2003 Normal 2003 1 1 2003-07-14T18:49:00Z 2003-07-14T18:50:00Z 1 1867 10084 84 23 11928 10.2625 21 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Title: Forever a Secret (pro/?)
Author name: LittleWitch
Author email: littlewitch_br@hotmail.com
Category: Romance
Sub Category: Drama
Keywords: Harry Potter Hermione Granger H/Hr
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF
Summary: The Wizard World was a mysterious place -- full of secrets. Three years after the fall of the
Dark Lord, darkness was still spreading over. A secret was held. A secret that was killing their souls. But they had to
pay the price -- or else the rest of the world would. No matter what, it had to be forever a secret.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various
publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.
No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: Thanks to Milagros, my beta friend, whose initial support was what made me go on with
this fic ( Hope you are okay and things got better for you in real life). And a huge thanks to Jennifer who decided to
join us in this crazy adventure. ( You are the fastest beta in the world and an incredible one either) These chapters
are dedicated to you two. Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prologue: H and H
It is dark in here.
Since he's gone.
Since it's all gone.
I think the worst part is knowing.
Knowing what you'd rather forget.
But you chose to remember.
Because although it hurts
You need those memories
Just to remember
Why you are still breathing.
**********************
She was trying to read, but she couldn't. Actually, she had already read that book countless times. It was her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History. If she were asked why she liked it, she wouldn't really know how to answer. Maybe...no, there was no reason-- not one that she could easily explain anyway. It was simply because, reading that book, she felt safe. It was like in that--not so small-- book were all the answers. When she was only eleven, that book was her best friend--it protected her from the unknown, telling her all about the new place that she would have to face. A magical place; a castle. But it was more than a castle; it was a school. But then again, it was more than a school; it was a place that once in her heart, she had called home.
Hermione Granger sighed and finally closed the book, giving up. Yes, she had given up so much. He had, too. "No. No. What are these, tears? No. I'm not going to cry," she thought to herself, "not anymore. You promised to yourself, Hermione. No more tears. Not even a single one. It's all in the past. Honestly, Hermione. You are not a little girl anymore. You are not at Hogwarts either. Life has changed. All has changed. And now...." She glanced at the book again as her delicate fingers made a trail down on its cover and then stopped at the word History, "...and now it's all history. It's a history that you'll never tell," she whispered to the book, like she was sharing a secret with it. "A history that no one will know because, like you, I will never tell. Never."
Fighting back her tears, Hermione let the warmth that came from the fireplace calm her and took her to a place where reality was nothing but a nightmare and her memories were a sweet dream.
************
He closed his eyes and in an instant he reopened them. In an instant, he had Apparated home. Through his glassy deep green eyes--jade-green eyes--he was studying his surroundings.
A small smile came to Harry Potter's lips when he saw her figure lying on the couch, peacefully sleeping. Coming close to her, he silently and smoothly took the book from her hands and as he read the title he chuckled as the words, 'Typical Hermione' crossed his mind. Typical indeed. He glanced at his best friend for--how many years? Ten years...a decade of friendship...real and true friendship...
For a moment, the word friendship seemed wrong to Harry and a strange feeling almost emerged--almost. But just as it came, it was gone. Harry couldn't even remember what he was thinking of in the first place. For a moment, all went dark in his mind. There was that stillness...a black void...a white wall and then...
"Ouch, what a headache!" Harry clapped a hand to his forehead. "I guess I shouldn't have drunk all that butterbeer after all."
Hermione stirred in her dreams and Harry's eyes fell on her again. Careful not to wake her up, he took her in his arms and carried her as the flames of the fireplace disappeared in the air.
"Harry," a muffled whisper escaped from Hermione's lips, "What are you doing?"
"Shh...go back to sleep."
"Harry...I--" she began to protest but suddenly she realized that she couldn't, her voice betrayed her--she was so tired, and although she knew at the back of her mind that Hermione Granger must certainly not be in Harry Potter's arms, no matter what. Oh, it felt so good, so comfortable just to lay her head on his chest and smell his scent. After all, everyday he had a different scent, or else, he always smelled like Harry and something else...
There were a lot of mixtures: Harry original's aroma and Quidditch (a very common one during their Hogwarts days), Harry and books (not so common), Harry and rain, Harry and soap, Harry and clean sheets (this one was for all the times that he spent in the Hospital Wing), Harry and danger (a traditional one), Harry and bravery (another traditional one), Harry and chocolate...but her second favorite one was Harry and Pumpkin Pie (maybe because it reminded her of a certain Halloween, a certain Troll and a certain beginning--the beginning of the most important thing in her life), but her favorite one, the one that she still dreamed about was Harry and ... "Don't go there again, Hermione. You know better than this. It'll only hurt more. History, remember. You have to live the now, the reality and now what you have is a mixture of Harry and...butterbeer???" Definitely not her favorite.
But it was then that Hermione noticed that all that warmness had gone, it was cold again. She was already in her bed and although he had covered her with her blanket, it was colder than ever.
"Good night, Hermione." He went away, closing the door behind him.
"Good night, Harry," she whispered as a tear fell down.
And then, it was all dark again.
*****************
"Good Morning, Harry." Hermione appeared in the hall, rubbing her eyes while she yawned softly.
"Morning, Hermione," Harry spoke absently as he placed some pancakes on a plate. "Come on, sit down. I've prepared your breakfast," he said as he went to the fridge and got some milk.
Smiling, she nodded, taking a place at the table. "Thanks, Harry. Hmm..." she took a bite. "It's delicious."
"I'm glad you liked it." He sat in front of her and started serving himself. "So, sleep well?"
"Yeah, thank you, Harry. But you know you shouldn't have...I mean you must be tired of carrying me to my bed every time that I happen to fall asleep on the couch, which happens all the time since I have this annoying habit of ..." And there she was babbling again.
"Hermione?"
"...and since you..."
"Hermione?"
"...come on, look at me, I must be very heavy..."
"Hermione!" he shouted.
"W-What??" She looked at him. "Oh, I'm sorry, Harry, but honestly..."
"I really don't mind, Hermione and you are not heavy. Nope, you are light as a feather," he grinned.
"Thanks." She gave him that magical smile of hers, a smile that could melt anyone's heart--any one except for his. "So, what about you? How was your night?"
"Actually, I didn't sleep very well," said Harry, frowning.
Noticing the look on his face, Hermione could swear that her heart skipped a beat. "Why? What happened?"
"Oh, no--no--don't look at me like that. It was nothing of the kind 'I have to save the planet again' stuff."
"So what is it?"
"Well...Ginny and I broke up."
His voice had a sad tone and all Hermione could say was, "Again?"
He nodded slowly.
Although in Hermione's mind her thoughts were, "I'm truly going to curse her this time. Why does she keep doing this to him? This eternally on and off again relationship. How many times have they broken up already, eleven, twelve? Is she trying to beat a record or something of that kind?"
What she said to Harry was completely different.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure that at the end of the day you are going to be together again. Isn't it always like that?" She took his hand in hers and squeezed it.
"Yeah, I guess you are right," he said sadly.
"I'm always right, Mr. Potter."
At that, the two laughed at each other and as jade eyes met chocolate ones. There was...
"Ouch, my head." Harry pressed his free hand on his forehead. "What a hangover! You know Hermione you ought to remind me of this, so the next time Ginny and I break up I don't end up again in The Three Broomsticks with Sirius and Snape."
Hermione smiled. "The Three Broomsticks...ah...that explains," she thought, " the Harry and butterbeer scent of last night. What I really ought to remember is to have a *really good* conversation with Sirius and Snape."
However her smile and all her thoughts died when Harry's hand fell down to his side. For a split second you could see real fear in Hermione's eyes as she saw his scar glowing.
She stood up abruptly, releasing his hand. The chair she was in fell back.
"Hermione, what's wrong? Are you Ok?"
"I..." Hermione sighed, relieved when she saw that the glow was gone. "It was nothing Harry," she told him while he brought the chair up to its place.
"Are you sure? You seemed ...I don't know-tense?" Harry asked concerned.
"No, I'm fine. I just remembered that I have a lot of work to do. I have to give a lecture about my new project today and then I---Wait, where is Ron?"
"Oh, yes an owl came from him yesterday when you were already in bed," Harry said as he started to look for Ron's letter between the mail. "It seemed that the team had to go to a publicity event last night in Merlin knows where and it seems that the thing ended late and they couldn't find the Portkey and--Well...here, read it yourself."
H and H,
Hey that's cool, don't you think? H and H. I guess this is the first time I notice that both of your names start with H. I mean I knew that your names started with H but I never had realized that both of your names started with H. Suddenly I feel left out, I mean my name starts with R. It's like the two of you are sharing something that I don't have: the same first initial .
Don't you guys think if my name was Henry or Harold it would be way too cool? I mean think about it. It'll be H, H and H and we would be remembered as "The H Trio".
But we can discuss it later, because the real reason I'm writing this one is to let you know that I can't make it home today. You see, the team had to stay late to take some photos and answer some questions. Till then everything was all right because as you two know I love to be famous. But that stupid towel boy lost our Portkey. And now, as we just can't Apparate from one country to another, I'm here at an airport with the rest of the team waiting for our flight!! Can you believe that? I would rather go on my broom than in that very big Muggle thing. But I guess we are so tired that we couldn't even stay on our brooms for a minute and it's at least a fifteen hour journey. Not to say that the Ministry would kill us if the Muggles saw us.
So you guys can just stop worrying and waiting for me and go to your beds. I know that's tough because you can't simply live without me, but you have to be strong. I hope I'll be able to arrive for dinner tomorrow.
Love,
Ron
P.S: Marry me. (No, not you, Harry!!! I'm proposing to Hermione.)
Hermione stared at the letter and then looked up to find Harry's intense gaze on her.
"You have to be kidding," she muttered.
Harry just shrugged innocently.
****************