The Road Trip

A/N: Yes, yes I know – I should be working on my OTHER unfinished story. But the plot bunny bit me in the ass, so I had to let her out of the cage to bounce around for a while. This situation is taken from real life – my five friends and I are taking a trip to where I usually go on Summer vacation for a weekend, no significant others aloud, and I do like my two (very taken) best guy friends. Some of the stuff is from real life, other stuff is purely fiction. See if you can figure out which is which J

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine, probably not yours (I can’t guarantee you’re not JK Rowling, though I highly doubt you are, no matter what you say.)

~* The Road Trip *~

Chapter One – Perspective on a Suggestion

I have no idea what I was thinking. I mean, it was all spur of the moment. The suggestion just flew out of my mouth before I had a chance to realize what I was asking. I’m still shocked that my parents actually said yes.

It all started one weekend in May. We were allowed to go home to celebrate with our families – after the defeat of You-Know-Who, who wouldn’t have reason to celebrate? – And my parents chose that weekend to get the summer house ready for our annual August visit.

Late that Saturday while planting flowers (well, they were planting – I was watching. My back was kind of injured, but no complaints here – no one was as beat up as Harry after…well…you know…) when my Mum and I started talking about my plans for the Summer…

“I don’t know. Harry, Ron and I were thinking about taking a road trip.”

“A road trip?” Anne Granger asked her daughter, “Where?”

Hermione shrugged. “We’re not sure. We were thinking – hey, wait a minute – didn’t you say that you and Dad might not be able to come up here this year?”

“Yes – we might not be able to get off work since Jemma’s on maternity leave.” Jemma Brown is my Mum and Dad’s co-worker. They all co-run a fairly large dental office so when one of them is out sick, things get pretty crazy.

Anne looked at her daughter suspiciously. “Why?”

Hermione smiled. “What if we don’t take a road trip and come here instead?” I wasn’t really thinking when I spoke the words. Had I been, I would have considered the implications of having this sort of trip and how disastrous it could turn out to be.

“Hermione – not that I don’t trust you all, but – convincing all of their parents to let them go…and all of your friends…”

“It would just be five of us, I promise! Ron could talk his Mum into it – she seems to like you a lot. And it’s not like Sirius doesn’t know me, so Harry should be allowed to go. That just leaves Neville and Lavender, and they’d be able to work it all out with some begging. Oh Mum, please? We’ll pay for everything, even transportation here. We’ll be good I promise.”

Anne Granger looked at her daughter, a look in her eye that clearly stated well you’re not a little girl anymore, so…Anne sighed. “Go ask your father. I have no problem with you all coming here.”

Hermione squealed and gave her mother a hug. “Ooh – thank you thank you thank you thank you! Let me go ask Dad – yes!” Hermione practically ran into the house, her mother yelling behind her, “And no funny business Hermione Elizabeth Granger, do you hear me?”

…And that was the beginning of what has officially been deemed the After-Hogwarts Dream Team Road Trip. Ron had an easy time convincing his mother (my Mum sent her an owl explaining the situation. I love my mommy) and Sirius, though a little hesitant at first (he’s still so protective of Harry. I think it’s sweet. Harry swears he’s going to kill Sirius before he starts Auror training in September…) finally caved and allowed Harry to join in on the fun. Hell, even Neville and Lavender were able to convince their guardians to let them be free for the day. I was shocked, but here I am packing up for a weekend full of fun and care-free friendship. No parents. No professors. (“No homework,” as Ron was gleeful enough to remind me.) Should be the time of our lives, yes?

Sure! Unless you’re me.

Why do you ask? Well it’s not every day that you’re stuck in a house with two of your crushes alone for an entire weekend. No I’m not talking about Neville. Or Lavender.

That’s right, I admit it – I’ve fallen head over heels in like with my two best friends. And the worst part of it is they’re both taken. Ron and a…well, she’s a Sixth Year now named Kerry Ann Morison have been together for over a year. They met at a Quidditch game last May. After two weeks, he asked her out. She said yes. I was heartbroken, but the summer was good for me because I thought I got over him – thought being the operative word in that sentence. Oh how wrong I was. I saw him again in September and it all came flooding back. But he was so happy with Kerry…I couldn’t ruin it for him. So, I kept my feelings to myself (and Ginny who, thankfully, has kept her mouth shut) and went on with my life. I even got a boyfriend, but that didn’t last very long. After about a month, he broke up with me saying that he suddenly realized he didn’t want a serious relationship. I was really upset and really mad all at the same time. I’ve never fully forgiven Justin for that.

And Ron…well….as much as I like him, I know things would never work out between us. He’s like my brother, and I’m like his sister and we’re just not compatible as a couple. But I still like him. Why I will never know…

And then there was the Harry escapade…oh yes, yes, there was an escapade, and what an escapade it was. Let’s just put it this way – he knew I liked him, he only liked me as a friend and it turns out, the only reason he didn’t go out with me was because he “doesn’t want to ruin our friendship.” We got into a fight over a bunch of things that would have blown completely out of proportion had it not been for Ron making us talk out our problems. Everything’s okay now. I even helped him muster up the courage to ask out one of Ginny’s friends (Ginny and he went out for a week in Fifth Year – it was a total disaster that ended mutually. They were- are much better as friends), Anne Caraway. She said yes, of course. It’s been four months now, and he knows I’m not over him, but he keeps quiet about it, and I’m grateful for that.

I have to keep reminding myself not to flirt with Harry, especially considering he constantly flirts back when Kerry’s not around, which throws me because I still like him so much and I’m not quite sure he realizes how much anymore. What kills me is that I know that things could work out so well between us. We just…fit. It’s not like Ron and me. Harry and I…we compliment each other, and…the odds just weren’t in my favor I guess.

But three days with them…I’m going to go insane. Truly. Without a doubt.

Because they’re going to be alone for the weekend. No girlfriends (or boyfriends) allowed – mum’s orders.

This leaves me, Hermione Elizabeth Granger, in a rut as the only person in the house without a partner. Lavender is going out with Dean Thomas, and Neville is going out with Diana Rosenberg, a Ravenclaw. Neither of them are going to be there, but so what? I’m the only single one, and it kills when we’re all out together because I constantly feel like the fifth (or ninth, depending on the occasion) wheel. They all talk about their “significant others” and the fact that I can never join in on the conversation…it kills me. I want to have a boyfriend, but the problem is…I want it to be one of them, my two best friends – and I can’t have them.

A weekend alone with Harry, Ron, Neville, and Lavender. This should prove to be quite an interesting trip…

Chapter Two – Day One: Preparations and Portkey Revelations

I was still packing my bags when Lavender entered my bedroom, smiling and flushed. I took one look at her and rolled my eyes, though inwardly I sighed. “Fun morning at Dean’s I presume – how did you get in here by the way?”

Lavender grinned dreamily. “Correct as usual,” she sighed throwing herself down onto the bed on her back. “I apparated to the yard and walked in – your door was unlocked.” She giggled like a little schoolgirl and Crookshanks jumped into her lap. She pet the cat with a bleary look in her eye. I looked at her as I zipped my bag shut and hoped she didn’t see the pained look on my face. At least one of us is in a happy relationship…

Lavender sat up and fleetingly caught the look on my face and gave me a grin – a grin I have come to call the Evil Lav Smirk. “So, what are you going to do this weekend about Potter and Weasley?” she asked wiggling her eyebrows.

I groaned. She just had to bring that up hadn’t she? Just when I stopped thinking about the disasters that were my crushes (after all, what else is a crush if it didn’t…well…crush you?) she had to go and make me think about them…ugh – sometimes I really hate that girl. “What about them?” I asked nonchalantly, playing it cool. She only knew that I liked both of them – she didn’t know how deep my feelings really ran. With Ron, it seemed like nothing more then something that was a little more then friendly, but with Harry…the feelings ran so deep that I could feel a tugging at my heart every time I saw him pass me in the halls, a feeling in the pit of my stomach so strong it feels like I’m falling if he merely brushes up against me. When he kisses me on the cheek, I still feel tingling for hours after, and when he hugs me…it’s just me and him.

It was becoming more and more obvious that my emotions were going to lead me on a fast road to disaster, especially when one Harry Potter was concerned…

“Hello, Hermione? Earth to Hermione – you alive in there?”

Lavender’s sudden proclamation brought me back down from Cloud Nine and I shook myself, pretending I hadn’t just been lost in a fantasy where I was going out with my best friend. “Yeah – yeah I’m fine.” I went over to Crookshanks and scratched him behind the ears. “You be good for mum, you hear? No biting at her fingers this time if she takes away a mouse.” Crookshanks looked at me with a look that could only be described as exasperation as if to say ‘I’m a cat – chasing mice is what I do.’ I glared at him slightly and pet him some more. “No biting. Got it?” His response was a reluctant purr. Crookshanks leapt down from Lavender’s lap and she stood up and stretched as I threw my bag over my shoulder.

“Ready to go?” She asked a knowing smile on her face.

I ignored it. “Yup.” I grabbed my keys from their hook by the door and shut it. “Just let me lock the front door and we can meet everyone at the back.”

“Why doesn’t your mum do it?” She asked, readjusting the bag on her shoulder as we walked down the stairs.

“She and my dad are at work already. I said goodbye this morning and she just asked me to make sure everything was still locked.” Everything looked okay so I continued to the back of the house where, to my complete shock, Harry and Ron were already waiting. Lavender went over to say hello as I locked the door, heart racing. I closed my eyes and counted to ten. They’re your friends, I thought hoping it would be of some comfort. But of course, it wasn’t.

I jumped as a set of arms made their way around my waist and I spun around to see a set of green eyes looking down at me shining with laughter. “I didn’t scare you did I?”

I glared playfully up at him – he was a full foot taller then me, but I didn’t mind. My shoulder made a good leaning post, or so he said…not that it mattered, no not at all… He just grinned at me and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “How are you?”

“Tired,” I answered honestly. He still hadn’t loosened his grip on me, and the feeling of his hands against my hips was making my knees weak.

“Still not sleeping?” He asked, truthfully concerned. He knew I hadn’t been getting much sleep lately. What he didn’t know was that it was thoughts of him and my love life (or lack-there-of) that were contributing to my insomnia.

“No,” I answered looking up at him. If I stood on tiptoe and he leaned down a bit more, I could almost brush my nose against his. Those lips were just so kissable. I could easily – stop stop stop stop STOP! I scolded myself.

Ron shot me a look over Harry’s shoulder, one that clearly said, ‘stop now before you get hurt.’ And he was right – although Ron was in the deep throes of denial about my pending (but dimming) crush on him, he was not spared any details about my apparent “love” for our mutual best friend. Is it love? Well – that seems to be the sixty-two galleon question isn’t it?

Slowly, I moved away from Harry whose hands lingered a little longer then necessary – or maybe it was just my imagination – on my hips before kissing me on the cheek and walking over to where Neville was standing talking to Lavender.

“Hey ‘Mione.” I glared at Ron but gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek nonetheless. He had started calling me ‘Mione (a nickname I can barely stand coming from anyone but Ginny who started calling me that back in Sixth Year) when he heard Ginny slip and call me one day in the library. He never let me live it down. Well, I suppose it’s better then “little sis” – as if I need reminding that he thinks of me as nothing more then a sister…sigh…

The two of us walked over to where Neville and Lavender were standing. Harry put his elbow on my shoulder. I glanced up at him and he smiled. I smirked and rolled my eyes playing off the clenching in my stomach. Ron put his elbow on my other shoulder, only making matters worse. I didn’t have the heart - or the strength – to tell them to stop because they were killing me. Especially Harry…

“So,” I said, shifting slightly so that I could take the portkey we would be using – an old scarf – out of my bag. I saw Ron’s eyebrow arch and I glared at him, daring to comment. He held up his hands and Harry bit back a laugh. “We’ll portkey to the house and then I’ll show you guys around. I stocked the kitchen full yesterday and the bedrooms are ready for use, so if everyone’s ready…” I held the scarf out and each of them grabbed hold. Harry had to reach around me and I felt a familiar tingle as his arm went around my shoulders and it wasn’t from the pull of the portkey…

I hated myself then because I realized something that I swore I never would.

Ron was right, I thought my heart beating wildly. I’m in love with Harry!

…Oh shit…

A/N: Thanks for all the fantastic reviews! You have no idea how ecstatic I was to open my inbox and see sixteen e-mails there, all reviews for this story – keep it up! Feedback is what keeps me going.

To answer some of your questions, yes, this really is from real life – what Hermione feels for Harry and Ron is what I feel for my two friends (only I’m not in love with them) and I am also in a similar predicament – they’re both taken. The way Harry and Ron interact with Hermione (Ron’s brotherly attitude, Harry being touchy-feely and flirting) is how my two friends act with me, so it’s pretty easy to write their conversations and explain Hermione’s feelings.

And in answer to Sarahkitty’s question – no, the rating will not exceed PG-13. Not this time – sorry :)

Chapter Three – Night One: Stumbling and Wondering

We arrived at the front of the house with a bang – literally. Ron stumbled and ended up pulling the rest of us down with him. I fell with a screech, Harry’s arm still around my shoulders. I was laughing at Neville and Lavender’s good natured yells at Ron before I realized that Harry had fallen on top of me. His face was less then an inch away from mine and my laughter ceased immediately. His arms were braced against my shoulders, my knee between his legs, and he was gazing down at me with a look I had never seen before, at least not directed at me. His eyes shone with confusion, surprise, and – and love. In those few moments, we saw into each other’s souls.

I smiled and laughed breaking our spell on each other. “You going to stay there all day Potter or are you going to let me up?”

Harry smiled and if I were standing, I’m sure that my knees would have been trembling. “Well, you know, you’re just so comfortable,” he said perching his head on his elbow right next to my face. I wanted to kiss him right then and there, but I doubt that would have been such a good idea. Ron, Lavender, and Neville looked on with interest.

I rolled my eyes. “That’s all well and good Harry, but I need to get up so that we can get inside.” To further my point, I tried to push him off me, but he only held me down by my stomach, effectively tickling me and causing me to squeak.

Harry laughed and continued tickling me until I was able to get my hands free and shove him off. Still laughing, I sat up. Harry stood and grinned cheekily. “You know you love it.”

I just glared at him. Okay, so he knows I still like him – no need to tease me about it constantly – he does this all the time! I mean – I know I like you, you know I like you, but there’s nothing either of us can do about it, so just drop the subject! Sometimes, he can just be such a cocky little…thing…

Harry noticed my frustration and offered me a hand, which I ignored. I can stand very well on my own, thanks so much. I wordlessly walked over to the door, muttered a quick “Alohomora” and with a flick of my wand, I led everyone inside. Lavender was giving Harry a look of pure exasperation as she followed me in. I tossed my bag on the sofa. “Okay,” I said, trying to ignore the presence of Harry behind me – a difficult task in itself when he wasn’t leaning on my shoulder. Neville put his arm on my other shoulder and I looked over at him with a grin shaking my head. Okay, so I’m the shortest – do I have to be everyone’s leaning post?

“The dining room is through that door,” I said pointing to my right, “and you can see the kitchen behind us. There are two bedrooms downstairs along with the two bathrooms and there are two beds in the loft, which means that someone has to take the sofa bed. I’ll sleep there if no one else wants to – “

“I’ll take it,” Harry said almost immediately.

I nodded and shrugged. “Okay then, everyone pick a room. I’ll take whatever’s left.”

As it turns out, Neville and Lavender chose the loft, which left me and Ron downstairs. Sure, we had separate rooms, but they were connected by a door in between them that didn’t lock. Not that I cared – nope, not one bit…

I unpacked my bag slowly listening to the laughter coming from upstairs. I heard Annie’s name mentioned, followed by a significant amount of cat calls and whistling. I found myself smiling painfully. He was so happy with her. I was always the constant in his life – the bookworm, the one with all the advice about girls – his best friend. Never anything more.

I threw my empty bag on the floor and closed my eyes. I could feel the tears about to fall, and I balled my hands into fists, willing them to go away.

I turned around when I heard footsteps behind me and opened my eyes. Harry knocked quietly on the door and stepped inside. “Hi,” I said quietly, hoping he wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He asked. His hand was on my arm and I sat down on the bed hoping he wouldn’t follow.

“Nothing,” I lied. I was always a good liar when it came to teachers, even my parents. But my friends always saw right through me – especially Harry.

“Liar,” he said sitting down next to me. I wouldn’t look at him. He put his hand over mine and I sniffled. “I’m sorry about before,” he said finally.

I turned to look at him. “I know. I just wish you wouldn’t rub it in my face all the time, that’s all. You know, I know, everyone knows – just leave it at that. Please?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just – I don’t understand it Hermione. It’s been…” His voice trailed off at the look on my face, a look that clearly stated ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ How many times had he asked me why I liked him, why I wasn’t over him? I always gave him the same answer – I don’t know. Every time, I swore to myself that one day I would tell him the truth.

‘I love you Harry’ I wanted to say, but I knew that I couldn’t. I couldn’t – wouldn’t do that to him, to Annie. They were too happy. I would be miserable, yes, but I could never ruin what they had – it would hurt him too much, and he had been through so much already…

“Harry? Hermione? We’re going to order pizza – what do you want on it?”

“Pepperoni.” “Mushrooms,” we said at the same time. I laughed and shouted, “Pepperoni and mushrooms Lav.”

“You two are so difficult,” Lavender grumbled but made the call anyway.

Dinner went by without incident – jokes were told, comments were made, and teasing was at an all-time high. Talk about relationships was avoided like the plague, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d all discussed the matter beforehand and decided not to mention any of their “better halves” around me. I was grateful, but I wished they wouldn’t pity me like that. I wasn’t a child – I wanted to hear about their personal lives, and I told Ron so that night as he turned down his bed.

“Look ‘Mione,” I glared – I really did hate that name, “It’s not that we don’t want you to know what goes on in our love lives, it’s just that – “

“Just what? Ron, I don’t have a boyfriend – that doesn’t mean I don’t want to talk about how well your relationships are going.” This was true – as much as it hurt, I wanted to know how my friends’ lives were going – was that so much to ask? Apparently so.

Ron sighed and walked over to me. “Look Hermione – we just – we – look, it’s nothing, okay? If you want us to talk about it, we’ll talk about it. But can we talk in the morning – it’s already two and I’m about ready to collapse.”

I nodded reluctantly and he gave me a kiss on the forehead. “Goodnight,” I said with a smile.

“Goodnight,” he paused, “’Mione.” I picked up his pillow and threw it at him. He caught it and laughed as I went into my room and closed the door.

That night, I found I couldn’t sleep. I wanted nothing more then to close my eyes and abandon my thoughts in exchange for dreams, but my mind was running on high, and I couldn’t seem to drift off. After over an hour of tossing and turning, I put on my robe – a fluffy red and gold flannel one that my parents bought me – and went upstairs, tiptoeing through the livingroom where Harry was sleeping to the balcony outside of it.

The air was cool, a soft breeze blowing across the clear night sky. The moon was full. It made me wonder how Professor Lupin was doing. The bright stars reminded me of a certain Astronomy lesson when I finally told Harry the truth. He looked genuinely hurt when he told me that he didn’t feel the same way, that I was an amazing friend – but nothing more. It didn’t hurt as much as it should have at the time, but I felt the pain later. He kept apologizing for weeks, and I kept telling him I was fine until one night I just snapped. I was crying, he was seething, and neither of us wanted to confront the other. Ron finally intervened, Lavender and Neville got us both into a room together, and we talked for hours sorting everything out. Nothing had changed – if anything, we were closer then ever – but I still wanted him – want him, present tense. And he didn’t – doesn’t feel the same.

What could I do besides watch him fall for another girl, encourage him to ask her out, and watch as Annie Caraway became Harry Potter’s new love interest and then his girlfriend. I watched as they cuddled and kissed and held hands and silently wished that it was me he was hugging, me he was kissing – me he was falling in love with.

I leaned on the railing and watched the stars, reminded of what I didn’t have, not aware until days later that Harry was watching me the whole time from the window and knowing that he was the cause of my tears.

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A/N: SO MANY REVIEWS!! *squeals in excitement* Keep reviewing! It’s what keeps me going and the more your review, the faster I write, I guarantee :)

Chapter Four – Day Two: Emotions in Motion

Harry was wide awake by the time I came upstairs the next morning. It was only eight and I had barely slept an hour. Lack of sleep was beginning to give me a terrible headache and I plopped down on one of the stools at the kitchen counter and buried my head in my hands.

“Rough night?” Harry asked. I could see him smirking from the corner of my eye.

Too tired to retort, I merely mumbled, “Coffee, sugar,” I groaned as the light hit my eyes, “and maybe some aspirin.”

Harry poured a cup of coffee and set it down in front of me. I sat up and took a long sip, closing my eyes. “So tired,” I mumbled.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be out on the balcony in the middle of the night then,” Harry said putting butter on his toast.

I nearly dropped my mug. How did he know that I was out on the balcony that night? He was supposed to be asleep! My heart thumped in my chest and I swallowed another sip of coffee before turning to Harry. “I thought you were sleeping,” I said. It was the only response I could think of without asking whether or not he had seen me out there, watched me cry…I didn’t want to know, nor did I want him to worry because there was nothing he could do about it anyway.

“I was,” he said quickly. I quirked my eyebrow and he added, “I just…happened to see you go back to your room this morning. I was up at the crack of dawn myself.”

I just nodded and took yet another gulp of the coffee, the liquid burning it’s way down my throat. “So,” I cleared my throat – it was dry and I was finding it hard to speak without giving myself away. “So – did you sleep well?”

Harry shrugged taking a bite out of his breakfast. “As well as one could on a couch I suppose. The bed didn’t want to fold out – “

“Oh! Right – I forgot to tell you about the latch!” I said, mentally kicking myself – the poor guy had slept on a hard, uncomfortable couch all night while I was in a room with a comfortable bed I hadn’t even used – the irony of it all. I beckoned Harry to follow and watch as I showed him how to pull the mattress out. “You know,” I said moving the cushions, “why don’t you take the bed downstairs? I don’t seem to be getting much use out of it – ow!” I groaned as I rose up from the squatting position I was in and sank down on the couch.

“What’s the matter?” Harry asked sitting down next to me.

“I got up too fast – now I’m dizzy.” I pointed to the kitchen and turned to Harry. “There’s a bunch of potions in that cupboard over there. Could you pull out the one –“

“For headaches?” Harry asked finishing my sentence. He was always able to do that. It was almost as if he could read my mind. Ron could never do that, but Harry was constantly finishing my sentences, voicing my thoughts before I even got a chance to speak for myself.

I nodded. “Sure,” he said, rising. My gaze followed him into the kitchen and I mentally kicked myself. I was getting myself worked up over nothing. It wasn’t my fault though. You can’t tell your heart what to feel, although sometimes, I wish that I could as it would make my life so much easier.

Harry came back into the room and handed me the little vial of purplish liquid. I swallowed it with a grimace and felt the tingling in my head instantly, a sign that it was working. I laid my head back – I hated this part. My stomach always hurt after the potion worked and then I had a ravenous appetite.

Harry sat down next to me and put his hand on my arm. I opened my eyes and looked at him and saw a familiar gleam in them. But that meant that…no, it was impossible. Harry James Potter was hopelessly devoted to Annie Caraway. It was fruitless to even think that there was a chance that he had feelings for…no, the idea was ludicrous. Quit it while you’re ahead Hermione. “What?” I asked.

“Sit up,” he said pulling lightly on my arm.

“Why?”

“Just sit up,” Harry said, laughter in his voice. I looked at him suspiciously but followed his command nonetheless. He turned me around so that my back was to him and he started playing with my hair and rubbing my temples, something he always did when he knew that I was upset. I sighed and leaned back into him closing my eyes, trying not to enjoy things too much.

When his hands started massaging my neck and shoulders, I tensed slightly. Harry noticed and whispered, “Relax,” right next to my ear.

“I can’t,” I said, and it was the truth. If I relaxed, I would do something I would regret, and I didn’t want to do anything at the moment but enjoy being in Harry’s arms.

Harry continued gently pressing down on my shoulders. As his hands moved to my lower back, I only got tenser. What was supposed to be making me feel better was just making me feel dazed and confused. He was making me want to do things one should not want to do with their best friend – their taken best friend at that.

“Hermione, look at me.” I turned around and cast my eyes down at his hands. He tilted my chin up and when I looked into his eyes, I felt my resolve shatter like glass. “What’s wrong?”

“I – “ I swallowed, “I just –“ I became intensely aware of how close my face was to his. If I moved just an inch closer…

I could see his throat working as he moved closer to – wait a minute – why was he moving closer to me? “You just what?” he asked, his lips a hairsbreadth away from mine.

“I just want to – “

I was cut off by a loud banging on the stairs. The two of us sprang apart as if electrocuted in our seats. I looked towards the source of the noise and saw Ron clambering up the stairs rubbing the back of his head. “Stupid wall,” he grumbled.

“Morning Ron!” Lavender called from over the rail in the loft. I looked up and she and Neville waved cheerfully at me. I smiled but inside I was worried – how long had she been awake? Had she seen what just transpired downstairs between Harry and me? Would she say anything even if she had? I prayed to any deity that would listen that she hadn’t seen anything.

Neville walked down the stairs and poured himself a cup of coffee. He clapped Harry on the back and said, “Harry, you got a minute? I need to ask you and Ron a question.” He glanced at me, still sitting on the couch, and Lavender who had just poured herself a bowl of cereal. “Privately,” he added steering both Harry and Ron toward the stairs and down to Ron’s room. Ron protested the whole way, “But I’m hungry!” Neville threw a significant glance at Lavender who seemed to nod minutely while taking a sip of her coffee.

I heard the door shut downstairs and that’s when Lavender picked up her bowl and walked over to me, sitting down on the couch. “So,” Lavender said.

I played with my hands in my lap. “So what?” The only thought running through my head was please say she didn’t see…

Lavender put her bowl down on the table next to her and leaned back crossing her arms over her chest. “You know perfectly well what Hermione Elizabeth Granger,” she said sternly.

“No-no I don’t,” I said, cursing my nervous stutter.

Lavender smirked. “Fine – let me clue you in then. You. Harry. Here. This morning. What in Merlin’s name was that all about?”

She saw us…oh shit…My mind was reeling and I shook my head finally giving in. “I wish I knew Lav. I really wish I knew. I mean, one minute he was just trying to make me feel better and the next minute we were…”

“Kissing?” Lavender offered.

“Almost kissing,” I corrected her, mumbling “Unfortunately,” under my breath.

To my chagrin, Lavender heard and smiled. “Unfortunately?”

There was a short period of silence while I debated how much to tell her. The only person that knew the full story was Ginny. Lavender was known to have a big mouth when her closest friends were concerned, but I needed to get this off my chest, and at the moment, if Neville, Ron, and Harry found out, then so be it.

I launched into a long, drawn out story and told her everything from my crush on Ron dating back to the middle of Sixth Year and my crush on Harry which had only truly developed after Justin broke up with me. I told her how my feelings for Ron were dwindling to a point where I barely felt anything for him anymore, but what I did feel was annoying the hell out of me. She already knew about what transpired in the Astronomy Tower, as well as our fight together, so I skipped those events and cut straight to the point. “I love him Lavender. I love him so much and it scares me and I don’t know – “

“Wait a minute, wait a minute – back up.” Lavender shifted and leaned toward me. “Did you just say that you love him?”

I sighed. “Yes Lav – I love him. I am in love with my best friend, Harry Potter, and he is falling in love with Annie Caraway and wants nothing to do with me, at least not in a relationship sense because… “

“He doesn’t want to ruin your friendship,” she said with me. “I know.” Lavender shook her head. “Hermione, listen to me. Harry may be falling in love with Annie, but who’s to say that he doesn’t already love you? So he said he doesn’t want to ruin your friendship. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he doesn’t harbor any feelings for you beyond friendship.”

“But that’s what makes it hurt so much Lavender,” I said and my voice was shaking as my eyes welled up with tears I didn’t want to let fell. I hated crying in front of people, but at the moment, I wanted nothing more then to curl up in a ball and sob my pain away. “He may…love me, even just a little bit, and he won’t act on it because I’m his best friend and he doesn’t want to lose that. Damnit!” I was yelling now. “Why couldn’t he just act on his feelings? Why did he have to be so fucking worried about what would happen if we broke up?”

I could see the shock on Lavender’s face – I rarely yelled and never cursed. This was a first for her, but I didn’t care. I let it all out. “He was just too scared, but too self-righteous to admit it! So instead he feeds me this bullshit story about our friendship and goes on with his life while I’m tearing apart inside. And then – and this is the top, let me tell you – I help him get a girlfriend. And what does he do in return? He flirts with me all the time and makes me think that he has feelings for me but then – THEN – when she’s around, he acts like I’m nothing more then a friend and leaves me in the dust completely confused and – god damnit I HATE him sometimes!” There it was – everything I had been feeling for months laid bare in my parents’ summer home in front of someone who I never thought I would tell any of it. Irony bites.

Now that I had stopped yelling, I was free to just cry, and I sunk back down onto the couch and buried my face in my hands. Lavender touched my shoulder. “Does he know any of this?”

I shook my head. “No – nothing. He knows I still like him, but that’s the extent of it. I mean, I’ve been…at least semi-okay until this weekend. The flirting, the touching, and then this morning…I don’t know what came over me. I almost kissed him Lav.”

“From what I saw, he almost kissed you,” Lavender said, rubbing my arm soothingly.

I groaned and sat up wiping my eyes. “Don’t remind me. I’m just as confused as the next person about that.” I glanced toward the stairs. I already knew the answer to the question, but I asked anyway. “Is Neville talking to Harry about all this?”

“Yes. We saw Ron coming up the stairs before you heard him and we both decided to talk to you two. We figured it was only fair if Ron was in the mix considering he would be the only one left out.” I heard the door downstairs creak open and Lavender glanced at the stairs and then back at me. She squeezed my arm. “Are you going to be okay?”

I nodded and managed to smile. “Yes. I’ll be fine – promise.”

“Okay.” Lavender smiled and went to meet Neville at the stairs. “Everything alright down there?”

“Yeah – everything’s fine,” Neville said coming up the stairs and starting to make him and Ron breakfast. Unless it was my imagination – and I’m sure it wasn’t – Harry was looking at me very strangely. I squirmed in my seat under his gaze before standing up. “I’m going to go take a walk. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Before anyone could protest or follow, I walked out the door and proceeded to the yard behind the house. In the center, there was an old Cottonwood tree my grandparents had planted years before. I sat down under it and closed my eyes, promptly falling asleep.

A/N: You WILL see the conversation between Harry, Neville and Ron, I promise. I’m writing it as a flashback in the next chapter that Harry is telling Hermione about – it’s the only way I can write it from Hermione’s POV.

A/N: I think I am in a state of shock – four chapters and OVER 100 REVIEWS! *faints* THANK YOU SOOO MUCH to everyone who’s reviewed this story. It really makes my day to see so many people reading and enjoying this so much.

The lyrics in this chapter are from the songs “Till I Get Over You” and “Love Me Like That” by Michelle Branch.

Chapter Five – Night Two: Music, Letters, and Making It Better

“Hermione? Hermione, wake up.”

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. When did I get outside? I wondered. It was then I remembered that morning – almost kissing Harry, the talk with Lavender, walking out after Harry looked at me strangely, then falling asleep here under the tree in the yard. I looked up and squinted against the sun. There was a light breeze blowing and I heard the chimes hanging from the back window, a sound like little bells.

“Hermione?”

I shook my head. “Yes,” I said groggily sitting up straight. “I’m awake,” I looked up, “Neville.” I tried not to sound disappointed, but I was hoping to see Harry…actually, no – come to think of it, I didn’t want to see Harry. We would be sitting awkwardly not knowing what to say, not wanting to say anything about that morning, and…it just would have been bad.

Neville grinned and sat down next to me. “Don’t sound so happy to see me,” he said, but I could tell he was kidding. “Thought I was someone else?”

I shrugged. “Who else would I be looking for?” Stupid question, but I didn’t feel like talking at the moment. I wanted to go back to sleep.

“Who else?” At my blank expression, he sighed exasperatedly. “Harry!”

“Oh right – him.” I sighed. “Well, as nice as it would be to chat with him, I would much rather be sleeping at the moment.”

I went to get up, but Neville pulled on my arm. “Wait a second,” he said. “Stay just for just a minute.”

I sat back down and looked at my watch. “You have sixty seconds Longbottom, so make them count. Then, I’m going to my room, shutting the door, and going to bed. I barely slept at all last night.”

“I know – and I also know why.” My face fell. I couldn’t believe Lavender – she told him! She probably told Ron…and Harry – Merlin, I hoped she didn’t tell Harry. That is if he didn’t hear me screaming – I was yelling so loud, I’m surprised they didn’t hear me in Bosnia. “Hermione,” Neville continued, “You have to talk to him.”

“I don’t want to talk to him!” I said adamantly. Why didn’t anyone understand – I did not want to talk to him, I did not want to tell him anything, and I sure as hell was not going to tell him that I loved him! “I – I would say or do something I’d regret, and then I’d just scare him off. Neville, I can’t lose him. If I tell him, it’ll just – “

“Ruin your friendship?” Neville said arching his eyebrow. “Funny – you were ranting this morning about Harry saying the same thing to you.” I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I dimly registered that he said that he heard me yelling, thus inadvertently telling me that Harry had heard as well, but I wasn’t thinking about that now. I was thinking about what he said next. Neville stood up and turned to me. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he said, “If you don’t say anything because you’re scared, then you’re no better then him. I’ve never known you to be a hypocrite Hermione. Don’t make me change my opinion of you now.” With that, Neville turned and walked towards the house, leaving me to focus on what he just told me.

He was right – I was a hypocrite. I was doing the exact same thing I was complaining about Harry doing – I was holding everything back because I was scared. How could I almost say that I didn’t want to ruin our friendship? I’m just as bad as him, I thought. I dozed off again, resolving to talk to him. But after a nap – I was too tired to think and I wanted to do this right. I didn’t want to say anything that I would be sorry for later – but I had to tell him something. Anything that would make things at least somewhat right again.

When I woke up later, it was almost dark. The sky was a deep purple and the first stars were poking through. I stretched and looked down, confused. Sometime while I was sleeping, someone draped a blanket over me. I shrugged and looked toward the house, not looking forward to going back in there and talking to a certain person. A certain person who had messy black hair and the deepest emerald green eyes I’d ever seen…shaking myself, I folded the blanket and something fell out of it. It was a note. I picked it up and read it to myself.

Hermione,

I know you’re probably just waking up and the last thing you want to see is a note from anyone, but I felt that I needed to say something to you – anything actually – before Lavender, Neville and I went out for the night.

‘Mione – (I glared at the paper – how many times did I have to tell him not to call me that before he got it through his thick, red-headed skull?) Lavender spoke to me. (My heart plummeted to the floor. I was going to kill Lavender Amber Brown as soon as she showed her face tonight.) I’m sorry – well, about everything I guess. I never meant to hurt you, even though I’m sure what you feel for me pales in comparison to whatever it is you’re feeling for Harry. She told me you said that you’re in love with him – believe me when I say you HAVE to talk to him. You didn’t hear what he had to say to me and Neville. I don’t know what else to tell you besides TALK TO HIM. NOW. I know I’m not the most serious person in the world, but I am serious about this. I hate seeing you upset, and you and Harry upset together – I can’t take the drama!

Do yourself a favor – hell, do all of us a favor and move your sorry self into the house right now and talk to the boy. It won’t hurt and it certainly won’t ruin your friendship. (Did you really almost say that? Merlin’s beard Hermione, you two are more alike then you know.)

Love you – and good luck although I promise, you won’t need it,

Ron

With a soft little half laugh-half sob, I folded the letter and shoved it in my pocket. With a wary glance at the balcony, I headed into the house. I was holding the blanket so tightly in my hands that my knuckles were white.

Harry wasn’t in the livingroom. In fact, he wasn’t in the house at all. There was a plate on the counter with two slices of pizza, a glass of soda, and a note.

Hermione,

Eat something – I’m sure you’re hungry. Then come outside on the balcony. We need to talk.

~ Harry

I sat down on a stool and took a bite out of the pizza. The house was way too quiet for my taste. I reached over and turned on the stereo next to the wall and played the first c.d. It was one my cousin from the states sent to me, a Michelle something or other. It was pretty good. I kept it on shuffle – it was fun not knowing what was coming next. There was always a surprise.

The first song I recognized almost immediately as my cousin’s favorite. I tapped my fingers in time with the slow ballad, eating the pizza as slow as humanly possible, delaying the inevitable.

Every time I feel alone
I can blame it on you
And I do
You got me like a loaded gun
Golden sun, and sky so blue

We both know
And we won’t let it
And we both want
You left me no choice

You just bring me down
So I’m counting the tears
Till I get over you…

When I listened to the words, really listened to the words, I reached over to pause the song. I did not need to hear that right now – I knew what my situation was. I didn’t need some singer to tell me, thanks so much. Usually, music was my sanctuary. It helped me think, it calmed me down. The music always fit my mood – slow and angsty if I was sad, fast and bass-heavy if I was especially mad or frustrated – “angry chick music” my cousin called it once. But not tonight – tonight was different. I needed something the exact opposite of my mood.

Hoping that the next song would be a little less upsetting, I pressed the fast-forward button and received exactly what I was looking for – something not incredibly happy, but much more up-beat and calming.

Well you sold my heart
And I’ll get it back
But look me in the eye, baby
Tell me why do you love me like that
Why do you love me like that?

Well I’ve walked this world
Thought time’s no more
And after all this walking
They’ve still got me crawling on the floor
Crawling on the floor

And out of this world
Keep on turning
Keeps me yearning…

If I were really paying attention to the lyrics, I would have turned the music off altogether. But I wasn’t listening. I’d finished the pizza, gulped down the last of the soda and stood up. Taking a deep breath, I headed for the livingroom.

I opened the door quietly and stepped out onto the balcony. Harry was standing with his back to me. He was leaning on the railing, his hair blown by the light breeze. He looked…well, amazing to say the least. Harry looked up suddenly as if he were expecting me at that very moment and I shivered. The look he was giving me pierced my heart and I wanted nothing more then to run back to my room, crawl under the covers and never come out.

Harry must have assumed I was shivering because I was cold. He pulled off his sweater – an old Quidditch one that Ron bought him in Hogsmeade when he made captain our Seventh Year – and draped it over my shoulders. I pulled it over my head and crossed my arms. The thing was about two sizes too big for me, but it smelled like Harry and it was comforting for reasons I have yet to figure out.

“So,” he said.

“Yeah,” I answered, shifting my feet uncomfortably. There was an awkward period of silence broken only by the sound of the breeze and the occasional owl.

“If we’re going to talk,” Harry said suddenly, “Then someone should – I don’t know – talk.”

I nodded. I wanted to get this conversation started, so I tried to begin with something easy. “Did Lavender – did she talk to you? At all?”

“I’d be lying if I said that she didn’t,” Harry said looking out over the railing.

His lack of a full answer worried me. I thought it was an easy question – he seemed to think differently. “What -,” I swallowed, “What did she say?”

“Nothing I didn’t hear you yelling about,” he said, turning to face me.

My heart was beating wildly in my chest. I felt caught like a fly in a web I’d created myself. “You heard?” I asked weakly, dreading his answer, though I already knew what he was going to say.

“Every word,” Harry said stepping toward me. I squashed the urge to take a step back or better yet, speed back into the house and hide where he wouldn’t find me. “But what I don’t understand is – why didn’t you tell me?”

“How could I?” I asked finally meeting his gaze. The look in his eyes had softened and I wanted to cling to him and cry. “I didn’t want to ruin – “

“Our friendship?” Harry said with a small, sad – why is he sad – smile. “Bit hypocritical, don’t you think?”

“No no –it’s not like that,” I said quickly. At his look of disbelief I sighed loudly. “Okay, so maybe it is like that, but that’s not what I was going to say.”

“What were you going to say then?” He asked taking a step back.

“If you would stop asking questions, I could tell you,” I said, teeth clenched. Why did he insist on being so annoying all of a sudden? “I was going to say that I didn’t want to ruin your relationship with Annie.”

Harry was looking at me like I was crazy and I didn’t appreciate the shock in his gaze. I glared. “It’s the truth, so if you don’t believe me – “

“You don’t get it do you?” Harry said quietly, his voice sounding less calm and almost a little desperate. What is he so desperate about? Get what? At my apparent look of confusion, Harry turned around and took a few steps away from me. “I don’t love her,” he whispered, so quietly I barely heard him, “Not even the slightest bit. I’m not – falling in love with her either, as you were so fast to point out this morning.” I had the good grace to blush – I had said that, hadn’t I? How could I have been so loud and assume he hadn’t been able to hear? “I’m – I’m just a bit in love with someone else,” he said turning toward me.

I swallowed. If he was saying what I thought he was saying…no, he couldn’t be…could he? “You- you are?” I said softly. He was moving toward me and I kept talking. “But you didn’t – I mean, you should have – what I mean to say is – “ Harry put a finger to my lips and my rambling ceased. He removed his finger and was so silent for so long, it was unnerving

“Harry,” I said desperately, “Please, say something. Please Harry, you can’t – “ And he kissed me. He kissed me, I realized suddenly. It was a soft, sweet kiss, the kind you give when you love someone so much you don’t know how to show it, so you kiss them hoping it expresses everything you want to say. He was telling me he loved me in the only way he knew how – nonverbally, in a way I could understand.

Harry pulled away and leaned his forehead against mine, eyes still closed. “I’m just a bit in love with you, Hermione,” he said. He opened his eyes and smiled that smile that made my knees go weak. “And you have Ron to thank for making me see it, after all this time.”

“Ron?” I asked, confused. That’s when I realized it – the talk this morning in Ron’s room. I looked at Harry and smiled. “What went on down there anyway?”

“You mean no one’s told you? That’s odd – Lavender told us everything.”

I snorted. I knew Lavender had a big mouth. “And this shocks you…why?” Harry grinned and I added teasingly, “Well, you know everything I said.”

“Yes, I could hear every word from down the stairs.”

“So it’s only fair,” I said a bit louder pulling away from him and leaning back against the railing, “That you tell me what went on with you, Ron and Neville.” Harry was about to protest, but I beat him to the punch. Giving him a taste of his own medicine, I gave him a kiss, soft and teasing on the mouth. “Fair is fair Potter,” I said with a smug look on my face putting my arms around his neck.

Harry grinned. “Indeed it is Granger,” he said, giving me another quick kiss. “Indeed it is.” He sat down on the lounge chair and pulled me onto his lap. I laid my head back on his chest and intertwined my hand with his. “So, what do you want to know?”

“Well, you know everything – it would only be fair if I knew everything as well,” I said looking up at him.

“Very well then,” he said, a bit hesitant. I squeezed his hand urging him on. “Well – here it goes.

So, Neville steered me and Ron out of the room and refused to explain himself until we were safely in Ron’s room with the door closed…”

~* Flashback *~

Neville shut the door and walked over to Ron who was still complaining. “Neville, what in Merlin’s name – “

“You,” Neville said pointing to Harry, who for all the world had no idea what was going on and was still too busy thinking about his almost kiss with his best friend to care. “You, my good friend, have a world of explaining to do.”

“What are you talking about Neville?” Ron asked, suddenly forgetting about his hunger.

“I’m talking about our friend here almost kissing our other friend this morning while he thought everyone else was asleep.”

Ron looked at Harry, disbelieving. “You – you almost did what? Harry, tell me you did not almost kiss Hermione?”

Harry didn’t say anything. He wouldn’t deny it – couldn’t deny it. He had almost kissed Hermione. And if Ron hadn’t made so much noise, I would have succeeded… “Okay. I won’t.” He turned to Neville. “Wait a second – how do you know-“

“Lavender and I weren’t as asleep as you think. We saw the whole thing from the loft. You’d better get to explaining Potter, because-“

“– falling in love with her – “

Neville stopped short as Hermione’s voice started rising. They could hear almost ever word until she shouted, “Damnit! “Why couldn’t he just act on his feelings? Why did he have to be so fucking worried about what would happen if we broke up?” As they listened to the rest of her rant, Ron looked at Harry. His gaze was cast down at his hands, a guilty and pained look in his eyes.

“– and – god damnit I HATE him sometimes!” There was a period of silence that followed, broken only by the sound of Hermione crying from upstairs.

Neville turned to Harry, shock evident on his face. “Harry – are you alright?”

Harry swallowed. “I really hurt her didn’t I?” he said putting his face in his hands.

“I think you did,” Ron said quietly. “But Harry – you told me that you had feelings for her, strong feelings to say the very least – “

“I love her,” Harry said quietly, and Ron stopped talking.

“You – you what?” Ron asked, squinting his eyes at Harry. “I’m not quite sure I heard right. I could have sworn you just said that – “

“I love her. You heard me right. I’m in love with Hermione. I don’t have any feelings beyond a crush for Annie, but Hermione – I love her so much, and I fucked up any chance I had with her.”

Ron sat down next to Harry and Neville sat down on his other side. “Harry – Hermione loves you. You love Hermione. Do yourself a favor and tell her how you feel. You won’t ruin your friendship with her. If anything, it’ll make your relationship stronger.”

Harry turned to Ron with a small smile. “I never thought I’d see the day that you were the voice of reason.”

Ron laughed. “Well, there’s a first time for everything I suppose.”

Harry laughed and Neville got up and went to the door. “You ready?” He asked Harry as he opened the door.

“I think I am,” Harry said firmly and followed Neville out the door. Ron clapped him on the shoulder and gave him an encouraging look as they made their way up the stairs.

~* End Flashback *~

“…and the rest you know. I saw you and – I don’t know. Something inside me made me realize that me and Annie, our relationship – it was all wrong.” Harry shifted so that I was facing him and he put a finger under my chin. “I should be with you. I love you Hermione.”

My eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t believe it – he loved me. He really loved me. At that moment, it was only me and him under the stars and I couldn’t help but throw my arms around him as he leaned down to kiss me. Everything was just as it should be.

Harry pulled away. We just looked at each other, the only people in the world. He kissed me again – and wow, what a kiss it was – and now, I was in his arms, happier then I’d been for months. “What are we going to tell everyone else?” I asked, running a finger down his cheek.

Harry smiled. “Nothing. I want you to be my little secret for a while. We can tell them later.”

I nodded with a smile. “Okay,” I said. I was too blissfully peaceful to argue. He loves me back, I thought with a sigh of contentment. It all felt like a dream, like I was still asleep under the Cottonwood tree and was bound to wake up at any moment. But I knew this wasn’t a fantasy – it was real. This was all real.

“I love you,” he said for the second time that night. I would never get tired of hearing him say that.

“I love you too,” I said and he as he leaned down to kiss me, I knew that this was right – it was perfection. I felt complete.

Who knew that Ron could have been so right for once?

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A/N: There’s two more chapters after this one folks. And then, I’m done…*sniff sniff*

Chapter Six – The Last Day: You and Annie Who?

Harry and I spent the night under the stars just talking and holding each other. There wasn’t much kissing to be perfectly honest. We were happy just being in each other’s company. We also decided that we were going to play a joke on our dear, dear friends.

When we heard Lavender, Ron, and Neville come in the house at two, Harry walked in first. I could hear the conversation from behind the closed door and had to hold back laughter.

“So?” Ron asked curiously.

“So, what?”

“You know damn well what Harry James Potter!” I heard Lavender shout. “What happened?”

There was a pause before which Harry said, “We decided to just be friends.”

All three of them yelled, “What?!” At this I couldn’t help it – I giggled before clapping a hand over my mouth. I could almost see their faces, which made me giggle all the harder.

I heard Lavender walk towards the door and Harry stopped her. “No! Err…Hermione just wants to be left alone for a while. She said she…needed to do some thinking. Just…let her be. Okay?”

I peeked through the window and saw Lavender nod and walk up to her room. Ron followed downstairs shaking his head.

“Harry?” Neville asked as Harry began to pull out the mattress of his bed. Harry looked up. “After all that – are you sure about this? Is this really what she wants – what you want?”

Harry smiled genuinely and nodded. “I’m sure. It’s late Neville. Go to bed – I’ll see you in the morning.”

Neville looked at him suspiciously for a moment before trudging up the stairs. Harry waited a few minutes before going to the door and letting me in. “The coast is clear,” he said as I walked through the door, “but just in case, you should head downstairs.”

I nodded. “Okay – goodnight Harry.” I kissed him briefly before walking over to the stairs and walking down. I felt his eyes on my back until I was out of his sight.

I woke up that morning and stretched languidly, purring like a cat. I hadn’t slept that well in months. Thinking back to the previous night, I couldn’t help but grin. They are going to be so mad… I thought gleefully. When I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost eleven, I jumped up and sped up the stairs.

Ron grinned when he saw me. “Morning sleepyhead,” he said playfully. “Enjoy your sleep?”

I stretched and reached around Neville for a mug. “Very much, actually. Haven’t slept that well in months.” I poured coffee and as I added milk and sugar, I saw the entire room regarding me with care, as if I might break down at any moment. I glanced at Harry who was sitting on the couch. He was as amused as I was with the whole situation. He was just better then I was at hiding it.

“Hermione, are you alright? You look a bit…off this morning,” Neville said glancing at Lavender.

“I’m fine. Perfect even!” I said cheerfully. I walked over to the sofa and put my mug on the table next to Harry. “Good morning Harry,” I said with a grin. I winked at him. I was having way too much fun with this.

“Good morning Ms. Granger. I see you slept well,” he said, winking back at me. He reached up to hug me.

“Yes, I did,” I said as I hugged him back. He shifted and I ended up sitting on his lap. This seemed to be a regular routine with us. If there weren’t enough seats, I would always let him sit down and I would sit on his lap (unless Annie was around, but I’m sure she won’t be a problem anymore…). Lately, every time he hugged me while he was sitting down, I would end up in his lap. I always enjoyed it, and now that I knew there were ulterior motives involved, I enjoyed it even more.

Lavender was looking at me as if I had sprouted two heads as I spoke to Harry. I couldn’t blame her – for two people who had decided to just be friends, we really were flirting a lot. Harry had his arms around my waist and I had one arm around him, the other around his neck. I leaned down and he whispered in my ear, “Can we tell them now? I really want to kiss you.”

I shivered a little and giggled. “Oh, but I’m having so much fun,” I protested, but to show him how much I really wanted to stop and just kiss him already, I kissed him slowly behind his ear and on his neck. I could tell Harry was trying his hardest to keep a straight face, but he must have been unsuccessful. Neville asked, “Harry, are you alright?”

“Fine,” he mumbled and I grinned at him cheekily, trying to feign innocence. It wasn’t working.

I think Lavender caught on when we started whispering because she smirked and said, “My, my, aren’t we friendly this morning?”

“Friendly?” Harry asked, trying to sound shocked. “You think this is friendly? Do you hear that Hermione – she thinks this is friendly!”

I laughed a little and turned toward him. He brushed my hair behind my ear as I said, “I don’t think this is friendly at all. Do you Mr. Potter?”

“Not in the least.” His eyes took on that familiar loving gleam as he said, in a voice that made me shiver with delight, “Why don’t we show them friendly.”

He leaned toward me as I said, “Absolutely splendid idea.” His lips met mine and a sudden silence enveloped the room. That was before the cheering started, a cheering I barely noticed, as Harry’s lips were firmly attached to mine and showed no signs of breaking away whatsoever any time soon.

When breathing became a necessity, I pulled away and smiled as Harry leaned his forehead against mine and softly kissed me again.

“That was just wrong,” Ron said, but his tone said otherwise. “You can’t tease me like that! The angst, the drama…”

“Oh, shut it Ron,” Lavender said and winked at me. I grinned and winked back. I couldn’t have been happier then I was at that moment.

“So, what are you going to do about Annie now Harry?” Neville said patting Harry on the shoulder.

I turned to Harry and arched an eyebrow at him. He just smiled at me saying, “Annie who?” Neville laughed loudly and I gave Harry a kiss on the tip of his nose before hopping off of his lap.

“This calls for a celebration!” Lavender said. “Party in Hogsmeade tonight – what do you say?”

“Sounds good to me, but I think those two are a little too busy right now to answer,” Ron said with a grin. And he was right. Harry had just pulled me back down onto the couch and was currently kissing me senseless.

I’d have to agree with Harry on that one – Annie who?

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A/N: You know, I had no idea how I was going to break Harry and Annie up. You have Airam Ayol to thank for the way it happened – it was her review that gave me the idea – thanks Airam! The conversation between Annie and Harry is taken from personal experience – this actually happened to a friend of mine, not in the same situation, but something similar.

One chapter left after this…*sniff* *sniff*…

Chapter Seven – The Last Night: Breakups and Makeups

The five of us got back to my house around eight o’clock that night. We spent the entirety of the afternoon packing and just joking around. I couldn’t remember the last time I had so much fun with my friends, couldn’t remember when we were last so open with each other, enjoying our time together. It was one of the best days of my life. I couldn’t wait to get the pictures I took developed. I still preferred Muggle film over wizard film, and there was a shot that Lavender took of me and Harry under the Cottonwood tree that I knew I was going to want to frame right away. All in all, the afternoon was wonderful, leading into a night I wouldn’t soon forget.

When we arrived at my house, we all took our time changing. Lavender’s idea of “celebrating” was a drinking party at the Three Broomsticks, a party I was more then willing to take part in for once. “Hermione? Drinking? What is the world coming to?” Ron said with an over-dramatic shake of his head. I swatted at his arm and he laughed at me.

So, there we were, sitting in the Three Broomsticks, making enough noise to get us kicked out if we so chose. We met up with some other people there, among them Dean, Seamus, Parvati, and various other friends and their assorted boyfriends and girlfriends. I was overly giddy to see that Annie had yet to make an appearance, especially since everyone was celebrating Harry and my “waking up to see what was right in front of us” as Seamus so eloquently pointed out.

At two o’clock – four hours later, after drinking enough butterbeer and alcoholic beverages to provide for a small army, we all made our way to the door saying reluctant goodbyes. Lavender and Neville portkeyed their ways home, leaving me, Harry and Ron to fend for ourselves. Harry and I were tipsy, but Ron was completely and thoroughly drunk. It was amusing to say the very least, especially when he ran into Kerry on the way out the door singing “God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs”. I think she took him home, though whether it was to her home or his I didn’t ask, nor did I have any desire to find out.

So, Harry and I were alone at last. Harry smiled at me and tugged on my hand. “C’mon,” he said, pulling me away from the doorway.

“Where are we going?” I asked with a smile.

“C’mon.” I gave him a look of reluctance and he kissed me, soft and slow, and I just about melted in his arms. “Trust me,” he said, eyes shining. “And close your eyes.”

With a smile, I did as he asked and I felt him come up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist, and start leading me forward. I felt us twist and turn around Hogsmeade – a right here, a left there, must have gone the wrong way because he turned me around – until I felt the gentle pull on my navel that signaled portkey travel. “Harry, where are you – “

“Shh…” He placed a finger to my lips and guided me forward and up a few flights of stairs. I heard him open a door before walking me through it. He pulled away from me and I couldn’t help but suddenly feel cold without his arms around me. “Open your eyes,” he whispered in my ear. I did and had to bite back a gasp.

We were on the balcony of a house I didn’t recognize. I turned around and saw an empty room. I walked through before turning to Harry. “Where are we?”

Harry grinned a little before answering me. “Godric’s Hollow. Sirius told me that there was an empty house here that an older wizard was selling. He figured I’d want to know about it since I was looking for a place to move after Hogwarts. I jumped at the chance, bought it as soon as I could.” His eyes were distant, as if observing a memory, but suddenly he looked at me. “Ron already knew and already said yes, but I wanted to show you before I asked.”

“Asked me what?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

“Would you want to move in with me and Ron? Be our housemates?” He pouted and I giggled. “Please?”

“Now, how could I say no to that?” I asked, slinging my arms around his waist. I leaned up to kiss him. What started out soft was rapidly turning passionate. When breathing became a necessity, I pulled away and leaned against his chest. Harry kissed the top pf my head. “I love you,” I said, and I’d never meant it more.

“I love you too,” he said before yawning widely. I laughed and conjured up a blanket and two pillows. I laid the blanket on the floor and the two of us curled up together. I felt his breathing even out and I kissed his forehead, right over the scar, before succumbing to slumber.

The next morning was one that I will never forget.

Harry was the first to awaken. I kept my eyes closed feigning sleep. He brushed a piece of hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. “You’re so beautiful,” I heard him murmur before nuzzling into my neck. I couldn’t help but smile a little.

I turned over and kissed him awake. I pulled away and smiled. We were so wrapped up in each other that we didn’t hear the door open, didn’t even realize there was someone else in the room until I heard a voice exclaim, “Harry!” A voice that could only belong to one person…

“Annie! What are you doing here?” Harry said. I would think that most men would be mortified to be discovered by their significant other in bed with another woman, but Harry was as calm as anything. I nonchalantly rolled over and kissed Harry on his neck before pretending to cuddle into his chest and fall asleep. I was awake for the entire conversation that followed. I think Harry knew, but Annie never had a second thought.

“I – I went looking for you and Sirius said that you never came home last night and that you were probably here,” Annie said and I could here the confusion in her voice. “Harry – what’s going on?”

Harry released me with a kiss on my cheek before going over to Annie. “You see Annie,” he started, “A funny thing happened this weekend. I realized something. I realized that I’ve been terribly wrong all this time. Annie, I have feelings for you, strong ones at that, but,” I could feel his eyes on me as he continued, “My heart belongs to someone else.”

I opened one eye and I could see Annie – was that a smile? Why is she smiling? “I always knew that this day would come,” she said and I could see that Harry was shocked.

“What do you mean?” Harry said. I could hear the surprise in his voice.

“I mean that, although you were oblivious to it, I always knew this day would come – the day when you realized that you weren’t in love with me, but completely and utterly devoted to your best friend. You may not have noticed, but it was as plain as anything to me. I didn’t even think it would take this long for you to realize what your heart was trying to tell you.” I could tell there were tears in her eyes, but her words were sincere. I actually felt sorry for her.

“Annie –“

“No. Don’t apologize. You can’t tell your heart what to feel, right?” She shrugged and then looked up at Harry who was rendered speechless. “Hermione’s lucky – be sure to tell her that for me.” She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Goodbye Harry,” she said before walking out the door. Harry was still too stunned to say anything.

I stood up and went to him, wrapping my arms around him from behind. “Well,” Harry said scratching his head, “That was unexpected.”

I kissed the back of his shoulder before he turned around and pulled me close to him. I just leaned into his arms. “I think its official,” I said with a sigh.

“What is?”

I giggled a little. “The entire world saw what the two of us were too blind to admit to each other. What do you think about that?”

Harry gave me a goofy little grin before kissing me lovingly. “I think that I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

I looked into his face and sighed, my face breaking out into what had to be the most flustered grin ever known to mankind. “You’re too sweet for your own good, you know that?”

“Just telling the truth,” he said with a laugh at the look on my face.

“I love you, you know,” I said caressing his cheek.

“I do. I love you too, more then I can say.”

I smiled mischievously. “Then don’t say anything.”

Harry just looked at me and leered before kissing me in a way that bordered on illegal in most public places. Needless to say, neither of us got home until very late that afternoon.

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A/N: 200 reviews. I have over 200 reviews for this story…*throws confetti* THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I’m really happy you all liked it and reviewed (and even if you didn’t like it and reviewed without flaming – thank you!)

This is it. Thanks again for all the great feedback. Enjoy the last chapter!! It’s shorter then the rest, but that’s because it’s just a wrap-up.

Chapter Eight – The Aftermath

I dropped my bag on the floor of what would soon be my livingroom – my livingroom. Not the livingroom in my parent’s house, or the Gryffindor Common Room, but my livingroom. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?

Harry dropped a box on the floor and came over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He kissed me soundly before asking, “So what do you think?”

I looked around the room. We’d spent the entirety of the previous week painting the house starting with the hallways and working our way around to every single room. I swear, I got more paint on my clothes then on the walls (I hit Ron with the paintbrush by accident. Needless to say, it began a paint-war, complete with cans being overturned over my head and rollers being thrown across the room.)

I turned my gaze back to Harry and smiled. “I think it’s great.”

Harry smiled at me and kissed me again. I dropped the book I was holding and wrapped my arms around his neck as his hands wrapped around my waist pulling me closer.

I could hear footsteps behind me before a proclamation of “Ugh – get a room will you?” before a box was dropped on the floor.

I laughed against Harry’s lips and we both turned, still wrapped up in each other, to Ron. “We have a room, thank you very much,” I said cheekily.

“Yes, and we have every intention of breaking in said room tonight,” Harry said winking at Ron suggestively.

“Harry!” I said, eyes widening and smacked his arm before pulling out of his arms and walking across the room. Harry and Ron laughed at me before giving each other a high five and what could only be considered a “manly” hug.

I rolled my eyes. “Boys,” I said, although you could hear the laughter in my voice.

“You know you love us,” they said in unison (which scared me just a bit).

I put my hand on my hip and said, “Honestly, you two are absolutely impossible,” before grabbing a box from the floor in the kitchen and bringing it up to my bedroom.

Although Harry had just joked about us sharing a room, the three of us had opted for our own bedrooms in the house. Mine was the one with the balcony that Harry had brought me to the night after the party. I smiled remembering the afternoon that followed before shaking my head and getting changed. Lavender and Neville decided to throw us a house party and were coming over any minute with food and music to “get the party started” as Lav so blatantly put it – why am I so afraid when she says that?

Oh, it could have something to do with the amount of drinking that is probably going to occur.

Or the fact that I am probably going to be seeking shelter in my room by midnight in order to get away from all the complete insanity.

Or maybe it was just because we were trying to cram twenty or thirty people in a newly-painted room built for less then ten.

Yeah, that’s probably why.

There was a knock at my door just as I was putting on my shoes. “Come in.”

Harry opened the door and stepped in with a smile. “You look nice,” he said as I walked over to him.

“I’m glad you approve,” I purred and kissed him soundly. I smiled at him and leaned my cheek against his chest. His chin rested on the top of my head and I would have been completely content to stay that way for the rest of the night, basking in the silence of just me and Harry. But, of course, there’s always an interruption.

“Harry, Hermione? Come on down – people are starting to arrive!” Ron called up, followed by voices of at least five of our friends.

I groaned and snuggled closer to Harry. “Do we have to go?”

He laughed at me and I grinned. “I’m afraid so.” He kissed my forehead and took my hand. “C’mon – time to greet the guests.” He tried to walk out the door, but I pulled him back.

“Wait!” He turned to me questioningly and I smiled. “I love you.”

He smiled back at me. “I love you too. Now, Ms. Granger may I be your escort for this evening?”

He offered me his arm and I giggled. “Of course Mr. Potter. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As we walked down the stairs together, I couldn’t help but grin. I was starting a new life, and you know what? I couldn’t have been happier. I was making a life for myself on my own and was finally with the man that I love. Life looked like it was going to be a party.

So, as Lavender said – let’s get this party started.

~* End *~