A/N: Many thanks to a reviewer who caught that I forgot to post a chapter. She asked when Harry received Hermione's bday gift…and it was in this chapter which I skipped over in posting. Thanks to everyone who back tracked to read this then plug on through the next few chapters! I'm still learning my way around PK!
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You Say It's Your Birthday….
Harry, still stunned as to what he and Hermione had just experienced (Harry had quickly decided that snogging was a brilliant idea!) apparated over to the Burrow an hour later. He had showered, changed into clothes that were HIS (clean and a nice pair of shorts, a nice dark green shirt with Gryffindor on the sleeve). Still new at apparating, he apparated right on top of Ron, who was reading an article about the Canons and they both fell over and off the chair.
"Merlin, Harry! You need to work on apparating!" Ron groaned shoving Harry off of him. Harry shoved back and a friendly wrestle occurred right on the kitchen floor. Ron managed to pin Harry in no time.
"Hey, at least my ears were in the right place!"
"Git," Ron murmured as he held out a hand and pulled Harry up off the floor. Harry settled into a chair next to Ron and looked at him, trying to figure out what to say to him about him and Hermione. Ron shoved his chair back towards the table and sat down.
"Where is everyone?" Harry asked. He arrived 15 minutes early and it was eerily quiet.
"Well, mum and dad are out getting some type of vegetables for dinner, Ginny's in the shower and my brothers are all still at their house." Ron flipped to the next page of his article and skimmed through it. After a moment of silence he looked up to see Harry staring at the clock.
"Anything wrong?" Ron questioned waving a hand in front of Harry's eyes.
"Umm, no actually, everything is great, I think." Harry shook his head as if to clear it.
"Okay…and?" Ron pressed, closing the magazine, folding his hands primly and looking at him, almost mocking him.
Harry turned his eyes to Ron and meet his friend's gaze. For a few seconds he didn't say anything. He needs to know, Harry thought. Before Ron could ask again
Harry blurted out, "HermioneandIkissed."
Silence.
Ron stared at him and Harry stared back. A slow smile came across Ron's face.
"About bloody time too!" Ron said reaching over and shaking Harry's hand.
"What?" confused Harry pulled his hand away. "I thought you would be mad or something, like I was violating the pact of our friendship…," Harry's voice trailed off as Ron began shaking his head.
Ron let out a hoot of laughter as Ginny came down the stairs.
"What is so funny?" she asked waving to Harry as she disappeared into the living room. Before Harry could shake his head or cast a silencio charm, Ron shouted, "Harry and Herminoe kissed! FINALLY!" Ron slapped the table and laughed.
Ginny came running back into the kitchen and squealed, "REALLY? How was it? I mean no, I don't need to know, but…well…FINALLY!" she beamed from ear to ear.
Harry held up his hand. "What is this FINALLY business? Do you guys have a bet or know something I don't?"
"Ummmm…." Ron looked to Ginny for guidance, knowing he would probably say the wrong thing.
"Well, yes we did. We could tell that she liked you and I had this feeling-"
"You and your feelings." Ron muttered, opening his magazine again; glad to be off the hook.
"…that you guys really were going to get together, especially after you-know-who was gone." Ginny glanced up at the clock, right as her parents walked in the kitchen.
From that point on someone was always apparating into the house until Harry thought it would burst. Fred, George, Bill
and his girlfriend Fleur (who Ron still couldn't help staring at), Hermione, Samantha (who floo'd in with
Hermione)….everyone wished him Happy Birthday and dropped off little gifts at the kitchen table. A few times, Harry
caught Hermione's eye and they smiled at each other. Harry had no idea how to act with her, were they officially an
item now or just testing out the waters? He hoped he would be able to get her alone and talk to her, not to mention
kissing those lips again! Merlin…he turned away to find Ron laughing with Samantha as she tried to explain what an iron
was used for to Mr. Weasley.
Harry talked to Fred and George about their latest tricks of the trade and noticed how Ron was always at Samantha's side, not seeming embarrassed in the least. 'Way out of character for Ron!' Harry thought. He didn't seem uncomfortable with her at all, but yet Harry could sense more than a friendly interest was beginning to develop.
"Ginny," Harry walked over to where she was eating. "What is your feel on your brother and Samantha?" He sat down next to her and stole a chip off her plate, getting his hand smacked in the process. Ginny looked over silently, watching them. One thing Harry learned, was to never rush, or even second guess her.
"He is totally bowled over by her. And, I have to say that I can't tell with Samantha. She is very friendly, up front and seems interested in him, but I haven't had time to really feel and think it through." She slapped his hand again as he tried to steal another chip. "Get your own!" she pulled her plate to the side and hid it from him. Harry was about to heed her advice and have another serving of food when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came in and insisted that Harry open his presents. After much scurrying around they all settled in the living room.
Harry sat down and Hermione handed him a gift from Ron, which was the latest book on Quidditch. Ginny and her other brother's had chipped in for a new broom servicing kit, something he desperately needed since he thought he left his at the Dursley's. As Hermione handed Harry what was most likely another knitted sweater from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, she whispered to him, "I have yours but I am going to give it to you later." Harry smiled at her and nodded, wondering what she would be giving him that she didn't want everyone else to see. After many Thank You's and hugs from Ron's parents, the teens retired outside for an impromptu Quidditch match.
Harry grabbed his broom and walked out the door with Hermione, not to far behind Ron, Fred, George and Samantha.
"How does Samantha like Ron's house you think?" Harry asked Hermione, really wanting to ask what she had to give him, but he didn't want to see too anxious.
"Well, after she got over the floo powder travel, totally falling out of the fireplace straight into Mr. Weasley," Harry laughed at that, "she loves it! She's really only heard me talk about it and show her a few books, but she has never seen anything like the Weasley's clock or dishes washing themselves." Hermione smiled, "I think she will probably have Ron show her almost everything he knows. She will probably be up on a broom before the night is over."
"I wouldn't be surprised and I am sure Ron would have no problem showing her all about it. Will you let me take you up?" Harry asked nudging her with his shoulder, know what her answer would be.
Hermione reached out and grabbed his arm, tucking her's thorough it, surprising him for a moment. "No way. You know I hate flying!" She pulled herself closer to him. For a moment, they could only hear the crunching of grass under their feet and the laughter of their friends around them.
"Are you having a good birthday?"
"The best! I couldn't ask for anything better. Freedom from the Dursley's, I can apparate, I have my own house," Harry really wanted to say "you" to Hermione but just wasn't ready to let loose with those feeling that he kept buried so deep; so deep for the past few months so he could hide them from Voldemort.
Hermione suddenly stopped, making him stop too since she was still holding onto his arm.
"I can't tell you how happy I am that you are finally able to have a life and live!" Hermione looked up at him then reached out and touched the broom. She felt the rough wood under her fingers and could almost feel it vibrating, waiting to be up in the air flying.
"It is pretty hard to believe," Harry agreed, wondering why they had stopped only a few meters from the field. He could see Ron and Samantha up ahead. Fred and George were hauling the trunk with the brooms and protective equipment up to the apple orchard (they had to use apples as balls so they wouldn't be seen flying above the tree line). Ginny was following close behind them.
"Harry," Hermione whispered and Harry moved his eyes from his friends to hers. He felt her hand against his on the Firebolt and he reached around the stick and covered her hand. He stared down at her in the darkness, barely making out her features. On impulse he leaned down and touched his lips to hers, feeling her hand squeeze his arm in response. He lifted his head a bit and smiled at her, his glasses reflecting fire flickering from the area of the orchard.
"Hermione," he whispered back to her.
"What?"
"You said "Harry" and then I kissed you and now I am wondering why you said my name?" Harry gave a small smile as Hermione looked down, obviously taken aback that he kissed her in close proximity of their friends.
"Oh, well, I was going to tell you what I got you for your birthday."
"What is it?" he asked, thinking thoughts that only boys would think….
"Not what you are thinking!" Hermione smacked him and went on, "I wasn't sure if you would like it or not, but when I saw it I thought of you." She backed away and reached into her shorts pocket and pulled out a small bag. She held it tightly for a minute then placed it into his outstretched hand. "You can't see it here in the dark, so just keep it safe and look at it at home." And with that she turned and started walking towards the pitch. Harry felt something small and angular in the package and then placed it in his pocket, taking care to button it. He hopped on his broom and rode up to Hermione.
"Get on and I'll take you the few meters to the orchard." Harry gave her a challenging look.
"Harry….you know I don't like flying." Hermione turned to look at him, floating about 4 feet above the ground, matching her walking pace.
"Hermione, trust me." Harry held out a hand, and to his surprise she stopped and looked at him. "Trust me?" he asked her, seeing emotions passing through her eyes.
She paused, her eyes looking at him and on his broom, then at his outstretched hand. Taking a deep breath she nodded and let him help her on the broom. With his feet still touching the ground, he took his right arm and reached around her waist, pulling her towards him, closing his eyes for a moment as he felt her lean back against him. He leaned down and pulled her hair that she wore down around her shoulders away from her neck. He leaned over and whispered, "Ready?" and felt her nod, as she gripped the broom. He brushed a light kiss across the back of her neck and nudged the broom forward, happy that she had trusted him, one of the very few people that did.
Ron looked up as they flew into the field and started clapping.
"Hermione! It's about time!" he yelled at her from across the field. She just stuck her tongue out at him and climbed off with Harry close behind her. Ron and Samantha came up behind them.
"Harry, can you take me up too? That looked like so much fun!" Samantha's brown eyes were shining, she looked like she was about to jump out of her skin with giddiness.
"Samantha-," Hermione started, putting a hand on her arm. She was going to tell her all the dangerous things about flying then thought better of it, realizing that it hadn't been too bad sitting with Harry on the broom.
Harry smiled at Samantha and looked at Ron who had run back to help his brothers with the trunk.
"Sure, hop on." Harry held out a hand and she stepped over the broom and settled on it. Harry instructed her on how to hold on then said if she wanted to scoot back against him she might feel safer. She shook her head and Harry glanced at Hermione who was watching with interest, joined by Ginny, and he kicked off.
Samantha's exuberant screams filled the air as he circled the pitch about 20 feet off the ground. She had slid back
towards him and was gripping the broom with her dear life.
"This is amazing Harry! I could do this everyday!" she yelled at him as he did a slow circle.
"You're sure the opposite of Hermione," Harry told her, feeling her back against him. She was totally different than Hermione, right down to the way she felt leaning back against him.
"I know. She can be uptight sometimes, but I just want to go out and have fun. And THIS IS FUN!" she turned and smiled at him, then glanced down as he started angling downwards.
"Over already?" she pouted and Harry laughed at the difference between these two Granger's when it came to flying.
"Fred and George are waiting for me. I'm sure Ron would take you up afterwards."
"He would you think?"
"Oh…I'm sure. Just ask him." Harry said with a hint of laughter in his voice. He lightly touched down and helped Samantha off the broom. She immediately went running over to Ron. Harry could tell she was asking him for a ride because he got a look from Ron as she was asking him and Harry just gave a small wave. He knew Ron wouldn't hesitate to take her up and get a chance to be alone with her.
"Have fun?" Hermione asked before Harry kicked off again.
"I think your cousin inherited any flying genes that your family may have had!" Harry winked at her and kicked off to begin the friendly game.
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It was well past midnight when Harry apparated back to HIS house. He put his Quidditch supplies away and headed up to his room, still feeling the glow of playing Quidditch and the last hour he had spent in stitches as Ron took Samantha for a ride around the Quidditch pitch. Between her yelling with delight and Fred and George zooming in and out to try and scare her, and Ginny chasing after them yelling at them to leave her alone, Harry laughed more than he had ever done in his life. He found that he and Hermione spent most of the evening next to each other, except when Harry played in a friendly 3 on 2 Quidditch game.
Entering his room he murmured "lumos" and his bedroom light flipped on. He reached back into his shorts pocket and took out the package that Hermione gave him. Sitting on his bed he unrolled the paper and there was a felt bag…he reached inside and pulled out a beautiful crystal. It was about two inches long and in the shape of a crescent moon. He held it up to the light, watching it reflect the colors, amazed at how it was cut so perfectly. There was a small piece of parchment in the bag which he unrolled.
"Dear Harry,
I saw this in a Muggle Jewelry store and thought of you and our night on the Astronomy Tower. Leaving the tower that night, I had a sense of peace I hadn't felt in years. After hearing you say that you would defeat Voldemort and sharing an amazing kiss that left me breathless, I realized that I would go to the moon for you…and back again. Happy 17th Birthday, Harry.
Love,
Hermione"
Harry stared at the note and then at the moon crystal. He remembered looking at the moon through the telescope; he remembered the crescent moon out tonight when he relaxed with his friends. He reread the note from Hermione, not totally understanding how much he meant to her. He couldn't fathom that someone would do so much for him and wondered what he did to be worthy of it. Placing the crystal on the nightstand next to his bed, he made a mental note to ask her next time he saw her. He didn't know when that would be, since Samantha was moving to her new flat over the next few days. Staring at the crystal and thought he saw a sparkle in there that looked the like sparkle in Hermione's eyes as she talked around the fire a few hours before. He remembered the "looks" everyone gave the two of them as she sat closer to him than usual; the teasing Fred and George did as Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek when he caught the "snitch", how she chased them around until the three of them fell down laughing.
All in all, Harry just had the best day of his life, and he fell asleep with an open mind and a very full heart.