a/n: Thank you reviewers! This is my favourite chapter so far - hope you enjoy it.
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chapter 6: just a look
Once the four students reached the kitchen of The Burrow they knew it was most definitely not a good time to return. It was utter chaos - owls flitting around the ceiling occasionally swooping down upon a busy Order member to collect a message, rolls of parchment scattered across the counters and kitchen table, and cloaks flung haphazardly around the room. Members of the Order of the Phoenix were engaged in conversations with one another. Some were speaking in low voices and nodding gravely; others, such as Tonks, were conversing rather loudly with one another from across the room. Molly Weasley was flitting about the kitchen, not much unlike the owls, trying in vain to tidy the area. No one took noticed of the students' arrival, and Ron had to shout to make himself heard over all the noise.
"Mum! Hey," he broke off when a rather large tawny owl collided with the back of his head. "Ouch! Mum! Luna's staying for dinner if that's all right with you!"
Mrs. Weasley gave Luna a warm smile and nodded quickly before returning to her impossible task. A bedraggled looking Ginny fought her way through the crowded kitchen over to the group. She hugged and greeted Luna, then turned to the rest of them and said in what was clearly an annoyed voice, "They've taken over the house! It's impossible to get anything done in here with this lot wandering about. Why they've chosen The Burrow as their new headquarters is beyond me."
Harry had also wondered why Grimmauld Place was no longer used as the Order's headquarters. It certainly was a better place to hold all the members and meetings than The Burrow. He made a mental note to ask Lupin about it the next time he saw him. Harry saw Hermione, Ginny and Luna talking a short distance away, but couldn't hear what they were saying over all the noise in the kitchen. Ron shot him a look as if to say, "Girl talk." Harry nodded and motioned towards the lounge with his hand; Ron nodded and began to push his way through the kitchen with Harry close behind.
"Bloody hell," said Ron as he plopped unceremoniously into an armchair after closing the door to the kitchen.
"Tell me about it," agreed Harry as he too sunk into an armchair. "You up for a game of chess, then?"
"Sure, I feel like beating the pants off someone anyway," Ron said with a grin as he leaned over the table and chess board.
Harry laughed and the two of them played in silence for a few minutes. Ron had always been better than him at wizard's chess, but Harry had definitely improved since he first started playing. He sighed as Ron's queen viciously took one of his pawns out of the game. Harry's focus was not on the game in front of him, but instead on 'his personal goddess,' as he liked to call her, who was currently in the kitchen chatting and maybe even gossiping with her two girl friends. He couldn't help but wonder if she ever talked about him while she was with Ginny and Luna - he was most interested to hear what Hermione thought of him. Sure, he knew she thought him to be brave, but that wasn't what he wanted to know. Harry was curious as to what she thought of his appearance, or if he was even a possible 'love interest' for her.
"You have to make a move, Harry," Ron said as he stared at Harry with a curious look on his face.
"What do you mean I have to make a move? I'm not even sure how she feels yet; I don't want to make a prat out of myself in front of her!"
"Um…I was talking about the game - it's your turn."
Harry's face turned redder than Ron's hair, if that was indeed possible. "Oh." He quickly moved and turned away, refusing to meet Ron's eyes.
"So, who don't you want to make a prat out of yourself in front of?" said Ron with a very Malfoy-like smirk on his face. "Actually, you don't have to tell me if you're going to get all riled up about it. Besides, I think I already have a good idea of who she is anyway." He tried to catch Harry's eye, but he refused to look at him. "It's Pansy Parkinson isn't it, Harry?"
That got Harry to look at Ron with a death glare, and Ron burst out laughing.
"I'm only joking! I know you don't fancy that cow," he said as his laughter died down, "it's really Millicent Bullstrode that's captured your heart!"
This time Harry got up and tackled Ron from his armchair to the ground as Ron continued to laugh louder than a banshee. Eventually Harry was laughing too as he sat on the floor watching Ron roll around clutching his stomach as though it would burst.
"I swear, Ron, if you ever say something as disgusting as that again I will not speak to you for a month," Harry said with a chuckle.
Ron stopped laughing and said between breaths, "Ah, Harry, you don't have to worry about that - I've even scared myself just thinking about you and either of those two as a couple."
He sobered up quite fast and looked away from Harry, obviously in thought. After a minute of silence he said, "There's only one girl I can think of as your girlfriend, and I honestly think you know who I'm talking about as well."
Harry shifted on the floor so that his back was against the couch and he was sitting next to Ron. He briefly thought of denying that he felt anything for Hermione - he knew that it was her Ron was talking about - but decided against it. He didn't need to hide anything from Ron; it certainly seemed as though he didn't mind the idea of him and Hermione together.
He chose his words carefully as he replied, "I like her, Ron. Actually, I think - no, I know - I love her. I'm head over heels in love with our best friend, Hermione Granger, and I like it."
Harry didn't know what to expect from Ron when he finished talking, but was immensely relieved to see his face break into an enormous grin as he said, "It's about time you realized that, mate - seriously, it's only taken you five or so years now. Better late than never, I suppose," he finished with another grin.
Before Harry could reply, the door opened and in walked Hermione, Ginny and Luna. Hermione looked flushed and didn't look at Harry at all; Ginny was grinning like the Cheshire cat, and Luna just stared at Ron with a dreamy look plastered on her face. Harry was about to ask Hermione if anything was wrong when Ginny spoke.
"Mum said dinner should be ready soon and that she needs our help to prepare since there are so many people staying tonight," she said in an amused tone. Harry wondered why she sounded like that when she was talking about helping out with dinner.
Ron gave Harry one last grin before he stood up from the floor and stomped into the kitchen with Luna not too far behind. Harry got back onto his feet and started for the kitchen before Ginny cut him off with an arm to the chest.
"She said she only needs three people to help her. We've got it covered. You two just make yourselves comfortable," Ginny said as she clearly fought back laughter. She winked at Hermione, who promptly blushed, then walked into the kitchen leaving Harry and Hermione alone in the lounge.
"Is she feeling all right? I've never known her to find helping in the kitchen amusing. And since when has Mrs. Weasley 'only needed three people' to help her out?" Harry asked her with a bemused look upon his face.
Hermione's blush receded, and she turned to face him directly as she said, "Ginny's fine, she's just hung up on something I said earlier in the kitchen. I have no idea why Mrs. Weasley would only need three people though," she paused to think, and then continued, "Ginny's probably pulling our legs or something. She has hung around Fred and George a lot this summer…"
Harry cleared his throat and nodded at her, feeling butterflies - no, hippogriffs - in his stomach. He saw she was looking at a photograph on the wall and he took a moment to look her over. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail again and was extremely curly from the water. She had put on a tank top and pair of shorts over her swim suit; Harry could just make out the floral pattern underneath the tank top if he looked close enough. She looked to have gotten a bit of a tan throughout the afternoon as well, although the tops of her shoulders were slightly sun burnt. Harry still found her beautiful even though she wasn't dressed up at all; then again he always thought she looked amazing.
After a minute or two of staring at the photo Hermione spoke with her back still to Harry. "It used to be so simple…"
He figured she was talking about the picture, and moved forwards to look over her shoulder. Once he was close enough, he saw it was a picture of Hermione, Ron and himself at Hogwarts. It had been taken before the snowball fight prior to the Yule Ball during 4th year. He and Ron were grinning and holding Hermione in their arms as she laughed and tried to swat at them. What Harry wouldn't give to have her in his arms like that now…
"We were so innocent back then weren't we? We had no idea of what was coming, what would happen to us…we were just three kids smiling and having fun in the snow," she said in a faraway voice that sounded a lot like Luna's.
Harry agreed with her completely. If only things were always like that for them, if only Voldemort had never returned, if only he had listened to Hermione and not gone rushing off to the Department of Mysteries, if only, if only. He could 'if only' everything that had ever occurred in his life if he wanted to but he knew that wouldn't help or change anything. Instead, Harry simply hugged Hermione around the waist and put his head on her shoulder, breathing in the smell of her hair. She tensed slightly, but then to his great satisfaction held his arms against her and leaned back into him. He felt warmth spread throughout his entire body, and his skin felt as if it was on fire where her hands were holding him. Harry wasn't sure if what this was a strictly friendly embrace or if it was something more, but when she turned around and he found himself looking into her eyes he thought he knew the answer. He had looked into her eyes on many occasions before - when they were in class, in the library, in the common room, and even in the creek - but there was something different about this time; there was something else in his eyes that he didn't quite recognize. Was it love? Or maybe just lust? Maybe he was imagining things entirely and she was just looking at him; somehow he didn't think so. For some reason, Harry thought she was returning his feelings in that one look, in this one moment of solitude. It was just a look in her dark brown eyes that he was sure showed in his own. Her hands were resting on his chest; he was sure she could feel his heart frantically pounding against his rib cage as though it was trying to escape. He had to make a decision, and he had to make it fast or else he just might die from the tension - it was so thick he could have sworn it was visible all around them. It was either he pulled away and ran from the room like a coward, or he leaned in and kissed her - the latter option would probably use up all his Gryffindor bravery for the entire year. He had come to a decision: Hermione was worth all his bravery and more.
Harry felt his arms moving of their own accord from her upper arms to her waist, and he was slowly lowering his head to hers. She didn't move away, but instead continued to stare straight into his soul. Finally, after what seemed like ages, his lips met hers. His heart felt as though it would explode right inside his chest, but this time it was a good feeling, and not frightening. Her hands slid up around his neck as she pulled him closer, and he took the hint and pulled her closer to him as well. Harry was just about to work up the courage to deepen the kiss when he heard a door slam and the sound of voices somewhere in their vicinity.
They sprung apart just in time as a mob of people came into the lounge on their way out of The Burrow. Harry's breathing was ragged and he heard Hermione's sharp breaths on his left. A few members of the Order shot them curious looks but no one said anything. Harry's brain was working on overdrive as he tried to memorize every tiny detail of the kiss. It was the most amazing experience in his life to date, and it had only lasted a few seconds. He tried to imagine how good it would be if it had lasted even longer, or what could have happened had they not been interrupted. He was shaken out of his thoughts when Mrs. Weasley's voice called them for dinner.
Harry looked over to see Hermione smiling at him and he grinned back, ecstatic that this wasn't just an accident and that she wasn't mad at him. She gave him a wink and motioned for him to follow her as she walked into the kitchen.
Dinner at The Burrow was certainly an interesting affair that evening. The kitchen was crowded as usual, but the table had been magically expanded to accommodate the extra guests. Harry had "accidentally" knocked Fred over so he could sit next to Hermione; he saw Ron do the same thing to George so he could nab the seat next to Luna. Harry found he couldn't keep from touching Hermione at every chance he got. When he saw her reaching for the butter or salt, he went for it at the same time so their hands would brush. After the third or fourth time this happened, she caught his eye with a questioning look and then laughed out loud as he blushed - that didn't stop him from doing it again the next time she went for the pepper though. If he needed to tell her something, he'd lean in and whisper so his lips barely brushed her ear - that made her blush as much as he had before, if not more.
Of course, Harry was oblivious to the looks he received after some of his actions - the knowing, amused glances from around the table. He found it hard to concentrate on anything else when the memory of his and Hermione's kiss seemed to be on a loop in his mind, replaying over and over. The fact that he was sitting so close to her at the table didn't help matters either.
Desert consisted of ice cream in almost every flavour imaginable. Judging by some of the more "interesting" flavours, Harry suspected it was made by the same company that produced Every Flavour Beans. He decided to stick with the safe choice of vanilla and saw Hermione had chosen the same. As he savoured his ice cream (and watching Hermione enjoy hers) he couldn't help but wonder when he'd get the chance to kiss her again. Harry didn't want to talk about what had happened just yet - there would be plenty of time for talking later. He needed to have her in his arms and his lips on hers soon or he just might jump her right then and there.
"So, Harry," Fred said in a loud voice that carried around the room, "Couldn't help but notice you look awfully interested in Hermione's ice cream."
Harry realized he had been staring at Hermione's mouth for the last five minutes as he relived their kiss from before. He cleared his throat and looked around the now silent kitchen nervously. For the life of him, Harry could not think of a response that wouldn't earn a slap from Hermione or give Mrs. Weasley a heart attack. Thankfully, Hermione's cleverness kicked in.
"Oh! There's something in my ice cream - good spot, Harry!" she exclaimed, pretending to pick something out of her spoon.
"Yeah, I was going to tell you sooner but I was trying to figure out what it was. You know, in case it was just a chocolate chip or something like that," Harry said in what would be a casual tone, had his voice not cracked about three times. He cleared his throat again, shot Hermione a thankful look, and returned to his ice cream with renewed vigor. Everyone else took this as a sign and returned to their desert.
Harry felt Hermione's lips on his ear, and a shiver ran through his body as she whispered, "What were you really looking at, Harry?" The way she said his name caused him to shift in his seat nervously before he replied.
"You, er, and how I want to kiss you again. Kiss you soon," he whispered in return. Harry hoped he had sounded somewhat smooth - the last thing he wanted to do was put Hermione off the idea of kissing him again.
She giggled. "Yes!" thought Harry as another jolt of pleasure swept through.
"You know," she broke off, looking around the table quickly to make sure no one was listening or watching and then continued in a whisper, "I want to kiss you soon, too." And then she kissed his ear before leaning back and turning to talk with Ginny.
Harry completely lost control at that. He sat awkwardly for the rest of desert, fidgeting like a madman and debating on the best method to keep his problem a secret. At last, everyone had finished their desert and put their bowls into the sink. Harry saw Ron shamelessly flirting with Luna across the table and wondered when he had become such a ladies' man. He smiled to himself and shook his head.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked with a small smile.
"Ron and Luna," he replied and nodded in their direction.
Hermione took a second to look, and then turned back to Harry with a grin. "They'd make a good couple, don't you think?"
Harry nodded. He could think of two other people at the table who'd make a good couple, and she was one of them. Once again, Harry and Hermione found themselves staring at each other with looks of longing. He was about to suggest they excuse themselves from the table when Ron and Luna stood up.
"I'm walking Luna home now," Ron said, not bothering to hide his broad grin. "Be back later."
"Oooh, has ickle Ronnikins got himself a girlfriend at last?" George asked in a sing-song voice.
"My dear brother, I think he has!" Fred replied with excessive enthusiasm.
"And now he gets to walk his girlfriend home, and give her a kiss goodnight!"
"Oooh, a kissy for Ronnie, how sweet," said Fred as he pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.
"Sod off, you two," Ron said, however he didn't look mad - in fact, he looked quite happy at the idea of a kiss from Luna. With that, he took her hand and the two of them walked out of the kitchen.
As the rest of the people present burst into chat about the latest development, Harry had an idea - a brilliant one in his mind. He leaned over to Hermione and whispered, "I think we should go for a walk too. Not like anyone will notice we're gone with all the fuss over Ron and Luna."
She bit her lip in thought and stared straight ahead. For a fleeting moment Harry thought she'd turn around and reject him, telling him that their kiss wasn't right and she didn't want it to happen again. What she actually did surprised him like no other. Without looking at him, she squeezed his knee and said in a low voice, "Meet me by the creek." And with that she stood up and walked out the back door into the garden.