"Everything. I'm sorry for trying to kill myself; sorry for writing that horribly long letter; sorry for making you go to the library whenever there was trouble; and most of all, sorry for-mmph!"
No one found out what she was sorry for most of all, for Harry had just kissed her.
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Hermione was cut off as Harry covered her mouth with his own. She let out a soft 'mmph' as he did so. As he kissed her, she wondered why he was. After two seconds, she threw caution to the winds and kissed him back. Her hands went up encircle his neck and muss his hair. His hands began to roam up and down her back. After a moment, she felt his tongue running along her lower lip. The temptation was too much, so she opened her mouth and her tongue greeted his. They kissed this way for a few moments before Harry apparently came to his senses and pulled away. Hermione looked at him, confused, panting for breath.
"Why did you do that?" she asked softly. He just looked down at his shoes and shook his head. "Harry, why did you kiss me?" she repeated.
"I don't know. It was an impulse."
"What do you mean, an impulse?"
"Well, you were talking, and all of the sudden, this little voice in my head said, 'kiss her', so I kissed you."
"Gee, and for a minute there I thought you loved me too," she murmured softly, looking down at the ground.
Harry was quiet. "Don't let it get you down," he said. "Come on, I have to pick you up again."
Hermione sighed. "All right." She stepped up to him, and he lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder.
"So you don't love me?" she asked.
"I didn't say that. I said I only kissed you because it was an impulse."
"Right. In other words, you only kissed me to shut me up, or cheer me up, but you don't actually love me."
"Are you being difficult on purpose?"
"Maybe, maybe not. You can't tell from that angle."
"Hermione!"
"What?"
"You are being difficult!"
"Am I? I didn't notice."
Harry rolled his eyes, but Hermione didn't see him.
"All right, change of subject. Herm, you've been getting thinner over the year. Is it because of me, or is it because of Head Girl duties and N.E.W.T.s?"
Hermione sighed. "I thought you wouldn't notice. I've been getting thinner to--to make you like me."
"Oh, Hermione. I do like you. But I don't like it when you starve yourself."
"So you like me fat?"
"You weren't fat! You had a beautiful figure."
"So I suppose now you're going to make me eat something."
"You bet. As soon as we get to the castle, I'm marching you into the Great Hall and making you eat something."
"Well, the least you could do for my dignity is let me down before we go in and just hold my arm."
"I suppose I could do that."
"Thank you so much, Harry."
They talked this way until they reached the steps leading to the Entrance Hall. At this point, Harry set her down on his right, and took hold of her upper arm. They walked into the castle and into the Great Hall. Practically the whole school was there waiting for them, especially Ron. When they walked in, his grin went all the way to his ears.
"Look everybody," he called. "The Head Boy saved the Head Girl!" There were cheers all around. Hermione and Harry went scarlet.
"Turn him into a newt," Hermione muttered to Harry. "Please." Harry shook his head and led her over to the Gryffindor table, where they each grabbed a napkin and some sandwiches. Hermione took three, and Harry took seven. After seeing how many she had taken, he added two more to her stack. She glared at him. He raised his eyebrows. She sighed. "Okay, let's get out of here." Harry nodded and led her out of the Great Hall.
"I'm just going to hold your arm on the way to Dumbledore's office, okay? I don't want to have to carry you up all those stairs."
"It's perfectly fine with me," Hermione said, biting into a sandwich.
And so, they walked up to Dumbledore's office. Upon arriving in front of the gargoyle, Harry finished off his last sandwich and said, "Bright blue donkeys."
The gargoyle came to life and jumped aside. They walked up to the office and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Mr. Potter," called a voice. They entered. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, reading a long scroll of parchment. He looked up, setting the parchment down. "I see you saved her," he said with a smile. Harry nodded. "If I may have a word with Miss Granger alone?"
"Of course, Professor," Harry said, exiting the room.
"Have a seat, Hermione." Hermione sat down in one of the chairs. "Now, may I ask what prompted you to attempt suicide?"
"I'm in love with Harry, sir."
"And?"
"And he doesn't love me back. I was so distressed about it, it led me to suicide. I could not bear to live and watch him date other girls."
"Miss Granger, this is most unlike you."
Hermione smiled dreamily. "Sometimes love makes us do the craziest things."
"I've been thinking about making precautionary measures...." Dumbledore trailed off.
"Precautionary measures for what, sir?"
"To make sure you do not attempt what you just attempted again. From now on, you will be under Harry's eye 24/7. I will have the house elves move your bed and wardrobe into Harry's room. Your room will become sort of a sitting room. You will both share the same bathroom."
"Sir, don't you think this is a bit harsh?"
"Not at all, Miss Granger. Please tell Harry to come back in."
She did so, and waited while Dumbledore explained the new procedures to him. Then Dumbledore handed them each a watch, though they both were different. Hermione's was simply a timepiece. Harry's, however, was a timepiece and a monitor. If he pressed the little button on the side, words flashed across the screen: Hermione is sitting in Professor Dumbledore's office. She is feeling somewhat depressed, yet content.
"Harry, since you are now Hermione's 'personal bodyguard', you must know what she is doing at all times. The background color of the watch will tell you if she is in any danger. Blue means she is perfectly safe, green is a little trouble, yellow is normal, such as an encounter with Mr. Malfoy, orange is semi-dangerous, and red is lethal, or life-endangering."
Harry nodded. "So I just look at it, and then I can press the button to see what's wrong."
"Exactly. Now, if you'd like, you can leave, unless you'd like to talk more about this."
Hermione shook her head. "No thank you, sir." They rose.
"Have a nice rest of the day."
"Of course, sir," replied Harry. They left.
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