A/N: Thanks for the reviews you guys! Feedback is always welcome and I appreciate all of those who take the time to send me a review :) Hope you like this chapter!!
DISCLAIMER: not mine … never will be
Chapter Three
Harry came down the stairs from his dormitory and in to the common room. The fire was still burning but barely. It was deserted except for one person, fast asleep on an armchair near the fire. `Hermione,' he immediately thought. He went and bent over her, thus having a clear view of her sleeping face. The fire cast shadows, making her an adorable site. What he wouldn't give to just hold her tight and drift of to sleep with her cuddled away in her arms. He then decided that she would get a knot in her neck the next day if she remained sitting in that uncomfortable position.
Without giving any attention to the warnings that his mind was giving him, he bent slightly and got Hermione's knees and put her arms around his shoulders so he could carry her easier. `yeah right,' his mind thought, `you're just looking for a opportunity to hold her close.' He didn't deny it and at that precise moment, Hermione hugged closer to Harry and dug her head into his shoulder as she tightened her grip around his neck. Harry was too busy trying to get rid of his not-too-innocent thoughts that he didn't see the grin that was playing on Hermione's lips.
He was about to go up the stairs to the girl's dormitory when he stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't go up there as the stairs were enchanted not to let any boys go up there. He returned to the common room but didn't put Hermione down. He was contemplating the idea of putting her in his bed or not. Despite his better judgment, he decided that he would take her to his bed. He carefully went up the stairs and opened the door quietly. He put her down very gingerly and tucked her in. Before he got cold feet, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Just as he was ready to lie down on the floor and try to get some sleep, he heard her tossing and turning so he turned to look at her.
"Stay… no please don't go…" she was muttering over and over again. `She's dreaming' he thought to himself. `It's not for you,' at that exact moment, Hermione opened her eyes and saw Harry with a worried yet sad look on his face.
"Harry?" she asked, barely a whisper, in fear that he wasn't real. "You stayed," she told him and a smile formed on her lips. Harry didn't know what to think of it. `She was dreaming about me?' he wondered. He turned around not wanting her to see the flush that appeared on his face, even though it was dark.
"Harry, please don't go. Stay with me. Please?" the look of despair in her eyes made Harry want to hug her close and never let go. `She's your best friend and you don't want to ruin it, even if you do have deeper feelings for her,' he chastised himself inwardly. But he couldn't let her down, and it was indeed another opportunity to hold Hermione close to him, and even more to go to sleep together!
"Alright Herm, don't worry. I'm here for you," he informed her softly and he saw a smile tugging at the end of her lips. He sat down on his bed with his back leaning against the wall. She snuggled close to him and he put his arm around her shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him. With one hand he played with her hair until they both were so tired that they fell asleep, dreaming about one and other.
***
Hermione woke up the next day with a sense that she was safe. She looked around and noticed that she wasn't in her dormitory. She tensed up when she felt two arms tighten their grip around her waist. She quickly relaxed when she remembered that Harry was behind her and holding her. `How did I get here though?' all she recalled was going to sleep in the common room and then waking up in the middle of the night, and begging Harry to "stay with me!" she whispered softly and then groaning inwardly as she thought how bad and desperate it would have sounded. `He must have felt sorry for me and stayed with me. Oooh what I'm I going to do? He must think I'm a weirdo!' she thought. She noticed that they were the only ones in the dormitory, `Oh no, what is everyone else going to think?!'
"Morning," she heard Harry mutter. She turned herself so that she could look at Harry. He looked really sweet without his glasses, and his hair was even messier.
"Morning," she replied. The atmosphere was tense as they both realized that they were in an awkward position and that they were still holding each other.
"Umm…so…did you sleep well?" he asked her, hoping that the weird moment would end. She blushed but managed to reply,
"Yeah it was ok. Thanks for sleeping with me. I mean uh-" she went crimson as to how that must've sounded. Harry however chuckled; glad to have lightened the mood.
"It's ok. I understand, and I would do it again. You seemed pretty shaken up. Leaving you alone was definitely not an option." He told her with a grin to go along with the emphasizing the not. The grin then disappeared as he noted down the look she was giving him. He knew what she was thinking of and he could hardly breathe in anticipation. They both leaned forward slowly and were so close that their noses were slightly touching.
"Harry," Hermione started, "we umm… better get… down to breakfast," she told him in between quick, ragged breaths and in a raspy voice that sent chills down Harry's spine.
"Yeah, ok," he replied, not wanting to show the disappointment that he felt but knew that he wasn't doing a good job. Hermione got up and went out of the room, and into her own dormitory, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts of what just happened.
They met at the entrance of the Great Hall and walked in together, ignoring the whistles and smirks that the 6th form Gryffindor guys and girls were giving them, but blushing none-the-less. The rest of the day went by as they were having classes throughout the day, only talking during breaks and mealtimes.
The afternoon found both Harry and Hermione doing their homework in the Gryffindor common room. Ron was out somewhere looking for a date for the dance that was going to be held in two nights.
"Are you sure it was Wingardium Leviosa that we learnt in the 2nd year? I seem to remember it was-"
"Yes Harry I'm pretty sure. But if you want you can look at my work, just as you have been doing for the past hour!" she teased him with a smirk. He gave her mocking smile and went to get her piece of parchment when she went to give it to him herself. Their arms brushed and both felt jolts of electricity go through them. They both jumped back, not wanting the other to know what they had just experienced they attempted to explain themselves simultaneously.
"Hermione, I"
"Harry, I" they both laughed after this, relief washing over them as they knew that the subject would be forgotten. Harry got a serious look on his face however and stared at Hermione. She looked back at him and could see that his eyes were filled with lust… `Not lust dear, love.' Her mind told her. `How do you know?' she asked. `Just look at him dear. Can't you see that he wants you? His feelings run much deeper than friendship you know.' It said, and Hermione looked into his eyes. Really looked into them, like looking into his soul.
Harry let out a gasp of surprise as he too, realized that she was more like looking into his soul rather than just his eyes. Those hazel eyes that seemed like dancing by the crackling fire. Those eyes that he loved seeing once they brightened up by the slightest thing. `Great wizards!' he thought, `I'm really head over heals with this girl. Hermione. My best friend. I've actually fallen in love,' he realized suddenly. He knew that his feelings for his best friend were strong, but now seeing her looking into the depths of his soul, he concluded that he was actually in love with her. And how could he not? She's not just gorgeous, but she's also a beautiful person. A generous and kind soul. He smiled, never breaking the gaze.
`Dear me, how did I manage to get so deep with this guy?' Hermione wondered to herself. She was surprised when she saw that she could read his eyes with no hesitation. It was like she knew what he was feeling. Like they had some sort of connection. A bond. She loved every single detail about him, including his extremely gorgeous eyes that were emerald green and right now smiling and sparkling with excitement. And at that exact moment she got the feeling that he wanted to tell her something. Something important she'd say by the way that he was looking at her.
"Hermione I need to tell you something. And please don't interrupt me until I'm finished." He informed her with a glint of anxiety in his eyes, and the rest was sheer nervousness.
A/N: hope you liked it!! Tell me what you think huh? ;) neni =)
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