Hey kids! Here's Chapter 4! Yay!
But it might be a little while before chapter 5 comes out. I know, I know. . . 'WHAT? How can you keep us hanging like this?' These next two weeks are filled with final projects and finals so I might be a little busy. But I promise to spend every free second on the next chapter. Please don't hate me!
I have truly appreciated everyone's comments! I was so afraid that this was really corny and stupid (even though it probably is, thanks for not rubbing it in my face!).
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Dear Diary,
Some nap that was! I had another dream, but this one was much different. Harry and I were talking by the fireplace in the Common Room. The whole time, he is scooting closer and closer to me until there is almost no room between us. He looks into my eyes, caresses my cheek, and kisses me. It's the sweetest kiss in history! After he pulls away, he whispers, "I love you, Hermione." Oh bloody hell! He never said anything like that in any of the other dreams. What does that mean? I know that when I dream of shagging him, I know its just an unfulfilled desire, but what does it mean when the object of my desire actually says "I love you"? I don't know how I'm going to be able to keep my composure tonight. I think I'm going crazy! I definitely need a drink.
They met in the Common Room at six sharp. They were all wearing muggle clothes under their robes. Hermione had spent forty-five minutes trying to decide what to wear and had finally decided on black pants and a flowy pink top that Lavender had leant her ("It'll make Harry drool!") It was something she definitely wouldn't have picked out herself. It was very girly and hugged Hermione's curves perfectly. Ron sported his grungy khakis and a red Quidditch polo. Hermione thought that Harry looked amazing in his jeans and crisp white button-down shirt. Harry was no longer the scrawny eleven year-old boy she'd met seven years ago. Quidditch helped him fill out, but not too much, and had given him toned muscles that were usually hidden under his robes. 'Wow, he looks amazing!'
"Hermione?" His voice broke through her thoughts. She had been staring. She felt her face grow warm and knew she was blushing terribly.
"Wha. . .? Sorry, I just woke up." She lied. "What did you say?"
Harry chuckled. "I said you look really nice tonight." 'Is Harry blushing?' She thought. 'Nah, must be the light from the fireplace.'
Ron stifled a laugh and Hermione gave him a curious look as she said, "Thanks."
"Ready to go?" asked Harry, who was glaring at Ron, and then quickly smiled at Hermione once she caught him doing so.
"More than you know, mate." Ron whooped. And they set off through the halls and down the grand staircase and out the front doors of the castle.
"'Allo there, 'Arry! Ron. 'Ermione." Hagrid waved as they exited the huge doors into the early evening air.
"Hey, Hagrid." The three friends resounded. As they walked down the path towards Hogsmede, they told Hagrid about finals.
Hermione took a deep breath and exhaled. She had a funny feeling that something was going to happen tonight.
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She did look nice tonight. Very nice. 'Snap out of it, Potter! This is Hermione you're checking out. Its like you are noticing she's a woman for the first time in your life. But I can't help it. There's just something different about her tonight.'
They finally reached Hogsmede and sauntered into the Three Broomsticks. They picked a table near the back and ordered their dinners. "I'm buyin' the first round of butterbeers!" Hagrid told the barmaid.
During dinner, they talked about summer plans and career goals. Harry listened intently as Hermione gushed about her plans to work as a Librarian assistant for 2 years while also being trained to take over Professor McGonnagal's position as Transfiguration professor. Minerva was planning on retiring, but everyone knew that she would end up being the next Headmistress. Ron talked about being recruited by England's premier Quidditch team. Then Harry proceeded to tell the others about his plans to begin Auror training.
As the night went on, one or two butterbeers turned into one or two firewhiskeys and then into four or five. Harry's mind was racing and seemed to be in an argument with itself. 'Damn! Hermione really looks good! I love it when she smiles at me like that! She touched my hand! Now she's laughing at my joke. It really wasn't that funny. But I love her laugh. I love the way she throws her head back when she laughs. She's so beautif. . . Stop thinking about her! No! Yes! You're drunk and you don't know what's going on. Bugger off!'
Hagrid had long ago wandered off to talk to some patrons at the bar. Left alone, the conversation turned interesting.
"So, Harry. . .?" Ron slurred, getting a devilish look on his face.
'Oh shit. This cant be good.' Harry thought. "Hmm?"
"When are you going to tell Hermione that you have a crush on her?" Ron asked, breaking out into hysterics.
Harry was speechless. Hermione gasped and then tried to hide her embarrassment by laughing a little. Then she too grew silent. Harry could have sworn that he saw her blush.
"Oh come on, mate! We're all friends here! You make it so obvious! It's not like its Hermione cares. She's got her nose either in a book or that diary so much these days, she probably hasn't even noticed." Ron yelled and broke into another fit of loud laughter.
"Ron, shut up" Harry hissed. He looked over at Hermione. She looked shocked and on the verge of tears. "Don't listen to him, 'Mione. He's just a drunk prat." She wouldn't look him in the eye; she just looked at her lap. That look of joy that was so evident on her face just moments before was suddenly gone. Something in his chest tightened. He hated to see her so upset.
"Hermione. . ." Harry started.
"I have to go." She said quietly. She left without another word and without looking either of them in the face.
"'Ermione! Where she going?" Ron giggled.
"You idiot! Look what you did. She's never going to speak to us again thanks to you and your big mouth!" Harry was angry.
"Calm down. I knew that you were never going to say it, so someone else should. You know, I've known that this would happen someday. It was bound to happen. I'm surprised it took this long." Ron said.
"What are you talking about?" Harry growled.
"You falling in love with Hermione." Harry was once again rendered speechless. "Yup. I knew it. It took you a while, though, mate. She's been in love with you for years now."
"WHAT?" Harry was snapped out of his thoughts.
"Oh, yeah. I spotted a mile away!" Ron boasted finishing off his last shot. "Well, I'm trashed and I know that if we stay any longer we're not going to make it back to the castle, so lets go."
Harry couldn't believe his ears. 'Hermione? In love with me? I had no clue. Of course you wouldn't have known, you just noticed that she was a woman earlier this evening. But is it ALL true? Could she be in love with me? And more importantly, could I be in love with her?'
They stood up, placed their tab money on the table and gathered their robes. Just then, Harry noticed Hermione's bag. She never went anywhere without her book bag. Of course now there were no school books in there, but as Harry picked it up, he noticed that there was at least one book in it. He opened the bag and pulled out Hermione's diary.
"Holy cricket! Is that. . .? It is! Give it here!" Ron said reaching for the notebook in Harry's hand. But Harry pulled it out of his reach.
"There is no way we can read this. This is Hermione's private diary. We are her friends and we shouldn't break her trust in us, or what little is left after tonight." Harry said, placing the notebook back in the bag. And with that they headed out into the early summer night.
The walk home for Harry was filled with "what if's" and "maybe's". His mind couldn't stop racing. She looked so good tonight and he couldn't help smiling when he thought about the way she smiled at him and laughed at his jokes. He wanted to read the diary so he could find out if what Ron said was real or if she really had a crush on someone else. He wanted to find out why she had left in such a hurry.
'Why do I care? Why do I keep asking myself this question? I care. . .I care because I care about her. But does that mean I love her? I care because she's always been there for me and now it's my turn to be there for her. I want to help her. I want to be the one to comfort her. I want. . .Oh Bloody Hell. . .I want her! I want to hold her and kiss her and make sure she's alright and never let go! I am such a prat! Hell! I have no idea what to do now!'
Once back to the Common Room, he went strait up to his room, while Ron passed out on one of the couches. He sad on his bed, turning the little notebook over and over in his hands. 'What am I supposed to do with this? I really shouldn't read it. . .but I have to know the truth. NO! Bad Harry!' He reprimanded himself. He threw the book into his side table drawer and locked it. I'll give it to her tomorrow.
He saw awake almost all night. All he could think about was Hermione and that bloody diary. All of a sudden something snapped inside him and he reached over, unlocked the drawer, pulled out the book, and opened to the first page. What he read, he could hardly believe.