that sat across him discretely. Since she was quite occupied with her studying, he didn't have trouble doing so. Her left arm was draped across her book, her right elbow rested on the desk and her head was propped on her right arm and hand, studying once again without much care for the world around her. Watching her like this, he thought it would be a crime if anyone dared to interrupt her. It annoyed Hermione quite so if she was rudely disturbed. Harry and Ron knew that better than anybody else in Hogwarts.
For what it was worth, the Hermione he knew back in their first year and the Hermione that sat across him now was both the same girl. Albeit that she was taller now, had tamer, curly hair (how she tamed that wild hair, he'd like to know), was more outgoing and less reserved, Hermione was still Hermione. In all the years he has spent at Hogwarts, she, along with Ron, has been the constant presence that kept him sane. Above the craziness of his life, above the preposterous situations that life has dealt him, above the prophecy that shadowed him, above the Dark Lord that was consumed with him, Hermione's support gave him strength. Along with him and his very interesting life, she persevered without complaint.
He shook himself out from his reverie and grunted a bit. Hermione would surely scold him if she found out he was wasting away his time again in daydream mode. She said so herself earlier how much better he could perform in his NEWTs if he concentrated more on actually studying. Harry wondered though how she would react if she knew that he was thinking about her. What logical explanation would she have then for something like that? The thought brought a smile to his face.
"Harry? What's so funny now?"
Surprised, he stuttered "I…uh…Snape…I think I'll actually miss him after we graduate."
Hermione gave him a frown. "I never thought I'd hear that coming out from Harry Potter's mouth." She shifted. "So what's this about? Are you alright?"
She's analyzing again. He snickered. "Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine. Maybe just a little nostalgic. Would that be a crime? Besides, you mean to tell me that you won't miss Snape even if just a bit?" He twirled his quill between his fingers. Her eyebrows were furrowing again. The same Hermione, she is certainly that. He jumped at the chance to throw her off again. "You know, you look…cute…whenever you do that."
That did it.
She was turning pink again and he didn't hesitate on revealing his amusement at her reaction. Her widened eyes and slightly gagged mouth were quite funny to look at.
She hissed at him. "Come off it, Harry. You're teasing me a bit too much today," she protested. "What's gotten into you?"
He leaned back on his seat. "Nothing at all. Honest!" He gave her a funny look.
"Uh huh. If I didn't know any better, you're up to no good again I'm sure. Honestly, Ron's fancy for being a prat has rubbed off on you a bit." She rolled her eyes on him.
Harry chuckled. "Hermione, we're not that bad. You have to admit, it's been a drab too quiet in the hallways since George and Fred left. And I'm sure Peeves misses them quite so. Besides, it's the usual Gryffindor-Slytherin round anyway. No real harm, right?"
Her frown remained. Harry continued on, "If I remember correctly, you did hex Millicent Bulstrode after she tried to…um…make your teeth bigger again last week."
She opened her mouth to rebuke him but quickly closed it once again.
He got her again.
Satisfaction filled Harry as he snickered mercilessly. He knew how much she hated it when she couldn't get the last word or couldn't think of a way to jab back at him. It unnerved her and he was certain that she'd jump at the chance to get back at him later. That didn't matter to him because for now, he had the upper hand.
"It wasn't like she didn't deserve it. Besides, you and Ron rooted for me after I did so," she explained frantically. "And it was annoying how she kept saying that I was being a scarlet woman because of the two men in my life that I'm supposedly keeping tow."
"Scarlet woman, eh?" Harry contemplated. "I think she's just a bit envious because she can't have Malfoy to herself. Lately, I've seen Pansy hanging all over him almost every time."
"Well if only you and Ron got yourselves girlfriends, maybe the rumors and such would finally ease off," Hermione hesitantly suggested.
Harry turned his head to the side and had a thoughtful look. "Maybe. But you and Ron dated for awhile last year. Does that count?"
He never told anyone, but it bothered him tremendously that Hermione and Ron dated each other for awhile. He was jealous, he knew, because for some time now he's harbored feelings for Hermione. Ron never knew, of course. Harry decided that his friend was probably more deserving of Hermione. In addition, he was worried that Ron might think that he was 'stealing' from him again. Although Harry knew that Ron's beyond getting jealous of him now, it still bothered him tremendously that Ron accused Harry before of having all the glory and referred to himself just a sidekick.
"We tried and it obviously didn't work. I think we see each other too much as friends or maybe to ever go past that. Anyway, I think we only really had sibling-like affection for each other," Hermione shrugged.
Harry turned his gaze back to her and boldly asked, "How come you never dated anybody seriously? Do you have anyone in mind that you fancy?"
He noticed immediately that her right eyebrow shot up and she turned slightly pink. Heaving a sigh she replied, "I don't know. I…there's someone that I fancy but…I just discovered recently that I like him…quite much, actually."
A pang tugged at his heart. So she did like someone else.
Distress flooded his mind. How was he going to tell her now? It was bad enough that he didn't have much resolve but whatever determination he had left earlier was quickly evaporating. He shut his book closed carefully, despite the temptation to slam it closed. Potions was definitely the last thing on his mind now.
With great agony, he asked, "So what's so special about him?"
His friend gave him a wary look. "I…Little things…They just added up and floored me without warning. It's everything about him."
Harry realized that her face became wistful thinking about this guy. Unconsciously, he clenched his teeth as he continued listening.
"He's charming in the subtle manner. Has the ability to make me laugh. He's quite smart but only if he's not busy lazing around. Athletic. Brave. Good looking though I'm sure he doesn't know that. Thoughtful and kind. And…I think what I lo--…What I like most about him is that…he knows the real me and has always stood by me regardless of who I am."
"Oh. I see." He tried his best to casually reply but his insides felt absolutely shaken. Who was this fellow that had these qualities, that had these characteristics that Hermione has fallen for him? And head over heels too, apparently. The question rang in his head, over and over.
"Hey I said my piece. Turnabout's fair play, Harry. Tell me about the girl that you fancy." She had closed her Potions book as well.
Harry figured that it would do no harm to describe the girl but he found it slightly ironic and weird that he would be describing her when she sat right in front him of him. "I guess it's just like you said. Little things about her…they just added up. Then before I realized it…I realized I was…That I had fallen in love with her," he managed out.
Running his right hand through his hair, he lightly grazed his scar. "She's so smart and always up to beat in so many things. Diligent, yes…that's a good word for her. And studious." He paused for a moment. "When I'm lost or absolutely clueless on what to do next, she's there to point me in the right direction. It's never bothered her, to my knowledge, that I'm The-Boy-Who-Lived. It's so easy for me to be…just myself when I'm around her. I've always found comfort in her presence and without realizing, I have grown to love her."
"Oh. So why haven't you…I mean…why not confess your feelings to her?" she tentatively asked.
He picked up his quill and twirled it between his fingers again. "I don't know. I think for the most part, I'm afraid of how she'd react to it. I'm a marked man. Who would want to be Harry's girlfriend? My life…it's so complicated. Besides, I'm worried that I'd lose her friendship, which I've valued so much over the years."
"Harry, you can't speak for her. I don't think it's fair that you're deciding for her even before telling her of how you feel."
To Harry's surprise, she reached for his left hand and lightly held it in hers. "I think you're a wonderful wizard Harry. It would be her loss if she rejected your love. I think she's quite lucky to have your heart if you ask me. And if you haven't noticed, there are plenty of witches in school who'd jump at the chance to be Harry's girl."
Harry gave her a small smile. "You're just saying that because you're my best friend. But thanks nevertheless." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze back. "And you're right. This is my last year at Hogwarts. I figured I should tell her before we part ways. I'll let her know how I feel."
He noticed that her face suddenly looked confused and tired. "You alright?" Glancing at the clock again, he discovered that the library will be closing in a few minutes.
"Could you tell me who she is?"
Suddenly laughing, he shook his head on her. "Remember our deal, Miss Granger? I guess you won't have to wait long though since it's time for the library to close." He started gathering his books and scrolls.
"I'll hold you do that. You've got my curiosity piqued now." Hermione stood up and started gathering her own things as well. He weakly smiled at her.
Harry ended up carrying the books and Hermione took the scrolls. As they walked back to the Gryffindor Tower, Harry tried as best as he could to calm his wits with each step they took. Neither spoke a word to each other, and he was perfectly fine with that.
Part of him now wished that he didn't make that deal with her since he began having doubts. But he knew that he wouldn't have much of a chance to tell her at another time. Putting it off more just might drive him crazy.
Making a quick glance down at her, he mentally reminded himself that Hermione wouldn't forsake their friendship even if she did not return his feelings. He hoped this would be the case because the moment they stepped inside the Gryffindor common room, there would be no turning back. The portrait hole closed behind them after they entered, barely making a sound.
-TBC