Relationships…
Being the girls that they are, Samantha and Hermione woke up early on Saturday, went through numerous outfits trying to figure out which ones looked the best. Samantha coaxed Hermione into putting on some makeup and letting her style her somewhat bushy hair. After an hour of trying on clothes, Samantha finally decided on a nice white skirt that hung to her calves and a spaghetti-strap baby blue top. Hermione was advised by her cousin to stay with the pink Capri style pants and white sleeveless blouse.
"Pink is a girly color, you want Harry to realize you ARE a girl, not just smart Hermione from school who wears black robes." Samantha advised.
After a light lunch, and deciding to try and apparate together (while Hermione had her arm around Samantha) they said goodbye to Samantha's parents. Hermione called hers and explained where they were going and soon after the requisite calls were made, the girls successfully apparated with a loud POP right into Harry's kitchen.
"BLOODY HELL!" Ron yelled, dropping a container of milk into the sink, while spinning around and automatically grabbing his chest, right above his heart.
"YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL ME AREN'T YOU!" Ron stared at them, quite mad at first for making him spill the milk into the sink, but then when his eyes rested on Samantha, who was trying to wrap her head around the fact that they just "jumped" from one place to another, all his anger vanished. For a moment he forgot to breathe, she looked so beautiful. He shook his head and managed to turn around and clean up the mess.
"Sorry, Ron. Need help?" Hermione asked, trying not to laugh. At that moment, Harry came in carrying a bag full of weeds in one hand and a watering can in the other. He stopped in the hall and stared at the girls in the kitchen. Both girls spun around as they heard Harry set down the items that were in his hands.
"Hi Harry," Hermione smiled at him, "Is it ok that we stopped by?" she continued to keep her eyes on him as he stared at her for a moment. Then he smiled.
"Of course. Not doing anything exciting today," Harry gestured to the weeds and watering can he carried in from the garden. He was all sweaty from being outside in the sun and was not expecting to see Hermione today. Last he had heard she would see him during the week, which was two days away.
"We thought we would stop in and see if you both wanted to go out and do something. It's a nice weekend," Samantha leaned against the counter as Ron finished cleaning up the milk. He leaned up against the counter next to Samantha, glancing at Harry.
"Sounds good. You all figure something out while I go shower," Harry bent down, picked up the bag of weeds and threw it into the garbage can, which immediately made loud chewing noises, followed by a burp. Samantha took a step back, bumping into Ron.
"Your trash can makes noises?" she squeaked, staring over at it.
"Sounds like Ron," Hermione kidded and Harry laughed.
"Hey---," Ron said, his mouth full of a pumpkin pasty.
Harry excused himself to go get a shower, while Ron and the girls sat down in the living room trying to figure out something to do.
Twenty minutes later, Harry came bounding down the stairs and joined his friends in the living room. His hair was still wet from his shower and it was actually was laying down, Hermione noticed.
"Ron said we should go to 'Hogsmeade'?" Samantha looked at Harry questioningly.
"I thought she might like to see the only magical village in England. Hermione said she might be coming on that parent weekend in October, so we can take her then too." Ron sounded excited about showing her something new, something she knew NOTHING about.
Harry glanced at Hermione. "We can get her in there?"
"Shouldn't be a problem. We apparated over here without any problems. We, or one of us, just needs to hold onto her."
"Alright then," Harry stood up with the other three. "Let's meet at Honeyduke's."
Harry slipped an arm around Hermione's waist and with a POP they vanished.
"They're quick!" Samantha just stared at the spot where they were standing.
"That is the most amazing thing…," she said, and felt Ron's arm go around her shoulders. She turned to look up at him and found him gazing down at her. She felt the familiar roar of blood in her ears as she stared into his bright blue eyes.
"Ready?" he whispered, clearly affected as her. She nodded and with a POP they too were gone.
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This was a new one for Samantha. People everywhere, dressed in their robes, hats, wands at their sides though some people were dressed in regular Muggle clothing. There were stores she had never heard of, smells she had never smelled. If Ron hadn't had his arm around her, she would have fallen over from all the sensory overload.
Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at her taking in the village. Her mouth practically hung open and she did a full 360 degree turn as she tried to take in every store name and look at every person that walked by.
"Amazing…," was all she could choke out.
"I think we have made my cousin speechless," Hermione smiled over at her, noticing Ron's arm had moved down to her waist, however Harry had removed his arm from Hermione's waist to look in the candy store window.
"Ron, why don't you show us around?" Harry asked, feeling so at home in Hogsmeade. "Maybe you could-," Harry stopped there and stared down the street.
Hermione turned around and was about to ask Harry what he was going to say. But, her words died in her throat too. Ron left Samantha standing near the candy store window and peered around Harry. There, he saw Draco, walking by himself down the street. Hermione turned to Samantha and quickly hissed, "There's Draco. I told you about him!" Samantha snapped out of her reverie and joined Ron's side, just in time to catch Draco's eye. For a minute he stared at her, then slowly sauntered his way across the street and stopped a few feet from Harry.
"So, Potty, dragging your pets with you this afternoon?" he drawled in his usual way. He glanced at Samantha who looked at him evenly.
"Malfoy---," Ron started, but Samantha stepped forward before Ron could grab her arm.
"Hello," she said looking him up and down in a very obvious way. Hermione thought she was going to dissolve into laughter and buried her head in Harry's arm.
Draco cocked one eyebrow as he heard the slight French accent in her voice. He nodded at her, then looked at Ron, who was fighting to not say a word. He saw Hermione with her head turned away leaning against Harry's shoulder.
"You must be Draco. I am very pleased to finally have met you, my name is Samantha," and with that she held out her hand. Draco slowly took it and shook it, still giving her a funny look.
"Samantha, what are you doing with this lot?" he waved his hand at the three standing there, who were trying not to laugh. Ron turned away to look in the candy window, jostling Harry's shoulder on purpose. All three were holding back gales of laughter, Harry trying to cover it up with coughing.
"Oh, well seeing as how I am visiting, they have been kind enough to show me around, this….how do you say? Hogsmeade," Samantha made herself turn towards a more French accent, totally throwing Draco off.
"Are you sure you want to hang around with them? Surely, you know what happens when Potter is around….I could show you many more interesting places…," he let his words hang out there in the air.
"Ah, well, you see, that would be very rude, and since I just am not that kind of girl, I will stay with this "lot" as you say." Samantha smiled and gave a little bow. "It was a pleasure meeting you." And she winked at him. Harry totally lost it, he let loose with a howl of laughter and ran up the street following Ron, who had departed seconds earlier as he heard the French accent kick in. Hermione reached over and grabbed Samantha's hand.
"Come on Samantha. Malfoy needs to go cause more trouble," Hermione tried to keep her voice even and hauled her cousin up the street.
A block later, all four were laughing hysterically. Ron was crying and was bent over double, while Harry had his glasses off wiping his eyes.
"Samantha, that was the best show I have ever seen. Malfoy won't know what hit him…oh, and with you being a Muggle….," Ron threw his head back, taking huge gulps of air.
"Well, after that exchange, I think I would like some tea. It's hard work acting, it is!" Samantha smiled and saw a place across the way. Harry glanced over his shoulder and shook his head at Hermione, ever so slightly. Bad memories, that place.
"Listen, why don't you two go in there, and Harry and I will walk around a bit. We can meet you back here in an hour or so," Hermione suggested, which was immediately accepted and they split up across from Madam Puddifoot's.
Chatting about what just happened with Harry, Hermione steered them towards a hill, and a certain shack, right at the edge of town. She wanted to talk to him, to see where he thought "they" were going as a couple.
They walked next to each other, no hand holding, no arms around each other, but occasionally pushing each other around
and bumping into each other. After walking out of the town, Harry began to wonder what she was up to and when he asked
her she just smiled and told him to follow her. Harry really didn't mind watching her in her pink pants climb up
the hill… up over the rocks, then he recognized now where she was taking him. He could see the Shrieking Shack in the
distance, but suddenly she stopped and turned.
"Let's sit here for a minute," She sat down on a flat stone and he sat next to her. It was warm and breezy, so he stretched out and put his hands behind his head.
"Much better than last time we were up here," He mumbled and felt a shadow fall over his face. He opened his eyes and saw her blocking the sun, as she gazed down at him.
"What?" he asked, eyes searching her face.
"I didn't do it," he joked and she laughed.
"You aren't in trouble, Harry."
"I know…I know you want to talk." He closed his eyes, but not before he could see the surprise register on her face.
"And how do you know that?"
"I am Harry Potter…I know all," he gave a small smile and felt his shoulder get slapped, but quickly he reached up and grabbed her hand, before she could pull away. "Be careful, Hermione. If I can catch a small walnut sized ball, I can certainly catch you." He opened his eyes and stared straight at her. He threaded his fingers through hers and didn't let go. For a moment, Hermione forgot why she was there, staring into his green eyes, which seemed very expressive at the moment.
"Took you six years to catch me, Harry," she said softly. Harry propped himself up on his elbow, letting go of her hand.
"Hermione, I kept every good feeling or thought I had buried deep inside of me for almost six years, but you need to know that you were the hardest one to try and keep at bay. Voldemort knew that he could use you to get to me," Harry said seriously, not removing his eyes from her face.
"Why?" the word popped out before she could stop it, even though she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.
"He always tried to get into my head and I didn't want him to get any good memories, but the times I fought him, every single time, your face and Ron's would come up and give me the energy and the motivation I needed to try and defeat him. If he knew that you guys were my 'weapon' than he would have taken you from me." Harry sat up and grabbed her by the shoulders. Hermione wasn't really prepared for him to start this discussion, all the thoughts and questions she had were just thrown out the window. What he had just said though, wasn't a big surprise. She had an idea that she and Ron were some part in the grand scheme of Voldermort, but never really knew how much.
"Ok, but he is gone now," Hermione reached over and pushed his bangs away, looking at his scar for a moment. "Where does that leave us?" she whispered.
Harry felt that familiar feeling of protectiveness come over him regarding her…he knew he didn't have too anymore, but it was who he became.
"It leaves us here," he spread his hands and arms out to either side of him.
"I want to just let everything out but I can't. I still feel very protective of you and I keep pushing what I feel down just because it is what I have done for six years." He cupped her face with his hands, "Do you understand that?"
'Where was all this insightfulness coming from?', Harry wondered to himself. 'Damn, but it sounded good!'
"I understand that. I just wonder where this leaves us. Are we-," Hermione stopped for a moment, trying to believe that she was just about to ask her best friend this question (she was in that alternate universe again). "Are we a couple? How do we act at school?" she felt Harry's hands slip back to her shoulders, then trail down to her hands, where he took them in his own.
"I would like it if we were a couple, Hermione," Harry said quietly. "I've wanted nothing more for the past year, but I'm not used to getting what I want, so this is new to me." He looked down a bit embarrassed. "You're so different in the summer, Hermione; I don't even know what to think about school."
"Harry, this is me. What you see…," Hermione stood up and gestured to herself. "You and Ron view me as the book to my nose girl, that I know all the answers; that's what you want me to be."
"We do?" Harry was confused now and stood up with her. "Why?"
Hermione shrugged. "After realizing how much I liked school after the first year, you would ask me questions, make comments about the library and I guess I just liked the comfortable role I was in at school. But, believe it or not, I like to talk about other things. I like to walk with you, feeling your arm around me," Hermione looked up at him and set her hands on his waist. "At school, we just never let it happen."
"Because of me," Harry looked down the hill at the shack then back at her.
"Not you, Voldemort. But he is gone and we are here, so if this is going to go somewhere we have to let it, we have to acknowledge it. I don't think we can be all kissy here, now, then ignore each other at school in September, thinking we can go back to the way it was."
"I don't want that," Harry laid his hands on her waist and pulled her towards him. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck.
"So, we can take the teasing we will get from Malfoy?" Hermione asked, fiddling with the back of his hair. Harry nodded.
"And you will be able to turn down all the girls that run after you?"
"What? Girls don't-," Harry started to say but Hermione shushed him with a kiss, a light feathery kiss on his lips. She pulled back.
"Think we could do that in the common room before bed in front of Seamus, Neville, Lavendar or RON?" she stood up on tiptoe again and kissed him a bit harder, then turned and ran toward the Shrieking Shack.
"Now, you have to catch me, one more time!" she taunted and Harry took off at a full run after her. The shack wasn't so scary to them anymore; they had been there in their 3rd year, and even walked around a bit last year. Harry raced after her, closing in on her quickly.
It didn't take long for Harry to catch up with Hermione and when he did, he picked her up off her feet and threw her over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put me down," Hermione laughed, trying to hit him.
"I caught you fair and square," Harry walked up to the shack and pushed open the squeaky door. He went into a dusty room and carefully set her down, putting his arms around her. "But, now that I have you what should I do with you?" he grinned down at her.
"I can't shove you back in the box like the snitch." He walked her backwards towards the wall.
"I can't put you in the closet like my broom." He pushed her slightly against the wall.
"So, what SHOULD I do with you?"
Hermione just stared at him, wondering if THIS is what he had been pushing down so deep inside himself. This side of
him was truly different and very much something she liked.
"Well, since you did catch me, I guess you can do whatever you want." Hermione whispered to him, her hands circling around his waist. He smiled at her and brushed her lips with his thumb. She closed her eyes for a moment, then felt his lips on hers. Oh, Merlin…Hermione thought as she felt his tongue slip inside her mouth.
She felt his hands on her hips and felt one slide up, under her shirt and over to her stomach. His thumb drew small circles right above the waist of her pants and she felt his hand slowly move up. He kissed her harder and pressed her against the wall, feeling all those years of hidden feelings coming up to the surface. He could feel her bare arms wrapped around his neck as she returned his kiss and he could feel under his hand how fast she was breathing. He moved his lips from hers and left a soft trail of kisses down her cheek, under her ear and down to her neck. He snaked an arm around her back and pulled her to him, feeling the graceful curve of her back. He nuzzled her neck and stopped there for a moment, his other hand on her ribcage, under her shirt. Briefly, he wondered how his hand got there.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered in an unusually husky voice. "Something wrong?" she felt Harry pull his lips away from her neck and moved so he was staring into her eyes. Their noses almost touching.
"No," he was trying to rein in those feelings again…it seemed it took less and less fooling around to get him to the point where he thought he might push her to far. "I was just thinking if this is what I really wanted to do when I caught you." He gave a sly smile to her and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Maybe you need to think about it some more." Hermione caught on pretty quickly, she brought her hands to the front of his button down shirt. Her fingers unfastened the first one and he glanced down at her, a surprised look on his face. This power play tag-you're-it was getting interesting.
"I'll just occupy myself while you think…," she whispered as her fingers moved to the second button, slightly shaking from nerves that she never knew she had. Harry just stood there, not saying a word. He wasn't stupid…here was a beautiful girl unbuttoning his shirt and he wasn't going to stop her; he wasn't going to remove his hand from her ribcage either. By the time she got to the last one, she looked up and met his eyes. She laid a hand on his chest, marveling at how smooth it was, how lean he was. She ran both of her hands up his chest and across his shoulders, memorizing every bone, every flex of his muscles as she touched him. She slowly ran her hands down his sides and gave him a small pinch…he wiggled and reflexively grabbed her wrists.
"Ticklish? I never knew that about you…," Hermione smiled up at him. He gave a small shrug and leaned down to her ear, feeling her arms move and wrap around him under his shirt.
"There are probably many things you don't know about me, and me about you." He kissed her ear and worked his way back to her mouth, where she accepted it eagerly. He pulled away again, secretly pleased with the little noise she just made, one of pleasure.
"Tell me something I don't know about you." He moved his hand back to the warmth of her skin, under that shirt and moved it up so slowly as he looked down at her.
After pretending to think very long and hard, she came up with, "I like to sing in the shower." Then her eyes widened when she felt where his hand was. She looked at him and he didn't move, trying to figure out if having his hand, under her shirt in a place he never thought he would ever touch was ok with her. She reached up and kissed him, feeling his hand press on her and slowly move, timidly exploring.
Hermione almost forgot to return his kiss, his hand felt so wonderful. 'How did he learn how to do this?' Hermione wondered….she could feel that electric feeling moving up and down her body. She kissed him harder and he responded by moving his hand and tangling it in her hair…he loved the feel of her hair in his fingers. Every nerve ending she had was on fire and tingling all at once, she just wanted to sink to the floor and hold him right there.
Harry let his hands travel slowly over her body, over her arms, down her back and lightly down her pink capri's…which brought out the most interesting movement out of Hermione yet. He could feel himself teetering on that edge of reason and pure emotion and knew that they would probably both soon lose control if he didn't back it up a few paces. He pulled away, trying to catch his breath.
"Hermione, we can't…," he started to say, then let out a nice expletive, running one hand through his hair while the other was still around her back.
"What?" She was leaning up against him, hands flat on his bare chest, her posture and the look on her face was so new to him, he had no idea how to react to her.
"We are going to have to talk about us doing this, Hermione, because I can't control myself well around you," Harry said in a rush. "I don't want to do anything you don't want me to do." He rubbed locks of her hair between his fingers, not meeting her eyes as he talked to her.
"Harry, me neither…but, my one weakness seems to be you." She smiled up at him. "I have never been like this with a guy before, so everything is new to me too." She laid her head on his chest, loving the feel of his skin under her cheek, the smell of him…control Hermione, try to keep calm! She thought to herself.
"Yeah, this is definitely new…," Harry agreed and they stood like that for awhile, both trying to get their emotions, and hormones, under control. He could have held her there forever, but when he heard the the familiar sounds of the house grow louder he reluctantly pulled away and started buttoning up his shirt.
"We should probably go find your cousin,." Harry tucked his shirt back into his shorts and Hermione straightened out her shirt. Together they left the Shrieking Shack and headed down the hill, towards town, this time holding hands.
They met up with Ron and Samantha outside of Honeydukes, where they were sharing candy out of a bag. Samantha told them all bout tea, going into some of the stores and how she was just totally floored but some of the things the wizarding world had. Strange animals, talking mirrors, colored owls at the post office of all things!
"It's like a fairy tale!" Samantha chewed on a piece of candy thoughtfully, trying to figure out the flavor
"Do you have a prince?" Hermione asked and got the evil eye from her cousin. Hermione just shrugged and tried to keep and innocent look on her face.
"Inquiring minds want to know," Ron said lightly, but studying her pretty intently at the same time. Samantha didn't look up at anyone, just kept looking at her piece of chewy candy.
"No one right now as Hermione knows." Samantha gave her cousin another glare.
"What?" Hermione asked smiling slightly.
"Sod it Hermione…," Samantha whispered to her.
"Ok girls…no fighting now." Ron smiled, "Unless there is a catfight involved?"
Samantha playfully slapped Ron's arm who pretended to be hurt. He threw his candy wrapper in the trash and turned around.
"We waited for awhile for you…where were you?" Ron asked, eyeing Harry.
"Busy," Was all Harry would say, trying not to smile. Samantha winked at Hermione and Ron just shrugged with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Ok you love birds…what do you all want to do next?" but Ron didn't get any further as two wizards came up talking excitedly.
"Harry? Harry Potter?" they grabbed his hands and shook them vigorously. "We are so grateful for what you did! We can now live in peace, thanks to you!" they topped their wizard hats and set off down the road whispering excitedly. More people began to take notice of the-boy-who-lived standing near Honeydukes and soon Harry was surrounded by witches and wizards, and many of them children, asking questions and shaking his hands.
Samantha just stared and looked at Ron.
"What did he do to get all this attention?"
Ron looked down at her. "Hermione hasn't told you has she?" he saw her shake her head.
"Harry is also known as the-boy-who-lived and is somewhat of a hero in our community." Ron answered vaguely, now pulling her back from the crowd. Hermione came over and said it was time to leave, since they now wouldn't be able to walk anywhere. Harry said thank you and waved to everyone and apparated by himself back to his house, followed closely by the other three.
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"What WAS that about? Is anyone going to tell me why Harry is so famous?" Samantha demanded, hands on hips. She glared at Hermione and Harry sitting next to each other on the couch and Ron stretched out on the floor. She saw them look at each other and back at her, no one really saying anything. Samantha stomped her foot impatiently and glared down at Ron.
Ron grinned up at her. "You are cute when you are mad, you know that!" she just scowled at him and he shrugged. "I think we should probably tell her, because she'lll hear it eventually."
Hermione looked at Harry who nodded. Sighing she reached over and pushed his hair out of the way.
"Do you see his scar?" Samantha walked over and looked at Harry's forehead.
"He got that when he was a baby; his mother died trying to protect him from the Dark Lord, Voldemort. He's the only one that has ever lived that has been at the other end of Voldermort's wand…," Hermione began as Samantha took a seat next to Ron.
"Both his parents died trying to fight Voldermort, so he was taken to his aunt and uncle's house, Muggles like you, to live until he was 11…," and so began the telling of Harry's life to someone who had never heard it. Hermione had to give Samantha credit, she didn't interrupt once or make any move to leave. She did wipe her eyes and accepted a tissue that Ron offered her; Hermione had to stop a few times and Ron took over as she became too emotional to describe how she felt. Harry remained quiet mostly, keeping an arm around Hermione and occasionally hugging her, listening to the story of his life.