A/N: Sorry this chapter wasn't finished sooner! My little sister sprained her ankle yesterday...we had to go to the doctors...and her pediatrician is like 20 miles away! Anyway, I've been taking care of her for awhile and not to mention working on immense pile of homework my professors have thrown on me! I just haven't had time to write! GRRR...sorry.
Let me just say, that I loved writing this chapter! Almost as much as I loved writing chapter 5 - "Surprises"!
Anyway, the chapter is finished now! I really hope you like this chapter! IT'S FLUFFY!! PURE HARRY AND HERMIONE!!
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What If I Were To Tell You...
The day seemed to drag on forever. Harry, Ron and Ginny had been at Quidditch practice for nearly three hours now. The first match of the season was against Hufflepuff in two weeks, and Hermione was sure that Harry wanted the new Beaters, Shawn Gabstraw and Daniel Arberton, trained up and ready to go.
Meanwhile, Liz had gone back to her office, rather Professor Bright's office, to finish her chat with her husband, Charlie. Hermione had gone with her, only to say a quick `Hello' and belated `Congratulations' to Charlie. She then left the couple to talk and decided to take a walk around the lake, but first headed for the Gryffindor common room to grab her cloak.
As Hermione made her way outside, she was instantly thankful to have her cloak tightly wrapped around her. The September air was chilly and the sky was now filled with looming black clouds, it looked as if it might rain soon. None the less, she needed a walk. She needed to think. Not too long ago, she'd been given an extraordinary amount of secret information. She still couldn't quite believe that after all this time Harry had real family. Not that she hadn't considered herself as his family for as long as she had known him, but Liz was blood. Liz was someone who had a vague sense of what he'd gone through after losing his parents... their parents, actually. Hermione wondered what it would have been like if Harry and Liz had grown up together. Would he be different? Would she and Harry have become friends. This was a thought Hermione dared not delve into. She didn't want to imagine her life without Harry.
The time went by, and after Hermione had walked nearly all the way around the lake thinking about the past, when she neared the Quidditch pitch. She could see that the air in the stadium was devoid of fliers. "They must have finally finished practice." She thought. Her thoughts then drifted away from Harry's past and settled on his future. Would he live through the battle with Voldemort? "Of course he will."she told herself. I Saw it in that Vision. I don't care what Liz says...he will live. Finally deciding that Harry would indeed have a future, that question popped in her head again: Would she be in it? She knew, of course that she would be. They were best friends after all. But Hermione wanted more than just friendship. She got that squirmy feeling again at the thought of being part of Harry's life, in that way. She thought back to what Liz had said earlier...
"Harry get's the same squirmy feeling whenever you're around!" is what Liz had said.
Hermione's face lit up with a smile. She will be part of Harry's life, in that way. There was only the matter of telling him how she really felt. She stopped and looked out onto the lake. There was a gentle surf rolling up onto the bank. The wind was beginning to pick up slightly, making her shudder. Hermione felt a small drop of water land on her hand as it began to sprinkle.
"What if I can't do it?" She asked herself aloud, still gazing out over the lake. "What if I freeze up and just stutter until he runs away?"
"Talking to yourself Hermione?" said a deep, familiar voice from behind her. "Until who runs away?" Her eyes widened as she realized who it was. She wheeled around and was face to face with Harry. He was still dressed in his Quidditch uniform, holding his Firebolt as his glasses were dotted with sprinklets of water. Wow, he looks amazing. Hermione mused.
"Hermione? Until who runs away?" Harry asked her again. Hermione was still staring at him, wearing an expression of shock. "There's no way he could have known who you were talking about". She told herself. "Just lie...think Hermione...think!"
"Crookshanks." she said immediately.
"Crookshanks?" Harry asked, half laughing. "Why would Crookshanks run away?"
Hermione had to think fast. "Because...er...he's mad at me." she blurted out. "Crookshanks is mad at me? That's stupid!" Hermione thought.
Harry eyed her suspiciously. "Why?" he pressed, knowing full well that she was lying. The nervous-about-nothing, very un-Hermione tone she was using told him so.
"Well, er...he - "
"Hermione," Harry said cutting her off. "Why are you lying?" Hermione tried to give off the impression that she was being insulted. Needless to say, she failed dismally when she only stood there with her mouth open and no explanation.
"I, er - you see..." she stammered.
"Hermione, if you don't want to tell me all you have to do is say so." said Harry smiling at her.
"Oh. Right." Hermione said feeling mildly relieved for a moment, but a little embarrassed all the same.
"Alright, so you're not going to tell me." Harry said sounding disappointed. "Er..listen, Ron and Ginny have already gone back to the castle. D'you want to wait for me here while I change, and then we can go back to the common room?"
Hermione gave him a faint smile and nodded.
"Okay, be right back then." Harry said. He turned around and began to walk back towards the pitch to go to the changing rooms. Hermione watched him, feeling relieved once more. Then, that sickly feeling came over her again. What was she doing? Why was she lying? JUST TELL HIM! she roared in thought.
"Harry!" she called out running to him. He turned around and walked halfway towards her and closed the distance between them.
"Harry, I need to talk to you about something." she said panting, and now standing in front of him.
"I knew it was something." Harry said grinning. "What is it Hermione?"
"I need to ask you a question. And, please...answer truthfully." Hermione said seriously.
"Okay." said Harry. "Ask me anything."
Hermione took a step closer towards Harry...then another...then another. They were so close together, Hermione's face was separated from his only by a few inches. Her eyes were glowing radiantly as she stared into Harry's and he was breathing hard now. "She's so...so close." Harry thought. "I just want to grab her and -" But his thought were cut short when Hermione suddenly spoke.
"Harry," she said slowly, barely speaking above a whisper. She took a deep breath and looked longingly into his eyes.
"Yes?" Harry said softly.
"Harry, if...if I were to tell you...that I..." Hermione took another quick intake of breath. "...that I love you - more than a friend...what would you say?"
THUD!
Harry's Firebolt had just hit the ground and his face froze. He was gaping at Hermione as he stood there in utter shock. He felt like someone had just hit him with the Jelly Legs Jinx. He could feel his legs ready to give way. "Did Hermione just say that? Did she really mean that?" he thought quickly. He couldn't believe this was finally happening. He couldn't believe that Hermione actually been harboring mutual feelings.
"Harry?" she said, waiting in agonizing and anticipated silence for his response. She was breathing shallow and gulped a little gulp, still waiting. Harry could see a tear in the corner of Hermione's eye, waiting to fall just before she lowered her head towards the ground. He could tell that by his lack of response, she was about to cry.
Suddenly, he let his face relaxed and came out of shock. He raised his hand to her face and lifted her chin with extreme delicacy, making her look at him. She complied by raising her head, Harry looked into her glossy, brown eyes. She was looking at him, that question lingering in her eyes, in her heart, yearning to be answered. Then...
"Hermione," Harry said, letting go of her face. "Ask me again."
"What?" asked Hermione, confused.
"Ask me that question again." Harry said once more.
Hermione took in another deep breath and repeated her question: "If I were to tell you, that I love you - more than a friend...what would you say?" The second time around, Harry was ready. He looked at Hermione and began to run his hand up and down her cheek.
"I'd say, I love you too..." Harry said softly. "More than a friend." Hermione felt a waves of emotion flow over her as he spoke. Hermione leaned into his caress and placed a hand on his. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of his gentle hands on her cheek and the words he had just said. Then, she opened her eyes and gazed at Harry.
"You do?" she whispered, inching closer to him.
"I do." he replied smiling at her.
"Now, can I ask you a question, Hermione?" Harry said.
"Anything." Hermione managed.
Harry looked further into her eyes, which were now glowing.
"What if I were to tell you...that I've wanted to kiss you for ages, what would you say?" he asked.
Hermione stared at him, and said desperately, "I'd say, kiss me now. Because I've wanted you to - "
Hermione's words were suddenly cut off by Harry's lips pressing against hers. The kiss was hardly anything short of wonderful. The kiss lingered until Harry slowly pulled inches away.
" - kiss me for ages." Hermione finished breathlessly as the sprinkles of water that were falling now turned to drops of rain. They smiled at one another, just long enough to see in each other's expressions that they both wanted more. Harry's hand whipped to the back of Hermione's head and pulled her close to drew her lips back to his. Their lips met, yet again. Hermione felt her body tingle with jubilance. The kiss was sweet yet savage. Wanting to be closer to him, if possible, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and let her passion flow through into the kiss. Harry's hands traveled through her hair and down her back and rested on her waist. They were lost in each other now, completely oblivious to everything around them. They stood there, kissing in the rain, soaking it in as part of a new memory until they reluctantly broke apart.
The rain was now dancing around them, pouring harder and harder. They were both drenched, but neither cared. Harry brought his hands up to Hermione's face and cupped her cheeks. As she smiled at him, he leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes and listened to her breathing.
"I love you." he said. Hermione smiled in jubilation and pulled him closer to her.
"I love you too." she said.
Now noticing the rain that was falling, Harry pulled away from Hermione, picked up his Firebolt and led her to the shelter of the Quidditch changing rooms.
Harry walked into the changing room and set down his broom and went to get some towels. "I'll be right back." he said to Hermione and kissed her softly.
"Okay." she said. Hermione sat down on one of the benches as Harry disappeared into the back to get their towels.
As Harry walked to the back, his thoughts were racing. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He'd wanted her for so long. Now, she was his. He couldn't believe how amazing it had felt to kiss her. He hastened his pace and grabbed two clean towels quickly, he was only a few feet away, but he already missed her.
Hermione was having similar thoughts as she wait for Harry to return. Her stomach was full of butterflies and she couldn't control the shake that ran through her body. Perhaps it was the cold, but the fact that she and Harry had just confessed their love for one another definitely had something to do with it. She wanted him back...now. Just as she was about to leap up from the bench and run to the back of the room to find Harry and kiss him again, he came darting into the room. He ran towards her dropping the towels and lifted her out of her seat and brought her into another kiss. Hermione matched his need as she kissed him back.
This lasted for awhile...
Hermione soon came up for air. "Harry," she said breathlessly. "We have to stop and - ." Harry quickly cut off her words with another kiss. "Have - to - talk." Hermione said between kisses. Finally Harry pulled away from her. She had strings of hair trailing down her face, Harry brushed them aside with his fingers and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. Hermione smiled inwardly. "This is wonderful!" she thought. Harry pulled away from her once more and sat back to look at her.
"You, are beautiful Hermione." he said. Hermione blushed. "Thanks." she said.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Harry asked.
"Well - this!" Hermione said waving her hand back and forth between them.
"Okay," Harry said. "Well, do you mind if I ask you the first question then?"
"Sure, go ahead." said Hermione.
He led her outside.
"Do you mind if we go somewhere...warmer?" Harry asked, grinning.
"Okay, but then we talk." Hermione insisted.
"Right. Then we'll talk." Harry said pulling out his wand and raising. "Accio Firebolt." he said. His Firebolt came whizzing through the room and outside and landed in his hands. He picked up Hermione and set her on the broom, then climbed on behind her.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione nearly screamed. "You know I don't like - "
"Just hang on, I won't let you fall Hermione." Harry said. And he kicked off and they were flying towards the castle.
They landed gracefully, Hermione was still clinging to Harry's waist even after her feet touched the ground. Harry released himself from her vice-like grip and turned to look at her. He couldn't help but let out a little chuckle when he saw Hermione's face. Her eyes were wide and her hair was thrashed about. She looked adorable.
"Harry James Potter!" she roared! "If you ever do that again, I'll - ."
Harry quickly cut off her threat with a brief kiss. "Oh never mind." he heard her mutter.
"Can we go in now?" she asked shivering. "I'm freezing." It had stopped raining, but their clothes were still very damp, and the ride on Harry's Firebolt indeed had the wind running through their hair...and freezing them half to death.
Harry nodded and they walked into the castle. No one was around. "What time is it?" Harry asked. Hermione checked her watch. "It's nearly 6:30 she said. "Everyone must be at dinner."
"Right, well I'm not hungry. What about you?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head. "No, not really."
"Didn't think so." Harry said grinning. "C'mon, let's sneak upstairs." They both quickly ran up several flights of stairs, until they reached their rooms. "Mine or yours?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Which ever one you want." he said to her. Hermione gave him a sultry sort of look and walked to the portrait hole in front of his room. "Quidditch Seeker." she said softly, and the painting swung open.
"Mine it is then." Harry said smiling.
As they entered, Hermione walked straight to Harry's bedroom and lit the candles. "Incendio." Hermione said, then pointed her wand at the fireplace. "Incendio." she said again. Sparks shot out the tip of her wand, and a fire was now blazing. Harry joined her in the bedroom. "Hermione you need to dry off." he said handing her a towel. "Thanks." she said wrapping it around her hair. "Oh, I forgot to get some clothes out of my room."
"Well, I could go and get them." Harry offered. "Or...I dunno, you could just...er...wear one of my shirts or something."
Hermione's eyes shot at him at lightning speed. "Oh, well I suppose I could...so, does that mean that I'll be sleeping here tonight?" she said in that sultry tone again.
"I guess it does." Harry said grinning...again. He loved this. "M'kay, I'll be right back with a shirt and some pajama bottoms for you to wear.
When Harry returned Hermione wasn't in the bedroom. "Hermione?" he called out. "I'm in the bathroom!" he heard her yell. Harry walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door. The creaked open slightly and Hermione poked her head out. "Thanks Harry." she said taking the clothes from him. While Hermione changed, Harry went to change into his pajamas - he'd never changed out of his Quidditch things. Then he walked back into the bedroom and waited for Hermione. Harry's thoughts wondered to those of a seventeen year-old. Then, he quickly stopped himself. That was not going to happen. At least not yet.
It was funny how Harry and Hermione always seemed to be on the same track of thought. Hermione had been wondering if Harry took her sultriness to heart. If so, it was not what she had intended at all...well maybe a little, but she knew that, that was not going to happen. Well, not yet anyway.
Back in the bedroom, Harry had been waiting for Hermione for nearly 2 minutes - he had been counting, when she suddenly appeared in his doorway, looking absolutely adorable in his clothes. She was wearing one of his favorite T-shirts, it had all of the Chudley Canons players drawn as caricatures. He didn't know why, but he loved that shirt. Hermione was also wearing a pair of his black pajama bottoms. "You look so cute." he said to her.
"Stop it Harry." she said waving him off.
"No, I'm serious Hermione. You're breathtaking."
"Wow, beautiful, cute, and breathtaking all in one day." Hermione said giggling. "I'm really enjoying this Harry." He laughed and got into bed.
"It's not time to go to bed yet Harry, we really need to talk." Hermione said seriously.
"I know." Harry said pulling up the covers for her to get in. "But that doesn't mean we have to freeze to death while we do it." Hermione eyed him for a moment, then walked over and joined him under the covers. Harry sat against the headboard and wrapped his arms around her. She let out a sigh and laid her head on his chest. Once they were comfortable, Harry started the conversation.
"So," he said. "Can I ask the second first question?"
Hermione giggled. "I suppose." she said.
"Alright. How long?" he asked.
"How long what?"
"How long have you erm..."
"Loved you?" Hermione offered.
"Yeah."
"I don't really know, Harry. I can't really pinpoint the exact moment because, it seems like I've always loved you." she said as he grabbed her hand and began to lace his fingers with hers. "What about you?" she asked looking up a him.
"The same as you, I guess." he said. "I can't give you an exact moment either. It just sort of...happened."
"So, I made the first move?" asked Hermione, giving Harry a cheeky grin.
"Well...it's not like I didn't want to...you were just...impatient." Harry stammered.
"Impatient?" Hermione laughed. "Oh, please Harry...seven years...I'm pretty sure I've been patient! And anyway, you could have made the first move...what kind of a Gryffindor are you?" Harry started laughing.
"I was only kidding Hermione. There's no need for insults." he said quickly. "To be honest, I never thought you would see me, in that way."
"Likewise." Hermione said sardonically and rested her the back of her head on Harry's chest.
"Then, what made you tell me today?" Harry asked.
Hermione thought for a moment. She couldn't tell him it was because of Liz...no, Harry couldn't know that...not yet anyway. "I don't know." she told Harry. "But, you know me...once I set my mind on something...Anyway," she said briskly, "I'm sorry I insulted you."
"Hermione, I know you were joking. And I'm glad you're the determined type."
Hermione smiled and moved up to give him a kiss.
"So," she said lying back down in his arms. "Are we going to tell anyone?"
"Only if you want to." he said resting his cheek on Hermione's head.
"I do. I mean, well not everyone just yet. We could start with Ron and then gradually work are way on from there."
"Whatever you want is fine Hermione. I'm perfectly content just holding you here in my arms."
Harry said, squeezing Hermione gently as she snuggled closer to him.
They spent the next two hours talking about everything, from their old relationship to their new one, from Harry's parents and Sirius to hers, and then finally about the Prophecy and Voldemort.
"Hermione, I don't want anything to happen to you." he said to her.
"Nothing's going to happen to me Harry."
"Because I won't let it." he said hugging her to him. "I promise."
"I know you won't." she said. Hermione's thoughts wondered to the Vision she had gotten from Liz. She wanted it to happen. "Harry, promise me that you'll be safe when it comes time to fight Voldemort." she whispered. "Promise me that everything will be alright."
"I can't - "
"Just promise." Hermione said anxiously.
"I promise," Harry said. "But Hermione, you have to promise me the same thing."
"I promise you, Harry." she said earnestly.
The early part of the evening was fading away into late night, and Harry and Hermione were now lying in bed, wrapped in each other's arms. "It's raining again." Hermione said, and she heard Harry moan next to her. She could see that his eyes were shut and he was falling asleep. She smiled at him and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodnight Harry." she whispered. She rolled over, out of Harry's arms and reached for her wand, which was lying on Harry's bedside table and gave it a wave to put out the candles. She rolled back over onto her back and prepared to go to sleep. Just then, Harry pulled her closer to him and embraced her once more. Hermione let out a soft sigh. This was heaven. She was lying in his arms, she was his...forever. On the other side of the bed, Harry's side, she could hear the raindrops hitting the window, the sound was soothing. Just as she was nodding off into sleep, she felt Harry give her a gentle squeeze. "I love you." he whispered.
"I love you too." Hermione said, and nodded off into sleep...smiling.
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A/N: Have you noticed that I like them falling asleep in each other's rooms? It just goes on further with each time. But, I think that this is the last time that will happen...for awhile at least.
I really hope you liked this chapter! I loved writing it! I'm hoping that I can get the next chapter up quick. Well, if no more `disasters' occur anyway! Anyway...I hope you liked it! Thanks for reading! PLEASE REVIEW! :)
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