July 1st 1995
The first day of summer vacation! It feels good to be back home in my own room in the company of mum and dad. It had been a difficult year and I can't imagine how Harry must be feeling after what he had just gone through and having to go back to those horrible relatives of his. We arrived from Hogwarts yesterday; it was such a beautiful day without a single cloud in the deep blue sky. Before the Hogwarts Express arrived, Viktor wanted to speak to me privately as I imagined he would. "Herm-own-ninny, you know you are very special to me. Please promise me you vill vrite to me." "I will Viktor, you know I will." "I really had a vonderful time here at Hogvarts and I'm very glad I had the opportunity to meet you." "I'm delighted you enjoyed yourself, I hope I'll be seeing you again and thank you for taking me to the Yule Ball. It meant a lot to me." He smiled at me and took a moment before he spoke and said, "He is a lucky man." "Who is?" "He is foolish for not noticing you." "Who Viktor?" "But he deserves you." "What are you talking about?" He raised an eyebrow at me "Harry Potter." "Harry, oh no, no Viktor we're just friends." I felt my cheeks grow hot. "You speak of him all the time." "Yes but that's because he's one of my best friends, I've known him for four years of my life," "And Ron Veasley?" "What about Ron?" "You don't speak of him like you do of Harry." "Of course I do, I don't know what you're talking about." He rested his large but gentle hands on my shoulders. "You know vat I am talking about Herm-own-ninny." "It'll never work Viktor, he'll never look at me like that." "Yes he vill…your beautiful." I felt my cheeks lift as a silly grin spread across my face. "I don't want to loose his friendship." "You vill change your mind von day Herm-own-ninny, you vill see." He kissed my forehead and waved goodbye. I looked over to where Harry and Ron were standing. Ron was craning his neck in an attempt to spy on Viktor and me, while Harry was enjoying the weather, lost in thought. I had a lot to think about myself during the train ride back to King's Cross. When we arrived, it was time to say goodbye to everyone and go home. I don't know what I was thinking exactly, or why I had done it, but I kissed Harry…Harry Potter, on the cheek after saying goodbye. Maybe it was that look in those shining emerald green eyes. The look of bravery, courage, hope and… and…love. Maybe it was his messy hair that made him look a bit rugged in a good way, or maybe it was the way he smelled of fresh soap and Quidditch or the way he casually, yet proudly carried himself…Oh Merlin!… I think I'm falling in love with Harry.
Harry chuckled to himself. He was quite amazed that Hermione had begun to discover what she felt for him in their fourth year. It had taken him quite a bit longer, but he didn't have anyone to point out the obvious to him before, except maybe Rita Skeeter. The trouble was, Harry never listened to a word coming out of her mouth or from her articles for that matter. He did wish however, that he had taken her "advice" on dating Hermione. Harry sighed and closed the journal with a gentle thud. He looked at the cover and traced his finger across the golden lettering H.J.G. when a sudden thought came into his mind. He took one of Hermione's quills, an inkbottle and flipped to the last entry of the journal.
Once the Grangers had eaten their dinner and cleaned up after themselves, they sat around the campfire together, and entertained one another with games they used to play when Hermione was attending regular school. The games were usually witty and often challenged Hermione's intelligence, but they were also a part of her great success as a student and encouraged memorization skills. Although most children or young adults would normally complain about these types of games, Hermione enjoyed them immensely.
"Hermione, how about denouement?" Mr. Granger asked.
"Oh that's an easy one. Denouement is the outcome of the plot of a piece of literary work." She grinned.
"Very good dear. Alright then, your turn."
"Mum, how about Galax urceolata?"
" I believe it is a plant of the south western U.S. It has spikes of small white flowers."
"Oh you were so close mum, it's the south eastern U.S. not the south western."
"Oh your right. Do I at least get half a point?"
They all laughed together.
"How about we let you have that half a point and we save this game until tomorrow. Hermione you wouldn't mind if your mother and I took a walk around the lake?" Mr. Granger asked shooting Mrs. Granger a mischievous look.
"Of course not. Its such a beautiful day I think I'll go explore a little."
"Alright, you be careful sweetie and be back before dark young lady." Amelia Granger warned in a sarcastic tone.
" Okay, you two kids have fun."
"We will!" Trevor called out to his daughter before she disappeared into the trees.
When she arrived at their meeting spot, Harry was waiting for her. He added extra wood to the blazing fire and noticed her standing a few feet away from him.
"Hey."
"Hey." He replied stuffing his hands in his pocket. "Come and sit down by the fire with me."
"Okay." She grinned and hooked her arm around his as they walked towards the campfire.
"Did you bring my backpack?" she questioned.
Harry's heart leapt to his throat.
" Yeah its, eerrr, right over here." He said pointing at it.
"Good," she smiled. "There's something I want to show you."
Harry ran a hand through his hair and prepared for the worst. His heart hammered faster then the sound of a humming birds wings and he could feel the sweat forming on his forehead. He heard Hermione unzip her backpack and sent out a silent prayer that she wouldn't notice that someone had gone through her backpack.
"This…this isn't how I left my backpack." Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked through the compartments. "Everything is out of place."
Her eye's fell on Harry's guilty face.
"You… you did, didn't you?" Anger began to flood her face.
"Hermione… I, I… look, I,"
"I trusted you!" She spat through clenched teeth.
"I honestly, I… It was… an accident."
Harry had never seen Hermione this angry.
"An accident? Oh now I understand…you accidentally opened my backpack and went through my things. How could I have been so stupid… an honest mistake Harry, really please do forgive me." Her tone was sarcastic and almost deranged.
"Hermione… if you would only just let me explain."
"Okay… you have five minutes of my time, no less no more... understand?"
"If you just open and read your journal it,"
"WHAT?"
Harry jumped. If Hermione had been angry before, she was absolutely furious now.
"YOU… OH NO... YOU DIDN'T… YOU WOULDN'T DARE."
"H-Hermione, please… please try to understand,"
"UNDERSTAND? UNDERSTAND WHAT? THAT YOU RUMMAGED THROUGH MY PERSONAL THINGS AND INVADED MY PRIVACY, NOT TO MENTION WENT ON AN ADVENTURE THROUGH MY THOUGHTS? … How much did you read?"
"Errrrr… a lot… but it doesn't matter," He reached out and touched her arm.
"Don't touch me." She tore herself away from his grasp.
"Hermione… this is silly, it's just a journal." He said calmly as he touched her arm again in an attempt to get her to look at him.
SMACK. Hermione's hand collided with the side of Harry's cheek.
"Ow!" Harry yelled cupping his cheek with his hands.
She gasped and her face softened for a minute before her forehead wrinkled up; she looked serious and angry again.
"I said… don't touch me." She attempted to say sternly but her voice shook.
Harry rubbed the side of his face.
"I guess I deserved that."
Hermione's face softened again as she broke into tears.
"Oh Harry I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
Harry gathered her into his arms.
"Shh, its okay Hermione. I shouldn't have read your journal, I'm sorry too… please don't cry."
She gently pulled away from Harry, sniffling she looked at his face. His left cheek was noticeably pink and as she brushed her fingers across it, she knew it was sore.
"Harry,"
"You sure are strong. I can't imagine how Malfoy felt after you punched him." He said with a small laugh.
"You better put some cold water to it, it'll make the redness go away."
"It's not important right now, I want you to take out your journal."
Hermione gave him a searching look, but obeyed his request.