A/N: Hi everyone. In your reviews, I haven't gotten very much constructive criticism, and it would help me if you wrote some. Although I like the good ones a lot :)! Well here we go!
Chapter 8: Tears
The next day, when they were packed and ready to go, the teens waited for the Grangers to finish getting ready in the sitting room downstairs.Harry walked around the room, apparently pondering something. Hermione sat on the couch apparently thinking too.
'He's so wonderful for a boy who's had so many hardships in his life. I don't know if I could ever do that. He just seems to take everything in stride, but I know he must hurt. I wish I could be a bigger part of his life.I wish that maybe, we could be more than friends....wait...whoa....'
Meanwhile Harry was wondering some things too.
'She's so smart, and sensitive. And to be friends with two boys has to be hard too. She is a great friend and she has never once left my side, even last year when my name came out of the goblet. I never thanked her for that. She seems like such a strong person to be able to deal with me and Ron... we don't really give her enough credit. I wish that we could be closer, more than friends...um, wait...what?!?'
"Hermione?" Harry spoke up jerking her out of her reverie.
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to say well... Would you... er- well thanks for sticking by me all last year, even when Ron didn't. I never thanked you for that." Harry breathed in deeply.
"Oh. You're welcome," she replied. She looked a little disappointed.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"It's just that...never mind," she replied, as her parents walked into the room. She looked so confused that he decided not to press it.
***
As they loaded their trunks and animal carriers in to the trunk of the car, the two remained totally silent. When they got in the car, they were silent, unlike they had been for the past few weeks. Hermione's parents watched them from the front seat as the two teenage friends sat on the furthest opposite ends of the back seat staring out at the sky. Every once in awhile one of them would look at the other and open their mouth to say something, then close it and continue looking out the window. Hermione's mother watched this with great amusement in the rearview, while Frank observed them with dismay. The uncomfortable silence in the car was broken when Harry saw Hedwig flying along steadily with the car.
"Hermione! It's Hedwig!" he said eagerly, shaking her shoulder.
"Huh? Oh! Mum, pull over, Mum!" Hermione cried. Shifting the steering wheel over to the side of the road, Harry and Hermione eagerly eached out and plucked Hedwig from the air. Harry slammed the door behind them and they continued on their way. Hemione eagerly pulled the letter off of the snowy owl's leg. The bird hooted and nipped her finger affectionately before tucking her head under her wing to take a nap. Hermione quickly unfolded the letter and the two leaned in to read it. One glance at the bottom told them that it was from Ron.
Dear Harry and Hermione,
I hope you two are having fun. I am although I miss you both. Unfortunately, I can't be there for the two weeks before the start of school. But even if I wasn't in Romania, I wouldn't come anyway. That's right. I didn't make prefect. Mum and Dad aren't too happy. Well, I'll see you two at school.
Ron
"Oh no. He must be so disappointed,"Hermione remarked.
"I know," Harry replied. Just then they turned their heads at exactly the same time towards each other so they were nose to nose. They held each others gaze until...
"We're here, kids," Frank Granger called gruffly. They broke their gaze. Harry hastily folded the letter and tucked it in his pocket. Both of them retrieved their trunks from the back. Grangers and Harry in tow, Hermione marched straight to the brick wall and tapped the bricks with her wand. And Diagon Alley appeared before their eyes.
Making their way towards the quarters at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry grinned at all the fascinating shops that lined the streets.
'I love his smile...' thought Hermione. She had been thinking of him the whole ride there. He himself had seemed preoccupied.
"Here's our stop!"said Susan cheerfully. They headed up the stairs and she pulled out two keys and handed one to each of them.
"We can't stay with you both, so Tom will look after you. Have a good year, and owl us soon! Bye dear!" she said kissing Hermione affectionately, and turning to Harry and hugging him.
"You all watch out for each other and be careful," Frank said, kissing Hermione and shaking Harry's hand, "Goodbye."
After all was said and done, the Grangers gone, and after they had deposited their trunks in their rooms, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand, and they ran off to shop. After making the quick stop at Gringott's, they bought all their needed school supplies and replaced some things. Harry had grown out of his robes again and Hermione was running low on her Potions supplies, so she bought refills, Harry grinning while Hermione protested that she had been practicing them for the O.W.L's. After dinner at the Three Broomsticks and ice cream at Florean Fortescue's, both teenagers, sleepy and full, headed back to their rooms. On the way there they heard someone calling their names.
"Harry! Hermione!" Both of them turned around. Lavender Brown was scurrying towards them, waving. She looked different too. The summer had obviously changed her in many ways. Hermione looked sideways at Harry, who was gaping openly at Lavender. She felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Hi! Guess what? I made prefect!" she squealed.
"Really? We did too! Right Harry?" Hermione replied nudging Harry in the ribs.
"Er- yeah, right! Prefects," he said still goggling Lavender.
"Okay, well- see you on the train tomorrow," said Lavender, "Sleep tight."
As Harry and Hermione walked away from Lavender, Harry's gaze followed her.
"Well the summer hasn't been bad for Lavender has it?" he said matter-of-factly.
"No, I- I guess it hasn't," Hermione said, lip trembling.
When they finally go back to the hallway separating their rooms, Harry called goodnight behind him drifting into his room and shutting the door. Hermione stood there staring at the shut door and turned dejectedly towards her own room.
***
As soon as Harry changed and got into bed he fell right asleep. He had removed his glasses or he would have seen his amulet glowing. Had he looked inside, one of the occupants of the pictures would have a glowing ring encircling a tear streaked face. And it wasn't either of the boys.
***
So did you like it? Don't worry about what happened, everything will be put right. Please review! One thing--- I know you guys want the chapters longer....does that mean that you want more detail or just more of what's happening? Because I didn't feel like there was much detail in this last one...please tell me in your reviews! I love hearing from you guys! I hope to put up the next chapter tomorrow...but right now...I wait for 10-15 reviews before I post. I hope in the future to get more reviews per chapter!