A/N: Alright, I see that a bunch of readers have realized that this story has been posted up to chapter 24 on FanFiction.net. You're all more than welcome to go there and read it if you want, it's posted under the same author name and story title, but honestly, I was planning on posting a chapter a day here anyway, so you would have had it soon enough. While you're at FF.net, there's another oneshot that I'm not posting here because it's mostly a parody piece and there's no real H/Hr in it other than a brief mention, but I liked it.
Anyway. For those of you who see this at FF.net, chapter ten will be considerably different on Portkey, as will several of the scenes that take place between Harry and Hermione. A reviewer asked last night if the T rated version at FF.net will be different than the R rated version at Portkey. The answer is yes. Most of the physical scenes are going to get a lot more explicit in their description, so the story WILL be different, and chapter ten will have a different outcome.
Disclaimer: If I were JKR, Horcruxes wouldn't exist, and HBP would have been a bad April Fool's Day joke that came out late in July.
<><><><><>
"Do you remember when Dumbledore told me that I had something Voldemort didn't? Something that would be strong enough to defeat him?" Harry began, sitting Hermione down on the bed.
She nodded, still wondering what had gotten into Harry. "It was love."
"Exactly. And what's the one thing that's normal for all children to experience growing up?" he paused, making sure she followed what he was saying. "It's pretty much expected that a child receives unconditional love as they grow older, which helps them live a normal life. The Dursleys never loved me, and I've clearly had a normal life.
"When I met you and Ron and we all became best friends, and even if we don't say it, we all love each other. It's like a brotherly and sisterly love, and it's been great. Knowing the two of you are by my side makes me feel better than you'll ever know, but-"
"But it doesn't make you feel whole inside," Hermione finished, beginning to understand.
"That's why I kissed Ginny last year. I really did have feelings for her, and I think I still do. I remember feeling like I wanted to rip off Dean Thomas' arms and shove them down his throat," he laughed, "but I had been thinking about what Dumbledore said. Voldemort at least has a chance at friendship with some of his Death Eaters. I think that's what Pettigrew feels towards him. Awe, worship, and in his twisted mind, friendship. But the odds of anyone other than Bellatrix Lestrange throwing herself at him?"
Hermione giggled. "I'm sorry, Harry, it's just a funny thought. Lestrange and Voldemort? Imagine what the children would be like!"
Harry didn't even want to think about it. "But still. If the power of love is what's supposed to defeat him, I don't think friendship is quite enough. I thought that maybe I needed some kind of romantic love to do it. That's where Ginny came in, except it kind of backfired on me. I didn't think about the consequences of my actions. When she threw herself at me it was an opportune moment, and I had a theory I needed to try. So I kissed her. Later I tried to rationalize it to myself that I was attracted to her anyway, so it was okay, but I still feel horrible." He sighed, leaning back against the pillows on the bed.
"So did your theory work?" Hermione asked. This was talk she could understand. Theories and practice; that made sense to her. Romance and relationships weren't exactly her area of expertise.
"That's the thing," Harry said, "it worked, but not like I thought it would. When I kissed Ginny I felt normal. Like a normal boy with a normal childhood and a normal life. I felt like I could do anything and I didn't even think about Voldemort until hours later. It was as if this whole prophecy business didn't exist, and I was just a normal guy with his girlfriend. It felt wonderful.
"Unfortunately, I don't think that it was the kind of thing Dumbledore was talking about. Would a normal boy be able to defeat Voldemort? No. Until I could figure out what he meant, I stayed with Ginny. I thought that maybe, with time and patience, things would work out. I was wrong. Voldemort would come after her, and I couldn't see my feelings progressing beyond just liking her. There was a problem, though. I don't understand it, but for some reason that kind of physical intimacy seemed to solve my problems temporarily. However, without Ginny earlier this summer, I couldn't prove my theory that just a kiss can make things better. It may be something that people say in passing, but I think that it's really true."
Hermione had a smirk on her face. "Oh, Harry, it is true! It's something that's been well known in the wizarding world for centuries. It's called the Passus Condition. It has to do with the feelings a kiss can invoke, and the power of the witch and wizard involved."
Harry grinned sheepishly. "Well, that explains a lot then. There's more, though. When you touched me earlier, I felt like there was liquid fire rushing through my veins. My heart started pounding, and I felt like I was floating. All from a simple touch! You know how much of a mess I've been since term ended, and-"
"You needed a good snogging," Hermione chuckled.
"Well, in short, yes," Harry laughed, his eyes beginning to sparkle for the first time in weeks. "It was the way I felt, though. If just touching skin to skin could do that, then what would a kiss do? I didn't want to force you. You're my best friend, Hermione; you have been for six years now. If I were to have kissed you, what would that mean for our friendship?"
Hermione's face fell. She could've sworn she'd heard him thinking more than friendly thoughts about her. "So that's why you warned me," she said dejectedly.
"Precisely. I didn't want to put you in a compromising position. And then when you put your hand on my leg-" Harry went silent, turning a deep shade of scarlet that would've put Uncle Vernon to shame.
"Harry, I don't understand. We've been close before; I've done more than just touch your leg. What was it about this time that was so different?"
Harry swallowed loudly, unsure of how to broach the topic with his best friend. He decided on an approach, and went with it. "Um, remember how earlier, in the vault at Gringotts, you said that diamonds were the hardest substance in the world?"
Hermione nodded vigorously, thinking of the Glitra diamond that was glowing warmly between her breasts.
His palms began to feel moist. He felt extremely nervous admitting this to Hermione. "You're beautiful," he blurted out. "When I saw you in the Dursleys' living room this morning you looked like an avenging angel, with fire in your eyes. There was this energy around you; you were like that diamond that's around your neck right now, glowing from the inside out. And Miss Granger," he said, imitating the accent of Professor McGonagall, "what on earth are you wearing? Those shorts are far too short to be regulation, and where on earth are the straps on that top? They must be at least three fingers wide." He gave her a stern glare, only to burst into laughter seconds later.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh with him; he did a very excellent imitation of Professor McGonagall. She used her laughter to cover the flush that had crept across her cheeks.
"Anyway," Harry cleared his throat. Here came the hard part, literally. "When we were in the vault, and you were kneeling to look into the crate, you looked absolutely gorgeous. It was, um… hard not to stare at certain, um…" Harry shut up to prevent himself from babbling.
Realization dawned on Hermione. Harry had been standing while she was looking in the crate; he'd been in the perfect position to look down her top! "Harry!" she exclaimed.
"What?" he continued to turn a deeper shade of scarlet.
"You-you were looking down my shirt!" she said, giggling.
"Yes, well, it was hard not to." He said, trying his best to keep from embarrassing himself further.
"Is that what set you off earlier? When I was kneeling in front of the bed trying to get you to look at me?" she asked gently. She could see he was uncomfortable, and she didn't want him to stop talking.
"It was a combination of several things at once. You touching me, the scent of your hair, the look in your eyes, and yes, the generous view. I was upset, and I saw someone I wanted, who could make me feel happy again. And dammit, Hermione, do you ever listen when someone tells you not do to something? I said not to touch me and you go and do it again!" he pretended to lecture her. "That's why I pinned you down. If you kept touching me like that, there was no telling what I'd do."
Hermione nodded, taking in everything he'd been saying. He thought she was beautiful? No one except Viktor Krum had ever called her beautiful before. And he wanted her? It was a lot to take in at once.
"Then when you practically volunteered…" Harry trailed off, remembering the passion of their kiss. He shook the thought from his head. "Hermione, I'd bet you five Galleons that I can think of something harder than a diamond."
She opened her mouth to reply, and then stopped, taking in what he'd just said. Did he really mean it like that? "Um, Harry? You do realize that's normal, right? Having a-a reaction like that?"
"'Mione, I'm 16. Believe me, I know it's normal." Harry cleared his throat again. "Can I just say it without having to find a cute way of putting it?" he asked, not wanting Hermione to feel as uncomfortable as he did.
"Harry, it's me. You never need to find a 'cute' way of putting it."
"Just wanted to make sure I wasn't making you feel weird or anything." He paused, and she shook her head, allowing him to continue. "Usually it's like that when I wake up in the morning, but that's it. It's never happened that easily before."
"Not even with Ginny?" Hermione asked, knowing what the fiery little redhead was like in a relationship. She heard all about it in the girls' dorms, usually firsthand from Ginny herself.
Harry shook his head. "Nope. Not for lack of trying though. She'd always try to do more than snog, and I kept telling her I didn't want to."
Hermione was confused. "Why didn't you want to?"
"It didn't feel right. I felt pressured, and like we were rushing into things. And 'she's Ron's little sister!' kept running through my head half the time. I kept thinking about how many times he'd punch me if he found out what Ginny was up to."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Hermione didn't like the thought of Ginny being that physical with Harry. That was too much for her. She decided to change the subject, needing to sort out her own feelings for Harry before bringing that up with him.
"So what's with us being able to hear each other think?" she asked.
You mean like this? Harry asked her with his mind.
Yes, do you have any idea what might have set it off? Hermione was determined to solve this mystery.
Might it have something to do with that bright spot between your breasts? Harry asked, having a reason to stare for once.
Hermione blushed, fumbling in her shirt. She withdrew the Glitra diamond from its resting place, the band clinking against Lily Potter's wedding band.
Of course, it all makes sense! She felt stupid for not having realized it when she first heard Harry's thoughts.
What? He was still confused.
It's the diamond! Remember when I said that usually the wearer of the diamond develops some kind of connection with the person who gave it to them?
Harry nodded, still confused. But my dad gave my mum these rings. Why can I hear your thoughts? We're not my parents.
But Harry, you gave me the ring to wear because you thought you'd look silly in it. For all intents and purposes, the stone considers that to be enough. Especially since you have your dad's wedding band.
So what happens if we take them off? He asked.
They both twisted the chains until the clasp was in front of them, and took off the rings.
"Can you hear my thoughts, Harry?" Hermione tried to come up with something obscure that he couldn't guess.
"Nope. Can you hear mine?" He thought of himself riding on his broom during the TriWizard Tournament as he tried to escape the Hungarian Horntail.
She shook her head. "Well, that solves that problem. Now to decide what to do."
"What do you mean, decide?" Harry asked incredulously. "We wear them! When we leave to search for the Horcruxes it would be such an advantage. No need to communicate verbally and risk anyone overhearing us, it'd be perfect!" His mind was spinning with ideas.
Hermione let him ramble on about the advantages, while she lamented the disadvantages. No more private thoughts to myself, she mused. Oh, Harry… do you really still care for Ginny? I know you, and what you're like. You don't act purely on physical attraction or you'd've been all over Fleur Delacour when Bill brought her home. What do you really feel for me?
Harry was still on about their new ability to communicate silently, while Hermione tried to come up with ways to still help Harry with the Horcruxes without running into some 'reactions' of her own.