Tell Her

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: This is a diversion, totally. I know Harry wouldn’t talk to himself with something like that. I hope they are not completely out of character. Would really appreciate to get some reviews, though.

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Come to me.

Feel my love.

Share my joy.

Wipe my tears.

Ravage me in sweet abandon.

Take me, I am yours.

Make me forget that you are not mine.

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She found him alone, again. Hermione Jane Granger approached her famous friend, Harry James Potter, who was sitting at one corner of a very bare Room of Requirement. She stopped when she saw a shallow stone basin engraved with runes and symbols by his side. ‘Is that a Pensieve?’ she thought.

The shadowy room seemed to rattle when his voice echoed, ‘What are you doing here?’ She could barely make out Harry’s face in the darkness.

‘We’ve been looking all over for you,’ she said as she took more tentative steps. ‘Professor McGonagall would like to have a word with you. She’s waiting at the Transfiguration Department.’

Harry stood up and stepped into the pale beam of light provided by a small window. He looked downhearted. ‘Thanks,’ was all he said and left the room.

Hermione’s heart sank and felt deserted. ‘What’s wrong? What have I done?’ she asked herself.

Hermione looked around and pondered why Harry had been sulking in this grim place. ‘Well, he’s been like that lately, anyway,’ she said aloud. She walked further into his little corner and turned towards the Pensieve. Knowing that these things could be quite too personal, she tried not to look. However, curiosity got the better of her. ‘Oh, what the heck! I’ll just take a glance,’ she reasoned.

She made another scan around the room, ensuring that no one saw her peak inside Harry’s memory. She prodded the silvery stuff with the end of her wand, and it began to whirl. Everything became transparent, and she saw Harry sitting on the couch at the Gryffindor common room. Hermione plunged her face into Harry’s thoughts and felt the floor heaved.

Hermione was standing in the middle of the common room. No one was around except for her friend, again mopping. ‘This is doesn’t look like an old memory,’ she said staring at the Harry in front of her. He looked exactly like the one she just talked to awhile ago – if you can call that talk.

‘But why isn’t anyone around?’ she asked herself. ‘This place was always buzzing with people.’ Her questions were answered when she saw the Christmas trimmings by the fireplace. It was the Christmas holidays, and that was only two weeks ago.

Hermione sat on her favourite armchair, facing Harry. He was not doing anything but was just staring at the hearthrug. ‘Why are you doing this to yourself, Harry?’ she asked him knowing that he could not hear her.

‘Harry, do you want to join us?’ a familiar voice asked. Hermione turned and saw herself at the foot of the stairs wearing her least favourite jumper. Ron came down running and almost knocked the memory Hermione down. ‘Sorry,’ he said to her.

Harry raised his forlorn face and replied, ‘You guys go ahead. I’ll stay here for awhile.’

Memory Hermione knelt in front of Harry and asked, ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ She looked at Ron, ‘Do we really have to go? Can we really leave him here alone?’

Ron studied Harry, ‘He could take care of himself. We won’t be long.’

‘But what if – ’ memory Hermione said worriedly.

‘Hey guys, in case you had forgotten, I’m still here,’ Harry snapped. ‘I’ll be all right. You go and do some Christmas shopping. I – I just need some rest.’

Hermione saw her old self get up and stomped her way towards the portrait of the fat lady. She gave Harry one last fleeting look of disappointment before going along with Ron. Harry’s gazed followed his two friends and went back to staring at the rug when he was sure that they were gone.

‘Oh Harry, why did we have to leave you here?’ the present Hermione said touching Harry’s face, but since she was not solid he didn’t felt a thing. ‘I shouldn’t have listened to Ron.’

‘Isn’t she beautiful?’ Harry uttered. Hermione was dumbfounded when he talked back to her. ‘I thought they shouldn’t be able to see me.’

‘Uhm, who?’

‘Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself,’ he said along, but Hermione totally confused looked over her shoulder to check if anyone was there with them. ‘I am Harry James Potter. You probably know me, ‘cause I’m the-bloody-boy-who-lived and I’m sure you know them too,’ Harry said motioning towards the portrait. He sniggered, ‘This is crazy. I’m talking to no one. But maybe this will help a bit.’

Harry straightened himself and took a deep breath, ‘Isn’t she a beauty? She’s not like those pretty girls you’ll see around… with their long and flowing shiny hair… Covered with colours on their faces.’ Hermione’s right hand jerked up to her unruly hair. ‘She’s beautiful inside and out, no doubt about that,’ Harry added.

He sighed, leaned back and had a glazed look. ‘You should have seen her at our Yule Ball, fourth year. I almost didn’t recognize her.’ Hermione smiled widely; finally she got the complement she had been waiting to receive that Christmas night, only it was said three years late. ‘There are some things I wanted to tell her but I just couldn’t find the courage to say them. So much for being a Gryffindor, huh?’

‘Like what?’ Hermione asked, feeling stupid talking to Harry whom she knew couldn’t hear her.

‘Well, I think it’s a little too late now,’ he said. ‘I can see that she’s happy with Ron. Why should I ruin that by interfering?’

Harry stood up and moved to the couch and stretched out. ‘Why is he concerned with my relationship with Ron?’ Hermione pondered.

‘Nevertheless, tell this to her for me, will you? If ever you’ll get to meet her, of course, which I’m pretty sure won’t happen. I want her to know that I love her –’ he said. Hermione’s eyes brightened in shock having heard these words coming from Harry. ‘Tell her – tell her that I’m in love… Never mind that she’s with somebody else. And tell her that she need not worry, ‘cause it’s not like I’m expecting her to ditch Ron for me.’

She walked towards him and knelt beside the couch to watch his face. ‘Tell Hermione that I’m still happy for her even though it hurts me seeing them together. I know I’m not making any sense at all,’ Harry sniggered. ‘I can’t think of an easier way to let her know – so if you ever bumped into her… just tell her.’

Hermione ran her fingers through his untidy black hair. ‘Thanks, Harry. Thanks for letting me find the truth.’

‘Hermione,’ she heard him called her name but the face she was caressing did not moved. ‘Hermione,’ there it was again, and sounded from afar. Turning, she saw the current Harry leaning far against the wall. She immediately stood up and rushed towards him. Fighting all the inhibitions rushing through her brain, Hermione flung herself to Harry. She cupped his face with her hands and pressed her lips to his.

She felt like floating, rising up in the air, and with a swooping feeling, their feet hit the floor at the Room of Requirement. Hermione realized that she had finally found home in her best friend’s arms. Their lips parted and she whispered, ‘I love you, too.’

‘What –’ Harry dumbfounded by Hermione’s actions, blabbered, ‘what about Ron?’

Hermione’s eyes twinkled, ‘We never told you, did we?’ Harry still coming go grips with what just happened merely shook his head. ‘We broke up last week,’ Hermione said impatiently.

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A/N : Thanks to Raven for helping me proofread this one.