NOTE: Those of you waiting for a lighter tune to the story, here's a bit more cheerfulness. Those of you waiting for the nitty-gritty…patience.
Also: I love peanut butter…
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"…and the snake just slithered off out of the zoo." Hermione shook with laughter. Picturing Dudley inside a snake terrarium caused her to practically propel pumpkin juice out of her nose, it was so hysterical.
"I can't believe I've never told you that story before," Harry said, smiling and shaking his head. Hermione wiped at her eyes with her robes and dried the juice off of her chin, still chuckling.
"Me either. Awww, poor Dudders!"
Harry grinned and shoveled another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. Hermione's laughter finally settled and she found herself watching Harry intently as he ate. It was so wonderful to see him smiling and laughing. She couldn't remember another time when they had laughed so hard together.
"What about you, `Mione? Ever make anything strange happen?" Hermione chose that moment to place a huge dollop of peanut butter on her tongue. Harry eyed her suspiciously. "It can't be that bad." He continued to watch her as she struggled with the peanut butter.
"Mmph."
"Cheater. I can't believe you're eating peanut butter straight out of the jar with a spoon!"
Hermione swallowed, "what do you suggest I eat it with?" They both grinned mischievously
"So come on," he put another spoonful of vanilla into his mouth, "spill the beans." Hermione was momentarily infatuated with a dab of vanilla ice cream that clung to Harry's lower lip. She watched transfixed as his tongue darted out to lick it off.
Oh, if only I were that ice cream, she thought.
"Well, not really anything spectacular," she began stammering, "Just little things. I remember I had this pink dress that my mum always insisted I wear. Oh, I hated it! I hated pink…"
"So hard to believe," he laughed.
"Anyway," she continued, ignoring his remark, "One day at school it just suddenly changed color and I came home and my mum was so furious because she thought I'd traded with another girl at school..."
"Did you like Muggle school?"
"Not really, no. I mean, I was good in school, of course-…"
"-Of course!" he blurted.
"Ha ha, very funny. Anyway, I was good in school but I didn't quite fit in. Well, I wouldn't would I? Being a witch and all. I guess they sensed I was different. I never really had any friends."
"Well I guess we had that in common then," Harry quipped.
"Yeah, but I didn't sleep in a cupboard Harry!"
"True, true. We can't all be perfect I guess." Hermione giggled and threw a kitchen towel at him. It felt so wonderful just to chat with Harry and laugh like they didn't have a care in the world. Harry immediately seized the moment to fling a scoop of ice cream in her direction. It landed with a `plop' in her lap. She gawked at him wide-eyed.
"I hope you intend to do my laundry this week!"
"I hope you didn't like that skirt," he snickered, jumping down from the counter on a crash course for the door.
"Oh no you don't," she grabbed him by the back of his shirt collar, scooped the ice cream from her lap, and slapped her hand down atop his head; smearing the ice cream into his already untidy hair. She released him and threw her head back in laugher. Harry whipped around, grabbed the bottle of chocolate topping, squeezed some into his hand, and smeared it across Hermione's face. She straightened up, stopped laughing, and gaped at him. He stood in front of her, chocolate bottle in hand, gripping his side in laugher. He had vanilla ice cream running down his forehead and dripping off of his chin, Hermione had chocolate syrup dangling off of her nose. She could not remember a more beautiful moment in all of her life. Then, touching her fingers to her sticky brown cheek and staring at them for a moment, she leaped off the counter onto him.
"Arrghhh!" he yelled. Hermione began tickling him with all of her might, and just before it seemed Harry would die of laughter, she sprung to her feet and sprinted toward the exit.
"You'll never find me!" she squealed over her shoulder.
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After two hours of fruitlessly searching the castle for Hermione, Harry gave up and headed for Gryffindor tower. He had been here once already to check the common room for his bushy haired friend, but to no avail. He smiled at the thought of her bushy hair, it wasn't really bushy anymore. More curly than anything, long and curly. Long, curly and flowing…
Alright Potter! Get a grip!
He grabbed some pajamas from his trunk and headed for the shower. After he was satisfied that there was no remaining ice cream in his hair, he toweled dry and pulled on his pajamas. He slowly made his way to bed, noting the absence of Ron's snores. When he pulled the curtains back from his four-poster, he let out a small gasp and jumped in surprise. There, curled up atop his blankets and sheets, was one Hermione Granger. Fast asleep. She had obviously cleaned up since their food fight earlier; Harry suspected a cleaning charm, for she was still in her Gryffindor colors.
She must have been hiding here the whole time.
He smiled to himself and clambered onto the bed next to his friend. She mumbled lightly in her sleep and Harry tried not to wake her. He stretched out beside her and pulled a blanket around their shoulders. Kissing her forehead gently, he closed his eyes to sleep…
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Hermione woke suddenly. She felt someone pressed against her back, someone warm.
Mmm…Harry. Harry!!
She sat up hastily and looked around at the boy in bed beside her. He was still sleeping. Good, she thought. She could leave and he wouldn't notice.
"..mphm..peanut butter…"
Peanut butter? What an odd dream. Wait…peanut butter! Merlin, was he dreaming about her?
She felt like running from the dorm in fear. She felt like screaming for joy. But mostly, she just felt comfortable. She couldn't remember a recent night where she had slept so soundly. Lately, horrid dreams about Harry and Voldemort ensnared her mind. But now…this…well, it had helped…whatever it was.
She lay back down, facing Harry, and pulled the blanket back up around them. She couldn't be sure what time it was…but it was obviously still night. She reached her hand out and ran it softly through Harry's raven locks. He looked so peaceful. She almost wanted to cry. What a burden rested on this boy's shoulders! From the moment he was born he was doomed to a life….well, a life that was far from normal.
"Hi there."
Hermione jumped slightly, hastily removing her fingers from Harry's hair.
"Harry, I didn't know you were awake," she whispered.
"Mmmm….I don't wanna…be…" he mumbled between stretches. "Haven't slept that good for quite a while, I'd say. No nightmares at all."
"Harry, you told me you weren't having bad nightmares anymore."
"I lied. C'mere." He stretched his arm out and placed his hand on her waist, pulling her towards him. She snuggled her face into his chest and he rested his chin on top of her head. "You know, this is what I was going to ask you about the other night."
"What's that?"
"Staying with me." His voice was quiet and deep, it sent chills down Hermione's back.
"You mean, like this?" Silence. "Harry?" His breathing was soft and even, Hermione knew he had fallen asleep. It was the first time she had been happy to make someone fall asleep in her presence. She drew him closer and sighed.
Sleep.
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In the morning, when Harry woke, Hermione was gone. He frowned slightly and reached for the glasses on his bedside table. Sitting up, he looked around and rubbed his head. He hadn't felt this rested for months. Not since…not since Sirius. Glancing over at where Hermione had slept, he saw a note on the pillow.
Harry,
Thanks for the good sleep.
I'll see you at breakfast.
Hermione
He could tell that she had scribbled it quickly; her often tidy writing was replaced with messy scrawl. He smiled to himself and climbed out of bed.
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