9. Surprise
When all the spinning ended, Hermione found that she was no longer near the lake. In fact, she wasn't in the grounds anymore. All of her senses became aware of her surroundings. "Where am I?" she thought. As she examined the area, she realized she knew that place. She had been there before. She was in the outside limits of Hogsmeade.
Hermione was standing on the road that lead to Hogsmeade, but she also noticed a familiar structure was close to where she was standing. It was the Shrieking Shack. Hermione took a couple of steps towards the Shack straining her ears.
Then, Hermione saw something that called her attention, a tiny and colorful humming bird. "That's odd, how can this bird be here, this time of year." She had never before seen this kind of bird around Hogsmeade either.
Hermione stared at the tiny bird as it was flying rapidly from one tree to the other. The bird started to move towards the Shrieking Shack. Hermione followed it. It was as if the bird would be leading her in that direction.
The bird would fly ahead for a few feet, and they wait for her to get closer. Then again, the bird would keep going. Soon enough Hermione found herself right outside the shack. The tiny bird then took a turn towards the side of the shack, Hermione followed after. She saw how the bird entered the shack through an opening in one of the windows.
The window had no glass. Instead, it had been sealed with wood. Somehow a big piece of wood had fallen to the ground leaving a gap big enough for a person to climb in. Since Hermione was not afraid of the shack, knowing its secret, she went inside.
As soon as Hermione put foot inside the shack, she noticed something different about it. The last time she'd been there, four years ago, she had sensed a strong smell, a mixture of old rotten wood, dirt, and moth eaten fabric, among other things. Now that she was standing in the lower lever of the shack, she couldn't sense that unpleasant smell at all.
Then, Hermione looked at the floor. Starting from right underneath the window she had climbed in through and leading all the way to the stairs there were rose petals littering the floor. Hermione hear the fast wings of the tiny bird flapping near her. As she turned to see it, the bird started to head toward the stairs.
Hermione's curiosity was growing up. "Should I follow it?" She thought. A second later, she followed the tiny bird, which was waiting for her at the foot of the stairs. As soon as Hermione started moving in that direction, the little bird flew all the way up the stairs, this time without waiting for her.
With caution, Hermione began to climb the stairs, rose petals still marking her way up. Since all of the windows were covered, it was a little dark. Hermione took out her wand and said "Lumos." When she finally reached the top of the stairs, the little bird had disappeared, but the petals were leading to a closed door in the right side of the hallway. Slowly, Hermione reached the door.
She stood there for a moment trying to hear if there was any sound inside of the room. Thinking she should prepare herself for anything, she held her wand tighter in her hand. After taking a deep breath in, she slowly pushed the door open.
A sudden rush of light illuminated the hallway. Hermione had to shut her eyes for a few seconds to get adjusted to the light. When she finally opened her eyes, Hermione's mouth opened as well. She took a couple of small steps in, looking amazed at the sight she had in front.
It was as if she had stepped out of the shack, into to forest. She was standing on a hilltop. Big, tall trees with a deep green foliage, sprinkled with several multi-colored flowers Hermione could not identify, stood everywhere. Green shiny grass carpeted the ground. The smell of fresh air and wild flowers filled Hermione's senses.
She walked a little further in, or out she wasn't sure, and realized that in the distance she could she the towers and turrets of a magnificent castle. It was Hogwarts. The great lake by its side. Snowy mountains in the background.
She also noticed there was a neatly arranged blanket by the side of a tree. Placed on top of the blanket were several silver plates with fresh fruit, Hermione's favourite pie, pumpkin pastries, as well as a pair of silver goblets and a few buttlebeers resting in ice.
Hermione's mind was working hard trying to make sense of the situation. She looked at the castle wondering who had gone through all this trouble, when she heard a familiar voice.
"Great view, isn't it?"
Hermione turned around quickly to find Harry standing just a couple of steps away from her leaning on a tree.
"Harry! But what... how?"
Not paying attention to Hermione's look of shock, Harry grabbed one of her hands and pulled her down to sit at the blanket.
"Sit," he said softly. "You need a drink."
After he said that, he poured some butterbeer into one of the goblets and handed it to her. Hermione, who had been holding to her wand for dear life, finally let go of it, took the goblet from his hands and sipped some of its content. The warm feeling the drink gace her awoke her senses.
Everything was intriguing to her. How she had gotten there, where exactly she was supposed to be at right now, but most of all, why was Harry so calm as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.
Then it hit her.
"You! It was you?"
Harry's face illuminated with a smile as he nodded. "Me..." he said. "With a little help, of course."
Hermione's head was so full of questions; she had trouble voicing them all. Harry smiled looking at the frustration in her face.
"It was me, Hermione." He took the goblet out of her hands, afraid she might drop the liquid on her lap. "I sent you the note... and the rose, too."
A big question mark appeared in Hermione's face. That didn't make sense. "Why... why would you do that?"
"Cause when you're in fall, you can do all sort of crazy things."
"Did he just say love?" Thought Hermione. "No, that can't be, right?"
Seeing her expression change to disbelief, Harry continued. "Yes, Hermione. I've fallen for the most amazing, the most wonderful, the cleverest witch of all times, you! You, Hermione. It's always been you."
Hermione started shaking her head, having trouble to digest Harry's words. "Me?" was all she was able to say. Harry got a little closer to her and took her hands in his.
"Yes, you. I love you Hermione, more than I ever thought possible. I know I've been such a prat lately. I know I sent you mixed messages, but now I'm sure of my feelings. These feelings that have always been here, way before I noticed them."
Harry placed a hand in her face to dry away a tear that without her noticing had rolled out of her eyes. "I hope you'd still take me," he said softly.
Their faces were inches away. Hermione hadn't realized that her body had leaned towards him on its own. Harry's index finger traced its way from her cheek to her lips.
The feel of his finger on her lips was so intense she closed her eyes to enjoy the tingling sensation that was running through her body. Then the feeling changed as his finger left and was replaced by his lips. Hermione's mind went into shock. She could not believe what was happening.
After wishing for so long to be with Harry like this, it was finally happening. His lips felt so soft and sweet. He was kissing her with such gentleness. Slowly, Hermione's lips parted and soon his tongue found its way in.
A feeling she had never felt before, took over her senses. Her hands went flying up and found a way to his hair, which she started to play with, while his hands were pulling her towards him, closer and closer.
Since they both needed oxygen, Harry pulled away and smiled looking at her expression. Hermione did not want to open her eyes. She was afraid the moment she did, she'd wake up on her bed to find out that it had just been a dream.
"Hermione?"
Reluctantly, she opened her eyes to find Harry's face still very closer to hers, smiling warmly at her. It wasn't a dream! It was real. Harry was there, right next to her, holding her in his arms. He had just kissed her, but most importantly, he said he loved her. She had finally heard those three words she had been dying for.
"Oh, Harry!" she finally said. "I love you, too."
That was all he needed to know. After that, he pull her to him and once again kissed her knowing that he wont' be able to live if he wouldn't kiss those lips every day for the rest of his life.