"FEELINGS FINALLY REALIZED"
A/N: I OWN NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS, THEY BELONG TO JKR.
CHAPTER 2 - THE MYSTERIOUS POWER OF LOVE
Harry was soaring higher and higher into the beautiful cloudless sky straddling his trusty Firebolt. He had just caught the Golden Snitch for about the twentieth time. It almost wasn't a challenge anymore. He had been practicing with his teammates, enjoying this beautiful spring day.
As he clutched the snitch in his right hand, he made a slow bank to the right and nosed his broom downward to head back to the Quidditch pitch. He felt so free and alive when he was flying. He felt so happy, now that all the stress and pressure had been lifted from his shoulders. He could start living again.
He thought to himself, Yeah, flying and Quidditch are what I love most in the world.
But after he thought that, something else came rushing into his mind.
Wait a minute, Harry Potter, aren't you forgetting someone that you love? a little voice seemed to be saying in his head. The realization finally hit him and caused him to actually stop in flight, hovering in place on his broom.
How could he have forgotten Hermione? The one person who had stayed with him, helped him, and comforted him through the most horrible of times he'd been through the last seven years. He had been horrid to her at times, yet she still remained faithfully by his side.
As he headed towards the field and his teammates, he thought to himself, Why has it taken this long for me to realize I'm in love with Hermione? Hermione? HERMIONE!
Harry looked at his watch and was greeted with a digital 4:15 p.m.
"Oh bloody hell, I'm late!"
Harry tore away from the Quidditch pitch at full speed, leaving his teammates dumbfounded. Ron was the first to speak.
"Oy, what's wrong with Harry?"
"I think he's late for an appointment," Ginny Weasley softly chuckled to herself.
Ron looked at his sister, somewhat puzzled.
"It must be bloody well important."
"It is," Ginny said.
Harry knew a course to the lake that would allow him to come up behind Hermione. He was hoping to have a bit of fun and sneak up on her. He'd probably pay for it but he didn't care.
Harry was flying low to the ground in an effort not to be seen once he cleared the trees, which were a bit of a distance from the lake. This way he could approach Hermione and surprise her.
Harry couldn't wait to talk to her and tell her how he felt. He couldn't believe it. For the first time in his life he was completely and utterly happy.
As Harry cleared the trees his heart went ice cold. He never believed in Divinations, but the overwhelming feeling of dread hit him like a Bludger. In the distance he could see Hermione facing off with someone, even at that distance he knew it was Malfoy. Somehow, deep inside, he knew Hermione was in mortal danger, and willed his broom to go faster than it ever had.
Harry had drawn his wand but knew he was too far away to do anything. He was in such a panic he didn't know what to do. His emotions were running rampant, building up inside of him. All he could think of was that he was going to lose Hermione, and she would never know how much he loved her. He had to do something to save her, but what?
Harry was beside himself trying to figure out what he could do to save Hermione's life. The pressure was building up inside him to the point that he felt as if he was going to burst. But the next thing he saw made him realize he was out of time.
Hermione had slapped Malfoy. Harry knew this was it and he was helpless to do anything to stop it. Then Malfoy raised his wand.
As Harry saw Malfoy's wand come up, something quite amazing happened. At the moment he thought he was going to lose Hermione, the strongest, all encompassing feeling of love rose up in Harry such as he had never experienced before. He felt as if he were going to explode.
At that moment, he aimed his wand at Malfoy and without uttering a word, a huge ball of intense purple light was propelled from his wand. He saw the light impact Malfoy, but at the same time he saw Hermione crumple to the ground. His mind instantly filled with horrible thoughts.
He'd been too late to stop Malfoy.His own spell had killed her because she was too close to his target.
Harry's mind was racing out of control. He couldn't think coherently anymore. He just knew he had to get to Hermione.
He finally touched down and ran the rest of the way to her. He dropped to his knees and cradled her in his arms rocking back and forth. Tears were streaming down his face. Harry finally let his emotions out.
"Hermione, please don't be dead. Please don't be dead. I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was trying to protect you."
In his state, he hadn't noticed that Hermione had regained consciousness, and was listening to him pour out his soul.
"Hermione, please don't be dead. How can I tell you that I love you? I always have. I was just too thick to realize it. You were always there for me, and all those times I treated you badly, you stayed by my side. Oh, Hermione, I love you. Please wake up."
In a very weak voice, Hermione finally spoke.
"Harry, you love me?"
Harry stopped ranting and looked down at the young woman in his arms.
"You're alive!" he exclaimed with a huge smile on his face.
She asked again, not believing what she had heard.
"Harry, you love me?"
Harry looked directly into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes.
"Yes, Hermione Granger, I love you."
Tears started rolling down her cheeks.
Harry was confused. Then he thought, You idiot, maybe she doesn't love you.
But, if Harry had doubts about Hermione's feelings, she put them to rest forever. Hermione looked Harry square in his emerald green eyes.
"Harry Potter, I love you with all my heart and soul, and I will always be with you."
Harry couldn't believe what he just heard. The young woman he loved more than anything else in the world, more than life itself, felt the same way about him. He had never experienced such happiness in all his life.
Hermione made a feeble attempt to touch his cheek, but this movement caused her to cry out in pain. This sound snapped Harry's attention back to Hermione's physical state. He desperately needed to get her to the hospital wing, and quickly. He gently scooped her up in his arms and carried her all the way back to the castle. Hermione attempted to protest, but was in no condition to win her argument.
Harry burst into the main entrance to the castle with Hermione in his arms. Professor McGonagall, standing nearby, turned with a start.
"Mr. Potter, what's the meaning of this?"
Seeing that Hermione was injured, a worried look appeared on her face as she asked Harry what had happened. He explained quickly to the professor that Draco Malfoy had attacked Hermione, and had tried to kill her. With that news she instructed Harry to take Hermione to the hospital wing straight away and she would meet them there after she went to get the headmaster. He then turned and raced up the stairs towards the infirmary.
He burst through the front doors of the infirmary, severely startling Madam Pomfrey.
"What do you think you're…" she started to say, but she saw Hermione and the state she was in. "Potter, bring her over to the examining room."
Harry moved quickly followed by the infirmary head. He gently laid Hermione down on the examining table, wincing every time she moaned in pain. As Madam Pomfrey visually inspected Hermione she asked Harry what had happened. When he explained what had happened Madam Pomfrey turned white as a ghost.
"You'll have to leave now while I finish examining Miss Granger."
Harry looked directly into Madam Pomfrey's eyes and said firmly, but gently, "I've almost lost Hermione too many times already. I'm not going to leave her."
Hermione looked at the infirmary head.
"It's alright, he can stay," she said weakly.
Madam Pomfrey thought about protesting, but something told her not to push the subject. She did tell Harry not to get in her way, though.
Madam Pomfrey produced a wand from her robes and held it over Hermione. She said a few words Harry didn't understand. A pale blue light illuminated the tip of her wand. She slowly ran the pale blue light over every square inch of Hermione. Harry sat impatiently waiting, hoping that Hermione was all right.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, the exam was complete. Madam Pomfrey gave her findings.
"She has quite a few bumps and bruises, and a right nasty cut on her lip. Otherwise, she is fine."
Madam Pomfrey walked over to one of her many medicine cabinets where she produced a plain brown bottle and a glass. She brought them over to Hermione where she poured some very foul looking yellow/green liquid into the glass. She handed it to Hermione.
"Drink all of this. It's a general purpose healing potion, guaranteed to take care of your bumps, lumps, and the cut on your lip."
Hermione started to drink the potion, made a face, but finished all of it. While sitting on the examining table, she could feel the potion working, the aches and pains were already subsiding and the cut on her lip was gone.
Harry walked over to Hermione and gently held her hands in his, and looked deeply into her brown eyes.
"How do you feel?" he asked softly.
"Much better now," she said with a smile on her lips. They just remained frozen there, staring into each other's eyes.
Before Madam Pomfrey left them, she told Hermione that she was a very lucky girl.
Still looking into Harry's beautiful green eyes Hermione said, "I know."
In the next instant they were distracted by Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore rushing into the infirmary.
As the professors made their way towards Harry and Hermione, it was the headmaster who spoke first.
"Important things first, Miss Granger, are you all right?"
"Yes, Headmaster. I had a few bumps and such, nothing serious. Madam Pomfrey has already taken care of everything."
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore exclaimed, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles. Turning to Harry he inquired as to his condition, to which he told the headmaster he had never been better.
Dumbledore looked at both of them, his blue eyes positively glowing.
"Now that we have determined that everyone is fine, if you feel up to it, I'd like for us to adjourn to my office. I promise I won't keep you long."
They both acknowledged that they were up to it.
Harry and Hermione exited the hospital wing and made their way to Dumbledore's office, hand in hand. In short order they found themselves at the base of the rotating stairs that lead to the headmaster's office.
Professor Dumbledore approached the thresh hold to the stairs and said,
"Chocolate Frogs."
Instantly the rock staircase began to rotate, they stepped onto the stairs and were carried up to the headmaster's office. Once they were inside he bid them to sit. He asked each of them to tell him exactly what happened, and to spare no details. Each one took turns explaining what had happened down to the tiniest detail. When the subject touched on the new feelings they were experiencing for each other, they both blushed.
After everything was said and done, Dumbledore sat at his desk with his long fingers tip to tip. He was quiet for several moments, while he let everything that had been said sink in. Finally, Dumbledore broke the silence, with a voice full of caring and a little sadness.
"Harry and Hermione, I must humbly apologize to both of you for such a horrible experience that you had to endure. None of us had anticipated that Draco had become so unhinged that he felt he could strike back at you in such a manner, especially here at Hogwarts. Also, Harry, I'm thankful to you for being there, to make sure we didn't lose another innocent life."
Hermione looked over at Harry and smiled. Harry caught her glance and locked eyes. He saw her quietly say, "Thank you." All he could do was grin.
"Well," said Dumbledore, startling them back to reality, "I've kept you long enough. If that's everything, you two are free to go."
As they started to leave Harry spoke up.
"Professor, I do have a question."
"Yes, Harry?"
"I was just curious as to what the purple light was that destroyed Malfoy? I never said a word, although I knew what I wanted to say, but I never got a chance. This force welled up inside of me I've never experienced before. It felt so powerful as if I were going to explode. It reached a point where I thought I couldn't stand it any more. Some how I knew it was time and I pointed my wand at Malfoy and the huge ball of purple light shot out."
Professor Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, then answered.
"Harry, I cannot lie to you. I was perplexed when you first told me about the unusual purple light that came from your wand. However, after hearing about how intense your feelings are for Miss Granger, I may be able to answer your question. It's not unlike when your mother sacrificed herself to save you, Harry. Her love for you was so strong it manifested itself into a shield of some sort to protect you. That's why Voldemort couldn't kill you that night."
Hermione was deeply moved hearing that someone could love her so much. She walked up beside Harry and put her arm around his waist and gave him a little hug. He looked at her and smiled.
"In this case," Dumbledore continued,"you had realized that you were truly in love with Miss Granger, you recognized she was in mortal peril, and you had to do something to save her. Your love for her was so strong, it materialized itself into an actual force to be used to save her. Love is a powerful and mysterious force, Harry. We do not completely understand it, and probably never will. You both have had a very trying day. My advice would be to go get some rest and maybe try out some of those new feelings you have for each other."
Both Harry and Hermione blushed. Harry could have sworn he'd seen a mischievous little smile on Dumbledore's face hidden under his beard.
Harry and Hermione slowly made their way back to Gryffindor Tower arm in arm.
"Harry?"
"Yes, Hermione?"
"I'm sorry you had to find out how I feel about you under these circumstances."
"Hermione, you have nothing to be sorry for. It wasn't your fault."
"I wanted it to be special," she added. She tightened her hold on him as they sauntered back to the dorm.
After a moment or two Hermione spoke.
"You don't know how happy you have made me Harry. I was afraid you didn't have the same feelings for me. I felt like, 'how could you love me?' I'm bossy, I'm emotional, I'm a know-it-all, and there's no way I could compete with the pretty girls here at Hogwarts. I look like a troll."
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed.
She stopped dead in her tracks at Harry's outburst. He slowly came around to face her. They stood there staring into each other's eyes.
"Hermione, I don't want to hear you talk about yourself like that again," Harry said softly. His insides were squirming. He'd never been in this situation before. Words kept swirling in his head. He hoped they were the right ones. He guessed he would eventually learn.
"Hermione, to me you are the most beautiful girl in the world."
"Oh Harry!" she cried and tears rolled down her cheeks.
He brought his hand up to brush away the tears from her face. Her skin was so soft. She put her hands around his waist and hugged him. He wasn't sure what to do so he hugged her back.
His senses went into overload with the smell of her hair, the feeling of her soft body next to his, the feeling of happiness and love were overwhelming.
The moment wasn't wasted on Hermione either. She was holding on for dear life, relishing in the new feelings she had. She felt his body close to hers, muscular from years of Quidditch, and the feeling she cherished most of all while in his arms, the feeling of being safe. She knew when she was with Harry no harm could ever befall her.
While hugging Harry, right there in the middle of the corridor to Gryffindor tower, Hermione got a mischievous little thought.
We're learning about our new feelings, she thought, so why not take a chance?
She loosened her hold on Harry just enough so she could lean back and look Harry right in his beautiful green eyes.
Harry locked eyes with his love.
"Are you ok?" he asked. He noticed a mischievous little smile on her lips as she answered.
"Oh, I'm fine. I was just thinking, I haven't properly thanked you for saving my life."
Harry looked puzzled, but before he could utter a word, Hermione leaned up and pressed her lips to his and kissed him. It was like an electrical charge passing through both of them. Harry leaned into Hermione and kissed her back.
Neither Harry nor Hermione had ever experienced such intense feelings as they were now. They increased their hold on each other into a tight embrace, feeling their bodies together. She didn't want to rush things, but Hermione dared to trace Harry's lips with her tongue, to her surprise they slowly parted. Momentarily their tongues caressed each other. Slowly, she worked her hands up to Harry's hair. She slowly started running her hands through his hair and was surprised at how soft it was.
When they finally broke their connection they were both gasping for breath.
"Wow!" was all Harry could manage to say.
"Oh my!" said Hermione, slightly blushing.
They stood there for a moment just looking at each other with large grins on their faces.
Finally, arm in arm, they continued to Gryffindor Tower. As they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Hermione gave the password and the portrait opened up to allow them entry. They noticed, as they entered, that the Common room was empty. They ended up at their usual spot, on the couch by the fire, although a bit closer to each other than they usually were.
They just sat for awhile, enjoying each other's company, with her head on his shoulder, and he, sitting happily playing with one of Hermione's many curls. Harry finally broke the silence.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" she answered softly.
"That was quite a thank you."
Hermione smiled.
"Well, you did save my life, I just wanted to make sure you knew how much I, um, appreciated it."
"Hermione, I don't think there was any doubt that you appreciated it."
Harry saw her blush. He couldn't help but grin. He wished that they could stay there on the couch forever, but he knew that was not possible. They still had school to worry about, after all, it was their final year.
"I hate to bring this wonderful moment to a close, but it is getting late, and we do have classes tomorrow."
Hermione looked into Harry's emerald green eyes with just a hint of sadness.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"I just don't want this to end," she said sadly.
Trying to comfort her, Harry said, "Hermione, my love, this is not ending, this is just beginning."
Harry leaned over and gave Hermione the sweetest of kisses. He leaned back slightly, looking deeply into her beautiful brown eyes.
"I love you, Hermione Granger."
A single tear slid down her cheek as she gazed into Harry's emerald green eyes.
"And I love you, Harry Potter."
They untangled themselves from the couch and made their way, hand in hand, to their respective stairs that lead to their dorm rooms.
"Good night, love," said Harry.
"Good night, Harry."
They kissed once more, then made their way up to bed. There was no need to rush things. They had finally found out how each felt about the other, and that was all that was needed. They had all the rest of their lives to experience the feelings they had for each other.
The End.