Disclaimer: I own nothing but Aednat D'Arcy at the moment. Anything that you notice from the Harry Potter Series isn't mine.
A/N The first part of this is an apology and an excuse so you might want to read that. The second part is my thoughts on HBP.
1. I'm dreadfully sorry. The reason I haven't updated is because i haven't had to write. I write to release pent up energy and anger. It's my way of venting. Well this past summer has been excellent so honestly I completely forgot about my story. Then I had sonme rough times lately (I sprained my knee on the 26th of August and then my car was stolen on the 31st of August) and someone reviewed my story begging for another chapter (luv4books thank ya!) so I vented this way. It's really a transitional chapter so…
2. HBP wasn't what I expected. However, I'm not going to be angry at the pairings. I saw them coming for a while now. Also I'm not angry at Mugglenet.com calling H/Hr fan delusional. Think of it this way. How many times have some people ragged on H/G ships. Read the authors notes in some of the H/Hr fics on fanfiction.net. It's all over. That's all I have to say and besides the person who died in it, I happen to love it. Oh and one more thing. About Hermione being OOC, how many of you act the exact same way when you like a guy/girl than when you don't like them. Come on. She's just being the insecure girl that she is. why do you think she needs to get such good grades?
That Summer
Just a Bit of Fun
As Vernon Dursley was brushing his teeth that night, he thought about the day's events. The girl seemed normal enough, but just knowing she went to that school gave him the willies. He stopped for a moment. If he had be her on the street, he would never have known she was...what she was. Hell, he may even work with some of these people. He shivered again. He wouldn't think about it. He'd think about his promotion instead. All that money, power and respect. And soon that Potter boy would be out of his hair and they'd have no unnecessary expenses.
Potter. Vernon wished the boy didn't have to go the party. All he would do is ruin everything. But, if Potter didn't go then his boss would be suspicious. A short time after the party was announced Mr. Bare, his boss, came over to congratulate him. He mentioned how he was looking forward to seeing Vernon's family again, then he asked about Harry.
About a year ago a potential client and his 15 year old daughter had come over for dinner. Harry was, as always, left in his room as not to ruin the dinner as he had before. The daughter, Aednat was her name, had to go to the toilet and accidentally ended up in Potters room. She was up there for a good half hour before she brought him down. Vernon had to think on his feet for a reason as to why the boy hadn't joined them, and when dinner was ready they all, even the boy, say down to eat.
Surprisingly the boy had made a very good impression on the D'Arcy's. Vernon hated to admit it but he was nearly positive that the boy was the reason the deal went so smoothly. At the time Vernon and family had resented that (They were sure that they lil' duddykins would woo the girl) but with time, and money, they learned to give Harry the benefit of the doubt on this one.
Well, the D'Arcys then went to Vernon's boss and complimented the "wonderful Potter boy" who lived with them. They told Mr. Bare his whole life story and how the Dursleys were kind enough to take him in. When Mr. Bare heard this about the boy he insisted on meeting him. Then the promotion came. Mr. Bare had all but forced Dursley to bring him and now he was stuck. Truth be told he never thought the boy would accept. All he could do now is pray that nothing 'freaky' happened at the party. He lay down on the bed, it sinking under his weight, and sighed. At least he's leaving tomorrow. He wouldn't have to see that little twerp ever again (after the party of course). That happy thought had put him right to sleep.
On the other side of the house, Hermione woke up with a start. She sat there a moment trying to figure out why she had woke when she heard a load moan coming from the room next to hers.
'He's having a nightmare!'
Hermione was in his room before she even finished thinking that sentence. Harry was thrashing around on his bed, his covers were on the other side of the room and his pillow was on the floor next to his bed. His face was set in a grimace and he was mumbling about 'her', but who she was Hermione hadn't a clue. Hermione knew that she had to get him up but had not idea how to go about it.
"Harry, Harry wake up."
She shook him and he groaned again and slightly opened his eyes.
"Hermione? Wha--What are you doing in my room?"
Hermione blushed at his state of undress she found Harry in. With all her worrying she didn't think to look anywhere but his stressed face. But now that he was awake and safe she had time to get a good look. His hair was more rumpled than usual and he had a sleepy look in his eyes. But the main reason she was blushing was what he wore to bed, or absence of what he wore. A pair of black boxers was all he had on at the moment. And he couldn't even cover up for the covers were still on the other side of the room. Apparently he didn't notice because he was still looking at her with a confused stare.
"Hermione? What's wrong?"
BAM! It was like she was hit with a book. All of a sudden all coherent thought was back into her head and she, reluctantly, turned her head away from his Quidditch toned chest to the blanket that still lay on the floor. She walked over to it, noting how warm the room suddenly had gotten, picked it up and tossed it back to Harry.
"I understand that you are a bit full of yourself lately, but please cover up, there's a lady present."
Harry gave a confused look at here and looked down at himself. His cheeks turned bright red at the sight of himself. He went to cover up but then her sarcastic remark and blushing cheeks brought a though to his mind. A mischievous smirk came to his face as he stood with a look of mock shock.
"A lady? Where? It seems to me Miss Granger that I'm not the only one that's full of themselves."
Hermione went to laugh then realized that he was coming closer to her. His eyes seemed almost hungry, predatory. Her breathing quickened and the blush quickly turned to a flush as he stood right in front of her. It was just then that she noticed her own state of dress. A flimsy black tank top and short shorts. He seemed to have noticed as well and looked her up and down. All coherent thought once again left her head as he licked his lips. He stopped inches away from her and she nearly melted when he whispered her name.
"Hermione?"
"Yea?" It was barely a whisper, more like a breath of an answer.
"Your blocking the door. I have to use the loo."
Hermione stood stark still for a moment, processing what he just said before blushing once again and moving out of the way with a slight 'sorry'.
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'Stupid, stupid stupid.' once he got to the loo Harry immediately began to bang his head on the doorframe. He couldn't understand what had gotten into him. He knew he's always felt this way for her, but he never acted on it. Never even thought to. But the dream. That was the cause of this.
It started out quite nice actually. Quite innocent as a matter of fact. Hermione and himself went for a walk around the lake to pass time before dinner. They had been doing this often, since Ron ad Luna hooked up. They talked about everything and nothing. About school, after school, boys that liked Hermione, girls that liked Harry, everything. Hermione brought it up first though.
"So Harry, we all know that the entire girl population of Hogwarts wants to get in your pants, but the real question is, who's do you want to get into?"
Harry stammered and stuttered before he came up with a coherent comeback.
"I could say the same for you miss Granger. You first."
"I asked you first!"
"I asked you second!"
This went on for some time until they were both on the ground laughing till it hurt. When they finally settled down it was Hermione that came up with the idea.
"Together then."
"What?"
Hermione smiled, "We'll answer at the same time since you're too scared to go first."
Harry stuck out his tongue at her and nodded, held up his hand and counted to three.
"You."
Both said the word quietly, and when the word sunk in they both looked up with wide eyes. Neither knew what to do so they looked at each other for the longest time before Harry got the nerve to move closer to her . Hermione's breath caught and she stared into his emerald pools seeing that what he said was true and with a smile she closed the gap between them.
The kiss was tender, soft at first. But soon it turned into a profession of love between the two as Harry pinned her body to the ground with his own. Her hands were buried in his hair as his hands roamed over her sides and stomach. They were so engrossed in what they were doing, they didn't hear the figure walking out of the forest and closing in on them.
It wasn't till they heard the clapping did they stop. There stood Voldemort in all his evil glory applauding them with an disturbing smile on his face.
"This is too good to be planned. Children, caught up in loves first kiss. How romantic."
Suddenly an unseen force pulled Hermione to the evil monster and set her down right in front of him. Harry tried to stand but it was no use as the same force that pulled Hermione to Voldemort was keeping him away.
"See what happens!" Voldemort yelled so that the whole of Hogwarts could hear, "See what happens when you defy the great Lord Voldemort!"
With that he smiled his wicked smile at Harry who could do nothing but watch and scream. Voldemort pulled his wand out and with a flash of green light she was gone. The last thing he saw before that fateful light took her away was the words on her lips.
'I love you Harry Potter'
That was when Hermione had woke him up.
Harry thought back to her reaction and smiled. It was definitely promising. But then he thought back to the past year. They've grown so far apart and it was all his fault. He wasn't there for her on her 17th birthday, Christmas, and practically any other time she had needed him. That was another reason why he wanted to spend the rest of the summer with her. To get to know each other again.
He sighed and looked himself in the mirror.
"Well Harry, get your ass in gear and go back to your room."
It was then that he realized he hadn't brought any clothes and had to walk into his bedroom the same way he had walked out. He sat on the toilet, put his head in his hands and groaned.
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Hermione stood stunned for about a minute before she collapsed on Harry's bed with a smile on her face. She took a deep breath to calm herself but that was the worst thing that she could do at that moment because his sent drifted up through her nose and she sighed. Hermione always loved how he smelled of fresh cut grass, spring rain, and a musky sent that was all his own. It was then that she remembered where she was, how she was dressed and what she was laying on and promptly stood and sat at the desk trying to gain her composure.
Harry had really frazzled her nerves. It's not like she hasn't been that close to a guy before. There was the Christmas party last year when Ron got really drunk and kept making passes at her because she was the only Gryffindor girl close to his age. But with Harry it had been different. The look in his eyes, the way he was dressed, his scent. It was all so overpowering that she was at a loss for words.
Out of boredom she began leafing through the papers on his desk. It was mostly just old school papers, letters from her, Ron, and strangely Neville. But there was one other that caught her eye. She didn't recognize the writing but it looked feminine. She scanned to the bottom and saw the salutation,
Much Love,
Aednat D'Arcy.
She felt a pang in her chest as she began to read the letter. It wasn't anything special, no deep professions of love or anything but it was shrouded in secrecy. Especially the part about 'telling her' about what they've been doing.
Hermione placed the letter back where she found it and sat back down on the bed. Thoughts raced through her head. 'who is this girl, how does he know her, what HAVE they been doing.' when she heard a groan from the bathroom. She shot up as if she had sat on a tack and nearly ran to the bathroom door.
"Harry, are you alright in there?"
She heard another muffled groan and a soft, "fine" from the other side of the door. The next sound she heard was of the door unlocking and opening.
"Come on Hermi, lets go back into my room before we wake someone up."
Hermione nodded and followed him back to his room and shut the door. Harry grabbed a shirt and threw it on before he sat on the side of his bed. Hermione had moved to sit next to him but thought about it and sat on the chair instead.
"Harry, what was your dream about?"
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his already messy hair, "It was about Voldemort. They're always about Voldemort."
He laid back on the bed and rubbed his eyes in an effort to rid his mind of the dream, mostly the look on her face as the green light hit her. Almost serene, as if the light would be nothing but a calming charm. He couldn't understand it. the look should be fear, it should be hate for him that he got her in this mess. Hate. Not love.
Harry felt the bed shift slightly as the weight of another person was added to it. He turned his head towards her .
"Sorry about the uh…" he waved his hand vaguely at the door to his room. She shook her head, "Don't worry about it Harry, I know it was just a bit of fun."
"Yea," Harry said not meeting her eyes, "just a bit of fun."