Disclaimer: Like always JK owns the world, except this plot which my sorry excuse for an imagination concocted. Don't ask where this came from because I have no one damn clue. I mean it I really don't so don't ask. I don't know how long this will be... Maybe just a ficlet. about 2-4 chapters. Haven't decided yet.
Please review and enjoy! ~Pheniox_Girl
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In the summer following my seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizarding I realized something. Something that everyone realizes at some point in their life and changes it forever. I was in love.
And his name is Harry James Potter.
Mine is Hermione, and this is my story.
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It was a summer day like any other at Hogwarts. Ron, Harry and I were at the edge of the lake underneath the tree that had come to be known as "the Trio's Tree" because on most days that the weather was good we could be found underneath it's shady limbs. We had finished our NEWTs just an hour before and were enjoying the freedom of knowing we were done. Done with the NEWTs, and done with Hogwarts. As much as we loved Hogwarts and it had become our home, probably more for Harry then us, we were happy to leave. We all had our reasons. Mine was to get to spend some quality time with my parents, Ron's was to get to start his life with his girlfriend Luna and Harry's...
Harry's was the selfless one, a reason that when I thought about it made me feel like a horrible person, but this is Harry we're talking about. Harry was glad to know he was no longer endangering an entire population of students just by being there and that he could really start training for the final battle. A battle he had long ago decided he was going to kill Voldemort in, even if he had to die along with him. Everyday he was at Hogwarts was another day that 400 children were at danger, and another day Voldemort got to live. Harry often made the comment that "I hope he's counting the days, cause this is one day less I'm here and he gets to live". I would playfully hit his arm and laugh, and he would smile. But our eyes couldn't lie; they showed what we really felt. His showed fear, as I'm sure mine did. His was a fear that he wouldn't be able to kill Voldemort, damning the entire world to his rule. Mine was that he would die. I didn't care if Voldemort lived, I was to worried that Harry would die, leaving my life forever...
"-ione? Hermione? Hermione!" Ron said.
"What?" I said startled out of my thoughts.
"I'm gonna go. I told Luna I would spend the afternoon with her." I smiled. Ron had changed since he had started dating Luna in our sixth year. He realized many things. One was tact. Because of these changes our relationship had changed for the better. Also the fact that Harry had so much going on in his life, I think we both realized he didn't need the stress of two bickering best friends.
"Alright. Have fun, say hi to her for me to."
"Ok, bye" Ron got up and made his way to the castle as fast as his legs would carry him.
"That boy is whipped." Harry said, laughing at Ron's running form.
"No, he just knows how to take care of a girl" Harry looked at me and we both cracked up. "Ok, your right. He is." This made us laugh even more. It was nice seeing Harry laugh, it was something he rarely did anymore. Who could blame him though? He had the weight of the whole world on his shoulder. Literally.
We eventually stopped laughing and he motioned for me to move my hands which were resting in my lap. So I did, and like he had done on many occasions in the past year, he rested his head in my lap. This was usually something he did when we were alone and he wanted to talk. I ran my hands through his hair and he closed his eyes letting the sun warm his face.So we sat for awhile. Me sitting with my back against the tree and his head in my lap. Eventually I stopped and he opened his eyes looking up at me.
"Don't stop Mione" I smiled at the nickname only he used now, but gave him a questioning look. He just closed his eyes again, so I continued to run my hands through his hair.
"Harry, I never asked you what you were going to do when we got off the train..." I let the sentence run off not knowing what kind of mood it would put him in. Letting sentences run off with him gave him the option to answer. Asking straight out would put him on the defensive if it was a question he didn't like.
"Hadn't really thought, or decide I guess is a better word. Dumbledore said I could stay here if I like, it's far way from Muggles so training wouldn't be an issue. I could go back to Privet drive. Aunt Petunia said I'm welcome as long as I like...." He let it drift off. I knew he was torn between whether or not to go back to the Dursley's. After fifth year his Aunt had opened up more. Even though his magic still scared her, and Vernon and Dudley hated him, he had begun a relationship with her and found she wasn't that bad. I was taken out of these thoughts at the sound of his voice again.
"-go to Grimmauld Place. Though I don't know if I want to go back yet. Last summer was Hell there, but at the time I didn't have a choice. But putting my self through that by choice? I don't know..."
I just looked at him debating whether I should ask him. My parents and I were going on a week trip to France. It was a graduation gift and they had asked if I would like to bring someone. I had said probably not, but they had suggested Harry. They knew what was happening in my world and thought that it might do him some good. I wasn't sure he would buy it though. What with the whole saving the world thing hanging over his head and all.
"Harry?"
"Mhmm"
"Why don't you came to France with me? Now before you say anything, it's only a week and it would do you some good. I doubt Vol-Voldemort " I still had trouble saying his name "will do anything the week following graduation. And even if he was, the Order would know buy the time we leave and then we could stay. But please say you'll come. You need a change."
By the time I had finished my speech Harry had sat up and was sitting directly in front of me, looking me in the eyes. It was as if he was looking for something in my eyes; the answer to the question written on his face. Though I didn't know what the question was.
"Yes" he said.
"Now Harry. I'm serio- Wait. You'll come?" He smiled and nodded his head really slow as if he didn't I wouldn't understand. I squealed and flung myself at him, my arms going around his neck. Only we lost our balance and he went falling backwards, with me falling on top of him.
I looked down at him and our eyes met. He lifted a hand and brushed a strand of my wild, bushy hair out of my face; caressing my cheek as he did so. I felt a shiver go down my spine as his hand lingered on my cheek and his emerald eyes searched mine, never breaking contact. Our faces slowly moved towards one another till our noses met. Just as our lips were about to meet we heard a voice behind us.