Summer Writing Series Challenge (June 15)
Challenge: Harry & Hermione go on their first date. Harry or Hermione initiates the goodnight
kiss.
Title: The Cook, Kissed
Word Count: 1,000
I can't believe where I am tonight. It seems like yesterday when she was sitting next to me after her breakup with Ron. My heart was pounding faster than I have ever felt it when I hinted at how I've felt for her, but I didn't push the matter. I knew Hermione was smart enough to figure everything else out on her own.
That was five months ago but I remember it as if it were yesterday. Every memory I've shared with the woman walking next to me is like that. I can see her bushy, brown hair and know-it-all attitude when the door to my compartment on the Hogwarts Express opened and she asked if Ron or I had seen Neville's toad, the countless times I've woken in the hospital wing to see her tear-stained face, especially when I was able to crawl to her after ... I don't want to think about that, but I wasn't going to let anyone touch her while I still breathed.
The only thing I don't recall with clarity is the day I thought her beautiful. She's definitely grown into a shapely woman, her exercise has helped tone her body, but to most people, she's still plain looking with frizzy hair. I noticed how wonderful she was long before everyone else, except Ron I reckon, but somewhere along the line, my sweet Hermione went from my female best friend who wasn't the prettiest girl in school to the astonishing woman who's now holding my hand. She's holding my hand?
"Are you alright with this, Harry?" She asks as I start to get dizzy.
"I'd have it no other way." I smile nervously at her in reply. Can she feel my heart beating as fast as it is? Does she know what her smile has done to me for so long? Does she know how dumbfounded I was when I asked her to dinner as a date and she said yes? There's that goofy grin again, I must look like a ruddy ... No, Uncle Vernon's words aren't going to ruin this for me.
"Is something wrong?" Her eyebrows crinkle and I can see the thousand different questions that are running through her mind. Her insecurities are trampling her confidence as I stare at her hopelessly.
"I was just thinking." I smile reassuringly, looking for that sparkle in her eye that tells me she's fine. It isn't there. "More to the point, I was remembering the times we've spent together."
"That's a lot of remembering." She snorts out her laugh like she always does and I can't help but join her. The twinkle is back in her eyes, much to my relief. I hoped that if she knew I was thinking about her, about us, it would put her at ease. I tighten my grip on her hand, letting her know that she's always been in the foremost of my thoughts and she blushes innocently.
How could Ron treat this wonderfully intelligent and beautiful woman the way he has for so long? I can't keep my eyes off of her, let alone find anything to insult her about. He and I are going to have a little heart-to-heart talk when I see him next.
"I've never had Greek before ..." She smiling at me again and I can't keep from blushing. "I think baklava has become my all-time favorite desert now."
I can't help but smile at how happy she seems. "I thought you'd like something a bit different than Italian."
"You thought right, Mr. Potter." She laughs genuinely again and I can't hold back a chuckle. "Harry, can I ask you a question?"
Her insecurities are back, I know what she's going to ask. "Sure, you can ask me anything."
"Why didn't we try dating sooner?" I didn't expect that question.
"I didn't want to push you too fast after your breakup." Not an answer she wants, I can see it coming now.
"That's not what I meant."
It's amazingly convenient how a park bench happens to be nearby when I need it. With a sigh, I lead her over to it and we sit down. I hope she doesn't hate me for this. "I wanted to ask you for a date a while ago but after what happened with Cho ..."
"I'm not Cho, Harry." Hermione looks at me sternly and I hold up a hand to let me finish.
"You didn't know what happened, why she seemed to be frightened to be around me. Voldemort tried to use her to get to me." She gasps at the news. "I don't know what happened to her but the Order was able to save her. I didn't want you to go through what she did ..."
Tears are in her eyes, but she has that resolved look that I've seen so many times. "I was already a target, Harry ..."
"I know. I know, Hermione, I couldn't stand to see you hurt that way. I couldn't bear to see you frightened to be around me."
Her soft hand is on my cheek and she turns me to look at her. "Harry, nothing would have kept me from you." That twinkle is back along with something else that's drawing me to her.
"Hermione ..." I can't finish the sentence, was it a question? I don't recall what I was going to ask. It's getting hard to breathe and I feel the world spin around me but Hermione's face is in sharp focus. She's surprised when I cup her cheek and her eyes glaze over. My heart beats faster than I thought possible, I can't control myself and I lean in. When my lips touch hers, I don't remember my name. She breathes in suddenly, followed by a little squeak. Her lips are so moist and tender I slap myself for not doing this sooner. I don't know how long we were together, but it wasn't long enough as I pull away and look into her eyes.
A/N: This was my very first attempt at first person POV. Hope you liked part 2, next is the final! :)