A/N Well then. Wonderful. I love all reviewers. And I do hope that lovely reviewer who called me a…what was it? A fat skank? Did it out of love. that's what I'm thinking anyhow! *wink wink* ANYWHO, once again I love you all and this chapter will tell what's wrong with Hermione and I hope you all like it and what it may imply *wink wink*. It's been a plot that's been bugging me for a while.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything in the books. I don't own what's wrong with Hermione James Cameron does, but I do own the plot.
That Summer
Heat
Harry and Hermione sat silently in the diner for almost twenty minutes. Hermione didn't know what to say. This secret had been known to only herself and madam Pomfrey for the past three years. She definitely never thought that she would tell either Harry or Ron. Especially Harry. It was just to embarrassing. It all happened because of a mistake on her part in second year and that was embarrassing enough. Madam Pomfrey had told her that there would be side effects to the accident with the Polyjuice potion but she thought it might be a strange affinity to tuna or an intense need to feel clean. But this never occurred to her until the night in fifth year when she nearly attacked Victor in the library. When she came back to herself she had ran to the Hospital Wing. Through school she could take a potion specially made by Pomfrey for the symptoms but here, alone, with Harry. Her blood turned hot once more as she stared at him.
She must have stared for too long however because Harry had cleared his throat and said her name softly. That really didn't help, in fact it made it worse. She was just about ready to fling herself over the table when he said in a mumble, the silence finally getting to him.
"Um, Hermione, are you going to tell me what's going on?"
It was like a bucket of cold water was poured over her. She came back to herself and flushed.
'well,' she thought sighing, 'I guess it couldn't stay a secret forever.'
She nodded and closed her eyes. She couldn't look at his face if she wanted to get through this. She started quietly, "you remember what happened with the polyjuice in second year?"
Harry nodded and motioned for her to continue. Then noticed that she had her eyes closed and just as quietly as her said "yea, go on."
She took a deep breath, "well, it's had some side effects." she paused and braved a look at him. He was puzzled, she knew. She didn't know what made her think that he would put two and two together when she didn't even get it at first.
"Well, about every three months I kinda, like, oh damn."
She put her head in her hands as silent tears started streaming down her face. If it were a normal day she wouldn't have such a hard time telling him, and she definitely wouldn't be crying right now. It was just that her emotions were on overdrive and it was only going to get worse. She wished she could just disappear into the seat. Just then she felt a hand on her arm. It was comforting, warm, and manly. She started to feel the heat again and pulled away quickly.
"Please don't touch me right now. It will only make it worse."
She heard Harry shift uncomfortably and mumble "Sorry"
She felt horrible. He was just trying to help her and she made him feel like shit. He didn't know what his touch did to her on a normal day, let alone during this time. She wiped her face, took a deep breath, looked straight into his eyes and said firmly.
"Every three months I go into heat, just like a cat."
Confusion, shock, understanding, and compassion flew through his eyes. Yet, no anger, hate, or disgust was shown as she had expected. She was worried that he would see her as a freak. But he hadn't. That helped her relax.
When he recovered a bit he said, "How long have you been going through this?"
She blushed, "It's the reason I went to the ball with Viktor."
A brief flash of pain shown in his eyes but she waved it off. He spoke again. "Why didn't we notice before. You've never acted like this."
There food had come then and they stopped talking until the waitress had gone out of earshot. "I usually notice the signs early enough and get a potion from madam pomfrey to curve the…uh…urges. It's the only thing, that and a hard slap if I ever get too carried away"
He nodded and nothing else was said till they were done eating. She tried not to look at him. It would just start something that she was sure he didn't want. It was then that she remembered that D'Arcy chick. Now would be the time to bring her up with all his insistence for her secret. She thought about using that against him if he didn't want to tell her right away. She smiled a real smile for the first time today and looked at him.
"Harry? Who is Aednat D'Arcy?"
He choked. Coughing he looked suspiciously at her. "How do you know about Aednat?"
She shrugged, "I noticed the name on a piece of paper on your desk. So," she tried to sound nonchalant but even to her own ears the next phrase sounded strained, "is she your girlfriend?"
Harry laughed. That wanker laughed. Hermione just sat starring at him with one eyebrow cocked waiting for him to calm down. She was not in the mood. Even if his emerald green eyes twinkled in a way she hadn't seen in a while, his face lit up with mirth, his whole body tensing and relaxing with the joyous laughter. Hermione almost got lost in the feelings coming over her when he stopped.
"Sorry," he said wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. "Its just that, that's exactly what she said you would say if you found out about here in any way other than from me."
He shook his head and took a sip of his water before beginning again. "No, Aednat is not my girlfriend. Ah, anymore. Come on, I'll tell you all about her later. Aren't we almost there. I'm beat."
Harry started to stand. Hermione was dumbfounded at the speed that he had switched the subject. She shook her head still feeling angry and, without taking the hand he offered, stood. She saw a hurt look cross his eyes before he shrugged and walked stiffly in front of her. He didn't really give her much an answer to her first question. In fact he hadn't answered it at all. She watched him as he paid the bill at the counter. The pretty blonde at the register was flirting openly at him. Hermione felt an urge to go up to him and place her arm around his waist to let that little tramp know who he belonged to, and before she could stop herself she did exactly that. She leaned into his chest and on instinct he had put his arm around her shoulder. He looked quizzically at her but she avoided his gaze. She could smell him. A distinct smell that was like the rain, wind, and grass. All mingled with the smell of the soap he had used today. She felt herself flush again and remembered the very vivid dream he had woke her from this morning. It was very real. Her breathing quickened and she forgot all about the blonde and why she was pressed into his side. She forgot about Aednat, and that he had laughed. All she thought of were the muscles that she felt under his shirt, his smell, the way he looked at her first this morning with such lust, then just a short while ago when she had told him what was going on. She wanted him, oh Merlin did she want him. The dream flashed into her mind again and she felt a groan fly out her throat. She felt him lead her out of the store. She bit her lip, all logical thought was gone. When they had reached the car she pushed him up against it and crushed her lips to his.
A/N2 another short chapter. But it's the second in a day and when was the last time I did that huh? Well, now you know what's up with Hermione. I got the idea from Dark Angel. The James Cameron TV show that was on a few years ago. So that wasn't my idea. If you don't like the idea, just reread the last paragraph and know that she will be like this for three days and the worst it yet to come.