Chapter 9 - Final Year, Beginning Feelings
As the intensity of the Ball died down and many couples were up on the dance floor, Harry and Hermione sat at their table and watched all the couples dance happily. The Ball would soon be over and Harry had a feeling in his gut. Something that told him that after his accomplishments, there still was unfinished business. Before he could think any further, Professor Dumbledore walked up to them.
"Excellent job you two. Just splendid!" he said. "You two have shown great skill and leadership for Hogwarts. It is no surprise that the Head Boy and Head Girl are a couple. It has sort of become a Hogwart's ritual. It is also a shame that this is your last year here. I recon that future students of Hogwarts will be talking about you two for a very long time. Harry, your mother and father would be proud. You too Hermione."
"Thanks professor," said Harry. "It's been an honor attending here and having you as headmaster."
"Harry's right professor," added Hermione. "I've had fun here as well. Hopefully after Hogwarts we will meet again in the not-to-distant future?"
"Absolutely," said Professor Dumbledore. "I am sure that I will see you two later. Maybe soon after Harry gets the chance to…um…ask Hermione to-" He winked at Harry, who blushed in amusement. "I will see you both later."
"Bye Professor!" they both shouted as he walked away to dance with Professor McGonagall.
"I've got it!" Harry shouted.
"What?" Hermione said anxiously. "What's the matter Harry?"
"Follow me," he said as he walked out of the Great Hall, holding Hermione's hand.
Hermione had to run to keep up with Harry. He looked very excited as his pace quickened.
"Where on Earth are we going Harry?" asked Hermione. "I hope you're not planning on getting in trouble!"
"Maybe," Harry said grinning.
Hermione tutted and continued to follow him.
"You know, you're beginning to get as obnoxious as Ron!"
They walked, to Hermione's surprise, outside. Right into the center of the Quidditch field.
"What's the meaning of this Harry?" said Hermione tentatively. "What are we doing here?"
"You'll see," said Harry reaching in his robes pocket and pulling out his wand. "Remember when you helped me endlessly in perfecting a Summoning Charm?"
"Of course!" said Hermione proudly. "Why?"
"You'll see," Harry repeated. He raised his wand and shouted, "Accio Firebolt!"
Hermione didn't really make out what he said, but immediately, she saw something fly out of the boys' dormitories and it was zooming toward them. It stopped abruptly right in front of Harry. He put his wand away and was looking self-righteous with himself. It was his Firebolt Broomstick. Harry mounted it and looked straight at Hermione.
"What…are you going to do with…that Harry?" asked Hermione, looking rather scared. Her Happiness-Charm Necklace was no longer glowing.
Harry looked almost hurt. "Hermione, I promised I would take you flying," he said.
"Oh!" she responded. "Right….I remember now."
Harry scooted up on his broomstick to make room for Hermione.
"Come on, get on," he said anxiously.
Hermione walked nervously toward Harry on mounted herself behind him, putting her arms around him and holding on tight. She knew that she wanted to fly, but she never thought Harry would go through with it.
"Hold on tight now!" Harry said, smiling mischievously. And without warning, he kicked off of the ground and they were zooming into the sky above. Hermione reacted by screaming and squeezing Harry even tighter around the waist.
"Harry that wasn't funny!" she shouted right after Harry had done a loop. "You could've at least WARNED me BEFORE you took off! And Could you PLEASE slow down a bit!?"
"Sure thing Hermione," Harry said laughing. Seeing Hermione upset was the last thing he wanted to see. But he was having the time of his life. He slowed down to an easy glide so that Hermione could have a chance to recollect herself.
"Whew! Thank you Harry," she said with a sigh of relief.
"Feeling better ?"
"Now I am," she said happily and snuggled up against him for comfort. "Harry, there's something I wanted to tell you."
"What?"
She went on and told him ALL about her feelings after their 4th year had ended. About how she was beginning to feel toward him and how she thought that she was seeing him give her signals that he was interested.
"Well yeah!" Harry said irritably. "I was hoping whether or not you were getting the picture."
"I was," she said. "But like I said, I was scared."
"So was I."
"But enough of that Harry. Let's stop thinking about the past and look forward into the future. I hope we'll…be in each others lives for a long time. This is our last year at Hogwarts."
"Sure we will," Harry replied. "I mean, this is a new feeling for me. And I am a rookie. Seeing that I've never had a girlfriend before."
"I'm sure you'll manage Harry," Hermione responded happily, her Charm Necklace beginning to glow brightly. "I mean, you've survived a killing curse from You-Know-Who. I'm sure that having me as a girlfriend won't be a problem."
Harry raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
"I'm not too sure about that," he said under his breath.
"What was that Harry?"
"Nothing," he replied. "I love you Hermione."
"I love you too Harry," she said as they flew off in the moonlight in a deep bright blue glow.