Interludes

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling (lucky girl), various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books and Scholastic Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made (isn’t it bad?) and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author notes: I have edited and reposted this story.

As the title implies these are just but moments between Harry and Hermione. So please don’t go looking for other characters, ok Ron at times pops out.

Title : Interludes

Chapter 1 - Dreams

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A loud bang awakened Hermione from her short nap. She raised her head from all the scattered parchments in front of her. She turned and saw Ron march to her little nook at the Gryffindor common room.

“Where’s Harry?” she asked, still trying to find her bearings. She checked her watch and it is way past midnight.

Ron slumped on the seat opposite hers. “I don’t know. Why?”

“After I got back from my rounds, I waited for you guys here. I know you had your Quidditch practice, but I haven’t seen Harry since. Where have you been?” Hermione ranted.

“You haven’t answered my question, yet. Why are you looking for him?” Ron asked again.

Hermione shrugged, “Oh, I was just worried you know. These days, it makes me nervous whenever Harry is alone by himself.”

“Hermione, Harry can take care of himself. He’s the Head Boy, he can roam around the castle whenever he like.” Ron eyed her and grinned, “He might be meeting some girl at the Astronomy Tower, for all we know.”

Hermione’s eyes furrowed and glared at Ron upon hearing this little detail. “How could you?” she blurted. “We all know that he and Ginny just broke up. He’s not like you, Ron. Gallivanting around the moment we ended our relationship,” she added in a soft voice.

“Yeah, he’s not me. Yada-yada-yada –”, he stood up and headed for the boys’ dormitories. “Go to bed Hermione. You don’t have to wait for him you know.” Ron turned and went up the stairs leaving Hermione alone.

She put on her robes and walked towards the portrait. “Going out again?” the fat lady asked. “It’s already very late.”

Hermione looked back and with a small frown and answered, “I’ll just go look for Harry. He hasn’t turned up yet.”

“Oh, him!” the fat lady said. “Why do you always worry about him? You’re not his mother, I hope you notice that.”

“Of course, I’m not!” Hermione finally left, thinking that she has wasted quite a few precious minutes. She checked the grounds and found no one lurking about. She checked the library too, though she knew Harry would never spend long periods in there alone.

When she couldn’t find him anywhere else, Hermione lastly regarded Ron’s suggestion that Harry might be at the Astronomy Tower. With a heavy heart, she trod the halls on to the tower.

Please, please, don’t let me find him there with another girl.

When Hermione came at the foot of the stairs, she took a deep breath before she began her ascent silently.

No sounds, no one is talking. Oh, please, I do hope they’re not snogging.

Hermione landed her feet at the tower floor softly, and breathe freely when she saw the lone figure of her best friend sitting against the wall staring at the stars above.

“Revising for your Astronomy exams?” she finally uttered, afraid to intrude on Harry’s time with himself.

Harry turned his head to find the source of the interfering question, though he knew very well who it might be. He smiled and motioned for Hermione to join him in the little corner he’d been occupying for almost three hours.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. “It’s almost one in the morning.”

“I was about to ask you the same,” Hermione replied as she sat on the cold floor beside him.

“You answer me first,” he turned to her searching her eyes. She looks so beautiful by the moonlight.

“I, er, I was looking for you,” she blundered avoiding his gaze. “You know how dangerous these times are for you. I know that you can protect yourself better than Ron and I combined. But still – never mind that, at least for now I know you’re perfectly safe.” Why does he stare at me like that?

Harry’s gaze turned to the floor. “You don’t have to worry too much about me. I’ve had enough coddling from Molly.”

“I’m not – oh, Harry I’m not mothering you or something,” she said and hooked her arms to his. “I simply care about you. ‘Cause, er – you’re my friend.”

“Thanks,” Harry replied but sounding not too happy about it. My friend, just my friend? Hermione please, don’t cling to me like that, I can’t breathe. “I did not tell you about the prophesy so I could have your unwavering compassion, Hermione” he turned back again to fix his eyes on at her.

“I know that,” she said, never taking her hands off his. This feels good, so right. “I don’t need some prophesy to start caring for you. And stop wallowing!” She gave Harry a slight slap on his arms. “Why didn’t you tell Ron about it? Why only me? It’s kind of hard to keep things from him, you know. He’s really sometimes slow on the uptake, so it really helps.”

Harry laughed upon hearing this. He fell in deep thought, “Why? I don’t know why. I just can’t keep it all to myself, I – I just have to tell someone. I felt like – like you’re the best person to share it with. And maybe because you’re so dear to me.” He added as an afterthought.

Hermione tightened her grip on Harry’s left arm, yawned and leaned her head on his shoulders.

“It’s late,” Harry said.

“We can still stay for awhile. I’m not tired yet.” She felt a pang of regret that Harry moved.

“Then what’s that yawn all about?” he asked.

“Just letting out some air,” she answered. But Harry got on his feet and extended his hand to help Hermione get up.

“We still have classes tomorrow. We both need some rest.” Then he led her down the stairs and they went on their way back to the common room.

“You still haven’t given me the reason you’re up there, Harry” Hermione turned to him as they walked along the dark hallways. “Were you with someone? Did I just miss her?”

Harry tried so hard not to smile because he could tell that there’s a slight tone of jealousy on her voice. “Oh, so you thought I was snogging someone up there. Hoping to dock some points are you?”

“I – er, - well good for her that I didn’t caught you two. Because though she’s with you, I wouldn’t spare her detentions.” Hermione’s voice trembled. She quickened her pace that Harry has to double up to catch up with her.

“Well, I can assure you that no girl will ever get detentions from you for kissing me,” Harry said. “And why would you care if I’m with someone?” he added teasingly. Oh, this is going great.

After giving the password to the fat lady, Hermione turned to him to change the subject, “You’ve done your Potions essay?”

“Yes, you can read it tomorrow,” he answered back disappointed that Hermione didn’t take the bait. And they each went up the stairs leading to their own dormitories. Harry turned to give one last look at Hermione but she was gone.

******

Harry woke up with a smile on his face. Even Ron noticed it when he couldn’t remove that smirk as they changed for breakfast.

“Why so cheery today?” Ron asked. “Got some action last night? Hermione’s been looking for you, you know.”

Harry’s grin was suddenly gone. “I’m not like you, Ron. I don’t go missing because I’m busy frolicking with some girl in an empty broom closet.”

“No need to remind me of that. I already had a telling off from Hermione last night,” Ron said spitefully. “You both have been biting my head off these past few days. I’ve had enough of you two nit-picking my dalliances.”

“I’m sorry mate,” Harry apologized.

Hermione was already in the Great Hall and had been waiting for them. She beamed as her two friends approach their favorite place at the Gryffindor table. Harry sat to her right and gave her a flitting smile before attacking the breakfast in front of them.

Nothing eventful happened through out the day. Harry rushed to his private lessons with Professor Dumbledore after his classes. Hermione, as usual, went to the library to do some more research and faced her Head Girl duties.

They met up later at the Gryffindor common room finishing their homework amidst all the raucous games some first years were doing. Hermione even had to shushed them more than a couple of times. Tired from the exhaustive lesson Harry just had with Dumbledore, he excused himself to get to bed earlier than he normally used to. Hermione did the same after another hour of revising.

Again Hermione was aroused from her dreaming. It wasn’t really bad but she had a strange feeling that something wrong happened to Harry. She put on her dressing gown and went out of the girls’ dormitory, then rushed down to the common room where she heard some sounds.

“Harry?” she said, her breath racing. “What happened?”

She sat on the armchair beside him. He looked agitated and she can see the beads of sweat on his forehead. She ran her fingers through his wet hair, “You’re shaking. Please tell me, what’s wrong?”

Harry suddenly hugged her tightly and she saw the fear in his eyes. “It was nothing – just some crazy nightmare.” He loosened his grip on her, touched her face, as if checking that she was there for real. “You’re all right – nothing happened.” And he wrapped his arms around her again, tightly clinging.

“What was it about? I thought you have mastered Occlumency,” Hermione asked again and she looked so troubled by the fact that Harry is having nightmares again.

“I have. It’s not Voldemort getting into my head. Just my deepest fears’ manifestation, I guess.” Harry ran his fingers through his hair to shake off the wetness.

“Dementors?”

“No. Let’s forget about it.” He looked at Hermione and saw that she was also quite disheveled having got up from bed.

“Was I that loud that I woke you up?” he asked her.

She shook her head and raised her hands to tame her bushy hair. “No, I was also having a bad dream.” Hermione stood up and said, “Are you okay now? I’ll – I’ll go back to bed.”

“Yes, you can go – ” he said softly. “I can’t sleep now, might try to go up to the Astronomy Tower again.”

“Wait for me.” Hermione rushed back to the girls’ dormitory and before Harry could protest was out of his sight.

She has put on a jumper over her night dress when she arrived at the bottom of the stairs. “It’s cold outside,” she said after seeing Harry’s questioning look.

“You don’t have to go with me,” Harry said.

“Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep anyway. Come on,” she replied and grabbed his hand as they stepped out.

Harry looked around the corners ensuring that no one can see them. “This is crazy, Harry. We’re the Head Girl and Boy we’re allowed to stay up.”

“But don’t you think this is way too late for doing our rounds?”

“I totally agree,” she chuckled.

“Shhh!” he tried to silence Hermione. “Come on, hurry up.” They raced up to the tower and their indistinct footsteps where heard no more.

They sat together at the place they had occupied the previous night, and gazed upon the stars above.

“Do you think the centaurs’ star readings are true?” Harry asked her. He felt her shift, “I know how you feel about Divination, but just bear with me for a moment.”

“Remember what I told you the first time I met Firenze at the forbidden forest?” Harry went on. “They have read what is to come in the movements of the planets. I was about to face Voldemort that time, but Firenze took me and whisked me away, Bane was furious because he believed that Firenze was interfering. Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me, because it was written in the stars. Maybe the stars weren’t referring to that time, but soon it will come.”

“Harry, I also remember the other thing Firenze told you, that the planets have been read wrongly before and that even centaurs' knowledge was not foolproof,” Hermione said to comfort him. “Yes, you’ll meet Voldemort again but he won’t kill you, I know. Well, Trelawney said that you have the power to vanquish him, and I truly believe that you will.”

Harry sniggered, “So now you believe that old fraud, huh?”

“For you, I’ll believe her” she replied softly. Harry stared at her the longest and she turned to escape those piercing eyes. “So, tell me what can you read from these stars tonight?”

Hermione gazed at the stars trying so hard not to catch Harry’s eyes peering at her. She saw Venus shining brightly and heard Harry uttered, “Venus is looking down at you. It means love is on the way.” Though she was not looking, she could feel that Harry never took his eyes off her. Stop boring your eyes into me like that. Please, please, please, I can’t take this.

“You sound like some old horoscope!” Hermione slapped Harry’s arm. He winced though she was pretty sure that it didn’t hurt him a bit. “Anyway, why should I trust someone who just made-up those Divination homework predictions.”

“Now really! I understand that some of those that Ron and I have predicted, happened,” Harry said.

“Yeah? Like what?” she asked.

They went on talking until the wee hours of the morning, never minding the coldness. No one noticed that they only went back to bed at daybreak. Only Ron noticed something amiss during breakfast when Harry yawned very wide as he grabbed the sausage in front of him. “You both look like you could use some more sleep,” Ron told Harry and Hermione.

“Sorry, just letting out some air,” Harry said. He and Hermione eyes locked and they shared a grin.

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A/N: If you are reading this for the first time (or the second, it doesn’t matter), please leave a review.

Thanks to Raven for the help in proofreading.

Author notes: Disclaimer can be found at the first chapter.

This is an edited and reposted chapter.

Some lines I took from a very meaningful song the “Warrior is a Child”.

Title : Interludes

Chapter 2 - Need

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Harry, Ron and Hermione were left again alone at the Gryffindor common room finishing their homework. Ron put down his quill and looked exhausted, “I’ve had enough. If you guys what to stay some more, go ahead. My eyes are going to pop out.” He grabbed his parchments and books and went straight to the boys’ dormitories.

Hermione didn’t even bother to look up from her reading. She and Harry are always the last ones left because of the extra Head Boy and Girl responsibilities they have to finish up before they can begin tackling their homework.

She closed her book and surveyed Harry when she no longer heard the sound of scratching quill on parchment. “What?” he asked.

“I was just wondering if we’re – er – you are going up to the Astronomy tower tonight,” she replied.

“So, you’ve been looking forward to our nightly escapades,” Harry teased.

Hermione frowned and grabbed one of her Arithmancy books. “I was just wondering, ‘cause I’m planning to revise my Potions essay.” Prick.

Harry knew perfectly well that she was just bluffing. He saw her revised that essay for the fifth time. “OK, you can come with me, but we’re not going to the Astronomy tower this time,” he said still leering at her.

“Where?” she asked looking all worked up.

“Somewhere special,” he stood up and helped her clean up their mess. “Get your jumper, it’ll be cold.”

She went up hurriedly. Harry waited by the portrait of the fat lady carrying the invisibility cloak for precaution.

“I’m ready. Take me anywhere,” Hermione said almost jumping with glee.

He draped his arms on her shoulder and didn’t hide his mirth for Hermione’s enthusiasm. He led her outside the castle and they took a path they don’t usually thread.

Something hit Hermione as she followed Harry’s lead. She had a strange feeling that she knew where they are going. They had been here before, actually it was just last year, and she could still remember the reason that led them to discover this place. Has he been coming to this place ever since? Oh, that would have been painful.

Harry paused at the familiar part of this hidden cemetery at Hogwarts; he waited for Hermione to step next to him. He conjured a comfortable couch small enough to fit them both, as he knew it would be unpleasant to sit on the grassy knoll this time.

Hermione sat down beside him and faced the mound in front of her. “Do you come here often?” she asked the one thing that’s been bothering her.

“No,” he replied. “You’ve been with me enough to know that I don’t mourn too much over my parents’ death.”

“So why are we here?” Hermione’s sad eyes pierced through his soul so deeply that he almost stopped breathing.

“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “Maybe to introduce you to my parents,” he half-joked; he almost chuckled at the thought but stopped himself. “You – you’ve been here before with me. Sorry.”

Hermione could feel the pain emanating from Harry, something he’s been trying to hold back, braving it out not show to anyone. She didn’t know what it feels like; she still had both of her parents. But from Harry’s eyes, his posture, his words, his actions, she could sense the suffering.

Harry held her hand and said, “Ever since I was a child I’ve been fighting, Hermione. I’m a marked man. I have only come to a greater understanding of it on my fifth year… after Sirius death… upon hearing the prophesy.”

“I’ve been fighting battles, – left and right. People think of me as remarkable, sort of miraculous, that I am strong beyond my years. Even Dumbledore is proud of me, of having the courage to face something so powerful and knowing nothing that could help me defend myself and that I never choose retreat,” Harry continued. Hermione merely listened and waited.

“But – no one, – knows,” his voiced croaked, “no one knows that in the midst of battle, when I know that there was no escape, death is the option I choose.” Harry didn’t notice the tears that started flowing on Hermione’s face as he was blinded by his own. “No one knows I am just hiding all the tears… the fear. That I – I don’t have a home to come running to when I fall down.”

She squeezed his hand to let him carry on. “Maybe people easily forget that this – this boy-who-lived, this champion… their warrior, deep inside is still a child. That I, too, am someone else’s son.”

Harry paused, probably too caught up with all the emotions rushing. “Hermione, –” he looked at her pleading, “you’re the only one I trust who can understand me. You are my rock, the glue that holds me together. You’re on my side when no one seems to listen. You are my voice of reason.”

Hermione’s face cringed in anguish. She couldn’t utter a single word. Her brain had been clouded by his words. She pulled Harry to her and hugged him, so tight as if never letting him go.

“The day is near, Hermione. I can feel it,” Harry whispered to her ear. “Promise me that you’ll stay with me. I need you. I want you beside me. When that fateful day comes, just the thought that you’ll be there for me, though you’re not alongside me in battle, it will help me go on.”

She nodded and smiled, “Harry, I’m here and always will be.” She cupped his face, their foreheads touching, faces drenched in tears. “I promise, I’ll be your hope, your strength and will to keep on. Always remember that I’m with you through all this.”

“Thank you.” And his arms went around her.

“You didn’t have to ask for it, Harry. Even if you didn’t want me to, I will still always be by your side.”

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A/N: Do I need to repeat myself? Yes, please leave a review.

Thanks to Raven for the help in proofreading.

Author notes: Disclaimer can be found at the first chapter.

This is an edited and reposted chapter.

Title : Interludes

Chapter 3 - Innuendo

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It was Hogsmeade day, being the Head Boy and Girl, Harry and Hermione helped round up the students to check who got permission to go out of the school grounds. When everyone had gone on to their trek towards the wizarding town, Ron, Hermione and Harry followed.

“What do you want to visit first?” Ron asked. He was looking at his watch and was walking faster than the other two.

“Ron, if you need to be at some place else, you can go ahead and leave us,” retorted Hermione. “I believe Harry and I can manage without you.” She looked at Harry waiting for his support.

“Yeah go, Ron” Harry said. “We’d rather not have you around than you spending time with us sulking,” he added. Not before long Ron left and walked towards the Three Broomsticks.

Harry turned to Hermione, “So where do you want to go?”

“Do you need to meet someone too?” Hermione asked. One can clearly see her brows burrowed.

“No,” he answered swiftly to appease her, “there isn’t any other place I’d rather be than here with you.” He took her hand and led her towards Dervish and Banges.

A little later he dragged Hermione to Madam Puddifoot’s for some tea; he wanted a little time away from the crowded Three Broomsticks.

“Harry, this place is for dating people,” Hermione said through gritted teeth. She looked around and fairly enough most of the tables are occupied by couples. She’s been here twice, for her first date with Ron and the last one was the weekend before they broke up.

Harry paused and stared at her trying to catch her gaze, but her eyes seemed to be a bit shifty. He grabbed Hermione to keep her still. “So what if we’re not dating?” he asked her. Would it be much better if we were? “We’re still a couple; we wouldn’t feel out of place. It would have been pathetic if you come here alone.” He almost had to push her to sit down by the table near the window.

“Tongues are going to wag about this,” Hermione said looking around and saw that all eyes were on them. She crossed her arms across her chest and glared back at the other students.

Harry laughed at seeing Hermione being so annoyed. “Come on, aren’t you already used to us being on the news?”

Madam Puddifoot made her way towards their table, “What would you like to have my dears?”

They gave their orders and as Madam Puddifoot backed away, he looked at Hermione and saw that she’s still pouting. “Where do you think this news will appear this time? Daily Prophet’s front page, or the Witch Weekly?” he said trying to make Hermione feel at ease.

“Or maybe both,” she retorted, but a smile had already began to form on her face which she had been trying to harden. “Okay, you’re right. It’ll be a laugh. Don’t you think us being together is old news?” she asked. “I mean, those Rita Skeeter articles came out three years ago.”

Harry thanked Madam Puddifoot when she placed their tea. “But those were just lame speculations. Now they actually saw us together… alone and at this cozy little teashop to boot.” He didn’t take his eyes off her as his sipped his tea.

“Oh ho ho! I never thought that one day, Harry Potter would be looking for some publicity. Not that you don’t get it very often. You huff and it’s there front page!” Hermione said over her steaming cup.

“I was just wondering,” he looked outside and watched the people passing by while gathering his thoughts, “if ever you dated some famous bloke and news of you two keeps popping up in the news. What would you do?”

He saw Hermione’s mouth gaped open and closed, no words coming out. “Well, you went out with Krum, and he’s a very famous Quidditch player. That was news alright, but still it was in reference to me. You were cheating on me.” Harry smiled at her widely.

Hermione took a deep breath, stared at Harry and finally exhaled. She saw that Harry was just trying to irk her and she’s working so hard not to fall for it. Having a great time Mr. Potter, aren’t you?

“Well, my old friend, I’ll just stick to the adage of ignoring them,” she replied regally tilting up her nose.

“But if they are all true? Last time they were all a bunch of rubbish. You can deny them ‘til eternity and not flinch a bit,” he challenged her.

“Then why bother? Just try not to do something that you’ll regret later,” she flipped the wisps of hair that had been getting on her face and looked again at the small crowd inside the teashop. “You can find ways not to be seen by prying eyes.”

“What are you doing?” Harry asked when he noticed that Hermione lingered on each of the Hogwarts student’s faces. “Trying to get to know them better?”

“If anyone of these kids is going to give an interview, I’ll dock fifty points from their houses,” she replied softly so that only Harry could hear her. Harry laughed and Hermione followed suit.

They ordered another round of tea and enjoyed the afternoon banter. They only left when other couples started trickling out of the shop.

******

Harry, feeling so frustrated, took the Marauder’s map from his trunk. Where in hell could she be? Not in the library, and I’ve looked possibly everywhere. Then he finally found her small dot moving around in an obscure room at the fourth floor. Archives? What the hell does she need in there?

He berated himself under his breath for not going to that section when he began looking for her. Oh Hermione, what are you up to this time?

Hermione jumped in surprise when she heard the door opened so loudly. Old parchments, which she had been carefully scanning, dropped from her hands. “What the bloody hell!” she cried. “Oh! It’s just you. Harry, don’t you dare do that to me again, ever!”

“Why? Were you doing something illegal?” he asked.

“No,” she studied him for awhile. “It’s just that people rarely come here.” She crossed the room and returned the parchments she had been reading and took another set. “Why are you here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be having lessons with the Head Master? I know those lessons are hard, but Professor Dumbledore is not Snape, so you can’t give me some ridiculous reason why you’re skipping class.”

“I –” he was quite taken aback that Hermione beat him by doing the tongue-lashing first. “Professor Dumbledore went to London, he got a message from Lupin. Since I’m free I went looking for you, thought we could do our rounds together.”

Hermione tried to waive off the dust in front of her, “Oh, this is so dusty.”

“What do you expect? These things look like they haven’t been touched for at least thirty years,” Harry pried some the books with his wand. “What are you looking for anyway?”

“Do you think the old bat who owns that teashop at Hogsmeade ever went to Hogwarts?” she asked never taking her eyes off the parchments sprawled in front of her.

Harry didn’t get why she would be interested to know that kind of information. But suddenly he saw a copy of the Daily Prophet peaking under the parchments Hermione are checking. Out of the blue something struck him. “Hermione, what is this all about?” he asked tiredly.

She took the daily paper and shoved it to him and started ranting, “You’re right. Our little camping trip to that cozy little teashop made the front page. It’s not the headline though; bless me, but still its there! Lucky us, no one was brave enough to bring out their cameras or I would be seeing myself drinking tea over and over again.”

Harry read the short article at the bottom of the page.

The Boy-Who-Lived Went Back to His Old Love

Three years ago this same paper reported that our well-loved boy wonder Harry James Potter fell in love with his lady friend Hermione Jane Granger. We were all very happy then that finally the little boy lost has found love. But later on we also learned that Ms. Granger had been cheating on him with an equally famous international Quidditch player Viktor Krum.

Though they have been vehemently trying to deny the rumours that they are dating, no one was dissuaded to believe that the rumours were in fact true. When Mr. Potter started dating an older Hogwarts student, the very pretty Cho Chang, only then did we start to believe that his relationship with Ms. Granger was indeed over.

The buzz of them being back together started to sprout again when they were seen cozying it up at Madam Puddifoot’s teashop in Hogsmeade. The current Head Boy and Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry surprised the patrons when they walked in for a few cups of tea last weekend. The owner, who even served the couple, was quoted saying, “They look cute together. I can fairly see that they are truly in love. I’ve seen Mr. Potter with other girls before, but he doesn’t look as happy as when he was with Ms. Granger.”

“Well?” Hermione asked with her hand on her hips looking at him inquisitively. When Harry didn’t even flinch, she went on, “Haven’t you got anything to say?”

“Huh? I, er – I don’t know what you’re driving at,” he saw Hermione’s brows furrowed, “but, are you really serious about that thing on docking points?” He’s trying so hard to suppress his mirth because of the hilarity of the situation.

“Harry, this is not a laughing matter!” she exclaimed, though she too was fighting back the urge to laugh.

“Yes, it is,” he said. “Look at you all covered in muck, rummaging through all these,” he pointed around the room. “Come on, this is totally pointless. You can’t dock points from a past student, if she really did go here. I’ll help you clean this mess, we’ll have dinner, and then we can do the rounds.”

Harry picked up some of records and helped Hermione put them back where they belong. “I thought you were just going to ignore this kind of news?” Harry raised his eyebrows to Hermione.

She finally shut the last drawer and cleaned herself with a spell. “Well, – ” she waited outside the hall as Harry locked the room, “everything written in there were all falsehood.” I wouldn’t be ranting if they were true, you know. “I mean, before we’re just fourteen year-olds, we didn’t care too much about dating. But now – it’s just different.”

“How different?” he asked.

Hermione did not say a word and simply raised her eyebrows, like exasperated of explaining to someone so obtuse.

“Oh, this will ruin your singleness! You won’t get dates now, will you?” he asked half-teasing.

“I’m not concerned about getting dates,” she snapped. “Nobody has asked me out before this article came about. Maybe it’s you who’s worried with such things.”

They’d been marching towards the Great Hall, speaking louder that they normally do and weaving around other students who had taken their dinner. “I’ve got other things to think of, more important than my stupid love life,” Harry retorted.

“And so do I.”

Harry stopped by the entrance to the Great Hall and said, “They why are you so all worked up with that stupid article from the Daily Prophet?”

Hermione stopped too on his side and turned, catching her breath. “Because they are all untrue and not saying anything about it, is tantamount to – to just condoning it. As the Head Boy and Girl, we wouldn’t be setting a good example now, would we?” She sensed that most of the younger students had stopped eating and were eyeing their little banter.

He simply shrugged and hurried along towards their table. Harry smiled and winked to Hermione and said, “Maybe we can remedy that little mistake, huh?”

“What?” Hermione was totally confused with his answer. What is he driving at? She finally conceded and ate her dinner silently.

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A/N: Again, please leave a review, if you haven’t done so.

Thanks to Raven for the help in proofreading.

Author notes: Disclaimer can be found at the first chapter.

This is an edited and reposted chapter.

Title : Interludes

Chapter 4 - Affirmation

=====================

Hermione finished her part of the castle and was on her way towards the Astronomy tower where she promised to meet Harry. He was done checking the other side of the castle and waited for her at the foot of the stairs.

“Come, let’s get out of here,” he said when she arrived. He took her hand and led her away from the stairs.

She was abashed by the sudden change of plans, “I thought you want to go up there.”

“I do, but someone got there first,” he answered. “Let’s go outside.”

Hermione stopped on her tracks, “Who’s up there anyway, and why didn’t you reprimand them?” When Harry did not answer and got a forlorn look on his face, something dawned on her. “Ron – ” she said, “Ron is up there, am I right?”

Harry shook his head, “No. It’s Anthony Goldstein and that Ravenclaw sixth year he’s been dating for almost two years.” He paused and turned to her, “Ron? What made you think it was Ron that I saw? I thought you’re over him.” His face hardened and he looked the other way so that Hermione couldn’t catch the change.

Hermione continued walking following Harry’s lead. “Harry, Ron and I were history, and it was ages ago. I couldn’t care less whom he dates.”

They walked across the Hogwarts lawn towards the lake. Harry finally stopped when they reached the beech tree at the edge of the lake where usually do their revising on a fine, warm day. He sat down and Hermione did the same.

“Why are you suddenly so silent?” she asked. Harry hasn’t completely heard her; he was so deep in thought looking at the calm water. “Harry is there anything wrong?” she asked again anxious to know what’s bothering him.

“Hermione,” he at last uttered, “do you think there’s someone out there for me?”

She was quite surprised with what he just said. “I thought those kind of things don’t matter to you so much? What was it that you said a couple of nights ago? – ” she tried to remember their conversation at the Great Hall, “you have more important things to think of than your mundane love life. Did I get that right?”

Harry smiled, “I said stupid not mundane.” He looked at her for a second and turned back to the lake. “It was just something that I saw tonight. There’s something in Anthony’s eyes… something different… something in the way he held that girl in his arms, which I can’t seem to fathom.”

“Oh,” Hermione sighed.

“Do you think there’s someone for me?” he asked her again. “Like my mom for my dad. Someone to die for, someone to die with?” Silence was all he got from her, a deafening silence. Harry chuckled, “Did you know that my dad had a huge crush on my mom when they were still on their fifth year?”

“No, who told you that?”

Harry exhaled, “I guess I should tell you now the real reason why I stopped my Occlumency lessons with Snape.” Hermione gaped at him, astonished to learn that he kept something from her. He swallowed and proceeded, “Do you remember that time when they discovered Montague jammed inside the toilet? Fred and George did it when they shoved him at the Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor?” Harry laughed quietly then stopped when Hermione didn’t find any humour in it.

“Malfoy called Snape for help so I was left in his office. I was supposed to go, but I saw this Pensive, with Snape’s thoughts whirling on it. Well, you know, being the curious young lad that I am…”

“Nosy, should be more like it,” Hermione corrected him.

“Okay, nosy it is,” Harry relented and told her how he plunged into Snape’s memory and what he saw. “Those letters ‘L.E.’, it was only later did I understood what they meant. My mom, she had this dark red hair and astonishingly green eyes,” he sighed.

Hermione’s chest fell. The wind blew on her face, but she did not felt its chilliness, her heart was pounding so hard like it’s about to break apart. He just described his dream girl. Harry, why are you doing this to me?

“I – I know a lot of pretty girls who fancy you and would gladly go out with you,” Hermione swallowed hard and bowed her head. “You’re famous in our world; you’re a great guy, with all of the things you’ve done…”

“You’re not talking about fans, are you?” Harry sniggered. “Those girls are just fascinated with what I’ve been through. They would love to unveil the mystery that is Harry Potter. I’ve dated pretty girls,” he added softly.

Hermione, still staring at the grass beneath them, asked, “So what kind of girl are you looking for anyway?” He really just sees me as a friend. All I had was just a fool’s hope.

She didn’t notice that Harry turned and was staring at her. Her beating heart was so loud that she almost did not hear him say, “Oh, just somebody who will accept me for who I truly am. Who accepts my flaws and brings out all the best I can do.” Harry went on never taking off his gaze upon his friend, “Someone I can be comfortable with and be able to cry and laugh with. Knowing what’s ahead of me, I need someone, whom I can trust, with an unwavering loyalty and would be willing to go through the fire with me.”

Hermione felt like there’s something lodged on her throat, “That’s quite hard to find, isn’t it?”

“Well, my dad found my mom here at Hogwarts,” he replied. “I think I have found her here, too.” His eyes were still fixed on her, waiting to meet her gaze.

Her heart sank even lower, her body felt numb, there’s something throbbing on her ears. She felt like she’s going to cry, but tears just can’t seem to flow. But then something touched her hand which she had completely forgotten where she placed. Harry was lacing his fingers with hers. He tilted her chin so she could see his face in front of her. Her eyes, they were beginning to water. No, I can’t, I mustn’t.

“You know, Hermione,” he whispered. “For the intelligent witch that you are, when it comes to your love life, you’re pretty dense.”

“What?”

“I found her, Hermione. She’s that frightened little girl cowering at the toilet when the troll came when I was on my first year. She was the girl on the hospital bed petrified on our second year. She turned back time and helped me rescue Buckbeak and Sirius.” Hermione’s tears now freely flowed on her cheeks yet Harry went on, “She helped me learn all the charms, spells, jinx and hexes I could possibly use for the Triwizard tournament. She fought by my side at that Department of Mysteries fiasco, and scared me to death when she was hit by a curse.”

Harry tried to wipe away her tears but they seem to keeping on falling, though they were mixed with silent chuckles. “I don’t know how to thank you, Hermione… for saving me from an early death, for pulling me out of my madness. Is it enough to promise you that I’ll love you forever?”

“I –” she nodded and finally found her voice, “I’ll accept that.” Hermione then pulled Harry into a tight embrace.

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A/N: Thanks to Raven for the help in proofreading.

Although I have already posted this story as completed, I was thinking of adding more H/Hr moments.

What do you think? Give me ideas and if anything catches my fancy, you might see a new chapter in here. Don’t worry; I’ll give credit to where credit is due.

DISCLAIMER: Like what I said in the first chapter, I don’t own anything and everything in the HP universe.

Author notes: This story actually was already posted as completed, but in some way, I got this nagging feeling that it needs a few more moments.

As mentioned in the first chapter, these are just but moments – like when a door was left ajar for us to have a quick peak into their private lives.

Actually, after finishing Points of View I felt I could use a doze of Pepper-Up Potion, and so here it is…

Read and review.

Title : Interludes

Chapter 5 - Touch

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It had been days since that lovely night they shared beneath the beech tree by the lake. Days which were only spent with stolen glances and knowing smiles; of a slight brush of their arms in Advance Potions; Harry holding Hermione by her elbow and leading her back towards the castle; Hermione rumpling Harry’s already messed up hair before dinner; and of Harry’s hand holding Hermione’s under their desk one time during a class in History of Magic. The small confession and declarations were set aside to face more grave matters.

“All right, stop it!” Ron blurted putting down his quill. The three of them were again the only ones left late at night in the Gryffindor common room working on their homework.

Harry looked up from his parchment and eyed Hermione quizzically.

“What’s the matter, Ron?” she asked.

“Enough of those lingering glances!” he exclaimed.

“What do you mean?” Hermione further asked looking back at Harry.

“Stop playing coy with me,” Ron huffed. “I know something’s going on. I’m not some daft git! A couple of weeks ago, I read that little article in the Daily Prophet…”

“You know damn well that was rubbish!” she interjected. Harry on the other hand, kept to himself and looked forward to how Hermione would deal with this matter.

“Who said I believed that story?” Ron retorted. “I was with you that morning, remember? I know you two were not dating then – ”

“And now – what?”

“You’re together now, aren’t you – Harry?” Ron looked his way and Harry was surprised when the burden was suddenly thrown at him.

“Um…”

“We’re not,” Hermione piped in.

“We’re not?” Harry asked looking at her intensely.

Hermione leaned back and crossed her arms on her chest, raising an eyebrow and said to Harry, “You haven’t kissed me yet.”

“I haven’t?” he asked again in shock.

Ron chuckled heartily and stood up. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to settle this little matter first. For now, I guess I know the answer to the question that’s been bugging the whole school.”

As Ron’s sniggers went with him up to the boys’ dormitory, all that was left was a deafening silence. Harry was staring at Hermione deeply while she gazed back with an equal amount of intensity.

“I can’t believe that… that I haven’t kissed you… for real,” Harry said softly. He lowered his eyes and said with a slight smile, “I must have done it a thousand times in my dreams.”

Hermione loosened up and motioned for him to come over to her side of the table. “Why don’t you come here and sit with me?” she invited him.

He complied and walked over slowly and sat at her side.

“So you’ve dreamt of kissing me?” she asked slyly. “A hundred times, oh no – you said a thousand…”

“At least a thousand,” he corrected.

She scooted a little more to cut their distance. “Then why didn’t you try to do it for real – when you got the chance?” she asked smiling mischievously.

Harry swallowed a large lump lodged in his throat and admitted, “In case you didn’t know, I – I haven’t actually kissed a girl before.”

Hermione rolled her eyes knowing it wasn’t all true. Harry corrected himself, “I’ve been kissed, yes. But… you know, I… I haven’t initiated one.”

“So why don’t you try it this time?” she said sighing.

“You mean here?”

“Why not? No one’s around – just you and me,” she replied, turning her face towards him, waiting.

Harry exhaled and nodded, “All right, let’s… let’s try it this time.”

He gazed into her eyes and for what seemed like an eternity, he hadn’t moved at all. Hermione slightly moved her head, which woke Harry up from his trance and started to lean in closer to her, slowly. His lips brushed softly to hers, lips nipping, exploring. Harry placed a hand at the back of her neck, gently tangling his fingers in her hair, pulling Hermione closer. Their kiss further deepened that she moaned into his mouth, her hands running up and down his back. They were both breathless when their lips parted.

“That was… that was…” Hermione stuttered. “How was it compared to your dreams?”

“Just about the same,” Harry said mischievously.

“What?” she said looking all perplexed.

“Only sweeter,” he added. “And something that I can’t get enough of.” He captured her again for another kiss.

*********

“Just as I thought,” Hermione sighed after seeing Harry all alone at the top of the Astronomy tower after her nightly rounds.

Harry didn’t move an inch so Hermione wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheeks on his back. “Waiting for someone?” she asked softly.

He did not answer but instead turned and leaned in closer to brush his lips to hers. Hermione swooned in the tenderness of the deep kiss.

“I miss you,” he whispered when their lips unlocked.

Hermione’s brows furrowed and she said, “Where you expecting someone else?”

Harry pulled back a bit and studied her face by the moonlight. “Oh, you’re the Head Girl… I’m sorry… must have,” he said stammering with a slight devious glint in his eyes.

“Harry James Potter!” she exclaimed. “You’re not… you wouldn’t… were you?” She then pinched his left arm, which made Harry squirmed in pain.

“Ouch! Ouch! That hurt!”

“So, were you?” she asked heatedly.

“Of course not!” he snapped back. “Would you be true to your word that you’ll send anyone you caught kissing me up here to detention?” he asked teasingly.

“You knew me well enough that I do keep my word,” she replied. “More so, if you did it here in our secret place,” she added.

“Even if it was you?” Harry snickered.

“Uh-huh… even with me,” she quipped, taking his arms and wrapped them around her small waist. “I’ll send you to detention for three straight nights because you don’t kiss me often enough,” she said.

“And what kind of detention would that be, pray tell?” he asked.

“Oh, just three nights of you and me in some secluded place,” she shrugged.

A silly grin spread across Harry’s face and he said, “So when do we start?”

Hermione untangled herself from him and tugged him towards the stairs. “That’s not going to happen soon, Potter,” she said. “You still have more pressing matters to face – like someone who fashioned himself a name called Voldemort. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”

“Oh bugger!” he growled and followed her lead back to the Gryffindor tower.

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A/N : I was thinking of adding more H/Hr moments, what do you think? Give me ideas and if anything catches my fancy, you might see a new chapter in here and you’ll get to see your name on it.

I do suck at writing kissing scenes, don’t I?

Thanks to my ever accommodating beta AustenLover and Raven.