Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter except for the wonderful posters on my wall. SIGH!!!
A/N: I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews on my last chapter. I was very proud of it. It even had me crying whilst writing it. I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks about this chapter, though it holds no real significance. I will start adding a little fluff to it soon, but as you see… I'm just not that great at writing it. Ta ta for now!!
Chapter Eight: Tell Her
The week after the funeral proved to be almost back to normal for Hermione and I, save for one thing. Our relationship had deepened. I guess her proclamation to Ron had gone over well in her mind as well and she was accepting that feelings that she harbored for me.
It happened gradually at school, an example being one day during breakfast she secretly slipped her hand into mine under the table, then caught my eye and grinned at me. I could do nothing but return her grin. Then it went a bit further to her kissing my cheek in front of our friends. I was really happy with the way things were going between us, so one day exactly a week after the funeral I caught sight of her sitting in her normal chair once again catching up on her overdue homework assignments.
I went to her immediately and sat beside her placing a kiss on her cheek. She glanced up from her book swiftly and smiled at me.
"I'm sorry Harry, I can't talk right now. McGonagall wants this essay tomorrow morning." She said not taking her eyes from the book.
"Its alright Hermione, I just really wanted to ask you something, but it can wait." I said a hint of mischief showing through in my voice. Her head immediately craned to look at me.
"What did you have in mind Harry?"
I grinned from ear to ear. "Well you will have to put your precious book down and come with me for a little bit. I want to show you something."
She looked confused. "I thought you wanted to ask me something?"
I rolled my eyes at her and grabbed her hand. "Ok you have no choice, you're coming with me."
She huffed a little bit but let me pull her up, she followed me out of the portrait, and down the silent corridors. I led her to the Astronomy Tower, a place that I had always wanted to share with her. The sky above us was absolutely breath taking; there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I noticed a shiver run through her body and I wrapped my arms around her tightly.
"Now what did you want to show me Harry?" I smiled as her curiosity got the best of her. I then pointed my hand to the sky, to a certain constellation.
"Do you see those group of stars `Mione?" I felt her nod her head against my chest. "That's the constellation called `Canis Major' or the Dog Star." I could feel her waiting for me to go on. "Whenever I fee lonely I come up here, and talk to him…Sirius, that is. I feel close to him up here."
Hermione turned to me then, a look of understanding on her face.
"Harry…I'm really happy you're sharing this with me. Sharing him."
Not able to resist her full lips any longer, I leaned down and kissed her softly. Her lips were warm and inviting, exactly what I had been longing for. Knowing I had another reason for bringing her here, I stopped the kiss before I was tempted to heighten it. A look of pure bliss is written all over her face, and I wish that my lips were still on her wonderfully full lips.
"Hermione I wanted to ask you something." I stated bluntly, her face transformed to one of caution. I smiled at her warmly, giving her the sign that she had nothing to be afraid of. I took her hand in mine giving her the familiar three squeezes, one day I would tell her what that meant, as for now, I had other things on my mind.
"Well, what I wanted to ask you was…well I've had strong feelings for you for quite some time." Quite suddenly I was very nervous. Here I was standing in the Astronomy Tower with my best friend, whom I'm quite madly in love with, and I'm nervous about asking her to be my girlfriend. I felt her hand slide up to my face, caressing my cheek. I opened my eyes and she was smiling at me, the first genuine smile since Rons' death.
"Yes Harry." Was all she said. My eyes widened a bit, but then I knew what she was talking about. Hermione and I had always had a deep connection with one another, on many occasions she could get what she wanted out of me, by merely looking into my soul, this was no different.
A smile broke out across my face as I wrapped my arms around her and picked her light body up in my arms twirling her around. After her squeals of delight and fright I put her down and smashed my lips onto hers. I never wanted to leave her side again, she was my perfect mate. My fingers were twirling a lock of her hair while my lips explored her earlobes and neck. Her hands were also in my hair, making it even messier than usual, if that is at all possible.
Our happiness and snogging was short lived though, as the Astronomy Tower opening slowly interrupted us. We both immediately realized how vulnerable we were out in the open, so we ran and hid behind a short wall, listening intently.
Ginny and Draco came bounding in, hand in hand, her high pitched giggle matching perfectly with his low drawl. He leaned in kissed her neck gently and led her to the edge where he lifted her up onto the side. Her head bent down to plant a kiss on his forehead. They stood like that, not saying a word to one another, but seemed to be content in the silence of themselves.
From the vantage point that I had I could see Draco was itching to say something to her. I smiled secretly urging him to do so; Ginny needed some good in her life right now. My eyes glanced over to Hermione standing beside me, I realized her eyes were wide with shock, and then it hit me. I hadn't told her about them yet. I leaned over and whispered into her ear that I would tell her later; she nodded her head, and waited with bated breath at what the two lovers were going to do next.
Draco suddenly grabbed Ginnys' petite hand, his fingers caressing the soft skin at the back. He brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the slightly freckled skin. His face was full of love and adoration.
"Ginny Weasley, I love you." His voice was low and raspy, and full of emotion. His hand tightened on hers, as he awaited her response.
A single tear slid down her pale face, landing on her lap and fading into oblivion.
"Oh, Draco." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her bosom. "Oh, how I love you too." His arms went around her slender body and he pulled her off the wall, so as to hold all of her to him.
I heard Hermione gasp behind me and I tightened my hold on her hand, we continued watching the forbidden lovers.
Draco pulled his face away and looked down at the woman he loved. How these feelings had plagued him for so long. He had wanted to tell her long ago, but with the death of her brother there was never a good time. Tonight during dinner he decided he couldn't wait any longer. He was going to tell her, and damn his father if he didn't approve. Never in his entire life had he felt this way about anyone, and no one was going to stop him from being with her.
"You are so beautiful Red." His eyes steel gray eyes locking with her sky blue ones. She smiled bashfully at him, her cheeks turning a bright red. As if an after thought her eyes suddenly filled with so much more love than ever thought possible.
"Draco…I want you to make love to me."
From my hiding spot I could see his eyes become wide with shock, then return to their normal size as he nodded his head. I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, and wasn't sure I wanted to, it was meant only for the lovers. So with Hermione in tow we snuck out of the Astronomy Tower, casting a silencing spell on the door and locking it behind us.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next few months went by without a hitch. Mine and Hermiones' relationship was progressing; as usual we were inseparable, joined at the hips our friends would say about us. We ate together, studied together, walked together, and if we had it our way, we would have slept in the same bed together. I was in love with her, but far too afraid to tell her that.
It had been three months since the death of Ron, and every month on the day of his death we embarked to the Weasleys to pay our respects, and let him know we were doing all right. Hermione seemed to think he still cared about his classes, as she would lecture him about what he would be doing, and telling him all the horrible things Snape was doing to us. I found it very comical, she was trying to hang on to the only thing her and Ron fought about, it was very endearing. After she was done saying her sentiments she would go inside for a cup of tea with Mrs. Weasley leaving me to do my man thing. She knew though that I needed my time with him, I had things to tell him that I didn't want anyone else to know.
"'Ello there mate, how are you doing this time `round?" I laughed at what I had said, but it had become a habit to ask him how he was doing, even though he was gone. " Well as Hermione said, classes are going great. Psh what am I saying? She still has to get me to study, she bribes me now did you know that? Saying she wont kiss me until I finish a certain essay. Women…I tell you, they are nothing but trouble." I smiled as I read Rons headstone over and over again. `Beloved son and friend to all'. That was the truth. "Well anyway, I really needed to talk to you mate, I know its kinda weird for me to be talking to you about Hermione, seeing as how she is your ex girl, but I really need to get it out." I took a deep breath knowing that somewhere Ron was listening intently for the words he already knew were coming. "Ron, mate, I'm in love with her. I'm in love with her and I don't know what to about it. Do I tell her or will it ruin our relationship?"
The wind kicked up, whipping my hair around my eyes. I knew he was answering me, but I wasn't sure what he was saying. I perked my ears trying desperately to hear his voice in the wind like the day of his funeral but nothing came. I sighed melodramatically, knowing that my attempts to reach him were all in vain, but I felt so much better telling him how I felt about her.
I stood up and stretched my lanky body, reaching my arms towards the sky, and groaning loudly.
"Well mate, I'd better be off. We have a test in potions tomorrow, and Hermione has to study for at least twelve hours in advance, you remember." I patted the headstone and turned to walk away. I felt the wind kick up a bit more, and then I heard it.
"Tell her you smarmy git." I whipped around staring hard at the gravestone. He wasn't there but I heard his voice as if he were right behind me. For some odd reason I felt as if I really needed to see Ron right then, but knew it wouldn't be happening. I nodded my head and smiled, knowing that I should and most likely will follow Rons' advice. I gave the headstone a goofy thumbs up sign, then made my way into the house to say good-bye to the Weasleys and collect Hermione.
She never asked me what I said to Ron during our visits. She figured it wasn't her business, `Probably gross boy stuff anyway' she would mutter to herself, laughing the entire time. I would nod my head and try to get a kiss from her, she evasively dodged me.
We walked to dinner that night hand in hand still reveling in the good feelings we had from visiting our best friend. We sat down together, our hands entwined, waiting for the food to magically appear on our tables. I knew I should tell her now, it seemed the time. I couldn't love her more than I do right now, but for some reason, the words wouldn't form in my mouth. I couldn't get my damn tongue to cooperate with my brain.
So I did the only thing I knew how to do to communicate my feelings to her. I tightened my hold on her small hand and squeezed it three times. I-LOVE-YOU.
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