Watching

Watching

And so she stood. Behind the bookcase, watching him. Just... Watching. The deep green of his crystal-like eyes, the smile creeping upon his beautiful cream-coloured face, the messy jet-black hair that stood in all directions. He was perfect to her, he was her everything, but she knew she wasn't his.

That beautiful smile, could make her crumble, only to build her back up again. Her chestnut curls would dangle onto her shoulder, and if they were close enough, he would brush them back for her. His touch, sent shivers up her spine. Everything about him made her weak at the knees.

If only he knew, if only she could find a way to tell him.

And yet, never, could she pluck the courage to let him know her feelings. And there he stood, laughing at a joke some blonde beauty told him.

She loved his laugh. She loved the way his laugh lines would hug the curves of his lips. She loved the way his shoulders would shake slightly, with the effort of his laughter. She loved the way, he would sometimes clutch at his stomach, if it was a funny enough joke.

Hermione sighed.

"Hermione, what are you doing?" A voice asked behind her. She jumped, dropping the book she was holding onto the floor, and wheeling around in her spot, her eyes wide.

"Uh... Nothing! I was just getting a book." A pause, while she bent down clumsily and picked it up. "...A book for Charms!" She said enthusiastically. Hopefully, it wasn't too enthusiastic.

"Uh, right." Ron grunted. His eyebrows were beginning to disappear into his red hair, in suspicion.

Hermione placed her free hand on his shoulder. "You worry too much, Ron! Everything's fine. I'm going to go back up the Common room, I've got some studying to do!" She said, sadness slithering its way onto her face. She forced a smile, to fight it back long enough to fool Ron.

Ron grinned back. "Don't you always?"

She said her goodbyes, and began to walk away. Her thoughts directed back onto Harry.

She truly adored him, but he would never know. She would watch, as he went on to save the world, and ride off into the sunset with some beautiful girl. She would watch, as his face would be put on billboards, and posters in the wizarding world. She would tell everyone how she knew him once, and they would laugh in her face.

And right now, she watched, as he was utterly entranced by a beautiful girl, who could give him everything she couldn't.

There she stood, in the dark. Watching... Just, watching.

All she could do was watch.

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"Hermione, wakey, wakey!" A voice sounded slurred as it drifted into her ears.

Her eyes fluttered open as she began to stir. They began to blink slightly, the dim fire light dancing across her face. "Harry." She said groggily, smiling, sitting up properly, and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"You've been studying again, haven't you?" He said, concern evident in his voice, as he placed a hand on her wrist gently, and used his other hand to take the book out of her grasp.

All Hermione could do was nod lamely, the touch of his hand tingling against her skin and making her mind numb. Her heart began to beat freely against her chest, as her vision began to blur slightly, the only thing she was able to see clearly was him.

"Are you alright? You really seem to be over-working yourself, I think." He pushed the matter, higher levels of concern erupting from his lips, entangled with his voice.

"I'll be fine." She smiled once again, trying to reassure him things would be alright.

"Well, if you're sure." Harry smiled back, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a friendly squeeze. He sat for a moment, in silence, staring into her chocolate-coloured eyes, as if trying to read her deepest thoughts. As if he was trying to take a glimpse at her soul.

When there was no answer from Hermione, he blinked, breaking the eye contact, and letting go of her shoulder quickly. "Anyway, I'm off to bed, I'm wrecked. I'll see you in the morning." He said, nervousness tumbling from his lips slightly.

He rose carefully, walking across the room, heading for the boys dormitory. Giving her a quick wave and a backwards glance, he traipsed up the rest of the stairs, and opened the door in front of him, closing it quietly behind him, once inside.

Hermione let out a deep breath, trying to calm her stomach, for it was doing back flips. With each passing day, her feelings for him only deepened. She was living through torment, and rarely got sleep, anymore.

Everyone thought she was studying, but she wasn't. Her mind was too troubled to study. For once, Hermione Granger had more important matters to worry about, than school.

-------

Harry sighed, as he closed the door behind him. Moonlight struck his face gently, dancing across his creamy skin and giving him a slight glow. He made his way to his bed, sitting down on it, and kicking his shoes off carefully, trying not to wake anyone.

Neville snored loudly in the background, as Harry peeled off his shirt and trousers, pulling on his pyjamas. Once dressed, he pulled back a corner of the blanket, and slipped underneath, feeling the warmth of his four poster bed, at last.

He rolled over, waiting for sleep to engulf him. He waited, and waited, but it seemed to be running late, again.

He sighed once more, this time in slight annoyance, as he became restless. He rolled over on his other side, and took in a long, intoxicating breath. He could smell her on his bed, still. Her scent would never truly be gone.

He remembered the morning, only days ago, when she lay beside him in his bed, for moments, waiting for him to awake. He opened his eyes, to see her bright smile greeting him. He grinned back, as she handed him his glasses. He heard Ron's voice in the background, explaining the reason for her presence, but to be honest, he wasn't listening.

What he was listening to was the patterns of her breathing. He listened, as she took in air, and let it out once more. He smiled, as he could hear her heart beating freely against her chest. At that moment, he wished, and he longed for her heart to beat for him, and only him.

But he knew, that even if his heart beat for her, hers would never return the gesture.

When they would sit in the library, he wished to be the book in which she would pour over. In each lesson, he wished he was the favourite quill she always seemed to use. During breakfast, lunch, and dinner times, he wished he was the fork she would bring to her mouth.

He wished to be her tears, when they would cling to her skin. Being born in her eye, living against her cheek, and dying softly on her lips. He wished he was the air she breathed.

He wished to be close to her, in a way no other person could possibly be. To see her soul, to feel her touch, to read her thoughts. All he wanted was to make her happy, and in turn, it would make him happy. He wanted to live, and breathe for her. He wanted her to understand just how much he truly cared for her.

But she would never know. Because he would never be able to pluck up the courage.

So for now, and forever, he would watch. He would watch from afar, as she loved another, the way he loved her. He would watch, when for some reason, or another, she would walk out of his life, leaving her footprints on his heart.

He would forever stand in the dark. Watching... Just watching.

All he could do was watch.

-------

The sun shone brightly through the windows, blinding, stinging, burning, her eyes. She blinked madly, rubbing her eyes carefully, as she rolled over onto her back, looking at the canopy of her four poster bed. She sighed heavily, and made to pull herself up.

She sat up in bed, trying to get her eyes to focus clearly. Once that task was properly carried out, she stretched, and yawned obnoxiously. She got up, out of bed, and she began walking around the dormitory, in search of some casual clothes. It was the weekend, and she promised to meet Harry and Ron by the lake.

A few moments later, and she had thrown on a pair of jeans, a light blue t-shirt and a dark blue hoodie. She pulled a brush through her hair, and put it into a neat pony tail. She pulled her shoes on, not even bothering to tie them, and made her way out of the dormitory, and down the stairs, in search of Harry and Ron.

"Hey, Hermione!" Harry called from the centre of the Common room, with a grin.

She smiled back, sadly, waving slightly. "Hey, Harry. Where's Ron?" She asked, stepping down the last few stairs, and halting in front of him. She plunged her hands into her jean pockets, staring aimlessly around the room, trying subtly not to look directly at Harry.

"Oh, he said he would be coming soon, he told us to go on without him, and he would meet us there." Harry said, with a shrug for extra emphasis.

"Alright." A genuine smile slid across Hermione's face, for they would get to be alone together, even if only for a few moments.

The two made their way out of the common room, closing the portrait hole behind them.

But what they didn't know; was someone had been watching them. Someone had been lurking in the shadows.

"Go on, Harry. You can do it. Just, tell her how you feel!" He whispered to himself, as if Harry was right there beside him, and he was encouraging him.

Ron walked out to the middle of the Common room, and sat down on the couch, by the fire. He figured he would have to wait for a few moments.

His mother always told him these things take a while, especially if the two people in question are stubborn. And Harry and Hermione were two of the most stubborn people Ron had ever met.

-------

Upon arriving at the lake in silence, Harry and Hermione sat down on two rocks facing each other. It was early May, and the sun had only just started peaking out of the clouds now, its rays smearing themselves across the beautiful blue sky. The morning frost clung to the grassy grounds, and the lake was moving in slow currents towards the shore.

Hermione had her back to the lake, looking at a beautiful view of the castle and the grounds, and yet she wasn't taking in any of it, she was too busy staring at Harry.

"So," Harry piped up, as if trying to make conversation.

Hermione fished around in her head for something to say back. "Harry, who was that girl you were talking to in the library?" She blurted out before she could stop herself. She blushed a deep crimson, but didn't dare hide away. Instead, she continued to watch him intently, as if the answer to the question didn't matter all that much, and she was just trying to make conversation, herself.

Harry blushed a deep crimson as well, "No one. She was a nobody, really. She was just looking for a book, and I had gone to find it for her. Seemed really nice, but not my type, if that's what your wondering." Harry practically whispered into the wind, his hand clutched at the back of his neck carefully.

Hermione knew what that meant; it was a sign of his increasing nervousness. But why would he be nervous around her?

Hermione wanted to jump up and down happily, but she then remembered the girl did something that was hard to do. "But," she pressed on solemnly, "She made you laugh."

"Yeah, but Ron makes me laugh too, it doesn't mean I want to go and elope with him!" Harry said playfully, trying to lighten the mood, as he chuckled heartily.

Hermione didn't really find this a laughing matter, but she smiled anyway, for his chuckle was like sweet sounding music to her ears.

"Well, if you don't like her, who do you like?" Hermione asked involuntarily. It was as if her body was being controlled by her heart, and not her mind. Even if this situation was becoming increasingly embarrassing, she still stood her ground, watching him carefully. Watching for any other little habit of his that would convey the emotions that his lips would never speak of.

Harry froze. She finally asked the one question that could bring him to his doom. And he knew, in his heart and soul that he couldn't lie to her. He couldn't look her in the eye, and tell her something that wasn't the truth, because he would crack under the guilt.

He then, came up with an idea. A brilliant idea, that would get him out of this situation, if he played his cards right.

"Well, I do like this one girl." He smiled at the thought of her. "She's perfect to me. Beautiful in every way inside and out. And she's as smart, as she is beautiful. She's very close to my heart, but she doesn't really know it yet. She doesn't know how much I want to tell her, how much I want to let her know, that I'm thinking of her." Sincerity etched itself onto Harry's face. His lips stretched into a grin, as he watched Hermione carefully.

He told her the absolute truth, he bared his soul to her, but she frowned slightly.

"Wow, she seems great." Hermione whispered carefully. A tear clinged to her eyelashes, threatening to slide down her cheek, but she would not let it. She had to hold on just a little longer, before she fell into pieces.

Harry smiled, still in a daze. "She is great. She's wonderful." He said dreamily. He took one glimpse of the beautiful girl before him, and realized her eyes were welling up with tears. His face changed immediately, he had to comfort her.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" He asked his voice filled with concern, once more. He walked over and sat down beside her on the other rock.

"Nothing." Hermione mumbled, trying to give him a watery smile, as tears broke the boundaries of her eye and slid down her cheeks.

Harry's heart broke into a million pieces. He hated to see her crying. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around her carefully, pulling her close to him. She was too hysterical to pull away, and so instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist, sobbing into his chest.

"Hermione, things will be okay." Harry hummed into her hair, rubbing circles on her back, with his hand.

Hermione’s cries were muffled, and she began to mumble into his chest. "No, they won't."

Harry grew restless. His heart began to swell with joy at the proximity of their bodies. But he wanted to be closer to her. He wanted to feel as if there was no space between them. His lips began to tingle with longing.

"Hermione?" He whispered into her hair, letting her go. She sat up properly and looked at him, her eyes puffy and red, and still looking as beautiful as ever.

"Yes?" She mumbled, giving him another watery smile.

Harry did something he would have never done on his own. His heart gave him a nudge in the right direction, and he leaned in carefully, closing the gap between their lips. He pressed his lips into hers softly, his arms immediately wrapping around and clinging onto the small of her back.

Harry's heart did somersaults. She didn't pull away. She didn't pull away! Harry could have leaped up and down at that very moment, but he wasn't able to think properly. He let her go, and pulled out of the kiss slightly, he opened his eyes to see her lips chase after his. He was so stunned, he didn't manage to pull away and ask her what she was doing.

She pressed her lips back into his carefully, her hands snaking around his neck as she tried to deepen the kiss gently. Harry's arms went back to clinging to her softly, as his lips pressed themselves against hers firmly.

They held out on breathing for the longest time, but after awhile, they would both need to come back for air. This would be when they would explain their actions to one another. The moment of truth.

They pulled away slowly and reluctantly, gasping greedily for air. Hermione's rosy cheeks blushed a deeper red, as her chestnut curls hugged her face slightly. Once Harry's vision came into focus, he could see her, sitting there, smiling happily. Her tears still clung to her eyelashes, but no more, were they threatening to fall, and rain on her beautiful face.

"Harry?" She asked shakily, watching him carefully.

"Yes?"

"Why did you-?" She asked, cutting herself off, as he reached out and touched her hand softly.

"No one compares to you, Hermione. If you leave here today, at least grasp that. No one, in my eyes, will ever compare to you." He whispered, looking at her determinedly, his eyes blazing with honesty.

A smile etched itself on her lips. She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him tightly, pulling him into a hug. "And no one compares to you, Harry." She whispered into his ear softly. "No one has, no one does, no one will."

Ron began to trudge down the sloping lawns, in search of his two friends. He turned the corner, and made his way down to the lake. He looked out over the grounds, and saw them, hugging each other tightly. He smiled happily, and realized, his plan had worked.

No longer, would he have to watch, as Hermione's heart broke silently, as Harry talked to other girls. No longer, would he have to watch, as Harry moped around the Common room, muttering about Hermione. No longer, would he have to watch as his two best friends went on, walking through life aimlessly, looking for quick and shallow happiness.

Now, they had genuine happiness, and they found it in each other.

Now, he could watch as they grew to love one another. He could watch, as their relationship got stronger.

He would forever stand by their side, watching happily. Just... Watching.

All he wanted to do was watch.
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A/N: Hey everyone! This is a one-shot I wrote a few nights ago, I took a chance and figured I’d post it on here. So I really would like all of your reviews. Your opinion means a lot to me! It lets me know how good I’m doing. If noone gives me their opinion, then I don’t know what I’m doing wrong! So PLEASE, PLEASE review!!! Thanks!