Hey guys, here is another update. And I started to write more of Four of Hearts last night, and I could have posted some, but it wasn't very long. And usually I get yelled at by one or two or several of you guys when my updates are short, haha. So I decided to wait until I added more. Anyway, I gotta go to work, then I'm babysitting tonight for awhile, so look for an update late tonight or Saturday. Have a good one!
Chapter 5
Harry closed his eyes as he held on to her tight, running his hand over her soft brown hair. She was lying on top of him, with her head tucked under his chin and he couldn't help but notice how wonderful it felt. He tried hard not to concentrate on how every part of her body touched his...and fit perfectly. Almost too perfectly. He sighed as he licked his lips nervously. "How come I feel like I haven't seen you in ages?" he finally said in a whisper.
"Hmm, I feel the same way," she said sleepily as she slid off of him only to snuggle up against his side. She always felt comfortable with Harry when she was in his arms this way. In school, they discovered a new bond between the both of them. A bond that was too strong for anyone to break. It was during their sixth year; Harry and Cho had a huge fight. Hermione could tell he needed to get some fresh air and think, so she suggested for him to take a walk on the lake. "Only if you come with me," he had said to her, giving her that sheepish smile she couldn't help but love. She agreed of course, knowing he needed a friend. During their walk, they ran into Wormtail and the last thing she remembered was him pointing his wand at him and the next she knew she was waking up in the hospital wing with Harry's head laying heavily on her stomach fast asleep.
Harry remembered however...he remembered much more. He remembered the fear he felt when Hermione slumped in his arms like a lifeless rag doll. He remembered calling her name when his knees buckled and he sunk to the grass with her. He remembered his rage and how he took it on Wormtail, disarming him with a very powerful spell that knocked him out cold. He remembered the sudden relief that swept over him when he felt her pulse still beating under his fingertips. Dumbledore arrived almost soon after that, telling Harry to give him some room as he and Madam Pomfrey pulled Hermione onto a stretcher.
"What happened? How could you have let this happened!" Victor yelled at Harry as he paced in front of Hermione's bed in the Hospital wing.
"Calm down, Krum," Ron said defending Harry, because knowing him Harry felt that he was to blame. "No one but Wormtail is at fault here."
"Bull shit, as long as my girlfriend hangs around with Potter, she's in danger!"
"That is enough, Mr. Krum," Dumbledore said firmly. "I will not tolerate that kind of language."
Harry hardly listened to him or anyone else. He sat in a chair next to Hermione's bed as he stared at her with no expression on his face. IT was like he was in a trance. How did this happened? How could I have let this happened? First Cedric...now Hermione...I should have done something!
"Harry," Cho said as she finally stepped up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we get out of here, okay? There's nothing we can do but wait..."
Harry shrugged off her hand, still furious at her from the argument they had. "I'm staying with her," he said firmly and then looked up at DumbledoEr. "I'm staying professor."
Dumbledore nodded. "I understand Harry. Very well."
"Like hell you are, Harry...she's MY girlfriend if anyone should stay with her, I should!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Get over yourself," he muttered and then squeezed Lavender's hand that he was holding. Thank Merlin his girlfriend was supporting him, without her he would probably cry like a baby in front of everyone.
"Victor, I think Harry staying here is best for Hermione," Dumbledore said calmly. "You're too hotheaded at the moment and you need to go outside and get some fresh air." He then looked at Harry's girlfriend. "Cho, why don't you join him."
"I want to stay with Harry," she said firmly, everyone knowing that she didn't want to stay for support, but wanted to make sure nothing happened between Hermione and Harry. Everyone knew of Cho's jealousy towards her. It was what started their argument to begin with.
"Cho, maybe you should go," Harry muttered not keeping her eyes off of Hermione. "I want to be alone."
Cho's mouth dropped; completely dumbfounded that Harry was throwing her out. "FINE," she said and then strutted out of the hospital wing, grabbing the very angry Victor along the way.
Ron sighed as he shook her head. "That girl is a bi...OOF!" he grunted as he rubbed his stomach that Lavender just elbowed. "What you do that for?"
"Now is not the time to call Harry's girlfriend bad names, Ron," she muttered quietly out of the side of her mouth and then turned and walked towards Harry. She hugged him from behind, trying to comfort him in any way she could. "She'll be fine Harry," she told him and then gave him a brotherly peck on the cheek.
"Thanks, Lav," he said softly still not breaking contact with Hermione's face.
"You tell us if you need anything, okay Harry?" Ron said as he put a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "We'll be here for you."
"I appreciate it, I promise I will…I just want to be a lone right now."
They both nodded and quietly both left with Dumbledoe. Harry stayed with her, all that night and all afternoon the next day. He skipped his classes, he barely ate what Ron and Lavender brought him. He talked to Hermione every once in awhile, pleading to her to wake up and show her beautiful brown eyes to him. But she kept them closed and Harry felt empty. He was beginning to lose hope that his friend would never wake up and it was all his fault. He leaned forward wrapping one arm around her hip while he rested his cheek against her stomach, as he wept on the inside. He didn't shed a tear, although his eyes watered...but he held them back. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, praying that Hermione would wake up...but silently thinking it would never happened.
The next thing he knew he was waken up by a wonderful feeling. Fingers lazily stroking strands of his messy black hair. He moved his head on her stomach and a soft whisper calling his name made him finally lift his tired head and faced Hermione. Her beautiful brown eyes were gazing up at him as she smiled lazily at her. "Hermione," he whispered afraid to believe that she was really awake and not just a dream.
"Hi Harry," she said, her voice weak and scratchy.
"Oh Herms...thank god," he cried as he crawled onto the bed with her and fell into her arms, burying his face in her neck while Hermione wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He then began to weep...his shoulders started to shake and his warm tears began to trickle down Hermione's neck as he finally fell apart.
"I'm okay...I'm here," she soothed as he continued to cry, something he never did in front of anyone ever before now.
"I thought I lost you," he choked as he turned and rested his cheek against her chest while Hermione now ran her fingers through his hair. "I would have never have forgiven myself if...." He couldn't even finish his sentence. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, Harry. It's not your fault...it never is." She then kissed the top of her head while Harry slowly gained his breathing back as he sniffed back a few more tears that threatened to come out. "Have you been here a long? Have you eaten or gotten any sleep?"
Harry didn't answer. He had cried himself to sleep from exhaustion.
That was how the bond was made. Ever since then they have been as close as any two friends can be. Both being prefects, they would spend many hours together in their private common rooms, laying by the fire, talking, studying or goofing off. It was the kind of friendship that everyone wished they had.
Harry pulled the covers over both of them and they snuggled together to get warm. "I'm glad your here, Herms," Harry said and kissed the crown of her head.
Hermione smiled in the dark, her arm draped over his stomach and her head resting against his chest. "Same here."
Hermione woke up the next morning to silence, which was something she wasn't use to. Usually, in the morning; she would be woken up annoyingly by her boyfriend, who didn't know how to get out of bed and dress quietly. Sometimes he would even wake her up by kissing her neck or her mouth, trying to get her to make out with him before he left. It annoyed her thoroughly, because anyone who knew her well enough knows she's not a morning person, and being woken up at six in the morning with groping hands and sloppy kisses didn't make her all too happy.
It was quiet though and she had no clue how early it was, but the house was quiet so she must have been the first one awake in the Dursley's household. She stretched lazily under the sheets as she looked over at Harry who was still sound asleep, facing her on his side. He looked so peaceful and innocent when he slept, she almost caught a glimpse of the eleven year-old boy she befriended her first year. She sighed as she continued to study him. She couldn't believe she was here. She couldn't believe that Harry persuaded her to leave in the middle of the night. Boy, was Victor gonna have a field day when he finds out and she was quite positive that he would be even MORE mad when he found out where she went. In Harry's bed. She shuddered at the thought. However, being here with Harry made her happy and that right there was worth it.
"Take a picture it lasts longer."
Hermione took in a startled breath as her eyes flickered up to see his emerald green eyes gazing at hers with amusement. "How long have you been awake?"
"Lone enough...do you always watch people sleep?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Oh shut up," she said as she pulled out her pillow and swatted him with it.
He laughed, groaning softly in protest. "Okay, not now...way too early for a pillow fight, Mione."
She smiled and placed her pillow back under her head. "Okay, I'll put it on hold."
"'Preciate it," he yawned. "Why are you up so early? You hate mornings."
Hermione smiled sadly. See? Harry gets it, why can't Victor? "I don't know actually," she said as she stifled a yawn. "Woke up to silence which I'm not use to...Victor is loud in the morning."
"Insane man," he muttered and closed his eyes. "No more talking...must go back to sleep."
She laughed as she snuggled back under the covers. "Okay, sounds good," she said as she closed her eyes, trying to relax and fall asleep. However, she felt like she was being watched so she carefully peeked one eye open to see Harry doing the same thing back at her. "Harry," she laughed as she playfully shoved him.
"Hey, watch it," he laughed as he almost fell out of the bed. "Anyone tell you how freakishly strong you are?"
"Yes, you and Ron labeled that lovely term to me ever since I punched Ron in the arm our sixth year."
He chuckled. "You made him bruise."
"Wimp," she said with a sigh. "Now let's go to sleep."
"Fine by me."
Hermione tried to fall asleep again and this time she thought he was going to behave, however she suddenly flinched when a finger poked her in the ribs. "Harry!" she hissed as she glared at him. "What is the deal, I thought you wanted to sleep?"
He chuckled. "Sorry, it's just that...I haven't tickled you in awhile and...."
"Harrryy," she said in a warning tone. "Don't even think about it."
"But...Herms, you're so fun to tickle..." He reached out and poked her rib again causing her to jump. "See? You're so ticklish its so entertaining."
"Knock it off, Harry!" she laughed as she tried to swat his hands away. "I mean it!"
"Or what, you're threats to turn me into a toad won't work now, we can't do magic," he said with a chuckle. "You're vulnerable now...."
"I'm going to kick your ass if you try it."
He grinned. "Good, hope you do...It'll be fun trying to defend it." And with that said he grabbed her wrist and rolled her on his back, pining her down like he always did when they started a tickling war. He smiled while she laughed and thrashed beneath him, desperately trying to break free of his grasp. He then decided to go for her other ticklish spot and traveled his hand down her body before squeezing her thigh just above her knee.
She busted out with laughter as her leg kicked under the sheets. "All right, that's it," she said and then suddenly sat up the first time she noticed he was off guard and rolled him on his back straddling his stomach before her fingers poked and probed at his ribcage.
"Ah, crap," he laughed as he lifted his head off the pillow trying to get a firm grip of her hands to stop. "Mione...stop...you're killing me," he chuckled while he continued to flinch under her.
"You asked for it," she laughed as her hair curtained her face while she loomed over him, tickling as best she could. She truly had never had this much fun since they left for the summer. She had tried one time to start a tickling war with Victor, but he looked at her like she was mad when she tried to poke at his sides. Unfortunately, the man wasn't ticklish. Harry however, was just as ticklish. He was giggling foolishly along with her, as the two continued to act like a couple of kids. She loved it.
"What is going on in there!" a mean disturbed voice muffled from down the hall.
Hermione immediately sat up, still straddling Harry, while he gulped and looked at the door. Hermione quickly crawled off him as soon as she heard his uncle come tearing down the hallway. They both jumped when the door flung open, revealing a highly peeved Mr. Dursley at the door. Harry watched his eyes widened when they landed on Hermione and he knew this was not going to be pretty. "Er...good morning Uncle Vernon," he said uneasily and then glanced at Hermione who was now sitting on her knees beside him blushing furiously. "You remember, Hermione."
Hermione gave him a little wave. "H-Hi."
Vernon's face turned purple as the steam started rising from his head. "Y-you boy," he stuttered angrily as he pointed at him. "I want you downstairs...NOW...and I want that foolish girl out of my house!"
He then slammed the door which made both of them jump. "Well," Harry said with a small laugh. "That went well, don't you think?"
Hermione shook her head. "I guess I should go."
"No, don't go...let me talk to him," he said firmly as he put a hand on her back. "Trust me, I have a lot of ways into persuading him to stay. I can bring up Sirius...he's terrified of him. Just don't go anywhere, yet okay?"
She hesitated before finally nodding. "Okay, I'll wait here."
"Good," he said and flung off the covers and walked to the door, but stopped to turn to her. "I won that round by the way."
"Oh, you wish!" she said and threw a pillow at him but Harry quickly closed the door behind him with a laugh before it could hit him.