Disclaimer: No, I'm not JK Rowling and don't own anything related to Harry Potter (except for my copies of the books), though I do enjoy writing the occasional fanfic involving her characters and plots.
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Harry was laughing, feeling relaxed for the first time in ages. He was sitting against a tree, listening to Hermione (who was leaning back on his chest) tell stories of when she first knew she was a witch. They had had a difficult day, finding Hufflepuff's cup located in a cave, where Hermione had been the one to make a sacrifice (blood from her finger and a lock of hair) to receive the horcrux.
They (Harry, Ron and Hermione) had camped out in a forest for the night, but Harry had roamed away from the tents, finally settling his mind, watching the stars from the clearing he had found. Hermione had joined him, always being able to sense when he needed her most. The entire summer, something had been building between the two of them, since Harry had been reunited with her and the Weasleys after a horrendous month at the Dursley's house. She had been planning and researching the whole time, locating RAB's locket, being the genius creature she was, but Harry saw the lingering looks, felt her unplatonic caresses on his face, hands, and arms and knew something was happening. He was already in love, but maybe…she…
He shook his head and tuned his mind back to Hermione's story about her first bit of accidental magic-she had made a toilet explode one night when she was four.
"My mother couldn't believe it-she started out saying `Hermione Jane! I just don't know what to do - what just happened?', but began laughing and crying from the shock of our toilet in bits and pieces all over the bathroom. My father, who had run in, just had this look of disbelief on his face after the `accident', as if he couldn't believe what was going on. They both knew it had to have been me, but well, they didn't want to believe it. Eventually, other things strange thing started to happen. They were very relieved when the Hogwarts letter came; it explained it all quite neatly."
Harry had been listening, but one thing seemed to stick out in his mind, "Your full name is Hermione Jane Granger?"
"Yes, it is," Hermione laughed, "Does it seem funny to you, Harry Potter?"
"No, after all, I'm Harry James Potter"
Her eyes twinkled, "James, of course. The father's name must live on through his son…your mother probably held out for Harry, so she wouldn't have to call you Junior." Hermione tilted her head back, "Harry, you realize we have almost the same initials, right?"
He hadn't thought of that and yet, it seemed very fitting, so he told her so, adding on, "Hermione Jane, I like the sound of it. Well, I think for the rest of forever I'll call you Hermione Jane."
"Well, then, I'll have to call you Harry James-what's Ron's middle name?" She turned her head to look up at him.
Harry couldn't rightly remember for a few minutes, but finally had the epiphany, "Bilius…Ronald Bilius Weasley".
Hermione's nose wrinkled, "This middle name thing will have to stay between you and me, I cannot imagine having to call Ron `Bilius'" She shivered as she shifted out of his arms, onto her knees so she could see Harry face to face. "Harry, would you let me try something?"
"Anything, Hermione Jane-you know, I do trust you." He smiled lazily as her gaze flickered from his eyes to his lips and back again, causing his stomach to flip.
Hermione leaned in; placing her hands on Harry's cheeks tentatively, the tip of her nose touching his. "I want to kiss you," she whispered. "Do you trust me enough for that?"
"Yes and a whole lot more". Hermione closed her eyes and began to make the final descent to Harry's lips, but he would have none of that- Harry surged forward and made first contact. It was slightly awkward, kissing someone who was physically above him, but once Harry rectified the situation by pulling her down on top of him and rolling until his body covered hers. The kiss immediately deepened into something more.
Eventually, they separated and laid there side by side, their hands entwined. Hermione was gazing back up at the sky, but Harry couldn't keep his eyes off of her-she was so beautiful and he couldn't wait to tell her what had been buried inside. He turned onto his side, reaching out his hand to caress her cheek; she looked over at him and smiled.
Harry intended to say his words eloquently, but when he opened his mouth, he blurted out, "Ever since I came back from the Dursley's…I, well…I…I LOVE YOU!" He shut his eyes and mentally smacked himself-that wasn't exactly how he pictured telling her, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Hermione's shy smile and was comforted.
Hermione turned herself over to lean on top of Harry to give him a peck on the cheek, "Harry James-I knew that already and I do too". She snuggled into the corner of his neck and he relaxed, Hermione Jane, destroyer of toilets, loved him.
A/N: Pie in the sky plot bunny…and apparently Harry James is the name of a famous band conductor…interesting!
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