Harry Potter and the Galator
Chapter 6
Catching up
Ron walked in and he was suddenly hit with the truth of Harry and Hermione's feelings for each other. Just as Harry was about to kiss Hermione, Ron blurted out " Of course! How could I have been so stupid."
Harry and Hermione broke apart when they heard him. Ron clasped his mouth shut. He didn't realize he just said what he has thinking out loud. "Sorry?" asked Harry. "What stupid thing did you do now?" He was thanking Ron for his great timing in his head. He'd almost kissed his best friend. What was he thinking?
"Oh, nothing. I forgot to tell Lavender something important. I think I'll owl her right now before I forget." He hurried out the door and went downstairs to write Lavender about what he just witnessed.
"That was weird," Hermione told Harry to mask her disappointment. She was sure he was about to kiss her. She would kick Ron in the arse later. She was disappointed and the moment was over.
"Yeah," he answered for lack of something better to say.
"I'm going to get ready for bed. I'll be right back. Maybe Ron will be back too when I get back so we can do some more catching up."
"Why don't you take the bathroom first while I change in here."
"Okay. Oh and Harry, you look really nice with those clothes." Harry blushed profusely.
"Thanks 'Mione. You know your new look really looks good on you." Now where did that come from he asked himself. He didn't mean to say it out loud. She smiled at him while she turned almost crimson as she walked out of the room with his shirt.
~*~*~*~
"Harry, are you decent?" Hermione asked after she knocked.
"Yes, come on in. Ron is still not back though. It must be a really long letter." His breath was stuck in his throat when Hermione walked in with his shirt on with some girl boxers. Not that he could see the boxers well because his shirt stopped a few inches above the knees. His shirt looked much better on her he thought.
"Well, you two had two weeks to catch up. We haven't really talked much," she shivered, but she felt warm all over with the way Harry was gazing at her and the way he was dressed. He was wearing a plain white shirt that clung to his body and some cotton shorts. She could see all his muscles, his chest, his legs… sigh. He had definitely been working out she thought.
"Are you cold?"
"Well, maybe a little. I didn't want to go through Ginny's drawers without her permission."
"Well, why don't you use my robe for a while. Let me get it." Oh yes, better cover her up or else I'll go crazy, he thought. He still felt like kissing her and the way she was dressed he might lose all the control he had.
"You sure? I'm practically using all your clothes."
"Well, I don't mind as long as you stay out of my underwear," he joked.
"Harry!" she hit him playfully on the arm.
"Here, let's put this on you." He held out the robe for her as she slipped it on. He rolled up the sleeves for her and was tying the robe when Ginny rushed in already wearing her pajamas too.
"Hey! Did I miss any interesting stories?"
"Nope, not yet. Hermione's been selectively telling me about her mis-adventures in Malibu." He smiled at her and pitter-patter went her heart.
"Oh, 'Mione. I should've told you to where my extra robes are. You look like you have one of the boys'. It's so big."
"Thanks, it's mine," Harry told her pretending to be shocked at her words telling them it was so big.
"Well, I didn't mean big in a bad way, Harry. I just meant it was big for 'Mione. Anyway, it's story time." She looked around the room for a place for them to sit on. "I guess it would be best to put Harry's and Ron's beds together so that we'll fit. Come on Harry help me push it."
"Where's Ron by the way?" asked Hermione.
"Mum put him to work downstairs."
"Well, I guess it's just the three of us for now." Ginny jumped in the bed on Ron's side and went under the covers. Hermione followed suit and went next to her but on Harry's side. Harry slid next to her after deliberating how he needed to focus on something that would keep his mind off being so close to 'Mione and in a bed no less. Ah, well, he thought, at least Ginny was there to keep him in line.
"Come on 'Mione, tell us what you did during the summer."
"Oh yeah and don't leave any of the girls only stuff out this time," he chuckled and earned a sock on his shoulder.
"Well, if she doesn't then you'll have to bear all the giggling and screaming that we do."
"Oh, okay, leave them out then. I want to keep my hearing in tact," he joked. They giggled, and he rolled his eyes. Unconsciously he put his arm around Hermione and she leaned closer to him. Ginny noticed but didn't say a word. But her suspicions about their feelings became clearer to her. Now if only they would admit it to each other she thought.
"Do you think Ron needs help downstairs?" asked Harry.
"No, mum knew you were going to asked. She said to tell you to just rest."
Hermione repeated her summer holiday recount for Ginny's sake. Harry noticed there were some parts she had left out before and she'd have to explain later especially since it was about her time with Francois. He shut his eyes and just listened to the sound of Hermione's voice. Her voice was always soothing when she would tell them stories or read passages from a book even if they were just textbooks. He kept her arms around her.
Ginny came next and told Hermione about the Stone Henge up to the week that Harry came to the Burrow. She left out her new love interest. She felt it best to keep it a secret. She didn't think she would get a positive reaction from either of them or from anyone else for that matter. Besides, he didn't even know she existed, not yet anyway.
"OK Harry. You're turn." Hermione encouraged him.
"Do you want me to put you both to sleep?" he chuckled.
"Come on Harry. Even your summer with the Dursleys have some kind of interesting adventures." Hermione encouraged him again. "Right Ginny?" No answer. "Ginny?" They looked at her and she was already fast asleep.
"Guess she was more tired than she thought. Poor kid." Harry whispered.
"So anything you want to add to your summer adventures that you haven't written to me before?"
"Well, unlike some people who will not be named, I hadn't left anything out from my misadventures except for things pertaining to magical powers," he joked.
"Oh, Harry. Stop it." She felt guilty again for not telling him or Ron or even Lavender and Ginny about Francois. "Just be glad I did tell you. I haven't even told Lavender or Ginny yet. I still can't believe I told you."
"I was just kidding 'Mione."
"I know. But still it's a little uncomfortable talking to a guy about a guy. You and Ron don't talk to me about your girl problems and what not!"
"'Mione, you know you don't have to tell me anything that would make you feel uncomfortable. And if it makes you feel any better, I haven't told Ron everything about my so called girl problems."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. But don't tell him that."
"Promise. It's your choice you know. Ron and I don't have to know everything you think about."
"Thanks for understanding."
"Sure. So care to tell me about you so called girl problems." He looked at her and she smiled at him cheekily. He almost lost his control and kissed her. Good thing Ginny was there even if she was asleep.
"I'm kidding Harry. Besides the great Harry Potter cannot have any girl problems. They're practically swarming and swooning around you," she told him and he noticed a little edge in her voice. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Someone sounds jealous," he joked. Hermione blushed.
"Oh shut up. You know what I mean. You just don't notice it. Ever since fifth year every time we pass a crowd of girls, they start giggling."
"Is that right? And have you noticed all the guys ogling at you when we pass them by?" He remembered each time they do pass by a group of guys. Harry practically sneered at them to keep them from looking. He and Ron have been very protective over her, Harry more than Ron especially when Ron started to date Lavender. Harry had kept on their protectiveness though most of the time it was a natural reaction that just pops up subconsciously when it came to Hermione.
"Right Harry, like they can get pass my two guard dogs," she giggled. She appreciated their protection especially since she wasn't really interested in anyone else but Harry.
"Are we that bad?" he asked concerned.
"I don't mind. At least I can keep my mind on my studies and look how that turned out. We had great marks on our O.W.L.s"
"Speak for yourself. So, maybe we should have gone to California with you to keep Francois from taking advantage of you."
"Oh, Harry. Don't Start."
"Me?" he asked innocently.
"Besides I told him right from the start that I wasn't really interested in anyone else, but yo…" she almost slipped and said you.
"Who?"
"No one. I told him I wasn't interested in a relationship, but he asked me how I'd know if I didn't give it a try. So I did."
"And was it worth it?"
"You could say that. It gave me a chance to clear up a few things about my feelings."
"And that is?"
"Something I'm not really ready to tell you about yet."
"Fair enough. As for me, you saw the emotionball. I'm a bit on the confused side if you remember? I'll let you and Ron know when I've got myself sorted out."
"Promise?"
"Promise." And he kissed her forehead out of instinct. Hermione was a little surprised but liked the action. Harry on the other hand didn't know what to think. He couldn't believe he just did that. Should I apologize he thought? It was just a friendly kiss anyway he concluded.
"Harry, do you think we'll be safe from You-know-who this year?" she turned serious.
"I don't know 'Mione. We can hope he stays away. The good thing is we will have a warning when he does come close." Harry reminded her about his scar.
"You're right. It's just not fair for you to worry about anything else but school and other teenage problems."
"Yeah. But I guess we all have to live as we're destined to live."
"Does the Harry Potter actually believe in destiny?"
"Well, it's just so hard not to. After all, how could I live through the Avada Kedavra curse? The wand that chose me is the brother to Voldermort's wand. Now, an old woman gave Mrs. Weasley a green amulet telling her to give it to a boy that fits my description."
"Whoa! Hold on. You haven't told me about that one yet."
"Oh, hold on let me go get it." Although Hermione was quite comfortable resting on Harry's chest, she had to let him get up. He went to his trunk to retrieve the galator. He handed it to Hermione to inspect and resumed their previous positions without thinking.
Hermione inspected the amulet closely. She saw that it was not only green, but had violets and blues flowing like rivulets beneath its surface. There are glints of read in shapes of hearts. It looked like a living eye.
"Wow! This is a very curious looking amulet Harry. It looks beautiful and rare as well."
"Yeah, can you believe it? The lady said it's been passed down in Merlin's family from generations and generations. It's called the Galator."
"I've never heard of that and I've read practically all the books that have been written about Merlin."
"Well, I am sure you'll remember it one of these days. Ron did give me a book called Discovering Merlin. Maybe we can find out about it in there."
"Sure. Haven't heard of that book either."
"It looks old and rare as well. I'll let you read it." He smiled. He knew how Hermione couldn't resist reading a book, any book.
"Okay. And we have to research your healing power as well don't we?" she handed him back the galator. While Harry held it, the galator glowed in his hand.
"That was curious. That's the first time it did that. Well, that I've seen anyway. It's been in my trunk since Ron gave it to me."
"Maybe it has magical powers too."
"You're probably right. Since my scar doesn't hurt it must mean the powers are not bad. Or not related to Voldermort at least."
"Well, if it truly comes from Merlin's family. Then it must be something good and powerful. Why don't you put it around your neck."
"But I have the chain you gave me around my neck." She glowed at his answer. She didn't think he would actually wear a necklace.
"I'm sure you can figure out how to wear both."
"Hmm." He took the leather strap out and put it back in the box and linked his chain through the galator next to the lightning bolt.
"See, I knew you'd figure something out."
"Yeah, good thing the chain you game me is thick. Thank you again by the way."
"You're very welcome again, Harry." She stifled a yawn. He drew her closer to his chest and tightened his arms around her as he placed the box on the nightstand. She can hear his heart beat.
"You know 'Mione. Just maybe this year we'll learn a lot more things about ourselves." She felt the vibrations in his chest as he talked. It was lulling her to sleep. She felt so safe and content in his arms. She couldn't think of anyplace else she'd rather be.
"Maybe," she whispered as she gave into her sleep.
Before Harry could ask her what she said, he felt her low, even breathing that told him she was already fast asleep. Unable to stay awake to wait for Ron any longer, he too drifted off to sleep. His arms still around her and her head on his chest with her arm draped over his abdomen. This was how Ron found them with Ginny fast asleep on his bed. Instead of waking them, he just went to sleep next to his sister smiling to himself and wishing he had a camera to take a picture of Harry and Hermione to send to Lavender.
A/N: Please do tell me about grammatical mistakes or misspellings. I sometimes tend to just wash over them sometimes. Thanks for your reviews and rating by the way.