Chapter 3: The Nightmare
Suddenly, Hermione sat up straight in her bed. She had been sound asleep but just woke up in a cold sweat. Looking at her clock, it read 1:45am, she knew her parents would both be sleeping, and the 2:00am train would be passing soon, on the railroad tracks close by. This was the reason her parents slept with ear plugs. She on the other hand refused to, not liking to take any chances although even with ear plugs they could hear the fire alarm. Straining her ears, she could have sworn she heard a crying, somewhere. Then it hit her, she should go and check. Grabbing her pink, fluffy robes and bunny slippers, she put them on and stepped out into the hallway. Following her the noise, she came to a stop outside the guest bedroom where Harry was staying.
"Harry?" she whispered while tapping softly at the door.
Hearing no response she knocked again, this time a little louder. To her satisfaction, she heard him get up and come over to the door. He opened it slowly.
"Hermione, you're okay," said Harry reaching his arms around her, pulling her close, into a hug.
"Of course," she said half-way speechless.
She didn't understand what he was doing. It was not like him to just grab her like that, not that she minded. To her there was just something right about being in his arms. Shaking her head and trying to erase any of those thoughts from her mind she stepped back.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she saw his tear stained face in the moon light.
"Only a nightmare I had. It was ridiculous for me to act like that," he said, walking out of his room and into the hall way with her.
"You-know-who again?" she asked quietly, not wanting to prod him with questions.
Especially seeing he was very bothered, right now wouldn't be a good time to.
"Yeah, but it was like last year, when I actually saw what was happening. The only difference being, this time I remember it all crystal clear," he explained still slightly reluctant, at least that's what she thought.
"Will you tell me?" she asked trying to show some understanding although she felt she had no way to understand.
"Okay, but it was probably just another nightmare," said Harry putting on his own robe over his pajamas.
"Well, I'm willing to listen. Why don't we go downstairs? I can make hot chocolate for us to drink," she offered, giving him a warm smile.
"That would be great," he responded.
They both went to the kitchen. Hermione was very quick to make the hot chocolate and found where her Mum kept all the marshmallows. Harry had put them in for her and to what she saw; they had more marshmallows than cocoa.
"They're the best part," he protested as she sighed.
"You are right. Now are you going to tell me what happened in your nightmare?" she asked, sounding more impatient than she had intended to.
"Okay, Okay," he said as he sat down at the kitchen table, while she stood by their glass doors.
His mouth was open and about to speak when he saw a shadow approaching the sliding glass door that was beside her. Harry jumped up, in one swift movement, had moved her to the other side of the room. This was out of harms way.
"No, wait, don't," said Hermione just as Harry grabbed the intruder, and slammed them against the wall.
Hermione immediately went over and turned on the kitchen light to reveal who it was, which she already thought she knew. She was right; the supposed intruder was her father!
"Stop Harry," said Mr. Granger, more calmly then she had expected.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry Mr. Granger," said Harry helping him stand up.
"It's quite alright. I must say though, you were very fast to protect my daughter," commented Mr. Granger standing and brushing the dirt from his robe.
"I care about her," said Harry, avoiding his face.
"And what were the two of you doing up so late?" asked Mr. Granger giving them both a piercing stare. It didn't help much that they both had guilty looks on their faces.
"Well, we were," started Hermione, but Harry quickly cut her off.
"I couldn't sleep and Hermione here, offered to keep me company," said Harry, making it appear to Hermione, that he didn't want her Dad to know the truth.
"Okay then, but there is one thing I want to know. Just how much do you care for my daughter?" Mr. Granger asked him.
Hermione was speechless. She had never brought anyone close to a boyfriend home, and never expected her father to ask something like that. Yet at the same time she was listening so carefully for an answer.
"Daniel Granger," said Mrs. Granger walking down the stairs.
"Yes dear," said Mr. Granger with a nervous tone.
"What are you doing? I see you're up for a walk and he next thing I know, you're down here quizzing these two like common criminals!" exclaimed Mrs. Granger, her hair now all bushy from lying down before.
"I, well," said Mr. Granger clearly trying to choose his words carefully.
"If you are done may we all go back to bed now?" asked Mrs. Granger frustrated.
"Okay, then," said Mr. Granger relieved.
"Good-night Harry, Hermione," said Mrs. Granger.
"Night Mum," said Hermione, as she and Harry reluctantly followed them up the stairs.
Right before her parents watched them go into their rooms Hermione whispered to Harry.
"Meet me in my room," was all she said.
They all went to their rooms. She knew Harry would wait until it was safe to come without being caught. Or, perhaps would use his invisibility cloak, as he had many times to sneak around. Going about, she found some matches and candles. Once they were all lit, she placed them in different parts of the room. She had no idea just how romantic this setting would look to a normal person, candles, a soft music, and her laying down, propped up on one shoulder, waiting.
"Hey," said Harry when he walked in a minute or two later. He wasn't as oblivious, and couldn't help but stare.
"Sit down," said Hermione patting the place on the bed beside her as she sat up. He did as she said and could feel his breath catch in his throat when he tried to speak.
"Now will you please tell me what happened in your nightmare?" asked Hermione impatiently.
Harry felt a cold, hard slap of reality hit his face as he realized this was about that, not of the impure thoughts that had been crossing his mind only moments ago.
"Well, it starts at Hogwarts," he began slowly.
"Okay then," said Hermione just as slowly which put a small smile on his face.
"I'm in the common room and Ron comes running in. I ask him what the problem is, he tells me you're upset over something and in the library crying about it. You won't tell him but want to talk only to me. He was acting kind of weird actually. I thought nothing of it then, and went down to the library. I quickly got to where you always sit and found your seat empty, but I did find a note. It said to meet you at the Quidditch field; there was something you needed to tell me. I went straight there. Only, Voldemort was waiting for me at the edge of the field with a tall pole and some girl tied to it. He lifts up her chin and it's you. Before I can do anything he puts," said Harry coming to a quick stop.
"What?" asks Hermione, even more interested since it had a lot do with her.
"I don't want to say," said Harry shaking his head.
"Please, you know you can always tell me anything," said Hermione, leaning forward a bit to look into his green eyes.
It startled her at first, because she noticed she had never really done this on any other occasion. She also couldn't understand why she had the sudden urge to kiss him. Of course, she knew she never would, that would be wrong with them being best friends. Best friends didn't just go and kiss each other right?
"Yes," said Harry, his lips trembled, as out of instinct he moved closer, until their lips were a mere inch apart.
They were about to touch when Hermione suddenly jerked back.
"We can't do that," she stated, more wanting to argue with herself for stopping them.
"Right," said Harry, not really paying attention to what she said.
"Now what did he do?" she asked more firmly.
"He, performed the death curse on you," said Harry in a low whisper.
Hermione gasped, not just because of what Harry said, but he had grabbed the back of her head, tilted it, and pressed his lips against hers. In a passionate kiss that took her breath away, she had no idea how it happened.
"Harry," she mumbled after their lips parted.
"I know, I'm sorry, after you said no and everything," said Harry looking down at his hands, from what she could tell, unable to look her in the face.
"But, but I liked it," she confessed quietly.
"You did," he said looking up into her eyes, for just a glimpse of hope for them.
She nodded slowly.
"Oh, my god!" he said excitedly putting both arms around her and embracing her.
Her other half won, at least partly.
"Harry, I didn't say it was right. I mean, we can't go to Hogwarts like this! What will everyone think? What will Ron think? We both know he likes me, that way," said Hermione although she didn't really want to.
It felt like she was losing part of her when he let go. This she didn't understand at all.
"Okay, you're right," agreed Harry, but she could hear the disappointment in his voice.
"What about the summer? We can only for the rest of the summer. See if we can get whatever this is, out of us. And no matter what happens, the moment we step onto that platform, everything is as it was before," said Hermione happily with her plan.
"That's great," said Harry excitedly.
She didn't get to respond. He was already kissing her again, not that she minded.
Later on, they agreed, it would look horrible, them both up when her parents awoke. Although they had been only talking with the occasional snogging session, just because they could. Reluctantly Harry headed to his room while Hermione fell asleep trying to figure out how everything had changed, so fast.
The next morning, she woke with a start; someone was prodding her neck with their finger.
"Hey, stop it," she grumbled swatting at the problem hand.
"You don't tell me to stop it Missy," said the voice of an angry Mrs. Granger.
"What Mum?" said Hermione immediately opening her eyes.
"What is this?" asked Mrs. Granger pointing to a mark on her neck.
Hermione knew what it was, but couldn't believe it was on her. She was Hermione Granger, perfect student, always disapproving of such actions.
"Mum, I'm sorry," said Hermione, knowing nothing would make the hickey on her neck go away.
"Don't be sorry, be honest," said Mrs. Granger, in a much more caring and understanding voice, that she didn't expect.
"Well, Harry was telling me about his nightmare, I was telling him that he could tell me anything at all, one thing happened, and well, this happened," said Hermione blushing bright scarlet.
This was after all her mother she was talking to about her fist kiss.
"Did you use protection?" asked Mrs. Granger raising her eyebrows.
"Protection? OH, Mum nothing like that ever happened. I wouldn't, Harry wouldn't ever let something like that happen. He cares about me, he really does," said Hermione, saying more than what she had intended to.
"So it was with Harry?" questioned Mrs. Granger.
"You didn't know?" said Hermione suddenly deeply regretting over confessing.
"Don't worry, I figured. Its fine, I trust you to be responsible," said Mrs. Granger comfortingly.
"Thank you so much," said Hermione wrapping her arms around her Mum.
It was a big relief off her shoulders, but put more weight on them. What would her Mum think if she found out her and Harry split up after summer?
After breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Granger had to leave for work and left the two of them with a set of keys to the house. Harry then took Hermione by the hand and brought her outside by the porch swing.
"Your Dad knows," he confessed, as they sat down side, by side.
"He must be so angry," said Hermione resting her head on his shoulder.
"No, not really. But he did warn me not to break his baby's heart or he'd break me. Suddenly I'm deathly afraid of that normally very nice man," said Harry dramatically.
Hermione laughed. He always had a way to get her to do that. She took his hand and wound their fingers together, as they gazed lazily into the early morning sun.
"Harry," she murmured
"What?" he asked.
"What do you honestly feel for me?" she asked, in more of a whisper.
"Well, I'm not going to lie. I look at you, and my breath gets taken away because of how beautiful you are. But it's not all about that. I think, I think I may love you," he stuttered slightly.
"I love you too," said Hermione.
"And Harry," she said again.
"What now Mione?" he asked.
"Even when we break up after summer, promise me we'll still be friends," requested Hermione.
"Yes, we'll always be friends," he answered simply.
"And Harry," she said a third time.
"What now?" he asked slightly amused at her antics.
"Promise me you'll always love me," she said, finally saying what she wanted to the whole time.
"I promise," he replied, leaning down and kissing her.
That was how they spent most of their days together. Doing whatever, and kissing occasionally, and saying, 'I love you". At least to Hermione, it was what seemed right. And everything fit so perfect, other than her fear of when the summer ended, which by now was only a day away.