Chapter 3 - Hermione's Story
Harry wasn't surprised that he was the first one to arrive in front of The Great Hall. Knowing Hermione and Luna, they were going to be a little longer than usual; not like Lavender and/or Parvati late, but still longer than one would think. He carelessly paced back and forth a few times with his hands in his pockets, getting more and more impatient.
Harry yawned, leaned his right shoulder against the wall, and crossed his arms. The breeze, which blew through the corridor once in a while, plastered against his face, making him close his eyes.
"Harry?" said a voice, very close to his right as he felt a gentle tap on his back. He shot his eyes open and gyrated his head around. He could have sworn he had his eyes closed less than a minute, but that gentle breeze in his face probably made him go into a slight sleep; he hadn't even noticed Hermione's entrance.
"Wake up sleepy head," she whispered. Suddenly, she cupped one of Harry's cheek in one hand and kissed him on the other side. Not only did Harry feel a great deal of joy, he prayed that Hermione didn't see or feel the heat rise in his face. What is it that she was doing anyway? Could it be that maybe… possibly… she could…
Like me too?
"Tired?" said Hermione, smiling up at him. Harry starred at her.
Hermione's hair was down, and it cascaded just below her shoulders in soft curls. She didn't seem to do anything particular to style it, but for some odd reason, it looked breathtaking. Her Muggle clothes were out of the ordinary; her white v-cut blouse and her denim skirt were something that he had seen her in before, but seeing her this time around was intoxicating.
"Where's Ron and Luna?" she asked, failing to notice Harry's stared look.
We don't need them. Lets go on our own.
"Oh! Um…" said Harry, gathering himself and blushing. "They should be down here any minute now." He then noticed two silhouettes moving from over Hermione's shoulder.
There was Ron and Luna, walking hand in hand toward them.
"There they are," said Harry pointing behind her.
He was right; Luna was clearly at least half the height of Ron. It was no surprise, as she was one year behind the three of them. It wasn't that it mattered or anything, it was just one of those things that everyone knew them by, kind of like some sort of boyfriend-girlfriend signature. Harry sniggered.
"Quiet Harry!" she whispered, just as Ron and Luna came to a half right in front of them, still hand in hand.
Ron was the first to speak.
"Sorry about that," he said. "Luna took forever and she commanded that I wait for her." Hermione grinned.
Ron always said that he was in total control of the relationship and he "runs supreme". His rosy cheeks and slightly heavy breathing was a dead giveaway that he and Luna were in some sort of kissing session a few moments ago. Luna looked as if she hadn't done anything remotely significant in the past few days. It made people wonder just who exactly wore the pants in this particular relationship.
"Hello Harry," Luna greeted, in the same spacey tone she always did. "Hello Hermione."
"Hi Luna," they said at the same time. She kept looking back and forth between Harry and Hermione quite a few times.
"Is something wrong?" inquired Harry.
"Oh nothing," she said, in a way that there was something going on. She started to hum something that sounded awfully like 'Weasley is Our King."
There was a long silence between the four of them, only the humming coming from Luna.
"Shall we go then?"
***
Hogsmeade was the same as it had always been since the first day the trio wandered in ecstatically in in their 3rd year. Since it was fall and winter was approaching around the corner stores were of course plastered with "Christmas Sale" signs everywhere. Harry's insides trembled
Christmas had always been his favorite time of year. Not so much because he got gifts from everyone (though that WAS an essential part) but because it was a good time to show people how much he loved and cared for them. In this case, showing Hermione how much he loved and cared about her.
He felt the heat rise in his face as the thought about professing his love for her as soon as he gave her something she had always wanted. He thought about how she would react and jump in his arms and cry out in happiness and confess that she too felt the same way about him.
Wouldn't that be buying her love…?
Nah, not in this way. He would get her something out of the goodness of his heart and expect nothing in return (except maybe a kiss) whether or not she did feel the same way about him. The question was, what?
"Hey Harry? You ok over there mate?"
Harry had to blink a few times to remember where he was or what he was doing. He was so caught up in his day-dream that he didn't realize Ron was talking to him.
"Um yeah I'm… I'm fine…" he stammered.
"You don't look ok Harry," said Hermione, as a second opinion. "Are you sick?"
Harry shook his head but took the opportunity to memorize how beautiful her face looked when she worried about him.
"Well I said," said Ron looking back over at Harry, "that Luna and I are going off on our own for awhile."
"Is that all right with you two?" said Luna, almost in a sing-song manner.
DEFINITELY!!!
Harry and Hermione gave each other a look.
"Sure Ron," said Hermione smiling slightly. "We don't mind."
***
"Where we going?" asked Harry as the pair of them wandered off into the opposite direction of Ron and Luna. Hermione didn't answer but he followed her down an alley that Harry had not went into before, but looking at the complete calmness on Hermione's face told him that she had been here before many times.
Harry's eyes went wide. He could definitely tell why he had never walked down this alley and why Hermione liked walking down here so much. There were pink and red decorative things all over the place; on stores, on people, and some even on the stony floor. It reminded him sickly of Professor Umbridge's office in fifth year.
"What do you want to do?" Harry asked as they suddenly came to a stop somewhere in the middle of the alleyway.
"I don't know," said Hermione, slightly frowning. "Well I suppose we could buy them their Christmas gifts…"
As far as Harry could remember, Hermione had never associated herself with places or things that Lavender Brown would squeal over. The only time he had ever seen her come close was at the Yule Ball. It wasn't that he didn't see her as a girl, it was that because of her isolation from the typical girl look and the uniqueness and independence she had made her all the more special for him to like; he hoped she wasn't going soft on him either.
"Since when did you ever like stuff like this?" he asked Hermione, staring at a few Ravenclaw girls apparently getting excited over what looked to be like lipstick of some sort at an outside booth. "I hope you aren't turning into another Lavender."
Hermione wasn't listening, she was staring starry-eyed at something behind Harry.
He turned around to find a very peculiar-looking jewelry store. It was odd, most of the stores in the alley were decorated with flamboyant colors; this was the only store that looked normal. Hermione walked past Harry and up to one of the display windows; he followed her.
The display was filled with many types of jewelry, from watches, to pearl necklaces, to earrings, to rings, and even a shiny looking rosette. They all looked very expensive.
Harry followed Hermione's gaze; he realized that she wasn't looking at any of the jewelry at all, but at the center of the display, which stood a small picture of an ordinary-looking necklace with a round silvery pendant.
"You brought me here to see this?" said Harry bewildered.
"Not purposefully," said Hermione. She sounded like she was trying to hide some sort of sadness.
"What is it?"
"It's silly really," she said pathetically. "You'll laugh at me."
"You think so?" said Harry softly. Hermione looked at him, bit her trembling lip, and shook her head.
Harry could have hugged her right there; she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I've wanted that necklace since I was a little girl," explained Hermione looking back at the picture. "My mom said I was too young to have something very expensive."
Hermione's bottom lip trembled again. Harry in response put a comforting hand on her back.
"When I was finally old enough to have it," she continued, "the company that makes them had stopped production. I missed it by a few months."
"What magical properties does it have?" asked Harry curiously. Surely something Hermione wanted so badly must've have a great magical thing about it.
"Nothing," said Hermione apathetically. "It's an ordinary necklace."
Harry frowned.
"That pendant is actually a locket, made to hold a picture of someone. I wanted it to have a picture of my mom and dad, so that they would be close to my heart when I was away at school. They were the only two that really cared about me. At school I was made fun of, laughed at, and persecuted for getting the highest marks in class. I felt that having that necklace with me would give me a sense of strength and courage. I especially wanted it when I found out that I was going away to Hogwarts, but my mom said that I was still to young and by the time I was allowed to have it…"
She broke off, closed her eyes and a tear silently ran down her face.
"Hermione…" said Harry comfortingly, finally embracing her in a hug. He felt a great sense of admiration toward her.
Harry had thought that she was talking about Hogwarts before hand, remembering how everyone thought her to be mental, including himself. She was treated so bad at first at Hogwarts, he couldn't image how she was treated at her Muggle school. He held her as Hermione sobbed into him.
"You and Ron were the only ones that accepted me for who I was…" she continued her voice muffled by Harry's shoulder. He honestly didn't know what to say to her. She was already making him tread in dangerous waters, Harry could have bared his heart and soul at any moment…
"Thank you Harry," she sniffled, backing away from him. Her eyes were a bit puffy and red, her face wet with tears. Harry took the initiative to wipe her face.
"Thanks…" she sobbed, then turning back toward the picture.
"It was an empty space there," she said, motioning toward the picture. "The store just needed it to fill up space in the display."
Harry could tell by the way she said it that she had already been inside to ask about it. It made him feel very sorry for her, knowing that the picture was there, as if it was teasing her.
"Come on," said Harry, putting an arm around her. "Let's go back to the castle. I'm sure Ron and Luna won't mind."
Hermione anxious, but nodded and dragged along beside him.
It felt so good to have her in his arm like that, with her helpless and vulnerable. Still, after all that emotion, he couldn't think about what he was going to get Ron and Hermione for Christmas….
A/N: I am really sorry for the lack of updates. I've been so busy with the stress of college that I really can't find time to write. But don't worry, I haven't given up. Just… moving slowly. (Remember how JKR said that bout OotP?) And I'm also getting really excited about PoA movie, so many things to happen and so many things to see. I especially love that scene where Harry is sitting on a rock and Hermione is kneeling in front of him in the snow. ABOSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!!
Oh yeah… and I'm calling it now!!! Emma Watson is going to be a complete hottie when she gets older!!!