Disclaimer: Don't own it. Don't own it. Don't own it.
Recap
Should I pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dudley? It would work out well if everything goes according to plan. I guess we'll talk about it tomorr.... Before Harry could finish his thoughts he was asleep.
Chapter 6:Letters and Kisses
Harry awoke early, and completely refreshed. He walked around the house and noticed all three of the Grangers were still asleep. Maybe I should mow the lawn. That would keep up the act so the Dursley's won't be suspicious. But that would wake them up. Harry walked out in the Granger's back yard. After searching for the lawn mower, that was conveniently already out, Harry mowed the front and back yard. After he finished, he noticed dear ol' Uncle Vernon standing by the fence…or where it would have been.
"Get over here boy!"
Harry trudged over to the beefy man and said "Yes uncle"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Vernon grabbed a hold of Harry's throat and held it tight enough for Harry to barely sputter out an answer.
"I'm mowing the lawn like you said I would" Harry was starting to feel faint. Vernon was literally choking the life out of him with one fat hand.
"You will trim the hedges, pick the weeds, and paint the shed. There will be no shortcomings boy! We want the neighbors to think you're respectable. They probably had to force you up. If I get any bad reports you will sleep in the cupboard next year, for the whole year. And That Girl! She is not the friend you used to have. If she is not pleased with you, I'll take it as bad as her parents being pissed. Now get over…"
Vernon was cut off by a waving Mrs. Granger. "Oh hello Vernon. The boy is going in the house and cooking us breakfast. Later he will paint our daughters room." Then she looked pointedly at Harry and said, "There will be no funny business under my roof. If you touch my daughter, you will be sent back immediately." Vernon was smirking giving her a look clearly stating that she did a good job.
Harry on the other hand was confused. Did Rachael know about what Hermione had planned? Oh no. They may want to give me the talk. It was bad enough hearing part of what they told Dudley.
"What are you still standing there for!? Leave. And I like my bacon well done." Harry obediently walked away to start breakfast. As Harry stepped into the Granger's kitchen he smelled Food! Delicious smelling Food! Mrs. Granger deserves an Oscar.
He walked into the kitchen and saw Hermione and her father sitting around the table. Tim was reading the paper while sipping on his coffee. Hermione was a sight for sore eyes… literally. Her hair had a mind of it own. Her eyes were barely open and she looked like she was at the worst part of a fever. "Good morning Tim! Hermione."
Tim put the paper down and smiled at Harry. "Great day isn't it Harry?" He couldn't help but smile at Harry when he sat down across from his daughter and reached out with caution to get a piece of toast from the center of the table. "Hermione. Harry said good morning. Aren't you going to respond?"
"Morn…day…people…too early for smiling…sleep" was the reply before Hermione slowly got up and went back to her room for more sleep.
"Harry, don't be afraid. Hermione is not a morning person. It's 7:30 in the morning. On her summer schedule this is torture." Mr. Granger chuckled, "Her mother wakes her up to eat and she usually falls back to sleep right after she's done eating. She hates the world in the mornings. But we suggest you go and wake her at about 10:30; otherwise she will sleep till 3 in the afternoon. During school and tutoring she's up at 6:30am but let the professionals wake her during the summer before 10" Mr. Granger's face suddenly became very grim and serious "I must warn you Harry. She will hurt you if you wake her before…"
Rachael walked up behind her husband and swatted him in the back of the head.
"OWWW! What was that for!?"
"Tim! Quit scaring the poor boy… but seriously Harry don't even make an attempt"
Both Grangers burst out laughing at the look of horror on his face. After a fearful breakfast Harry said goodbye to the Grangers as they left for work. Well I guess I'll take a shower. After on great shower Harry wrote a letter to Ron.
To Ron,
What's up mate! It's been a while since I got a letter from you and I decided to write you to let you know what has been going on. The beginning of the summer was horrible. The Dursley's were the same crazy people they were before. But everything is going to change if Dumbledore approves. Do you remember when I told you about a girl I met when I was seven and we became best friends? Well she's back! Her parent want to get me emancipated and let me live with them. We are going to write a letter to Dumbledore and ask for his permission today. I'll write another letter telling you what he said.
Harry
P.S Tell the rest of the Weasley's I said hi. Later mate.
He sent the letter off with a school owl that he summoned and hoped he would be back by the time they were finished composing a letter. It was 10:45 and Harry decided to cautiously wake Hermione.
This consisted of him standing in her doorway saying "Pssst. Psssssst. Hermione. Hermione wake up. PROFESSOR MCGONNAGALL IS HERE!" Hermione shot up saying she didn't know it was September yet. When she saw Harry laughing she got up and chased him into the living room (sitting room, family room whatever).
"Okay Harry. There is no way to go. You're cornered" Harry narrowed his eyes and Hermione narrowed hers. Before he could blink Hermione tackled him onto the couch and straddled him while holding down his arms.
"Ha. I got you! And you said you were seeker!? I'm pretty sure I'm bigger than a snitch..."
Harry wasn't paying any attention to a thing she was saying. For Merlin's sake she's sitting on me. Ok breathe Potter. Oh come off it! Who can breathe with a girl in pajamas sitting on you! Think of something disgusting! Think of Snape in panties. Dumbledore in panties. Dudley in panties. Hermione in …NO! That would make it worst. Marge in her thong…Ugh that only made me want to gag.
"Harr…oh!…erm. I'll just go get dressed for the day um yeah. That's what I'll do." Then she rushed upstairs and he heard her door slam shut.
Harry was absolutely mortified. Hermione must have noticed. No use in crying now Potter! Just talk it out with her like a responsible adult. Easier said than done. I should be a bloody Hufflepuff.
After thirty minutes of torture Harry's wimpy side won the round. He was slumped over looking like he just lost his best friend.
Hermione walked down the stairs and sat next to him on the couch. Why is she so calm? I'll go back to the Dursley's to keep her away from a freak like me.
"Harry. What happened earlier was a natural mistake. My mum gave me the talk a while ago and I was mostly at fault. I was barely wearing anything and I was on top of you. It's only natural that you had a …reaction. Don't be ashamed to be yourself. I won't ever hate you no matter what. I'm always going to be there for you and there is no reason for you to want to push yourself away from me."
Harry was shocked; she knew exactly how he was feeling and she still wanted to be his friend. He had no idea what came over him but he leaned in and kissed her; right on the lips. He was going to pull away until he felt her responding back. After the best three seconds he ever experienced he looked her in the face to see her reaction. She had her eyes drooped with a dreamy look on her face and a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. When she noticed him staring at her with an 'I made you look like that, and I'm satisfied because now I feel alfa male-ish ' smirk on his face, she blushed.
"I guess I have to give speeches like that more often" They sat around for a few minutes like two preteens who just had their first kiss. That means they kept sneaking glances at each other and would blush when they caught the other looking. "Um Harry. I like you."
"I like you to Hermione"
"No. I like you, like you."
"I like you, like you too."
"So what does this mean? Are we gonna date or…something?"
"Well. I guess it's complicated" When he saw Hermione look hurt and confused he tried to explain it better. "It's not that I don't want to be your boyfriend, but there would be a few problems. Your parents being one. How do I know they will let me stay? They may not want us together. We're twelve; they may ship me back off to the Dursley's. The second thing is the wizarding world. There are a lot of people who followed Voldemort and I don't want you hurt; not only that, but I'm pretty famous like I told you they will all know you too. And then there is the fact that I don't know the first thing about dating."
"Harry my parents will accept it. I told them the morning after we spoke under your tree that I knew I liked you, so they shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't push away because of crazy people. But I know you won't allow anything that could possibly hurt me. So maybe we can only tell a few people we're together. And you most definitely know how to be a boyfriend. You've been nothing but kind to me since the day we met… I'm more than willing to give us a try." Harry didn't miss the 'shouldn't' when she was talking about her parents but he dismissed it.
"I'd like that too. But you gotta let me know when I'm doing something wrong. And I really can't sacrifice telling anyone. Would it be bad if we kept it secret when we get to school?" Hermione nodded her head in agreement and gave him another chaste kiss. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up the stairs to her room.
Harry being a boy wondered How fast is this relationship moving!?
Hermione sat at her desk and pulled out paper and a pen. "Harry stop looking like that! I'm writing a letter to Professor Dumbledore!"
"Um Hermione? I'm not sure that he is used to getting letters on regular paper. On second thought he's kinda weird so go ahead."
Dear Headmaster Dumbledore,
My name is Hermione Granger, we met almost a year ago when you told me about the wizarding world. It turns out that Harry Potter is my best friend. We are writing this letter to ask permission for Harry to live at my house. My parents and I think it would be best if he can get emancipated. The Dursley's put him through more than enough torture and we believe it's time for that to end. No one deserves to be treated like a slave in their own home by their family. So we will patiently wait for your response.
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger
"Harry can I borrow your owl?"
"I sent her to Ron's for the summer, but I'm waiting for an owl I summoned from school. He should be back in a min…." Before Harry could finish his sentence a big brown owl tapped on the window. Hermione let the owl in and untied the letter addressed to Harry. She tied the other letter to the owl's leg and set him off.
Harry read his letter out loud.
Hey Harry,
I can't say I'm exactly happy about your letter. You're telling me about a new friend. I was supposed to be the one you talked to. But after mum gave me a good chewing out I realized how stupid I was being. I can't wait to meet her. We can all be friends. Hope thing go well with Dumbledore. See you in September mate.
Me,
P.S. Is she a looker? Because I could use a girlfriend; and from what you used to say about her, she's my type. Maybe you can date my sister and we can double date. Talk to her for me; okay?
Harry couldn't help but scowl at that last part. He sat the letter down and sat next to the laughing Hermione on her small couch in front of her tv. "Don't worry Harry, he doesn't seem like my type. Besides I'm with you. Now all we have to do is wait on Dumbledore's response"
This is the life. I have a girlfriend and a best friend all in one. Nothing can ruin this day.
"And don't forget we have to tell my parents tomorrow."
So much for the day not being ruined.
A/N: Hey everybody! I just wanted to say thanks again for the reviews. I got the scene about the falling on the couch and the like you like you from…ME! I was about 14 when that happened and we laughed later because we both seen it on Wonder Years and every other show after it.