Chapter 5 - The Unexpected Thing
Harry walked nonchalantly to classes with Ron on the Monday morning. It felt like it went rather quickly as he was really eager to be with Hermione again. He did see her in corridors a few times in passing and gave her quick kisses before moving along again.
Ron seemed to like the idea himself and gave Adelle a kiss when he saw her. She was surprised with it, but nonetheless enjoyed it. After Harry's and Ron's last class of the day, (Divination) a pretty 7th year Ravenclaw girl that Harry had in some classes and seen walking around school, but never had the pleasure of meeting, stopped him and Ron.
"Hello," said the girl. "Can I please talk to you Harry?"
"Sure," he said awkwardly, raising an eyebrow at Ron, who shrugged.
"Alone," she said at the last minute, looking over at Ron.
"But -" started Harry, feeling suddenly afraid to be alone with her.
"That's ok Harry," interrupted Ron, not noticing that Harry didn't want to be left alone.
"I need to meet Adelle right now anyway. She told me something about… coming to terms. Whatever that means."
Harry snorted a laugh when he heard that, but nodded to Ron, who had left the two of them alone.
"Hi," said the girl again, holding out her hand. "My name's Serine Marshal."
"Nice to meet you Serine," replied Harry shaking her hand.
"Look Harry," she said in a serious tone. "I just want to be straight forward with you."
"O-okay," replied Harry, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"I just want to say that I've had this really big crush on you since like forever."
She said this really fast.
"Really?" said Harry, feeling a bit flattered and putting on a smile.
"Yeah," she said, blushing a bit. "And I was wondering… um… will you come out on a date with me?"
"Oh!" exclaimed Harry, he himself blushing a bit. He was surprised completely by her offer, but he knew deep down that he couldn't, not because that he didn't like her, but because he was with Hermione. He was wondering if she knew or not.
"Oh, I'm sorry Serine," said Harry, trying not to sound mean.
"Why?" she asked, looking extremely hurt. "Don't you think I'm pretty?"
Harry shook his head. He, on one hand, didn't even know the girl. And here she was, already asking him out on a date. It wasn't that she wasn't a bad looking girl. She was very good looking. Her hair was dark brown with blond streaks, which came about to her shoulders, and she had light blue eyes. The one thing that caught Harry's eye mostly was her chest, which seemed to swell out of her blouse. Her blouse looked little to small for her as it was stretched taught over her bosom. Harry had to slap himself mentally in the head every time his eyes dropped down. She was pretty, but Hermione was beautiful.
"Sure I do," he responded, half looking at her face and half looking at he chest. "I would… really. But, as you know, I'm with Hermione."
"I know," she simply put.
"Then why -?"
"Well," she said, giving him a flirtatious smile while twirling a strand of hair on her finger. She dropped the small bag she was carrying to her side. The sweet and innocent look that was on her face that Harry had come to know her for, completely vanished. Harry suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "I think that it'll be more fun that way. Don't you think?"
"Ummm," Harry gulped, wondering where this was going. "I can't."
"Don't you think it's kinky, going out with someone while secretly going out with someone else?" Serine asked, wetting her lips and pushing her body closer to him.
Harry gulped again, his forehead breaking into a sweat. He didn't know if he felt turned on, or really scared.
"Don't you want to see where this could go or what we could become?" she asked, caressing the side of his arms, feeling into his muscles.
"Actually," said Harry felling flustered, pulling away from her hand. "No, I don't want to see where this would go. Hermione's my girlfriend and I refuse to do anything to hurt her!" Harry had just had about enough of her and he was starting to hate her because of what she was attempting and the way she was acting. His love and loyalty for Hermione was so strong, he didn't want to do anything with her, let alone cheat on Hermione.
"Come on Harry," Serine persuaded again, pushing her chest up against him. This made Harry forget he was upset at all and felt a surge of pleasure run through his body. Even though this turned him on, his love for Hermione took over and he tried immensely to pull away, but suddenly, found that he couldn't. He tried again, attempting to take a step back but his feet remained planted in the floor. He tried moving his arms away, still to no luck. He did find however that he could move freely and toward Serine. He wasn't bind to anything and his muscles started to ache very much. Harry felt very afraid and very vulnerable. He was alone in an empty corridor with a very voluptuous girl, that had the power to basically do anything to him, in front of him and he couldn't retreat. What would happen if someone saw them like this? What would happen if Hermione saw them like this? What could she possibly think?
"I'll be fun," Serine said, bringing her lips dangerously close to Harry's. He pursed his lips and clamped his eyes shut in frustration.
"No," he whispered, waiting detestably for her lips to touch his, about to have a kiss that he really didn't want. To his surprise, it didn't come. He opened one eye to see her head back further than it was when he had last had his eyes open. She had a small smirk on her face. Then, to his horror, he heard a voice he prayed not to hear at that moment.
"Harry!" shouted Hermione, walking with authority toward them.
"Oh no," thought Harry, expecting the worst. "Look at the predicament that I'm in. I'm
alone in a corridor with a girl that's not Hermione, and she had to catch me like this. What is she going to think!?"
"Suit yourself," said Serine with a smile, backing away from Harry and picking up her bag she had dropped. "It's your lost. Bye Harry!" She waved innocently at him and trotted off, not even looking at Hermione. After she had turned the corner, Harry turned to face Hermione, waiting for her to explode at him.
"What the heck was that!?" she shouted angrily and him, putting her hands on her hips and frowning at him. Harry tried his best to explain, but ended up mumbling the words.
"Wait Hermione. It…it's not what you think. I…I was… Let me explain."
"You had better explain! And you better make it good," she said, crossing her arms.
Harry had explained the best he could. About how she had stopped him and Ron and told him that she wanted to speak alone with him. How she had asked him out on a date and he refused because he was already going out with Hermione (this made Hermione smile, but she tried to hide it from Harry). About how even though he said no, she kept pushing it, flirtatiously begging him to say yes.
"And did you say 'yes' Harry?" she asked dangerously, still slightly mad at him, her arms still crossed.
"Of course not!" he exclaimed. "I would never do something like that. Ever." He took a step closer to Hermione. She looked ready to back away, but she didn't. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. Hermione hesitated and again looked ready to pull away, but she received the kiss form him. The look on her face still wasn't to Harry's liking and he was content that she was still upset with him. After all, he didn't blame her for being upset; he would feel the same way if he saw her alone with another wizard in a dark, empty corridor. He was surprised that she didn't ask why he hadn't pulled away from her or simply walked away, but figured that he didn't want to explain that he couldn't. He didn't want to bring it up again and persuade it and found that he would look and sound stupid if he did try to explain that somehow he didn't pull away. He did have one more thing he wanted to do to redeem himself.
"Hermione," he said, uncrossing her arms, taking her left hand, and holding it firmly against his chest with both hands, right where his heart was. "Do you feel that?"
She nodded. Harry took a deep breath before continuing.
"That's beating for a reason, and one important reason only. It's what keeps me alive everyday and I sleep happily every night hoping to see another. It's beating because of you Hermione. I love you. And only you."
Hermione stared at Harry, her angry face gone and replaced with a look of sorrow and understanding.
"You have every right to be upset with me," continued Harry, "and I don't expect you to forgive me straightaway. But believe me, I didn't mean anything like that to happen. And I would never do anything intention to hurt you like that." Harry took another deep breath again, not believing it himself at where he had come up with that speech.
"If my words don't make you believe me," said Harry, looking very sorry, "then maybe the look in my eyes and the beating of my heart will. Hopefully, you'll find the truth there."
Hermione continued to stare at Harry, taking in Harry's entire apology. She was still skeptical about Harry's actions, yet, his apology sounded so sweet and so perfect. She studied his eyes the whole time, even before he had said to look in them, searching for a lie anywhere. To no surprise, she didn't find it anywhere.
"How does he do it?" she asked herself. "When he tells the truth, he tells the truth!"
She felt her hand against his heart, which Harry still held firmly against, and felt its beats. It was beating a bit quicker than usual, probably because of shock and fear. She continued to feel it, listening to it, looking for a lie anywhere.
"He's not lying Hermione," she heard his heart tell her. "He's 110% truthful and 210% faithful to you. You should be proud. Not many boyfriends are as truthful and faithful as he is. You're very lucky to have a boyfriend like him." That was it. That's all she needed to hear.
"Do you forgive me Hermione?" Harry asked apologetically.
"Yes Harry," she said, blinking slowly at him, her eyes sparkling at him. "I forgive you."
Harry gave a no teethed smile that looked like he was ready to cry. He did what his instincts told him and leaned in and gave her their signature kiss. The open mouthed kisses that were usually five, ended up being about 15. Harry made special effort to make them special and sweeter than before and for some reason, even after the 5th opened mouth kiss, Hermione seemed to know that it wasn't over and continued. That's what made their signature kiss so special. They never talked about it, or when they were going to do it, or if it was going to be modified this one time. They just …know about it. After the final kiss on Hermione's forehead, resting his on hers with a pause, he released her, put him hand around her and walked her back to their private rooms.