A/N: I greatly appreciate all reviews and everyone who has read the first chapter. Due to unforeseen circumstances I have decided to post the rest of the story. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own any of these characters
The Bad Assumption
Chapter: 2 Feelings Revealed
Tonks grabbed a small amount of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace at the same time saying Hermione's address in London. She then knelt down and stuck her head into the green flames. In the fraction of a second her head appeared in the fireplace of a neat little flat located not that far from Grimmauld Place. She thanked the powers that be that Hermione happened to be sitting on the couch nearby, reading her daily owl posts. She looked up a bit startled at the popping sound, but then smiled brightly at seeing whose head was staring at her from the fireplace.
"Hello Tonks. It's so nice to see you, it's been awhile. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" said Hermione cheerfully.
"Wotcher Hermione, I hope you are doing well. I hate to impose on you, I know you are so busy with your training and studies, but would it be possible for me to pop by? We need to talk, I have something I need to talk to you about and it's very important," explained Tonks trying not to sound overly dramatic.
"Of course you can come by Tonks. What is it you want to talk to me about?" said Hermione curiously.
"Hold on a moment, give me a sec," said Tonks.
As suddenly as her head had appeared in the fireplace it vanished. Ten seconds later the complete Tonks appeared before Hermione in a blast of green flames. When she stepped out of the fireplace she was greeted with a warm hug by Hermione.
"How are you doing, Tonks? It's been too long since I last saw you and I hear congratulations is in order," said Hermione beaming at the young Auror.
"I'm doing fine Hermione, and thank you. Yes, Remus proposed to me, I guess it's been about a week now. But, how did you know? I've been so busy with some updated Auror training, I haven't been able to send out any announcements yet," said Tonks.
"I, uhm, ran into Remus at Diagon Alley yesterday and he kind of let it slip. But, I promised that I wouldn't tell a soul. I think it is so wonderful Tonks. I know you two will be very happy together," said Hermione smiling at her brightly.
"Thank you, Hermione. I was hoping to have some time to talk to you. I wanted to ask you if you would be my Maid of Honor?" inquired Tonks.
"Oh Tonks, thank you. I would be, well, honored to be your Maid of Honor. I know it's quite early, but have you two decided on a date yet?" said Hermione excitedly.
"No, we haven't set a date yet. I don't think it's really sunk in yet for either of us. Uh, Hermione, we can talk bout this later, this wasn't what I needed to discuss with you. I need to talk to you about Harry." said Tonks turning quite serious.
Hermione noticed Tonk's demeanor had changed sharply. Her curiosity was now piqued as was her never ending concern for Harry.
"About Harry? Is he okay? I just saw him a week ago, he looked fine, there's nothing wrong with him, is it?" asked Hermione in her usual rapid succession.
Tonks just knew Hermione was deeply in love with Harry by the way she reacted to what she had said. Hermione, not even knowing what was going on, had automatically asked questions about his well being.
"Relax Hermione, Harry is fine, he's not hurt or anything like that. But, before I can get into what I need to talk to you about I need to ask you something. Please don't think bad of me, I sincerely don't mean to pry into your personal affairs, but this is very important. If I could think of another way to get around it, I would," said Tonks gently.
"Tonks, if it is something that will help Harry, you know I will be glad to answer your questions," said Hermione now looking very worried.
Tonks was very nervous asking Hermione about her deepest, private feelings, but, she had to do something to help Harry out of his current state of mind.
"Hermione, do you, uhm, have feelings for Harry?" asked Tonks turning a bit pink.
Hermione looked a bit surprised at the question, but thought about it for a few moments before she finally answered.
"Harry is my best friend, and has been for over ten years. Of course I have feelings for him. With everything he's done for me over the years, protecting me and comforting me, I couldn't ask for a better friend."
"Hermione, I don't think you understand what I mean. I truly don't mean to pry, but do you have feelings deeper than those of a best friend? In other words, are you in love with Harry? I know you don't understand right now why I'm asking such a personal question, but, believe me it's very important. It could be very helpful to him in his current condition," said Tonks gently.
Tonks could see the look of concern in Hermione's eyes increase even more, if that were possible.
"What do you mean by the "condition" he's in? I thought you said he was fine? Is there something wrong with Harry? Please tell me," said Hermione now looking terrified.
"Hermione, it's okay. I promise. I didn't mean to get you so worked up, just relax and calm down. If you will answer my question, I will take you to Grimmauld Place and show you why I had to ask such a personal question," said Tonks comfortingly.
Hermione sat back down on the couch and stared into the fireplace for several moments. Eventually Tonks sat down beside her on the couch, but didn't disturb her so she could gather her thoughts. Finally she broke the silence.
"Well, honestly, when we first met, I felt Harry was the best friend I ever had, along with Ron of course. These feelings continued for about the first three years at Hogwarts. Until I came to Hogwarts, I never had any friends, Tonks. No one liked me at the Muggle school I went to. I was too bookish and plain looking. So when I got to Hogwarts and actually had friends I was so happy. But anyway, as time passed, my feelings for Harry did grow deeper. I grew much closer to him while we were working on destroying Voldemort. It wasn't too long after that I fell deeply in love with him. Yes Tonks, I love Harry with all my heart, but as far as I know he doesn't feel that way for me. He's never said anything or shown me any signs of having deeper feelings for me. I've always been afraid that if I told him of my feelings I'd somehow push him away because he wouldn't feel the same for me. I don't want to lose Harry. I'm happy enough to still call him my friend."
Tonks couldn't believe what she had just heard. She might as well have been talking to Harry. She just sat there and shook her head.
"What is wrong with you two? How blind can two people be? said Tonks sounding a bit put out.
Hermione had a very puzzled look on her face after hearing Tonks' comments.
"Hermione, come with me and I will show you what the problem is. The only thing is, I just can't waltz in with you in tow. We have to do this quietly.
We need to apparate to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, let's say the room Harry and Ron stayed in during your fifth year. Do you remember that room?" said Tonks.
"Oh yes! I still remember running over to Harry to hug him when he first got there, I nearly knocked him flat. I'd missed him so much, and Professor Dumbledore made us promise not to tell us anything. He was absolutely furious with me and Ron. But enough about that, if you are ready we can go," said Hermione thoughtfully.
Tonks nodded and both women stood up. Hermione looked around quickly making sure everything was in order with her flat. Once this was done they both apparated to Grimmauld Place. In an instant they appeared in the room they had discussed just moments before. The only thing was that the room looked nothing like what Hermione remembered. She couldn't believe how nice, clean, and beautiful the room was. Tonks smiled at the look of astonishment on Hermione's face.
"I guess you haven't been here since all the renovations were completed. This is a whole new house compared to the one you remember. Professor Dumbledore had everything taken care of before Harry officially took possession and moved in," explained Tonks.
"This is beyond words. It's like a horrible memory being completely erased from your mind," said Hermione looking around in awe.
"I'm sure Harry will want to give you the grand tour once we get things straightened out. I'll need you to put on the spare invisibility cloak we keep here," said Tonks as she rummaged through a wardrobe.
Once she found the cloak she placed it over Hermione so she couldn't be seen. After making sure everything was right with the cloak, she explained to Hermione what they needed to do.
"I know this seems highly unusual and you probably think me barking mad, but please trust me. I need you to see and to listen to Harry, and this is the only way I think it will work. We need to go down to the kitchen, be careful not to catch the cloak on anything or bump into things. Oh, and be very quiet. Follow behind me and once we are in the kitchen I think there's a chair in the corner to the left of the entry way that will give you a good view. You just sit there and I will take care of the rest."
She checked the cloak one more time and then they made their way down to the kitchen. On the way, she prayed that Harry was still there so Hermione could see and understand what was going on. They finally arrived and Tonks took a hesitant step inside. To her relief she could see that Harry was, in fact, still there sitting at the table and it appeared that he was on his fourteenth bottle of butter beer. The collection of empty bottles all over the table supported that count.
Tonks continued moving towards Harry at the same time hoping Hermione was making her way towards the chair she had mentioned. That was the best place for her to listen to and watch Harry.
Hermione was extremely confused and very concerned about Harry's current condition. She knew Harry really didn't drink that much, but here he was, sitting at his kitchen table trying to drown his sorrows in butter beer. She had never seen him act this way. What was bothering him so much that was causing him to do this to himself, she wondered.
All the times they had spent together since leaving Hogwarts, although it wasn't very often, she thought he had seemed happy enough. What was so wrong that would cause him to behave this way? She desperately needed to find out what had happened.
Tonks took a seat by Harry, opposite from the side Hermione was on so as not to block her view.
"Harry, did you think about what I said earlier? You can't keep punishing yourself like this. None of this is going to solve the problem, you can drink yourself into oblivion, but, when you sober up the situation will still be there. You didn't destroy Voldemort to lead a life like this, Harry. You need to be happy, you need to tell Hermione how you truly feel about her," said Tonks firmly but gently.
Tonks quickly glanced towards the corner where Hermione was suppose to be sitting. She was there, but she was quite puzzled at what she had just heard. What had Tonks meant by how Harry really felt about her? What was Tonks playing at, she thought.
Harry just sat there staring out into space, not really focusing on anything. Hermione wasn't even sure if he had even heard her, but to her surprise he finally responded.
"Tonks, I truly thought about what you said, and as much as I'd love to apparate to Hermione's flat right now, tell her I love her more than life itself, that I want to spend the rest of my life with her, and then snog her senseless, I just can't do it," said Harry with great sadness.
Hermione was absolutely stunned, she could hardly breathe, her brain had ceased to understand for a moment until the full impact of what she had heard finally entered her consciousness. Once it did, it filled her with the strongest feeling of happiness she had ever experienced. She had actually heard what she had wanted to hear, and had hoped could be possible, that Harry Potter did, in fact, love her. But what was keeping him from telling her, she was at a complete loss as to why this was.
"Let me see if I understand what you are saying. You love Hermione more than anything in this world, even more than your own life. However, you are afraid to tell her, because you think there's no way she could have the same feelings for you, and if you did explain your true feelings to her she wouldn't want to be your friend anymore because she couldn't return your deeper feelings," said Tonks incredulously.
Harry was now looking her right in the eyes, and she could tell he was mulling over everything she had said. After quite a few moments he finally broke eye contact, sighed sadly, and answered her.
"That's right, Tonks. I couldn't bear to lose her, it would drive me mad. I would rather die than be without Hermione. She is my whole world, my only reason to live. That's why I have resigned myself to never telling her how I really feel. I can at least still have her as my friend, and seeing her now and then is much better than never seeing her at all. But, you know Tonks, I'd give anything to find out if she does have any feelings at all for me other than just as her best friend," said Harry sounding worse than ever.
Tonks was about to say something when she thought she heard muffled sobbing coming from the corner where Hermione was suppose to be. However, the next thing she heard caused her to jump. Hermione had abandoned her seat in the corner and now stood beside Harry, or at least that's where her voice was coming from.
"Harry James Potter, if you want to know how I feel about something, why don't you bloody well ask me! Don't ever assume you know what my feelings and emotions are, no one knows them but me, you egotistical prat! After everything we have experienced together over the years, you should know by now you will never have to worry about losing me as a friend. And that's regardless of whether you're in love with me or not, or whether I feel the same way about you or not," said Hermione firmly through her tears.
Harry was taken completely by surprise at the sound of Hermione's voice. He looked around the kitchen with a shocked look on his face until she slowly removed the cloak and let it fall to the floor.