Abundant Skies
Chapter Seven: Late Night Literature
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I forgot to thank PolishPrincess for her suggestion of Ron and Lavender together, so thank you! and thank you for reviewing, it really does help.
Thanks for all your reviews, and for one reviewer, I am sorry I write half-hearted D/Hr fanfics. I guess I just crave HP/HG/DM triangles too much. But, I do plan to write just a D/Hr, so don't worry.
Thanks!
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Harry was worried about Hermione. She hadn't come down for breakfast, stopped by for lunch but left quickly, just grabbing an apple. He had seen her take a quick glance at him, but he couldn't read the look in her eyes; she was here one second and the next she was gone. He wondered what she was doing; even when they had exams she wasn't like this. Not at all. Maybe she hadn't heard him last night. Maybe it was someone else. Harry felt himself reddening at the thought; he couldn't bear the thought of saying that to someone else, when it was solely meant for Hermione and Hermione alone. She had to have heard it. Maybe she was just ignoring him. Maybe she had heard it, but was just mad at him. Still. Well, that didn't lighten him up any better, either.
He sighed, playing with his food. Ron looked over at him, and sighed.
"Mate, you do know that I am sorry for yesterday, right?" Ron said, and Harry looked at him, his expression looking tired and weary.
"Yeah, I know."
"You alright? I mean, I know Dean snores loud, but not that loud. I thought it was at least bearable."
Harry sighed, running a hand through his untamed hair. "I'm worried about Hermione."
Ron sighed. "Still."
"She's just.. I apologized to her last night, when she wouldn't open the door. I just.. I know she heard me, but.. She's still.. It's worse. She doesn't even stop and sit down for a whole meal. You saw her, didn't you? She just came in, grabbed an apple and ran out."
"It amazes me how girls can eat so little. I think she thinks she's too fat. Don't you notice what she eats at breakfast every single day? If it's not a weight issue, then I'd say she's just gone stark raving mad."
Harry smiled faintly. "No, I don't think that's it, Ron. I think she's still mad at me."
"How could she possibly still be mad at you?"
"I don't know.. Maybe, maybe I did something that I don't know about. Maybe I said something, or maybe-"
"Harry, you've got to stop thinking its something you did. You've got to talk to her, without a door wedged in between you two."
"How can I? She'll just go running off again."
"Well then, don't let her."
"How? Force her to talk to me?"
"Exactly."
"You mean, drag her into a room and make her talk to me?"
"If that doesn't work, tie her to a chair. Or maybe a table. You know Hermione, she's pretty strong."
"Ron, I'm serious."
"And what? I'm not? Come on Harry,"
"Ron, really. It's not funny. I'm really worried about her."
Ron sighed, looking at Harry. He suddenly started chuckling, lightly.
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
"You've got it bad, Harry," Ron said, still laughing. "Really bad."
"Oh shut up," Harry said, turning away.
"You've got to tell her!" Ron said. "I don't want you to be all mopey. I really don't want to drag along a lovesick Harry Potter."
Harry smiled faintly. "Maybe you won't have to."
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Hermione got out of her bed, sneaking out quietly. She clutched a fairly thick, tried blue book in her hand, as she went out of the dormitory. She silently closed the door behind her, sighing heavily. But then she noticed that the fire was lit in the fireplace, a hazy, yellow light flooding through the front of the room. She walked closer, to the edge of the balcony-like top of the staircase. She felt a slight smile tug on the corners of her mouth, as she saw whom it was, studying so late at night.
A raven-haired boy was writing on a piece of parchment, textbook sprawled out in front of him. He seemed to be working hard, concentrating. The fire's shadow and light played across his face, making him seem so peaceful and mysterious at the same time. She watched him for a few seconds, admiring the way he wrote so quickly, although she knew it was hard to read. She watched him as he dipped his quill into the ink, and as he flipped through the textbook. She heard him sigh, placing the quill beside the parchment, and Hermione guessed, letting his hand rest.
But then, she hadn't noticed her grip on her book getting loose and looser, until it dropped from her hand, and landed on the floor with a thud. Hermione winced as she heard the thud; it seemed to be amplified across the room, echoing from the walls. She froze. Harry whipped around, to see who it was, and he felt his heart stop.
Hermione looked down at him, as he saw her. She felt as if everything had vanished around her, as she was trapped in his gaze again. She felt the same tingling, warm sensation shiver through her body, her nerves humming and flashing. Suddenly, a spark from the fire crackled loudly, and she was snapped out of her trance. She felt warmth spread through her cheeks, as she bent down to get her book, flustered. Harry quickly stood up, watching her.
"Hermione?" He said, hoping she would stay.
"Er. Yes, Harry?" she answered, still fumbling with the book. She hoped to leave. She hoped he'd let her, but at the same time, beg her to stay.
"Are- Are you coming down?" He asked.
"I.. Um, Well, I was just going to-" She paused when she saw the look in Harry's eyes. His emerald eyes were pleading at her, telling her to stay. How could she say no? She sighed, looking at the book in her hand.
"Well, alright," she said, and went down the stairs. Harry watched her, feeling his heart beat fast, as he nervously ran his hand through his hair. He watched her as she stood before him, in her simple black tank and dark cotton trousers. Somehow, letting his eyes roam her body.. The room seemed to be getting so much hotter. Her creamy skin seemed so smooth, with the shadows chasing the light on her skin.. He wondered how it would feel to touch her, to feel her.. How she would taste. He swallowed hard, shutting his eyes for a second to make his mind refocus. Hermione saw him close his eyes.
She stood, uneasy. "Um, Harry? Are you okay? I can go back, you know, I didn't mean to interrupt. You look busy so maybe it would just be better-"
Harry's eyes bolted open. "No!" He suddenly said. He tried shallow his breathe, trying to calm down.
"What I mean is, no. I want you to stay," he said to her. Hermione smiled at him, faintly, and he could feel his heart skip a beat.
"Oh, alright then," she said softly, before sitting down on the couch. He watched her, before taking his seat back on the desk. He observed her, as she avoided his gaze, looking at her feet, at her hands, at the fire.. Was she really that uncomfortable around him? Why?
"I.. I didn't see you at dinner today," he said quietly.
"Oh," she said. "Well, I was just.. I was just getting some things done. You know, for our classes. I wasn't all that hungry, anyway." There was silence, as Harry could smell the raw odor of dishonesty in the room. Harry stood up, and took a seat closer to her, facing and just inches from her.
"Hermione.. What's going on?" He asked her. Hermione looked up, and knew immediately she shouldn't have. She felt as if he could see right through her, but she tried her best to block it. Block the contact. He couldn't know. He couldn't see. She didn't want him to. She quickly turned away, turning her gaze to the fire.
"It's nothing Harry," she said, softly. "It's really nothing. You shouldn't fret about me. I'm just fine. Just busy."
"You're lying to me, Hermione," he said. "I know it."
She sighed, and closed her eyes. He knew she was lying. So what was she going to say? What could she say? Was there anything she could say at all that he would believe, that was besides the truth? She didn't answer. She didn't have one.
"You can tell me."
"That's what everyone says," she said, almost inaudible.
"It's true."
"What if there's nothing to tell? What if.. Everything was just fine? What would I say?"
"Well I'd say you're about the worst liar in the world." Hermione smiled faintly, amazed at how he could see that about her so well.
"You're right," she said. Harry sighed, just watching her. Her wavy brown hair was on her shoulders, only almost in a ponytail. Her brown eyes glittered from the firelight, her hands so small and smooth wrapped around her beat up book. She was beautiful.
She sighed. "I just wanted to tell you that.. Well, I heard your apology," she said, turning to him. Her eyes were dark but shone kindness, a faint smile on her pretty face.
"It wasn't you, Harry," she said softly. "I just.. Well, I've been avoiding you because.." She paused, not exactly knowing what to say next. "I just.. I haven't felt myself lately. I'm sorry if I made you think it was something you did."
"But there was something wrong, wasn't there?" He asked, the softness and gentleness in his voice melting everything inside her.
She sighed again, but didn't answer his question. But she spoke seconds later,
"Are you doing your essay?" She looked over behind him, where his parchment and textbook lay. He smiled, although wanting to go back to his question. She was hiding so many things; he could feel it. What could it be that she couldn't tell him?
"Yeah," he chuckled lightly. "Everyone else was asleep, so I headed down here," he looked at her. "What about you?"
Hermione smiled, looking down at her book. The tattered side, the beat-up and faded cover.
"Just a bit of late night literature," she said, as she looked up. "I couldn't sleep."
Harry smiled widely. "So we're both insomniacs."
"I guess so."
She turned her gaze to the fire, her conscience constantly reminding her that here was Harry Potter, the boy she had loved for years. This was her chance. She could tell him now. It was perfect. They were alone. Hermione sighed.
"I'm going to go," she said, standing up. "I don't want to keep you." Harry stood up.
"You're not," he said, quickly. But Hermione was already heading towards the stairs. Harry screamed at himself mentally; say something! SAY SOMETHING!! DON'T LET HER LEAVE!!
"Hermione!" He said. She froze.
"Stay, please," he said. "I want you to stay." Hermione felt the need to go back up to the dormitory, and just think of everything that had happened as what it really was. Just a talk. He didn't feel for her romantically. He didn't do it because he loved her. No, he just did it because she was her friend, and he was worried. He didn't love her. He never could. She sighed, her heart tugging at her, but at the same time heavy.
She needed to go. She wanted to stay. Needed to go. Wanted to stay. She had to make up her mind. But it hurt, being there with Harry, moment ago. Just as friends. Knowing he wasn't feeling, seeing this moment as she was. Knowing he wasn't feeling those same butterflies she felt. Or the constant flips her stomach did when he smiled at her. It hurt, but she wanted to stay. Needed to stay. He was asking her to stay. He wanted her to stay.
"Please, Hermione," he said. "I want you to stay." Hermione could just see herself going up the stairs, going into the dormitories, shutting the door, snuggling into her covers.
Then not drifting off to sleep as everyone else. She would be wide-awake, thinking about the green-eyed boy who managed to capture her heart without knowing it.
She turned around, and looked at Harry. His eyes pleaded at her.
"Alright then," she said softly. "I'll stay."
And she headed down the stairs and back into the common room.