Chapter 17 - Two Brown Bags
Hermione, still sitting up in here bed and half covered in her pajamas, looked intently at the two bags on her desk. They were pretty ordinary looking, like something a cashier would put into after you bought something from a thrift store.
If he thinks he can buy my forgiveness, she said scornfully, he has another think coming. Though she resented him going through means of bribery, she was still curious about what Harry had left her. She pulled of her covers and walked over to her desk and stood before the two brown bags. Between them was a note, clearly written by none other than Harry.
"'Merry Christmas, Hermione'," she read, picking it up from the desk. It seemed like something Harry would do; she could almost hear him saying it right next to her. Hermione's bad mood seemed to subside a little…
She put the note down on the side and pulled out the wrapper covering her gift in the bag…
***
Though Harry lay in his bed fast asleep and motionless, his mind tinkered subconsciously, as if it were a person hard at work.
I can't believe this is it, he thought to himself, his breathe labored and slow. I can't believe that its finally over.
He had spent the last two years of his life, devoting it entirely to get Hermione's love and affection; to at least get her attention! It was hard work, and quite frankly, if he had the chance, he would have done it again. But still, he couldn't help but feel very sorry for himself.
Hermione was a great and intelligent witch. She could solve mysteries by herself, and even do spells that she was to young to even hear of. So why hadn't she noticed Harry's constant "more than friends" signals that he was giving her? Was it too much? Too little? Something definitely was wrong; Hermione was way to smart to not be getting the picture. Or was she as thick as she was clever?
All those little things that came along with Harry's heart seemed to go to waste. The gifts, the complements, the flowers, the dates in the end seemed to make no difference whatsoever between Harry and Hermione.
Why was it then that Hermione seemed to not be getting the picture? Many thoughts flooded his head from her just being as thick as Ron, to liking someone else, to strictly because she did not see him in that way. He could feel his heart tearing away bit by bit. This was it. It was settled. Hermione simply did not like him the way he liked her. She really seemed to show interest in Ernie MacMillian, so probably that's where her heart stood firmly; there was no reason to be continuing his little crusade to get Hermione to notice him. Not only would it make him look stupid and just keep hurting himself, Hermione must've felt very uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that she could not even tell him that she didn't like him in that way. Harry Potter was giving up…
It's over then, Harry told himself in his sleep. It was worth just loving Hermione, romantic or not…
Harry remembered reading something in Secrets of Potions: Made Easy. It was a section about Love Potions. There was a disclaimer at the tope that said something of the lines of, 'before resorting to use any type of Love Potion, make sure that you are certain you want to use it, because there is no turning back. We are not responsible for any damages, injuries, and/or deaths caused by the misuse of Love Potions.' Harry also remembered a little authors note at the bottom of the disclaimer. He could remember it vividly:
'Would you rather have someone love you for who you really are? Or have someone love you because they are under some sort of spell? If the one you seek love from is not giving love in return, just relax, and let the love grow in his or her heart. If it does, more the better for you. If it doesn't, I'm very sorry, however, be grateful it grew in yours! Love is meant to develop in the heart, not to have the heart tricked in to loving."
Harry unknowingly smiled slightly, yet sadly, into his pillow, a silent single tear rolling down the side of his face.
***
Hermione could not believe her eyes. She stared intently inside one of the brown bags and found herself looking at two very thick, very large books. It was labeled Hogwart's: A Revised History Vol: I on one side of it. It couldn't be…
She reached in with a trembling hand and pulled out one of the enormous books in the bag. It was very heavy and bounded in a fresh smell of brand new, dark blue leather. On the cover etched Hogwart's: A Revised History Vol: I in fancy gold calligraphy. Hermione had to close her mouth a couple of times. She ran her fingers across the front of the book, tracing the letters with her fingers.
At first, she couldn't believe or think of what to say. This was unbelievable! And where on earth did Harry get something like this? It wasn't to be release until months later…
She reached back in the bag and took out volume two of the series, peered into the other brown back and sure enough, there were volumes three and four. She stacked books two, three, and four on top of each other and sat back down on the bed, holding volume 1 in her arms, hugging it to her chest.
What was going on? They were both yelling and screaming at each other like hated enemies just the day before. Why was it that it hurt so much to yell at him? It was easy doing it with Ron, but every time she and Harry fought, it felt… disastrous… wrong… painful. She remembered back in fifth year when Harry was particularly moody and seemed to take out his anger on her. She could understand that; he had every right to be upset. But upset for… she couldn't even remember what they had been yelling to each other about. She shut her eyes, and a few silent tears flowed freely down her cheek.
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, youngest Seeker in a century. That's what everyone saw him as. Hermione could admit that's how she had saw him too at one point, but after having been saved by the troll and getting to know him, there was Harry… just Harry. That's how she had always saw him. And even though through thick and then, and times where she knew she irritated him, and even though she had a row with him as well, Harry still found it in his heart to show that he still cared, even though she wouldn't listen; There were four very thick and very heavy objects in front of her to prove it.
Hermione could feel her lips twitch, curving slightly at the corners of her mouth and for the first time in a very long time, she was smiling. She dashed out of her room with Hogwart's: A Revised History Vol: I tucked under her arm and headed straight to Harry's room, keen to go on and apologize and to thank him herself for the wonderful gift.
A/N: I am dreadfully sorry for the serious lack of updates. School and college is a real pain, especially if you didn't do as well as you thought you were going to do. But I hope you enjoy this one, though I'm sure that it could've been much better somehow, I just really couldn't put it in writing.
Make sure you guys watch PoA and support H/Hr all the way! Love you all!!!