Isn't this incredible? I've managed another chapter. In time! Ooooh! Isn't it amaaaaazing? I'm still having way too much fun with this; it's incredible how much time I've spent on this thing… Maybe I'll manage this well with my future fics… Erm. Yeah, one can only hope.
Now, it seems as some people still don't understand why Harry isn't "responding" to Hermione coming on to him, so I thought I'd share my thoughts about this with you all:
Harry has, at least to me, a lot of integrity. Hermione isn't really in her right mind and Harry knows that. He'd rather die than willingly use her. And let's say Harry did take advantage of her, and Hermione remembers that when she comes too… Well, how'd you feel? Would you really be okay with that? Do you think Hermione would be okay with that? No, she probably wouldn't, and Harry knows that as well.
Plus, he's a bit scared to cross the boundaries. If he and Hermione don't work out, where will they be then? Will they be able to go back to the friendship they had before? Harry isn't so certain, and he desperately needs Hermione. So he stays to what he knows is safe: friendship.
And, alas, I have some bad news for you all. I'm going back to Sweden tonight, which means while I do have the chapter almost finished right now, I won't be able to post the next chapter until at least Saturday. Maybe not even until Sunday. Sad isn't it? I'm going to miss typing on this… Now, I better remember to e-mail this file to myself, or else you'll have to wait for another half year for the next chapter. I think dad's planning on leaving the laptop here in our apartment in Belgium.
Oh, and as a fun fact: I'm not so good at coming up with designs for dresses, so as I thought up Hermione's red dress (you'll know which one I mean) I made a quick search for it on google. If you have time, google "red dress" (without the ""). The first image that appears is the dress I used as model for Hermione's.
As always, I hope you enjoy the chapter (and if you read it slowly, it might last until I manage to upload the next chapter…)!
Cheers!
Chapter four: Realisation
Hermione was practically bubbling with happiness.
Oh, how she loved Harry. She almost giggled at the thought. She missed him terribly, of course. After all, it had almost been three hours since the last time she'd seen him. Oh, how she longed to see him, kiss him and draw her finger through his messy, black, silky hair…
She smiled almost hungrily at the thought.
And that kiss they had shared yesterday had been sweet, wonderful, extraordinary… perfect. She smiled dreamily at the memory and threw her trunk open. Harry was so wonderful…
She wanted him to do something special for him. Something which would make him notice her more… She rummaged through her trunk, throwing out one garment after another before seating herself on her bed with a huff.
How could she make Harry notice her more if all she had was her usual knee-length skirts and an occasional pair of pants? No, she needed something better than that.
She picked up her yellow sun-dress, which she usually wore during summer, with a smile. Maybe she didn't have any impressive clothing right now, but she wasn't called `the brightest witch of her age' for nothing. She was sure she'd manage to whip up something…
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Harry wasn't really sure if he dared to walk down the stairs to the common-room. He closed his eyes for a moment as he walked down, praying to whoever was up there that Hermione would be back to normal.
But, he'd barely managed to set is foot inside the common-room before a loud cry of happiness reached him.
"Harry!" Hermione began running towards him, and his breath got caught his in his throat.
She was wearing a dress he'd never seen her wear before, and he probably wouldn't ever again. It was red and silky… It reached almost all the way to the floor, but a good part of her legs were still visible through the slit, though. The thin straps showed off her shoulders quite nicely and probably a lot more of her chest than she would have allowed under normal circumstances.
She'd done something to her hair, too. It didn't look as bushy as usual. It wasn't completely straightened either, rather more curly than anything and it flowed freely over her shoulders.
And she wasn't wearing any makeup either, he realized as she came closer. Something he was very happy for. He preferred girls, especially her, natural.
In other words, she was looking completely and utterly breathtaking.
"Oh, Harry. What took you so long, my darling? I've missed you so much." She flung herself at him, leaping up into his arms. Harry wasn't given much other choice than to hold her.
Harry stared upwards with a grunt. "You hate me, don't you?" he grumbled quietly, carefully letting Hermione down from his arms.
Hermione smiled widely and gripped his arm tightly. "Look everyone," she squealed happily, "it's Harry!"
Everyone in the common-room turned and proceeded to gaze them both quizzically.
"Uh, hi." Harry muttered, giving a short wave.
The Gryffindors continued to stare at him for a moment before returning to their own business.
"Hermione, come with me. We have to talk."
She smiled widely. "Oh yes, we do. I have so much to say." Her hands travelled upwards to his shoulder.
Harry cleared his throat and gripped her hands, dragging her to a deserted table. "Listen, Hermione. You're not in control."
She sighed wistfully, staring at him with big dreamy eyes. "Oh, I know. For the first time in my life-"
He groaned. "No, no. Listen, you aren't acting normally." He took off his glasses, wiping them on his sweater tiredly.
She crossed her legs and leaned forward, staring into his eyes. "You've so beautiful eyes. They're almost as green as emeralds… I could stare at them all day."
Harry quickly slipped his glasses back on his face. "Hermione, please! Focus! I need you to help me figure out what's happened. Please. Concentrate."
She stared at him, dreamily. "Okay."
Harry frowned, not at all convinced. "Good. Now, it all started yesterday around dinnertime." He seated himself.
"I remember."
He massaged his temples in a desperate attempt to think. Hermione had always been better on logic than he had. "Maybe it was something you ate…" he muttered. "No, this happened before dinner… something you ate at lunch?"
Hermione seated herself in his lap and began playing with his hair. "I had some fish with potatoes and you ate eggs, bacon, fries and some salad on the side. Mostly cucumber and carrots…" she stroked his chin gently.
Harry stared at her, shocked that she remembered. Merlin, he didn't remember what he ate. He shook his head. "What else? We went to class you helped Neville with his potion…" He groaned. "Neville's potion." He rose.
Hermione gripped his hand tightly. "Where are you going?"
"To see if I can find Neville."
"I'll go with you."
"Hermione, I'm going to the boys' dorm. You aren't allowed there." At her crestfallen face he quickly added. "Besides, I'll be back soon."
She pouted. "Cross your heart and hope to die?"
He sighed wearily. "Scouts honor."
She hugged him tightly.
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To be continued…
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