Forbidden Love
Chapter 11
Hermione was sitting in the Room of Requirement reading a book when the door suddenly opened and Harry rushed inside. She gave him a curious look as he quickly closed the door and leaned heavily against it, looking winded. She smiled in amusement as he shut his eyes and let his head fall back, releasing a long sigh.
"Harry?" she inquired softly.
Harry tensed and his bright green eyes snapped open, locking onto hers in surprise for a moment before he visibly relaxed. Taking a deep breath and pushing away from the door, he walked over to the couch where she was seated and plopped down beside her, saying one word that explained it all.
"Snape."
A wide grin graced her features as she nudged him with her arm, raising a brow and giving an expectant look. Harry turned his head and looked at her, then turned back and resumed staring at the ceiling. Rolling her eyes in frustration at his unwillingness to take the hint and expound, she nudged him again, this time harder.
"So, what about Snape, Harry?" she asked when he still didn't respond.
The dark haired boy gave a dramatic sigh before allowing his head to lull to the side so that he was once again looking at her.
"Do I really need to explain?" he asked with a pained expression.
"I guess not," Hermione replied, her voice laced with humor.
She then laughed outright when Harry glared at her for her lack of sympathy. She had been correct. Snape was furious at his removal from the post of Defense Against Dark Arts Professor and was currently taking it out on every house that wasn't Slytherin. And though everyone noticed that he had a certain affinity for taking it out on the Gryffindors, Snape only seemed truly happy when he could take it out on Harry.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, closing her book and facing him fully.
Harry expelled a long breath then looked back at the ceiling.
"I was walking along minding my own business - I had just left the Quidditch pitch where we finished our tryouts - which, by the way, were smashing!" he sat up and faced her, once again looking animated. "There was this one guy, a second year who tried out, you should see how bloody brilliant he was on his broom. I tell you Hermione, he would have given Krum a run for his galleons." Harry gave a huge grin, staring off into space with a dreamy look in his eyes.
"You know, you already have a girlfriend," she said shaking her head. He gave her confused look. "Well it just seems like you really fancy this guy. I was reminding you, you know, in case you wanted to break things off with Ginny and give the relationship a fair go," Hermione finished with a cheeky grin.
Giving her a glare, Harry grabbed a pillow and swung it at her. Laughing, she blocked the blow and poked him in the stomach.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, just before a wicked gleam entered his eyes.
Before she could run, Hermione found herself pinned between Harry and the soft cushions of the couch, wiggling helplessly as she was mercilessly tickled by his long fingers.
"S-sto….p-p….Stoooo…p-p!" she squealed, futilely pushing at his hands.
"Say you're sorry," Harry said with a grin, now chuckling himself.
"I-I didn't… d-d-do an-anything!" she yelled back still laughing; a tear slipped from her eye.
"Say it!"
"No!"
"Say it, or I'll keep going, I can do this all night Hermione," he said, redoubling his efforts.
"Ahhh! Okay, okay, okay… I'm…sor-sorry!"
"Say 'I'm sorry for calling you gay'."
"I…I'm sorry for calling ….y-you gay!" she was laughing so hard that her chest was beginning to hurt.
"Now say, 'Harry James Potter is my lord and master and I only wish I were as smart as he is'," he said with a huge grin.
Hermione gave him a glare though her laughter and tears before dutifully repeating the phrase.
"See," Harry asked, halting his torture as he leaned on one elbow, "that wasn't too bad, was it?"
He gave her a small, playful tap on the nose. She responded with a swat at his hand and a fierce glower.
"Oh, I will get you back, Harry James Potter," she said in a menacing tone.
"Oh, and I look forward to it, Hermione Jean Granger," was the cheeky response, followed promptly by a wink.
Hermione flushed a bit at the small flirtation, and then down to her roots as she realized the position they were in. In her efforts to escape Harry's tickling, Hermione had ended up laying on her back against the couch and, in his battle to thwart her efforts to escape, Harry had ended up hovering over her. Though the struggle was now over, she still lay on the couch and he was still over her, although it may have been more accurate to say on top of her. His strong body was doing things to her that she reveled in, yet somehow feared at the same time, and his warm breath tickled her cheek when he breathed. Harry's head was leaning on one hand, but the other was at her waist with his fingers gently stroking her side.
Reaching up, Hermione lightly and nervously placed her hand on his stomach, her fingertips lightly curving against his waist. Harry observed her with a fascinated look in his dark eyes. A few seconds later, he frowned a bit and his gaze dipped to her lips. After a momentary hesitation, his hand left her waist and came up to her mouth. Hermione held her breath as his finger lightly touched her bottom lip, then applied a bit more pressure, gently tugging it free from between the teeth she'd been using to nibble it with.
"You're going to bruise your lip if you keep that up," Harry said softly, rubbing his finger lightly over her bottom lip, in a motion that was so hypnotic it made it almost impossible for her to breathe. "It already looks a bit red," he said in a hushed tone, seemingly more to himself than to her.
His green eyes shot upward to her brown ones, as if just realizing that she was there. He hesitated for a minute just staring at her and lightly stroking her lip before speaking again.
"Do you want me to make it better?" he said quietly, his gaze not leaving hers.
"A spell?" Hermione asked in what amounted to no more than a breathy whisper.
He shook his head.
"Then how?" she asked, her voice coming out a bit stronger… but not much. She could feel her heart racing.
"Well…" he hesitated, his eyes dipped back down before going back up and connecting with hers again. "I would k - "
"Oh!" a voice yelled from behind them.
Harry quickly jumped up, securing a somewhat wobbly landing on his feet steadying himself using the table just behind him. For her part, Hermione shot up, trying in vain to not look as guilty as she felt. Her gaze snapped to the entrance of the Room of Requirement where a surprised and wide eyed Luna stood, holding a stack of Quibbler magazines. The three stayed frozen to their respective spots and stared at one another, all unsure of what to say.
"It's not what it looks like… well, to say, that," Hermione hesitated, searching desperately for the right words that wouldn't make them look guiltier than they already did. "You see, I - "
"Hermione called me gay!" Harry exclaimed suddenly, causing the blonde to give him a surprised look and the brunette to give him an annoyed one.
"What he means is that he was telling me about some guy who tried out for Quidditch and then he started to get this dreamy look - "
"I did not get a dreamy - "
"As I was saying," Hermione interrupted, shooting him a glower. "After talking about this guy's broom skills he got this dreamy look on his face," she ignored the dark-haired boys low grumbling. "So, when I made a small joking reference to him possibly being gay," Harry snorted, "he decided to get even by tickling me… and what you saw when you came in was the end of that fiasco, where he made me repeat some things about him not being a gay lord master."
"Hey! I never said that either!" Harry responded, letting out a small yelp when she kicked him in the shin.
"Hmm, okay," Luna said after a minute, then walked the rest of the way into the room, plopping herself down on one of the big arm chairs, she rummaged through the magazines for a moment before locating the one she wanted. She looked up giving them a small, carefree smile then leant back in the cushy chair and began to read the magazine.
Harry and Hermione looked at her, then at one another, sharing a 'is that it?' look. After the blonde-haired girl turned the page in The Quibbler, Harry shrugged and, placing one hand in his pocket, ran the other through his tousled hair before heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked quickly, her voice containing a note of desperation that made her cringe. "I mean - you never finished telling me what happened with Snape."
Harry cast a quick glance at Luna before looking back at Hermione. "We'll talk later."
With that, he turned opened the door a crack, and, after taking a quick look around to make sure the coast was clear, slipped out of the Room of Requirement and into the hall.
"We'll talk later," Hermione mumbled to herself. She glanced at Luna before picking her book up off the floor, opening it to the chapter she had been reading. Staring blankly at the pages as her mind tried to process just what she and Harry would be talking about later.
**********************
Harry walked brusquely down the hallway with his head down in an attempt to discourage any conversation that might come his way. He had way too much on his mind to talk to anyone right now. What the hell had he just done?
'Almost done,' his mind corrected kindly.
Done, almost done - it didn't matter. She had to know what he was about to do, she had to have known that he was about to kiss her.
'Yet she seemed to be waiting for it,' his mind interjected fairly, 'she seemed to have wanted it as much as you did.'
He came to a halt in the middle of the hallway, ignoring when someone bumped him from behind, complaining of his abrupt stop. Harry looked around for a second and realized that he was nearly to the stairs that led to the Gryffindor common rooms. He also realized, grimly, that the common room was the place that Ron and Ginny were most likely to be.
'I can't go there now, I have to think. I just... need a moment to think.'
He made a quick turn and doubled back in the direction that he just came. He headed down the stairs, past the Great Hall and out of the courtyard. Walking along a familiar path, he looked up to find himself in the welcome atmosphere of the Quidditch pitch. Harry stood still for a moment, allowing the light breeze to ruffle his hair before lifting his wand.
"Accio broom!" He called out, a moment later his Firebolt came racing from the direction of his room and into his waiting hand.
Hopping onto his broom Harry kicked off; flying rapidly towards the stars and through the cool night air. He took several deep breaths, letting the refreshing breeze hit his face and fill his lungs. After several minutes of flying around the pitch he flew higher, soaring over the stands and into the surrounding forest. He finally stopped over a set of hills and his eyes fixated on the massive, yet beautiful school in the distance that he called home. It shone like a beacon in the night.
He was right when he told Hermione that they needed to talk, but what about he wasn't sure. No, that was wrong. He knew what he needed to talk to her about he just didn't know how to start. 'Gee, Hermione. I'm sorry that I tried to snog you, but you seemed to want it' just didn't seem to have a very elegant ring to it.
Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He didn't know what was going on between him and Hermione. He was confused around her now; things just seemed so complicated. He didn't know what happened between them during the summer… what changed. Harry sighed and looked at the moon in the distance. Well, whatever it was that started during the summer, it needed to end now. With that thought and a resolute nod, he flew back to the pitch and still griping his broom headed swiftly back to the school.
As he entered, he suddenly realized that he had been outside for far longer than he thought. The halls were pretty much deserted and he could hear the echoing of enthusiastic chatter coming from the Great Hall where students had gathered for dinner. Quickly deciding that he wasn't ready to see Ron or Ginny without a chance to talk to Hermione in private first, he ignored his stomach's grumbled protest and quickly made his way toward the Gryffindor common room.
As he rounded the corner, he was surprised to see Ron and Luna involved in a conversation. His heart speed up as he began to worry that perhaps she was telling his friend what she had seen between him and Hermione earlier. However when Ron smiled and nodded his head Harry relaxed, he knew there could have been no way that she had told him what happened earlier if he were smiling. His mood quickly went from worried to curious as the two continued to talk for a few minutes. Harry watched as Ron reached up and pulled something out of Luna's hair. The blonde blushed prettily, looking down at the ground and responding to the question that she had been asked. After another minute, Ron gave Luna a curt nod and a pat on the back before leaving her and heading toward the Great Hall. Holding his Firebolt close, Harry slipped behind a suit of armor so that Ron wouldn't see him as he passed and quietly took note of the soft smile lingering on his friends features. A minute after Ron, Luna passed wearing a dreamy smile of her own. Feeling more confused than ever, Harry briskly slid from behind the suit of armor and made his way up to Gryffindor tower.
"Scallywag," he mumbled distractedly to the Fat Lady, swiftly entering when the painting swung aside.
As soon as he entered the large room, he froze in his spot. His gaze was fixated on Hermione who stared back at him with wide eyes. Harry almost groaned aloud. He had been so preoccupied with the strange sight in the hall he had completely forgotten that he was supposed to be thinking of what to say to her.
"I thought you were at dinner," they said in unison after a moment of tense silence.
Harry gave a small smile; Hermione blushed. "We sound like we practiced that," he said with a chuckle, leaning his broom against the wall he walked forward and took a seat on the couch adjacent to her chair.
"I know," she replied with a small smile of her own.
"We need to talk," he said, scooting forward a little in his seat.
"I know that, too," she responded simply, closing her book and readjusting herself in her seat.
"Hermione," he hesitated, not sure where to begin. He mentally kicked himself for not figuring out what to say before coming back into Hogwarts. "Hermione - "
"Harry..."
He looked at her and noticeably relaxed upon seeing the amused expression on her face. This was Hermione; he could talk to her about anything. With that in mind, he tried again.
"Look, I don't know what's going on between us, but, somehow, things have been different lately, you know?"
She looked at him for a moment before looking down at the cover of her book. Harry could feel his palms getting sweaty. She did know didn't she? He had been sure that she had felt it too, but now, he was getting nervous. What if what he thought was her interest in him was all in his head? What if he was completely mental and just imagined it all? What if he-
"I know," she responded before he could work himself into a frenzied state.
Harry released the breath he had been holding, "Whatever this... this thing between us is, it can't happen. So, from this moment on we have to stop it, make sure that - " he paused unsure of just where he was going, "it... that it stops," he finished lamely.
"I know."
He gave her an exasperated look. "Is that all you can say?"
"What do you want me to say, Harry?" she retorted, frowning at him. "I happen to agree. Whatever it is that we seem to - what we - feel for one another. We can't feel and it has to stop," her voice was shaky and disappointed. "I'm with Ron, you're with Ginny and we're both happy and in love." Her eyes widened and she blushed. "With Ron and Ginny that is, each, respectively - I'm Ron and you're Ginny. Not to say that you're Ron, I mean Ginny but to say that you..."
He put his hands on top of hers effectively stopping her stumbled response. "I know," he said with a subtle grin.
"Don't make fun of me, Harry Potter," she responded with a mock glare.
He gave an affronted look. "I would never."
"Sure you wouldn't."
"I wouldn't!"
"Right," she said incredulously.
He grinned in reply, his gaze unwittingly shifting. It was then that he realized he was still holding her hands. Quickly looking back up, their eyes connected. Her gaze captivated him as she stared back at him unguarded. He could see confusion in her eyes along with something else he didn't understand but made his heart speed up just the same. A log popped on the fire causing them both to jump and quickly pull their hands away.
"So, now that that's decided, what do you say we head down to dinner?" Hermione asked with a nervous laugh.
Before he could respond, Harry's stomach did for him by letting out a loud, long grumble. Harry and Hermione shared a look before bursting into laughter.
"Well, I guess that answers that, " he responded with a grin.
"I guess so," she said with a smile, standing and making her way toward the exit.
"Hermione," Harry called out just as she pushed open the painting.
"Yeah," Hermione looked over her shoulder back at him, only to find that he was busy rummaging through the pillows on the couch for something.
Harry pulled a pillow aside on the couch. He knew that he was acting like a coward, but he couldn't look her in the eyes. He chose to act like as if he were looking for his wand while he gave his apology.
"Yeah, Harry," she repeated when he didn't respond.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry - you know, for what happened," Harry said, blushing; his back still to her. "Well, what almost happened in the Room of Requirement."
"Oh... that's okay," she responded; Harry relaxed, "but I'm not."
Harry's gaze snapped to Hermione, but all he saw was the portrait door closing.
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter! The next one should be up in about a week or less. Until then, please review to let me know what you think and that you're still reading the story!
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