Jane finished packing her trunk and decided it was time to go invite Harry to dinner. "I'll be back in a little while mum. I am going to ask Harry if he wants to join us for dinner."
"Okay dear."
"What time should I tell him dinner is?"
"How about 6; that should be enough time for dinner and for him to be gone by 10 right?"
"Yes I think so. I will be back soon to help you make dinner."
"Take your time dear. There is no hurry, just be back by 5:30."
"I think I can handle that, it won't take me an hour and a half to invite him to dinner."
"I know dear, but you never know what will happen when you get there."
Jane laughed. "I'll be back soon mum." Jane kissed her mum on the check and walked out the door.
After several minutes Jane arrived at Harry's aunt and uncle's house. She took a deep breath and knocked.
"BOY! Get the door!ââ"ŠÂ Harry's uncle yelled.
No response from Harry.
"BOY! I said get the door!" his uncle yelled again.
Still no response from Harry. Soon there was some movement from behind the door and a large man yanked the door open. "What do you want?"
Jane jumped back a few inches. "I am sorry to disturb you sir. I was just wonderful if Harry was here?"
"You better not be on of his freaky friends from school!"
`Freaky friends? What a horrible man!' he though. "Oh no Sir. I met Harry at the park a few weeks ago. I just wanted to talk to him for a few minutes. I would have called but I don't have the number here."
"Well I don't know if he is here. If he is you would find him upstairs in his room." Harry's uncle said pointing the stairs. "His room is on the right, the room with all the locks. Maybe he will answer his door."
Jane nodded "Thank you Sir. I won't be to long." Harry's uncle mumbled something under his breath and returned to where ever he was before. Jane made her way up the sitars. She stopped in front of the door that had about 10 different locks and a small doggie door on the bottom. Jane shook her head from side to side. `What horrible people! Harry doesn't belong here' she thought as she raises her hand to knock on the door. "Harry?"
"Come in" he said.
Jane slowly opened the door and entered the door just to see Harry untie a letter from a small gray owl. "Hi Harry."
Harry turned around with huge smile on his face. "Jane! What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"Your uncle let me in. He called for you to answer the door but I guess you didn't hear him."
" Oh yes. I was reading and I guess I didn't hear him. I hope he didn't say anything to horrible to you."
" It wasn't too bad." Jane began looking around Harry's small room. There wasn't much there, a bed, a desk, and a small closet. Harry's trunk for school was on the foot of his bed. :Why is everything packed?'she thought
Harry walked over to Jane "m sorry. I wish I heard you knocking. He's a horrible person and hates anyone or thing that has to do with me."
Jane began to feel uncomfortable with how close Harry was standing to her and she took a small step back. "It's okay Harry.
Harry smiled `look at her, she's nervous. Merlin she's beautiful!' he thought.
"Harry are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah never better actually. So what bring you hear?" Harry said and she sat down on his bed and patted the spot next to him.
Jane's eyes grew wide. "N-no I think I will stand."
"Suit your self."Harry smiled
"I just found out that I am leaving later tonight and my mum and I wanted to know if you would like to join us for dinner?"
Harry's smiled grew wider. "I would love to! Could you give me a few minute to change and reply to a letter? Then we can go"
"Oh you want to come over now?"
"Well sure! If you don't mind."
" No not at all. I'll wait out in the hall for you."
"No. I don't want you left alone with my aunt, uncle and cousin here. Who knows what they would say to you. You will just have to turn your back when I change."
Jane blushed. "Umm okay."
Harry got off his bed and walked over to his desk and picked up the letter he just received from Lupin and read it. He smiled `This is to perfect' he thought `For once everything is going just right for me.'Harry grabbed and piece of parchment and wrote a fast note to Lupin, sealed it and walked over to Hedwig and whispered "Take this to Lupin as soon as I leave and stay there. I will see you soon."
The owl cooed.
"That's a beautiful owl."
"Oh thanks. I got her for my eleventh birthday. My first real birthday present that I can remember."
"What's his name?"
"Her name is Hedwig"
"Oh, may I pet her?"
"Sure, just don't turn around until I say so. I want to change."
"Okay." Jane walked over the owl and began petting her head. `I can't believe I am in Harry's room. I can't believe how small it is. These horrible people!'Jane sighed at her thoughts.'It's not fair; he doesn't deserve to be treated this way.' Jane's thought were interrupted by a small tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Harry smiling at her.
"Well you clean up nice." Jane said "Real nice. It'sunnatural for someone to look that
good"
"Thank you. Shall we?"
Jane nodded her head and followed Harry out of his room and out of the house. They began walking towards Jane house in silence, until Jane spoke
"Harry are you planning on leaving early too?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Well your room, well. humm.. It just seams like you don't leave anything out. All your things were in your
trunk, except a few books and your owl. It's just odd I guess."
"Yeah I guess it is. My uncle doesn't like me to leave my things out. So it's just easier to have everything put away. And there is always the hope that I will get to leave early. So I have my stuff already packed. Sounds kind of silly huh?"
"No its not. I've seen who you have to live with. I think I would do the same thing" Jane and Harry walked in silence until they got to Jane's house.
"Here we are" Jane said as she opened the door "Mum! we're here!"
I'm in the kitchen dear!"her mum said
Jane smiled at Harry and grabbed his arm "Come on! You can't stay on the front porch forever!"
Harry became very nervous at the thought of meeting her mum, even if he has met her before. But he smiled anyways."I know."
`I think he's nervous how cute!' Jane thought as she pulled Harry thought the hallway to the kitchen.
" Mum. I would like you to meet Harry." Her mum turned around from the stove and smiled.
"It's nice to meet you Harry, Jane talks about you all the time." Jane blushed at her mum's comment.
It's nice to meet you too Mrs. err umm, I don't know your last name."
Its okay Harry, Its West, but you call me Elizabeth." She smiled and looked at her daughter and the boy standing in her kitchen.
"Oh, all right. Thank you for inviting me Mrs. We.. I mean Elizabeth."
" Oh it's the least I can do. Why don't you and Jane go sit outside in the garden, dinner won't be ready for another 30 minutes or so."
" Mum I want to help you!"
" Don't be silly Jane. Go entertain your guest. I will call when dinner is almost ready." She smiled at her daughter.
" All right mum." Jane said "Come on Harry lets go out side." Harry smiled and followed Jane
outside and sat next to her on the bench swing.
"This is a great house."
"Yes it is. My parent's friends let us use it for awhile. It was very nice of them."
" Yes it was. Will your dad be here for dinner as well?"
"Oh no, he isn't here. He couldn't get away from the office this summer. So it is just me and mum."
Harry let out a sigh of relief hoping Jane didn't notice it. "You must miss him."
" I do. But I will see him at Christmas, if I go home."
" That must be nice, to go home for holidays."
" It is, but I don't go home every holiday. I like to stay at school on most actually, it just depends on what is going on at school."
" It must be nice to have an option. I've been at school for the holidays since I was eleven, but last year.
Jane smiled. `Maybe you won't have to this year.' she thought as an idea formed in her mind. "Maybe you
can go stay with Ron's family this year. They are your new guardians right?"
"That's true." Harry smiled back and turned to look at her. `She so beautiful. I just want to hold her in my arm forever.' He though with a sigh `It is time to tell her. Why am I so nervous? It's just Hermione, the woman I love.'
" Jane I umm.. I need to tell you something, but I am not sure how to"
Jane turned to look at him. `He looks terrified' " What is it Harry?"
Harry took a deep breath "Jane I um....."Harry got up from his seat and began to pace back and forth in front of Jane. " Jane......"
"Harry are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just got something to say. I never thought I would have a problem talking to you. I never have before, but know I just can't get the words out."
" Harry, what are you talking about?"
"I know..... Hermione."
Hermione gasped and tears began to form in her eyes. She was speechless. `oh god here it comes, he's going to turn around and leave me all alone'
Harry looked over at Hermione and his heart broke. "Don't cry, please don't cry." Harry said as he walked back over to her. "Why are you crying. There is nothing to be upset about."
"Yes there is! I've been lying to you for almost a month! I'm sure you hate me for that! I should have never agreed to do this!"
" Hate you? You thought I would hate you? I could never."
Hermione looked up at Harry. "Your not?"
" Of course not. If anything I am happy."
" How can you be happy?"
Harry smiled and sat down next to her. "You remember that first night we met in the park?" Hermione nodded her head. " When you walked up to me that night I was doing what I usually do at night, think about the good stuff in my life to keep my mind off the bad. That was the first night I thought of you and just you. I was confused about why I was but I liked how it made me feel. So I kept on thinking about you. I thought about you, and how happy I was when you were around, how everything seamed to be better with you by my side, how whenever I enter the common room or the great hall, or when I am playing Quidditch I always look for you and immediately feel better and how I want to be a better person for you. I care so much for you Hermione, I didn't think it would ever be possible for me to feel this way about someone but it is"
Harry stopped and looked down at Hermione who was letting silent tear fall down her face. Harry's heart sank `She doesn't feel the same about me. I am such an idiot!' he thought and let out a deep breath.
Large tears began falling from her eyes.
"Please don't cry." Harry said as he wiped a few tears from her checks. I can't stand it when you cry. It breaks my heart" Harry wiped away more tears and wrapped his arms around her and drew her into his chest. "I didn't mean to upset you 'Mione, I am sorry. I'll take it all back if it will make you happy"
"I'm not upset Harry. You've just made me the happiest woman alive. I care so much about you too. I didn't want to at first. I thought it was just a silly crush and it would go away, but it did. I pushed them away for so long, until one day they wouldn't go away. I was scared of how strong my feelings for you were, I've wanted to tell you for so long but I was as scared to. I never thought you would feel the same way." Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry's waist.
" How long have you wanted to tell me?"
Hermione began to blush. "This is so embarrassing!"
"Its okay :Mione, you don't have to tell me."
Hermione smiled " No I will tell you. Just one question first since when did I become :Mione?"
" Since today, unless you don't like it. I know you can get kind of upset when people don't use your whole name."
" No I like it, but only you can get away with it"she smiled "Like I said I had feelings for you for a long time but didn't accept them until later on. That later was after the second task in the tri-wizard tournament."
" That long. Mione I am so sorry! Last year must have been horrible for you when I kept on asking about Cho. I am so sorry."
" It was hard for me, but its okay really. She doesn't matter anymore right?"
" She never meant anything to me, it always was you and always will be. But before we get to far into this I'm afraid there are something I need to tell you."
" Same with me, but lets not worry about it yet. Let's wait until we get to headquarters."
" That will work. What I have to say had to be said to several people and I would rather do it once. But there is one thing we should talk about now." Harry tightened his grip around Hermione. "Being with me isn't going to be safe. You are already in danger because you are not a pure-blood, but now if we are going to be together you are even in more danger, and so are your parents. I've talked to Lupin about this and he agrees that it might be safer if your parents stayed at headquarters for awhile. That is if your parents are willing to take off of work for awhile."
"I have already talked to them and we will be joining you in a few days we have to get a few things straightened out at the office first." Hermione mum said walking out to the garden. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you guys, but dinner is ready."
" When did you talk to everyone?" Hermione asked
" This afternoon when you were over at Harry's. It seams Harry has had a very busy day."
Hermione turned to Harry and smiled. "Thank you Harry."
" It was nothing Mione. But I don't think it would be safe for you and Mr. Granger to not be without protection. You all are a prime target now that Hermione and are no longer just friends if I am correct." Harry said looking over at a smiling Hermione.
" You are correct" she said.
Hermione mum smiled "That is just what Lupin said. He is sending people named Bill and Charlie to make sure we are
safe"
"And you will be. Bill and Charlie are Ron's older brothers." Hermione informed her mum. " And don't worry, they are nothing like Ron!"
All three of them laughed "Come on dinners getting cold" Hermione's mum said and turned back inside.
Harry and Hermione got up from the bench swing. "It's going to be okay Mione. Bill and Charlie will make sure your parents are safe."
" I know they will. Let's just forget about it for now and have a nice dinner." Harry nodded and wrapped his arm around her waist and they made there way into the house for dinner.
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