The time had finally come for Colin to give Harry the scrapbook. He was nervous about how Harry might react so he hadn't quite figured out the best place in which to do it. A part of him wanted to do it privately so Harry could just hex him and get it over with if that's what he chose to do. Another part of him longed to do it in front of a lot of people so that Harry would simply thank him and might glance at it quickly and then put it away for another time.
Truth be told, looking at the book now, he looked like a stalker. He'd honestly never thought about it before. He'd been so enamored by Harry, and wanted so much to give him something he could treasure, that the thought that it could be seen as anything more than a simple gift, had never crossed his mind…until now.
He had Harry's life chronicled in-depth. He even had pictures of Hermione when she scratched up her face during the Quidditch match Harry's third year when he fell off his broom. He had pictures of Ron looking miserable in the common room when they had the falling out during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He had pictures of everyone who had, in some way, touched Harry's life.
After much deliberation he decided the best thing to do was carry it around with him as though it was something that belonged to him; one of his own books. That way, he'd have it ready when the time was right.
He'd been carrying it around for an entire week. They'd be boarding the train in two days and he still hadn't found the courage to just hand it to him.
Colin had gone for a walk late one night and when he returned to the common room he found that, with the exception of Harry and Hermione, the room was empty. Now's my chance, he thought. He took a deep breath and walked toward them. "Hiya, Harry. Hermione," he said jovially.
"Hi Colin," Harry replied, he was smiling at something Hermione had said just before Colin got there and Colin immediately felt as though he'd interrupted something.
Hi Colin," Hermione said, laughing still with Harry. "What's that?" she asked, pointing at the book Colin was carrying.
"Oh, this?" Colin said, looking down at the book. "It's nothing." He set it down on the nearest table and pretended to tie his shoe. He stood up and started toward his dorm, `forgetting' the book in his haste. "Well, goodnight then," he called out to them. He ran quickly up the stairs. He was almost to the top when he heard Harry's voice.
"Colin forgot his book," he said thoughtfully. "I'll just hang on to it and give it to him tomorrow."
Colin quietly crept back down the stairs until he caught sight of Harry holding the book. Hermione was standing next to him. "That's nice of you," she said, yawning and stretching. "I'm sure Colin will appreciate that. It looks like something he wouldn't want to lose." She leaned toward Harry and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to bed now. I'll see in the morning."
Harry placed his hand on her hip and nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to bed too," he said, yawning back at her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Harry," Hermione returned as she made her way toward the steps.
Colin watched as Harry gazed at the book. Obviously Harry's curiosity had gotten the better of him because he opened the cover. Inside Colin had written…
To Harry Potter,
The greatest wizard and all-around nicest guy I know.
Colin Creevey
The note was short but it said all that Colin needed it to say. He didn't want a big deal made out of it. Creating the book had been not only something he wanted to do, but something he felt Harry deserved. Harry had always seemed to be on the receiving end of something bad. Colin felt it was time he was on the receiving end of something good.
Harry walked over to the sofa and sat down heavily with the book. He slowly turned the first page.
Harry Potter: A Chronology
Pictures and quotes from all over.
I hope you enjoy it.
At the top of the first page was a picture of Harry, Ron, and Hermione taken on the first day Colin arrived at Hogwarts. Just below it was a picture of the three of them taken just a week earlier. So many changes. Everything about them seemed different. In the first picture they were all standing together smiling at the camera. In the second picture Harry and Hermione were smiling at each other and Ron was looking off to the side where Colin knew Luna Lovegood had been waiting patiently for him.
Colin watched Harry for a moment longer and then smiled softly before he turned and quietly headed for his dorm.
Harry's fingers gently traced the image he saw of himself and Hermione. The picture Colin had taken of the three of them had, at that time, seemed like such an annoyance. Colin was always taking pictures and Harry remembered thinking that it was one thing he wouldn't miss when he did finally leave Hogwarts for good. Now, as he thumbed quickly through the pages of the scrapbook, he couldn't help but to think that Colin's taking pictures may have been blessing.
He smiled as he looked at the pictures that Colin had laid so painstakingly upon the pages. The writing was neat and every word, while small, was legible. Not one bit of ink had smeared on a page.
He read some of the captions…
Harry being chased by a rogue bludger
Ron and Harry after a row with Hermione about a broomstick
Harry and Hermione after a row with Ron regarding the Tri-Wizard Tournament
Harry seeing Hermione for the first time at the Yule Ball
Harry paused on that picture. The look on his face was a surprise to him. He remembered thinking that she was beautiful that night, but he hadn't realized until now, just how obvious he'd been. He'd had a hard time keeping his eyes off her the entire evening. Even when he thought he should be looking out for Cho, his eyes would seek out Hermione. He'd known where she was throughout the entire evening. At least until he'd gone on a walk with Ron.
He turned to the middle of the book, thinking he'd have plenty of time to go back and look at the rest…it was, apparently, his book, after all.
He gasped when he saw the pictures on the pages before him. He rapidly began to turn page after page until he couldn't take anymore and he sat, silently thinking about the images he'd seen.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice cut through his silent contemplation. "What're you still doing here?" Harry raised his head slowly and looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. She quickly knelt down beside him. "Harry what is it?" she asked anxiously. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"
Harry turned the book toward her, silently inviting her to take a look. She reached for it and pulled it to her knees. She placed her hand in the spot where Harry had left off and then closed the book. "This is Colin's book, isn't it?" she asked. Harry shook his head and opened the front cover for her. She read Colin's dedication to Harry. "Oh my," she said in surprise.
He turned another page for her and she looked at the pictures of her, Harry, and Ron and she chuckled. "What a difference six years makes, huh?" she said, laughing. "Just look at us back then. This is really great, Harry. Colin put this entire book together for you?"
"Yeah," Harry replied, his voice hesitant. Hermione looked at him questioningly. "Go ahead," he told her, pointing at the book. "Take a look."
Hermione smiled and frowned at the same pictures Harry had as she turned the pages. She felt a sharp jolt when she came across the one of Harry and Ron after their fight over the firebolt. That one had been hard. When she came to the one of Harry seeing her for the first time at the Yule Ball her hand went straight to her heart and she stared at it in stunned silence. After a few moments of staring at it she chanced a brief, questioning glance at Harry before she turned back to the book and looked on.
Harry patted the couch next to him. "Come up here, Hermione," he said warmly. "Get comfortable. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night. It's a pretty big book."
Hermione vaguely realized that she'd stood and sat down next to him. She couldn't seem to take her eyes from the pages she saw before her. She sat close to him, their thighs touching, and laid the book down between them, on both their laps. Harry put his arm around her as they settled in to look at the wondrous gift Colin had given.
There were a lot of pictures that had short little captions like where Harry was when the picture was taken, the date, that sort of thing. They skimmed through those quickly. What really caught their attention were the ones that started appearing more and more frequently of the two of them alone. At first, the pictures of just the two of them were things that had happened during their fourth year. Colin had gotten them studying for the Tri-Wizard tasks and practicing summoning charms and endlessly searching through old spell books for anything that would help Harry survive. At first, those pictures were in a series on a page together, like, two or three pictures taken of the same scene just at different intervals.
As they continued through the book though, even the layout changed. There was a page with a picture of her and Harry standing very close together in the doorway of the kitchens. It appeared as though they were on their way out. Below it was a picture of Dobby, his eyes shining brightly. It appeared as though he was standing in the doorway, watching them leave. Her eyes drifted to the caption below it.
"Dobby is seeing Harry Potter and his Miss. Dobby is seeing lots more than Harry Potter, he thinks. Dobby sees Harry Potter smile different and Dobby thinks he sees Harry Potter's Miss smiling different too. Harry Potter does not see Dobby watching. But Dobby is always watching."
Hermione smacked Harry on the arm. "Did you see this?" she asked in disbelief. Harry nodded. "Do you think Colin made that up? Dobby didn't really say that, did he?" Harry shrugged, unable to find a suitable answer to the question. He turned the page for her.
Once again, there was a picture of her and Harry. It looked as though Harry had just approached her. His hand was on her arm and she was smiling at him as if he was the only other person in the world.
Hermione smiled as she looked at it. It really was a nice picture of them.
"Look here," Harry said, pointing to the caption below the picture of a sneering Draco Malfoy.
"Harry Potter, the stupid git. What do I care if he can't see what's right in front of him? Look at them staring at each other like that. Stupid gits, the both of them…and she's supposed to be the brightest witch at Hogwarts? No wonder the wizarding worlds in peril. No one else would have them, might as well have each other…bloody ignorant though they are."
Hermione stared at the picture and read and re-read the caption a few times before she finally looked at Harry. "What do you suppose…"
She left the question open-ended as she looked at the pictures again. "I remember that day," Harry said thoughtfully. "Malfoy was getting on me again about something. We had another row and then I saw you heading toward us and I walked over to meet you. I don't know what the rest is about."
"Oh yeah, I think I remember that. I was wondering what was going on between the two of you. I wonder what made Colin take the picture."
"Who knows," Harry said, laughing. "I don't think he needs much reason really."
Hermione smiled and nodded. "That's true," she replied with a chuckle. "What else is in here?"
They stopped on the picture of the two of them at the Three Broomsticks where it looked as though Harry was holding her hand as they stared into each other's eyes. Hermione turned her head to look at him. "Do you remember that?" she asked, obviously surprised that she couldn't.
Harry shook his head. "I remember going to the Three Broomsticks, but I don't remember holding hands while we were there," Harry replied in the same surprised tone she'd used.
"You don't suppose these are fakes, do you? Like maybe he doctored them or something?"
Harry looked closely at the photo. "I don't know," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "It certainly looks real."
"Hmm…" Hermione muttered as she continued to turn the pages.
Harry put his hand on hers to stop her. "Wait a minute," he said softly. "Go back. I just realized something."
Hermione turned the book back a few pages. "Stop," Harry said quickly, placing his hand on hers again. The picture of the two of them was taken at King's Cross Station. Both Harry and Hermione had arrived early and they were standing outside the platform talking and laughing together. Beneath it was a picture of a woman.
He looked closely at the picture. "Who is that woman?"
Hermione looked at it closely too. "I don't know," she said with a shrug. "I've never seen her before."
"Why would Colin put in a picture of some woman that neither of us knows?" Harry wondered aloud.
"Hang on," Hermione said gently, "let's read it."
"Sure they are young but even the blind man would know that they're in love"
"Who's in love?" Harry asked wonderingly.
Hermione looked at him in surprise. "You don't suppose they think…"
Harry pulled his arm from around her shoulders and moved a couple of inches away from her. Hermione couldn't help but to laugh at the shocked expression on his face. "I don't have cooties, Harry," she said laughing. "You don't have to jump away from me like that. It was only a question…or, an observation, really. I didn't mean anything by it. Come back here."
Harry laughed and moved back to his nice, warm, comfortable position against her. "Sorry about that," he said, feeling embarrassed by his sudden reaction.
Hermione smiled at him. "It's all right," she replied; she was still laughing only now it had a nervous undertone to it. "Just don't do it again!"
Harry put his arm back around her shoulders and laid his head on her shoulder. "Yes, ma'am," he said teasingly. Hermione laid her head against his and they sat that way for a while longer, looking at the pictures.
Finally, Hermione couldn't take anymore. She looked at him and he jerked at the sudden cold from where her head had been. "Harry," she started tentatively, "what do you suppose this means? Do you think Colin could've made this all up? Or, do you think all these people, our friends and strangers and enemies, all really think this about us?"
Harry looked into her eyes and saw the same need for answers that he felt within himself. "I don't know, Hermione," he said quietly. "I've never thought about any of this stuff before. I mean, we're best friends and there's no one I'd rather spend my time with, but this?" he said, pointing toward the book. He shook his head. "I don't know about all this."
Hermione sighed and looked down at the book again. There was so much evidence there. So much proof that there could be more to `Harry and Hermione' than just friendship. But how could they, two of the brightest in the school, not see it when they were right there in the middle of it? Hermione prided herself on her ability to assess situations, to see things that others overlooked, and to realize things others didn't. How something this monumental could have gone right over her head, was beyond imaginable.
"We're smarter than this, Harry," Hermione stated matter-of-factly. "If any of this were true, we'd know it. We wouldn't need a book to tell us."
Harry was staring at her intently. "I thought you could always find the answer in a book, Hermione," he said quietly. "Isn't that what you've always believed?"
"But Harry," she countered, feeling flustered and not at all sure how she felt about any of it. "That would be like saying you believe…" she paused and looked at him in astonishment. "Is that what you're saying? That you…believe this?"
Harry raised his hand to her chin. Holding her firmly he leaned forward and closed his eyes just before he gently, hesitantly brushed his lips against hers. Still holding her chin he backed away. He slowly opened his eyes to see her reaction. Her mouth was open as she stared at him in surprise. "Do that again," she said in a voice just above a whisper.
Harry slid his hand along her cheek to the back of her head and leaned forward as he pulled her toward him. She tilted her head just before their lips touched. After only a couple of seconds he released her head and pulled away. The look in their eyes had changed.
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They couldn't have said that it was in that moment that they realized they were in love, but looking back on the book 10 years later, Hermione couldn't help but to grin. "We celebrate five years next week," she said smiling at her husband affectionately. The book they'd received from Colin had been the best gift that either had ever received and they cherished it above all else they owned.
Harry laughed as he once again recalled Hermione's words that night after they shared that second kiss. "See? I wasn't wrong was I? You really can find all the answers in a book."
Every year, near their anniversary, they got together with Colin for a celebratory/thank you drink and a trip through time. There were never words to describe what the scrapbook meant to them. They'd tried once and Colin had told them that seeing them together and Harry happy had been the only thanks he needed. He told them how he'd always had a great deal of respect for Harry, how he admired the way he seemed to hold himself together no matter what sort of tragedy befell him. He'd merely thought that Harry would want something to remember some of the good times by, as he struggled to get through the bad still left to come.
They'd asked him once why the pictures were flat, unmoving like Muggle pictures. He'd told them that when you look at a wizard photo you tend to be distracted by the movements that you see. When you look at a Muggle photo, you're less likely to miss anything. That's when you know for fact that a picture never lies.
The series of pictures near the end of the book, of the two of them falling asleep on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room, now hung on a wall above their sofa. Every day they looked up at the pictures and smiled.
First there was the two of them studying.
Next they were leaning toward each other to see what the other was doing.
Followed by Hermione moving closer and resting her head on his shoulder
Hermione falling asleep with a smile on her face
Harry smiling at her as he watched her sleep
And finally, Harry leaning his head against hers and falling asleep with a matching smile
Those were their favorites. Looking back on them now, what had been so obvious to everyone else was now plainly clear to them. Colin had been right…
"They're in love. It's written right there in their expressions…and a picture never lies."
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