When One's Fancy Turns to Another
Chapter 7-Finding An Ending
A/N: Took me a while, but here is the rather short and clichéd end to my little story. As always I don't own anything Harry Potter. I just borrowed it for a short time. And thanks, hugs, and smooches to Misstake for all the time she spent helping me get through this!
It seemed an eternity as Hermione stared into Harry's eyes and he into hers. The wind blew lightly around them as Harry held her in his arms. Hermione tried to move but something was preventing her. She couldn't explain it.
Finally Hermione's brain started working again and she managed to straighten her self up and lightly pushed her self out of Harry's arms.
"Hermione, what's the matter?" asked Harry, seeming to take in her appearance, of wild hair and red, wet eyes.
"Nothing, I just…stumbled coming up the stairs. Lucky you were here to catch me," said Hermione quickly wiping her eyes.
"Have you been crying?" asked Harry.
"What? Oh no, its just the wind. It's a little gusty today. Must have stung my eyes."
Harry eyed her suspiciously but seemed to decide against prodding any further.
"What are you doing here, Harry?" asked Hermione
Harry seemed taken aback as he blinked his eyes several times.
"I was looking for …Actually I was …I was," said Harry seeming to stutter. Hermione stared at him, waiting for his answer. "I was looking for… Remus."
"Remus?" asked Hermione as her mind seemed to forget who her fellow professor and old friend was. "Oh, Remus. Well, he's in Hogsmead today."
"It is a weekend isn't it."
"He should be back soon though," said Hermione.
"I can wait. Maybe I'll take a walk around the lake. Reminisce a little , you know."
"Well, I won't keep you then. Unless…"
"Unless… you want to come with me?" asked Harry taking a step closer to her.
"Well," began Hermione, wondering if a walk with Harry was the best thing for her right now even though she had implied she wanted to go. She had been a complete mess over Harry just seconds ago. But then again he was here, and he did seem to be hiding something. "Of course, I mean unless you don't want me to come."
"No, I do. I mean I haven't seem you much lately. Besides it wouldn't be the same walking around the lake without either you or Ron."
Hermione smile and the two friends walked over the grounds towards the lake. The October afternoon had turned chillier as the sun was being covered by clouds and Hermione wrapped her cloak tighter around her as a strong wind was coming off the lake.
"Is it getting too cold? Wait, I've got just the thing," said Harry stopping Hermione by taking her arm gently. Harry took out his wand and performed a simple warming charm on her cloak. He then rubbed her shoulders lightly with his hands. Hermione smiled as warmth surrounded her. This warmth doubled as Harry shot a bright smile back at her as he moved his hands over her shoulders and arms.
"That's much better," said Hermione quietly.
"Good, so…you ready for that walk now?" asked Harry turning away and walking towards the lake.
The two friends walked along the bank, making idle chit chat. Hermione inquired about his training and Harry informed her of what had been going on. He talked about the hard test coming up and wished he had her skill of drawing up study schedules and her attention span of studying.
Harry then asked Hermione about her job at Hogwarts and she filled him in on her different students and how frustrating it could be at times.
"But I know you love it. And I bet you are brilliant at it." said Harry
"Your right I do love it, but I'm not sure I'm exactly brilliant at it."
"You've always been too modest, Hermione."
The two friends talked and laughed lightly as their conversation shifted to their school days. Any average person watching from afar would have thought these were just two old school friends having an average chat. But Hermione knew there was something odd going on between them. She could sense that Harry felt it too. Their conversation was forced and they were very careful to avoid several subjects. This was new to them, as they had never had trouble talking before and usually almost any subject was game. But now everything was different.
There seem to be this tension in the air, that Hermione did not enjoy. It seem to weigh her down and make it especially hard to talk. Hermione walked over to the tree that they had spent so many afternoons under. Harry walked up to the very bank of the lake and looked out over it.
"Hermione," said Harry not looking back at her. It wasn't a question he just simple stated her name.
"Harry?" asked Hermione staring at his back.
"Hermione, what is this?"
"What is what, Harry?"
"This, what is this thing between us. I see you and I hear you but its like I can't break through this thing and actually feel you."
It was an odd choice of words, but somehow perfect for the situation. Hermione knew exactly what Harry meant.
"I don't like this, Hermione. Its like something is gone from me. Something I cherished. I want it back."
Hermione felt tears filling her eyes again. She sniffed softly as she let them fall down her cheeks.
"I do too, but how? I don't know if we can go back to the way we were."
"No, we can't," said Harry still staring out over the lake. "We definitely can't do that ."
"What does this mean Harry?"
Harry just stared over the lake, not speaking. Hermione 's tears streamed on as she felt she was losing something forever. Something she knew she needed to survive. She couldn't lose it could she? Hermione gathered up her courage and walked just behind Harry.
"What does this mean, Harry?" she asked again, knowing that he could probably feel her breath on the back of his neck.
"I need you to forgive me , Hermione."
"Forgive you, Harry?"
"Yes, before I say anything else, just say you forgive me."
"I don't understand what is there to forgive?" asked Hermione in an almost pleading way.
Harry turned slowly around. Hermione could see he was shedding his own tears. They were very close now. Inches apart as Harry looked down into Hermione's face. He reached up and whipped away a large tear on her cheek. Hermione caught his hand and held it to her face. She brought her own hand up to wipe away a tear from Harry's face and he too caught hers as he brought his forehead down, resting it on her own.
"Forgive me," Harry whispered. "For not doing this sooner."
Harry caught her lips with his own as the two shared their first, long overdue kiss. Hermione brought her other hand to rest in his hair bringing him down further into the kiss . Harry clasped his free hand around her Hermione's waist to bring her closer.
Hermione let herself drown in the feeling over taking her. What she was crying over missing just moments ago flooded back into her as Hermione tasted Harry's mouth. It was like her whole life had led up to this and now she was ready to move on. She could finally see her future and it was with Harry.
Up on the front steps of the castle stood a man who looked too old for his age watching the scene taking place on the banks of the lake. Remus Lupin turned around as he heard footsteps behind. Seeing it was the head of his old house and old friend, he knew she would understand.
"I wish they all could be here," said Remus quietly.
"I know," said Minerva McGonagall as she stood besides Remus. "Lily would probably cry.
"Yes, and then hit James and Sirius for their cat calls. James would say 'that's my boy!' and Sirius would yell out pointers," said Remus grinning, even though he felt small tears sting the corner of his eyes.
"Make no doubt, Remus, they are here in a way. The know," said Minerva in a very uncharacteristic way for someone so practical. She then gave Remus a small pat on the arm and walked back into the castle.
Remus turned to follow but then stop and whispered, "You owe me five galleons , Padfoot."
On hill above the lake stood a beautiful young woman with her red hair flowing in the breeze. She wore a half smile as she watched her two friends kiss on the banks of the lake.
"You're here?" said a voice behind her. She turned to see her brother.
"Yes, I had to see how it turned out."
"And?"
"It turned out like it always should have," Ginny said simply , turning back to look at her friends again. Ron walked up next to her and looked down as well. He looked at his two best friends in each other's arms and could almost feel the blissful happiness that was radiating off of them.
"Yea, it really has," said Ron as he and his sister both shared a bittersweet smile.
But none of this was observed by the couple by the lake. At the moment only they existed in their world. Breaking from their kiss, Harry and Hermione took a moment to look at each other, reveling in what they had found.
"Harry, " said Hermione quietly. "I definitely forgive you.
Harry smiled and brought Hermione's hand to his lips, before the couple continued their walk by the lake.