Title: Affectionless
Author: LilPrincess48
Disclaimer: Me no own. You no sue.
Author's Note: I'm tired, hungry, stressed, but I'm updating anyway. Need appreciation!
Date Begun: June 26, 2004
Date Posted: June 26, 2004
Chapter 4: Bad News From Home And Hermione Gives Up
Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she clutched the letter she'd just received from her mother. Her father, strong, loyal, and just as smart as she was, was in the hospital recovering from a car crash where her parents had been driving down the road and a huge black truck had slammed into her father's side of the car.
It was a miracle, the letter explained, that he hadn't been killed.
Hermione was sitting, sans robes and anything else, for that matter, except some lose jeans and an equally loose t-shirt, on a couch before the fire in the Common Room, unwilling to go back to the dorm and wake everyone up with her sobbing and unable to go anywhere else as it was after hours and she wasn't allowed in the boys' dormitories.
But, oh, how she wished Harry was here with her.
As if there were some silent genie in the room, a very tired looking Harry came down the stairs in his pajamas, his glasses askew on his face. He blinked at her, yawned, then must have caught sight of her face because his changed into one of concern. "Mione? What's wrong? What happened?"
He sat next to her on the couch, his eyes burning into hers. Hermione teared up again and handed him the letter, sobbing in silence while he read. Harry's eyes were wide with fear and concern for her when he finished. "Oh, Mione, I'm so sorry..."
"H-Harry, I... I want... I mean..." She couldn't say it. They were still under the bet. If she asked him to hold her, she would lose. Hermione hated to lose. Her pride wouldn't let her ask for the contact she so desperately needed so she turned away.
"Hermione..." He whispered, suddenly very close, his breath was hot on her neck. She tensed and didn't dare turn around. She knew if she did she'd lose control -- And the bet. She remained tense until she felt him move away slightly, trusting herself to turn around at last. "I'm sorry Hermione. But your father... He's a strong guy. He can pull through. And, listen, we'll get Professor Sprout to whip up some herbs that can help him recover." A pause. "If we get really desperate, we can ask Snape for a potion. Maybe he'll actually give it to us after he finishes laughing at the prospect of us asking him for help, then making us feed his pet lizard for nine years as payment."
Hermione laughed a little. "Professor Snape has a pet lizard?"
"Hey, lizards are reptiles -- Just like him." She laughed a little more.
"Why not a pet snake then?"
"That'd be too obvious. A slime ball like him doesn't want to world to know that he only has animals for friends." Harry was grinning by now, happy to have made her happy, at least for now. And Hermione was happy -- Happy to be in his presence, even if she couldn't touch him and vice versa.
Wait. She COULD touch him. The bet was that HE couldn't touch HER. Hermione smirked. "Harry?"
"Mhmm?"
"Don't touch me, okay?" Harry looked at her quizzically, but the look was wiped from her face as she crawled into his lap and snuggle dup against his chest. He moved to wrap his arms around her, but she stopped him with her own arm. "No, don't touch me. The bet didn't say anything about me touching you, right?"
The dark-haired boy laughed. "Wow, you aren't the smartest witch in school for nothing."
"Exactly. Now shut up and let me..." Whatever Hermione was going to say was cut off as she broke out crying, her worry for her Dad getting the best of her. Again and again, Harry tired to hold her, to comfort her in some way, but she pushed his arms away each time. Finally, Harry just sat back and let the girl cry into his chest, regretting ever making the stupid bet in the first place. He WANTED to hold Hermione. He loved the girl now sitting in his lap. Always had. Why ELSE had he been so affectionate with her?
And if the idea repulsed her as much as it had, why was she finding ways around the bet agreements? Did that mean that maybe she... Nah. Harry didn't even bother getting his hope sup. A girl as great as Hermione wouldn't see anything in him. He sighed, brushing her hair gently before his hand was slapped away by hers.
"Mione..."
"Don't touch me!" She choked out. Harry didn't, but, boy, did he want to.
*
By the time Hermione woke up the next morning, safe and snug lying on Harry who, true to his word, had not a hand upon her, she knew that she was going to lose the bet. She knew it because of one simple fact: She was in love with Harry Potter.
And how could she not have realized it before? The way she constantly worried about him, was always at his side. The way he always penetrated her thoughts, could melt her with a single smile. The way she craved his touch, craved it now even. It was like an addiction. She was high on Harry and in withdrawal. She wanted to have his hands tangle din her hair, brushing down her cheeks, roaming over her body. She wanted to have him kiss her and whisper how much he loved her so she could do the same in return.
By the time she slid out of the sleeping boy's lap, her mind was made up. Hermione was going to tell Harry how she felt about him before the week was through.
But how?
*
"You made that bet with Harry five days ago, Hermione." Ginny said after the frantic girl had explained her situation. "So you have two days left to decide what you're going to do. Maybe I should ask Draco--"
"Or maybe not." Hermione snapped. "I'd rather not deal with him right now when I'm about to reveal my inner most feelings for my best friend, who probably views me as his sister."
"Oh no, trust me. I'm Ron's sister and he isn't half-way as affectionate with me as Harry is with you. There is no brother-sister feeling there, Hermione. That's crushing and big time." Ginny reassured, pacing the room. "But, let's think about this carefully. What does Harry like?"
"Quidditch, Chocolate Frogs, pumpkin pie, Hogwarts, his parents, his friends, feeling safe, people not staring at him every five seconds, Professor Dumbledore--"
"I get the point, Harry Encyclopedia." Ginny teased. "How can we compound that into the interlude to a love confession?"
Hermione, her cheeks aflame whispered, "I have an idea."
And, with the help of Ginny and Draco, she put it into action.