A/N: Don't worry, Hermione isn't going to end up like Josie from Looking For Alibrandi. I'm planning on writing a sequel too, so it will be H/H forever.
Ginny hugged her knees to her chest. 'I'm so happy.'
Hermione smiled at the pretty redhead in front of her. 'Dean asked you out?' she asked, pointed to a nail polish in a pretty pink shade.
'Yeah,' said Ginny, uncapping it and beginning to paint Hermione's toes. She herself chose a mint green shade, which Hermione had started to do.
'Does Ron know?' Hermione asked, blowing gently on the wet polish.
'Does Ron know?' said Ginny dramatically raising her eyes to the heavens. 'God, no. He'd scare Dean off.'
The two irrepressible damsels laughed and both swung their legs off window seat, letting the polish dry. Hermione cuddled a cushion to her chest and lent back, while Ginny played with Salem.
'Ooh, girls, is it a slumber party?!' A high, silly voice said.
Hermione and Ginny looked towards the door and saw Harry mocking them in the doorway. He swayed his hips in a weird jerking fashion as he walked to towards them.
'Oh, Gin, I just love the hair colour, is it natural?' he said speaking as best as he could in a high falsetto voice. 'And Hermione, that stuff on your nails is so you.'
'Nail polish, Potter.' Said Hermione laughing and throwing a pillow against him. Harry poked his tongue out at her which Hermione promptly did also.
'Go away!' said Hermione. 'Go flirt with someone else - like Malfoy or something.'
Harry gave her a look. 'Are you implying something?' he said, back in his normal pitch, though in a mock-hurt way.
'I know your little secret.' Teased Hermione.
'Which one?'
Hermione raised her eyebrows. 'I know you have a thing for Malfoy, but I don't blame you. He is sexy, isn't he Ginny?'
'Uh-huh. I'd kill for a chance with him.'
'His gorgeous eyes -'
'- his silvery-blonde hair -'
'- his Quidditch talent -'
'- his wit -'
'You people make me sick.' Said Harry, disgustedly.
Hermione and Ginny dizzily laughed again at Harry's horrified face.
'Really sick.' He said, going and closing the door behind him.
'Thank God, he's gone.' Said Hermione loudly.
The door opened as anticipated, and a raven-haired boy with wonderful eyes stuck his head in the room and pouted. 'I heard that!'
Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, and with the skill she was famous for, flicked her wand at the door which banged shut and banished Harry to the first-years dormitory, much to the dismay of Harry and the excitement of the giddy first-years who idolized Harry to a high degree.
'Hermione!' he yelled out to thin air, 'This is so not funny!'
*
'Does he do that often?' asked Ginny, looking at her.
Hermione absently-mindedly refolded a blouse. 'Do what?'
'Barge in here.'
'Yeah,' said Hermione. She caught the look on Ginny's face. 'Oh, come on Ginny. He's my best friend, remember?'
Ginny smirked and smiled naughtily. 'Just friends, huh?'
'Yes!' said Hermione, a little too quickly.
Ginny had an unexpected bout of insight, which read Hermione's defensive stance and rapidly flushing face like a book. She smiled to herself as Hermione folded another t-shirt without looking at her.
Ginny knew something that they didn't.
Yet.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Hermione walked swiftly down the corridors to the dungeons. She leant against a column and hugged her book to her chest, waiting for the library to open. After overhearing Professor McGonagall's and Snape's ominous conversation she had taken to scouring the library for old books which of course would not be suspected as un-Hermione-ish behaviour.
Harry had been disappearing every so often, to Dumbledore's office. Hermione saw him come back, tired and wondered what on earth was going on. Ron and herself had discussed the matter and decided not to ask about it, unless Harry opened the conversation himself.
She was so lost in thought, she didn't notice Malfoy come in close proximities to her. She scowled at him and tried to move, but Malfoy was in the way. 'Go away, Malfoy.'
One simple word he uttered as menacingly as ever.
'Mudblood.' He said.
'You're seventeen.' She said through gritted teeth. 'Act your age and shut the hell up.'
'Do you have any idea what kind of shit I've been going through?'
'No, and I don't intend to.'
Malfoy smirked and leant back, his hand still placed threateningly on her shoulder.
'Hey!' shouted Harry, who was passing by with Ron. Grabbing Malfoy by the neck of his robes he pushed him roughly away. Ron scowled at Malfoy and took a menacing step forward. Draco, shorter than Ron backed away, giving him a filthy look.
Hermione looked at the tableau before her and noticed a bruise starting to form on Malfoy's arm.
'Malfoy, what -'
He followed her eyes to the bruise and touched it lightly before looking back at her. 'Like you care.' He said before stalking away.
'What did he do?' spat Harry. He looked at Hermione with hate in his bewitching eyes. Hermione flinched and stepped back.
Harry bit his lip and turned away, looking as if he betrayed his deepest secret.
'Did he hurt you?' asked Ron carefully.
'N-no.' said Hermione, bewildered by the immense hate which was radiating from Harry only a few seconds ago. She looked again at him, he was leaning against a stone wall with closed eye and looking pale and lifeless.
She gave Ron a startled look. He too looked at Harry and shook his head. 'I don't know.' He mouthed and Hermione nodded at once.
They were quiet for awhile until Harry spoke up.
'The library's open.' He said. Something of a smile lurked about his face, and when he turned to Hermione, the honest clear green eyes told nothing. It was as if the powerful wizard had vanished, and he was back to the old Harry; kind, honest, laughing and reckless.
But as she followed Ron into the library, she took another look back at Harry, only to see him looking sadly back at her. Embarrassed, she turned away quickly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
'Boo!'
Hermione jumped and Harry laughed. He put his hands on her shoulders and massaged them gently. 'I told you,' he said, with a lopsided grin. 'You're studying too hard. You're too jumpy.'
Hermione relaxed. 'Remind me when I'm stressed I need you to give me a shoulder rub.'
Harry turned her around and sat her down on a wooden chair. He drew another up and sat in it, so close, their knees were touching. Hermione felt tingly feelings just by the mere contact, but leant back and forced herself to concentrate on Harry.
Bad idea. She just got lost in his eyes.
'Hermione?'
'Uh-huh?' said Hermione absently, looking up.
'Are you scared of me?' he said very seriously.
Hermione bit her lip. 'Oh, Harry.' She started. 'I'm not scared of you.' She drew her knee up to her chest and rested her chin on them.
Their faces were level, and to avoid looking into his eyes, she just traced a pattern on Harry's knee. She made an elephant, a flower and a house.
Harry swallowed at the feeling of her light tracing on his knee. He closed his eyes for a moment. Concentrate, Potter.
'I didn't mean to snap at you today, I just -'
'You're powerful Harry.' She said. 'It's just - well - sometimes you're laughing, joking Harry and then all of a sudden you're - you're . . . you're so powerful and sometimes, well, I'm afraid.' She took a deep breath. 'Not of you. For you.'
Harry didn't know quite what to say, so he didn't say anything.
Hermione poking him in the ribs. 'Enough serious stuff, OK?'
Harry raised an eyebrow. 'You're sure?'
'Positive.' Hermione insisted.
He lunged at her and tickled her mercilessly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
They lay back, on the rug; Hermione gasping for breath and Harry chuckling.
Hermione watched him smile, unheeded and freely. This was the way it should be.
She hardened her heart against the piece of an insult to vermin which threatened to destroy this person beside her.
What did he know of him. That he was kind, fun-loving and sweet? He knew nothing, and still he would hurt him.
And in the process, destroy her as well.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
At that moment, Harry could have done anything.
He felt powerful, like he could fly unaided and move mountains.
It was because of her. God, it was because of her.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Hermione didn't know quite when the realization took place.
Perhaps, it was when he grinned in his vintage, lopsided way.
Or maybe, the way they would pretend to flirt with each other.
Maybe it was when he brushed an annoying strand of hair off her face.
It could be when he hugged her in greeting at King Cross Station.
It could be when he built that broom.
Or the slip of the tongue about marriage.
Hell, it could have been when she first met him.
Only now she realized the truth.
She was in love with Harry Potter.
Harry Potter, her BEST friend.
Best FRIEND.
OK, Houston, we have a problem.
A/N: Pretty short chappie, only seven pages Word document long, but I thought that way a nice place to end it.
Review please, I'd be most honoured if you do!
~ Sassy