Okay thankyou to everyone who reviewed I love then all. That last chapter had a few hints as to what is to come later on. Good luck on finding them ALL. Most of you found the major one but there is another little one that probably won't mean anything until a while into the story.
Once again thankyou reviewers. As for lurkers please delurk cause is u do I PROMISE to update even sooner.
Please keep reviewing cause they make me so happy. Now on to the story.
Sorry this took so long but I couldn't get it to save in the right format to upload.
Chapter 5 - Dealing with Stuff.
******
Long after Dumbledore left both Harry and Hermione were still sitting it the study. Harry couldn't talk, his mind was buzzing with everything he had been told.
After four hours of silence Harry finally mumbled something so quietly that
Hermione couldn't hear a word he said.
"Uh Harry, can you repeat what you just said?" she asked tentatively.
"I'm going to Hogwarts… tomorrow. It's up to you if you come with me or not. I understand if you want to stay here, but this is something I have to do. It's too hard to stay here at the moment anyway. I need some… time. I need to be alone to think about the prophecy, about this magic thing, and about everything."
'Especially about what I'm starting to feel' he thought to himself.
Taking a deep breath, Harry looked at Hermione and moved closer to her, taking both of her small hands in his, "It would mean a lot to me if you would consider coming with me. I need a true friend at the moment, and if you're not one, then I won't ever have one."
Hermione smiled up at him, her eyes meeting his, and she was amazed at what she saw in their depths.
"Harry of course I'm going, but I need a few days here, I'll join you in the next day or so, but I need to fix some things. I made a real mess of something, something that I never should have let happen in the first place. I can only hope that I can fix it before it ruins everything."
Hermione released Harry's hands and made to stand up but he kept a firm hold of them pulling her down.
"Mione, what's wrong? Please talk to me. You always take my problems so let me take yours for once."
Hermione froze for a moment at Harry's use of the nickname that Ron had made for her. She felt sick at the thought of her boyfriend. How could she be so close to Harry, get so caught up that she wanted nothing more to kiss him, and why when she dreamt about Ron where his eyes always a deep emerald green. She couldn't do that to Ron it was unfair.
"Harry, please. You have to understand that I can't tell you just yet. Trust me I will I promise you I'll tell you everything when we're back at Hogwarts. There are… things I need to sort out… people I need to talk to." With that she left the room leaving Harry alone and more confused then he had ever felt.
***##***##***##***
Later that night, Harry was standing in the room that he and Ron shared. He looked around at the dull dreariness of it. Everything about the room seemed dark, even the empty painting on the wall seemed devoid of colour. He would be glad to leave this place for Hogwarts. The few things he had unpacked were now collected up and strew across his bed as he tried to pack everything in. Frustrated at not being able to get everything to fit, Harry proceeded to empty half the contents of his trunk onto his bed and start again.
Just as he threw down a book about different potions, the door opened and Ron burst in, looking flustered. He gave Harry a small glance, then proceeded to flop ungracefully onto his bed and stared at the roof. Harry heard him mumble something but took no notice of it, as he was in no mood to deal with Ron's problems on top of his own. So instead he continued to pack things into his trunk, slightly disturbed by Ron's presence.
"Where ya goin?" Ron asked after about half an hour, turning his head slightly to look at him from the corner of his eyes.
Harry paused for a moment. True, Ron was his best friend but he was unsure how he would react to everything he had been told tonight.
"Hogwarts." he mumbled after a long internal debate.
At this Ron sat up and stared at him, "What? School doesn't go back for six weeks. Why you packing now?" he asked, confusion etched onto his brow.
Harry gave a small half smile and looked up into his friend eyes, realizing how far apart they had drifted lately, "I'm leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow, for… reasons." Harry finished making it clear the conversation was over. As much as he wanted to tell Ron everything that had been going on over the last few days he knew that it would only make him even more jealous.
Ron just shrugged his shoulders as he left the room, neither of them were the type of people to push for answers. That was Hermione's job.
***##***##***##***
Harry heard a faint knock on his door. Curious he walked over and opened it. Hermione stood there with tears in her eyes.
"Is Ron here?" she murmured.
Harry shook his head as he moved aside and beckoned her inside.
"He left about half an hour ago."
Hermione nodded, then collapsed on his chest letting the tears flow easily.
"Harry…" she sobbed, "I… I made a…a mess of everything."
Concern flooded Harry as he led her over to his bed, forcing her to take a seat as he sat next to her with his arms encircled her protectively, curious as to why she was so distraught.
"Shh… it's okay. I'm here," he murmured into her hair, his hands rubbing soothing circles on her back.
"Mione, what's wrong? Why are you in tears?" he whispered into her ear, his voice contorted at seeing his best friend so upset.
"I just wanted to be happy, and I stuffed everything up." Hermione's voice wavered as she pulled back enough to look into Harry's emerald eyes. She felt as if she stared into them long enough then all her problems would just drain away.
"Mione, talk to me, please." He almost begged her and the look in his eyes was too much for her.
Renewed by the strength he unknowingly pored into her, Hermione took a deep breath.
"First, I'm so sorry we never told you…"
Harry cut her off abruptly.
"Told me what?" he questioned, his voice was soft and comforting but in the back of his mind a voice was yelling at him, the words not quite clear.
"Ron… Ron and I," she finally managed, "We've been seeing each other since the end of March."
Hermione waited for him take this in but was surprised when he nearly jumped to the other end of the bed.
"WHAT?! You never told me." The air around him began to crackle with power, "You. Never. Told. Me." Harry repeated, emphasizing every word.
"Look Harry I'm really, rea…"
"What don't you trust me, don't I deserve to know that my two best friends were shagging behind my back." He spat.
"Harry, we never… I never… I WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO YOU. Our relationship wasn't anything like that."
Hermione was clearly angry and as if in response to her, there was now a nasty breeze whipping their hair around and a fire had roared to life in the fireplace. Every now and again, a flame would jump out reaching for her then die before the distance could be covered. Hermione herself was positively glowing with anger, her eyes burned as the flames rose in her. No longer was it gently and welcoming, this time it was fierce and threatening, and if you looked closely enough you could see miniature lightning bolts emerging from her hair while blue sparks of electricity jumped along her skin, merging with her body in some places while leaving it in others.
"WE NEVER MEANT TO HURT YOU. THAT WAS THE LAST THING WE WANTED! YOU HAD SO MUCH GOING ON AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO ADD TO THAT."
Hermione paused taking a deep breath as if daring him to interrupt her.
"THEN VOLDEMORT CAME BACK AND YOU BECAME ALL CLOSED OFF. HOW COULD WE TELL
YOU THIS WHEN YOU HAD BEEN THROUGH ALL THAT, THEN ON TOP OF THAT DUMBLEDORE FORBADE US FROM TELLING YOU ANYTHING. IT
GOT TO THE POINT THAT ALL OUR OWLS
WERE INTERCEPTED AND CHECKED. THAT WASN'T SOMETHING WE WANTED EVERYONE TO
KNOW. THEN WHEN YOU DID GET HERE, RON AND I WENT AND HAD A FIGHT SO I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL YOU THEN BECAUSE THE
REASON HE WAS PISSED OFF WAS BECAUSE I WAS SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH YOU! SO DON'T GO YELLING AT US FOR STUFF WE
NEVER DID."
As Hermione finished, she then turned a bright shade of red.
"And I never shagged him, I barely even kissed him."
She smiled shyly and Harry mentally berated himself for being so hasty.
"I'm sorry" he whispered. "I was just annoyed that you never told me."
As Harry watched Hermione for some sign of forgiveness, his startling green eyes were pleading that he didn't ruin his friendship. He saw the lightning and electricity fade from existence as the harsh breeze died and the flames of the fire returned to a gentle warmth, last to fade was the raging fire in her eyes, which seemed reluctant to leave her body. Harry nearly felt as if he would melt with happiness when she smiled, her hazel eyes radiating happiness.
Hermione felt her walls cave in; she couldn't deny those eyes anything. She rushed forward and captured Harry in a warm embrace, "Harry James Potter, if you ever do that again, Merlin better have mercy on you."
Harry smiled goofily at her, "Trust me after that display I am scared to even say something wrong around you.
He laughed half heartily but stopped at the look of confusion on her face.
"Hermione you were using magic." Harry explained in answer to her unvoiced question.
"What?" she asked clearly stunned.
Harry thought for a moment, then decided to try something. Resting his forehead on hers, he whispered softly.
"Open your mind to me, I want to show you something."
Hermione looked at him curiously, and then tried to think of her mind being open and blank. Harry did the same; only he focused on the image of her that was burned into his mind for eternity.
Tentatively, Harry tried his best to reach out to her and was shocked when he felt something, only to realise that it was Hermione, but in a way he never knew her. He could feel all the intricate weavings of her thoughts and emotions. He knew instinctively that she could feel the same with him, after a minute or so Harry focused on the image of her and felt her shock at it. In that moment, a wall seemed to drop between them and Harry was suddenly aware that he was being bombarded with pictures from Hermione's mind, at first they were a jumbled mess then eventually they cleared out into a few select images.
Him in first year lying on a hospital bed surround by gifts.
And again in third year, as he climbed onto Buckbeak's back.
Next was a room in which he saw himself and Ron as well as… Professor
Lupin
and… Sirius. Harry caught a flicker of emotion but couldn't quite grasp
it.
Now they were in fourth year and he was pulling a girl from the great lake. The second task, he realized. This time he caught a distinct feeling of relief, he had been gone way too long.
Just as a new image appeared a knock on the door surprised them and they peeled apart. Numbly, Harry stood and headed for the door but it opened before he could reach it, revealing Dumbledore standing on the other side. By the way he was staring at Hermione, Harry had the distinct feeling that he could see the magic she had just worked.
In a moment, however, the look faded and Dumbledore peered intently at Harry from behind his half mooned spectacles.
"Have you decided?" was all he said.
please please please review cause I love them all.