Disclaimer: I do not; I repeat; do NOT own Harry Potter. I own the plot, the band and any characters that have not appeared in the books.
Author Note: My first fan fic posted! Yay! Be gentle! It takes place in their sixth year summer when they are about to go back for the seventh year.
Chapter 4: The White Room
"Would you look at her…She looks at me…She's got me thinking about her constantly…But she don't know how I feel…And as she carries on without a doubt…I wonder if she's figured out…I'm crazy for this girl…I'm crazy for this girl…"
Harry sang to himself as the train chugged out of King's Cross Station. Another year to come and it was to be the last. But it would be great.
He had a girlfriend…who was also his best friend presently wrapped up in his arms sitting on the carriage seat.
"She was the one to hold me…The night…The sky fell down…And what was I thinking …when…The world didn't end…Why didn't I know what I know now…"
"What are you singing Harry?" Hermione looked at him.
He smiled and tightened his arms around her. "Would you look at her…She looks at me…She's got me thinking about her constantly…But she don't know how I feel…And as she carries on without a doubt…I wonder if she's figured out…I'm crazy for this girl…I'm crazy for this girl…"
"So you're crazy about this girl," Hermione grinned and sat up looking at him. Their eyes were level.
Harry ceased his singing and leaned in. He pressed his lips to hers gently. "Yeah, there's this girl with long flowing light brown hair and the most gorgeous eyes I've ever seen."
Harry cocked one eyebrow at her teasingly. "Strange thing is, her name's Hermione Granger. That's your name isn't it?"
Hermione smiled shaking her head. She gave up and rested against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.
"Like two love birds in a nest isn't it?" Lavender smirked from the other seat opposite the couple. "You two just can't get enough of each other. It's nauseating."
"Sort of like you and Ron then isn't it?" Hermione snapped back playfully.
"Girls! Don't go nipping at heels now. No need to fight over me." Harry interrupted waving a hand between them.
"Take him then!" Hermione sat up and sat leaning against the window in a sulk. She was teasing of course.
"Don't want him!" Lavender snapped back just as playfully.
Harry snickered and sat down next to Hermione. He pressed a kiss to her ear lobe, which made her swing around. She
caught his mouth with hers.
Unintentionally but still pleasurable. Hermione always had that affect on him; like he could never get enough. Her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth became more active against his own.
Their tongues enraptured each other as if tasting the other. Her hands wrapped around his neck and brought him further into the kiss.
He took her by the waist and brought her onto his knee so she was straddling him. Her hair fell from behind her ears and draped over her cheeks perfectly framing her delicate features.
"Get a soddin' room!" Ron's voice interrupted.
Harry and Hermione smiled against each other's lips. Harry broke away and leaned his forehead against hers.
"Wanna carry on later?" Harry asked connecting to Hermione.
With her eyes still closed, Hermione licked her bottom lip.
"Now would be good," She smiled as she replied.
"I think so too…but they don't," Harry grinned also.
"What are two grinning like monkeys for?" Lavender asked flicking through a magazine.
Hermione climbed off Harry but settled back in his arms as she sat down next to him.
"Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by incessant snogging," Lavender smiled and placed the magazine on to the seat beside her.
"I just think that if we're going to make any changes in the school this year we need to be more prepared to take an active role in schools issues," Hermione agreed by nodding.
"With me being Head Girl I think we can," Hermione began to say but Harry didn't hear anything.
"Hssrka kessu rutyasssa lissya jerosssa…" echoed through Harry's head.
As if pulsating with the voice, the lightening bolt began to throb with heat draining him. His hand went directly to his forehead grasping at the throbbing scar. He felt his eyes close and his body give out.
"Hssrka kessu rutyasssa lissya jerosssa…" the voice repeated sternly.
The world span around in his head as he stood up. His legs gave out beneath him and he crashed to the floor.
"Hssrka kessu rutyasssa lissya jerosssa…" the voice continued to mentally rape him inside and out.
Pulsating fire shot through his mind and body before it ceased his activity. Blackness over took him in seconds.
~)*(~
"Open up Harry."
Harry's eyes sprang open. Light surrounded him. Only white light; no colour.
"This is my home."
Harry tried to stand. His weight was bearable and he managed to stagger to his feet.
"Want to know where this is?"
Harry felt himself nodding to the voice. The voice was commanding and authoritative.
"You're in my house. In my house my rules apply."
"Who are you?" Harry cried. The wave of syllables echoed around the white room.
"Me? No one. No one you'd know you'd know of anyway."
"Then what is this place?" Harry asked running a hand through his hair.
"My home. I live here in this decoration of white."
"What am I doing here?" Harry looked around. There were no walls, no ceiling; no nothing, just a pit full of white.
"This is an empty dream, Harry."
"What?" Harry scoffed.
"An empty dream. The middle between awake and asleep. This is a thought-engulfed manifestation of your mind at present. Cool huh?"
"Yeah, suppose," Harry murmured. "So how do I get out?"
"Like this…"
Harry awoke to the sound of distant humming. The humming was approaching fast until it stopped.
A hand tightened on his own. He could feel the fingers entwined between his and a thumb caress his backhand softly.
His eyes opened slowly taking in the mix of colours and the swirls of objects.
The Hospital wing came into view. He lifted his head slowly and sat up.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice was soothing and calm. Harry looked in the direction it was echoing from.
She was sitting next to his bed holding his hand between hers. Her eyes looked soaked in worry.
"Hey Herm," Harry replied pleasantly squeezing her hand softly.
"Oh thank Merlin," she breathed out. She moved and sat beside him on the bed. "What happened?"
"I don't know," Harry grimaced. "I woke up in a white room then I woke up again here."
"A white room?" Hermione asked cocking one eyebrow at him. "Better tell Dumbledore."
"Suppose." Harry shrugged. "So how did I get here?"
"After you blacked out on the train, Dumbledore got notified straight away and apparated you and me out. You've only been out a few hours at the most."
"That it?"
"Pretty much." Hermione smiled. "Congratulations by the way."
"For what?"
"You got named Head Boy."
"Ugh Merlin!" Harry slumped back against the bed. "That's all I need!"
"Don't you want it?" Hermione asked in a quite hurt voice. It was one thing to turn down Prefect in their sixth year but Head Boy this year? Ridiculous!
"I suppose I do but…" Harry sighed and closed his eyes.
"But what?" Hermione lay down next to him and placed her head on his chest.
"There's a million reasons," Harry rested one of his hands on Hermione's waist and huddled her closer to him.
"Name one."
"Why me?"
"Because Dumbledore thought that you were the best person for the job."
"Why?"
"Your keen sense of responsibility just like James," Dumbledore stepped up to Harry's bed shinning his smile. His hands were clasped tightly behind his back in his usual manner.
Hermione jumped up off Harry and sat down in her seat again.
"How are you feeling Harry?" The old man asked over his half-moon spectacles.
"A little drained sir, but I'll be fine," Harry smiled back whilst running a hand through his hair.
"Good, good," Dumbledore smiled again and looked to Hermione. "You can return to your common room if you like, Miss Granger. I hear it's wonderful this year."
"Of course sir," Hermione looked at Harry and placed a kiss on his cheek then walked out of the hospital wing.
~)*(~
About an hour later, Hermione was called down to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony.
She was blissfully in some sort of dream. She was dating Harry, her best friend. The guy she'd been dreaming about since her second year. The boy who was loved all over the world but could escape from it all when he was with her.
Troops of first years were waiting at the Entrance Hall as Hermione rounded the corner. Hagrid was trying to keep them in order as Professor McGonagall was sorting them into two single files.
The Great Hall was bustling with noise. Lavender and Ron were already sat down at the Gryffindor table. They waved Hermione over.
"So what do you think of your troop this year?" Ron asked as Hermione sat down.
"They don't look too bad," Hermione grinned as she readjusted her robes. "I think we looked a lot worse for Percy in our first year."
"I'm sure we did," Lavender smiled. "Then again you three were the most trouble the poor lad had to put up with."
"This is true," Ron smirked knowingly. "We must've driven him insane. You sure you wanna take on this job, Herm?"
"Positive. It will look great on my University application."
Harry walked out of the Hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey had excused him because apart from lack of sleep they couldn't find anything wrong with him.
Plus, he was Head Boy and the Head Boy had to attend the Sorting Ceremony. He couldn't leave the first years with Hermione…they'd be hexed in minutes.
Harry rounded a corner but fell back on the ground when he crashed into something small and red.
"Oh Harry! You okay?" It was Ginny. She helped him to his feet.
"Yeah, fine." Harry smiled at his little red headed friend. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"Sorting Ceremony. Had to go and sort out some stuff with Madame Pince first."
They both walked down the corridor together watching all the portraits. Some had party hats on and were having a drink with other portraits.
"They have a good life don't they?" Ginny asked readjusting her robes as they walked.
"I suppose. I wouldn't like to be a constant portrait."
"Me neither but they just sit and watch all day long. They must see a load of interesting stuff."
"Like students sneaking out after hours?"
"Yeah and Filch's secret chocolate obsession."
They both laughed. Ginny had stumbled on Filch scoffing chocolate in the kitchens one evening and had been sworn to secrecy. Of course, it's not like that would stop her.
"How's the crush on Draco?" Harry asked rounding the next corner and through the archway.
"Not good. I can't go to sleep without seeing the prick's face. Trouble is I think he knows I like him."
"How could he?"
"I have absolutely no idea. But it's creepy. He winks at me and makes passes at me." She grinned widely. "Thanks for not telling Ron, Harry."
"Anything to be of service."
The two rounded the last arch to see McGonagall and the first year rabble. They were all wearing their new robes and checking out each other's wands.
Some of the wizard first years caught sight of Harry and their mouths dropped open.
"It's him!"
"Has he got the scar?"
"Where are his glasses?"
"Who's that girl?"
Harry chuckled and walked up to Professor McGonagall.
"Want some help Professor?" He asked politely.
McGonagall smiled at him and turned to address him.
"No thank you, Harry. I'm doing alright…Mr Greeves!" She called out to a young boy who was trying to enchant his pet frog who'd got loose.
"Remind you of anybody Professor?" Harry grinned. McGonagall grinned with him.
"Only two little boys and a little girl seven years ago." She smiled at the memory of Harry, Ron and Hermione's first day.
"Get into the Hall and prepare for dinner, dears." She addressed Harry and Ginny again before turning back to the two single files of anxious first years.
Harry and Ginny entered the Great Hall and were met with the usual sights. The see through ceiling which was lit up with the stars of the night sky. It looked so beautiful to Harry. In all his years at Hogwarts he'd never seen anything more beautiful…apart from Hermione of course.
Speaking of Hermione, she was sat at the Gryffindor table waving Harry and Ginny over.
They walked to the Gryffindor table. Harry gave Hermione a quick kiss before seating himself next to her. Ginny sat opposite her brother.
From over the hall, Draco winked at Ginny. He always made her heart flutter like that. Seamus' name was running through her mind the whole time. Her boyfriend; her great and loyal boyfriend of six months.
She let her head fall to the table with an almighty whack.
"You alright?" Ron asked coming to his sister's aide straight away.
"Yeah, fine," Ginny grimaced rubbing the sore spot on her forehead.
Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Ready to take care of the firsties, Herm?" He smiled one of his dazzling smiles.
Hermione smiled back. She loved his smile and could never get enough of it. She felt like she was drowning in his love every time he held her; kissed her or smiled at her.
"Hopefully they won't be as much trouble as we were," she stated leaning back into Harry's arm.
"I think Percy's only just got over us," Ron laughed.
"It wouldn't surprise me," Lavender grinned handing Ron her pumpkin juice.
Harry shook his head. "What are you doing tomorrow night, Herm?"
"Studying, why?"
"Wanna go to Hogsmeade like…on a date or something?"
"Or something? I hope you'll come up with something better than that," Hermione smiled up at her boyfriend. "Try again."
"Fine…"Harry sighed and sat up straight. "Hermione will you go to Hogsmeade tomorrow night?"
Hermione pressed her finger to her chin as If contemplating his words. "What would the evening entail?"
Harry smiled. "A romantic dinner then a moonlit walk back to Hogwarts School. Upon reaching our secluded common room…if all goes well…some heavy snogging on the sofa."
Hermione grinned and settled back into his arm. "Of course."
Harry pressed a kiss to her forehead. Nothing could have made him more happier than spending the next evening with his girlfriend together…just them; no one else.
Everything was perfect.