Chapter Five:
I can't believe this was happening. Moments before I was kissing the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts and now I'm following my headmaster to his office to most likely be punished for snogging in the hall. What a night this was turning out to be.
I glanced over at Hermione, her head was hung in shame, and I felt horrible for her. She had never been escorted to the headmaster's office like this, she's probably thinking that she is going to be expelled. I wish I could comfort her right now. I reach down and slip my hand in hers and give it a little squeeze. She cranes her head up and looks me in the eyes. I smile at her and she returns it, though it is obvious she is forcing it a little bit.
We follow Dumbledore through the corridors to the Phoenix statue where we hear him mumble the password. "Fwooper" And then the flight of stairs leading to his office appear and we ascend.
Dumbledore walks over to his desk and sits down on his pillow top chair behind the desk, then motions for us to do the same. We sit down across from him, and wait for him to begin the conference.
" Well…" he began, I could feel Hermiones grip on my hand tighten. "…All I have to say, is its about time."
My eyes shot open and my mouth must have hit the floor, and from the loosening of her grasp, I'm guessing Hermione did the same thing. My eyes had not left Dumbledore since his last comment, but I could tell Hermione was trying as hard as she could to say something.
"Professor…" she was fumbling for words. "…What do you mean?"
Dumbledore smiled and began giving us an explanation.
" You two have been fawning over each other for years, it was only a matter of time before one of you actually made a move. Minerva and I were wondering if you were ever going to realize what you two have before you graduated Hogwarts."
I decided to make my entrance here.
"You and Professor McGonagall have been talking about mine and Hermione's relationship?"
Dumbledore nodded his head and smiled. "For quite some time, yes."
Suddenly I was feeling light headed. This really shouldn't surprise me as much as it did, considering that our professors have always known more about us than we even know about ourselves, but this was our personal life. How much more did they know?
"Excuse me professor." I heard Hermione say. " Is this the only reason you called us into your office? We aren't in trouble or anything?"
Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head. "No my dear, you will not be punished for being in love."
Suddenly I couldn't breathe. Did Dumbledore just say we were in love? This was getting out of hand. I just asked her to be my girlfriend a few days ago. I wasn't in love with her! I needed to get out of his office, I was feeling stifled. I stood up only for Dumbledore to tell me to take my seat once again.
" Harry, this is as good of chance as any to speak with you about Voldemort. Hermione is going to play a big part in his defeat, so she will be here during this discussion."
I nodded my head. Looking over towards Hermione I could see a look of concern briefly cross her face but was replaced with a look of determination when Dumbledore began speaking of Voldemort.
" We have reason to believe that Lord Voldemort is going to strike before the end of your seventh year. And even if he doesn't, you will continuously have the support of the Hogwarts staff at your disposal when the time comes for you to face your destiny."
I was beginning to get sick of listening to this. I knew I was going to have to fight Voldemort, but right now I just wanted to be in my room thinking to myself about Hermione, and how and why Dumbledore knows things about us that not even I know. So during the rest of his lecture I sat there nodding my head at certain places making it seem as though I was paying close attention. When he ended his speech, he told us we were free to go. I made sure I had a tight hold on Hermiones hand and led her out of the office.
"Harry, Harry, will you slow down and tell me whats going on?" Hermione was saying as I was dragging her back to the common room.
I turned towards her quickly and she jumped back shocked. Damn I scared her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." I apologized.
I loosened my grip on her hand and continued leading her back to the common room. She knew when something was wrong with me, she could just tell. It was almost as if she was the other half of me, the better half. I was ignoring her and she knew why, she just needed me to confirm it. I stopped slowly this time and made my way over the wall where I leaned against it. I began sliding down the wall with her doing the same right next to me.
I took a deep breath, I knew that I would have to go about this the right way if I didn't want to offend her.
" 'Mione, don't you just think its weird that they know more about us than we do?" I asked her sincerely.
She laid her head on my shoulder and again, it felt as if it were made to fit there. Perfect.
" Harry are you referring to Dumbledore making the comment about us loving each other?" she said almost silently. Again she knew what I was thinking.
I nodded my head.
She continued. " I do love you Harry, just as I know you love me. And maybe that's the way in which Dumbledore is talking about, but we will never know. I just want you to know that no matter what comes out of this new relationship we are forging, I will always love you."
She couldn't have said anything more perfect to me right then.