A/N: I would just like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have reviewed this story. Love it or hate it I love to know what you think and love comments on how it can be greater improved.
Harry sat on his bed reading through manuals but he could not concentrate. His supervisor had noticed a slip in his work. The consequences: two weeks off and a pile of medical journal.
"That has got to be boring," said Hermione.
"Yeah," said Harry.
She was just the distraction he needed. Harry patted the spot next to him on the bed. She sat down.
"Your day must not have gone to well," commented Harry.
"No, I was just hassled by Ginny. Only to be further harassed when I went Christmas shopping."
"Don't worry there's still money left in your vault. I only shop to feel better."
"And what made you feel so bad?"
"Ginny not so secretively implied that we should be together."
Harry turned on his bed facing the middle, and her. This was his only chance. He summoned up all of his courage.
"How would you feel about that? Us together I mean."
Only the ghost of her earlier smile remained. She had the feeling he was serious about his proclamation. She wanted desperately to touch his forehead and make sure he wasn't catching a fever. That would be an explanation for him not being at work.
Surely hospitals would not send sick people to cure sick people. It was contradictive to itself.
"I feel that it would be….interesting."
That was all she could say. She neither wanted to disappoint him or get his hopes too high. But she wanted to say yes.
"How is interesting?"
He didn't usually pry like this. She tried to send signals which he usually understood. It said `leave her alone'. And usually he understood that, but not now. He was purposely ignoring it and it was no use.
"I've just about ruined one friendship. I wouldn't want to destroy it completely. And risk our friendship ending."
"It wouldn't," said Harry.
She wasn't rejecting him. That's what he knew. Harry had not realized how much he wanted this. But Hermione wanted even more not to get hurt again.
"Don't make promises that you can't keep."
"But I want to keep this one," said Harry. He took her hand. "What if instead, I promised to be here for you as long as you let me."
Hermione took in a deep breath. Never before had that been promised to her. She found the idea very appealing. The look Harry gave her felt like spiders crawling on her flesh and warmed her heart.
"I know it sounds selfish, but it's what I want. And I know it's unfair to Ron…"
"It doesn't even scratch the surface…"
"…But that doesn't make up for how he's treated you. I'm begging you to stop making excuses for him."
There was a silence in Harry's bedroom. He regretted the tone he had taken with her. IT was none of his business. She knew that Harry was only trying to protect her.
"We have a little over a month," said Hermione absently.
It was only then that she realized how time had wasted away before her. She was young. Hermione had once believed she had all the time in the world to accomplish all the things that she wanted, but that was not true.
"I'll take whatever I can get," said Harry.
And with that they hugged. A mutual understanding had passed between the two. Neither of them knew how long the relationship would last but he hoped forever. But that was being selfish.
It scared her. She didn't know how long the relationship would last. Never before had she started what she couldn't finish.
And Hermione couldn't imagine not seeing the rest of this through.
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"Darling, I think your grandmother would appreciate her morning cup of tea," said Margaret.
Olivia had just about had it with her mother. She was personally glad that Hermione had gotten away from the madness. She had some peace, and if there was such a thing as luck Hermione would be having fun.
Soon after Hermione left they turned their anger to her. They asked why she had not stopped her sister. But she too rebelled against them. They had threatened to kick her out, and she had agreed to leave.
Olivia had plenty friends that she could stay with. The thought sounded appealing but she wouldn't. She couldn't leave her grandmother here. All of their fighting definitely could not be good.
"I've been here making her morning tea for well over three months mum. One spoon of sugar, and not to hot so she doesn't burn her tongue off," snapped Olivia. "Don't you have work?"
"She is very particular about her tea."
"And I'm particular about my sanity," said Olivia.
She wrapped her hands around the tea cup and placed it on tray along with the bowl of porridge. She personally couldn't stand the stuff. It stuck to her sides and just the thought made her gag. But her grandma Violet loved it.
She positioned the tray on her hip as she opened the door. Olivia placed the tray on the bed, but stopped and knocked on the door.
"Grammy, it's morning rise and shine," said Olivia. She was unusually chipper and she never sounded like that in the morning. Well...she never sounded like that period.
And that still hadn't woken her. Olivia placed the tray on the dresser, and turned on the lamp illuminating the room.
"I thought I was a heavy sleeper, but I swear you can take the cake. But no can beat Hermione when she snores. I mean that is truly horrible," rambled Olivia.
She poked her grandmother.
Still nothing.
Her smile began to fade as she realized something. Olivia grabbed the nearest mirror and put it under the elderly woman's nose. There was nothing. Reading mystery books had showed her this trick.
And it had failed.
"No, you are fine. You are just playing another horrible trick on me," muttered Olivia.
She shoved her even more violently than she should. Olivia had always been terrified of dead people. Her mother was like that also. They would stay rooted in their seats while everyone else wanted to see what the body looked like.
She would always remember her grandmother's face. It was so kind and inviting. And she loved everyone. And yet all she could feel was anger.
"You can not leave me here to deal with this. I need you."
She had never told her grandmother that. Olivia had had the time, but she hadn't realized that time would not be on her side.
A/N: Please review.
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