A/N- This chappie just has a lot of fluff in it *grins*
Chapter 2- Can't Go There
Hermione felt the sun streaming across her face. She smiled and opened her eyes. Today she was picking up Harry, and then they were going to the Burrow. She couldn't wait to see her two best friends again, but something was holding her back from being down right thrilled. Over the past couple of years, Hermione had gotten the feeling that Ron fancied her. She thought that she had fancied him too, that is until the end of their 5th year. Something about Harry intrigued her. She had always been there for him, no mater what. She always thought it was just because he was her best friend, but she wasn't so sure of that reason anymore. After their time at the Department of Mysteries, Hermione had been thinking about him constantly. Harry had such a big heart; he would go to all lengths to make sure the person he cared about was safe. It was one of the many things Hermione loved about him.
Love. Now that was a word that frightened the hell out of Hermione. She couldn't be in love with her best friend. Not Harry Potter. Not the famous Harry Potter that was determined to save the world. Hermione shook her head. It couldn't be true, but it was. Hermione got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She was longing for a nice, long, hot shower so she could sort her thoughts out.
After her shower, she stood in front of the bathroom mirror. She had on a pair of faded hip huggers and a baby pink tee that fit her curves perfectly. Hermione picked up her hair brush and tugged it through her hair. She got an idea. She pulled out the blow drier and a curling iron. She dried her hair, making it wavy and fluffy. Once it was dry, she pulled the curling iron through her hair, straightening the top and the middle sections of her hair, but making her hair curl in slightly at the bottom. She finished and set down the curling iron. She actually looked some what pretty; her hair shaped her face in a way so that it made her high cheek bones appear flawless, and her chocolate brown eyes shone brilliantly. Hermione was glad she didn't have to straighten her hair the muggle way every day; it had taken her almost 45 minutes to get her hair like this. Hermione had found a much easier spell that she could use once she returned to Hogwarts. She headed back to her room and packed the last of her things in to her trunk. Glancing around, Hermione picked up her trunk and left her room. Her parents were waiting for her in the kitchen. Her father took the trunk from her and took it out to the car.
"Sit down and have some breakfast, dear," her mother told her. Hermione nodded and grabbed a piece of toast. She took a bite out of it and picked up the morning paper. No strange killings had been reported. Hermione tossed the paper back on the table as her dad walked back through the door.
"Time to go!" He announced. Hermione nodded and shoved the rest of her piece of toast in to her mouth.
"Hermione!" Her mother exclaimed. Hermione blushed and swallowed her toast.
"What?" she asked innocently. Her mother just rolled her eyes. They got in the car and drove off.
A little while later they were driving down Privet Drive. Hermione looked around at all the houses. They all seemed so perfect, it was almost disturbing. Her father pulled in to the driveway of the perfect house with the title '4'. So this is where Harry lives; Hermione had never been here before, but already she despised it. Her parents were already half way out of the car, so Hermione opened her door and climbed out. They all walked up to the front door. Her father rang the doorbell. A big man opened the door, who Hermione assumed was Harry's uncle.
"Welcome" the man said, "Come in!" Hermione followed her parents through the door and in to the living room. Her parents were introducing each other, but she wasn't paying attention. She was too busy looking at how spotless everything was. Hermione liked to be clean, but this was pushing it.
"… Hermione" her thought were disturbed by hearing her name.
"Huh?" she asked, startled. Her mother chuckled.
"I said, 'this is our daughter, Hermione.' Why don't you go and find Harry and help him with his things?" her mother suggested. Hermione nodded and turned to leave the room, but stopped when she realized she didn't know where his room as. She turned back around. Harry's aunt must have also realized this, because she replied before Hermione had a chance to ask.
"Just up the stairs" she said with a faint smile. Hermione returned the smile and left the room. She made her way up the stairs. She came to a room with a dog door installed in it. She assumed this was Harry's. She knocked softly. When no reply came she knocked harder. Still no reply. Hermione took a breath in and opened the door. It was a small room, with not much in it. Harry was still asleep in his bed. Hermione giggled. She crept over to his bed and pounced on him. She straddled his legs and started tickling him like mad. Harry had jumped when she landed on him, but now he was giggling like a maniac. Once he realized what was going on, he flipped her off of him and started tickling her. She started laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. Finally he stopped. They both sat there, still giggling.
"I'm so sorry I over-slept, Hermione" Harry breathed, "I guess I should get a shower." Harry pulled back the covers and got out of bed. It was only after Harry left the room that Hermione noticed she was holding her breath. She let it out slowly, her mind racing. Harry hadn't been wearing a shirt, revealing very nice stomach and arm muscles. It made Hermione's heart skip a beat when he pulled back the covers. Hermione lay back, letting her head rest on his pillow. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Harry's pillow smelled wonderful, it had a trace of shampoo, and a hint of cologne that Hermione loved. She took another breath in, letting the essence of Harry burn in her senses.
***
Harry turned on the water for the shower. He stepped in, and immediately he was surrounded by icy cool water. A shiver
ran throughout his nervous system. He let the cold soak in to his skin before turning the tap so it would reach the
maximum temperature without scalding his skin. Steam rose up around him, clearing his thoughts. He had just been woken
up by Hermione, a pleasant yet startling surprise. The fact of being woken up by being tackled by his best friend
wasn't all that startling; it was the fact that he wanted her to be more than his best friend.
The thought was preposterous; Harry Potter couldn't be falling for Hermione Granger. Harry leaned his head in to the water, giving his face a hot blow. Harry couldn't be falling for Hermione, because he knew his best friend was too. It had been obvious for years, especially after their 4th year. The thing that made his heart give a painful throb was that he knew Hermione had feelings for Ron, too. Everything Ron had dished out to her, she had given right back. All the hidden feelings Ron had, Hermione mirrored. Harry tried to block it out for all those years, and if he tried to ignore his feelings much longer, he would burst.
Harry ran his head through the steaming water one last time before turning off his enclosure. He grabbed the towel he had placed on the towel rack prior to his shower and wrapped it around his waist. It was only then he realized he had forgotten to bring a change of clothes with him. His mind had been in such a daze after his and Hermione's tickle fest that he forgot all about bringing clothes. He made sure the towel was secure around his waist before exiting the bathroom. He walked back to his room. He turned the door handle and pushed the door open slowly, revealing his room. Hermione was laying on his bed with her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful; Harry almost didn't want to disturb her.
Almost.
***
"Umm … " a voice said. Hermione's eyes shot open. Her eyes landed on Harry standing in the doorway. He
was wrapped in a towel and he was dripping wet. Her spine went numb, and she lost all ability of comprehensible thought
or speech. Harry was blushing slightly, but Hermione couldn't keep her eyes off of him. He looked so bloody sexy
standing there, his tone body shimmering with the condensation lingering on his muscles.
"Do you, erm, mind?" Harry said, stuttering. Hermione let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Now embarrassed, she nodded and stood up. She still wasn't capable of stringing two words together, so she smiled weakly and walked past him, her arm brushing his. A tingle ran down her spine and her heart skipped a beat. She walked out in to the hall and closed the door behind her. She took a step to the side and sank down the wall, coming to rest on the hard floor.
"Oh. My. God." She breathed. She had to get a hold of herself before she wound up telling Harry her feelings, or worse, she could show him. She had to restrain herself from pulling him in to a kiss, throwing her arms around him and never letting go. It was a thought that scared her, but whenever she thought about it, a stronger feeling came over her. Longing; she longed for Harry more than anything, to just have Harry's arms wrapped around her, giving her the feeling of security she needed.