1. Blessing in Disguise

A/N: Hey y’all, I’m working on Lose You as we speak, have about two pages written and some…revelations start making their way to the surface. This one popped up a couple of days ago during my Trig class so here it is. Really short but blame the muse, not me. Colors and whatnot same as before.

“Blessing in Disguise”

“Not again. This time it’s all my fault!” Hermione muttered as she paced back and forth in front of the Hospital Wing doors. Madame Pomfrey came out and said “He’s fine, just sleeping.” As soon as she said the word “fine”, Hermione rushed past the medi-witch and sat by his bed, holding his hand, just like any other time.

“I’m sorry, Harry. If only I’d been more precise--” she said as she remembered what happened to send him there.

“Protego!” Hermione said, putting up a hasty shield as The Boy-Who-Lived sent a Splicing Curse at her. In retaliation, she sent “Stupefy Minimus” , a spell to stun only the hit part of the body rather than the whole person. Unfortunately, she missed her mark by mere inches and instead of his shoulder, hit his chest.

If it had been anyone else, then Hermione would have been rational and cast “Ennervate”. But it wasn’t. It was Harry she hit, she wouldn’t admit it to Merlin himself, but she had fancied… ‘Oh bugger it. I love him and now I’ve hurt him’

She sat for awhile, watching him sleep, knowing he needed it despite his protests otherwise. Sometime later, she sighed and asked no one in particular, “How did my life get so screwed up? I dated one friend and love the other while he dates my ex-boyfriend’s sister. Merlin knows I’ll never be able to tell you to your face, but I really do love you, and to be honest, I don’t have the slightest idea when, how or why, just that I do.”

Just before she started talking, Ron quietly slipped inside, so as to not wake Harry. When he heard Hermione’s voice, he almost said something, but he heard something in her voice that stopped him, so he stood there, listening to her being more honest than he could remember her being while they dated the three days their relationship lasted. And when he heard Hermione tell the raven-haired wizard the one thing he, himself, thought he wanted to hear all his life; a flash of relief flew through him and for the first time in several years, Ron Weasley had the emotional range of a soup ladle. He realized that he liked the idea of a girlfriend, so naturally he attached that to Hermione, and didn’t actually fancy Hermione. Then a baritone voice interrupted both people’s thoughts and surprised them.

“I love you too ‘Mione.” Harry said as he squeezed her hand. Ron slipped out as quietly as he slipped in, going to find a blonde Ravenclaw, without really knowing why.

“Harry! How long-- how much did you hear?” she asked, suddenly embarrassed, her voice dropping to a bare whisper.

“Everything. At first I was tired and tried to go to sleep, but when you started talking, I stayed awake and listened. I always try to do that now. I didn’t say anything because I knew you didn’t want me to know, and I liked it this way with you and me here, and no one talking. But when you said you loved me, I had to tell you that I felt the same way.” he said, sitting up and pulling her to sit next to him on the bed. She snuggled close and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Harry. If only I’d been more precise--” she started to repeat, but was silenced by a single finger on her lips.

Harry turned her to look at him and said, “If only I’d listened to you last year, we’d have more help now. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s a part of life and no one, even you, is nor can be expected to be perfect. Okay? Besides, would you have told me you loved me otherwise?”

“Probably not.” she replied in a small voice.

“Okay then. Consider this a blessing in disguise. Better?” he asked, caressing her cheek softly.

She nodded her head, looking deep into his emerald eyes with her own chocolate ones, before his gaze slipped to her lips while hers unconsciously did the same to his. As though making a decision together, they began to move their lips to each other in the softest and gentlest, but powerful and meaningful kiss that seemed to last forever but really only lasted a few minutes.

When they broke apart, Hermione returned to her previous position at his side, head on his shoulder, but one glance at them could show the glow of happiness and love that surrounded them.