Summary: After Harry defeated the Dark Lord in their last year of Hogwarts; the trio went their separate ways leading Hermione to a Muggle University. Yet after dark activity is spotted at her school, Harry and Ron come down to join her once again to solve the case. Unfortunately after Harry finally realizes his feeling for Hermione, he finds himself not only fighting for the wizarding world, but also fighting for the woman he loves.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
College Life
Chapter 3: Denial
After they finally got something to tie Ron over (which ended up to be a buffet), they headed back to the dorm room where Harry and Ron would be staying for the next semester. They had apparated most of their stuff over from their houses, but they had not had enough time to put everything in its correct place. Before heading back to her room for more studying, Hermione had decided to come over and help them move in.
Harry was empting out all of his stuff from his trunk as Ron was hanging posters on the wall. Ron's entire poster collection consisted of Quidditch Team, and a few of them were of Harry's Team. Hermione looked up from helping unpack Harry's clothes to see a Chudley Cannon's player make a spectacular goal by flashing the keeper.
Hermione tried to stay resolute, but could not help but chuckle at Ron's posters. "Ron, you know you can't have them moving like that during the school year, but I have to admit, I finally see why you of all people would like them so much."
Ron looked insulted, "Why can't I have my posters up? Everyone else does, and plus that one only flashes people part of the time. The rest of the time she is usually only making seductive faces."
Harry turned at this, and laughed, "Great, I have Quidditch Porn on my walls."
Ron started to smile cheekily. "Just wait until it gets dark, and then the freaks really do come out."
Hermione started to shake her head. "Boys when will you ever grow up... Anyway, you know you can't let the Muggles see that."
Ron gave Hermione the puppy dog eyes and stated with a pouting lip, "But I don't want to take down my posters."
Harry joined in at this with pouting lip and puppy dog eyes. "Yeah, I don't want him to take them down either."
Hermione looked at the two and tried her best to keep a straight face. Yet after she looked into Harry's big green eyes, she could not help but break down laughing. "Ok, ok you can have your poster, but at least let me borrow someone's wand so I can make it stop moving."
Ron hesitantly gave Hermione his wand and stated, "Now, try to catch them in a good position."
Yet Harry's face just dropped to concern. "Hermione, you don't carry your wand with you?"
Hermione took Ron's wand and pointed it at his poster stating, "Stationiro Pictorites." She twirled the wand in her hand then gave it back to Ron. "Oh Harry, I can't carry my wand around with me all the time. I am with Muggles twenty four seven; and if they just happen to glimpse that things, questions come up." Hermione turned to Harry. "I really don't have a need for it outside of the dorm anyway."
Harry looked at her seriously, and stated, "Hermione I want you to promise me that you will take your wand with you everywhere you go, ok."
Hermione sat down on Ron's bed as Harry stood over her. Ron turned from his newly changed picture to listen in on the conversation. "Harry, why would I need my wand that much really? Give me a reason, just one reason why it's so necessary."
Harry kneeled down to look her in the eyes, and he took her hands, "Because, memory modifications are a lot easier to perform then emergency procedures."
Hermione went quiet at this, but Harry continued. "Hermione, we have found out from some of our inside sources that a group of Death Eaters are stationed in this area. If they ever found out that you were here, I fear what they might do. They are not very happy with any of us after what we did to their master."
Hermione looked into his big green eyes and asked solemnly, "Do you know what they are doing here?"
Harry looked down, and just shook his head. "We don't know right now, but all we do know is that they are not pulling any stops on this ordeal. They have their last remaining leaders down here working on something. We just have to be alert for anything now because what ever they have planed, it has to be something big, really big. I just hope we will be able to stop it in time."
The room settled in an awkward silence as they all took in the sincerity of this predicament. Harry looked back up and Hermione stared into his eyes. "Harry, I promise I will always have my wand. Don't worry, if any one can get them, you can."
"I just don't want anything to happen to you." Harry caressed her hands as he looked into her eyes.
Hermione became lost in his longing. Their bodies seemed to be drawn together, and all thoughts were being dissolved into the moment. Hermione could not help, but notice how desirable his lips were, and how much she wanted to feel them against her.
Ron had turned back to moving his stuff around, yet he did not notice the emotions that were shared between the two "friends". Ron broke in, "Yeah... I have to agree with Hermione. You have more luck then Fawkes has lives." Hearing Ron's voice, Harry and Hermione jumped on to their feet. Harry got up from his knees, and Hermione went to help Ron unpack trying to shake off the awkward feeling.
Ron turned back to look at those two when he noticed the sudden movement and started to get jittery, "What is there a spider in here? Please don't tell me you see a spider."
*
A day passed, and Harry and Ron were still busy getting their room ready to live in. While Harry put the finishing touches on his half, Ron just sat straight in front of the television glued to the screen. Ron had one hand under his chin as drool started to form around his mouth.
Harry looked over to his mesmerized friend, and started to laugh. "Ron, you know you will ruin your eyes if you sit too close. Then you would have to pick up girls with red hair and glasses."
Ron turned to Harry finally breaking his trance, but did not seem fazed by what he said. "Wow Harry, you are starting to sound a lot like Hermione... and who says that girls don't go for red heads."
Harry quickly tacked his last poster up, and smiled back at him. "Hermione told me this who else... Where is she any way?"
All of a sudden, Ron went ridged, but did not move from his spot. "Oh... You know her... She is probably studying or something."
Harry got an evil smile on his face, and started heading for the door. "Well, we can't have her doing that now can we. I'm going to go bother her for a bit. I will be right back."
"NO..." Ron turned and screamed causing Harry to stop in his tracks. Harry looked down to Ron curiously, and Ron continued his statement in a casual voice. "No... You would not want to do that... You know her. She would just get upset if you disturbed her."
Harry turned around to Ron, and stated quite calmly. "She has never minded before. Why would she be bothered by it now?"
"Well, you see she is studying for a very big test and you know... she would want to ... um..."
Harry smiled a little more and completed Ron's sentence for him. "Study?"
"Yeah, that's it, she needs to study."
"Ok... What's up?" Harry asked now concerned more then curious.
"Nothing it's just... why don't you just stay here for a while."
"I'm going to go up there right now, and check on her if you don't tell me what's going on." Harry said very sincerely.
The room went silent, and Ron just turned back to his movie not wanting to see Harry's reaction. "David is up there with her...they had a date tonight, and she asked me to make sure she was not disturbed."
Harry turned on his heels and started go straight for the door. Ron got up, and picked up his wand. "If you move one more step, I promise that you will be petrified until the date is over."
Harry stopped moving, but didn't turn around. "Ron, I don't trust that guy. He is just...He's ..."
Ron put down his wand and looked gloomily toward his friend. "He's is just not you."
Harry picked up a chair near him, and turned it around so that he could sit backwards. He laid his head on the back of the chair and finally broke the silence that was threatening. "She could do so much better then the guys she finds. She is beautiful, smart, fun to be around, and best of all she is always there when you need her. Why can't she see this? Why can't she see she deserves more?"
Ron turned off the television so Harry could talk, and turned all the way around to face his friend. "Harry, you and I both know that no guy would be able to fit your standards... You love her. Don't start talking about how you don't because that would just be a lie."
Harry looked to the ground downcast. "I know, but my only question is am I good enough for her? Com 'on, now I don't even have a full time job."
Ron looked up at him in shock. "What... Am I hearing this right? Harry Potter the great Boy Who Lived...The Defeater of Voldemort...thinks he is not good enough for someone. Frankly, I can see why Hermione is so intimidated by you. You only don't have a full time job because you don't need one, and you're only the most eligible bachelor in Witch Weekly for the past 3-years. Come on Harry your only 20 years old, what else can you expect of yourself?"
"But that's it. I am nothing without my fame, and even that I can't claim to be all my doing. My mother is the one who defeated Voldemort when I was young and both of you helped me when I was older. All I have is luck to claim as my own."
"Ok... That's it I just can't take it any more... Both you and Hermione have been pining over each other for too long." Harry's head popped up at this, but allowed Ron to speak more freely. "I have been waiting for you to come to your senses on your own, but since you two are not brave enough to confront each other, I guess I will have to do it for you... Ok.. Harry...Hermione has been madly infatuated with you since about fourth year. Did you know that that was the reason we never were together. She never liked me like that. It was you... It was always you, and I just had to accept that."
Harry sat their dumbfounded. "I always thought it was you she liked because all the bickering you two did."
Ron laughed a little. "Well, if you had listened to any of our bickering you would have known that most of it was about you."
A big smile started to spread over Harry's face. "She likes me that way?"
Ron laughed at this and stated in a child like manner. "Yes Harry. She likes you... in that way."
Harry jumped up from his seat and started to pace. "I got to go talk to her."
"Hold on there now... Hermione is on a date right now, plus I do want to warn you. Hermione has changed since 7th year, so... I don't know exactly how she feels now, but I just could not stand seeing you both so worked up over nothing."
Harry just nodded his head as he kept pacing trying to take in the situation. "Ok, I understand. So when does her date end?"
*
In Hermione's room, there was a little less talk and a little more action. Hermione had made sure that her roommate would be gone for several more hours, and she had Ron make sure she did not have any unwanted disturbances. They sat in each other's arms in the nice big couch in front of her television. After a nice dinner, they had come back to her place for a late night movie, but they were not watching it too much.
Hermione lightly tugged on his bottom lip as he caressed her top lip. Their kisses became longer and more drawn out between each break. Just as the movie started to end, Hermione pulled away, and rested her head on David's shoulder. She loved the feel of his warm body next to hers. He was always a comforting body when she needed a friend. She really did not want Harry to mess this up for her. She knew that David was not everything Harry was, but at least he cared about her.
Hermione looked down at her watch to find that it was already 2 in the morning. She kept her head on his shoulder but stated sadly, "Its two."
David just nodded his head. He knew about the two o'clock, all guest out, rule at her dorm, but he did not want to leave. They stayed in each other's arms silently savoring the moment. After five minutes had passed, Hermione pouted, "I think you better get going before they call you again."
David just hugged her tighter and stated quite confidently in her ear, "Let them come. I would like to see the person that could get between me and you."
Hermione just snuggled in his arms contently, and thought to herself, 'Umm.. This is nice. I wonder if Harry feels like this." Hermione mentally hit herself, and jumped up trying to clear her thoughts. 'Bad Mione, Bad Mione. You are not supposed to think of Harry!'
Yet, her actions did not go unnoticed by her companion. He looked at her confused as she rubbed her temples. "Hermione, are you ok? Do you have a head ache?"
Hermione turned around to smile at her concerned boyfriend, and tried to change the subject as quickly as possible. "Thank you for caring, but you really have to go."
He started to chuckle, but got up anyway, "Always the good girl, Hermione. When will you learn that rules are made to be broken?"
Hermione got up beside him, and wrapped her arms around him, "Who says I have always been a good girl?"
David picked up all his stuff, and walked to the door with Hermione's hand in his. When he got to the door, he kissed her lightly, and replied, "I do." He smiled evilly, and then they exchanged goodbyes.
Hermione closed the door, and let her back rest on it. 'Oh that boy gets to me sometimes.'
*
David walked out of Capstone still with a smile on his face. His dorm was located over three blocks away, but he did not mind the walk. He had always enjoyed the cold night air hitting his face. It reminded him of his old school days.
As he was walking along peaceful, a black shadow started to follow him. The hairs on the back of his next began to stand on end causing his smile to be wiped right off his face. The shadow started to get closer and closer, but David keep walking as if he knew nothing was wrong. Just as the figure behind him was about to put his hand on David's shoulder, David stop in his tracks, and stated quite calmly, "Couldn't this wait until I got back to the dorm room. At least there, no Muggles would be able to see me talking to you."
*
Muhahahahahaha... I wonder, I wonder. What could possible come next? The next chapter is coming very soon.
Monday