A/N: Hey! Whew, Book 7 has come and gone since the last time I updated and for that I sincerely apologize. I know the site has been bursting with new fanfics and I absolutley love it, there is not a new fic I have not read. Lol. If you didnt know already, I'm writing quite a few one shots. One turned into a chapter story after so many requests ("Safe Choice") so I will try just to focus one at a time. Other than getting over the epilogue from hell....
I've been really busy!! I do a lot of theatre work...my first official big time theatre musical was when I was about ten and I played Jane in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre. Anyone ever seen it there? Hehee, maybe if it was years ago you would've seen me!! Lol. That was sooo much fun. I loved being ten and telling all my friends how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and say it backwards. Wellll...This chapter, I must add, does have a few parts that are a lot from the book, but PLEASE I BEG of you: don't look back and compare what I wrote to what the author of the book wrote. I know that the shopping scene is the same, but I have my reasons for that!! The rest is original! Well, enjoy reading!
Oh and even though I know a lot of Irish people...I cant write how they talk, so just pretend Seamus is talking like he really does. Lol.
Please read a/n at end of chapter!
Oh & ps: I totally just joined a facebook group that's called: Anti Harry/Ginny & Ron/Hermione. They have some HILARIOUS facebook groups if you look under Harry and Hermione! LOL! Like one that says Why doesn't Harry just f*** Hermione and get it over with. Ha, so that's the tasteless one, but funny.
Thanks to Cateagle for the song suggestion! It's like, C C's new theme song! I'll probably use a different verse for the next couple chapters! Thanks!
~*~
I was in search of a good time
just running my game
Love was the furthest
Furthest from my mind
-- "Caribbean Queen" Billy Ocean
~*~
"Mmm...Lav, get up," I shook Lavender, still laying down half-awake myself.
"No," Lavender groaned.
"Lav..." I sang.
"Five more minutes," She protested. "If you're not up by the time I get out of the shower...well, just get up! We're docking today, remember?"
"Mmk..." Lavender finally conceded. We took our turns taking showers. I changed into clean clothes, a light jean skirt and a light blue spaghetti strap top. Lavender, having stayed over, just changed into her clothes from the night before and would change when she got back to the room.
I was brushing my teeth and Lavender was trying to towel dry her hair in silence until Lavender asked, "So, should we hit the shops as soon as we dock?"
"Yeah, sure, sounds like a plan," I told her.
"Alright, well, I got to go back to my room and finish getting ready. Meet ya in the atrium in a half hour?"
"Sure. See you!" I waved.
"Bye," She shut the door behind her. I looked into the bathroom mirror and continued getting ready. I usually didn't wear much make up on a daily basis, unless it was a special day or something, but always applied mascara and eyeliner to my eyes. Everything else I didn't care about.
While studying my reflection in the mirror, I realized, for maybe the first time in my entire life, that I am not ugly. My skin was always crystal clear, free of pimples or blemishes; my teeth, with my mum being a dentist, were white and straight. My mother always insisted on getting my eyes brows waxed regularly and getting frequent pedicures, so my eyebrows weren't too bushy, and my feet weren't disgusting. My favorite part about me was probably my eyes; they were a chocolate brown, and caught everyone's attention. I don't know why...but for some reason that's what people notice first. Then their was the rest of my body. I had never been overweight; I'm not a stick, but I'm not plump at all, I settle somewhere in between the two. Plus, my skin had always had a bit of a natural tan.
So maybe I wasn't terribly ugly, maybe I could admit to myself that I was at least a little pretty. But I still didn't think I was beautiful, or as pretty as Lavender.
As usual I slipped my wand in my front pocket unseen, my cruise card in my back pocket, along with the credit card Sirius gave me. That made me think about the fact that he gave Harry and I tickets to see that show...and that we were supposed to meet up with them again tomorrow. You just couldn't escape parents on this trip, could you?
Heading out the door, I accidentally collided with someone who was walking out their own door at the same time.
"Hey!" I exclaimed in annoyance, before realizing it as Harry. "Oh, Hey, Harry. Sorry. How are you?"
"Good, until you collided with me," He joked, laughing.
"You ran into me!" I accused, mocking his tone.
"Well, I'm terribly sorry," He flashed that grin of his to me I'd only seen a few times before, but each time it took a toll on me.
"Me too," I apologized sincerely. "So, what are you doing today?"
"Oh, actually, I was thinking of going parasailing," he said. "Is parasailing on your list?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Do you only do things on your list?" He looked at me curiously.
"I like things to be planned."
"Maybe you could find a pencil and add it in. I've reserved a boat for today."
I'd never parasailed, but it sounded like fun. Still....
"Why are you asking me? I thought your friends were here?" I asked.
"Cause I don't wanna go by myself, and I don't know if Ron, Neville, Seamus or Dean would fancy coming along. Unless...you and Lavender were there." He said.
"Why would it matter if we were there?" I rolled my eyes.
He shrugged. "It'd be more fun. C'mon, will you go?"
So it wasn't because he was interested in me or because Sirius asked him to watch me, or was...? Now I had no idea where I was standing with Harry. It was like we were in between two giant trampolines and I was falling somewhere in between, struggling to reach the next one...or go back to the other. I don't know, everything with him is too confusing right now. My whole story with him felt like it was being written by someone else; someone who enjoyed toying with me.
"Sure, I'd love to go," I smiled. "Lav is going?"
He shrugged again. "Why not?"
"And the rest of the gang?" I asked.
"If by the rest of the gang you mean Neville, Seamus and Ron...then yes," He eyed me curiously. "Is that okay?"
"Of course, just wondering. So, I'll meet you there?" I asked.
He nodded. "Right..." He finished, telling me exactly where `there' was.
After quick goodbyes to each other, we went out separate ways. I guess I was also handing with Harry today. Plans changed. Lavender won't mind one bit.
~*~
We docked at Charlotte Amalie in the Virgin Islands. From the deck, the capital of St. Thomas looked like a peaceful village with its red roofed buildings sweeping out into the deep green hills. Ships of all sizes; sloops, yachts, sailboats, rocked gently in the waters with in the harbor.
Once Lavender and I left the ship I realized that the calm appearance of the town was deceiving. I was bustling with activity.
"Hey, I like this music," lavender bounced down the street past a shop playing that Caribbean-beachy kind of music that always made you feel relaxed. She seemed to walk in rhythm. I joined her, bouncing steps and all.
"So, Harry invited me to go parasailing," I started.
"Oh, Harry..." She said in a sing-song voice.
"Lav..." I groaned.
"Sorry, sorry. YOU were saying?" She said.
"Anyways, you wanna come?"
Lavender perked up. "Sure! That sounds great, especially if Harry dearest is there! Count me in!"
"Cool," I rolled my eyes. "The other guys are coming too."
"Ooo...even more fun!" She squealed. I just rolled my eyes again and continued walking.
We were headed for the shopping district. Most of the shops were converted warehouses where pirates had reportedly hoarded their stolen gods hundreds of years ago. Everything was quaint, and unlike anything I'd ever seen before.
Our first shop stop was the Tropicana Perfume Shoppe. The pink and white eighteenth-century building was located in the heart of the shopping district. The fragrances were to die for, and sported the names of so many prestigious companies-brand name labels that I seldom shopped for at home because they were a little out of my price range.
"What about this one?" Lavender asked, holding her wrist up to my nose.
It was a sweet flowery scent. It seemed to go with the tropics, but I wasn't sure I went with Lavender. Still, she knew herself better than I did, but I didn't think of her as `sweet & flowery' a lot of the time. But who was I to judge?
"I like it," I assured her.
She wrinkled her nose. "I don't know."
She was suddenly a mess of indecision. I didn't blame her, so was I. Far too many scents to choose from .I had a feeling most of the morning was gong to be a string of hard decisions.
Lavender dabbed another fragrance on her elbow and sniffed. "I like this one. Do you think Ron would like it?"
I stared at her. "Ron?"
She bobbed her head. "Yeah."
"But you and Seamus-"
"Oh, he's history," She said with a flutter of her hand.
"Well, I know, but I think Seamus is his friend and it just seems like it would be a little awkward."
She shook her head and raised her hand. "The rules are completely different on a cruise. Everyone's a player, and everyone is okay with that."
I didn't think I would be totally okay with that. While I was okay with kissing different guys, I only wanted to get intimate with one. Part of the one reason I wasn't willing to consider Harry as one of those guys because I dint believe long term relationships could take root on a cruse; and it would be uncomfortable to see him afterwards.
We continued to hover around the scents, when Lavender said, "I think Chris would like this."
"Is three any chance you two'll get back together" I asked, curiously.
She scoffed. "NO way, Hermione, you know what happened."
Then why did she keep bringing him up? I mean-it just didn't make sense. She kept telling me not to wallow in the memory of one guy. Ironic, eh?
I, on the other hand, was perusing through the scents. I wanted something soft, alluring, intriguing. Something to where on that special night. When I met that certain guy.
"I'm getting this one," she announced. "You?"
I continued my sampling, still searching.
Lavender and I were a hodgepodge of scents when we left, each carrying out first purchase. Givenchy adorned her bag; Yves Saint Laurent decorated mine.
Our next stop was a jewelry store. St. Thomas was known for inexpensive emeralds and diamonds. Of course, they were known for inexpensive everything.
"Check out this one!" Lavender squealed, gesturing to a necklace. It was extraordinary-diamonds and emerald that just story of swooped the neck.
"What would you wear it for?"
"Who cares?" She shrugged. "It's a must have."
I wanted something a bit more practical. A teardrop emerald necklace and matching dangling earrings caught me eyes. The green was intriguing, like the same color of Harry's eyes...no! No! Why was I thinking that! But it did match him well, I subconsciously though. That's what I chose to buy.
That's when I spotted the tow rings. I laughed to myself, remembering how Harry had talked about girls talking about toe rings. I couldn't resist. I bought him one, just for grins. It probably wouldn't fit him, but that didn't matter. I just wanted him to know I was thinking about him.
Whoa! Where did that come from?
"You okay?" Lavender asked. "You look totally bloody upset."
"Fine," I smiled. "Just thinking about something. It's nothing."
She shrugged. "Kay, but if you wanna talk..."
I just smiled in response. I really wasn't ready to tell Lavender what was going on in my head. I wasn't certain about my feelings and a bit overwhelmed. Eventually maybe, I dunno. Didn't seem important. Lavender and I scoured through the shops with our wallets getting thinner and the bags we carried getting heavier; filled with candles, more jewelry, clothes. While shopping on the islands I had planed to only use the money I, myself, had earned, but there was just so much to choose from.
After `shopping' for tattoos, and piercings, I decided that having any needles placed into my skin could wait till I got home when I could be sure the establishment was hygienic and up on the health laws; no reason to get carried away.
We barely had enough time to return to the ship, cart out bags back to our cabins, changed into short-shorts and a bathing suit top, plus head back into the town. We hooked up with the guys at Enrique's Parasailing.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry greeted me, as Lavender flirted with the others.
"Hey, everyone's here," I commented. "Are we...gonna have enough room?"
He shrugged. "It's not like I didn't reserve the whole boat."
I raised my eyebrows. "You reserved the whole boat? Not just a couple of spaces?"
He shrugged again. "Whatever."
"Sirius is generous," I added.
He learned over and whispered in my ear, "Sirius didnt reserve it, I did-with my money."
The shudder his hot breath on my neck caused distracted me from his words. When I recovered, I realised what he had just revealed. His money? I guess I hadn't thought of that one. I mean he was bloody Harry Potter, right? Of course he had money! For Merlin's' sake, his parents, wealthy was they were, left him everything. His old Headmaster Dumbledore that had recently passed left him almost everything. He was the god damn savior of the Wizardry world! I had always just thought of him as Harry this trip. I'd forgotten all about the fact that he was `the chosen one'.
I leaned over, "Is that your way of gloating to me about your money and fame?"
"You think I want that fame, Hermione?" Harry asked her harshly. "It's not bloody worth the price
I paid."
I was taken aback. Of course. Leave it to me to strike a flame in Harry and realise he's not such a bad guy. And this entire trip I'd done so good with pushing him away, only to have him shoved back in my face again.
"I'm sorry," I apologised.
He just shrugged, fiddling with something on the boat. I noticed his whole demeanor had changed now. Great, now I felt responsible for that too. "I...uh, got you something," I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He looked up and raised an eyebrow, "Really?" He asked a smirk showing.
"Really," I smiled, pulling the toe ring out and handing it to him. "It s a toe ring. Remember you said this is all girls talk about?"
He laughed. I continued. "Of course it won't fit you. Just for fun."
He grinned at me and put it on his toe. "Hmm, perfect."
I found myself laughed and shaking me head as he took it off again and placed it away. "Thanks."
"'course," I said.
Ron broke through the silence, addressing all of us. "Anyone ever parasailed before?"
I noticed everyone shake their head, except Harry.
"You've parasailed," I said to him, finding myself intrigued by him when I knew I shouldn't be.
"In Catalina and Mackinac Islands in the pacific with Sirius."
"You must like it then," I said.
"It's bloody amazing," he smiled.
He must have noticed I shot him a disapproving look. "What?"
"Language..." I reminded him.
Harry rolled his eyes but a grin spread across his face. "Right, Sorry."
As we cruised out beyond the harbor, everyone was dipping into the ice chest, helping themselves to drinks. Harry and I both quietly reminded the rest of the group to beware of what they were drinking; muggle drinks. They had fun testing out new ones, but sometimes they'd find one that they found disgusting and spit it out into the ocean, much to my disgust.
The boat slowed down and Rick, the captain, crouched down in the middle of our seating. His flowered shit was all unbuttoned, his baseball cap on backwards. He was barefoot and deeply tanned the perfect symbol of tropical island fever. "Hello."
"Hello," we all greeted him.
He bobbed his head in an approving way and asked, "Nice accents. Australian?"
"British," Five of us replied, annoyed at the mix up.
"What about you, dude?" He gestured toward Seamus.
Seamus looked at this `dude' as if he was an idiot. "Um, Irish?" He phrased it as a question, wondering how someone couldn't catch onto that.
"What you doin' here in the Caribbean?" He questioned.
"Just vacationing," Lavender smiled. "On the cruise ship. Some of us were here for a wedding on it."
He nodded his head again and clapped his heads. "Okay," Rick began. "You have paid to have the boat for two hours, there are six of you, so some will have to go in tandem since it takes about thirty minutes to get you up and then back down."
"I'll go with Hermione," Harry said, before anyone could get a word out.
I knew he'd responded quickly simply because he was watching out for me as Sirius had instructed.
"And how exactly does `tandem' work?" I asked, a bit scared.
"You're harnessed together and go up at the same time, "Rick explained.
Harnessed together? I darted a quick glance over at Harry. I had a vision of us plummeting into the sea
like a sack of rocks. I looked at Rick. "Won't we weigh too much?"
"Nah, you'll be fine," he winked at me. "Now which one of you guys is gonna pair up with the other babe?"
The other `babe'? That meant he considered me a babe. I gave him a close inspection; young, cute, but absolutely brainless. I didn't see myself hanging around with a beach bum.
After some shoving around, the guys decided Ron could be the one to go up with Lavender.
"Hey, Harry, how come we didn't have a discussion about who would go up with Hermione?" Dean asked.
"Because I called it," Harry joked with a smiled. I rolled my eyes jokingly.
Seamus shook his head and patted Dean's shoulder. "Let it go, Thomas." Dean shoved his arm off and walked away.
"Got something to say, Finnegan?" Harry asked when Seamus looked at him funny.
"Nothing, nothing at all," He smirked.
"All right," Rick said with a clap of his hands. "Let's do the singles first. Dudes, put on your
life jackets."
Seamus went first. It was interesting to watch them harness him in. I couldn't imagine how it was going to work with both me and Harry going together.
I also didn't like to admit that I thought it might be fun to go up with someone, especially Harry. "So what are you going to do tonight?" I asked, trying to be friendlier.
"Checking out the clubs with Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus, you?" He replied.
"Probably the same," I shrugged.
"Definitely the same," Lavender said, leaning toward us. "We don't leave port till late tonight. We might as well part with the natives while we have the chance. Harry, wanna come?"
"I'll think about it," He said, with a glance at me.
"C'mon Harry..." She begged. "Our vacation will be over before you know it and then we'll all be sent back home and soon school will start and we'll all go back at Hogwarts. You and the guys come with us tonight...please?"
Harry sighed, "Fine..."
"Oh, don't act like its such a chore," I chuckled.
He flashed me one of those heart stopping grins of his in response. At that point, the boat speed picked up and Rick began reeling Seamus out.
"Wahoo!" Seamus yelled.
I watched him go higher, and higher and the knot in my stomach grew larger and larger. I had yet to mention anyone my incredible fear of heights. I couldn't fly on a broom without freaking out, how was I supposed to go up on this?
I leaved close to Harry and said. "Look, if you want to go alone, I completely understand."
He must have sensed the apprehension in my voice and he tipped his head to the side so we were even closer, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. *Besides, no one's ever died while...Oh wait..."
I punched him playfully in the arm and smiled. "That's not funny."
Harry smiled. "But seriously, you'll be fine."
"Promise?" I challenged him, biting my lip.
"Promise," he looked at me seriously. "I take it your not too fond of flying?"
I shook my head. "Not at all. I hate riding on brooms."
He smiled reassuringly at me as I gazed back at the deep blue waters. A little while later, Rick started reeling Lavender and Ron in. Oh my god. Had a half an hour passed by already?
I started taking deep breaths. The last thing I wanted to do was hyperventilate.
Harry looked at me and took my arm. "Nothing will happen to you. You'll love it."
"Totally bloody awesome!" Lavender screamed.
The boat slowed and then idled while Rick helped Harry and I get into the harness. My back was against Harry's chest; he put his arms around me and I put my arms over his. I wt was silly, but it mad me feel as though I was anchored to something. He gave me the sense of security I needed since my heart was pounding like a sledgehammer. I heard a few clicks and snaps as Rick hooked us up. I felt a tug here, a tug there. And then I saw Rick was backing away.
"Okay, now, just relax," Rick said.
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Relax. I'm relaxed."
"All right then, here we go."
The boat revved up, the wind caught the parachute and I felt myself being lifted into the sky and away from the boat deck. I closed my eyes tightly, scared to look how high up we were. My stomach was doing flips.
"Relax, Hermione, "Harry said in my ear. "We're perfectly safe."
"Perfectly?" I squeaked.
"Yeah. The worst that will happen is that we'll caught in a cross wind, and the cute will collapse."
I gave a small `eep'. "And then?"
"Both of us just go into the water. You swim right?"
"Of course," I nodded, still keeping my eyes shut.
"Open your eyes," He commanded.
"I don't think that's such a good idea..." I swallowed.
"Hermione, open your eyes," He told me again, somewhat amused that I didn't listen the first time.
"Okay..." I cracked my eyes open slowly. The minute I saw how high up we were I gripped his arms tighter. I had a bird's eye view of the island and ocean, it was incredible.
"Look down," He ordered.
I obeyed and my stomach did a somersault. "High, we are very high."
"I've been higher," Harry noted nonchalantly.
"I meant distance from the ground," I said, ready to shut my eyes again, but decided to keep them open.
"That too," He joked. "C'mon you cannot tell me that this is not amazing."
I gained the courage to look around and couldn't help but grin. "Oh Merlin-this is amazing!"
Gorgeous. It was so gorgeous. I was totally in awe.
I looked back at Harry. "You're right...this is incredible!"
"I told you," He smiled. "It's completely different looking down on it from here."
"No kidding," I said. "Thank you for inviting me."
Then he did the most remarkable, unexpected thing. He cupped the side of my head, kept my face turned to ward him, leaned forward and kissed me.
~*~
A/N: And that's it.
Sorry kids, I almost extended the chapter...you know, since it's been FOREVER since I've updated...but I just can't. I'm tired of typing this story right now and I've left ya a nice lil cliffhanger! LOL! Sorry about that.
Next chapter should be long. Really long. Record Breaking Long. Not even kidding. I've already started some of it. So just drink it up when it comes, I swear this time it wont be too long before I update again.
I know some have mixed feelings about DH-but I sincerely hope none of you are leaving the fandom! Stay! Please, lol. I & a reader from Safe Choice have already decided to burn the epilogue in the fireplace and laugh as we rewrite our own stories!! Lol.
Oh, and I must say again that I'm sorry for being so long in between updates. I think I'm getting less interested in this story. As must as I love to please my readers (you know I do) I have a hard time getting psyched about this story. But DONT WORRY! I will NOT abandon! Lol. Never. I would never abandon ANY of my stories!
Thanks guys! Muuch mucuh love! Review, please!
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