Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR, I just felt like having some fun..
AN: Not much to explain, a simple story about a boy, a girl and a photograph. The first few sections are separated by point of view.
Title: Worth a Thousand Words
Rating: PG
Pairings: HHR
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He sat there staring at the fire, well not really, he was staring at the picture in his hand, but the fire was a nice background for it. He could not believe how beautiful she looked in this picture, of course he knew she was beautiful, but this picture was just amazing. They say that a picture contains a thousand-words, or something like that, he thought, but he was nearly speechless.
Colin had surprised her with this picture, it was taken on a breezy spring day, before Dumbledore . . . well before that happened. She was walking around the grounds and a sudden breeze blew her hair out behind her, almost like she was riding on a broom, like that would ever happen, but the most astonishing thing about the picture was her face. When not covered by her hair, it was obvious that she had a natural beauty that some would say was plain, Harry thought she was Helen herself, or even Aphrodite. She had a smile on her face that was something rare to see last year, well maybe just to him. He figured she was probably thinking about Ron, after all this was about the time that they had really begun to get closer again. Harry's heart broke a little when he thought of that, but it is what he wanted, was is not?
Sure, he did not avoid his friends or close himself off as many thought he would after Sirius died, but he did, in his own way, make it so they did not need him anymore. It all started out fine, he really thought constantly complaining about Malfoy would drive them away, and when it worked, he was happy, at least he thought he was. Of course, when he started to see the results of his master plan, Ron snogging anything that moved, and Hermione cursing their best friend, he started to wonder if maybe it was a mistake. In addition to his wonderful Malfoy paranoia, which turned out to be true, amazing that, he also decided to act upon his little "monster" for Ginny. Sure he found her attractive, but to be honest, they really had very little in common, except for Quidditch and Ron, two things that do not a relationship make. He knew that, but he figured since he wanted to distance himself from those two, what better way than to bring in a third party. Of course, once again his little plan seemed to create more problems. When he saw Hermione smiling at him when he kissed Ginny, his heart broke again, he guessed that she was happy that Ginny finally seemed to get what she wanted. Maybe that is what caused Harry so much grief, he forgot that playing with Ginny's heart could be detrimental. He did not intend for it to be serious, and he assumed Ginny knew that too. Finally at the funeral, he realized that he was being a prat, he knew that he really did not love Ginny, she was just another of his attempts to bring a wedge between the trio. Thankfully, by the time he broke it off the "damage" had been done and Hermione and Ron were on their way to a happy ending.
So if that was what he wanted, why did he hate it so much. Why did he sit here and stare at this picture of his best female friend, no best friend period, and long to touch her and feel her in his arms. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, he could only think of three, "I love her". The words echoed in the empty room at 12 Grimmauld Place, but Harry did not mind, he knew that the other two were off somewhere, probably together, probably snogging, a bitter smile ran on his lips, because that is what he wanted, was is not?
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She stood there, watching him. She was barely breathing, she did not want to alert him to her presence. She could see him looking at something, a picture probably, although she was too far away to see who was in it, she had a pretty good idea though. A lot had changed this past year, Hermione found herself in a very serious predicament. She knew that she loved her boys, and that she would give anything for either of them, but being seventeen really put things into perspective. Ron had always seemed to be the less dangerous of the two, she knew that he fancied her, but she also knew he would eventually grow out of it, of course it still hurt when it happened. She assumes that would explain her violent outbursts, a small frown forming on her face as she remembered this, she just was not herself this year.
Well after the thing with Ron, she realized that she was not as independent as she thought she was. She started to question her motives, and she realized that it was not because of any undying love she felt for Ron, of course she knows she loves him, but she also knows that bickering does not a relationship make. She realized shortly after the poison incident that Ron would never be anything more than a friend for her, but that did not stop her from "leading him on", so to speak. She knew that Ron was the safe choice, and more than likely the only one that she had. Of course, when the end comes, she will probably be hurt, but she is used to being on the receiving end of heartache.
Sometime during the spring, she finally accepted the fact that she loved Harry, maybe it was because she hated that fake smile she put on when he kissed Ginny, or perhaps, more than likely, the fact that she hated him not being around as much. Sure he was physically around, but he was too pre-occupied in that book, or Ginny, or Draco. She remembers the day she realized it very clearly now, she was walking the grounds, just to get away from everything and she was thinking about what her life would be like with Harry. She could envision a family, although she knew that would come later, what she really saw, or more rather felt, was a completeness that she had never felt before. As a gust of wind blew the hair out of her face she could feel the sun on her face and her heart was whole, although she never realized it was broken before, she could sense that everything she ever wanted was right there for her, she smiled as this thought resided in her mind. Just then she saw a flash of light and noticed that Colin was standing there taking her picture. She just waved at him and moved on.
Hermione never saw the photograph that Colin had taken, he said that he gave it to someone, and gave her a knowing smile. She figured Ron had asked for it when he saw it, and again a shadow crossed her heart, she really did not like hurting him, but as long as there was some happiness, that was probably enough for now. Just as she thought about this, she heard Harry say "I love her". She fought hard to keep the tears away, she did not want him to know she was here. Her heart was breaking again, but there was nothing she could do about it, so she stood there watching him, the love of her life, and she longed for that spring day to bring those "memories" back.
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Ron stood in the kitchen looking at Hermione he knew she was engrossed in looking at their other friend. He saw the look of longing on her face, and he knew, maybe he had always known, but today he knew beyond any shadow of a doubt. This year made him feel like he was coming into his own, girls finally noticed him, he was becoming almost as well known for his Quidditch skills as Harry, and most importantly Hermione finally came around. Of course, deep down, he knew that it could not last. Contrary to popular belief, he had a bit more than a teaspoon full of emotional capacity. He could see plainly whom the people before him really loved, but he was content to let the charade go on. He felt guilty for not saying anything, but he figured, if they did not realize it, then why should he tell them.
When Harry started inquiring about Ginny, Ron was more than happy to play along, maybe with Harry "busy" he could have some time alone with Hermione. Then of course after that whole canary thing he was a bit shy, but she eventually came around. Although by that time he was even more convinced than ever that things would not work out for long. Sure he loved her, but it was not nearly as much as he figured she deserved. He watched his parents, he knew they fought, but deep down you could see that there was always an underlying love there that they never let each other forget. Ron knew people thought that Hermione and him bickering was some sort of tension, but when it came down to it, they really liked to prove each other wrong and they would do anything to prove their point, including bating each other with insults. He knew that was not love, but he hoped maybe things could evolve, he knew now though that it was an impossible dream.
It did not seem to bother him too much though, he guessed it was expected. He was not sure how to break it to Hermione, although he figured that it would be a relief for her. That was when he heard the echo from the other room, "I love her", and he saw her face fall. He wanted to go and comfort her, but he knew that there was only one person who could do that. He decided that it was about time that he talked to Hermione.
*COUGH*
She turned around and caught Ron looking at her.
"How long have you been here?" she asked, trying to sound innocent.
"Long enough" he smiled "Why don't we sit and talk?"
"Oh . . .okay"
She walked back into the kitchen, leaving her dreams at the door, she really was not looking forward to this, but she knew it had to happen, she opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her with a brief hand movement.
"No, let me talk, there are some things you need to know." He started, although a lump was caught in his throat, did he want to tell her about the photograph that Colin took, he had seen Harry look at it so many times it almost made him sick, but yet he never confronted him. He assumed it was because he still wanted that dream. He shook his head and tried to continue.
"I wanted to let you know that . . . this just isn't going to work." He could see the tension leave her eyes and he smiled. "Believe me, I wish we could have had longer, but you know as well as I do that time is something in short supply now and we really should be trying our best to make our dreams come true. I know a lot more than you think I do, and I want you to go to him, tell him, you have a right to be happy, even during these hellish times." He finished strongly, as if admitting it was going to make the walls shake.
"But what about us?" She asked, although she could see what the answer would be.
"Come on Hermione, we both know how you feel, this is your time, don't waste it trying to settle for me. I'm okay, I have known for a while I just didn't want to admit it. Listen, you need to tell him."
"What about Ginny, in case you didn't hear, he just told her picture that he loved her."
A knowing smile briefly lit Ron's face. "Listen, don't worry about Ginny, she will move on, in fact she probably already has." He hesitated at the next part, and decided to have just a bit more fun. "And so what if he loves a picture, make him love something real. Hermione, tell him, even if he doesn't feel the same way he needs to hear it." He leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.
As Ron stood up from the table, he winked at her, which caused her to wonder until . . .
"Hey Hermione, have you seen Harry?" he yelled, just enough to snap Harry out of his musings.
Hermione glared at Ron, then a small smile broke through and she responded "I think he's in the dining room, I'll find him." returning the wink that Ron gave her.
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Harry briefly panicked after hearing Ron call for him, and Hermione answer, but he soon realized that everything was okay when the door opened and he saw her standing there. She seemed happy, which meant that nothing horrible had caused his friends to try and find him. Before he knew it, her smile faded and a determined gaze fell upon him as she started walking right towards him, and he realized how scary it was to be on the receiving end of it. He was all ready to verbally defend himself against whatever was coming when she stopped within arms reach and started talking very fast.
"HarryJamesPotterItsabouttimeyoufoundoutthatILoveYou"
He stared at her with a very confused expression on his face. "What was that?" he asked, not quite sure what she was mumbling.
Hermione breathed deeply and started over again, slower this time.
"Harry, I Love You, not in the 'boy aren't we great friends way', but rather in the 'I can't breathe when you are near me, and I want nothing more than to hold you and be yours' way."
As he was listening to this admission, quite better than anything he could come up with, he started to lose his grip on the picture. He watched in slow motion as it fell face down on the floor, as if some unseen force were dragging it out of his hands. Before he had a chance to move she was bending over to pick it up.
As she turned her gaze from him she saw the picture fall and felt a twinge of regret, maybe this was not a good idea, but then she decided to continue on. She leaned down and picked up the picture, and purposefully kept it facing away from her when she started to speak again.
"I know you love her, I heard you say it, but I wanted to let you know that I am here, and I am real. I know you had something this past year, but what about all of our past years, I don't know how long I've loved you, but it feels like forever. So maybe the girl in this picture turns your head, and makes you ogle until your eyes are straining through your glasses, but I want to let you know that this girl right here loves you more than anything else and . . .why the hell are you smiling, are you laughing at me, fine have you picture." She almost screamed the last part as she turned the picture over to throw it at Harry.
As she turned the picture over though, it was not a mane of red hair that greeted her, it was her own face looking back at her, with her windswept hair and a smile that brought memories back to her once fallen features. She was speechless, but it did not matter because at that moment she felt warm lips upon hers.
She felt complete, her heart was whole, but this time it was not some fantasy that would disappear in the daylight, this was real, she could feel the love radiating between both of them. This was more than just a first kiss, it was a promise. A promise that nothing in this world would ever come between them again. As they finished their kiss, both parties breathed a sigh. As Hermione sheepishly grinned at him, she saw that his lips were starting to open she started to lean in for another soul giving kiss when she felt him stop her. She looked a little dejected but then he spoke.
"I Love You" he smiled and then leaned in to finish what she started.
Yep, Hermione thought, a picture is worth a thousand words, but those three will do just fine.
The End