Author's Note:
Thank you all for the reviews! I love getting them, gives me that warm, tingly feeling inside.
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The week following that night's awkward conversation passed quickly, and Harry was pleasantly surprised that the theory of time passing painfully slowly when you want it to speed up was disproved. However, the feeling of excitement soon turned into a sort of frenzied panic as Hermione's arrival drew nearer. After his confused confession the other night, his thoughts of Hermione were more frequent, more established, and they continued to grow until they clouded his everyday life and left him with a faraway smile fixed permanently onto his elated face. Though everytime this happened, he got a hearty snigger from Fred and George, and he desisted.
He seemed to be cheering Ron up however, as even Ron had joined in with their friendly teasing, at first it was slightly awkward, as Harry walked into a room with a dreamy air and an elated smile one day, his thoughts totally on cloud nine, he attracted the all-too familiar snickers of Fred and George, and with a mockingly dark look at them both, he turned to face Ron for their game of chess, and found him trying avidly to hide an amused grin. Harry feigned shock and hurt at this, but all in all he was glad Ron was cheering up. It would erase any awkwardness between him and Hermione when she finally arrived.
It was quite a few days since Harry had wrote back to Hermione, and since he gained no reply from her, he began to grow slightly worried. Maybe he had crossed the line? He had assumed that with their new-found closeness that Hermione would trust him with anything, isn't that what she said in her letter? However, he still couldn't shift the growing feeling of anxiety that lingered in his stomach, eating away at his insides. He wondered why he was over-reacting like this, he was so dependant on Hermione's reply. Maybe it was because he had finally confessed to himself that he did indeed like her as more that a friend?
As he lay forlornly on his lumpy four-poster after dinner one night, his belly full of Mrs. Weasley's wonderful treacle tart, he waited again, as he had done night after night, for Hermione's reply. Everyone else was down in the living room, playing chess and having fun, and Harry knew he should be down there with them, but he had ardently made his excuses to leave, accompanied by Fred, George and Ron laughing jokingly behind their backs, and retreated back to his room. However, he was just thinking of going back downstairs to join them when his pretty snowy owl landed with a graceful thud right next to him on his pillow.
Harry's heart leapt as he fervently sat bolt upright, almost throwing Hedwig across the room in the process, and practically ripped Hermione's reply from Hedwig's beak. She gave him an indignant, angry hoot and clicked her beak, and Harry had to take the time to calm her down and apologise before turning his attention to Hermione's surprisingly lengthy letter.
Hi Harry,
You have no idea how much I blushed at that last letter, no one's ever called me beautiful.
Anyway, I know you probably want an answer to that question, and why not? You're my best friend, you have a right to know. I feel like I can tell you anything now, since we've been writing to each other more, and I know that this might shock you, but I trust you. I wasn't actually going to tell anyone, I really wanted to keep this to myself, believe me. But what you said, in your last letter; 'things are even better when you have the people you love at your side, that's where you get your real strength.' it made me cry. Yes, me, Hermione Granger, the heartless bookworm who doesn't feel at all, cried. So I'm trying my best to do what you told me to do, Harry, I'm letting it all out.
You know, I'm surprised Ron managed to figure it out, I thought I hid it so well. Plus, I'm sure you'll agree, Ron isn't really the most sensitive type. Still, I suppose something's can't be kept a secret for long.
See, the truth is, Harry, that it's you. The person who I love is you.
I'm sorry if it comes as a shock to you, and I'll be devastated if this ruins things between us. You mean so much to me, Harry, so much you wouldn't believe. You were my first real friend, the first one who really wanted to know me. You help me so much even though you don't notice it. You make me so angry at times, but I've never been as happy with anyone else than I've been with you.
I feel like I'm taking a complete risk in telling you this, I know that you have a lot on your mind right now. I'm just hoping you can put this past you and still like me. Your friendship means the world to me, and I really don't want to risk that for anything. I hope this doesn't cause any awkwardness between us at all, and between you and Ron. You see, all these reasons are why I kept it to myself in the first place. And I kept it so long, Harry. 3 years… I've loved you for 3 years. I've seen you with Cho, seen you ogling at Veela, and it broke my heart. But since I value your friendship more than anything in my life, I didn't say anything.
Please don't feel sorry for me, I would hate for us to be awkward when I finally get there. I hope this won't ruin out 'date'.
I'm really sorry for heaping this all on you now, Harry.
Love you, more than you'll ever know,
Hermione.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Harry was fervently trying to contain himself. His face was fighting a losing battle of whether to laugh or cry, and his voice was cracking gently as he contained the extremely ecstatic whoop he was longing to let out. His jubilation threatening to overcome him, he contented himself with jumping noiselessly around the room, his arms and fists punching the air animatedly. He felt wonderful, his heart was surely cracking with the compelling feeling of happiness within him. She loved him! She said it herself, all in beautifully black and white ink. Throwing himself dreamily onto his bed, he stared up at the wonderfully mouldy ceiling, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement, a happy feeling of numb disbelief spreading through his entire body. She loved him… she LOVED him…
The feeling of excitement intensified greatly as he remembered that it was only a few days until he saw her again. Thinking that it would be a good idea to reply to her before she arrived, otherwise he'd start kissing her senseless without any explanation, he haphazardly grabbed his writing equipment, and with a light head, he began to write.
Hi Hermione,
You should have seen me when I read your letter. Actually, I'm glad I read it alone, I'm sure I looked like a right twonk afterwards.
I went kind of nuts to be honest, I sort of jumped up and starting punching the air, I don't mind telling you. I can't tell you how happy your letter made me, and I can tell you, it makes me twice as happy to be able to say this to you; I love you too.
You know, telling you to let it all out was possibly the best advice I've ever given anybody. I'm so glad you told me, I really am. I can't wait to see you on Friday, I just want to give you a great big hug right about now.
It was actually Ron who woke me up, you know. Fred and George managed to steal my letter to you before I sent it, and they all had a very good laugh at my expense. Ron took it very well, he told me that he knew that I loved you, and that we were meant to be together. Heh, this is Ron talking…I was quite surprised. He said he's really happy for me, and you. I suppose that would get rid of any awkwardness between you two when you come.
So, what I really want to ask you now, is will you go out with me? I know our friendship means everything to you, it means the world to me too, but I can't stop thinking about you. I don't think I'd be able to cope with you just being my friend. I need you, Hermione. Badly. Fred, George and Ron have all had a good laugh at the fact that I can't get this stupid smile off my face whenever I think about you, which is most of the time. I really think we'd make a good couple, I mean, whatever I felt for Cho, it's more than a hundred times as strong for you. So, I hope you'll say yes…
I can't wait to see you on Friday, and I'm really looking forwards to our date. I want to get to know you even more now.
See you on Friday, Beautiful.
Love you, more than you think.
Harry
Harry noted with added bliss, the amount of kisses Hermione has added was uncountable. Harry tried to add the same amount none the less.
As he finished his letter, and gave it to a tired Hedwig, Ron burst noisily into the room just as Harry set himself back on his bed, the faraway grin still fixed firmly in place. He didn't notice Ron give him an inquiringly strange look, and was brought straight back to earth when he heard Ron's voice instead of the one he was dreaming about.
"Hey! Hel-lo! Earth to Harry! What's the matter with you?"
Harry did not answer. He couldn't trust his voice to speak without breaking. Instead, with a shaking hand, he carefully handed Hermione's letter to Ron, as if it were made of glass. Ron read it quickly, his face remaining passive. Harry watched him tentatively.
As he finished reading it, he briskly handed it back to Harry, his face still remaining passive. However, staring at Harry, his face broke into a huge grin as he let out a loud 'whoop!' and gruffly gave harry a large Hug. With lots of slapping on the back and manly grunts, they soon let go, their manly pride getting the better of them.
"Hey, what did I tell you, mate? I told you she was besotted with you! I'm glad you two finally figured it out!"
Despite Harry's elated mood, he couldn't help think suspiciously of this statement.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Ron? I mean, I'd understand if you weren't…"
"Of course I am!" Ron walked over to Harry and slapped him merrily on the back, causing Harry a painful tinge, which he blatantly ignored.