Author's Note: So, here's a new chapter, and it didn't take a year to post ;) I hope you enjoy it. I was torn about how to end this chapter, so let me know what you think. And I am still without a beta reader, so if I made any errors (grammar or typo) please don't jump on me. I looked it over pretty well, but there's always a few things that manage to slip past sometimes. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All original characters are the creation and property of JK Rowling, and I clearly am not her. Don't I wish…
Chapter 6 - I'm Not the One that You Want…
A knock at the door of Hermione's office startled her from her deep concentration on the mounds of paperwork before her on her desk. After her heartbeat went back to normal, she irritably called to whomever it was to come in. The familiar face of Luna Lovegood peered around the door. Hermione bit her lip and held back a sigh of frustration. She and Luna were actually friends now, whereas at Hogwarts they were just acquaintances and allies in the DA; for the most part she had gotten past her annoyance with the girl and her sometime wild imagination, but today was not the day for her to be dealing with Luna, she had about an ounce of patience left in her.
"Hello, Hermione," Luna said with a smile, wearing her ever present dreamy expression.
"Hey, Luna, don't mean to be rude, but what do you have for me? I'm in a bit of a hurry."
Luna was often a great help to Hermione, even though she didn't always have the firmest grasp on reality, she was in fact extremely bright and often helped bring Hermione information for her cases. After Luna cared about all magical creatures, even ones that no one but her and her father had seen.
"Don't worry, Hermione. Harry will be fine; he always somehow manages to come through everything alright. He's like a cat in that respect," Luna mused. Hermione blinked in surprise, slightly taken aback by Luna's comment. Of course it made sense that Luna knew about what had happened to Harry, one of the Weasleys surely would have told her. However, it was more than slightly disconcerting how Luna had so precisely nailed what was bothering her at the moment. Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortable.
"Yes, Luna, I'm certain that your right. Everything will go back to normal."
"Hopefully not too normal though," amended Luna. "After all Harry finally has realized what he has been hiding all along. He was allowing his mind to be clouded for far too long. I never guessed it would take him this long to see the truth. He can be denser than a Grindylow during mating season," Luna added, closely scrutinized Hermione's face, observing her friend's reaction and smiled knowingly.
"Honestly, Luna, I really don't know what you're going on about, Harry was planning on getting engaged to Ginny before all this happened. He never has and never will have any real interest in me. Besides Ron and are very…happy together," Hermione replied, flushing as she struggled for that last bit. Luna just gave her a discomforting look, the one that made Hermione feel as though her mind and emotions had become an open book to her friend.
"Yes, well, I can see that you are still quite confused yourself. But I think this curse is less a curse and more a blessing to you and Harry. I really must be off, I have some research to do this afternoon, but I wanted to drop this packet of information off with you," Luna announced, placing a heavy envelope on the top of Hermione's rapidly growing stack of work.
"Thanks, Luna, I'll see you around." Hermione said managing a weak parting smile before taking a large gulp of cold coffee from a mug bearing the Gryffindor colors and logo sitting on the corner of her desk.
"See you."
Hermione sighed as the door of her office close nosily as Luna took off. After doing a couple more hours worth of work she wearily gaze at the time being displayed on the clock that she had hung over her office door. She frowned, not realizing how late it had gotten. Ginny's words from the other night were still eating at her. It had been quite a while since she'd seen Harry. But he must even want to see her, if even Ginny had conceded that he was missing her.
"Come on Granger, what's the harm in visiting him?" she told herself. Besides the longer she kept away the harder it would be to work up the nerve to go.
She spent a couple minutes straightening up her desk and fussing around with some papers, making sure nothing was late, though she knew deep down that she was mostly stalling for time. Taking a deep breath she collected her things and closed the door behind her. Feeling suddenly shaky she Apparated to St. Mungo's'.
Making her way down the hallway, she felt very much like she was going to hyperventilate at any moment, which was completely ridiculous, after all she had known Harry forever, what was there to be nervous about.
Reaching the open door of his room, she hesitantly looked around the corner, wishing with all her might that Ginny or any other member of the Weasley had not chosen this moment to visit Harry as well. Luck was with her and Harry was all alone and flipping through the Daily Prophet and looking thoroughly bored.
"Hey, Potter," she said, a hesitant smile beginning on her lips.
Harry looked up, with an almost childlike delight suffusing his handsome features when he saw her. It made Hermione's heart leap into her throat and feel too large in her chest.
"Well, well, it's about bloody time you came back to see me, Hermione," he said sitting up and putting down his paper so fast it fell to the floor with a soft thump, he attempted to look angry, but the corners of his mouth quickly twisted into a smile.
Hermione hesitantly walked up to the bed, willing her feet that felt glued to the flow, to comply. She reached out her hand and Harry gripped it tightly, his long, strong finger encircling her softer, smaller hand. Hermione felt as though she had been hit with a sudden fever, as a wave heat rushed over her at the contact of his warm hand against her skin. She desperately hoped that Harry wouldn't take notice of the fact that she was now probably a vivid scarlet hue. Maybe the curse had rendered him color blind also, or at least less observant.
"So, um, how are you doing?" she asked lamely, unable to come with a wittier conversation starter. She was finding it hard to be coherent, let alone eloquent, at the moment.
"Not too bad, other than the fact that I feel like rubbish because I still can't remember much of anything, and I'm stuck in this dodgy place. And apparently I'm a very important person, because if I were the Healer taking in charge of my care, I would have let myself go long ago. But they keep telling me that I'm Harry Potter, and they really can't do that. I really don't see what in the hell is so exciting about being Harry Potter, but I certainly won't be forgetting my name anytime soon, that's for sure. The point is I'm pretty sure this bloody curse isn't going to make me spontaneously combust or anything bizarre like that, so they could release me, but won't," Harry replied, frowning.
Hermione choked back laughter. Poor Harry, I guess it was good that he still couldn't remember why he was so special to the wizarding world.
"Well, what matters is you are very important to me, well that is to us, to all your friends," Hermione said with a smile, blushing again as she tripped over her words.
"I'm sure they'll let you out of here soon. Maybe if you're nice to me, I'll make a name tag for you when they let you free, just in case."
"Yeah, while you're at it you can make ones for all the people here that say 'My name is: annoying prat'," Harry joked as he grinned at her quite disarmingly, which did nothing for her nerves or her racing heart. Had his eyes always been that green? Hermione laughed nervously, brushing a strayed curl away from her face.
"Hey, Hermione? You know that Brandy?"
Hermione looked confused for a moment, "Oh, do you mean Ginny? Your girlfriend."
"Oh, Merlin did you have to add that last bit. Yeah Ginny, well whatever her name is, she drives me to drink! That is if they'd let me drink here. I know I apparently was madly in love with her and all, but she makes me feel like rubbish whenever she visits. I barely remember anything, and she comes prancing in everyday acting like I'm going to suddenly remember her, pull her in my arms, and shag her on the bed," he moaned, his amused expression gone.
"Well, she er loves you," Hermione managed to get out, unable to meet his eyes.
"Lucky me," Harry said shortly. Hermione barely managed to suppress a snort of laughter.
"Yeah, well, I'm certain things will all sort out themselves out when they figure out this ridiculous curse." As she spoke Hermione realized with a twinge of guilt that she almost didn't want that to happen. Even though she was with Ron, she still believed that Ginny was wrong for Harry, so utterly wrong.
She was suddenly all too aware of Harry's gaze on her and shifted uncomfortably at the edge of the bed.
"So, I guess I should be going, Harry. It's gotten rather late. I really hadn't realized," she said looking up the clock.
"Yeah, suppose you're right," he said, trying to disguise his disappointment.
"Hermione, are you really in love, Ron?" he asked, as she stood up and gathered her things. His surprise question stunned her, making her freeze in place. Her knees feeling shaky, she sat back down on the edge of the bed. Harry leaned closer to her, so close that she swore she could hear his heart beat.
Before she could answer his kissed her, his lips warm and insistent. And she made no move to stop him.