Unofficial Portkey Archive

Summer Writing Series Challenge
Challenge: Random Quote Challenge [Sequel Week]
Title: The Repercussions

"Whoa!" he breathed.

"Mmm...that's exactly what I was thinking," Hermione whispered back to him as they rested their foreheads against one another's. She pulled back and he smiled shyly, his hands still gently resting on his waist.

"You…umm…you just kissed me," Harry muttered as if he was astounded by this; Hermione laughed softly, finding his coyness incredibly sweet.

"Well, what do you expect?" she asked him, continuing to whisper, she smoothed circles over the back of his neck with her fingers, making a shiver run down his spine. He swallowed slightly and pulled Hermione to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her with fervour into a deep and meaningful hug.

"Ahem." They pulled back from one another reluctantly to find Ron stood with a smirk on his face. "I just wanted to let you know that you have a rather large audience." He smiled as the couple realised that everybody was watching them. Harry, as though he truly was a member of the Weasley clan, turned a deep crimson to the very tips of his ears. Hermione shuffled slightly on the balls of her feet tucking stray pieces of hair behind her ears nervously. Ron looked on at them finding it hard to control the grin spreading across his lips. "What are you two like? And you have the check to call me stupid! Well, welcome to the real world my friends, you're the stupid ones." He grinned affectionately.

The trio beamed as they made there way back up to the castle, Ron was basking in the chance to tell them repetitively how blind they had been over the last year. Harry and Hermione smiled and took the abuse good heartedly, not really affected, they were too excited about the future prospects of their relationships. Harry caught Hermione side glancing at him with a smile; he responded by taking her hand in his as they walked, noticing this, Ron took the opportunity to make nauseous gestures.

***

"Hey you!" Ginny spoke teasingly as she sat down next to Hermione in the great hall. "Where's lover boy?"

"Oh be quiet, Ginny," Hermione spoke trying to hide her embarrassment. "The boys have just finished their dinner and decided to have a quick Quidditch practice."

"Really? Well you know why that is, don't you?" Ginny asked, reaching for various food groups to nourish her plate.

"What? They wanted to play."

"No, Ron wanted to give Harry `the talk'." Ginny smiled as Hermione looked at her with apprehension.

"What talk?"

"The talk where Ron threatens Harry that if he ever hurts you, he'll kill him, maim him, etcetera, etcetera." The girls looked at each other seriously before dissolving into giggles at the prospect of Ron trying to intimidate Harry.

"Oh, Ginny, I'm so nervous about this whole thing. I have no clue how to deal with a relationship like this."

"For Merlin's sake Hermione, It's not hard, stop over analysing the whole concept. You like Harry and he definitely likes you so take it from there. Everyone knows you're great together. Stop being such a worrywart and just snog his face off at every opportunity." She added the last part with a playful grin.

"Ginny!"

"Okay, okay, seriously though, just have fun and relax, believe that live is worth living and your belief will help you create fact. Now are you gonna eat them sausages?"

"You sounded so profound up until the very end."

***

"Harry will you slow down for a minute, I want to talk to you!" Ron shouted through the evening air towards Harry who was racing off on his Firebolt.

"Sorry Ron," he said, pulling back to Ron's speed. "I couldn't help it; I just have to go fast on this thing, it's like a law."

"No one likes a show-off, Harry," Ron snorted humorously at Harry's egotistical comment.

As they flew around the grounds of Hogwarts, Harry waited for the dreaded conversation to begin. He knew Ron had brought him out here to discuss the boarder that he had crossed with Hermione.

"Come on then," he said when he could wait no longer.

"What?"

"I know you're gonna grill me about Hermione, so just get it over with," Harry said. Ron flew down to the ground and beckoned Harry to follow. They landed by the boat shed on the lake and walked along the rickety pier.

"Why'd we come down here mate?"

"It's quieter, plus I was getting a stitch." Harry laughed as Ron clutched his side.

"Well it's you own fault. You should never eat more than you can lift!" Harry poked Ron in the stomach and watched as he doubled over and sat down. Harry sat down next to Ron and prepared himself, he wasn't really sure what Ron was going to say.

"Firstly, Hermione's my friend too! Okay?"

"Yeah," Harry said sceptically.

"So, you can't hog her all the time…I'll need help with my homework and such," Harry chuckled slightly, "but I'm happy for you mate, you know that. You should really thank Cho; if she hadn't interfered none of this would be happening. You've been hiding this for so long, thinking we wouldn't notice!"

"Was that obvious?" Harry asked.

"Hell yeah, just the way you'd act around her, quite pathetic really." Harry lifted his arm and elbowed Ron in the stomach. "But we all know you can't help it, you're obviously crazy about her, just too chicken to have done anything about it!"

"Hey, I'm not the only one who was too scared to admit their feelings," Harry interjected critically.

"What are you talking about?" Harry scoffed as Ron played dumb.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Weasley. I've seen you sneaking off to find Luna, you know you fancy her but you just don't wanna admit it. Scared of what other people might think. Coward!" Harry spoke confidently enjoying the reversed roles.

"That is totally…off topic," Ron said as he fidgeted with his robes. "I laugh in the face of danger!" he said in a positive tone, Harry turned to look at him with raised eyebrows. "Then I run and hide until it goes away," he added, slumping his shoulders as Harry laughed. "Stop changing the subject anyway, we are talking about Hermione here!"

"Okay," Harry said, sobering up.

"I don't even have to tell you how protective I get of her because you've seen for yourself, but I just wanted you to know that Hermione deserves the best and I know that you can give it to her. However I know that you're in a difficult position because of who you are and I know you'll want to shield her from getting hurt but just be careful because you could push her away." There was along pause before he continued. "Just enjoy life. There is plenty of time to be dead."

Harry sat starring out across the lake, taking in Ron's words. He knew he was right, he knew that Hermione could take care of herself and even though being with her made her a target, it would be worth it to be truthful to him.

***

Hermione sat on the couch in the Gryffindor common room with Ginny, discussing Harry in a girlish manner. When Harry and Ron entered through the portrait hole they quickly shut up and Hermione could feel butterflies start to roam frantically in her stomach. Harry looked in her direction and smiled warmly, not quite believing what had happened that day.

"Hermione, did you do that History essay?" Ron asked, throwing his trainers off into a corner of the common room.

"Of course I did, it's in first period tomorrow," she responded, "oh please tell me you haven't left it to the last minute again, Ronald."

"Well it's not technically the last minute, considering I've got a few more hours before it's due in," Ron said, sitting down on a chair opposite Hermione. "Plus I don't actually know what to do."

"For goodness sake Ron, you have to write about how the renaissance period contributed to the schism between the muggle and wizarding world. You would find it advantageous to also write about muggle advancements in science and technology and how the wizarding world protects muggles from harming themselves with magic." Ron stared at Hermione in silence, his mouth hung low, he hadn't realised how much work was going to have to be put into the essay he had been putting off all week.

"People who think they know everything are really irritating to those of us who do," he muttered to Harry who had perched on the arm of his chair. Hearing what he had said Hermione glared at him crossly.

"Don't speak unless you can improve the silence, Ron!" she retorted as he crossed the room, muttering under his breath, he reached his bag and started to pull odd pieces of parchment out.

"As much as I'd love to stay here and listen to you and Ron squabble all night, I think we better have a chat or something." Harry smiled to Hermione form the arm of the chair. She nodded her head slightly and led them out of the common room.

When the portrait hole closed behind them Hermione looked at Harry expectedly. He just smiled and took her hand tenderly into his, leading her down the corridors, they walked in silence, simply enjoying the presence of the other. They had been walking for quite some time before Harry led Hermione out of the castle into the courtyard. The sun had set the only light was coming from fireflies buzzing around the fountain in the middle of the yard.

"So," she mumbled.

"So." They smiled sweetly at one another. Harry started to fiddle with the sleeves of Hermione's robes. "So today was different," he said pathetically, not knowing what else to say.

"I know. If you had told me this morning that we were…." Hermione trailed off looking away from him.

"We were what?" he asked

"In this situation, well, I wouldn't have believed you." She smiled bashfully, taking shallow breathes.

"The afternoon knows what the morning knows not," Harry whispered to her.

"Why is everyone being so philosophical today?" she asked laughing, joining their hands together.

"I think there's something in the air." They stood in silence as Hermione leaned back against one of the alcoves and Harry manoeuvred to face her wrapping his arms around her waist. "This is amazing, just being able to hold you this way. I've wanted to for so long."

"I've wanted you to do this for so long too." She smiled back at him playfully.

"What I said earlier, when I was under that trance...." He broke off, resting his forehead against hers, she closed her eyes waiting to hear the rest of the sentence, "I meant every word of it…obviously." He laughed. "I just wanted to tell you on my own terms, that…well…I love you." Hermione breathed against him contently, pushing him back softly so she could look at him.

"I love you too, Harry," she said in a barely audible whisper, afraid her voice would crack if it was any louder. He raised his hand to her chin and kissed her gently, he would have never thought that a single kiss could make his whole body shudder with delight.

***

They looked down to find the couple in a deep kiss in the silence of the night, their bodies illuminated by the beams of the moon and the orange of the flies, holding one another as if the other was the most precious thing they had ever encountered.

"That's so wonderful," Ginny breathed from the window that looked over the courtyard in all its beauty. Ron scoffed quietly.

"Pictures of perfection as you know make me sick and wicked," he responded to his sister's glare, trying hard to suppress the smile threatening to dance across his lips. "Fine, you're right, it's…wonderful," he said, rolling his eyes.

A/N Sequel to Backfire: Veritaserum challenge.
Quotes used:
1. The afternoon knows what the morning knows not
2. Don't speak unless you can improve the silence
3. Pictures of perfections as you know make me sick and wicked
4. Never eat more than you can lift
5. Enjoy life there is plenty of time to be dead
6. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create fact
7. No-one likes a show off
8. Welcome to the real world
9. I laugh in the face of danger and then i run and hide until it goes away
10. People who think they know everything are very irritating to those of us who do

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