Chapter Eleven: Finally Spoken
***4:30 P.M. Saturday Evening***
"'Mione?" he whispered.
Nothing.
"'Mione, I need to talk to you, and if your not awake, this will have to do……"
Hermione grunted, and turned over so her back was to Harry. He slowly slid into the room, and sat at the edge of the bed.
"Well, I need to get some stuff off of my chest. I was kind of hoping you'd be awake, but this is going to have to work for now."
He placed his right hand onto her uncovered calf, and gave a half smile to no one in particular. He tried to look at her face, but it was too dark to make anything out at this point. The only light entering the room was a sliver from the fire in the living room coming in through the slightly opened door.
He ran his left hand through his hair and began to speak.
"Well, um, there are some things that I need to tell you. I've known how i've felt about you for a very long time…" he drawled on.
Hermione's eye opened slightly, but when she realized Harry was trying to tell her something very important she quickly shut them, hoping that he hadn't noticed what she did.
"Well, you see, the thing is………I-I think…no, I-I know…I'm in love with you." he finally spoke the words out loud. Hermione's eyes snapped open the minute the words sprang from his lips and she stared at the lamp on Harry's bedside table. Harry still couldn't see her face, luckily for her.
"I love you," he repeated, more confidently, "Not just as a friend. I love you as my soul mate, my own know-it-all. I love the way you smile, joke around, lecture me, save me, and care for me. I just…I just love you." he spoke, losing his courage, very quietly.
At this point, he still wasn't sure if she was awake or not. She shifted, and flipped over so she was now facing the door. He finally got a good, whole look at her face. Her eyes were open, and tears streaming down her face onto the pillows.
"Y-your awake…" he muttered.
She sat up, and nodded. She reached up and brushed away the tears, then grabbed Harry's face on both sides with her hands.
"I love you, too." She told him.
He sat there, completely stunned. She had said it. He had imagined her saying it for so long, but when he actually heard it from her mouth, it was so much better then he could've ever hoped for.
"Really?" he asked, unsure of her sudden comment.
"Yes, really, truly, and deeply. I have for a very long time." She explained.
"Why didn't you ever say anything to me before this?" he inquired.
"I was afraid you wouldn't ever feel the same way that I did about you. I hated to keep it inside, but if it meant keeping you as just a friend than I decided it needed to be done." She admitted.
He looked at her, tears welling up behind his emerald eyes as he realized that for the first time in his life, he was truly, deeply loved by someone whom he loved back.
He smiled, and the tears finally made their way down his face. She couldn't help herself and started crying too. They both looked at each other and laughed, like they hadn't laughed in years. After the `happy-fest' Harry looked into Hermione's chocolate eyes.
"I love you, Hermione Granger. More than you could ever know." He said with a huge smile on his face. She smiled broadly, and looked at him this time.
"I love you, Harry Potter. More than these words could ever express." They smiled again, so ecstatic to finally know the truth about the other.
*********
***6:15 P.M. Saturday Evening***
DING DONG!
The doorbell rang loudly, and woke Harry up. He looked around.
DING DONG!
God, that bloody thing is annoying. I'm going to get it removed if it's the last thing I do……
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and put on his robe.
DING DONG!
"I'm coming! Hold onto your bloody knickers!" he bellowed.
He reached out for the knob, and found he was facing a red head.
"Ginny? Why are you here?" he asked, curious about her sudden appearance.
"Just stopped by to deliver a message from my brother." She told him.
"Ah, but which one?" he questioned.
"The one married to Luna. Anyway, the lovely couple told me to tell you that you are to meet them at the Burrow at 8. They want a quick chat. For what reasons, I don't know, but he told me to tell you that you'd better come, or he'll sick his wife after you."
Harry smiled. He knew how good Luna's curses were, they were almost as good as Hermione's. Almost, but not quite.
"Tell him we'll be there." He gave Ginny a smile.
"See you later, Harry." she smiled back. He shut the door, and went back to bed.
Hermione was standing by her dresser putting on her robe and grabbing some clothes.
"Ron has told us to meet him at the Burrow in less than an hour. What do you think about that?" he laughed, and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She laughed and twisted around so she was facing him.
"Sounds good. Showers first, I insist." She smiled coyly.
*********
Half an hour later, they were standing in the kitchen, Hermione making a pot of tea. Hermione couldn't cook to save her life, but she could make a killer pot of tea.
Harry took a sip of the tea, and exhaled.
"Mmmm, you make such good tea." He smiled up at her.
She walked over to him, and sat on his lap.
"We should be leaving soon, or Ronald will have a coronary." She told him.
He laughed and took another sip of tea. Harry looked up into her eyes for the hundredth time that morning and kissed her.
"I know it." He informed her.
She kissed him this time. He broke away first, but kissed her again.
"This is heaven." Harry exclaimed after a particularly long kiss.
"I agree." She smiled.
Hermione got off of Harry's lap and put the tea kettle into the sink, and grabbed his hand.
"Let's go now, or we'll never get there." She laughed.
Harry nodded and grabbed a handful of Floo powder in the brass bucket next to the hearth. He tossed the powder into the fireplace and motioned for Hermione to go in first, then he entered himself.
Hermione deeply inhaled, and yelled clearly, "The Burrow!"
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