Jill Normal Jill 2 194 2003-06-03T21:38:00Z 2003-06-03T21:38:00Z 5 2421 10197 192 32 12586 10.2625 Clean Clean MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Overdrive by Batgirl
A/N: This is my second attempt at fanfiction, hope you like it! I realize that some of the Ron and Hermione moments may be OCC, but just go with it, ok? Let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: JKR is a creative genius, and I have "borrowed" some of her ideas, without permission. I am NOT a creative genius. All praise and accolade should be directed at JKR, without whom none of this would exist. That is all.
All eyes were on him as he approached the stage. Climbing the stairs, he rehearsed his speech in his head. Stepping up to the podium, he looked across the large crowd that was gathered for this momentous occasion. It wasn't every day that the Boy-Who-Lived graduated from the most prestigious wizarding school in all of Britain. He looked at his fellow classmates, their families, the faculty and random faces of the wizarding population. There were reporters from The Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, and numerous other wizarding publications. Several photographers had their cameras trained on him as he took in the crowd. He opened his mouth to speak, and his words were stuck as he found a certain face in the audience. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be here right now, about to give the commencement speech at their graduation. He owed her so much, and he was unsure how to repay her. He winked at her and saw a blush creep onto her face. His face followed suit and he pointed his wand to his throat, whispered 'sonorous', and began his well rehearsed speech.
"Fellow students, faculty, family, friends, and gathered guests, it is my deep honor to be speaking here tonight. It has been a long seven years; it seems as though we were just floating across the lake for the first time, eyeing the mysterious castle of Hogwarts with wonder and awe, thinking of the great adventures we would have and lessons that we would learn within her walls. We have learned together, loved together, suffered together, and grown together. Hogwarts has become my home and the people in it my family." He glanced out to Dumbledore, who had a twinkle in his eye and a tissue in his hand. "I have learned so much about myself and the world as a whole, and I will never be the same. We have all made friendships that are so precious, and formed lasting relationships that will stand the test of time. Now, more than ever, we need to keep these relationships sacred. Fear not about the future, for the future has nothing to fear but us. As we walk away today, diplomas in hand, remember the words that were once spoken to me by a great, great man: It does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to truly live. Thank you," He stepped away from the podium, whispered a 'quietus' and made his way down the stairs. He was lost in thought about plans for later that evening, and the roar of the crowd did nothing to bring his attention back to the present. But when he heard her voice, it snapped him back to attention. She launched herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh, Harry! That was amazing! I can't believe how well you did! I'm so proud of you," she planted a big kiss on his lips, and abruptly pulled away in shock and wonder. He was staring at her with the same look of confusion and wonder on his face. They had never crossed that line of friendship before, and he'd be damned if they never did it again! He reached his palm up to cup her cheek and leaned in for another kiss, this time staying for a good ten seconds. He pulled away, her eyes were still closed, and she had a serene, intensely happy look on her face.
"I have been waiting for that for about three years, Harry Potter," she sighed into his shoulder, still enraptured by the feel of his arms around her shoulders.
"Me, too" he sighed in return, ruffling her hair with his soft breath. "Sorry it took me so long, I'm a prat."
"It's as much my fault as it is yours, I never thought you liked me, so I never gave you any indication that I liked you," she felt a blush creep up to her face, as she noticed that there were several pairs of eyes trained on the two of them. One face had a look of shock, one had a look of amusement, one of anger, one of disappointment, and one of sheer joy. Hermione squeezed Harry's shoulder, and whispered, "I think we have an audience, Harry."
He turned around, and his coloring matched hers as he took in the wide array of emotions on the different faces watching them. Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye as he winked at the couple, the amusement dripping from his face. Hagrid was shocked, he was certain that they would never share their mutual feelings of attraction to each other. The disappointment belonged to Ginny Weasley, she was convinced that she and Harry were destined for each other, but realized as she looked at them that they were not going to be separating any time soon. Sheer joy was shining in the face of a big black dog, his tongue was flopped out, and his tail was going a mile a minute. 'Snuffles' walked up to Harry and Hermione and licked each of their faces in congratulation. He was so happy that his Godson finally realized how madly in love he was with Hermione. The last face belonged to Ron Weasley. He was angry. Very angry. He had liked Hermione for two years now, but was waiting until after graduation to tell her. He was sure that he was in love with her, and thought that maybe she liked him, too. The fact that his best friend was doing that precise thing at that precise moment was too much for him, and he took off running in the direction of the castle.
"Oh, no," Harry wondered whether he should go after him, but thought that maybe that wasn't the best thing he could do right now. Ron looked pretty mad, and if Harry went after him, he was sure that he would return with a black eye, or a bloody nose, or worse. Hermione looked at him, kissed him on the cheek for reassurance, and took off after Ron.
"Ron! Wait up!" She called after him, running into the castle, in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. He didn't seem to be slowing, so she chased him all the way there without a confrontation. Only when he got into the common room did he turn around and face her.
"Hermione. How could this happen? It wasn't supposed to be this way. You are supposed to be with me. Not Harry, not Harry," he sank onto the sofa in front of the fireplace, which was roaring despite the time of year. She sat down next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Ron, I had no idea you felt this way about me. Why didn't you say anything before?" she asked him.
He blushed, sighed, and looked her in the eye. "Well, I don't know, I guess I was afraid you would tell me that you didn't like me like that, and that you were madly in love with Harry. I guess I knew deep down that you liked him, but I never wanted to admit that to myself. As long as I never heard it from you, I could pretend it wasn't true. I'm sorry Hermione. I'm so sorry." He put his head in his hands and tried to calm his breathing. She thought about what he said, and wondered how many other people knew she had liked Harry, and wondered why nobody ever said anything.
"I'm sorry, too, Ron. I won't say that I wish I could change the way I feel about Harry, because I am sure that I love him. I can't just turn that off. I hope that we can still be friends; you mean so much to me. I don't know what I'll do if I lose you," she touched his shoulder, and pulled him in for a hug,
"Thanks, Hermione, I think we can still be friends. I want you to be happy, and if happiness will come with Harry, then I want you to be with Harry. He's my best mate, and I know that he's a great guy. Besides, if he treats you bad, I know where he lives!" He laughed and pulled away from her. "I'm going to go find my family, I'm sure they'll be wanting photographs or something." He got up and exited through the portrait hole. She sat there and watched him, her emotions going into overdrive and taking over her. Ron had changed so much over the last seven years. He was no longer a gangly boy with a large nose. He had grown into his frame, and added muscle to his lean body. He was actually quite handsome, but Hermione had never wondered before why he never had a girlfriend. Now she knew. Tears began slipping out of her eyes, and she didn't see the figure enter through the portrait hole five minutes later. Harry came and sat next to her, pulling her onto his lap, and into a hug.
"'Mione? What's the matter?" He asked her tenderly. She threw her arms around his neck and let the tears fall.
"There is just so much going through my head right now. I mean, I just found out that my best friend has feelings for me, which I return fully, and also that my other best friend has feelings for me, but I do not return those. We just graduated, I haven't decided on a career yet, and I am so confused!" She wiped at her eyes with balled up fists, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He gave her a squeeze and looked into her eyes.
"You know that you could get any job you wanted. Who would turn down the Valedictorian of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? No one with a brain, that's who. And as for these new feelings, just follow your heart. I know that you care about Ron, and I know he cares about you. If I'm not mistaken, I know that he'd want you to be happy above all else, so whatever you decide, you can count on him to be there for you. As for me, you know what I want. I want you to be with me. I want you to come to me at the end of the work day and tell me how it went, I want to see you wake up in the morning, get dressed and ready to go. I want to see you before I go to bed at night, feel your presence as I sleep, and have you there when I wake up in the middle of the night. I love you, Hermione. With all of my heart, I love you." He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. Every dream he'd been carrying around with him for two years was materializing right in front of him.
She kissed him back, amazed by the softness of his lips. She reached her hand up to caress his scalp, beneath his untidy hair. He ran a hand down her side, and around to her back. They sat that way for quite some time, until Harry boldly deepened the kiss by stroking the tip of his tongue against her bottom lip, she gasped at the feeling of it, and he took the opportunity to explore her mouth. His tongue ran along hers, seeking every small nook and cranny. She timidly imitated his actions, feeling dizzier by the moment. Heat was building between them, coupled by the blazing fireplace.
"Oh my goodness! I never dreamed that I would be doing this with HIM. Ok, well, maybe I did dream it, but that's all it was! A dream! This is a dream come true," Hermione's thoughts were going a mile a minute and they all just faded away as Harry's tongue worked magic inside her mouth. He broke the kiss and began running kisses down the side of her jaw, to her neck. He found that spot just where the two places meet, and it sent shivers up her spine. He laid her back against the couch and she squirmed until she was comfortable. They continued as before, forgetting the world around them. Neither one could tell you what day it was, what time, or even where they were. All they knew was right there. They knew that they loved each other, and that was all that mattered.
Harry sat up after a few more minutes, and said, "Mione, I think we should stop, before this gets out of hand. If we get too much further along, I just won't be able to stop, and I don't want my first time to be on the couch of the Gryffindor Common Room. Is that ok with you?" He eyed her slowly, his love for her oozing out of his very pores.
"I think that is a wise decision, Mr. Potter. I would prefer that my first time be somewhere a little more, uh, romantic, and with the promise of something more permanent, if you know what I mean." She grinned at him and sat up as well. She placed a kiss on his lips and got up. "Now, if I am not mistaken, I believe there are a lot of people put there waiting for a chance to congratulate their hero. What do you say we go back outside?"
"I guess so, but I'd rather stay here with you," he smiled at her, and followed her through the portrait hole.
"Well, maybe later, Harry," she said with a devilish grin on her face. Harry could only imagine what she had in mind, and decided that he was the biggest idiot in the world for waiting so long to let her know his feelings. At least he had later to be hopeful about.